0:00

Now let's talk about the play of the week. The

0:02

pressure to follow up hypnotic and cognac

0:04

is heavy on the team. Hypnotic

0:07

was in the cup, blue and ready for

0:09

the play. And boom, Anye

0:11

tequila with a smooth assist

0:13

to hypnotic's tropical fruit finish.

0:16

Shaken, strained, poured.

0:18

It's green and good. The playmaking splash

0:20

to shift the tempo. Another great cocktail

0:23

from the hypnotic team. Every

0:25

season is hypnotic and tequila season.

0:28

Hypnotic liquor, Barge Town, Kentucky. 17% alcohol

0:31

by volume. Hypnotic reminds you to

0:33

think wisely, drink wisely. Welcome

0:37

to NBA Today. Let's

0:41

get it. Will Joel and Bead return to

0:43

the court this season? Are the Lakers and

0:45

Warriors destined to meet in the play? And

0:48

who will hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy? Your

0:50

biggest questions answered. Plus with LeBron

0:52

James in year 21, who's next

0:54

up to take the throne and become

0:56

the face of the league? Also, our very

0:58

own Malika Andrews spoke with Celtic superstar Jason

1:01

Tatum. Who does he think the best player

1:03

in the league is right now? NBA Today

1:05

with Chanae starts right now. Welcome

1:09

to NBA Today. I'm your girl Chanae O'Goulmakay

1:11

filling in for my sis, Malika Andrews. We've

1:13

got Ramona Shelburne, Austin Rivers with me. Zach

1:15

Lowe is at home, but he's with us

1:18

in spirit here in studio and everyone, y'all.

1:20

All-Star Weekend is officially in the rearview mirror.

1:22

Now the second half of the season is

1:24

right around the corner, which means things

1:26

are about to heat up. Can you

1:28

believe, y'all, that the playoffs start two

1:30

months from today? So let's catch you

1:32

up on everything around the association with a

1:34

little coast to coast, starting with the Boston Celtics,

1:37

who have a six-game lead on the rest of

1:39

the East with only 27 left to

1:41

play. So Austin, with an overall home

1:43

court advantage, is it championship or bust

1:45

for Boston? Absolutely. When you talk about this

1:47

roster outside of Denver, they are the best

1:50

put together starting lineup in basketball. They have

1:52

the best overall record in the Eastern Conference,

1:54

and this is a team that we all

1:56

know gets judged in the postseason. Jason Tatum

1:58

is an MVP-like player. He's got the

2:00

cast that's built around him to depend for

2:02

championships. This is a team that either goes

2:05

to the finals, wins the finals, or

2:07

it's not a successful season. Oh, okay, you heard

2:09

it from Austin. Now, one lurking contender in the

2:11

East is the Philadelphia 76ers, who have

2:13

been without Joel Embiid since January. So, Ramona,

2:15

how optimistic is the team that they'll get

2:17

their MVP back this season? There is an

2:20

optimism in Philadelphia that Joel Embiid can return

2:22

at some point during the regular season, at

2:24

least close enough to the playoffs to get

2:26

his rhythm heading into the playoffs, but they

2:28

don't want to put any time frame on

2:30

it until he starts ramping up. I told...

2:33

He went to practice today, got there early,

2:35

assumed everything was in the morning, but the

2:37

team's not practicing until later in the day,

2:39

so his enthusiasm is there. Hey, that's good. That's

2:42

really good. Let's switch those to the West, where

2:44

the Wolves hold the top spot, but only three

2:46

games separate them from the defending camp and

2:48

fourth. So that, what team most needs

2:50

the number one seed April 20th? I

2:55

think you got to go with Minnesota only

2:57

because there's going to be a lot of

2:59

pressure on them, a lot of expectations for

3:01

the first time. Denver's been there, done that.

3:04

Oklahoma City is a young up-and-coming team. The

3:06

Clippers are a veteran team. Minnesota needs every

3:08

edge they can get. But,

3:10

y'all, when I personally look at the standings, there's

3:13

one thing that jumps off the screen. It's the

3:15

idea that the Los Angeles Lakers and the

3:17

Golden State Warriors sit in ninth and tenth

3:19

respectively, meaning that we are on

3:21

track for a single elimination game

3:23

between LeBron James and Steph Curry

3:25

in the play-in. Now, we would

3:27

have an absolute popcorn shortage for that

3:30

one, but, you know, looking into the future,

3:32

Zach, those are the biggest storylines in the

3:34

league right now, but to you, what is

3:36

the biggest question whose answer can help

3:38

decide the second half of the NBA

3:40

season? The

3:43

single biggest question in the whole league, including

3:45

the Lakers and the Warriors and all that,

3:47

is this. What

3:49

exactly are the Milwaukee Bucks? Three

3:52

and seven under Doc Rivers. Offense

3:55

is gone in the tank. Have

3:57

Not put together even a five-game

3:59

stretch. I have any point

4:01

in a season. More you say to yourself

4:03

oh here it is Save got in there

4:06

and or as of now on all says

4:08

he says whatever it was, not one single

4:10

one wrong. It's another thing. see chemistry between

4:12

Dame and be honest, has and com as

4:14

easily as we all expected to be. Dame

4:17

has it as a kind of season he

4:19

had the last couple of seasons. Stairs twenty

4:21

five, thirty games left you as arguably the

4:23

best player in the world. I would read

4:26

a bit number two, some people number one

4:28

and be honest, at age twenty. Nine at

4:30

his absolute apex. There is no time

4:32

to waste and me running out of

4:34

time to find the kind of see

4:37

may need to be to get out

4:39

of these. Ramona. Are they really running out

4:41

of time because this is one player that walked

4:43

out of all star weekend with a lot of

4:45

momentum. So it's Dame Little. He was the first

4:47

ever player to win, be three point contest an

4:49

all star game and be peace. You see that

4:51

parlaying and to success the second half of the

4:53

I do in a sense that at his have

4:55

you get a new head coach days I've you

4:57

do a big trade. I usually like to give

4:59

seems ten games to settle in and be what

5:01

they are and it's it's been saying game rise

5:03

As you mentioned three and seven at they have

5:05

one of those losses was a weird when at

5:07

the end as they're heading into the brain gets

5:09

Memphis but. I think is this say that

5:11

you have to assume they talent is going

5:13

to play here John as is to the

5:15

Davis's it in their votes who invested in

5:18

the same working to let this fall away

5:20

inside away and and quite frankly if they

5:22

don't get it together they're on the clock.

5:24

I know he signed an extensive i know

5:26

Yannis a slot in their made it's members

5:28

of the France has this when you have

5:30

the on his on your. Team. You are

5:33

always on the clock. He has made it very

5:35

clear. He does not want to sit around and wait

5:37

for the team around him to be is committed to winning

5:39

is he is and is com as as as I last

5:41

last Memphis. Were pretty pretty profound. they were pretty selling

5:43

in Austin. We got your. Time One Yesterday He said

5:45

the bugs have a year and some change a little bit.

5:48

not just as the thing about next season's for them

5:50

to really make that was for championships but what do you

5:52

think will decide. the second half of the season

5:54

i mean if we're talking about what i meant

5:56

to oversee the races when the lakers in the

5:58

warriors and i don't want to game between

6:00

them. I want them both to be in

6:02

the playoffs. I mean imagine turning on the playoffs

6:05

and not having Stefan Curry or LeBron James in it. It

6:08

doesn't even sound realistic. These are the two guys who have carried

6:10

the torch. Force and the NBA are two

6:12

brightest stars that we have in our modern-day era and

6:15

both of their teams are playing better basketball

6:18

and before the season started we're talked about

6:20

as contending teams or teams that could possibly

6:22

content and we have obviously

6:24

seen both of these teams so you

6:26

know play short. Look we're gonna talk about

6:29

both those teams all season long but the teams

6:31

that I want to see if they're for real

6:33

and everybody I mean they've had 10 but y'all

6:35

you understand

6:38

this it's 10 games. Yeah and it's a whole

6:40

different office. It's gonna take a minute. I'm not

6:42

saying there's no pressure with the Bucks. It's not

6:44

a free year. You don't have a player like

6:46

Giannis and Dame and that roster that they have

6:48

and even you add Doc as a coach like

6:50

that team has to contend. It should be them

6:53

in Boston in the conference finals. That's what it's

6:55

supposed to be. But the teams leading

6:57

the Western Conference are the Minnesota Timberwolves

6:59

and the Oklahoma City Thunder. I know, surprise there.

7:01

Two teams that have young superstars

7:04

MVP candidate and Shay Gellgis Alexander and

7:06

I think can they hold

7:08

on? Are they gonna stay in those

7:10

two spots right there? We're all talking about

7:13

them and we're all the Denver Nuggets defending

7:15

champs the Clippers are coming but is Anthony

7:17

Edwards ready for this? Like is Shay ready

7:19

for this? Because if they go in as

7:21

one two in the Western Conference these young

7:23

teams that are here before anybody

7:25

expected them to be the pressure is on

7:27

these young teams and that's the Thunder team.

7:30

I'll tell you they remind me a

7:32

lot of the Thunder team from about

7:34

ten years ago Kevin Durant Russell Westbrook

7:36

James Harden they got there to the

7:38

playoffs they played the Lakers and Kobe

7:40

Bryant said to those guys afterwards I'm

7:42

glad we got you this year because I'm not sure how much longer

7:44

we'll be able to beat you guys. So that's the finals of next year.

7:46

That's true. Now Zach do you want to focus more

7:49

the second half of the season on the old

7:51

guard or the new guard when it comes to the

7:53

Western Conference? I

7:56

want to focus on I guess I mean what are

7:58

the Clippers are they old guard or new guard? I

8:00

didn't know it's old guard or new

8:02

guard. To me, those teams at three

8:04

and four are right there with the

8:06

teams at one and two, but I

8:08

want to hit the Thunder and the

8:10

Wolves thing for a second. To me,

8:12

they're totally different situations in terms of

8:15

pressure and expectations. For the Thunder, yeah,

8:17

they have an MVP candidate in his

8:19

prime, but this is all gravy right

8:21

now. To be this good,

8:23

this young, with this many extra draft

8:25

picks to throw at people, this is

8:28

fantastic. The Wolves, Carl Anthony Towns is

8:30

right in his prime, has not won a

8:32

playoff series. Rudy Gobert is 30-ish. They

8:35

traded a million draft picks to get

8:37

him. They got a win right now,

8:39

and they are starting to realize, I

8:41

think, in the entire history of this

8:43

franchise, with maybe the exception of one

8:45

guard that season, they have not faced

8:47

the kind of expectations and pressure they're

8:49

going to face as a top three

8:51

seed in the playoffs. Man, if they

8:53

go down 1-0, it's going to get

8:55

loud real fast in Minnesota. This team

8:57

has got to make a deep playoff

8:59

run. But, Zach, you started off by

9:01

mentioning the Los Angeles Clippers. How did you guys

9:03

not mention them? I mean, to me, this is

9:06

the team of the second half of the season.

9:08

Will the Clippers finally make their first NBA finals

9:10

and win it all? That's what this city that

9:12

we're in really cares about. Will they finally emerge

9:14

outside of the Lakers' shadow? And if you look

9:17

at the numbers, Kawhi Leonard, he has played in

9:19

48 out of 54 games. That's

9:22

what you need. They've got six players and double

9:24

figures. They are battle-tested with their coach in Tyloo.

9:26

They have a new arena and they need butts

9:28

in seats and a championship will really bring that.

9:31

So I'm looking at the rest of the

9:33

field, yes, those young Gunners out west, the

9:35

Thunder, the Timberwolves, they

9:38

will have a little bit of a wiggle room to

9:40

win a championship based on the young stars. But right

9:42

now, with Kawhi, James Harden, Paul George, why

9:44

not the Clippers? I mean, I think the

9:46

Clippers have to be seen as the co-favorite in the West

9:48

along with the Denver Nuggets. I think they're

9:50

that good. And the way the fit has

9:52

gone with James Harden since he's really been

9:54

given the ball has been tremendous. But the

9:57

thing with the Clippers, they've been here since 2019. team

10:00

when they went and got Paul George and Kawhi Leonard

10:02

and they've been in this position they got

10:04

to the conference finals one year Kawhi was

10:06

hurt but I think until they

10:08

do it they're on a they're in

10:10

a prove-me-right stage too because I think

10:12

they like they've had that talent there

10:15

for five years now yeah I'm in it I'm

10:17

in a green this is the team that's built right

10:19

now to win yeah all these guys are at the

10:21

back end of the prime as well we talk about

10:23

timeline and with other teams this team is a win

10:25

now team they put it together you

10:27

know we were very hard on this team early

10:29

on but they have figured out a groove James

10:31

has been unbelievable yes for the Clippers he's put them

10:34

as a team that was good to being a contending

10:36

team that's James Hart so

10:38

the system is working Uno he's doing

10:40

this stuff out there got to give the flowers do you know

10:42

I mean they are the team that I think

10:44

other than Denver could you know come out

10:46

the West yeah yeah it's true

10:48

I mean you said the system that was funny that

10:51

was cheeky right there for me I'm looking forward to

10:53

the Clippers to emerge out of the Lakers shadow but

10:55

you know I have another question who will emerge

10:57

as the new face of the NBA because still

10:59

to come on NBA today we hear it all

11:01

the time the league is in great hands but

11:04

whose hands exactly don't miss what Giannis and

11:06

KD said about who's the next face of

11:08

the Association in Austin it's time to make

11:10

some money honey with the second half of

11:12

the season upon it we take a look at the best

11:14

bets for who wins the Eastern

11:17

and Western conferences plus Malika's exclusive

11:19

interview with Celtics all-world superstar

11:21

Jason Tatum he believes he's

11:23

the best player in the

11:25

NBA but do we often and I

11:27

dive into the tape next on NBA today our show

11:29

is hot so keep it locked now

11:35

let's talk about one of the main players and culture since

11:37

2001 the blue liquor

11:39

that's so iconic its name is in too

11:42

many songs to count hypnotic in

11:44

a game that's always changing hypnotic

11:46

has stayed consistent the genius blending

11:48

of natural exotic fruit juices vodka

11:50

and cognac to create unforgettable cocktail

11:52

plays is second To none at

11:54

the classic incredible, hypnotic and cognac. a drink

11:57

that is one fans over at the top

11:59

of hip nose. Career a move like that?

12:01

It's. Hard to replicate infill.

12:04

Hypnotic. And on the a tequila broke

12:06

onto the scene. A new shade of green is

12:08

on the court. Smooth, rich on your to queue

12:10

up was a tropical flavors of hypnotic. Easy

12:13

money. This basketball season Hypnotic

12:15

has been showing up on the court

12:17

may to give the assisted every sports

12:19

bar, every home watch party and every

12:21

fan celebration. Every. Season is hypnotic

12:23

and tequila season. Hypnotic. Liquor:

12:25

Bardstown, Kentucky: Seventy percent alcohol

12:28

by volume. And. It.it reminds

12:30

you to think wisely. Drink wisely.

12:33

British. Weeks into this year and the

12:35

news is already nonstop to overseas wars,

12:37

a presidential election already testing the democratic

12:39

process, a former president and courts to

12:42

conceal impossible to keep up with a

12:44

week and health. I'm Bride Milky the

12:46

host of Start Here is a daily

12:48

podcast from a D C News. Every

12:51

morning my team and I to eat

12:53

caught up on the day's news in

12:55

a quick straightforward way that easy to

12:57

understand self kick your morning. Start smart

13:00

with Start Here and a D C

13:02

News because staying. Informed. Shouldn't feel

13:04

like a chore. Recall

13:11

from have been there in slavery and now

13:13

how we have as he has have a

13:15

voice to speak out. Have a young black

13:18

youth get better and better of is very

13:20

important so we should def we could see

13:22

the console raises and whatever we can do

13:24

with black man in black women to educate

13:27

our young girls and young girls about you

13:29

know what it takes is in no way

13:31

we're to be a black person in ocean

13:33

in his world. He

13:40

was sitting in a thirty within a day in

13:42

his message. Sent an all star game over the

13:44

weekend but something is story. Was when he said

13:46

he obvious by saying he's much closer to. The

13:48

end of his brilliant career City is sort of

13:51

against now Whenever the brawn james the side the

13:53

hang. It. Up as want to be assumed

13:55

voice when it comes to the nut

13:57

sensibilities and. That we will throw those

13:59

you love. That was a huge discussion over

14:01

the weekend. We

14:04

have a great young group of guys in our

14:06

league right now that's

14:08

playing spectacular basketball and also being

14:12

great off the floor as well. But I

14:14

don't think you just say, OK, well, this

14:16

guy is the next person to

14:19

be the face of anything. I just you have

14:21

to just let it happen organically. You see Shay

14:23

and Book, Luca,

14:26

Tyrese Maxx, Tyrese Hylabur. There's so many

14:28

guys that are inspiring the next generations

14:30

of Hoopers after them to become basketball

14:32

players that you can't just pinpoint it

14:34

to one or two guys. We win the championship. I

14:36

got something to say about it. I know that. Austin,

14:41

when LeBron's done, who will be the next

14:43

face of the league? It has to

14:45

be Victor. I mean, when we talk about

14:47

from a standpoint of media, publicity,

14:49

and how much time and effort we put into this

14:51

guy, the hype we talked about before the draft, I've

14:53

never seen a player covered in

14:56

modern-day era. Other than

14:58

LeBron James than Victor. And he's

15:00

had a great year. The team's not great, but they're

15:02

in the beginning stages. You know, it was LeBron James

15:04

or Michael Jordan's team. They're rookie years either. They're in

15:06

a complete rebuild, where they got a hell of a

15:08

start with this kid. He has talent and potential that

15:11

we have never seen in the NBA. He's a freak.

15:13

I mean, he's showing the outside

15:15

game, the inside game, one

15:17

of the league leaders in blocks. And

15:19

you have Greg Popovich as your head coach. I think

15:22

the future is super bright for him. And I think

15:24

in terms of how we've pushed him to be and

15:26

something we've never seen before, kind of like LeBron James, we've

15:28

never seen someone like him before either, before he came, I

15:30

think Victor is going to be the face of the league.

15:32

Zach, do you agree that it's Wembley? Look,

15:37

this is a weird question. Sometimes I don't understand

15:39

it. Like, does it have to be a young

15:41

guy? Could it be a guy in the middle

15:44

of his career? I think, first, you've

15:46

got to win. And second, you've got

15:48

to want to be the face of the

15:50

league. And all that comes with it. And

15:52

I think if Boston wins this year, Jason

15:54

Tatum will have a case. If Phoenix wins,

15:56

Devin Booker. If Minnesota, Anthony Edwards. You could

15:58

argue for a good time. Luca you could

16:00

argue for lots of people but I'm gonna fast

16:03

forward and go with Victor Wemenyama if he wants

16:05

it because I think this guy is just gonna

16:07

be so crazy good in

16:09

a way we've never seen before I think

16:11

he'll elevate the spurs quicker

16:13

than maybe we expect so I'll

16:16

just go with the obvious answer

16:18

under the radar candidate by the

16:20

way if you don't mind Tyree

16:22

Taliburn yeah if the Pacers get

16:25

good he's got the game the

16:27

style the charisma the offense the

16:29

outside shooting like Steph almost like Steph

16:31

anyway he's under the radar candidate for me

16:34

but I'll go Wemeny yeah I agree

16:36

with you on Halliburton to me

16:38

like Wemeny to me is five years from now

16:40

like it's gonna take the Spurs five years to

16:42

contend and when we talk about face of the

16:44

league it's not just who's the best player who

16:47

is the most charismatic who has the best dunks

16:49

who is the most exciting to

16:51

watch because you can watch Wemeny all day and

16:53

it's fun to watch it's who's in contention for

16:55

championships like this is the reason why it was

16:57

LeBron and Steph is because they met in five

16:59

straight finals and there's a drama to

17:02

that season that builds up over the course

17:04

of the season that builds up while they

17:06

play each other they're each one of those

17:08

games is memorable and I think one of

17:10

the traits that those two guys share is

17:12

that they lean into that drama they lean

17:14

into they understand what it takes to be

17:16

the face of the league not just not

17:18

just as a player but as a spokesperson

17:20

as somebody who we look to for answers

17:22

on big issues of the day as somebody

17:24

off the court and the people

17:27

I think are closest to that right now Jason

17:29

Tatum I mean he's right he may not

17:31

have the same charisma that LeBron or Steph do

17:33

but he certainly when you put him in front

17:35

of a microphone he has a lot to say

17:37

it may not sound you might you could hear

17:40

from him a little bit when Malika interviews him

17:42

but he he has that charisma he's on

17:44

the best team in the league right now and Joel

17:46

Embiid who we know has the charisma has been Troy

17:48

Embiid for most of his career if

17:50

they ever get good in the playoffs and

17:52

get to the finals get into contention he

17:55

is a compelling figure in this league and

17:57

I and I think he would lean in

17:59

To that role. What! I love This and Tatum I'm

18:01

starting. To. You don't beat the drum of him

18:03

for Mvp. Best. Player best team but for me

18:06

ongoing one be he was on save with

18:08

Adam Silver So what'd they say? M B

18:10

A Ice. Also, he has a know who he

18:12

was Hornbill, who else is a face legal bronze age

18:14

have that exact same way of saying we all were

18:16

very reasonable. We'll get paid where that is true and

18:18

all of this capacity. As

18:21

me customs or what we don't know for sure who will

18:23

be the next base. Of the league's is One thing

18:25

that I know for certain is that the M

18:27

B A playoffs the underwear just two months from

18:30

today. So in order to help everyone gets their

18:32

money up, get that money between now and then.

18:34

I want to welcome any as the embedding analyst

18:36

similar foods. I'm thank you for much for joining

18:38

us. Yeah. A pleasure to be

18:40

here with you and office and I appreciate it. Always

18:42

All right? Well. Some he has fan but

18:44

enthusiasm are putting finally the Nfl behind them.

18:47

One or three trends that I've been popping

18:49

up over the first half of the seasons

18:51

that can translate into some smart plays over.

18:53

The Homestretch. I'm glad. yes In a

18:56

I got. Three Starting with your Boston

18:58

Celtics adjacent Tatum, that's a team senate

19:00

you want to bet on in the

19:02

first half of Gays. Now or the

19:04

season, their cover rate is actually under fifty

19:06

percent, but it seems that on and just

19:08

to win the first Ah Scientists fled. Says

19:12

he was a T S and those

19:14

situations. I think that's a trend that has

19:16

had years of the second half. Meanwhile the blocking

19:18

box invalid seen You want to bet against. When

19:20

they're in the underdog role when they have

19:23

played the best teams in the league's the

19:25

Denver's the Boston Celtics is the Minnesota Timberwolves

19:27

them early last two games outright they've been

19:29

didn't beat know Regardless of who's on the

19:31

bench, their that roster has struggled all season

19:34

long when they play good competition. I think

19:36

that's a trend that I want to keep

19:38

betting on until Doc Rivers and Yannis turn

19:40

around. Then the a woman's the Thunder were

19:42

the best stories out west. Their thirty four

19:44

and twenty eight vs. the season two situations

19:47

I love but in on them when they're

19:49

at home. For eighteen and nine eighty

19:51

s and will never run disadvantage when the

19:53

other team actually has more rest of them.

19:55

The great bet is the Thunder who are

19:57

eleven and three see the spread in the

19:59

city. Ok, that was pretty micro, let's go a

20:01

little bit macro, let's go a little bit bigger picture

20:04

starting in the East. We all know that the Celtics,

20:06

as you mentioned, are the favorites, but what are the

20:08

best value plays to win the conference? I

20:10

think there's two right now that I'm looking

20:12

at. One makes sense, one may have you

20:15

scratch your head. It's the Cleveland Cavaliers at

20:17

8-1. That makes sense

20:19

to me, because they can play great defense

20:21

and Donovan Mitchell can be that killer you

20:23

need in the postseason when matchups get tough.

20:25

Then I will throw the 76ers in there

20:27

at 15-1. If

20:30

you take the gamble or think that Joel Embiid

20:32

comes back healthy, they should not be priced at

20:34

15-1. They'd be closer to Milwaukee

20:36

at 3-1. However, the

20:38

market seems to think, and most people seem

20:41

to think, he's not going to make it back to

20:43

health. So if that's your belief, don't bet on it.

20:45

But if you think Joel can somehow, someway, come back

20:47

and be healthy for the playoffs, grabbing

20:49

them at 15-1 right now would be the best

20:51

bet to make in the NBA. Ok, Austin, are

20:53

you rocking with Tyler out here? I

20:55

like his opinions, especially on Boston. I

20:59

think the safest bet for me in the NBA is the

21:01

Denver Nuggets. Oh! You talk about a

21:03

team that still has their starting lineup intact, they're all healthy.

21:06

They don't have flashy basketball, so we tend not to talk

21:08

about them a lot. Every time we talk about

21:10

the Nuggets, their best player is Nicole Yogan. She's usually

21:12

talking about how he wants to go overseas and not

21:14

even be here. So that seems to be a thing.

21:17

He handles his job so simply. We're talking about the

21:19

Western Conference. What's the best play out there, the value

21:21

play, Tyler? I agree that the team

21:23

that's most likely to win the West and the NBA title

21:25

this year, if it's not going to be Boston, is the

21:27

Denver Nuggets. However, you've got to pay

21:29

a premium price for that. So if you're looking

21:32

for great value, I look at the LA Lakers

21:34

and the Dallas Mavericks. Now they're 15-1 and 16-1.

21:38

For the Lakers it comes down to the fact

21:40

it's LeBron James. And I'm never ever going to

21:42

bet against LeBron James. He made it to the

21:44

Western Conference Finals last year, so it wouldn't surprise

21:46

me if he did that again and got over

21:48

the hump this year. The Mavericks haven't done it

21:50

the way LeBron and AD have. However, Luca, like

21:53

I mentioned with Donovan Mitchell and Kyrie,

21:55

are stone-cold killers in the playoffs. They can

21:57

win a game, they can win a series

21:59

by themselves. by going for 40, 50

22:01

points or having a triple double. So again,

22:03

I agree with Austin that Denver's most likely

22:05

to do it. But if you're gonna throw

22:07

the odds in, I like the return on investment with

22:09

the Lakers and the Mavs. ROI, he

22:11

is, he's where the money is at. Okay, lastly,

22:14

I can't let you go without talking a little

22:16

MVP. What jumps out to you when you see

22:18

the odds to take home the amazing award? Sinead,

22:21

it's the name that you've been talking about

22:23

for weeks. You came on ESPN, Bet Live.

22:25

You were on SportsCenter together, and you said,

22:27

why is Jason Tatum not near Nicole Oke?

22:29

Which is Shay Gildas Alexander. This guy's the

22:31

best player on by far the best regular

22:33

season team. And yet, last week, he was

22:35

like 100 to one, 50 to one. Now

22:38

people are, I think Sinead, when they heard you

22:40

talking, Betters went to the window and started betting

22:42

on Jason Tatum. That number's now down to 25

22:44

to one. I still think there's

22:46

some meat on the bone there because if

22:48

history shows us anything, the people who bet

22:50

on this award have generally given it to

22:52

the best player on the best team. And

22:55

that is without question, Jason Tatum. Tyler, thank

22:57

you so much for giving the people what they went

22:59

and by people I mean myself, I was right. We

23:02

started the trend. We'll talk to you soon.

23:04

Now coming up on NBA Today, since we're

23:06

talking Jason Tatum, hear straight from him on

23:08

why his time has arrived this season, but

23:11

should he also be in the MVP

23:13

conversation as well? We will discuss. And

23:15

speaking of time, as I tap my

23:17

wrist, Dame gave his types of articles,

23:19

all time starting five lists and guess

23:21

who he left off? Dame's surprising omission.

23:24

Plus, legacies are defined

23:26

by rings. So which superstar is under the

23:28

most pressure to win one this season? NBA

23:30

Today with the production notes, we'll be right

23:33

back. That

23:41

last thing to publish would be here. Coming

23:44

this February, FX's Sean.

23:48

I must ask, what do you think here? Do

23:50

you vanquish our common enemies? Based

23:54

in the global bestseller by James

23:56

Clobell, war is coming. The

24:00

epic saga of war, passion

24:03

and power. And

24:05

it comes. FX's Shogun

24:07

February 27th on New Low. It

24:13

should all feel like we gotta do a little bit more. Cause

24:16

we didn't win. I

24:19

wanna get over that hump, I wanna get back to

24:21

the finals. I've been so close these last two years

24:23

that I wanna do whatever it takes. I

24:34

think we're the

24:39

best team in the league, so we

24:41

need to take care of everything. The

24:46

boxers that sit right now are on top, 43

24:48

and 12, owning the best record in

24:50

the league. Which by the way is the best record they've

24:52

had at the All Star break since 2008 to 2009. Now

24:56

there are new additions of Drew Holiday and Chris

24:58

Staps. The Przingis have been major boosts this season.

25:00

But one thing has remained constant since 2017. Jason

25:03

Tatum and his rise to superstardom.

25:06

He spoke about it with our own Malika Andrews at

25:08

All Star Weekend. Take a listen. You

25:11

guys have been one of, if not

25:13

the best team in the NBA record wise all

25:16

season long. But to you, how much stock

25:18

do you put in this now versus knowing

25:20

that this is a team that is really

25:22

measured in the playoffs? The

25:25

regular season is there for a reason. You have

25:27

to build the right habits. You have

25:30

to build chemistry and things like that. And

25:32

I just love the way that we're playing. Obviously

25:35

I love our record 43, 43.12 or something. But

25:39

the way that we're playing, the

25:41

way guys are coexisting together. Those

25:44

are different from last year. We had a really

25:46

good team last year. But

25:48

I love where we're at this year compared to last year. Do

25:50

you think that this is the best

25:53

team that you've played on? Is it better than the

25:55

2022 finals team? Yeah,

25:58

it is. Just

26:01

because I think I'm better than I was two

26:03

years ago, JB is better,

26:05

K.T. makes all the

26:07

difference in the world. Obviously,

26:09

Drew Holiday and the way that Derek Weichman

26:11

played this year compared to two years ago.

26:14

You and Jaylen Brown, you worked out together right

26:16

over the summer a little bit with Drew. That

26:18

was a first for you guys, right? Same with

26:21

Summertime, yeah. So why did you feel like this

26:23

was the time that you guys needed to come together, put

26:26

in that extra work as a duo, not just

26:28

individually, so your games complimented each other when

26:30

you came back? Yeah, I think over the

26:32

last few years we've taken strides of coexisting

26:35

together, getting the best out of each

26:37

other while being the best version of

26:39

ourselves and being the leaders

26:41

that our team needs to be. I think

26:43

it's probably just getting older

26:46

and maturing, right? Still relatively young

26:48

guys, but understanding that. This

26:51

is our time when we need to take

26:53

full advantage of it. That's going to pay off in the

26:55

long run. Who do you think is the

26:57

best player in the NBA right now? Uh,

27:00

myself. You always had that kind

27:02

of confidence? I asked you that question

27:04

a year ago and you said it was Gianna,

27:06

but what's given you that confidence? I

27:09

got a lot of respect for a lot of guys.

27:12

Gianna is for sure. Yo,

27:14

dude. I was the one, indeed, guys that

27:16

won the NBA. Then the list

27:18

goes on. The league is in a great place. I

27:21

truly do believe everything I got set on the floor. Is

27:24

that a mentality that you've moved to home? Because

27:27

I think back to the 2022 finals,

27:29

that wonderful story you worked on with Ramona

27:31

Schulman about how difficult it was. And I

27:33

asked her, wanting to just be in your

27:36

room, be sort of shut away, and being

27:38

pretty disappointed in yourself. You put all of

27:40

that on yourself. Did you have to work

27:42

to sort of forgive yourself in order to

27:45

move forward? I'm a

27:47

big believer in everything that happens for a reason. I

27:49

didn't believe I needed to go through that for

27:51

something. I hadn't

27:54

figured that out yet. It

27:57

happened and I've grown from it. In

28:00

a weird way, I'm thankful for that experience.

28:02

As tough as it was, as much

28:05

as I am, I'm thankful that I'm going to do that.

28:08

I just mean it better personally. Has

28:10

your process changed at all? I mean,

28:12

just talking to you now, it seems

28:14

like the way that you were stepping

28:17

onto the floor, you always had that you

28:19

provoked Kobe. You've talked about that quiet confidence.

28:21

It feels louder. Yeah.

28:24

And maybe I'm kind of growing into my

28:26

own. Yeah, it's been a good day. Still,

28:29

like I said, still young, 25. It's my

28:31

seventh unity. I'm

28:34

very confident. Because I

28:36

know how hard I work. I know I'm going to be

28:38

a good friend today. And I know

28:40

how fast I'm going to be. I'm going to be

28:42

the best. I'm going to be a

28:44

wonderful friend. Well, I wouldn't have been

28:46

confident. But I know how hard I

28:48

work. The beauty of only being

28:50

25 is you get to write your entire

28:52

story in front of you. And

28:55

you have to think about what you want to be

28:57

known as, what you want to be remembered as, what

29:01

you want to have accomplished. What

29:04

are the things you want to learn? I want to be a winner. I

29:06

want to win. And it's funny that you say

29:08

that because I felt that, you know, why haven't

29:11

you won? Window

29:13

has closed. And it's tough when you

29:15

have success early, right? Because

29:18

I've been to the finals once. I've been to

29:20

the college fights four times. And I've had teams

29:22

like, you know, he should have done

29:25

this, done that. I mean, I was

29:27

just doing those things at a really young age. I've

29:30

had some really good teams. And I've been a part of

29:32

some really special runs. But I truly do

29:34

believe my time has come. It's

29:37

going to be a little worth it. You

29:41

heard it, Jason Tatum. He said

29:43

it. He's the best player in the world. I'm the best

29:45

team right now. And he might have a point forward

29:48

because he's running that position, right? You

29:51

see what I did right there, Austin? Okay. Let's break it

29:53

down. I'm glad to have a teammate

29:55

today. This season, Jason Tatum has continued his growth as

29:57

a playmaker, putting up a career high in

29:59

assists. and he's been taking care of

30:01

the ball too. His assist to turnover rate

30:03

is also a career best. So Austin, what

30:05

do you like in JT's game this year? It's always

30:07

fun to see the arc of a scorer become a

30:09

true leader and player. One thing to

30:12

be able to score and get buckets for an hour,

30:14

seeing him make plays for his teammates. That's why we're

30:16

seeing so much success. Look, across the court, Jaylen Brown,

30:18

he sees the attention he gets. Nothing special, quick pass

30:20

to Jaylen, get him going, easy three. Here we come,

30:23

pick and roll. Porzingis has been great for Boston. That's

30:25

a lethal combination right there. Lethal combination, you got pick

30:27

and pop, that small little window, he's making that pass.

30:30

Pocket pass, move him out. Porzingis gets the dunk, and

30:32

then this, this is my favorite player, look at, long

30:34

fake, double team, split the defense, this is what he

30:36

does, right? Use that scoring ability to create for your teammates.

30:39

Derek White, we know, one of the best role players in

30:41

the league, wide open three, you cannot let that man do

30:43

that. Cash. Cash money, and

30:45

you know what's cool? It's been the

30:47

ball movement and him running the point, point

30:49

forward, look at these numbers. I mean, the

30:51

Celtics have used their ball movement to help

30:53

give them a massive point differential. It's been

30:55

truly impressive. They are the sixth team over

30:57

the last 10 seasons to win games

31:00

by 10 or more points, and

31:02

that company actually includes the Warriors

31:04

dynasty. So Ramona, after the finals

31:07

loss in 2022, Jason Tatum said

31:09

he was in a dark place. That's what you reported and you

31:11

know. But now we fast forward to now, and he's saying

31:13

he's the best player in the world. Why did he have

31:15

this growth? I mean, Jason, after

31:18

the finals when they lost that year, he just flat out said

31:20

I ran out of gas. I

31:22

just got tired, I did too much in the regular

31:24

season, I played so many minutes during the playoffs, and

31:26

he ran out of gas and he goes, I will

31:28

never let that happen again. I remember he was telling

31:31

me all that summer, he goes, you know, I

31:33

usually like to come out to LA and play and he

31:35

trains with his train that you're handling out here and they

31:37

usually go golf every once in a while. You

31:39

know, he's in LA in the summertime. He golf like once

31:41

all summer. He was in the gym, he was getting

31:44

ready. He's averaging 35 and a

31:46

half minutes this year, but I think

31:48

they're being strategic with how they use

31:50

him and in the way that they're

31:52

practicing him because they need him to be fresh in

31:54

the playoffs. And the other thing the Celtics did, which we

31:56

talked about at the time, and I don't know if everybody

31:59

believed it at the time. and this is

32:01

gonna be a great play for them was

32:03

to get Porzingis. I mean, when I talked

32:05

to Porzingis and I talked to Tatum for

32:07

this story I did about a month ago,

32:09

Tatum basically said to me, when Miami was switching

32:11

on us, when tears would go zoned against

32:13

us, we did not have an answer. That

32:15

was what would happen to them in the

32:17

playoffs, and Porzingis is the ultimate answer

32:19

because if you put a small guy on him earlier

32:21

in his career, people would put smalls on him, they'd

32:24

put like Marcus Smartwood guard him or Jay Crowder

32:26

would guard him and try to rough

32:28

him up. He's beefed up, he's worked on his

32:30

post game, he doesn't dribble as much, and he's

32:32

much more efficient, one of the most efficient post

32:34

players in the league, and then if you put

32:36

a small guy on him, he just shoots over

32:38

the top of him. And so I think he

32:40

gives them that look, that answer that they haven't

32:42

had in the playoffs the last couple years in

32:44

Tatum. He's compared him to Paul Gasol, he's compared

32:46

him to those kinds of, that ilk, and he

32:48

could be that if he's healthy. Yeah, let's welcome

32:50

Zach Lowe back to the show because if you're

32:52

saying Paul Gasol, you're talking about championships, and Zach,

32:54

Boston has been the best team all season long

32:56

and their record truly shows it. Now in order

32:59

for them to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy in

33:01

June, what do you wanna see from them in

33:03

the second half? Well,

33:06

they were my pick to win the title

33:08

before the season. I think they're the best

33:11

team in the NBA. Look, they take more

33:13

threes than anyone in the league and they

33:15

have the number one offense in the league.

33:17

They passed Indiana right before the All-Star break.

33:19

So what they are doing is clearly working.

33:21

But, and we have seen this before,

33:24

there are gonna be games that

33:26

are ugly and nasty and grimy,

33:28

and when the threes are not

33:30

falling, and when those games happen,

33:32

is your fallback plan get stuck

33:34

in the mud and go one-on-one

33:36

and take a bunch of step-back threes,

33:38

or as they touch the paint, get

33:41

to the rim, get to the free

33:43

throw line, get some offensive rebounds. When

33:45

Boston stays connected to that goal, when

33:48

they get into the paint, they're pretty

33:50

much unbeatable. When they devolve into just

33:52

one-on-one step-back threes, that's when they can

33:54

be beaten late in games. So I'm

33:57

watching their paint touches on those nights

33:59

when all... All those beautiful threes aren't going in

34:01

because you know they're going to be those nights where

34:03

you're going to have to win some of those games

34:05

along the way. Well the Boston Celtics are path

34:07

to the finals really starts this weekend

34:09

and here's our next NBA Saturday primetime

34:11

game on ABC and ESPN app Jaylen

34:13

Brunson and the Knicks are in Boston

34:16

taking on the maybe MVP Jason Tatum

34:18

in the Eastern Conference leading Celtics our

34:20

coverage ships with NBA Countdown at 8

34:22

Eastern 5 Pacific. Now

34:26

Damian Lillard gave his dream starting

34:28

five and the certain teammate didn't make

34:30

the list. Was it an oversight?

34:32

Find out who he had over Giannis and if

34:34

they are still a good fit on the court.

34:36

That's next on NBA Today. You're

34:41

watching NBA Today. Alright

34:46

let's have some fun. Let's

34:50

play a round of chop it or drop it. You want

34:52

to talk it, you chop it, you want to skip

34:54

it, we drop it. But this time we are going

34:56

with a sound bite. Is that good with everybody? Okay.

34:59

Alright let's get into it. First up, Damian

35:01

Lillard gave us his dream starting five. You

35:04

could create your own starting five. What's your

35:07

team? It would be me, LeBron, Steph,

35:09

Kevin Durant and I'm going to go

35:11

with Bam out of bio. So

35:14

Dame had Bam on his starting five

35:16

over Giannis. Austin, chop it or drop

35:19

it? You can chop it. Okay. I mean

35:21

listen I don't think he meant anything personal by

35:23

it. I think once you put LeBron

35:25

James and Kevin Durant on the team is based upon

35:27

a team around them. You understand what

35:29

I'm saying? He was like, oh I got my two forwards. Yeah I got

35:31

my two forwards. I picked Kevin Durant and LeBron James obviously. So I don't

35:33

think it's a personal shout out to Giannis. I think you

35:35

know he's putting the team around

35:37

the best player. I don't know the interview.

35:40

It wasn't like anyone put him up to it. Come

35:43

on. Look you're picking positionally alright.

35:45

Next let's go to Giannis. Giannis was on

35:48

the mic as well this weekend. Take a listen.

35:50

Oh man. I just in general do

35:53

not watch basketball. So

35:55

stats, highlights, how

35:58

people play, I have no idea. and

36:01

I love it, you know? I

36:03

love it when I go to the game, I have no idea who I'm

36:05

playing and what they do. Makes

36:07

it harder. Giannis

36:09

says he doesn't watch basketball, so Ramona, are we gonna chop

36:11

it or drop it? Yeah, let's drop that, I don't believe

36:13

that for a second. Okay, yeah, we don't believe it, I

36:15

think he was throwing, so let's keep it pushing. Let's

36:19

keep it pushing, next up, Nikola Jokic, he

36:21

had some on-court chemistry with Luca Dontchett in

36:23

the All-Star Game. Do

36:26

you think that the team will be able to win the

36:28

All-Star Game? I

36:30

don't think so, I think that's why we're here. I

36:32

don't think so, but I think that's why we're here.

36:36

We're going to win the All-Star Game, and we're going to win

36:39

the All-Star Game. I think that's why we're here. Okay,

36:42

if Luca gets mad, join me in Denver,

36:44

Zach, chop it or drop it. I'm

36:48

chopping it only because Nikola Jokic is

36:51

one of the rare superstars. When he

36:53

says he doesn't want to leave Denver,

36:55

he means he doesn't want to leave

36:57

Denver, and it must be nice for

36:59

the Nuggets to know that and hear

37:02

it out loud again. What happens with

37:04

Luca is another story, but just remember

37:06

that Jokic thing, because we're probably never

37:08

going to have a free agency or

37:10

Trey drama with him ever. So

37:13

if Jokic isn't leaving, what about Trey Young?

37:15

Because Trey Young's name was tossed around and

37:17

trade rumors at the deadline, how does he

37:19

feel about his future in Atlanta? My

37:23

mind says stay in Atlanta right now, and I

37:26

don't get caught up in all the rumors and stuff.

37:28

My contract has been locked in for a

37:30

couple years, I don't have very much say in it right now.

37:34

Ramona, chop it or drop it? Let's

37:36

chop it a little bit, because we're probably going

37:38

to be chopping this all summer long, because I

37:40

do think there will be some drama there. I

37:42

do think he's a candidate to move on from

37:44

Atlanta at some point. They

37:47

need to decide what direction they're going with their

37:49

franchise. I know they brought in Quinn, and

37:51

there's a reshaping of that franchise that's happening

37:53

over the last couple years, and he has

37:55

to decide who his guys are. And so

37:57

let's see how they finish this year. to

38:00

see how it go. Atre has obviously had

38:02

a great success there in Atlanta, but I

38:04

could see us chopping it a lot. Okay,

38:06

one final addition though. Let me grab my

38:08

tea really quick. One more, J.J. Reddick was

38:10

on first take and he had some hot takes when

38:12

it came to Doc Rivers in the Bucks. I've

38:16

seen the trend now. I've seen the trend for

38:18

years. What's the trend? The trend is always making

38:20

excuses. Get Doc, we get it. Taking over a

38:22

team in the middle of the season is hard.

38:25

It's hard, we get it. Just like getting traded

38:27

in the middle season, it's hard for a player.

38:30

But it's always an excuse. It's always throwing your

38:32

team under the bus. They lose

38:34

to Memphis. Always his players. Memphis was

38:36

playing G-League guys and two-way guys. You

38:39

look at his quotes over the weekend. Now he wants

38:41

to take credit for the James Harden trade to the

38:43

Clippers working out. He wants credit for that. There's

38:47

never accountability with that guy. There's

38:49

never accountability. Austin, we

38:52

appreciate you. That's the

38:54

way my story goes. Hello, I'm sorry Austin.

38:56

Yes, your shot is already there. Chop it or

38:58

drop it. I have to chop it. First

39:01

off, I don't feel responsible to take up for my dad.

39:03

He's a grown man. He could do his own thing. But

39:05

in this regard, I just simply don't agree with it. For

39:08

someone who's not accountable,

39:10

he seems to always be held responsible, considering he's the

39:12

guy that's always fired when things don't go right. He

39:15

got fired in the bubble for

39:17

a 3-1 lead versus the Denver Nuggets, which

39:19

in half his team didn't want

39:21

to be there. They had players saying that their mind wasn't there.

39:23

He had guys leave. That happened. Then he gets

39:25

fired for losing to a team that was favored over him,

39:28

which was a Celtics last year. Seems

39:31

like he's always responsible. It's just a

39:33

strange coming from JJ. And I have

39:35

love for JJ. You're my dukie. You know that. You're

39:38

my bro. I love you. It's just your best

39:40

years were with the Clippers. I don't think he

39:42

saved your career. I appreciate you, Pat. But I

39:44

don't think... This

39:47

just seems a little bit weird. They're 3-7. Damon's

39:50

missed most of those games. Milton's missed a lot of

39:52

those games. They haven't even had their full team yet.

39:54

We'll see what happens. The pressure is there. They do

39:56

have to perform. But in terms of accountability,

39:58

like what are we doing here? Here's in the

40:00

N B, A or when you play for him

40:02

in the Clippers. Let's not. Forget

40:05

that. Out authors like frustration error. There's tension

40:07

there between you and a lot of times we had

40:09

to sit you towards the end of the game due

40:11

to decent the reasons but you had your best years

40:13

as a starter there especially our whole system was drafted

40:16

or entrepreneur shooter. you're not a guy who put them

40:18

on the floor you are strictly suit guy. you're not

40:20

likely positive stuff for the put them on the for

40:22

your guy who protest in suits and you did it

40:25

at a high level. Hell of a career by the

40:27

with extent but your best years were under him as

40:29

is very ironic and had a weird. That

40:31

you had this energy towards him in terms

40:33

of him never ever been accountable considering he's

40:35

always been responsible or that would be my

40:38

response plug. This is. The simply tough

40:40

Love. Between our analyst l know what

40:42

I'm saying. Is that

40:44

we still don't write survey on his early with a that's

40:46

all. For about this

40:48

he has and second have coverage. To foster

40:50

with M B a Friday doubleheader. I don't

40:53

have a missile mechanical. Things a service at

40:55

Seven Thirty Eastern than it is Max

40:57

a pianist and the bus is Anthony

40:59

Edwards and The Timberwolves. Are. Covered soft of

41:01

course with every countdown on E S P

41:04

N and the advantage of. The

41:06

season of anything or the last segment

41:08

said we're not ways now coming up

41:11

next on M B A today we

41:13

won best the best place from the

41:15

first half of the season. all the

41:17

waiters, Rainmaker the game winner and so

41:19

much. More. Do not miss It Will right there.

41:29

Was a matter me as an aimless some fun

41:31

with sat in. On top of the top brought

41:34

to you by Navy Federal Credit. Union so

41:36

plays on the first half of

41:38

the and the A season. Let's

41:40

start with creativity okay so sorry

41:43

caliber his. Mother's. Mother's

41:46

he wears a suit will seen

41:48

in a little off the Glasgow

41:50

Odyssey Terrorism Task Force type of

41:52

movie. A fast. he leads the league in

41:54

assists. How badass! Hearth. Know

41:58

that was imposed or not, but we're just for. I've

42:00

never seen it before but I mean we the ruff ruff that

42:02

is some sort it out of bed as you get an asus.

42:05

Your. Insurance he said okay, that's cool.

42:07

How about. This right here. Oh man. this might

42:09

have been a plate of the season. Or just I

42:11

just love the posts a canal smoother was and then you

42:13

know who. The a

42:16

man that was like okay, let's

42:18

go to Top Ankle Snap surveys.

42:20

Oh he's that you back

42:22

on the air or number

42:24

again. I know

42:26

when what is your suit or what

42:28

do you think it would you rather

42:30

clown? I'm a little bit but since

42:33

I'm gail of has it affected as

42:35

long as it was no fix. All

42:37

young for mills said that hold the

42:39

temperature went down in New York often

42:41

thrown not assume they're finally decent here

42:43

with bring that the authors him and

42:45

me when brown and looks are gonna

42:47

look as usual for the final status.

42:49

So below have a path that with

42:52

plane okay three phase have a rain

42:54

of makers. Okay, the second new categories

42:56

are right. Oh I remember this is

42:58

a huge three. suffering Officers in Against

43:01

the Law says was I mean he

43:03

didn't even have time to look at

43:05

the room. Sounds unbelievable. Not the definition

43:07

of on time on target. How about

43:10

young kids with this? See the bag

43:12

over the when, moving on and for

43:14

the banks, you know where? Oh no,

43:16

I'm not into their. Like

43:19

low. Bar okay then we'll have another that

43:21

he says things on plus son logo out

43:23

as a city that because acid authored a

43:26

missile half court for the oh my goodness

43:28

yeah for real or I. Visit

43:31

though we're going to start with them Are

43:33

the roses? Okay, all.

43:37

Sides has an explainer you know

43:39

not and I would wager money

43:41

can can support the sexes. Are

43:43

sensitive. We're going to talk about assistant

43:45

professor this guy right here sneakily. Mrs.

43:49

Know was one of the doctor

43:52

and his own decisions water and

43:54

by okay and then here's another

43:56

one flew them like is is

43:59

or two. MSG done it what do

44:01

you think it means more when it's in that building

44:03

too that is true That's on Broadway. That is

44:05

true. Well since we're talking about theater and Showtime.

44:07

Guess what? Special birthday.

44:09

Happy birthday to Charles Barkley. Oh

44:13

61 today and he won the 93 MVP and

44:15

led the Sun to the finals in the same

44:17

season He is no doubt one of the greatest

44:20

players to sorry never win a ring I mean

44:22

Michael Jordan he did do that to more than

44:24

one player, but he does have four Emmys So

44:26

the hardware it really came later. So

44:29

in honor of the legend in the game

44:31

his birthday Why don't you give us a little

44:33

bit on my list? Momo's list that was

44:36

Austin bliss on current players that

44:38

need a ring Okay Well first of this is only

44:40

out of respect because these guys are all top of the

44:42

top each one of these players had Careers, I wish I

44:44

could have we're gonna start here with number one. Let's go

44:46

with James Hart. Oh number five We're so far. We're going

44:48

low Okay, we got a

44:50

little bit of so many little that time He's

44:53

young off an MVP year probably would have got another one

44:55

this year I think next year will be their biggest year

44:58

when he has a chance to get off of this list

45:00

But I gotta put Joel and beat in there cuz it

45:02

is eight years Especially if they get a star in the

45:04

off season and then it's really on for sure. No, that

45:06

ring. Okay Okay, number four. Let's go to it Yeah,

45:10

Daniel Lillard One

45:13

of the baddest men that I've gotten to play against in

45:15

the NBA mr. Clutch you see it right here Now

45:18

he's on a contending team for real. So I got to

45:20

put him on the list man. This is year what 12

45:22

for him Yeah, he weren't they we were just talking about

45:24

he's the oldest player in the Eastern 33

45:27

this is a guy that I want to see content at a

45:30

high level and Finally get to see in that deep postseason run

45:32

and get a ring the buckets the second half of the season Who

45:34

do you have a three? Let's go. Let's run it. Oh

45:38

The captain Chris Paul one of the best point

45:40

guards to ever play top five point guard to

45:42

ever play There you go. JJ on the

45:45

Clippers Chris

45:47

Paul right here man. Let's see what happens with him and

45:49

the Warriors Obviously, they're having some struggles, but

45:51

everybody wants to see Chris have a ring. I'm curious

45:53

about number two. Let's go Let's run to it. Oh

45:56

Roxy What's up, baby?

45:59

Yeah Russell Westbrook If you win an

46:01

MVP and don't have a ring, obviously there's got to be a little

46:03

bit of pressure to do that. Speaking of Charles,

46:05

he did that as well, right? So yeah, I

46:07

want to see Rusty get a ring and he

46:09

has a chance this year. So am

46:11

I going to guess correct? And James Harden?

46:13

James Harden, that one? You already know what

46:16

it is. And the beard, the system, Mr.

46:18

Uno, Mr. Triple Double, along with his teammate,

46:20

Rusty. Yeah, this is a guy

46:22

that we all want to see get a ring. And

46:24

him and Russ can get off this list, man, because

46:26

the Clippers are rolling. They are now in contention. They

46:29

have a great team. And we'll see what happens,

46:31

man. Thank you. Let's end the show with where I began.

46:33

The Clippers have the most pressure. The second half of

46:35

the season, they have to deliver an NBA Finals. But hey,

46:37

we're talking about teammates. Not a bad duo right here.

46:39

And a solid doubt. It was a real doubt. We'll

46:41

see you guys tomorrow.