0:00

Thanks for listening to the Best of the

0:02

Odd Couple podcast. Be sure to catch

0:04

us live every weekday from seven

0:06

pm to ten pm Eastern four

0:08

to seven Pacific on Fox Sports

0:10

Radio. Find your local station for

0:13

The Odd Couple at Foxsports Radio

0:15

dot com, or stream us live

0:17

every day on the iHeartRadio app

0:20

by searching FSR.

0:23

You're listening to the Best of The Odd

0:25

Couple with Chris Brusha and Ron

0:27

Harker.

0:31

Let's get right into it, and speaking of USC,

0:34

Reggie Bush, good.

0:36

Segway, Chris you salling like a radio gud.

0:38

I was an easy one.

0:40

But Reggie Bush who won the Heisman

0:42

Trophy for USC in two thousand and five,

0:45

and Wow, talk about a phenomenal

0:47

college running back.

0:49

Rop. He was just incredible.

0:51

And in two thousand and five ran

0:54

for seventeen hundred and forty yards.

0:56

Rob He averaged eight point seven

0:59

yards per carry. It's

1:01

like every time you gave it to him, it was basically

1:03

a first down. I mean that, that's incredible.

1:06

He won the Heisman, he

1:09

got some goodies from

1:12

the boosters and from supporters

1:15

of USC, and then his

1:17

parents get a home.

1:18

They get a home.

1:20

Yeah, And so in twenty

1:22

ten, the NC double

1:24

A took his heisman, removed

1:27

him from he became the only person.

1:29

Was it the NC double A or chrisse of the Heisman

1:31

committee who took it?

1:32

It was heis the committity

1:34

my back.

1:35

Yeah, Heisman Trust took

1:38

his champ, his heisman from him,

1:40

the only player that had his heisman

1:42

taken. And today

1:44

rob fourteen years later, they

1:47

reinstated him as a Heisman

1:50

Trophy winner. Of course we

1:53

I'm sure I speak for both of us. It was

1:55

not like we stopped thinking of him as a Heisman

1:57

Trophy winner.

1:58

That's why taking stuff away and to

2:01

all that, it's hard to unsee

2:03

it, Chris, you know what I mean. Like, even

2:05

even if something went down, I've always said

2:07

that you can't unsee it.

2:09

You know what I mean. It happened.

2:11

It's what's good about it. I mean, it's just great

2:14

in general. But he

2:17

does get robbed. You know, even though I'm

2:19

sure everyone still thought of him as a Heisman

2:22

Trophy winner, you know, he wasn't

2:24

able to officially participate

2:27

in all the things that Hiding Trophy

2:30

winners get to. And so now

2:32

he will get those opportunities

2:34

again. So that's good for him. He

2:36

obviously has you know, made a nice had

2:39

had a solid NFL career, not what

2:41

he was expected to be. Wasn't a superstar,

2:44

but he had a solid NFL career. And

2:46

then now it's gone on to

2:49

you know, become a reputable

2:52

broadcaster and analyst Rob

2:54

so he's doing fine.

2:56

Doesn't change good fact, it

2:58

still doesn't change what took

3:00

place, you know, and you could question

3:03

whether or not they ever should have done it, but at

3:05

the time where the rules

3:07

were in place, nothing really changes.

3:09

I mean, the Heisman didn't say, oh, he

3:12

didn't do what he was exonerated. It's just

3:14

that they decided to give it back. I don't know what

3:16

to say.

3:16

Now what he did is like

3:20

not against the rules anymore. Players

3:22

can get you know, in it.

3:24

But at that time when he was there, I

3:26

hear what you're saying. It's just like, Chris, we

3:28

used to drive around. It would be like you know what it would

3:30

be like. It would be like

3:33

when we were kids. And I talk about this

3:36

all the time, being in my dad's El Dorado

3:38

Chris drop top, you

3:41

know, with the kids and the neighborhood kids, six

3:44

of us in the back seat, bouncing around.

3:46

No one.

3:48

Yeah, man, we be in the front seat.

3:49

No we being because the big

3:53

seats right right there were like no middle

3:55

right.

3:56

It was like a couch.

3:57

I'd be bouncing around in the front seat.

4:00

We'd be bouncing around.

4:01

That would be like you know now giving

4:03

people tickets saying we know that you weren't wearing

4:06

a seatbelt. You know what I mean, Like we

4:08

weren't wearing a seatbelt. But it wasn't a

4:10

law back then. But anyway, Chris,

4:13

I'm gonna go off on a little bit

4:15

of a side note here, okay, and

4:20

as this Reggie Bush getting his Heisman

4:22

trophy back as

4:25

a backdrop, I'm

4:28

calling out all

4:30

former athletes who have podcasts

4:32

and platforms, Chris, in

4:34

these United States, Hello,

4:38

is this on?

4:39

This is for you.

4:43

We want receipts.

4:47

You talk about it all the time that you

4:49

got awhere, I got receipts.

4:51

We want receipts.

4:53

Since Reggie Bush got his Heisman

4:56

back, Chris, Obviously,

4:58

schools aren't gonna punish people. Hall

5:01

of Fames aren't gonna punish people. Right,

5:03

All that's out the window now. So you

5:05

know what I want. I want all

5:07

these big mouthed athletes who

5:10

know more than they've ever let out on

5:12

these podcasts to speak up

5:15

and come cleanse yourself. I

5:17

want you to come clean finally.

5:20

Yes, Gilbert Arenas, I'm talking to

5:22

you. Yes, Draymond Green, I'm

5:24

talking to you. Yes, JJ Reddick,

5:27

I'm talking to you. I

5:29

want you to finally be in the truth

5:31

business. Stop wasting

5:34

the airtime, all right,

5:36

just to hear yourself talk.

5:38

Wow.

5:38

You know what fans people want to hear

5:40

from you. They

5:42

want you to give them the real goods.

5:46

Blow the lid off of this. You know what

5:48

we want? Names and

5:50

figures, Chris, who gave

5:52

you money? How much did they

5:55

give you? How did they give it to

5:57

you? How did you move around

5:59

in college? Tell us how it was

6:01

all done. Because we know it's out

6:03

there, Chris, and these guys have held

6:06

this in forever. Who's

6:08

got the guts, who's got

6:10

the kid Jonez, Who's got

6:12

the gumption to finally stand

6:15

up and pull the curtain

6:17

back? Those coaches that paid

6:19

you and those other people, Chris, they're

6:21

already in the Hall of Fame.

6:23

What are they gonna do? Take them out?

6:26

Come clean. I

6:28

want to hear all of it.

6:31

They did the Fab five, dirty

6:33

Chris Webber, all those guys they

6:36

got caught. Chris, tell us

6:38

who gave you the money? How much?

6:40

Was it was the university? In on,

6:43

it was the president? How did they deliver

6:45

the cash? That's

6:47

what I want to hear from these guys right

6:49

now. I don't want to hear anything else.

6:51

Don't celebrate Reggie Bush. Come

6:54

clean, stop it.

6:56

Let us know what has gone on in sports,

6:58

college sports, Chris for a long time,

7:01

and it doesn't look like there'll

7:03

be any retribution against you.

7:05

Here's the time to cleanse

7:07

yourself.

7:09

No.

7:09

I think that's a great take.

7:12

I agree,

7:14

but I mean, look, and the athletes

7:16

were wrong for taking,

7:19

you know, the money.

7:20

It was illegal at that time.

7:23

But Rob, I,

7:25

if you're calling out the athletes and

7:28

not just the ones with the platforms, any

7:31

athlete, any big time athlete,

7:33

former athlete, can get on

7:35

a mic if he

7:37

wants to say something, he don't have to have a

7:39

podcast.

7:40

He can go on somebody's podcasts and

7:43

say it.

7:44

But Rob, I have always

7:47

felt, while yes, the

7:49

players broke rules and took

7:51

money, that the

7:54

players always got the

7:56

raw end of the deal because

7:59

whenever some was caught, it

8:02

was these college players, these

8:05

teenagers. In many cases, some

8:08

of whom, many of whom were from incredibly

8:10

impoverished backgrounds.

8:13

And I'm not justifying it, but I'm

8:15

saying.

8:15

The adults, the

8:19

corporate businessmen, the

8:21

wealthy boosters of these

8:23

teams, these college teams, these programs,

8:26

these distinguished alumni, they

8:29

got all Scott free.

8:32

Everybody jumped on the eighteen year

8:34

old from the hood who was, you

8:37

know, struggling financially because

8:39

he took money and his mom took money.

8:42

But the wealthy businessman

8:44

who was respected in the city, if

8:47

not the state and the country, he.

8:50

Got all scott free.

8:53

So why don't they come clean too?

8:57

Now, the athletes, they can do

9:00

that, Chris here right to the point they

9:03

can name.

9:04

Yeah, they can name those names.

9:07

I mean, look, like

9:09

you said, there's not gonna be any retribution,

9:12

I mean presumably, right. So

9:14

I'm not so much into if they want

9:16

to name names and everything,

9:19

that's fine. But Rob and

9:21

I know you, you and I feel differently

9:23

about the players podcast. I like their podcasts.

9:26

Now.

9:26

I know they're not hard hitting journalists,

9:29

but their stories are

9:32

great. The fact that

9:34

they act like themselves where

9:36

they might not in most cases with journalists,

9:39

it's great. You really get

9:41

to know these guys for who they are and

9:44

if they just tell the stories. Man,

9:47

when I was at such and such a place, we

9:50

got.

9:50

One hundred.

9:52

I got one hundred thousand dollars each

9:55

year I was there. They

9:57

took me there, man, my recruiting trip.

10:00

They did this, they did that.

10:03

I was like, well, hold on, I can't take this right.

10:05

Well and so and so the

10:08

Hall of Fame coach told me, you

10:10

know, look, man, everybody, you know, whatever

10:12

it is, I want

10:14

to hear the stories, rob because

10:16

the stories would be great. And you've been

10:18

around athletes enough and I have to where

10:21

they joke about it, you know,

10:23

joker.

10:24

Yeah, you know, I went. I

10:26

went.

10:27

I went here because they was giving me more money,

10:29

you know, and laugh about it and stuff like that.

10:32

But now, like you said, they can tell

10:35

the truth and you

10:37

know it. That's entertaining.

10:39

And that is what we want from the athletes,

10:42

right, We want the things

10:44

from the athletes that

10:46

no one else.

10:47

Can give you.

10:48

That's what I'm talking.

10:49

I can give you and now it's right,

10:52

somebody else can give you analysis. We

10:54

can't tell you what it was like to actually

10:56

be a big time athlete.

10:58

Nope.

10:59

And behind the scenes store here's

11:01

the other thing to Chris, And this is where I

11:03

fall. Players all the time. You talk about

11:05

all the time about the players left holding the bag.

11:08

A lot of times they won't snitch

11:10

whatever you want to call it on the coaches,

11:13

Chris, the Rick Patino with the prostitutes

11:16

and all that.

11:17

You know, like they won't They just

11:19

they took that. They just took the.

11:21

Fall for all that when when

11:23

you me and you both know, I mean

11:25

just logically, ain't no way prostitutes

11:28

were in the dorm and Rick Patino didn't know about

11:30

it.

11:30

I don't care what you couldn't tell

11:33

me any where? Was this assistant getting

11:35

the money.

11:35

From he's paying for He's a

11:37

grad assistant, Chris making peanuts

11:40

paying for prostitutes.

11:41

Who would believe that story? And if.

11:45

If your coach found out out and he didn't know anything

11:47

about it, and you got on him,

11:50

he's and he's firing

11:52

you.

11:53

You know, are you? You would at least fear that he

11:56

might fire you. So come on,

11:58

you're absolutely right.

11:59

Be sure to catch line editions of The Odd

12:01

Couple with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker

12:03

weekdays at seven pm Eastern, four

12:05

pm Pacific on Fox Sports

12:08

Radio and the iHeartRadio app.

12:10

Hey, what's up everybody?

12:11

It's me three time pro bowler LeVar Arrington

12:14

and I couldn't be more excited to announce

12:16

a podcast called up on Game?

12:19

What is up on Game?

12:20

You asked, along with my fellow pro

12:22

bowler TJ.

12:23

Hutschman Zada and Super Bowl

12:25

champion Yup, that's right, Plexico

12:27

Burris, you can only name a show with

12:30

that type of talent on it. Up on Game

12:32

We're going to be sharing our real life experiences

12:35

loaded with teachable moments.

12:37

Listen to Up on Game with Me LeVar

12:40

Arrington, TJ. Huschman Zada, and Plexico

12:43

Burrs on the iHeartRadio app,

12:45

Apple Podcasts or wherever

12:48

you get your podcast from.

12:51

Did you pick the Knicks? I picked the Knicks in seven?

12:55

Did you pick the Knicks over the Sixers

12:57

or no?

12:57

Yes, I was with you on that.

12:59

Well they're up one to ozer.

13:01

Rob and and I think

13:03

we both said, look, if Joe LMB were

13:05

healthy, we would have picked the Sixers,

13:08

but of course he's not. Now he did play

13:10

thirty seven minutes, twenty

13:13

nine points, eight boards, six

13:15

dimes, and Rob

13:17

they were the Sixers were plus fourteen

13:21

in the thirty seven minutes he played,

13:23

but minus twenty one in

13:27

the what is that

13:29

eleven minutes that he didn't play, and

13:32

they're in lies the problem and

13:35

Rob he's playing to night.

13:37

There were question marks about him playing.

13:39

He kind of re injured his knee, did

13:42

a great play through the ball off the glass

13:44

in traffic, caught it, dunked

13:47

it, but came down I

13:49

guess awkwardly and left

13:51

the game for a little while, but came back and finished

13:54

up and played. As I said, played

13:56

thirty seven minutes, so he

13:59

was fine throughout the game, but he

14:03

was a question mark. He is playing, and Tyrese

14:05

Maxy was ill or has

14:08

an illness, but he's playing through it, probably the

14:10

flu or something like that.

14:11

But Rob, I'm

14:16

just if I.

14:17

Man if I was the Sixers, I

14:20

would be so frustrated

14:22

with Joe LMB. And they're legitimate

14:25

injuries most of the time, you

14:28

know the need. He's got a maniscause,

14:30

he had surgery. Like it's not

14:32

like he's faking or anything. It's

14:34

not like he's just soft, but

14:36

he's never healthy at

14:39

this time of year. And Rob,

14:41

we've talked about a lot of guys that

14:44

fade in the playoffs, of

14:46

course, James Harden most notably,

14:49

we'll get to D'Angelo Russell with the Lakers,

14:51

although he's not on these guys level.

14:54

But Joe LMB ROB checked this out.

14:57

In his last ten

15:01

playoff games that he's played in or

15:03

I actually I should say nine that

15:06

he's played, he

15:08

has only shot fifty percent

15:10

or better. Once that's

15:12

that's mind bottom. He's a seven to two

15:15

seven feet whatever. He is three

15:17

hundred pounds. And I

15:21

do think, Rob, We've talked

15:23

a lot. Last year's scoring average went

15:25

down ten points in the playoffs.

15:28

But I'm gonna be honest, I.

15:30

Think a lot of it and this is

15:32

is at this point.

15:33

It's not like this

15:35

is protecting him. I

15:37

do think though a lot of it is.

15:39

He's always banged up, like tonight

15:42

he's playing, But what is he seventy

15:44

percent seventy five percent?

15:47

And I said last week, Rob, it's at

15:49

the point where I just bake in Joe

15:52

LMB being hurt in the playoffs. Now

15:55

he may play generally, will miss

15:57

a game or two only

15:59

one time.

16:00

I'm in his several.

16:01

Years in the playoffs, Rob, has he

16:03

ever played every playoff game? And

16:06

I was in twenty twenty, but

16:08

they only played four games. They got swept by

16:10

Boston. And

16:14

every other year he's missed at least

16:16

a game or two. But Rob,

16:18

even the games he plays, he's

16:21

banged up. And

16:24

so I'll

16:26

be honest, if I were the Sixers,

16:30

and because I don't think they're gonna win this series

16:32

with him, he'll probably miss the

16:34

game or so, and

16:37

I think they'll lose a series just

16:39

because he's not able to be at his best.

16:43

But Rob, the Sixers have tons

16:45

of money under the salary

16:47

cap this year.

16:49

I mean they're gonna they could actually, I think sime

16:52

close to two MAX players, least

16:55

one, and then they'll have plenty

16:58

left after that. If

17:00

I weren't in that position and I were

17:02

the Sixers, I would

17:06

I probably would start shopping Joel inbi

17:10

And even because I'm the reason I won't

17:12

now is because I want to see.

17:13

You know, can we add maybe

17:16

trade?

17:16

You know that when you're that far under the cap you

17:19

can make really it helps you with trades

17:21

too, So can

17:23

we trade for Donovan Mitchell?

17:25

Can we sign a Paul George?

17:29

I don't think they'll go after Lebron necessarily,

17:31

but if I was just trying to win

17:33

it next year, go all in.

17:36

I might I would go after him. I don't think he'll go

17:38

there. But but my point is, Rob,

17:41

I want to see what I can get to put around

17:43

and be this summer. But

17:47

I even that being the case, Rob,

17:51

my phone is call

17:53

me some

17:55

other team out there, any of you teams.

17:58

Call me.

17:59

I'll listen, and I'll listen

18:01

in earnest. I'm not saying I'll trading. I'm

18:03

not saying I'll do anything like that. But

18:06

call me and let's see

18:08

what you're willing to offer. Because

18:11

Rob, I don't I just don't think and

18:14

I'm not even blaming it on him,

18:16

but I don't think he's gonna be.

18:18

Healthy at this time of year.

18:20

Ever, it's hard

18:22

for you.

18:23

I hear your case you're making,

18:26

but to think somebody will never be healthy

18:30

and the whole idea off. You're the Sixers. You're

18:32

not trying to win ten NBA

18:34

championships. You're just trying to make one.

18:37

You're trying to win one to justify everything

18:39

that's going on. You're

18:41

trying to be like, trust

18:43

the process, and they didn't trust

18:46

the process, and they've made

18:48

a lot of changes and people can't

18:50

I know the process is on a

18:53

wobbly leg, right, Chris, now, but

18:55

you get my point is it's about trying

18:57

to win a championship.

18:59

No, and if you can just hold

19:01

out hope. It's like the Clippers the

19:05

Kaui thing.

19:07

It really is, like the quiet thing is like, dude,

19:11

they could have easily not signed them, Chris. We know

19:13

they're moving into a billion dollar arena. You

19:15

think not to get off on the big

19:17

tangent. But I don't think they should have signed

19:19

it. I think they should have. I

19:22

do and and and only because

19:27

you keep saying this can't

19:29

happen forever, like there's gonna be a year.

19:32

He's not an old guy where

19:34

he's gonna be healthy and we'll have a real

19:36

shot to win. And if you're the Clippers with

19:39

that organization, to have a player of that ilk

19:42

who it's not like he's not playing because

19:44

he doesn't want to play. This is the most

19:46

unbelievable thing. And the same thing with Joel Embiid

19:49

because we see him, Chris, when he plays, he's

19:52

great. He's a guy that you look

19:54

at him and say, with the right

19:56

stuff around him, he could win a championship

19:59

for us. But they come postseason

20:01

time, he's not right and

20:04

it shrinks as well, you know

20:06

what I mean.

20:06

So that's I don't know, do you think, See

20:09

I can't honestly say

20:12

he shrinks.

20:13

I don't know.

20:14

I think a lot of it is he's never

20:17

one hundred percent. Now you may be right too, you

20:19

know, it's it's on the table.

20:21

But I just well, if you can't

20:24

playing, sure, and we

20:26

talk about all the time, if

20:28

you're hurt and you can't, if you hurt

20:31

your team, sometimes you have to step to the side

20:33

if you're really can't, you know,

20:35

play.

20:35

And he doesn't hurt him, but he's just not

20:37

what what he's used to, right, I

20:42

don't know.

20:43

I just I don't think that they can move that

20:46

that route that they are

20:48

going to run.

20:48

How many teams do you think?

20:50

Like he's got three years about one hundred and sixty

20:52

five million left on his contract anyway,

20:55

so it's not like it's going to be easy to move anyway.

20:59

Right.

21:00

And again I'm not saying I'm not shopping

21:03

him. I'm just open

21:05

to listening. Maybe somebody

21:07

will blow my socks off, right,

21:10

I don't want to, but r And here's

21:12

why I say, I don't think he'll be healthy

21:16

because he's thirty, saying

21:18

with what is Kawhi about thirty two now

21:21

thirty three? Like you don't get healthier

21:23

as you get older, right, It's one thing if

21:25

he were twenty five and you'll be like, yeah,

21:28

he's getting old. He's gonna keep getting older, of course,

21:30

but still he's a young man.

21:33

He could get a library. Kawhi is about to turn

21:35

thirty three in June. They're

21:38

not gonna get healthier, no, no, no, I

21:40

get it.

21:41

But but if you're if you're.

21:44

Baumer Chris with the Clippers owner

21:47

and you're like, he's thirty three,

21:49

can can I get me a championship?

21:51

I've built this new I just want one,

21:54

you know.

21:54

And of Kawhi, okay, not

21:57

healthy this year, maybe he's healthy later on whatever.

21:59

I don't all but if we

22:01

win next year in the new building and he has

22:03

and he's healthy, it'll be all worth it for him.

22:06

Because a you got to try to sell tickets with

22:09

Marquee players. It's a business, right sign

22:11

Paul George. We always talk about it, but

22:15

Paul George isn't as big of a draw.

22:17

He's not as good, but he's more

22:20

dependent.

22:21

And he got his issues too, right,

22:25

and and then I'm watching Harden.

22:27

If Harden plays.

22:28

Well during this series and we'll get into him

22:30

too, I would bring him

22:33

back. But like Kawhi, it's not

22:35

like I wouldn't have wanted to bring it back.

22:36

No one year deal, not

22:39

a one year in the team option.

22:40

Good luck, I hear you.

22:42

Well, okay, let's see what you What you're talking

22:44

about makes good business sense, but it doesn't

22:46

work like that.

22:47

And you know it.

22:48

I mean, we talk about all the time about

22:50

those one year deals.

22:52

And I have to prove it or whatever. It's

22:54

just we thought it would. I thought that we Kyrie,

22:57

that's what they should. But Kyrie's

22:59

credit, he's you know, he's been great.

23:01

But there's always somebody who's gonna give him the years,

23:03

you know what I mean.

23:05

Yeah, I'll say.

23:06

Let me say this last thing too about HIMBA Rob,

23:09

because we know he's a great jump shooter. I've

23:11

always wanted him to go down a lot more, but

23:14

I accept, I mean, he is a phenomenal

23:17

jump.

23:18

Shooter, particularly in the mid range, so

23:20

I accept that that's a huge part of his

23:22

game.

23:23

But he I do think Rob

23:25

as big as he is, probably

23:28

moving on the perimeter of the way he

23:31

does puts more, you

23:34

know, stress on his joints. With

23:36

that size. I mean, he's not just tall, he's

23:38

like big. And if

23:41

he would go down on the block more and

23:44

not have to It's not like I expect

23:46

him to just dunk on everybody like Shaq did,

23:49

but just some his with his size,

23:51

he can get the space down there, some

23:53

jump hooks here and there. You don't

23:56

have to run as much, you don't have to move

23:58

as much, you're gonna be getting fat.

24:00

Like I would like to see

24:02

him do more of that because

24:06

I think that will help him health wise. But

24:09

you know, I've been saying that for years, not

24:11

so much because of his health, but just because I

24:14

think he'd be effective obviously down there.

24:16

But now I'm saying it because of his health, because

24:19

hopefully it will take some of the wear and

24:21

tear off.

24:21

Fox Sports Radio has the best sports

24:23

talk lineup in the nation. Catch all

24:26

of our shows at foxsports Radio dot

24:28

com and within the iHeartRadio

24:30

app search FSR to listen

24:32

live.

24:34

But rob Last.

24:35

Night for all intents and purposes,

24:38

the Denver Nuggets eliminated

24:40

the Los Angeles Lakers.

24:42

They're up three to zero.

24:44

No team has ever come back from

24:47

a three to zero deficit to win a

24:50

playoff series. Rob g checked that

24:52

out, but I believe I'm right. I

24:54

know in the broadcast last night they said teams

24:58

when you're up three to oero, teams are one fifty

25:00

one and zero.

25:01

Wow. Yeah, so yeah so. And

25:04

obviously.

25:07

That's because Rob, when you go up three

25:09

to zero, there's a reason

25:11

you're generally the better team, right

25:14

right, And clearly Denver is the better

25:16

team. Not only are they the better

25:18

team, Rob, but they are a nightmarish

25:22

matchup for the Lakers.

25:23

I don't necessarily know why.

25:26

I mean, I have said the teams

25:28

that have given Lebron James the most

25:31

trouble in his career have

25:33

been teams

25:36

like really balanced teams,

25:39

smart teams. They move

25:42

the ball, they play five man

25:44

basketball rather than one or two man

25:46

basketball where one or two guys you

25:49

know, controls and dominates the ball

25:51

and sets everybody up. And

25:55

that I go the Boston Celtics

25:58

of the Big Three when Lebron was in Cleveland.

26:02

The San Antonio Spurs, even

26:04

at Tim Duncan's advanced age

26:06

late in his career, gave Miami

26:09

all that wanted beat him in one finals,

26:11

crushed them in one finals, and

26:13

almost beat them in another. And

26:15

that's when Lebron was at the height of his powers,

26:17

with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh beside him,

26:20

and then Golden State of course, and

26:23

now Denver.

26:23

Rob.

26:24

And here's what I want to

26:26

say about last night. There's

26:30

a lot I could say, but I

26:32

want to focus on Nakola Jokic. Rob,

26:35

And I know you do too. For

26:37

all those young people

26:39

out there who didn't

26:42

see Magic Johnson

26:44

and Larry Bird play, and

26:48

you know, you might see a little bit on YouTube

26:51

or stuff like that, but you really didn't.

26:52

You didn't see their careers. This

26:56

is what it was like.

26:58

Because Rob, last night,

27:02

I thought Nikola Jokic

27:04

dominated that game without

27:08

scoring or taking shots.

27:10

And I know he ended up with twenty four points,

27:12

but.

27:12

He was He only took thirteen

27:14

shots, Rob, Like, he

27:17

was not looking to score,

27:20

looking for his own, you

27:22

know shots, But

27:24

he controlled that game. And

27:27

that's how Larry Bird and Magic Johnson

27:30

were. They could control the game and be the

27:32

best player on the floor without

27:34

scoring or scoring

27:36

a lot. And people might look

27:38

at Magic Johnson's stats today

27:41

and say, oh, he.

27:42

Only averaged nineteen points a game.

27:44

You know, he obviously has the highest career

27:46

average and assists with eleven. But

27:48

they might look at that and say, was he

27:50

he really? Is he really

27:53

a top five player? They might

27:55

look at Larry Bird? Larry Bird never

27:57

led the league in scoring? Was he really

28:00

one of the greatest scores ever? Come on, I

28:02

hear about birds jumper and are you really?

28:06

Yes? Really?

28:08

And so they were able, They

28:10

were great pastors. Rob Larry Bird,

28:12

as you know, was a phenomenal passer. It was

28:14

magic. Was the best passer ever by

28:17

a mile. Don't give me this Lebron

28:20

or Mark Jackson or

28:22

Steve.

28:23

Nash or Johnson.

28:25

Nobody could pass the ball

28:27

like Magic Johnson.

28:28

I always remember him coming down fast

28:31

break, just no look like

28:34

he was Rob.

28:35

He did real no looks

28:38

where he's really looking to a lot of times

28:40

guys, you know, they'll look away as they're

28:42

passing it, or they'll you know, or

28:44

even after.

28:45

They've passed it.

28:46

No, he would be looking the opposite

28:49

way the whole time down and pass it

28:51

to somebody the other way. So

28:54

that's this is what they did.

28:57

And Rob, here's the second part of that.

29:01

Everybody, all their teammates

29:03

all of Jokic's teammates are

29:06

able to be the best version of

29:08

themselves. Aaron

29:10

Gordon has never been this good. He

29:13

is able to be exact the absolute

29:15

best he can be. Michael

29:17

Porter Junior, catch and shoot,

29:19

baby, that's what I want to do.

29:21

He's able to be the best version he

29:23

can be. Now.

29:24

Maybe he would go somewhere else and get more

29:26

shots and average more points,

29:29

but he wouldn't play better than he's playing

29:31

now. He has not had to say, oh,

29:33

I gotta take that part of my game out

29:35

of it because we got Jokic, I can't do

29:38

this. No, and Jamal

29:40

Murray obviously able to be the best

29:43

version of himself now, Rob That's

29:45

what happened with Magic and Bird, James

29:48

Worthy, Kareem abdul

29:50

Jabbar, Byron Scott.

29:52

They didn't have to

29:55

take away some of any of their game for

29:57

Magic. They were able

29:59

to accep and do exactly what

30:01

they do best because he was

30:03

the unselfish playmaker making

30:06

sure they got fed. And

30:08

same with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert

30:11

Parrish, Dennis Johnson. They

30:13

could do what they do and

30:16

you see very few players like

30:18

that. Lebron is not like that

30:21

Jordan wasn't like that, Dwayne

30:23

Wade, iverson, a

30:26

lot.

30:26

Of most players are not like that.

30:29

That's what makes these three

30:31

so special, and

30:34

so that's why the

30:36

Lakers can't touch them because

30:39

their main guy is about

30:41

getting everybody to play their best

30:43

and everybody involved, and

30:46

then when they don't have it going, guess what, I

30:48

will put forty on your head. So

30:51

that's what I see from it. You

30:53

know what I see, Chris, and I hear you all the way. What

30:57

I see is has

31:00

the Joker entered the

31:04

shack space? Chris?

31:06

When the Lakers won the three in a row and

31:08

Shaq was almost it was unstoppable

31:13

in the postseason and put up

31:15

ridiculous. Now it's a different game. No, don't get me wrong.

31:17

I'm not saying he's playing the same game or

31:20

you know what I mean, or the same way. But

31:23

Shaq was unstoppable every

31:26

night.

31:27

What are you doing? How do you stop the Joker?

31:30

Chris? What is going Who is going

31:32

to be the.

31:32

Guy to stop him and stop

31:35

this team for maybe winning three in a row

31:37

like like when Shaq and Kobe did it for real,

31:39

And it's even more impressive because he don't have a

31:41

Kobe.

31:42

Right, No, you're right, do you know what I mean, he don't

31:45

have that.

31:46

If he rob if he wins this championship

31:48

and maybe another one, whether it's a three peter or

31:50

just you know. Yeah,

31:54

like when we start debating

31:57

where he ranks, the

32:00

fact that he didn't have a Kobe and and

32:02

quite I mean, he didn't have what Magic had

32:04

and you know Kareem had.

32:07

When he had four Hall of Famers

32:09

on that Celtics team, at least three, right.

32:11

And look, and let's keep it real.

32:14

If they do go on some type of dynastic

32:16

run, then a lot

32:18

of these guys, you know, a couple like Jamal

32:21

will definitely make the Hall of Fame.

32:22

Oh yeah, yeah, you know.

32:24

I mean, let's just keep it.

32:26

Michael Cooper just got in, so but Gordon

32:29

could make it if they keep winning. Michael,

32:32

you know who knows. But no,

32:34

you're right, he doesn't. And that's like that

32:38

is this is a team. And that's why Rob

32:40

me and I.

32:40

Said this before.

32:42

You know a lot of people look at the nineties and say,

32:44

oh, teams only had one or two stars back

32:46

then.

32:46

It was watered down. No, they played

32:49

team basketball.

32:50

This is a great example for you they

32:53

got one two stars,

32:55

although Murray's never made an All Star team,

32:58

and they're running through the league because

33:00

it's about playing together. When you've

33:02

got talent and you play together

33:05

and every man can be his best man,

33:08

that's that's tough to beat. As

33:11

far as Shaq, I think that's fair. I

33:13

mean, obviously, like you said, they're completely different

33:15

players.

33:16

I'm just talking about the dominance in

33:18

the postseason, and nobody

33:20

could stop Shack and I'm waiting for somebody

33:23

to stop the joker. That's that's my only point.

33:25

Nothing else do they have in common? You

33:27

got it? That's

33:30

all I'm saying.

33:31

Yeah, nobody's stopping

33:33

him.

33:33

Who's stopping him?

33:34

Yeah, I mean who's coming along the time? And again

33:36

he let me say that, how do you stop him?

33:38

You might hold him to nineteen or he might

33:41

only score nineteen or twenty

33:43

one, but that means he's getting

33:45

everybody else involved.

33:46

How about this AD's playing

33:48

great, It doesn't matter. Chris AD's

33:51

playing great, doesn't matter.

33:53

He's going forty showing

33:55

up in the fourth quarters for whatever reason,

33:57

at least the last two games. But yeah,

33:59

no, I mean you can't. Yes,

34:02

we can look at that, and look, he

34:04

does have to be better than the fourth numbers

34:07

going on. But numbers

34:09

overall are great. Lebron's numbers

34:11

are well. Lebron was last

34:14

night. It was interesting.

34:16

I don't know if he was worn out,

34:18

Rob.

34:20

He had his little spurts, but

34:23

he really didn't you know, he

34:25

didn't put any type of fingerprint

34:27

on that game last night or imprint on

34:29

that game, and

34:32

and didn't seem to be you know, he

34:34

just like I said, I don't know if he was gassed

34:37

or worn down or what, but

34:41

you know, he didn't play poorly, but certainly

34:44

didn't put an imprint on the game.

34:46

But now I think I

34:49

don't know.

34:50

Look, I will

34:52

say this, it is not going

34:55

to be a cakewalk.

34:57

I don't think for the Nuggets.

34:59

No, I'm not saying and that right they got they

35:01

got Minnesota or

35:03

Phoenix Necks, and and both

35:05

of those teams beat them in the regular season.

35:07

I'm not saying the kickwalk.

35:08

But I like him, man, No, I mean, they're

35:11

they're my pick, and then and they battle tested.

35:14

You know, they have a lot of things going for him. I mean,

35:17

and to me chose Mike blows the top

35:19

coach. He's a tremendous coach. And here's the other

35:21

thing too, uh Jamal

35:24

Murray, Chris he could join in at any

35:26

time because he hasn't been he hadn't shopped.

35:27

The ball one no, right, And that's that's against

35:31

Lebron and a D. And here's

35:33

here's the question.

35:34

I have, Robert, and we won't.

35:36

It won't be answered because

35:38

I have said and

35:41

I don't know if I said it on our show, I said it on

35:43

First things First. I

35:45

think the winner of which I

35:47

thought first, is that, Okay, I got

35:50

you, the winner of this series, which

35:52

I picked to beat Denver. I

35:54

felt like the winner of this series would become

35:56

in my mind, I know not most people's

35:59

the favorite to win the championship,

36:02

so I thought if the Lakers had won this, they

36:05

would have been my favorite. I don't think most people

36:07

would have said there are a lot of people wouldn't have said it, But I think

36:11

I think they're a very good team and this is

36:13

a bad matchup for them for whatever reason.

36:16

But I think

36:18

that I'm gonna be honest and say

36:20

I don't know what it is.

36:23

Are they as

36:26

they can?

36:26

They play with Minnesota and OKC

36:30

and Phoenix like in a seven game

36:32

series, Dallas, the Clippers.

36:34

How would they fare.

36:36

I thought in my mind that they could

36:38

beat those teams, But maybe

36:41

not.

36:42

Maybe they are rob what their record

36:44

says they are, which is a seventh.

36:46

Seed, right, no

36:49

matter what their talent is, Chris, They're

36:51

a seventh seed.

36:52

That's what they are. That's what they played all

36:54

year, that's who they are.

36:56

Yeah, I mean they came on strong second

36:58

half of the season, the great but yeah,

37:01

I mean.

37:01

Look, everybody else must have played

37:04

well too.

37:05

There's a lot of good teams out West,

37:07

and they still finished seventh as well

37:09

as they played as many games as they won

37:12

in these various streaks,