E.P.I.C. Podcast "Every Play Is Crucial"
Life is full of moments you cannot predict or control only experience and enjoy right? Come join Vernon, Isaac, Justin, and Jared every Wednesday where we lend our opinions about current event going on in sports. Every episode is promising to be entertaining, not necessarily informational.
E.P.I.C. Podcast "Every Play Is Crucial"
Mastering the Drafts and Debating the Future of NBA and NFL Stars
Ever wondered what goes into the strategic chess match of an NFL draft? Our panel, featuring Isaac, Boom, David, Brandon, and Jonathan, breaks down the art and science of draft picks and team strategies, ensuring you'll never watch the draft the same way again. We pay homage to O.J. Simpson, reflecting on his complex legacy and the indelible mark he left on football. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. We also dissect the future of the Golden State Warriors, the synergy between NBA players and their systems, and the importance of building strong teams around young quarterbacks. It's a playbook of insights and laughter that no sports fan should miss.
This week's episode is a slam dunk of sports analysis and spirited debates. As the NBA playoffs loom, we question if the likes of Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry could shine in different jerseys. The WNBA draft gets a full-court press, with a deep dive into the potential impact of stars like Caitlin Clark. And we're not just talking shop; we're throwing a live NFL draft party at Crossroads! Join us for real-time reactions and expert commentary as the picks roll in, and get ready to be part of a sports conversation that's more gripping than a buzzer-beater game-winner.
Strap in for a wild ride through the NBA play-ins and the shifting sands of playoff basketball. We tackle the Lakers' prospects, Zion Williamson's progress, and the Warriors' uncertain future. Then, step into the ring with us as we hype up the boxing world's upcoming bouts, including Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney. We're throwing punches with our words, and you're ringside for all the action. It's a no-holds-barred episode where sports passion and expert knowledge collide, and you've got a front-row seat.
I ran up a check I might do it again. Enemies close had me thinking they're friends. Ten toes down, I'll be freeing to the end. Crib outside the city I don't feel safe in my hands. Took so many years I've been swaying for the wins. I'm in debt to no one but the one who took my sins. I do it for real. There's no reason to pretend. If I do it once, I do it again. Add it up. Bankroll euro peso. Add it up. Bankroll euro peso. Add it up. I'm just doing me. Everything is on me. Oh, you matter what. Add it up. Bankroll euro peso. Add it up. I'm just doing me. Everything is on me. Oh, you matter what. Told you, if it's all me, everything is on me. Gon' back it up, told you, i'ma do me. Why you hating on me? It's not adding up. I do roll like a Mack truck. Country heart. I'm a couple farming.
Speaker 2:Yo yo yo. Welcome back to another episode of the Epic Podcast. We're a little light in the house today, just me and Jarrett so far. We may have Justin joining us later on, so hopefully he jumps in here to add some insight to what's been going on. But nonetheless, how's your sports week? Been man since last week.
Speaker 3:Man, it's been cool. I enjoy watching the draft. I watched the Lakers win a sweepstake to get swept last night, so they got the play-in game. They're going to get demolished by Denver Nuggets, but it's okay, it's all right. Other than that, got a good playoff game going on today. Playoff Jimmy's in full effect, so we're going to see what he do. Other than that, man, it's just been chilling. I'm about for yourself.
Speaker 2:About the same man Watched the WNBA draft, watched the playing games yesterday, both of them Kings and Warriors too.
Speaker 3:What you think about the Warriors man. You think they done.
Speaker 2:I don't think they're done. I mean, it's just hard as long as you got Steph, Steve Kerr, I mean, and that front office has been doing amazing in the draft. So to say they're done? I don't believe so.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think I agree with that man. It's just like, well, you've had something so good going for so long, I mean. And then it's like it's predicated off of being smart and shooting jumpers. It's not like any of those guys were ever just super athletic. You know what I'm saying. So it's like it. It it's hard for me to believe that IQ, iq and shooting could just go down in the toilet. So I don't really think they're done either. I mean it's. I won't say it's sad, because you know they they beat my guy up so much, but I cannot be that hater that says, oh, I'm glad.
Speaker 1:I'm not glad.
Speaker 3:Although I don't like for certain things to happen, I'm still one of those kind of people that like to see to feel comfortable in sports, and the most comfortable thing of the past decade has been the Warriors.
Speaker 2:Warriors competing? Yeah, Absolutely.
Speaker 3:Yeah. So I mean, it's just what we've seen. Like I can't wait for the Knicks to get back relevant. It's just what we've seen for the past decades. So it's just like it's odd to see them not on top or even having a chance to compete.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:That's true.
Speaker 2:No, I agree's true. No, I agree with that, I agree with that wholeheartedly. Um, but nonetheless, let's jump into some of these, uh, these topics. Man, we're gonna start off, unfortunately, with the unfortunate passing of oj simpson.
Speaker 3:Man, uh, yeah, man he was 76 years old man.
Speaker 2:Man I was looking. I actually had to dive into some of his stats and accolades and stuff Over 1,100 rushing yards and 61 touchdowns. Over 2,000 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns. He was a kick returner earlier in his career. He got 990 kick returns, only one touchdown. But the first player to watch for 2000 yards in the season.
Speaker 2:Six time pro bowler, five time first team all pro. He's a decade team member. I think he's like top 75 all time player, top 100 player, so pretty much everything you can do a running back, he done, done. When he retired man like and he was in the NFL record book for most touchdowns in the season, most rushing attempts, most rushing yards in the season, most 200-yard more games in the season like consecutive games of 200 yards rushing Like. He had a lot of stuff that he did. He had the most rushing attempts in the Pro Bowl and most rushing yards gained in the Pro Bowl.
Speaker 2:Most points Bills records he held the most points for most points in the season. Most career points touchdowns in the season. He held a lot of records, especially for the Buffalo Bills, for a long time. Right, he was the. He held a lot of records, especially for the Buffalo Bills for a long time, right, so he was an ultimate competitor at that time, especially in the 70s man, so he just really dominated, contrary to everything post-career that you may think of him, right, right, the trial to the whole situation with his memorabilia, to him being free and being freaking legend on Twitter with his outtakes. I don't know, man, I kind of keep it on the field. That's how I am with people. I don't like judging people for their personal life, because that is what it is. He's most recognized as a football player, I believe, anyway.
Speaker 3:No, no Facts. Actually, I don't know. It might have kind of turned. I don't even think some of the youngsters even know he played football. Now that I'm thinking about it, I think my first introduction to OJ Simpson was a trial, because hell, that was what 93?
Speaker 2:Somewhere around there, yeah.
Speaker 3:I wasn't even.
Speaker 2:Early to mid-90s.
Speaker 3:yeah, you know what I'm saying. I think I were actually, since, I'm being honest, I think I remember having a talk with my stepdad, like damn he played football. So yeah, I don't know, man, like you know that that. That that situation was like heavy and pop like it. Some people might only know him as the guy running from the cops or running from the cops in the white Bronco, and I just found out a couple of days ago that he wasn't even driving. I didn't know that.
Speaker 2:No, yeah, yeah, no, he wasn't driving.
Speaker 3:I did not and I found that out like three days ago that he was not a driver, so that was kind of threw me off.
Speaker 2:But that's very interesting man, we got a special guest appearance Look at that man.
Speaker 1:Man, that guy, who's that?
Speaker 2:guy. Who's that guy? Who's that guy? Let me get him in here properly, because these screens are messed up right now there it goes.
Speaker 3:What's good with it, man?
Speaker 4:Man, y'all got it. What's going on?
Speaker 3:Man, chilling man, living the dream dog how you been.
Speaker 4:Man good, Can't complain, man Just busy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we've been shouting you out, man, keeping your spirit alive in here, man.
Speaker 1:Alive in here, we ain't forgot about you.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I crazy, but man, he be messing with me, man.
Speaker 2:Man since the Super Bowl, I think since the Super. Bowl he's just been talking crazy.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, no, yes, because I told him. I said I'm just in the background, I try to chime in a little bit here and there, watch the episodes and stuff. I told him I've been a fan for a minute now. Yeah.
Speaker 2:No, man, we were just talking about OJ Simpson. Man, just to catch you up. We just started, so just talk about OJ Simpson. What is he most famous for? Like I said, I mean I knew he was a football player even before the trial, like even as a little kid, just because I had heard of him. But we were just talking about, like Jared was saying, his first introduction to him was he believed?
Speaker 3:was the trial, I was probably four. Maybe four Because, like if it was 93, I was more than 88. So I was five.
Speaker 4:Oh yeah, I probably didn't know him as a football player.
Speaker 3:So I started playing football around like eight or nine, so you know.
Speaker 2:Because see like when you heard when I heard the name. I just remember my uncle talking about him as a football player, so, even though it was like the trials brought his name up, but the information that I heard about him was he was a football player.
Speaker 3:That makes sense. I didn't have a man in the house until I was like eight or nine my mom met my stepdad. So yeah, that all makes sense. It was just me, my brother, my mom thugging until my stepdad came around, and before him I didn't even like football. I didn't start liking football at eight or nine. I just happened to go out try out for the team on a whim and made it fell in love with it and been there ever since. So yeah, that timeline is making sense for sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think we lost. I think we lost. Yeah, I think we lost Justin. For now He'll be back. Yeah, come back, come back. There he is, he back in. So, yeah, it's yeah. What's your earliest memories of? Uh oj simpson?
Speaker 4:uh I, I hate to say it, but probably, as far as memories truly go, it probably was the trial, because it was so big. I mean, that's just what you tend to remember. But then, you know, I think about like, probably the first time I I realized like who's this dude? And I believe because, what? Usc? Yeah, and when he was at USC I seen some game footage and highlights of that. I was like dang, this dude is nice.
Speaker 4:And then, you know, seeing him in the league, I think with Buffalo, I think it was, if I'm mistaken, and you know seeing some of that, I'm like dang dude is nice and obviously he was playing before my time too. You know seeing some of that. I'm like dang dude is nice and and um, obviously he was playing before my time too. You know what I mean. I was born in the 80s, so it's like, uh, but when you think about it and I could be wrong, so y'all correct me, but I want I feel like one of the times I was looking up somewhere watching something about him and he said he rushed for 2 000 yards in 14 games yeah, yeah, and he was actually the first player in nfl history to run for 2 000 yards okay, okay, and I was like dang, oh, my man was a straight monster, but he don't get the credit he's doing you know, I'm saying he's another one of those guys don't get the credit.
Speaker 2:So yeah, in, in 1973, 14 games on 332 attempts he ran for 2,003 yards. He averaged six yards a rush, 12 TDs. He had six catches for 70 yards 143 yards a game Crazy.
Speaker 4:That's crazy. That's crazy numbers.
Speaker 3:I'm pretty sure he has. Yep, he does NFL record for yards per game. I was going to say, yeah, that's gotta be.
Speaker 2:Yeah, his career average is 4.7 man crazy.
Speaker 2:Who would have thought oj simpson had the the uh nfl record for yards per game for a season I wouldn't have no no that's crazy, for let's see so, after his rookie season in 69, in 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, and 77, he averaged over four yards of rush. He was for all four of those seasons. Then came back, yeah, and even in the last two, in San Francisco in 78 and 79, he averaged 3.7 and 3.8. So man, that made like in two and almost two rushes he was getting you almost a first down, his third and two most of the time.
Speaker 2:So yeah, he was tough you know, that's crazy yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, no he had a one, two, three. He had a 1, 2, 3,. He had a 5 year stint where he ran for 1251, 2003, 1125, 1817, and 1503. In a 5 year stretch he had, like crazy, his prime was ridiculous.
Speaker 4:I was here to say that is ridiculous.
Speaker 2:Yeah, once I dove into it, like I said, I mean five-time first team, all pro, like he's all decades team of the 70s, uh, 1970s. He's an all uh 75 top player. He's a hundred top player like he done, did everything you could do at a running back outside of winning a championship. I think he didn't win.
Speaker 4:He ain't winning championships but if I'm be honest with you, though, now that I'm thinking about, as we're talking about this, I honestly think probably one of my first memories of him, though, was when I seen naked the gun. I never knew who he was until I seen him, and then I was like, oh shoot, that was oj. You know, you go back and you watch. It's like, oh, that was oj watch. It's like, oh, that was OJ in there. It's like yeah. So I remember him from the movies too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he won the scoring title in I guess this was a long time ago but 1975, touchdown leader in 1975. He won the rushing titles in 72, 73, 75, and 76. Yeah, he won MVP in 73, offensive player of the year in 73. Like he done, rest in peace, oj man. That's what I'm saying, man, everything you can do as a running back, you pretty much did it outside of winning a championship.
Speaker 4:That's tough, that's tough right there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, man, rest in peace the juice. So moving on. Man. Rest in peace the juice, so moving on. Man, while we're talking in, a little NFL man, a little mock draft news, ain't much change, man, glad we got Justin here so now we can grab his insight, because we've been talking about the same things with the same people for the most part. Man, do you, do you anything in the top? We've been doing just top 10, just keep it real. But uh, you know, caleb williams at one drake may and uh, daniels, those three, they're interchanging them between those three teams. Do you see that being pretty accurate or do you think these teams need to go another direction? So that's chicago, washington and new england.
Speaker 4:one, two and three uh, I mean, I've heard, I've heard pretty much that jayden daniels is going to washington, not to drake, may you know stuff that people trying to put out there. Um, but I, um, the only team I, in my opinion, would be the patriots. Yeah, they are so bad in so many places. The quarterback ain't going to fix anything and you're going to be bringing a quarterback into a bad situation Like to me. I think me and Jerry probably were on the same page as this a while back. We talked about it. I'm good with having quarterbacks on their rookie contract, but I want my team to be ready to compete when I get it, and New England's not ready to do that.
Speaker 3:Vernon. We kind of hit on that last week. We were talking about surrounding that's the formula the rookie contract. He go off, pile it up. You know what I'm saying. And then once you have to pay him, then you're going to have to dial back and then you're going to hope that you can interrupt Patrick Mahomes' situation. You're going to have to dial back and then you're going to hope that you can interrupt Patrick Mahomes' situation.
Speaker 4:But if not, it's going to be icy for you. So yeah, I'll go ahead, my bad.
Speaker 2:No, I'm just saying I agree with you also. Well, new England's situation is unique because not only are they rebuilding, but to bring a rookie into a rebuilding situation with a new coach and all that like there's no real pieces there to drop a rookie QB in. Yeah, exactly for him to be successful.
Speaker 4:Yeah, no weapons at all. I think to me that's one of them situations where I don't care how talented of a person I'm going to be. Real, you could put Patrick Mahomes there and they're still going to be terrible. Like you, just you'll win a few more games, but you're still going to be bad because you literally like they. Just they don't have anything there, man. They they've done a poor job of building that roster for long term success and we know that ever since Brady left, they just have struggled to to really put anything in place.
Speaker 3:So it's crazy, when he was there, they weren't really huge on just bringing in big names.
Speaker 2:Even when he was there, they weren't really huge on just bringing in big names. They kind of just you know, but I think the scheme and the Patriot way and the way they went about things kept everybody in line.
Speaker 2:It's like, hey look, just I guess do your job. And they had people, key people, who had been there for a while. You got your Grunks, you had your Eldermans, you know what I mean. You had those couple guys who had been there for a minute. Even you know, um, a couple of the running backs, like people who had been there in defense, was very veteran with the uh, um, what was the corner name? Uh, you had Gilmore then, and you know a couple other guys who had been there for a while who could keep that gather, your high towers and things of that nature. So I think that what kept them competitive while you know Brady was doing his thing?
Speaker 4:Well, I'll say it this way I think a lot of it to me is don't, you can't take away, and it just really sheds more of a light on how good Brady was in that system. Or like, how good Patrick Mahomes is in their system. Like they, they don't necessarily have to have a top tier guy to because they make guys better they make. When you make those kinds of reads, it can do what they do you. You can get away with not having top tier guys. But if we're going to be honest, there's a reason why there was only one Brady and one Mahomes, you know, because they, because they are special. So it's like they weren't doing it with Brady because they didn't have to, because Brady was able to take just good guys and make them look really, really good.
Speaker 4:I mean, we saw what he did when he had that big name with Randy Moss. We saw what he did in that one year. You know what I'm saying. So it's like he's ridiculous. So we know what that could have been had he had it his whole season. But when you have guys that good, you don't always have to surround them with that type of weaponry. But you don't have that there, so they're gonna have to retool what they do because you're gonna have to bring in some guys. Uh, and in my opinion, I wouldn't take no quarterback, I would trade back or I'll be real, I'll take whatever I think is the best position at that point, whether it's receiver, defensive end, whatever it is you think is the next best thing. I would even be willing to consider that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I agree, maybe trade back and grab, like you said, maybe start building that offensive line. Me personally, I think it starts in the trenches. Winning starts offensive offensive, defensive line.
Speaker 2:Um, before you can get a quarterback and I would grab a veteran bring in, like a tannahill or somebody on the one year and see what, what pieces you got. Because if you have a veteran who knows how to play, who can, who can give you the feel of the game, then you can see what. Okay, maybe, oh, okay, we got a receiver here, we got this here, we got this here. Then next year you can say, all right, let's get our qb because we know what weapons we have. Or hey, let me hit free agency and grab this, this, this, because last year I seen that, hey, look, this is where we was running short at, and then maybe drop a, a quarterback with that contract, into a situation with some uh, with some guys who may know what they were doing.
Speaker 2:But nowadays again, like we said, hey, it's QB driven and everybody's looking for their QB to build around. So it probably is going to be Drake May I see him as a New England guy and, like you said, I heard just through the news about the, about the uh, the daniels also going to washington. Like it's been a lot of rumors and a lot of leaks, like people have just been saying. I think adam scheffler said something on somebody's podcast and um another player has said something else about it. Like people have been just insinuating highly that it was gonna be uh, daniels in washington. So, and I think, drake may, he's a project and hell, the whole Patriots team right now is a project.
Speaker 3:Even the coaches have.
Speaker 2:That's what I'm saying. You know what I mean. Y'all can just build together, and it's not a guy that has a lot of pressure to win right away. Yeah.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I mean with what y'all had there. I see, even with Arizona at number four I've heard people talk about, yeah, they can trade back, it's a deep, wide receiver class, yada, yada, yada. My whole argument for folks is this I'm not saying one way or the other or how I feel about it, but Arizona has to get better, because you've already paid your quarterback. Now you've got to get the talent in on these cheap deals so that Kyler's contract looks like it was worth it. You can drop back.
Speaker 4:But I mean let's just say you have a chance to get Marvin Harrison and everybody expects him to be a really good pro, special, whatever you want to call it. And you're like I'll take I don't know, let's throw it neighbors or whoever else. You want to say out there and they're not, that You're going to look real foolish, passing on the guy when you had the opportunity to get them, and that I mean, and I think that starts a ripple effect in some of these franchises and I'm not saying one way or the other, I mean it depends on the deal. Sure, but like a couple of them I've been hearing, you know, even like people have been assuming the Chargers are just going to move back, and I've been hearing that's not necessarily the case.
Speaker 3:They need to actually get one of those receivers for sure.
Speaker 4:Well, they said, yeah, I heard some Jared where they're talking about there could be a case where the receivers start to fall. And I said, well, if you have that and you're the Chargers, you keep that pick and you take one of those guys to help grow with Herbert. Now I heard something today and it'll make my man Vernon happy, I'm sure, because they were talking about the surprise of the draft could come with the Colts moving up to number nine and take one of those receivers, if it's available, to help Anthony Richardson out. And I said, honestly I would take my hat off to that because the reality is the afc south on paper right now it's probably one of the best for the colts.
Speaker 4:Yeah, because they're the ones who haven't improved like some of these other teams, so it's like that's that could be a tough division next year.
Speaker 2:So yeah, um, and you got to think also too, with with Marvin Harrison Jr just being around the facility for a long time with his dad and the relationships they have with Ursae. Who's to say Ursae don't say, hey, that's who I want, and you know, give up this year's first, next year's first, you know what I mean the second round, you know what I mean. And give up, like, because again we've paid all our guys, so you can't there's nobody to really get rid of or to draft or replace, because you done paid a lot of these guys. Our offensive line, we done paid. Our defensive line, mostly we done paid, we just paid.
Speaker 2:You know a couple of our linebackers, you know what I mean. We just paid receivers, we just paid a running back, like, so we done paid a lot of guys in positions where we can't just get rid of them or we're not looking to replace them in the draft. So it's like, hey, look, why not shoot? You paid your receiver, why not give him somebody else who they can't double? You know what I mean. And be able to spread the floor, spread the field and give anthony richardson not only more, more space to operate but shoot more targets.
Speaker 4:Uh, yeah, I mean because, the fact is you got the quarterback on the rookie contract that's what we're talking about, right?
Speaker 4:so now, the time you swing for the fence is because you can afford to do it right. So I don't think anybody, whether it hit or miss, I don't think anybody could be mad if a team like the colts takes a big swing and something like this, it's like. I mean, I think anybody who even likes the coach or a fan of the coach or whatever you're like, you know what I can respect that. You know what I'm saying. We swung, we thought it was gonna hit and, regardless of if it hits or miss, you knew they were trying to win. But again, they're a team who's known to stay stand pat. They love their draft picks, even though I don't think they draft as well as some people think they've hit on some players, but every team hits on players. I mean you're picking the kind of picks every year. So I mean, but I also look at.
Speaker 2:And then you look at a team like arizona, who, like we said, like who needs an abundance of talent yes they do so to offer so to offer them maybe three draft picks to move back to just 15 you know what I mean. You take that and you know I mean you take a couple more picks and you just keep building year after year because eventually you're gonna have to move on from kyler murray if he's not the deal.
Speaker 4:You know what I mean or you don't give him what he needs to succeed yeah, you got to give him something, though you got to give him something to work with, so you got to start with that.
Speaker 2:I mean again, it starts with that offensive line. You got to build that offensive line, yeah and this is the draft to move back and get offensive lineman, because you got to think qbs and receivers are going first. You know, I mean the top 10. So if you move back out of the top 10 you can still maybe get two. You know really good offensive lineman to help solidify your offensive line yeah, what did y'all think?
Speaker 4:Because I didn't. I want to hear y'all's thoughts on the Jets at 10. What are you taking if you're the Jets?
Speaker 3:I think Jets are in one of those situations where you just take the best available player. So I mean I guess they can sure up the defense a little bit. I mean offensive line.
Speaker 2:Offensive line was I heard last year was like the biggest thing that was in question, like even before Rodgers got hurt in training camp. They were just talking about that offensive line. So I say, if there's it's one of those elite top three offensive linemen that's there, which you assume that Tennessee is probably going to take offensive linemen, and if the Chargers stay where they at, they may take offensive linemen. If there's no, if Marvin Harrison ain't, there I think the Chargers. I'm going to take a receiver.
Speaker 3:They almost Chargers, almost have to take a receiver. I think Chargers go receiver.
Speaker 4:Here's the only thing I will say, just because of based upon Jim Harbaugh's style and I mean you've seen him in Michigan, you've seen him even with the 49ers. He loves to run the ball, that's for sure. He loves it. I just saw where they actually Gary signed JK Dobbins, which gives him a chance, which is cool. You know what I'm saying. He deserves it with his string of bad luck.
Speaker 2:He deserves another chance, at least in one year.
Speaker 4:That's all it is. It's a one-year deal. It wouldn't surprise me to see him get offensive linemen only because, I mean, we know teams that can control the line of scrimmage. They tend to do better throughout the course of the year because they have that one thing they do well. I'm with you, Jared, If you do that, though, I really do need to see what are you giving Herbert to work with as far as a receiver and standpoint.
Speaker 3:Currently. He has nothing right now. No.
Speaker 4:He had a.
Speaker 3:PCU, but he didn't do great last year. Quentin Johnson, whatever.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that's about it.
Speaker 2:I think Johnson and Palmer they got a tight end. Who's their tight end? Oh, Everett.
Speaker 4:But I mean again, we're not talking about guys. That's like wow Game changers right, they're cool and like.
Speaker 4:I think it's a different conversation. If this is like we're saying, this is what Patrick Mahomes has to have versus a Justin Herbert. No offense, but even then people forget. Mahomes has always had an elite pass catcher, at least one, at least one. So like Kelsey is elite you know what I'm saying Like he may not have the receivers, but he still has a pass catcher that's considered to be elite. So I think you got to give a quarterback that. Every quarterback needs that.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Fair enough. I definitely agree with that.
Speaker 3:I totally agree with that, we got a comment Arizona needs to go ahead and give us the number four pick they trashed anyway. Is that a Colts fan?
Speaker 2:Probably I don't know who that is. Who's the comment? I'm assuming? Probably yeah, because yeah Again, like take the. I mean, if somebody offered you three picks, I mean I don't see how you just deny that Two first rounders, one this year and one next year, and maybe a second or third round, uh, this year or next year I don't see how you turn that down for the number four.
Speaker 4:I think if you believe, uh, I think, if you think harrison is that is that special, like that calvin johnson or whatever, I think you can turn down anything if you think he's that special right, yeah, but does but does bringing him in instantly move the needle for you?
Speaker 2:and let's just think, division in the nfc west against us, against seattle, la or san francisco. You think that puts them in contention with, just with just somebody like him? I'm just saying, if he's that, uh, it could.
Speaker 4:it could because I mean to say that the crazy thing I think people miss out on arizona's coach did a heck of a job last year. I mean, dude, he pulled some stuff out. Yeah, yeah, like. So I don't put anything past him in terms of like, if you give them a little bit more talent, what they may be able to do, so could it. Yeah, I'm not saying they're going to win the division, but could it? I mean, maybe push them to, you know, two in the division or something like that. Yeah, and we all know injuries are such a big part of football Shoot, san Francisco always has injuries. You know, seattle seems to get banged up, so, like, all it takes is an injury or two and that can change everything in the division as well. So, yeah, I mean it could All right.
Speaker 3:Have we given up on Kyler Murray? Yet I honestly haven't.
Speaker 2:I haven't. No, I think when he's focused and he's actually on the field, he's elite. He does a lot with nothing. He's good. I mean elite as in, Not elite you mean as in like talent. Yeah, like talent, Like what he can do. You can see those flashes. I'm like okay.
Speaker 3:He has an elite skill package. Yes, that's what I mean. I don't think there's too much he can't do. I see what you're saying.
Speaker 1:I mean, I get that.
Speaker 3:Did he win the Heisman?
Speaker 1:He did win the.
Speaker 3:Heisman.
Speaker 2:I think he did.
Speaker 3:I can't say that because there's been some Heisman Trophy winners that have absolutely blew it and it's terrible.
Speaker 2:Yes, I'm going to just hold on.
Speaker 3:Johnny Manziel won that and one of the coldest college seasons ever. Bro, freaking out there, just didn't it ain't pan out.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so, yeah, so, and then I think that's really it. I mean everything else is pretty. I mean everything else is pretty. I mean Atlanta taking a defensive player. The Giants, of course, need a receiver, unless you want to put them in the QB race too.
Speaker 4:I've actually heard that the Giants are actually really considering a quarterback.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we were talking about that last week. Like Jared was like how you just keep riding with it.
Speaker 3:Who told them to play Daniel Jones? All that money. I just really want to know what went into that.
Speaker 4:But the thing, though Jared with that is they can get out of his contract at the end of the season.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're on 49ers, yeah, so grabbing a rookie QB and then paying and still have one that you're paying on roster that you, yeah, that ain't going to be a cap.
Speaker 4:I mean, ideally you sit the rookie for a year, he takes over and Daniel Jones is gone and then you have a lot of cap space, you know going into the rookie's first year of actually starting Shoot.
Speaker 4:I actually here's the other thing that I said too was like with the Jets on that situation that we were talking about. The offensive line was banged up, so I don't know how you don't go offensive line, but at any point are we gonna see the jets and, if I maybe I missed it, are they gonna sign a quarterback? I mean, aaron rogers ain't getting no younger and they saw what not having a good backup does to that entire team. Are they really gonna go into this?
Speaker 3:season without another quarterback so they probably drive someone late in the round, and that's another thing. I think teams need to stop forsaking man. A lot of these good players are found later on in the draft. It's just not the first round. That, because I mean, if you look at it, the grand scheme of everything, like some of the most crucial players are coming from the third, fourth round. Like I said, pacheco was a what seventh rounder and with this rounder, I think so.
Speaker 3:He got two Super Bowl rings and he actually contributed. So it's just like it's going to take these teams and you got to start working the draft. Y'all got to get out there and scouse watching this film, whatever it takes to find these diamonds in the rough.
Speaker 2:But you know what A lot of the first round, a lot of times you find them through injury. Unfortunately, that's where you find them, you, you, you know I mean you may be like, hey, look, you like you said those diamonds in the rough, you draft them late in the rounds and then you get an injury, like, uh, it was hilarious, get hurt. Then you bring in a pacheco. Then you like, oh, shoot, he right too. You know what I mean, even though you had a rice and you know you had a couple more guys that running back. You know what I'm saying. And you, just, you give him a chance and you're like, all right, he's a better fit. You know, uh, the party a better fit. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:You start getting these guys. You start seeing you like, man, dang, we really got. And that's how you really find them. I mean especially linebackers. They start off as special teamers and you know what I mean. Somebody get hurt, boom, boom, like Zaire Franklin, he'd been with the coach for a minute but he didn't really get. You get an injury that should kill him. And now you really see what somebody can do when you really unleash them. You know what I mean. True, it's unfortunate that people get injured and sometimes it's career ending not basically the injury, but now this person may not get another shot, or they've been replaced, or they've been moved further down the depth chart because somebody else came in younger, hungrier and more durable, which availability is the best ability, as we always say. So again, I think they go offensive line and getting back to the Jets, but if Brock Bowers is right there, do you not put another weapon right there on that offense, especially at tight end.
Speaker 2:You know why I don't. It's hard to pass.
Speaker 4:If it was any other quarterback, maybe I would say that Name one tight end that Aaron Rodgers has ever done well with.
Speaker 2:He didn't do bad with he's not a quarterback. He don't usually do a lot of tight ends like that.
Speaker 4:I mean since, like what Donna?
Speaker 2:Driver, that's a receiver.
Speaker 1:Oh.
Speaker 3:I know, didn't the Packers have a couple tight ends? That went great? That's what I'm thinking.
Speaker 4:But if you go, look at their numbers, they didn't go great, Because you're thinking like. Jermichael, look at their numbers or remember like they had moments but like in terms of, like actual production numbers, they weren't putting up like Jimmy Graham numbers or nothing like that back in the day.
Speaker 2:I think Tanyan had like one year where he had like 10 touchdowns, yeah.
Speaker 4:But like, and they'll have like 700 yards, 600 yards.
Speaker 2:Not saying but Rodgers has never been known to use that is maybe because they ain't been elite, maybe he ain't have somebody who's. I mean because you also got to think you got to think who he's had on the outside though for those years too, the Jordy Nelsons and all those guys it's like do I really got to get it to them when I got you know kind of I won't say elite, but like very good receivers, like you know two or three very good receivers, like in his situation, I say yeah.
Speaker 4:And the reason why I say yeah is because ain't like aaron rogers done a whole lot of winning in the playoffs. Like it'd be different if we're talking about about a guy who offensively just had crazy success super bowls or you know, afc or nfc championship wins, all that kind of stuff. But they struggled at times. But if we're going to be honest, think about it. He force fed the mess out of Devontae Adams. I mean, devontae got so many targets every game there was no way he wasn't going to put up numbers. But that's how Aaron Rodgers operates. He's not a Mahomes or any of those guys who are spreaded out like that. He likes guys and he goes to them.
Speaker 2:That's just what it is. Yeah, yeah, I mean, I can see that. Um. So, yeah, man, uh, my draft man, a lot of great insight, I think, uh, again, we don't know, but, um, some things could change. Man, this is gonna be interesting to see, uh, which way teams go. By the way, justin you, you joining us for the draft part, we're gonna have have crossroads. Everybody's going to be here. It's going to be a full show. It's going to be like seven or eight of us here.
Speaker 2:I'll be honest and tell you I don't know when the NFL draft is. You can tell us that? That's fine. Nobody knew a couple weeks ago when we were talking about this.
Speaker 4:It is the 25th so next Thursday. Okay.
Speaker 2:Okay, all right, I'll make sure I'll be in. Yeah, I'll be back. I'll be in town. So yeah, I should be able to hop on. So yeah, it'll be us Isaac could be here, my guy, boom, david, brandon and Jonathan from Crossroad. We're going to do the show all together and just come in as picks come in. We're going to stream it too. I'm going to find a way to stream it on the show too. So, yeah, so we're gonna stream it too. I'm gonna find a way to stream it on the show too. So, um, yeah, so we're gonna have a big old party. So, use the last person I had to ask. So everybody's in. Um, okay, cool, cool, cool. Let's jump over to the wmba draft real quick. Um, happened monday, of course, caitlin clark goes to the fever. Uh, that's just been the talk of the town and everywhere else nonetheless. But look at a lot of these other teams and a lot of these players that went. You now have Angel, reese and Cardoso on the same team in Chicago. That is crazy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, is that the big girl from South Carolina?
Speaker 4:Yes, yeah, she was nice, she nice.
Speaker 2:So like I think that's probably like the craziest thing out of what happened on the draft board with Chicago, grabbing both of them. They're going to have, I mean, female twin towers, if you want to say that. So which they needed it. I think, from what I read in the draft they struggled in rebounding in post-play. So grabbing both of them, you got number two to the Sparks Cameron Brink from Stanford.
Speaker 4:Hey, she's dope, she's nice hey.
Speaker 2:I've seen some highlights of her because I was watching the draft. I'm like, who is this number two? I'm thinking it's going to be somebody that we know who was in the final four. It's going to be somebody that we know, know, like, who was in the Final Four, like it's going to be one of those, like somebody from Connecticut, you know, uconn, or whatever I'm like.
Speaker 3:Well, I mean she went to Stanford, though that's what it was like.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, but I'm not. I wasn't I'm thinking tournament this year. It was just so many names that was coming up when she came. I'm like who is it? Then I looked at her Rebound defense three ball, everything.
Speaker 3:She's a big player. I heard that Steph Curry's parents are her godparents, which caught me off guard. Makes sense.
Speaker 2:Lineage, she aver average 14 to 9.
Speaker 4:Yeah, she can play. Can I make a comment, though I know it's probably not going to be popular? I'm going to look at Jared in my screen so I can see his reaction as I say this Bird you're just going to laugh. I'm not a huge Angel Reese person. I don't think she's as good. I don't know why she's so popular per se, but it can't be because of her basketball. She's really not skilled. If you ever watch her, she's really not skilled.
Speaker 3:And you're more than eight to ten feet away from the basket. No, sir, it's a wrap.
Speaker 4:Yeah, it's a wrap, like I said, for me her success in the WNBA is going to come on the defensive side, just her ability to bring energy and rebound. But outside of that I don't see the hype behind Avery.
Speaker 3:Yeah, she gets putbacks really. That's where probably.
Speaker 4:I want to see her points come from. Yep, because even if you watch any of her games like, it's not like she makes skilled moves, like when she's trying to back down a girl. No, she's just turning trying to bully her way to the basket, throwing it up. Yeah, throwing it up there.
Speaker 3:I've thought the same thing, so, no, we align with that. That's the same exact thing. It's almost like when you see her shoot a 10 or 12-footer. It's like man, is she shooting with the right hand?
Speaker 3:That's how bad and uncomfortable it looks, but I also did see her doing a workout up in New York City before the draft and she was shooting threes and she was making them and they looked good. So I don't know, but from the games that I saw, the tape that I saw on LSU women nah, she's definitely not, not not all that, and I mean I I guess that's why she didn't get drafted high either, and I think a lot of what the wmba is trying to do is they have to, unfortunately, they have to draft based on who's gonna get butts in the seats, correct?
Speaker 3:that's part of it, like they're already you know, at a disadvantage just from you know, from, uh, marketing and revenue, all all that you know. So they kind of got to take picks based on you know who's going to bring excitement to the program, who's going to not the program but the team, who's going to bring you know, you know a popular face to the organization. So but yeah, no, I totally agree with that take and I actually I thought it was going to be unpopular as well, but I see that you agree. So anytime we agree, there's something to it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's pretty scary.
Speaker 3:Dustin, agree on something. It's pretty fact.
Speaker 2:I mean Granted, I've probably seen the same tape you guys have seen, but I mean she averaged 18, 12.
Speaker 3:The stats. No, I'm just saying and shot 49%.
Speaker 2:That's what I'm looking at.
Speaker 3:I'm like that's I mean regardless of how you get the buckets.
Speaker 2:I mean she hustles, I mean putbacks, I mean whatever I mean. That's still a skill in itself.
Speaker 4:Right and again, like I said, rebounding. I think she'll translate with that, but, like Jared said, a lot of it comes from putbacks and stuff like that. So my question to you, vernon, would be this Her numbers to me are misleading. I'm at 49% for a person who don't really shoot outside of five feet Is that really a good percentage.
Speaker 3:Um, that's truth, that's that's. Yeah, that's that's a good point.
Speaker 2:I mean you can't say no, yes I mean, I'm just, I'm just saying I mean in comparison, like if you compare her to and I'm just looking like if you compare her to camila Camila's shooting 57%, she does basically the same thing. That's a big difference.
Speaker 3:I mean I'm just wait a minute, hold on, hold on, but her average is only 10 and 8.
Speaker 2:So she's probably better around her, but she's I don't know.
Speaker 4:I'm just trying to, but you got to understand value is everything.
Speaker 3:It's sort of like the Zach Eady thing. But you got to understand value is everything. It's sort of like the Zach Eady thing. He had crazy numbers, two-time national player of the year, but is he really skilled or is he just you know?
Speaker 1:what I'm saying.
Speaker 3:And I think that's kind of the situation. Now, don't get me wrong, vernon. You know, if anybody respects stats, I do. So I'm not going to sit here and say Angel Reese is trash because she no, no, and we got to give her, we got to give her respect for that, like man respect. But what I'm saying is when I'm watching the game, it's kind of like the Zack Eady effect, like are they getting rebounds and points? Yes, but are they skillfully getting those points and rebounds? It's kind of like am I going? Am I saying that she's going to be a bust? No? Why am I saying that she's going to be a bust? No? Am I saying that she has no chance of winning a rookie of the year? No, she can do it. But I agree with Justin Sands. I'd say she's not really skilled and I've seen her take even her free throws. Just look like like I said shooting with the wrong hand.
Speaker 2:Would you say Cameron Brink is more skilled.
Speaker 3:I haven't really watched a whole bunch of her, so I I you know, I heard the name, I was familiar with, you know her name, but I I can't sit here and say that I've watched a whole bunch of her, so she's only, she's only with her wide range, she's only shooting 52 but I mean she's two to three she's shooting deep shots Again you're only making my point. When you take shots from perimeter, it's very good.
Speaker 2:I don't think it's all perimeter. I don't know man. What is her three-point percentage? Let me see I can find out real quick. If it does show me, it will not show me, it just shows her overall percentage.
Speaker 3:Let me look that up 52% and you take any threes is extraordinary. It's really good.
Speaker 4:Really good.
Speaker 3:But if all your shots are within five to eight feet from the basket, you need to probably be 55 or higher.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I mean you're under 50, so I wouldn't say that's good she's 49.8, so can we say 50 or do we say 49.8? I mean you can say here's the thing. If you're telling me that you're 50% on layups, that's not good to me right. I mean, that's really what she's shooting.
Speaker 1:It's layups okay, okay, because that's what you're.
Speaker 2:I mean, that's really what she's shooting. It's layups, okay. Okay, I'm just. I don't think I've, I'll be real.
Speaker 4:I don't think I've ever seen her shoot a jump shot or not shoot, hit a jump shot, Like I don't think I've ever seen her hit more than one jump shot in a game.
Speaker 1:And like outside of eight feet.
Speaker 4:I don't think I've ever seen Reese hit more than one jump shot in a game In the tournament. I don't think I've seen her hit one.
Speaker 2:I also think that when you don't really have to and that's just you don't really have to you look at somebody like Shaq. Shaq didn't have to shoot a lot of jumpers, but he dominated on the inside Most of his was dunked and laid up. I'm not saying she's Shaq, I'm just talking about as far as rebounding.
Speaker 2:I'm just talking about the way they play on the inside. Somebody who's just been dominating on the inside, like him. He was around that 50-60% range too, but he didn't shoot a lot of jump shots, he just dominated the inside. Maybe she could just be a dominating inside force on the team, if Chicago have shooters.
Speaker 4:I haven't looked into that I don't know this, but I'll be curious. I doubt Shaq was ever at 50.
Speaker 2:I'm pretty sure he was well above 50%. I'm saying maybe closer to 60.
Speaker 4:Yeah, like so. But that's kind of my point where it's like we're talking about a player who does not shoot jump shots, so we're not. I mean, think about it and now I know this is kind of going out there, but it's like Steph has shot 50%, 50-plus percent from the field and this man shoots 10 threes a game. That's impressive.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's crazy. Shit 47% from the field. With shooting 10 threes a game is off the charts.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that's off the charts. You know what I'm saying. So it's like you're telling me a player who I'll say it this way.
Speaker 2:No, I'm, I'll just. I'll say it this way. I'm just curious to see how?
Speaker 4:no, I'm saying like I'll be curious to see how it translates for her, because also, she's not going to be a focal point probably there. You know what I'm saying, like. So we'll see what kind of opportunities come, and then let's see if she has the same success, cause I don't know that she's going to be able to kind of bully her way to 18 points like she did in college when she gets to the WNBA.
Speaker 2:You know what I'm saying. I wonder how they're going to play her and Camila.
Speaker 4:You don't have to play the four.
Speaker 2:I'm just saying four or five. Will they be on the court at the same time? Because they're both kind of the same.
Speaker 3:I think Cardoza has like four or five inches on Angel. I'm just talking about game.
Speaker 2:Not. Cardoza has like four or five inches on Angel, I think Cardoza does.
Speaker 4:No, I'm just talking about game, not Cardoza is a better player because immediately you get rim protection from her, because she's like 6'7". Reese is on like 6'3".
Speaker 2:Yeah, Reese is 6'4". She's 6'7".
Speaker 4:Yeah. So I mean, we'll see, yeah, yeah, we'll see.
Speaker 3:I mean we'll see, yeah, yeah, we'll see. I mean this isn't a crap on Angel Reese.
Speaker 2:No no, no, no, I was just trying to get some perspective. I just said that to myself.
Speaker 3:I'm like man, she might need to do a little bit with her game. And that's not a bad thing. That's not a bad thing for her to have shots.
Speaker 3:I mean, it's one thing, it's a completely other thing, to look like you've never done it before, like that's, that's what kind of threw me off, and that's just an observation. I'm not saying that that's not, that's not a you know a guarantee of what's going to happen, but I'm just saying you know, it just didn't look good and she wasn't hitting them. If you, if you, if you, if you shoot them and they look good but they're not going in, that's one thing. But if they look like that's just completely not your game, then that's something different. Like I said, I saw a video of her shooting threes the other day and she looked fine. It's still out to be determined, but I did have that same observation of her in college that justin had.
Speaker 2:That's all I'm saying no, I and like I said I agree. Um, maybe they're gonna work her out and start. You know, hey, look, move her a little out for move her out further, because we got somebody to be in the middle. You know what I mean. You can't have two bigs in the middle, just. You know clogging the paint all the time, so maybe they move her out. You know, 10 feet you free throw line. You know, can you?
Speaker 3:stay in the WNBA or no? Probably so.
Speaker 2:I think it's the same thing I don't think you can.
Speaker 2:Okay, I think it's still three seconds in. I think Do not quote me on that I think it's still three seconds. But maybe, hey, getting her to extend her range at least to the free throw line, to where you know she, you know she can knock down that. You know that. Free throw line jumper, game changer, all right man Moving right along jumping into the NBA man. I want to cover this man. The Raptors banned Jontae Porter for gambling violations. Man Like that was crazy. It's just a lifetime ban. He was leaking information to bettors and betting on games while he was in the G League.
Speaker 3:He's betting on why he was. Well, no, I think that was what. No, he was.
Speaker 2:He was, and he was using an associate's account, I think, to bet on NBA games. But when he was in the G League, I guess he found they found he was betting on games too. So he was giving bettors information on himself, basically that hey look, I'm not going to play all these games, so bet the under on me. He was doing that in the NBA too. That's what I'm saying. No, that's what I'm talking about in the NBA. That's what they really got him on. Crazy Lifetime ban, man, I guess NBA is, I ain't going to say like the NFL, but more like they not playing that they're not playing. The integrity of the game, man, I think that's pretty much everywhere with betting getting bigger in sports, like that's crazy.
Speaker 2:And none of his bets even won. And the people who did win on those bets, they didn't pay out Really. Yeah, I read the whole article because I wanted to see like, okay't pay out Really. I read the whole article because I wanted to see, okay, was people still getting paid when they found out that he was doing it on purpose?
Speaker 3:But they pay out the stuff immediately though.
Speaker 2:One was like One guy put $80,000 on him to win Supposed to win, $1.1 million. It was a flood. That's what gave him up. It was a flood of bets on him to win. Like supposed to win, like 1.1 million. Like like it was, it was a flood. That's what gave him up. It was a flood of bets on him. And it's like this guy's he's not a starter, like he's not, he's not lebron, you're not betting on, like you know, this super big parlay, it's just like him. And it's like you're betting the under on somebody who doesn't play that many minutes. Like it was.
Speaker 2:The way they figured it out was like clearly obvious. So like DraftKings and stuff started reporting it to the NBA. It was like hey look, why are we getting a flood of bets on this guy? Like this ain't a normal bet, this ain't somebody that people normally bet on. Like why? So that's what literally initiated the investigation. So with that, I don't think they they may have paid it out initially, but once they investigation, I'm sure they can legally go after the people.
Speaker 2:Who was the insider? Because they know who the betters are. That's the only way they could get the information. It's going to the county and investigate the people who, who placed the bets? Somebody going to snitch? Hey, look, you ain't taking me to jail over a bet and if I got 80 grand to put down, shoot. I'm in a situation where I can afford to not go to jail, so shoot. Hey, bruh, you made the decision. But yeah, the bets he was betting on, even in the G League. They say he betted a couple times. I think it was like three or four times and like they all lost anyway, like he never made a huge profit.
Speaker 3:But well, he's gonna enjoy this lifetime ban, so yeah, he'd probably end up overseas somewhere, but I wonder, when do they, when do they start talking to his brother? At least ask him what he knows? Had he heard anything?
Speaker 2:because that's uh yeah, I don't remember, uh, because they didn't disclose a lot, because they said still ongoing, like there's still more to this that could possibly come, but they just had enough right now to issue the ban. So I think they just wanted to get him out the league, uh, as quick as possible so why does he look like he's like 45 years old?
Speaker 3:when I heard he was the younger brother of michael porter, j I'm like really.
Speaker 2:Yeah, do you really need to, didn't they father play ball?
Speaker 3:I know their father coaches. Yeah, like you got a brother in the league. He is not a father.
Speaker 2:I don't see this as being necessary. Yeah, that was crazy. I will Definitely want to cover that. Nonetheless, jumping into the play-in man, we had the western conference play-ins yesterday. The lakers beat the pelicans. Um great game. Um, it was a very good game, better than what I thought it was gonna be.
Speaker 3:Um like I was cooking, that's what I'm about to say.
Speaker 2:I'm say, hey, the Lakers couldn't stop. Zion man, Look at.
Speaker 3:LeBron's ass, I ain't even know why. Nah, for real, cooking his ass.
Speaker 2:For real. That's your matchup, yeah, but if this is the potential of Zion, like dude, you got to keep your body right. If you can play like this night in and night out, you can't. You got to keep. You got to get your body right, like if you need to lose another 15 to 20 to. You know what I mean. Be optimal, you got to figure it out, cause that was crazy. Yeah, what are you saying?
Speaker 4:He came with Justin there but I'm a look, I'll be the first to admit I'm when it comes to people I can beat and Zion, like they make too much money to not do what's necessary to take care of their bodies. So you don't get no sympathy for me from that. Like the reality is, if zion was smart and really wanted a career and look, maybe, maybe he has. I don't know, I ain't got no insider information, but I said the first thing I would have did is I would have said hey, lebron, can you show me how you changed your eating habits and slimmed your body down the way you did? Period, because Zion's not built People forget he's 6'6". He should not be as big as he is.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 4:Right. I mean, the reality is like your body cannot hold up. Embiid has all those injuries. I think people forget how small Embiid was coming out of Kansas, like he was not the Embiid you see today, some people's body ain't meant to carry the weight, and when they don't take care of themselves, what's needed, what you see with Zion, is what's going to happen Hamstring injury that's soft tissue man. That's crazy. I can go into detail about that and how that's at, but it's pointless. He don't take care of his body the way he needs to period, yeah but I heard since the in-season tournament he's really changed.
Speaker 2:He's got him a chef. He's really kind of what he should have been doing from the jump street. He's really diving into that lifestyle of just being better.
Speaker 1:I mean he's still young.
Speaker 2:I mean he's still young, so like I think what?
Speaker 4:he's 23, 24?.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean he's young.
Speaker 2:That's what I'm saying. He's still young, so he still has. This is the time if he makes the changes now, that it could really prolong his career, hopefully.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I mean, we'll see.
Speaker 2:We got the Warriors losing lost to the Kings. We was talking about this earlier in the show, before Justin got in with us. Is this over for the Warriors? What do you think, Justin? I see that. Look on your face. What does this mean? It's been over for the Warriors.
Speaker 4:I'm also the person. Again. My thoughts are not popular when it comes to Golden State. I said years ago they needed to trade Klay and they never should have gave Draymond any money. I know people talking about Draymond as the glue. Yeah man, save that for somebody.
Speaker 4:I don't want to hear all that. Like Clay Clay, how do I say this? Clay hasn't really been good for a number of years this isn't new. Like Clay hasn't been like a guy in a number of years. Golden state did the opposite of what. Like the, the patriots and teams like that do. They held on to these guys too long. Now you're stuck with them and they'll probably end up paying clay. That's the crazy thing. Like clay will probably end up getting some kind of deal from Golden State because Steph kind of drives that car, and I mean as long as those three are together they're not winning anything again.
Speaker 4:Not to mention, you got a terrible contract with Wiggins now who, ever since that situation happened, wiggins can't play basketball no more kind of thing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, man.
Speaker 4:Yeah, like. So I mean, think about it. You got all that money tied up into four guys when only one of them can still play what you going to do. You know what I'm saying. Like you, like some of their young talent, but if I'm Jonathan Kaminga, I wouldn't want to go back to Golden State For what. Steve Curry just now started playing many minutes. I don't want to go back there. Trace Jackson Davis you know he gets some minutes, but he probably should have been playing more. So, yeah, what do you do?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think we was kind of hitting at that earlier. Like I mean, like you said, you kind of stuck with him, klay Thompson, after this performance this year, like Golden State, because he has rapport with them probably be the only ones who offer him any decent money. So yeah, I mean, like you said, draymond, you locked in with him because you just paid him and I mean Steph is Steph. I mean, if nothing else, hopefully the front office, you know, because they draft very well, hopefully they can find some some some decent players in the draft and kind of re-up a little bit as far as you know their depth, because that's really what they need is some depth and some size. They got rid of Wiseman, looney, all the guys they didn't have no size Heard don't seem to want to play young the young guys.
Speaker 4:That's the problem to me. He don't seem to want to play the young guys. That's the problem to me. He don't seem to ever want to play, like, even when you do have young guys, I know some ah well, da-da-da, it's like. But you don't know One thing about these young guys today they need to play, like, they need the reps, they need to play, and Kurt don't seem like a guy who wants to do that. You know. I mean, could they be good pieces at the right price? Sure, but that's not what they're used as. So therefore, I don't see how Golden State has a chance. I mean, I'll be honest, I think, as long as you got.
Speaker 2:Steph, there's a chance, but you got to give him some help.
Speaker 4:Nah, and the only reason why I say that? Because now you're talking about a 36-year-old Steph who physically can't really carry the team at this stage, which is why I think people overlook and I'll be honest, I respect Steph a lot because Steph is one of the quote-unquote superstars who wasn't afraid to step to the side and let somebody else have the shine Like he's never been a guy who just desired that spotlight like you know, making the sacrifice when to bring a KD in or something like that, or even when Clay and some of those guys were getting the shine like you. Never heard of Steph really causing any kind of fuss or anything like that. But at the same time, that same attitude is what's got him in this position. I get it, People say it's loyalty, but at the end of the day, he plays because you want to win and he can sell it.
Speaker 2:But when you've won with these guys, and this is kind of all you know he could be, you know.
Speaker 4:He's got to be real about it, yeah that's what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:He may not realize that you know they're a detriment to his success. At some point he's like OK, I've won four championships with these guys. Like, well, three, two with these guys if you want to just execute KD, but like you know he's won, you went to war with these guys. It's kind of hard to just say, all right, cool, like I'm still productive, you guys ain't by, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3:And then it's like maybe the Warriors' good fortune has ran out. I mean, it's just like how long are you supposed to be at the top like that? I mean they had one of the most incredible runs in the history of the game. So it's just like maybe the fortune, just I know that sounds a little like cliche or you know like.
Speaker 2:No, because it was a good six-year run.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I would say longer than that, because I mean, if you started at 2015 and they won it in 20, what was that 2022?
Speaker 4:Yep, that's 2022. Seven years.
Speaker 2:Like, that's a long run, Like and this is like, but I just think about one year they was down when they got Wiseman at two they was hurt yeah you got it, but that was an injury.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that was an injury.
Speaker 1:No that's what I'm saying. That's why I said six years.
Speaker 2:That's how my dominance can be.
Speaker 3:It might be time for maybe. A fortune just ran out and it's like I can't say that I'm mad at it. I mean, you've had a hell of a run. It might just be over with. Good things don't last forever. I appreciate that and I also think that they did a good job at protecting some of those guys. I feel like, with Klay still being with Golden State, they've protected his legacy, because we all the real basketball heads want to see what Draymond can do with nobody. The real basketball heads want to see what Draymond can do with nobody. The real basketball heads want to see what Klay Thompson can do as a number one.
Speaker 2:You know what I'm saying? Because at one point we were saying that Klay Thompson can go be a number one somewhere else, and we go down at, that's not. I mean, I'm just saying I don't know if I agree or disagree.
Speaker 3:I knew I wanted to see it, though.
Speaker 2:And we never wanted to see it, though, and we never got to see it. Yeah, that's what I mean. Like I mean, it was just a talk. It was like, hey, look like you got two of the best shooters in NBA history like on the same team, like Klay, of course, with his size and being able to play defense also at that time. Like we were like, hey, look, this is probably the best you know two-way players in the league. You know what I mean.
Speaker 3:You're putting him with the kawas and the paul georges and saying, hey look, he can go and be that type of contributor on a different team by itself, without a staff. But I I really don't know that offense was ran with so much efficiency. I can't honestly say that uh, clay is a legitimate number one option in the nba.
Speaker 3:No, that's what I said, but we know, I think we know draymond's not a number one, but I don't even know if I see him as effective as he is in Golden State on another team in any situation. Really, because it's just like his game was geared towards those illegal screens and getting those guys open for shots. You see how I just slid that in there. I real slick too, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3:But that was his game and it's worked for so many years. I don't know if he could have that same level of production without premium shooters like that, and that's something that I wish we could have seen. Maybe that'll close his mouth a little bit, because he's going to keep talking, because you know his track record. But are you doing this without Steph and Klay? And Klay? Are you doing this without Steph? It's two I. Are you doing this without Steph? I don't think we'll ever find out.
Speaker 2:No we probably won't.
Speaker 4:You want to know one reason why I never bought into the Clay thing. I said I never could put him in there with the Kawhis, the Paul Georgians, because Clay can't put the ball on the, he can't put it on the ground and score. He's never been good off the dribble.
Speaker 3:The counter to that is he's never really had to.
Speaker 4:But that's but.
Speaker 2:Here's the thing, and none of them other guys are as good at catching and shooting as him either.
Speaker 3:He does, he will cut and backdoor the hell out of the team though.
Speaker 4:Yeah, but here again that actually Kind of more so. To my point, that system, yeah, like you said, that was a well-ran system. He did a great job running it. So he's not going to get all that in most other franchises. So he would have been forced off the bounce, and I don't think Klay got that in his game. He tries it. I mean, think about it. He tries it and goes. He has over the years.
Speaker 2:That's just not his strong suit so I don't know nothing on the clay thompson iso um no no yeah, but also too like I guess you can kind of look at it too like does does steph be as efficient and stephy as he is without a Klay, because he's done it yeah.
Speaker 1:I say yeah.
Speaker 2:Let's just think about the run, the period of time where you got a Klay that you got to respect. You can't send two or three at Steff. You got to respect the Klay. You know what I mean this is what I say.
Speaker 3:You know what. This is what I say about Steph Curry. And, like you said, in that system, I think Steph Curry could be elite on a bad team by himself. I don't see him being elite on a good team that's actually winning by himself. I don't even know how that even makes sense to me, but that's just what I like. Do I think he can score 30 points anywhere? Yes, even make sense to me, but that's just what I like. Do I think he can score 30 points anywhere? Yes, but do I think that he can be the sole driving force to a, a playoff team that goes far and he's, and he's, the number one option? I don't know.
Speaker 3:I don't know he's the solo number one option right I, I think yes absolutely, but I I just don't know if he has the intangibles to be that guy on a single team.
Speaker 4:Now I will say this I think it depends on what's around him, because the times that we did see him, because, if you think about it, the years when Clay was injured, go look at Steph's numbers. Go look at his numbers. It's not to your point. I'm not even disagreeing with what you said, Jerry. He's going to put up the scoring numbers.
Speaker 1:Steph is just a special offensive player.
Speaker 4:I don't know. I will say I think he needs a certain type of players around.
Speaker 3:I don't think it has to be clay-type players but, I think he has to have certain type of players around him because of how he really plays to make a deep run, not just to make it to the playoffs, but if you're talking about like a deep run in a championship, I think he'll have to have you know, certain guys around he's not gonna be at a motivated guy to make a sandwich, so we know that that's not you know he's not that type of leader I can't see him, because I and then we've kind of gotten glimpses of it, like when, when clay was out, we kind of gotten glimpses of it, like when, when Clay was out, we kind of got glimpses of him still being Steph on the Warriors, but they're not going anywhere, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3:He didn't have an awful year this year, but it wasn't elite. It wasn't elite for Steph standards either, and they didn't. They didn't do anything. So it's like I could really see him averaging 30 points a game and six assists with the team just being asked. So, in a sense, to answer that question, I think he needed.
Speaker 4:I mean Clay as much as Clay needed Steph, the only thing I would ask you, yeah, but the only thing I would ask you, even like with that, is for me it's hard to say yay to that only because, unfortunately, golden state did a terrible job after they had the room where they had the sean livingston's and that like that stupid good bench think about it that really didn't do a good job of putting the right pieces around, so like if a step went out of clay went out yeah they didn't have the pieces to surround them to help offset anything.
Speaker 4:So it's like I don't think he had to have Klay. Klay helps. But I would say this Do you think if it was just Steph and KD they'd win that championship? I do.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 4:I don't think you had to have Klay. You could have just threw Gary Payton a second in there?
Speaker 3:Well, not if you got a KD. Yeah, that speaks to KD's greatness. But I'm on with that, because without KD, I'm one of the ones I don't think they win those two championships.
Speaker 1:I think Steph needs somebody else.
Speaker 4:If.
Speaker 3:KD was there without KD like.
Speaker 4:I'm not going. But see, the reason why I say that, though, jared, is because I don't think. I think, if you take Steph away, I don't think KD and Clay could win a championship. You see, what I'm saying.
Speaker 3:I don't think so either. That's some good shit. I totally agree with that.
Speaker 2:I agree with that too. No argument here.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's a very, very good. I might actually steal that too.
Speaker 1:So if you hear that somewhere else.
Speaker 3:I'll cite my stories. But that's a great point. That's a great point. I don't see KD and Klay winning the championship at all, because I don't even think that's higher than a KD and a Russell Westbrook, I think that's significantly higher than a KD and a Klay.
Speaker 2:So that's a very good point, yep significantly higher than the KD and the Clay. So that's a very good point. Yep, all right Then we had, so now the Lakers have played the Nuggets as a seven seat, that's bloodbath, kings and Pelicans. They play tomorrow, I believe the team. Who will be the eight seat Friday, not tomorrow? Friday to see who played a Thunder as the eight seat. You said bloodbath man, so you think that's the week.
Speaker 3:I don't think the Lakers stand a chance in hell, and it was like it's crazy because I was thinking about this to myself earlier. I'm like, look if the Nuggets and the Lakers play average. So if Nuggets play today's standard, lakers play today's standard, it's going to be a clean sweep for nothing. What's going to have to happen for the Lakers to even have a chance? Ad and LeBron are going to have to play out of their bodies and two of the two I would say two out of, if you look at Joker, murray, porter, porter Two of those guys are going to have to have an off series for the Lakers to even have a chance. If the Nuggets come out and just play flatline basketball, it's not a chance that the Lakers win a game.
Speaker 2:Okay, I don't know if I can argue that they just don't match up well, they don't match up well.
Speaker 4:It's just a bad matchup.
Speaker 2:I mean think about how that game went.
Speaker 4:last night you even had Russell cooking. You know what I'm saying? It's about how that game went last night then you even had like Russell cooking. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3:So it's like it's just a bad matchup for the Lakers, unfortunately, and it's like because I mean, even though they got swept in the Western Conference Finals last year, the games were somewhat close, but it's just like those small intangibles the Nuggets never missed on any of them. Yeah, when they needed a basket, they got a basket every single time and you can't do nothing with that. You can't do nothing with it. So, yeah, I mean they're 0-8 against the Nuggets in the last eight games. You know now the claims haven't been absolute blowouts, but they've been dominant enough to say the Lakers just don't match up well, and it's the same with the Kings. They don't match up with the Kings. They get destroyed by the Kings every opportunity. So the Same with the Kings. They don't match up with the Kings, they get destroyed by the Kings every opportunity. So the Nuggets is one of them, teams that has the Lakers number. I think the Lakers have a chance. If they were to play Minnesota, I think they could possibly take a series.
Speaker 2:I think they could take one against OKC.
Speaker 3:I think they could. Probably on paper they shouldn't be able to get the Suns, but the Suns are still kind of in. They may be able. But the Kings and the Nuggets, no sir, I don't even think they get a game Okay so, speaking of Kings, who do you think come out of the Kings and Pelicans, then oh, the Kings. It's already been confirmed that.
Speaker 2:Zion ain't playing, zion is out yeah.
Speaker 3:Should win that easily. And then it's like coaching too. They had Homeboy on the bench. Brandon Ingram was on the bench down the stretch last night.
Speaker 4:I don't know, because he's coming off that injury so he's still.
Speaker 3:I think they got them on a minute restriction. Yeah, I didn't know that.
Speaker 2:That's only his second game back from the injury, I believe I don't think the Thunder have enough.
Speaker 3:I mean not the Thunder, but the the Pelicans have enough.
Speaker 4:I'm not a believer in CJ McCollum like that either he didn't play well either. No, but I've never hated the dames. Cj's a good piece, but he can't be a major piece of your team and you think you're really going to win like that? If I'm being honest with you, I actually think that.
Speaker 2:OKC Sacramento that's going to be a good series. That's going to be a good series.
Speaker 4:They match up really well De'Aaron and SGA going at each other.
Speaker 2:I'm looking forward to the Clippers and the Mavs. The Bonas and Chet, all that.
Speaker 3:It's going to be some good, I think the Lakers and the Nuggets will be the worst series, honestly.
Speaker 4:I mean, I can't say you crazy for saying that, though you know what.
Speaker 3:I'm saying and I want to argue with you, but it's just like I mean, yeah, and y'all know who I like, y'all know LeBron's my favorite players. But I mean you got to be honest, like they just don't match up well against them and it's like the lack of coaching for the Lakers don't help. I mean there's no adjustments. I'm still waiting on somebody to be held accountable. Nobody's held accountable. It's just crazy. Like they let guys get to their cooking spots just on wheel. They never fight off anything. It's just over. Joker's going to have a field day. Murray's going to be Kobe again.
Speaker 4:It's over. I I mean the reality is. That's one thing, even though you know, you know, y'all know how I am about jamal murray. But one thing I don't argue or or take away from the dude come playoff time, if he's healthy, he shows up. Yeah, he shows up. So I mean, he a totally different player in the playoffs and he's a problem yeah for sure.
Speaker 2:All right, let's jump over to the East real quick before we get out of here. East playing, so we got the 76ers in the heat. They are already playing Good game too. I've been kind of watching it outside of my eye. What's the score on?
Speaker 3:it. I haven't been watching it. I see it's on commercial now, but I think it's like one-point game, three or four-point game maybe.
Speaker 4:Okay, of course you know you're asking and it ain't popped up since you asked, so they're showing you ain't seen no score yet.
Speaker 3:So, then my computer is trying to not reload Like come on now.
Speaker 2:All right, well, it's cool. I'm glad it's a good game.
Speaker 3:It's a one point game up 89-88. We also see the scoring going down for the playoffs too. I love it.
Speaker 1:It always does. I love it. It's three minutes before you see the 120.
Speaker 2:89-88.
Speaker 3:I think that's going to hit the Pacers, though Hopefully they can still do their thing. These scores have been going way down.
Speaker 4:I ain't talking to y'all about it because people keep asking about the whole Pacer thing and I keep telling them. They just remind me so much of the D'Antoni, sons and Rockets teams. I said I think come playoff time people going to be mad and be wondering where all that offense? I'm like, yeah, that works for the regular season, but in playoff basketball it just it's not going to be the same. So to be the same. So I wouldn't be surprised if they lose in the first round. But side note, I just got to say this. I've seen him play a little bit and I saw this dude play in college a little bit. Jamie Vasquez is kind of nice for the heat, he nice.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 4:Yeah, he nice.
Speaker 3:I mean Hockes is how he pronounce it. I'm sorry.
Speaker 4:Okay, yeah, I'm sorry, yeah, but you knew who I was talking about. He got a smooth game, bro. He got a smooth little game.
Speaker 2:So we got that game and then I think like 10 minutes, you got the Hawks and Bulls about to play at 930. I think that game tip off Right right. Probably nobody's going to stay up for that. No, Both of them were losing records.
Speaker 4:Oh man, when I heard the Bulls was in this thing I said what in the world is going on in the East that a team that bad is in any kind of situation to make a playoff man?
Speaker 2:They're bad.
Speaker 3:They're bad, they can go ahead and defund that game. For sure I'm not tapping into that. No.
Speaker 2:With that said, I guess we can jump into our final thoughts.
Speaker 3:I'll start, man, the Reds started the season off well. We swept the White Sox, then went out to the Mariners and lost three straights, so I'm just like it's about time for the Reds to go. I don't know how long I can stay on the edge Of this cliff before I just have to jump over for the Reds to go. Man, I don't know how long I can stay on the edge of this cliff, like before I just have to jump over. So, um, reds got to get it together, man, that's, that's all I gotta say um, and you, justin, man uh really nothing, man.
Speaker 4:I mean I'm just looking, uh, I'm I'm curious to see in terms of how next weekend this Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney fight.
Speaker 2:I knew you was going to bring some boxing. I knew it was going to be some boxing.
Speaker 4:I've been on my boxing so I'm very curious to see what we see next week. I'm sorry, that's this upcoming week. That's this Saturday. I'm very curious to see how that comes out, and I know I ain't been on in a minute, but y'all done missed some pretty good fights, man.
Speaker 2:You've been keeping us updated, if y'all been following us in the group. I try, I try to put it in there for y'all.
Speaker 4:But if y'all not aware of who Kermel Morton is, or, my goodness, jared Anderson just fought this past weekend. I mean you got a couple guys who I mean I'm looking forward to seeing it, and Javante Davis will be back in the ring, I think in June. I think it is. So we got some good fights coming up. That's against Frank Martin. So I mean really, I just say it's boxing is starting to make some fights that would make people maybe start watching again. So looking forward to kind of seeing how some of this stuff works out, but they got to keep doing a better job of getting some of these fights made.
Speaker 4:Now I heard a rumor. I don't know how true it is because there's no validity behind the source. Rumor is if Earl Spence because Fundora just won the title at the 154 from Tim Zou if Earl Spence jumps Crawford for that title shot, that's going to be an interesting fight. But that may push Crawford to fight Enos, gerard Enos, and that would be a very interesting fight for him. I think, hands down, crawford's going to beat him, but that would be a really good fight to watch because both of them are so skilled.
Speaker 2:Okay, we appreciate, always appreciate the boxing talk and your insight. Man, I'm glad you could get in here. We've been, we've been missing you man. I ain't gonna lie man, this is a breath of fresh air, man.
Speaker 4:I'm glad I can be back a little bit, man For real yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:So I guess we see you next week for the draft show. We're going to do the whole first round, so you ain't got to come in right away. Like whenever you can get on, just be in.
Speaker 4:I should be good.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I should be sure I want to say something like that.
Speaker 3:It might even be eight, I don't know, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:So, but yeah, no, we're going to just be in here Just vibing. I mean you, you want to do on the live. We're just going to be chilling and just talking about the picks as they come through, all right.
Speaker 4:That works.
Speaker 2:Shoot, I ain't got nothing, man. I appreciate y'all joining us today, man, this has been another episode of the Epic Podcast. We'll see y'all next Thursday for the draft show. Yes, sir.