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"
NFL Drama, and NBA Playoff Predictions
Have you ever been tempted by a collectible that you just couldn't resist? Well, join us for a trip down memory lane as we catch up with one of the original members of the Epic Podcast, who shares a hilarious story about a $40 Miles Morales figure from GameStop that had us all in stitches. We also dive into the world of fandoms and collectible shopping, sharing personal tales of temptation and the joys of hunting for that perfect piece. Our conversation takes a sharp turn as we explore NFL OTAs and Aaron Rodgers' controversial decision to sit out the last season despite being healthy, pondering the strategic move and its impact on the upcoming season.
Switching to the gridiron, we analyze the Jets' prospects with Aaron Rodgers potentially returning from an Achilles injury and how he stacks up against Zach Wilson. We'll cover the Jets' offseason improvements and their chances against the formidable Niners. Plus, get ready for some hot takes on Justin Fields' future, including his thoughts on a potential trade to Pittsburgh. We unpack the Bears' upcoming moves and speculate on the impact of Caleb Williams. Personal football fandoms, fantasy football insights, and betting strategies add layers of depth to our NFL discussion, making it a must-listen for any football enthusiast.
As we transition to basketball, we break down Caitlin's team's offensive strategies and what they need to do to overcome their current struggles. From the Boston Celtics' playoff journey to the pressures on Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, we analyze the potential need to split up their star duo if they fall short of a title. And don't miss our spirited debate on Kyrie Irving's legacy alongside Luka Dončić, as well as predictions for the NBA Finals. With an exciting blend of sports insights, personal anecdotes, and a dash of collectible fandom, this episode promises to keep you entertained from start to finish!
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 if it's all me, everything is on me. Gonna back it up. Matter what Told you, i'ma do me. Why you hatin' on me, it's not.
Speaker 2:Yo yo yo, welcome back. Welcome back to another episode of the Epic Podcast. I am joined in the house today with one of the originals. He is back.
Speaker 3:Yo I'ma sub.
Speaker 2:He's a sub Back in the house with Ike man. What's up, man? How you been man.
Speaker 3:You know I'm alive, so you know I do with that what you will. I'm dropping things all over the place over here, but you know that's good. Neither here nor there.
Speaker 2:I'll take the alive part of it. I'll take that. What do you want you take that. What do they call it now? Unalive.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think, that's the word you use when you can't use the other word. I don't even know if we even use it on YouTube. I really thought about it, alright.
Speaker 2:Well, before we start this off, I got something I want to show you, man. I found this at oh Jesus.
Speaker 3:I am scared right now.
Speaker 2:At GameStop. It ain't nothing to be scared about, just you know, yeah.
Speaker 3:I can't see anything. Is that the little mini joints?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't know. It's by YouTube's collectibles.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think they call it Toonies or something. Yeah, I did not see that.
Speaker 2:When I went to go pre-order my college football game, I was just looking around, as I always do, and I seen this I was like looking around, as I always do, and I seen this. I was like what?
Speaker 3:is this it's like three Funkos. Every time I go into GameStop I can't go in without buying one.
Speaker 2:I haven't been in in a minute, so I had you know. Because my temptations be crazy, I ran out of room.
Speaker 1:And they hit me with the file.
Speaker 2:Yeah, only time I get stuff is if I see, if it's something that you posted I won't, then I'll buy it from you.
Speaker 3:You should have a package coming. It should be tomorrow, okay, cool.
Speaker 2:I thought this was kind of cool. I don't know what it is, though it looks weird.
Speaker 3:They're like Funkos, from what I've seen, just a little cartoonish. I think I don't have any yet, but I haven't, I've only seen them. I can order them for the company, but I haven't seen one to be like yeah, I want it but yeah, I've seen it, it was $40.
Speaker 2:Oh man, it was $40. Oh, they're 40 bucks. Yes, this one was $40. Fucking $39.99. So, oh man, I was really kind of like, ooh.
Speaker 3:That's one of them things I'll be in there and they'll be like but you got $5 off for the month. You know what Fine I'm buying it. It's so easy to sell me in there. I swear to God.
Speaker 2:If it wasn't Miles Morales, of course, I probably would have been like I'm alright. I was like the chances of it being here the next time I come back. I was like let me go ahead and get it now. So, yeah, I thought that was pretty cool. I was like, man, I'm going to show Ike this when we get on. But nonetheless, man, start off with a, let's start off with NFL OTAs. So a couple of interviews I've seen over the past couple of weeks Aaron Rodgers, man, I guess he's doing everything in practice. Of course he could have came back last year if the Jets was a playoff contention, he said, but he chose to sit out because they wasn't they chose for him, and they should have.
Speaker 3:Probably.
Speaker 2:I mean, but if you're in playoff contention, do you not let Rodgers come back if he can?
Speaker 3:Where are they going to win the Super Bowl, Like if he came back at the end of the season? Was it guaranteed for them to win the Super Bowl? No, no. Then why, not wait until you get a full year of Aaron Rodgers versus. That's probably true. You play one, maybe two games going into the playoffs, still trying to learn the team because you ain't thrown to nobody for a long time. You don't want to do that going into a playoff game.
Speaker 2:I agree with that, but probably even that version of Aaron Rodgers is probably better than Zach Wilson.
Speaker 3:Well, look, you had nowhere to go without me. A first-round playoff loss is going to be a first-round playoff loss, regardless of who's back there.
Speaker 2:That's true. That's true, but he was just talking about more of how he he's out of my home. You want to run it? Jared's trying to join it. Yeah, join in.
Speaker 3:Who's trying to join in?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Join in?
Speaker 3:Who's trying to join? Jarrett, he's home, oh, okay.
Speaker 2:But yeah, no, he was just talking about how just coming back and getting used to moving, doing the movements that he's used to doing, without thinking about the Achilles, which I would guess is kind of hard, especially this is the first injury like this he had in his career, I really believe. So I can see how psychologically that could be a thing where you know you're supposed to step a certain way and throw the ball, deliver the ball, turn, put pressure on your back foot and you, in the back of your mind, you're thinking like man, like am I okay, am I good to do this? Which?
Speaker 3:to me is another reason as to why you don't bring him back last year. He's thinking about this now they're in OTAs. What was he going to be thinking about when the playoffs came? If you're not sure that you can play it and you know what I'm saying turn and throw the ball that you were supposed to. Now, what about five, six months ago? Of course, he was still thinking about that. That's going to affect the game, but we've passed that already. That's good. Obviously, you want to have this time to give him the continuity, especially with those receivers.
Speaker 3:I'm still curious as to what they're going to do. I love what the Jets have done in the offseason. I feel like they've at least brought in the offensive line. Now whether they're going to gel or not, you've got to wait and see but they've at least tried to shore up their offensive line, which having Aaron Rodgers back there, who throws the ball fairly quickly that helps them. It's a big difference between him and Zach, because Zach's going to hold the ball a little bit longer, whereas Aaron's going to get that thing out within seconds and it's going to be accurate. So as long as he's that Aaron, we got him first game of the season.
Speaker 2:Monday Night Football right.
Speaker 3:Monday Night Football. I anticipate it should be a phenomenal game. But if. I'm going to get Aaron Rodgers. I might as well get him early. That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:Before they start yelling. You know him. Usually it don't take much motivation for him to to uh push for mvp season. So, uh, all the pressure of being on the jets and being in new york and all those things from last year, it's now carrying over to this year, of course, and with a better receiver core, I believe. Uh, like you said, a better offensive line, things that nature. The defense has been the defense. They've been good. I don't see, like you said, nowhere but up for them. But to start off against the Niners is going to be a huge test. It don't get no better than that. You're going to be able to see where you are against the reigning NFC champions, right out the back.
Speaker 3:I'm excited for football season. Man.
Speaker 2:Oh man always Slacking.
Speaker 3:On basketball, I'm a little bit more down, even though I never played football. It's crazy. I'm a little bit more down.
Speaker 2:I always wondered that about you. That was crazy. You got a favorite football team, but you didn't play football. You played basketball, but you don't have a favorite basketball team. You just like players. I'm like it's so backwards.
Speaker 3:I blame my mom for that. She sent me to a school who didn't have football.
Speaker 2:That's right. I remember you saying that.
Speaker 3:I mean they are nationally ranked high schools. I mean academically, she probably made the right choice. I never tell her that she ain't going to see this, so I ain't going to worry about that. I don't watch podcasts or none of that stuff. But you know, football is also like the majority of it is Monday, so you catch almost every game on Sunday, and then I got a Thursday and a Monday. I think it doesn't take as much to keep up with it.
Speaker 2:It's consistent. You know when games are coming on. It almost don't matter who's playing, because you're going to watch anyway. It's just what football is.
Speaker 3:It's so unique you can only get it here. I play fantasy football and I'm a gambler.
Speaker 2:You know what? It's crazy because football season is the only time that I gamble. I do not gamble on the basketball season, I don't gamble on baseball, nothing else but football season. That's when I tend to play bets.
Speaker 3:I'm more successful during football season. I think it's more predictable for me. Me too.
Speaker 2:I feel more comfortable betting on football than basketball.
Speaker 3:I've got some bets in tonight. I ain't going to lie to you, which is why the game is on right here I'm looking at it.
Speaker 2:Got to keep up with the bets.
Speaker 3:I need this money.
Speaker 2:Nah, I'm with you, I'm with you. And then Justin Fields did a press conference after OTAs, talking about Pittsburgh is where he wanted to be. He knew he was going to get traded. He was kind of comfortable with it. He kind of knew it was coming, based on body language and things of that nature and just with the Bears and Caleb Williams and all that talk. He kind of knew it was going to happen one way or another. But he said, look, he likes being in Pittsburgh. It's where he wanted to go. Yeah, I'm not mad at that. I mean, you're in a room where you can compete, even if you don't start this year. Wilson is only on a one-year deal. You're on a one-year deal but when it comes to possibly bringing somebody back, they'll probably bring you back over bringing Wilson back, unless they make it to the AFC Championship or to the Super Bowl or something crazy with Russell Wilson. And even then you're still learning. He's still young, I think he's like 24.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean it's a great situation for him. I mean you go play for an organization that hasn't had a losing season for almost 20 years. Yeah, I was about to say.
Speaker 2:It's like yeah, they're at 20, 25 years.
Speaker 3:You know, you go into a winning situation. You go into a winning situation. You go into a room with Mike Tomlin who is going to coach. He's going to coach you. What he's done with much less talent is to be admired. So you know, I don't know that Fields starts week one, but I don't think so. I think he gets in there at some point in the season at least.
Speaker 2:I think it depends on how the season is going.
Speaker 3:I think the difficulty in getting him in is that Russell is not necessarily going to throw you out of a game even though he's not going to win you a game with his arm. But that's not the Steelers' MO right now. Anyway, it's running the ball, so it's going to be a little bit difficult, I think, for him to get in, but I would definitely love him to get in. I don't know if he starts week one, but I think he's in a perfect situation for him.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I agree, I don't think he starts week one. I don't think he needs to start week one either. By the way, we got Jared in here. He just joined us. Appreciate you getting on with us, brother. Yeah, starsky, we were just talking about Justin Fields did a press conference talking about Pittsburgh is where he wanted to be. He likes the situation he in. He kind of knew he was going to get traded from the Bears. He was okay with that just because he kind of knew he was going to get traded from the Bears. He was okay with that just because he kind of knew it was coming, wasn't no big deal. But he's kind of happy where he is.
Speaker 4:No, that's a solid situation for sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's what Ike was just saying with Tomlin and being there with the run game and how they you know how their offense is catered to. The run game, like it's not a lot of pressure on the quarterbacks to like, like what's said, throw you out of a game per se.
Speaker 4:All you got to do to be a successful quarterback with the Steelers is just not turn the ball over. Anything extra is icing on the cake. Yep, because the run game is always going to be solid, the defense is always going to be solid, the discipline coaching your offensive line. I don't think I've seen the Steelers with a weak offensive line. So the only thing you got to do is come in and not turn the ball over. I feel like everything else will follow, but obviously you got to score some points.
Speaker 4:But I'm just saying naturally, points are going to get scored with pretty much anybody and the defense is going to be really good. But if anybody doesn't turn the ball over, oh you good. So perfect situation. I actually think Russell Wilson's going to thrive. They're going to be solid this year, man. All they were missing was just, you know, a couple extra. You know a couple touchdowns a game, a touchdown or two a game, and you know they would have been decent last year.
Speaker 2:So perfect situation both of those guys. Even with their sluggish offense, they still was nine and eight, like they still competed, like they were in every game, like they had so many one score games that, like you said, you know one or two, one less turnover a game. They're easily, like you know, you can bump up at least two, three more wins.
Speaker 1:Yep.
Speaker 2:Nah, I agree, I like that. I think we might. I think we gotta. Yeah, I got him in here, but he's on mute in his camera right now, so I didn't want to bring him on to the scene and he ain't saying nothing Kind of out of it. We got Justin in here too. This is the original four. Look at this Kind of sort of. We'll bring him on camera when he turns his camera on and his mic when he's ready to contribute Moving right along. He ain't going to jump in on this topic because he said he didn't want to talk about it. Anyway, we're going to talk a little.
Speaker 2:Wnba man, angel Reese by stake at DC Power Soccer Club. Yeah, I just seen that. That came across my timeline today. I think that's a good buy she's showing. Usually you don't hear about women basketball players investing, but now with NIL deals, they're coming in with this money. It's not really their salary. They're coming in from college with $3-4 million in the bank To make these investments. Now I think we're going to hear more about these new I guess new age college athletes coming into pro sports and investing in different uh companies and things early on. So but to get on, a soccer club and the side clubs make a ridiculous amount of money.
Speaker 4:It's a lot of people who got who, who are like random owners and that's like it gotta be some money going on. And there's a few people that are just like rent completely random part owners of soccer teams Like uh.
Speaker 2:Oh, okay.
Speaker 4:I was just saying that there's a lot of people that are I was saying there's a lot of major people that are, you know, randomly, owners of soccer clubs. No, I don't, I don't know nothing about it to say to this major.
Speaker 2:I was just saying that that must be hot because people are doing it so yeah, like jj watt is part owner in one, uh, alex rodriguez is part owner of one. Gary Jeter Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 4:There's a lot of people that have stake in soccer teams. I guess that's what's hot now. I wouldn't know, because I ain't got no money.
Speaker 2:We all try to come up. And then Kayla Clark signs an endorsement with Wilson despite only averaging 17.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 6.5 turnovers Not off to the start that she wanted, I'm guessing, but I mean, she's still getting endorsement deals. People are still kind of branding her as the face of the WNBA for now.
Speaker 4:Really 16.5 points a game. Three of your first four games.
Speaker 1:Damn, they're outstanding.
Speaker 4:The turnovers are a little bit bad, but I think all basketball minds can see what's going on with the Steelers. To explain those turnovers Right, no, I agree. They need to stop bringing the pick and roll with the pick person. That's not a hooper. All the teams are doing is they're just trapping Kaitlin.
Speaker 4:So, it's like let her go one-on-one or make her play off the ball. That's what needs to happen. If you don't have the type of roster to run a pick and roll offense, you can't do it, because when the picker brings their defender up, that defender is no longer worried about the person setting the pick. They are all okay. We're just going to trap Caitlin. You're just inviting the other team and that's what the?
Speaker 2:team is doing. Yeah, we were saying that the other day, we were talking about her. And if you're going to do it. You got to run it with Aaliyah Boston, somebody who's a threat going to the bucket. She's struggling. She's been struggling too, but I'm just saying like that's your best threat right now being a big man shooting 38 for a big woman, that sounds terrible.
Speaker 4:A post player. Being a post player and shooting 38%, that's crazy. I never thought about that because playing a big man it's nothing to that, you know. But that's crazy. I never thought about that Because playing a big man it's nothing to that. A big woman sounds out of pocket. But being a post player and shooting 38% from the field is not at all In any sample size. That's terrible.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but as a team, the Fever, just their offense, has been horrible, at least in the games I've watched.
Speaker 4:But that's what I'm saying. They got to change it up. They got to change it up. They got to change it up. Caleb Clark needs to be coming off multiple screens, not even just one. Coming off multiple screens and getting open shots. That's what the offense, that's what the offense needs to be. And until they fix that, until that coach decides to run some off, it's going to be, Until they fix that, until that coach decides to run some post-play worries off him it's going to be rough.
Speaker 2:I agree Again. I think they need to dive into some Iowa video footage and just see what worked for her. Her being a primary ball handler works. That's just what she's used to.
Speaker 4:Even with Iowa, you couldn't just trap her on the pick and roll because she could get it to that person and that person could shoot a three, that person could shoot a two. You know what I'm saying. But if you're bringing, you know you're the five or the four for the Pacers and bringing their person up, they're not worried about that, they're not worried about the roll, they're not worried about their player, they're not worried about their player, they're not worried about anything.
Speaker 4:They're just not worried about it because that person setting that pick is not offensively advanced enough to be a threat, Even if you get it to Aaliyah Boston by the time she gets to the hole from the three-point line.
Speaker 2:Somebody done, rotated over.
Speaker 4:Everybody done rotated and they shut me down. I agree with that.
Speaker 2:I agree with that. Alright, we're going to jump over to. I agree with that. I agree with that. Alright, we're going to jump over to some NBA Eastern Conference Finals. Which Pacers' second Celtics game is on right now. Everybody's listening to it in the background. They got Boston favored by nine and a half.
Speaker 3:They look right right now.
Speaker 2:You said they look right right now.
Speaker 3:They look like that's correct this moment Okay.
Speaker 4:Well, clearly, the picture's showing that, you know, being down 2-0 ain't really a you know ain't really an issue. Granted, I mean, they were playing the Knicks, but if any team can come back from it, I feel like they can. I mean just offensively. They're just so talented, bro, Like, yeah, the role players have roles. You know what I'm saying. Like, you know what? What's his name? Tj McConnell knows what he's supposed to do when he comes off the bench and steps on the floor. He knows, he knows his role.
Speaker 2:OB Toppin, all those guys. They all come in and they do what they're supposed to do.
Speaker 4:They do what they're supposed to do. They do what they're supposed to do so.
Speaker 2:For the Celtics quick question Is this the easiest path they're going to have to the finals? I mean like of course they done been to the Eastern Conference Championship, you know, numerous times over the past couple years, but like they didn't have to go through an NB, they didn't have to go through Giannis and Dame Leonard, they didn't have to go through. I mean, everybody's been hurt, julius Randle, and like the Knicks and their slew of injuries, hell, I think both teams have had it easy. That's what I'm saying. I'm just thinking like I mean for the Celtics, I mean like somebody who's been there before, like to get to the championship and possibly win. I mean, even in the West you're looking at a Mavs or Timberwolves matchup.
Speaker 2:Like is this probably the best situation for the Celtics the Celtics I had over the past couple years.
Speaker 3:Oh wow, oh wow I don't know if that matters.
Speaker 4:It ultimately doesn't matter.
Speaker 3:I do agree with that I mean when you play loser for that, and what happens, happens to other teams. Everybody's getting hurt. At this time of year, somebody's hurt. You said to me when has he not been hurt around this time?
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, I was just talking about all the playoff teams. I was just thinking about Jimmy Butler, like all those guys who got hurt throughout the playoffs, like nobody really had to go up against a full team, except for the Pacers, of course. They've been probably the most healthiest in the East.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I feel like, yeah, both teams have had it miraculously easy Now that I think about it, because both teams, that both squads, that both of these teams faced, were injured. The only difference is the Celtics have been the best all year. Someone might give them more benefit of the doubt over that, but they both had crazy easy routes. Neither team I don't think I think the Pacers might be a little bit more tested than the Celtics just because they had to win a game seven on the road, but neither team has really faced adversity yet. So you know, I think this series will be able to let us all know what's really good, and I'm personally not counting the Pacers out. I know a lot of people just got the Celtics. I'm not one of them.
Speaker 3:I don't know about a landslide. I mean, I got him at six but I don't know if it's a landslide. I mean I think they're all close games, well, there seems to be one blowout per round.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm about to say every round there seems to be a blowout.
Speaker 3:One of these is going to be an unexpected blowout.
Speaker 4:Either way, because Boston they got blew out by the Cavaliers, so it's like the blowout could go either way really, Especially when you're fooling with a team like the Pacers that can just score. You know what I'm saying. If the Celtics have an off night, they're going to get blown out. Basically, the Pacers are very talented and play that free. They're going to score enough points to win every game. So it's just going to be on Boston to pretty much respond.
Speaker 2:What do you think, Justin?
Speaker 5:About what? What did you say?
Speaker 2:No, I just see you just looking up the whole time About what he was in La La Land.
Speaker 4:About the.
Speaker 2:Celtics and their path to the finals. Possibly, oh no.
Speaker 5:I heard that my bad. No, I was just saying I mean, it's just the NBA man. It's always something going on. I don't think it's going to be easy. To be quite honest, I don't know that. The Celtics I don't think I would pick the Celtics against either one of the teams in the West personally, so I don't. I mean, yeah, honestly, I mean I was with Jarrett. I actually I picked the Pacers to win this series, though I think with no Przingis. The Celtics are a different team anyway.
Speaker 4:I heard he comes back game three.
Speaker 5:That's what I heard yeah, no, I just a report just came out. They said the earliest they think he would be able to come back may be game four now.
Speaker 1:Oh.
Speaker 5:They said his rehab is well. Uh, it literally just came on. Why, I think, why y'all? When y'all started this up, I think I just saw something come across because he was talking about that game and I'm like, if you don't have him for the first, let's call it three games, maybe four games. At that point the patient should be able to establish, you know, some kind of control on the series. And then we're talking about a guy who ain't even played. So it's not like you know what I mean.
Speaker 5:So he's just going to come back in and come back in yeah Like, and the Pacers are probably the worst team to do that against, because they push the tempo.
Speaker 5:So you got a guy coming back for injury Pacers is probably the worst team you want to put him in against. You know what I'm saying. They don't play a lot of half court basketball. They try to push it and get you know, get the open shots. One of my guys told me today I didn't know this, Maybe I did they actually have the highest percentage in the NBA for open shots, Like they get the most open shots in the NBA. That's crazy. I didn't know that and I would tell you why?
Speaker 3:Because every time I bet a Patriots game, I bet overs. I just said bet over it, especially when it comes to scoring.
Speaker 5:That's probably smart, I mean obviously. I think game one is one of those where they just set an NBA record in the playoffs shooting percentage. Anyway, you knew there was going to be some kind of drop-off. They wouldn't dare do that in another game.
Speaker 2:No, not back-to-back games.
Speaker 5:No, but I mean, I think they'll be fine in the series, but I also think I'm I'm not sold on Tatum and Brown either, so I'm probably one of the few in that, in that realm as well. I don't. I don't not a big Tatum or Brown guy in terms of thinking that they can lead your team to a championship.
Speaker 2:OK, with that being said, then Is there pressure on Tatum to deliver a title? You know been to the Eastern Conference finals now five times in the past. What seven years? Or something like that.
Speaker 4:To answer that, I'd have to know what kind of pressure are we talking. Are we talking, lebron?
Speaker 2:To win. No, I mean just pressure to win a title.
Speaker 5:I think so. I think so Because, like to your point though, vern it's like now it's kind of old that they're getting to the eastern conference finals. I don't think their fans or anybody gets excited about that, because they, they. That's kind of been there doing it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they've been doing that I.
Speaker 5:So to answer that, I think there is some pressure for them to win. Otherwise, I think at some point you do have to ask yourself is that something that you have to break up? Do you have to break up the Tatum and Brown to? You know, kind of put something else in there to see if you can get over that hump? Because I mean, even if they win this series and then lose again in the finals again, I don't think your fan base is happy, ownership's not happy, because you're not. You know you're not winning that title.
Speaker 3:And it's Boston and it's Boston.
Speaker 2:It's a historic franchise they have like the most championships in NBA history right now right, Are they tied with the Lakers?
Speaker 3:now they're tied with the Lakers.
Speaker 2:Yeah, okay, so yeah, but I mean even to be tied with the Lakers. You know like you know yeah, y'all had double digits when it comes to championships.
Speaker 5:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Like that is the bar, especially with this talented of a team Like this is probably the most talent they done had. You know, when you throw in a Porzingis, even though he ain't been there when you got him there, you got Holiday and all those guys and their bench is pretty solid when they want to be. But you know, I don't know. I think it is because it's like, okay, like you said, you kind of get bored with the Eastern Conference Finals. It because it's like, okay, like you said, you kind of get bored with the Eastern Conference Finals. It's like, yes, y'all been doing this, it's great to get there, but like we need some hardware at this point, like you got to win one of these. You know, if we get on LeBron for his you know his Finals record, it's like, hey, look, should we not get on Tatum for his their Eastern Conference champion? You know, know that that that's yeah. I mean I'm just saying when we look at it and I just use lebron example, but just, I don't think anybody cares.
Speaker 4:I don't think anybody cares because? Because, um, for one, I don't think people see tatum as threatening anybody's legacy. Um, because, to the point now I have people admit to this point. Man, the only reason I hate on lebron is because you know he's he's closing in on my favorite player's legacy, which respect whatever it is, what it is, but I don't think anybody ultimately cares if Jason Tatum wins the ring or not. Like I don't, I just don't think they care.
Speaker 2:But I also think oh, go ahead, ike.
Speaker 3:I don't think anybody outside of Boston does. It's not your team, right?
Speaker 4:Well, that don't think anybody outside of boston does. It's not your team. Like, why would you right? Well, that's true, but but how many people that are not fans? There's people that hate lebron's guts, that are more consumed with his finals appearances and records than his fans, but I don't think anybody has the same kind of level yeah, that's pushed because of a different debate.
Speaker 1:That's where I'm at.
Speaker 3:Tatum's personal legacy is going to be tied to this. He is going to be mentioned with people like CP3. He was like he should have been good enough to win one. He's never got it done. You are the focal point, you are the man. At some point it is going to be hard to pay, because I mean, they already paid Jalen Brown with three-something. He's up for a super max, so they ain't going to be able to put the same pieces around them after this. So, like this is and did they by far have the best record in the league this year?
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah.
Speaker 3:You've got to at least bring one of these home at some point, or look, it's gonna be all right. This ain't working like we. We are not at some point, like the warriors did it, you could justify paying them all this money because they at least brought championships at some point. It's gonna be all right. What?
Speaker 5:we paying you for yep and I can. I say this uh, I also uh and it might not be you who said it, but I'll address it to you, but I think to your point. I think to your point, though, even and this is just me like I, any of the players, like I don't I think you can respect players and you don't necessarily have to be a fan of a player. So like for for me, at least in the conversations, I think it's less about LeBron hate and more about hate for LeBron fans.
Speaker 4:That's a cop out, not from you, but just I hear that all the time. That's. That's because my my my response to when people say that so what is wrong with LeBron fans? It's like he's got. I mean, how can he not have crazy fans? I mean, like, what about? What he's done in the league doesn't constitute somebody being a super fan of LeBron James, so like.
Speaker 3:I can see if somebody was like I'm probably the worst at this. I hate super fandom in general.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I was going to say I'm probably the last person, that guy, yeah, I'm nothing on the whole. Super fans I can care less. None of them pay me no money, so I can care less. Who wins year in and year out, I made a list of fans that I hated.
Speaker 3:The Brown fans weren't on there, Colts fans were on there, and that's because I lived in Indianapolis for so long and there was this one hole about Peyton Manning and what I would try to tell people. He wasn't doing nothing in the playoffs, I was getting pushback and I'm like you can't be doing that.
Speaker 4:When they were killing I had people apologize to me for liking who I like. I'm like damn y'all that crazy that you gotta say you're sorry because I'm a fan of who I'm a fan of. That's real. I could definitely respect that For a record Batman fans were on there twice.
Speaker 2:I was about to say, yeah, batman fans are horrible.
Speaker 4:That's the only one I can speak on. I can't even really. No, no, no, I'm not on that.
Speaker 2:Yep. But to kind of get back circle, back to the question about Tatum, like I said, I think in consensus, consensus kind of like you gotta deliver at some point. So, and I again like with you're not really having a heart or really being tested. You know, y'all don't really have no major injuries outside of porzingis, you know, I mean y'all roster is pretty much intact. Like there really shouldn't be too much of an excuse on why you can't deliver this year. Granted, I want the Pacers to win, just because I'm a fan. But even if they do advance, you look at West, like if they go up against the Timberwolves, dude, like the Timberwolves, they don't care, bro, they have nothing to lose. They know they pretty much. You know they're coming up and they're all biting at the bits.
Speaker 4:Tell me this, though. That's that's so. I get that. But also my comeback to you know well, they should have won. What team have they lost to that? They were clearly better than Tell me about Boston. Yeah, and I'm not saying that, I'm not, that's not a setup question. Do you think they should have swept Cleveland? They should have swept them. I mean maybe, but I mean. I mean, I'm not really for one, for nothing.
Speaker 2:Those aren't really no some of the games was closely. It wasn't like they were just dominating in terms of um.
Speaker 4:The people that they've been eliminated in the playoffs by like have they lost a series that they just were super heavily favored and they just should have won? I don't know. They've been in the finals once right.
Speaker 3:Didn't they lose to Miami?
Speaker 5:Yes, they did.
Speaker 4:They lost to Miami oh okay, that Miami team was good though.
Speaker 3:Yeah, but Boston, boston was better. They were supposed to win that series. Better they were supposed to win that series.
Speaker 4:I'm not arguing with that. See, I didn't even know the whole list of who they played. I'm not arguing with that, I was just trying to.
Speaker 3:That's the only one I can think of.
Speaker 4:I know that you know them losing in the finals To the Warriors. Granted, they were up, but Fucking Warriors Like that, no, not yet.
Speaker 3:I don't think he was the greatest, so okay.
Speaker 2:So, last year they lost to the Heat in the conference finals. The year before that they lost to the Warriors in the finals. The year before that they lost to the Nets in the opening round. The year before that they lost to the conference finals, to the Heat again.
Speaker 4:That was the bubble.
Speaker 2:Yep 2019,. They lost to the Bucs in the conference semifinals. My bad Giannis was Giannis. Yep 2018, they lost to the Cavaliers in the conference finals. So I think that's since. Tatum has been there.
Speaker 4:Yeah. So you got LeBron, you got Giannis. Giannis, I mean you've been put out by Steph Curry. I mean those Heat teams were. I mean they were solid. I don't think, yeah, they were solid man. You got Jimmy Bam Tyler Hero Kyle Lowry was still somewhat something I don't know.
Speaker 2:Then that Nets team. I think that was the.
Speaker 5:That was the Harden.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the Harden direct.
Speaker 4:They're all there, though probably Did they all three play. No, I don't think so who knows, I said it the whole time Even two of those guys is better than your average. Like KD and any other all-star is a legitimate combination. Who was that Miami series, the last one?
Speaker 3:Was that?
Speaker 2:the one. Something like that the last one the most recent, or the first one, the most recent one, not the first one. The most recent one was they lost three in a row, then they won three and they lost this game seven.
Speaker 3:Okay, that one did go seven.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that one went seven. The Warriors went six. Nets went seven. The Warriors went six, nets went five. The Heat the other Heat win went six. They went five with the Bucs and then seven with the Cavs. So I mean I'm just looking at those losses like I believe, like now you gotta come through. None of those teams are in your way.
Speaker 4:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I agree. I mean now running that off, now thinking back dang, you lost to the Heat twice. Of course you lost to the Warriors, but then you look at that Nets team they was abysmal. And then that LeBron team I don't even think he had anybody. That's not the Kyrie Kevin Love.
Speaker 4:That team was LeBron.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that was the LeBron, that was the Superman LeBron team. He was averaging like 40. So yeah, I think now you've got to deliver.
Speaker 3:We say all this and I'm with Justin, they get passes. I still don't have to be with them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Speaking of that, let's jump over to the West real quick. Mavs-timberwood game one is tomorrow 8.30 on TNT Minnesota. They four and a half.
Speaker 1:Y'all agree.
Speaker 2:I think that's for the game. Game one. I got a question. First off, let's start. This Is Cat and Ant, the best duo left in the finals. I know we were talking about Justin. You was talking about.
Speaker 3:Tatum and.
Speaker 2:Brown no, no, okay, no way. Tatum and Brown no Okay, oh, dang, no way. Kyrie Luka, everybody. Kyrie Luka, justin, I know you guys. Kyrie Luka also Okay, no feedback on that one. Okay, cool, speaking of Kyrie and Luka, then does Kyrie winning a title with Luka? Does that kind of make us look at him differently from when he went to Boston and how you know that went?
Speaker 5:and then the Nets I've never had one Kyrie hate, so people keep going in there, okay okay, I've never had the Kyrie hate, so people keep going to narrative about Kyrie. I've never had the hate for Kyrie. Kyrie's a dog and probably one of the most underrated players that gets hated on Yep.
Speaker 2:I'm with that. I'm with that. I'm a huge Kyrie fan I don't want to buy a dog period.
Speaker 4:He could not win another game. The rest of his career, Dog.
Speaker 3:I don't think this changes his legacy or anything at all. I will say that this does put him in a position where he didn't have to be the main guy to carry.
Speaker 3:He had that with KD as well. That was a whole different scenario when one was healthy and the other was injured. That's a different thing. It does put him back in a position where he does not have to carry the weight of the franchise. When he went to Boston it was like God, we need you to be the guy that brings us the ship. And I think he kind of carried some of that to Brooklyn, even though he had KD. And that's because KD doesn't put that on his shoulders himself, so it's got to go somewhere. And Harden don't put that on his shoulder on his shoulders either, so it's got to go somewhere. I mean, naturally because he is more vocal. People perceive him as vocal because of what they see on social media. Uh, he kind of was the default leader. I agree, he can just hoop like he can. Just he can go play and ain't got to worry about all that other stuff and you can tell it's something that's benefited him being in Dallas.
Speaker 2:I'm glad he's here, definitely too. I mean, even on the defensive end he's even playing better defensively. I think he's finally figuring out those leadership qualities, like, hey, I ain't got to be the guy, but I can be the vet leader on the team. You know what I mean, and not only just with my voice, but with my play on the court also. I'm also still good enough to show that, hey, look, I can compete at a high level while also being that leader and letting Luka run the team. You know, be the face of the team and I don't have that pressure on him.
Speaker 2:Like you said, without having that pressure on him either, I think all that's benefited him, like you know, ten times over Because, like you said, going to Boston, he wanted to be the guy. You know what I mean. Going to Brooklyn, he was default the guy and now, like you said, he can just hoop you know what I mean and just, you know, be the, I guess, the player that he really want to be. Because in cleveland, I think him, being young and like, hey, look, I'm just as good as lebron, like you know, having that ego and he's even admitted it like kind of set him back a little bit in his career. Um, but to come full circle and now ready to compete for a championship.
Speaker 4:Although I think LeBron was going to leave, he probably had a win to that and was just like yeah, I don't want to be stuck in Cleveland by myself, so let me just get out.
Speaker 5:I agree, Jared, Jared, I swear to you. I think LeBron told him he was leaving.
Speaker 4:Yeah, with respect, whatever I mean, he could have not said nothing and just left everybody fucked up.
Speaker 5:But that's true, yeah.
Speaker 2:Okay, well, I mean, that's all I got, man. That's it. Final thoughts Anything getting defunded?
Speaker 4:Let me think Red stink oh my God, they stink oh my God. Nah, I don't really got nothing. Man got a job offer today that I've been waiting on. Life changed.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I see you talking about that man.
Speaker 4:Man, I needed it. That's something that I got going on.
Speaker 5:Congratulations bro, congrats yeah.
Speaker 4:Appreciate that.
Speaker 3:And also another thing you said what you got an applause on the mixing board.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I got something over here Claps, there we go.
Speaker 4:What I was going to say is shout out to the Pacers winning, because my product has been flying due to them winning. Oh yeah, I've been seeing you been selling a lot of Pacer gear eBay's been going crazy, so shout out to that If anybody's listening and y'all want any gear, all brand new. I don't sell no crap, all officially licensed Nike apparel. If you want anything, visit JBA Sports Locker. But yeah, man, shout out to the Pacers. My stuff has been selling like crazy Hotcakes. I'm messing with that. I'm messing with that.
Speaker 1:I was telling my wife.
Speaker 4:Hopefully the Pacers keep it going, because I got a few more things to unload. Keep it going. But yeah, things have been great, so no complaints.
Speaker 2:All right. Final thoughts. Justin, man, you know it's nice to have you back first off, man, Nice to have you in the house, man, it's a pleasant surprise.
Speaker 5:You know, even though I just seen you the other day. It's good to have you back talking crazy. It's one of those things that somebody like this, who goes by heroes like me, I couldn't let him be on and me not be on he been trolling you for like six months. I know because I had talked to him a couple times.
Speaker 5:He told me he was going to mess with me until I got back on. So when I got done with myself tonight, I said, I know y'all started, let me jump back on. But now, man, not really. I mean, you know, hopefully, hopefully, pacers make this series a good one and can pull this out. Man, and I mean more than anything, just, you know, curious to see how how these conference championships work out, because I don't watch a lot of nba, because I, you know, I got my own stuff that I don't like with the nba to a degree. But, um, I'm hoping these are going to be some pretty good series though. So I'm I plan to watch a lot of these uh pacer and uh pacers games and uh minnesota games. So let's see what happens For sure.
Speaker 2:Go ahead.
Speaker 5:I'm sorry. I meant to ask you this Just real quick. With this playoff run, did this put Ant as the top two guard in the league now?
Speaker 4:You got to consider it Just immediately off the rip.
Speaker 2:I can't really think of nobody else I mean technically Kyrie's a two, Technically, I guess.
Speaker 5:He still isn't as a point, though, yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, now it's just guard, so it's like guard guard, forward, forward.
Speaker 4:So, they don't even put power or a small forward which I put both jason uh tatum and jalen brown it's as threes forwards. Yeah, I would probably say yeah, I think they would be in the discussion see, I think he's better than both of them.
Speaker 5:That that like. I'll be honest, probably the most impressive thing to me has been his willingness to take on the Jamal Murrays and guys like that when games was needed, especially in the second half of games. I think the only person I heard the argument for was they said Devin Booker, devin Booker, some people said they would take Booker over here Because he plays defensively, he's better.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's what I'm about to say. That's the only thing.
Speaker 5:Like Devin.
Speaker 2:Booker is not a defender.
Speaker 5:No, and has showed me something in this playoffs. You know in this playoff run that he going to play both ends of the court, so I was like I think he might be the best too, man, and that's the scary thing for a man that age age.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, he got a lot of growth left a lot of growth left and it's crazy, he only six, four, like like he just plays bigger so when I heard that I'm like he only six, four.
Speaker 2:now, I agree, um, whenever you get your best player to commit on the defensive side, like and I think me and jared was gonna talk about that the other day like like halliburton and bronson, like a lot of times the, even if they're two top point guards, a lot of times they don't guard each other or they try to hide them as defenders in the corner. You know what I mean guarding the corner, um, but when you got someone who says, no, I'm guarding him, like that's, like that's old school, that's Kobe, that's Mike, that's you know, that's a lot of those gays, the Bruce Bowens and like all those guys who used to say, hey, look, no, I'm taking the best player. You know what I mean. Even though they may not have been the best player, they took on those challenges night in and night out and to get in the playoffs and do that and to be effective, like he clearly was effective against.
Speaker 1:Murray.
Speaker 2:So you know he's going in press conference. Hey, I've got Kyrie. Like I ain't never heard nobody say that, that they want to go in and guard Kyrie.
Speaker 5:Man, that's a tough order. When they left, what was that? I think game five, I think it was, or something and told the media, told the staff at Denver.
Speaker 1:I'll see y'all for game seven I said that's cold-blooded brother.
Speaker 3:I like this dude man. He's my favorite player. I ain't had a favorite player in a while and I really got to be watching it, but he definitely took that man off the league.
Speaker 2:But I mean he keeps it real and like you got to respect it. Like how he said you know, but Cat was talking about he was just talking about, like his past, how he been in the league nine years and you know the whole Jimmy Butler run and all the other teams he had been a part of. Like nah, how long you been with me. Like, forget all that. Like how long you been with me. Like, forget all that. Like, how long you been with me. You ain't been with me that long.
Speaker 2:So you know things are going to be different now, you with me, you know. So like to have a 22-year-old just coming out and really talking his shit and backing it up and inspiring his team and other players to like change the way they go about their business. Like it's competition, like and I think sometimes the nba get caught up in media and how it looks and like you miss that the toughness and the griminess and the the competition part of it because they want it to be this fast-paced, friendly score. A bunch of points, everybody you know he, he, ha, ha. And it's like you got edward's like. Nah, like we keeping it, we smacking the floor.
Speaker 5:You know what I mean, like this is what we doing, so hopefully that rubs off on the league and more guys um have a little more edge to them so yeah, and side note with what you just said, the thing that tripped me up maybe y'all knew this I didn't realize carl anthony towns was gonna be 29 this year. I didn't know, I felt like the dude was still like 21,. I mean like 24, 25.
Speaker 2:That's what I'm saying. He's been in the league nine years, but when you've been on a, he's been hitting on a bad team for so long, so it's like when he ain't doing nothing, there ain't nothing to really talk about with him.
Speaker 5:It just don't seem like he's been in the league that long. That's all.
Speaker 2:That's crazy, it don't. But I mean, this is prime though. You know, 29, you know his next three years are going to be his peak they better, maximize it, man. Ike man any last remarks man.
Speaker 3:Hey, let me tell you something Busting makes me feel good All right, All right man. My shirt actually says that.
Speaker 2:I know. Thank you, ike, that's all I got for you. Appreciate it. I'm just glad, man. We you, ike, that's all I got for you. Appreciate it. I'm just glad, man. We back man Original four. We pulled it out and I appreciate y'all guys. Man, we're going to watch the rest of this game and that's it, man. This has been the Epic Podcast man. Some of us will see y'all next week. We don't know who. Epic podcast man. Some of us will see y'all next week. We don't know who, but some of us. I'll be in Ohio next week. So see, I knew Ike was going to Ohio, so I knew he wasn't going to be here. So I just said some of us and you know it is what it is, man. But, um, by next week will we 1, 2, 3? We might be. We might have at least one team, if somebody. You know what I mean. I don't think nobody's going to get swept. That's what I'm saying. If somebody gets swept, we might know one team that's going to the finals.
Speaker 3:But I don't see anyone that's getting swept?
Speaker 2:No.
Speaker 3:Do we do finals predictions?
Speaker 2:We did not do finals predictions. We can, we still got time, we only got 52 minutes we doing very well.
Speaker 3:That shouldn't take that long, no, Only four teams. I'll start. I will, because I just said it's my favorite player. Now I kind of got to pick him, so I got Boston and Minnesota. I'm biased, I know you're laughing.
Speaker 2:Well, you got Jared.
Speaker 4:To win it all.
Speaker 2:No, we just picking final predictions. Who do you think will make it to the finals?
Speaker 4:Man, I think Boston finds some way to win this series. Yeah, I'll go Boston. Are we doing the West too?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 4:West too. Yep. So I'll go Boston, man, and I'm going to go Minnesota. I'm, I'll go Boston, man, and I'm going to go Minnesota. I'm going to go Boston and Minnesota. In the finals, my man, what do you think would happen if the Pacers and the Mavericks ended up in it? It wouldn't like. I wouldn't be shocked.
Speaker 1:Justin.
Speaker 5:I'm going to pick it, man, I'm torn dog. It's all right, I'm going gonna go different. I'm gonna say the pacers just just on some, on some city stuff. But man, I'll be honest, in the west man, I I honestly have no idea it. I'ma go minnesota, but I don't even feel good about saying that. I feel dirty saying Minnesota right now. So like I don't even feel good about it, my bias is the only reason I picked it.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I mean it is because and he's by far probably my favorite player, so like in terms of players I like to watch, so that's part of it, but I like Kyrie man. Kyrie's still my guy.
Speaker 2:That's where I'm at. I'm going Pacer-Mavs, I'm going the completely opposite.
Speaker 2:I'm going Pacer-Mavs because, of course, pacer's home team, but I'm a huge fan of Luka and Kyrie. But I wouldn't be surprised if it's the opposite or flip-flop. If it's Timberwolves-Pacers, I wouldn't be surprised. Like you said, if it's Boston Mavs, I wouldn't be surprised. Boston, I wouldn't be surprised either way. Either way I could go. I mean, you're down to the final four, so it's not a whole bunch of disparity between the four teams. But yeah, I'm going Mavs Pacers just because I would like to see it and I would probably buy a ticket to one of the games, even though it was going to be a stupid amount of money.
Speaker 5:Stupid amount. Yeah, I thought about going to one of these.
Speaker 2:Boston ones. I looked up the price after we talked just now. I looked up the price and I was like 500 to sit in club level. Yep, just one ticket. I don't want to do it, that's crazy. And then it was like $240 to sit in the upper deck. I'm like, no, yeah, that's nuts.
Speaker 5:I mean they're trying to take advantage of folks.
Speaker 2:But like for a finals game. We ain't been to finals since what? 2000? So for a finals game. If I got to pay that type of money to catch a finals game in the city, then all right 500 for clubs.
Speaker 3:I went to the Eastern Conference Finals when y'all played Miami. It wasn't that weird.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like 90. Yeah, as I'm saying, if we make it to the finals I'll fork up the money to go to one game. But I got to sit in club level. I cannot sit any higher, no it's a waste.
Speaker 5:I already have it on my TV.
Speaker 2:If you're going to sit in the upper deck, you might as well be watching on TV. So yeah, no, I got to sit in club level. So whatever that fee is, I will have to find a way to pay it. After building a fence and a new bathroom, don't know where the money going to come from. We'll figure a new bathroom.
Speaker 5:Don't know where the money gonna come from. Figure it out To the blood bank and plasma bank with me.
Speaker 2:Man every day.
Speaker 5:Hey, if we start right now, we might have enough tickets to add.
Speaker 2:Together we could buy half a ticket.
Speaker 3:Street's always hard man.
Speaker 2:This guy.
Speaker 3:Let's see if I'm gonna put something on it.
Speaker 5:What kind of show is this that you got going Spider?
Speaker 2:I don't know this is I'm gonna take my name off of this, but nah, man, I appreciate y'all wholeheartedly, man, um, and that's it, man. This has been another week of epic podcast. Man, we catch y'all next week in some variation.