ITALKSPORTS Episode 28 - NBA: Luka Doncic, Cleveland Cavaliers owning East, and Joel Embiid drama
The discontent I express regarding Joel Embiid is palpable throughout our discourse. My disappointment stems from the recurring injuries that have plagued him, which I contend are indicative of a lack of seriousness toward his professional commitments and the sport of basketball itself. Despite the high expectations surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers, their current standing as the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference underscores the ramifications of Embiid's absence from the court. I scrutinize his choices, particularly the decision to prioritize participation in the Olympics over addressing his health, which has further undermined the team's aspirations. Consequently, I find myself questioning not only his dedication to the game but also the broader implications for a franchise that has long been in a state of anticipation for championship success.
A deep examination of the current state of the NBA reveals a landscape marked by both triumph and disappointment. In my discourse, I express profound discontent regarding Joel Embiid's performance and commitment, particularly in light of the Philadelphia 76ers' precarious position as the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference. My concerns are not merely rooted in statistical inadequacies but rather in the broader implications of Embiid's recurring injuries and his apparent lack of dedication to rehabilitating his physical condition. The juxtaposition of his immense talent against his inconsistent availability raises pressing questions about his seriousness regarding the sport of basketball. Furthermore, I explore the implications of the 76ers' struggles on their championship aspirations, emphasizing the necessity of having a fully healthy and engaged superstar to contend for the title. This episode serves as a critical reflection on the ramifications of Embiid's choices and the broader narrative surrounding the franchise's future, as we trust the process that has yet to yield the anticipated results.
Takeaways:
- Joel Embiid's commitment to basketball is questionable, considering his persistent injuries and concerns about his fitness.
- The Philadelphia 76ers' struggles this season are largely attributed to Embiid's inability to consistently stay on the court.
- The Cleveland Cavaliers are currently the most formidable team in the league, showcasing exceptional talent and coaching.
- The New York Knicks' failure to beat top teams raises concerns about their championship potential despite their current standing.
- Luka Doncic's impressive playoff performances position him as a leading player in the league, rivaling even the best in history.
- The intensity of the NBA season from February to April provides an exhilarating experience for basketball fans.
Transcript
If I tell you anything sports related, listen to me.
Speaker A:If I give you advice on women, that's when you should be like, ah.
Speaker B:But he was right.
Speaker B:It is the end of February, and Chelsea are ass.
Speaker A:The Cavaliers are the best.
Speaker A:Are the best, best, best, best, best team in the league.
Speaker A:It's not even close.
Speaker A:It's about that close, but it's not even close.
Speaker A:But that's not gonna happen when your best player is not on the court.
Speaker A:And your second best player, who are supposed to be Paul George is also not on the court.
Speaker A:And the time he is on the court, he's dropping six points.
Speaker A:Is Luka the best teammate LeBron has ever had?
Speaker B:What happened to D.
Speaker B:Wade and Kyrie Irving?
Speaker B:Like, what happened to those two?
Speaker B:Like, did they not play with him?
Speaker A:The New York Knicks.
Speaker A:The New York Knicks should just give up.
Speaker A:Microphone check.
Speaker A:One, two.
Speaker A:What's good?
Speaker A:What's good?
Speaker A:What's good?
Speaker A:Ah, man, man, man.
Speaker A:It's just me.
Speaker A:Doesn't feel like it's been a while.
Speaker A:I know.
Speaker A:It's just been a week.
Speaker A:We're recording on a Tuesday.
Speaker A:We're recording on a Tuesday.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Studios were closed yesterday.
Speaker A:That's why we here on a Tuesday.
Speaker A:But are you well?
Speaker A:Are you good?
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, we're here still.
Speaker A:The NBA is lit, bro.
Speaker A:The NBA is lit.
Speaker A:The UFC is the ufc.
Speaker A:And I'm so excited.
Speaker A:I might just start talking wwe.
Speaker A:But before I get too far into ahead of myself, what's good, I need to get you, like, an intro here.
Speaker A:Like when I said to go tell, I just.
Speaker B:Of course you're gonna pick that one.
Speaker B:You monster.
Speaker B:I'm fantastic, but I'm not.
Speaker B:All right, you're right, you're right, you're right.
Speaker A:Say that.
Speaker A:Say that again, Nostradamus.
Speaker B:What do you.
Speaker A:What do you call yourself?
Speaker A:Madamus.
Speaker B:You are right.
Speaker B:He was right, people.
Speaker B:He was right.
Speaker B:You should listen to the advice that he says.
Speaker B:And listen, it has to deal with the Ravens.
Speaker B:He was right.
Speaker B:It is the end of February and Chelsea are ass.
Speaker A:They are ass.
Speaker B:We are back to where we were.
Speaker A:Listen to the end of last season.
Speaker B:We are losing to teams who are do business.
Speaker A:Remember?
Speaker A:Remember?
Speaker B:We were like, oh, this Chelsea.
Speaker B:Hey, second in the log tried to run.
Speaker B:And I said, guys, I know my team.
Speaker B:And I was also feeling nice.
Speaker B:And you're like, ah, wait for F.
Speaker B:I'm like, I remember you were so happy.
Speaker A:Fourth place.
Speaker B:No, no, no, no.
Speaker B:I remember you so happy once we were.
Speaker B:We were second place.
Speaker A:We.
Speaker B:We still have a chance of getting up to Fourth place.
Speaker B:Okay, where we are right now, I.
Speaker B:Anyway, other than I'm fantastic.
Speaker B:Life's good.
Speaker A:You should listen to me when I talk sports, bruh.
Speaker A:If I tell you anything sports related, listen to me.
Speaker A:If I give you advice on women, that's when you should be like, ah.
Speaker A:But if I tell you anything about sports, listen to me, okay?
Speaker A:I know what I'm talking about.
Speaker A:Anyway, what's good with you, my G?
Speaker A:Are you well?
Speaker A:Are you fine?
Speaker A:Yeah, Just tell me down there, Mukundi.
Speaker A:I'm well.
Speaker A:I'm fine.
Speaker A:Luca is back.
Speaker A:Luca is back.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's right.
Speaker A:He's doing well in LA now.
Speaker A:He played against Denver, and I don't know why I didn't get you his stats.
Speaker A:Bro, Bro.
Speaker A:Luca is back.
Speaker A:And he had his first Luca game.
Speaker A:As JJ Redick said.
Speaker A:Luca, welcome back.
Speaker A:Finally, Luca Doncic, in his last game against the Denver Nuggets, played 31 minutes with 32.7 assists and 10 rebounds.
Speaker A:Don.
Speaker A:Luca.
Speaker A:Don Luca is back.
Speaker A:Oh, Snoop Dogg said.
Speaker A:Luca.
Speaker A:Yeah, Luca.
Speaker A:Luca.
Speaker A:But anyway.
Speaker A:And the Lakers won.
Speaker A:Why?
Speaker A:Why, why?
Speaker A:Why did I not.
Speaker A:The Lakers are winning, bruh.
Speaker A:The Lakers are doing good.
Speaker A:They are.
Speaker A:Remember how shook I was when I found out they were the sixth seed?
Speaker A:Yeah, I'm still shook.
Speaker A:But I will say, shout out to them for winning.
Speaker A:Shout out to the Los Angeles Lakers for actually handling their business.
Speaker A:And now I think they are.
Speaker A:I think the fifth seed.
Speaker A:Are they still the six seed?
Speaker A:They're the fourth seed in the west now the Lakers are top four seed in the West.
Speaker A: No, it's not: Speaker A:Listen to me nicely.
Speaker A:Listen to me nicely.
Speaker A:I owe Luca, LeBron James and Rob Pelinka, even J.J.
Speaker A:redick.
Speaker A:I'll throw J.J.
Speaker A:redick in there.
Speaker A:I owe those four men an apology because I sat on this chair and I said, this season, for the Lakers, it's cooked.
Speaker A:What are they gonna do?
Speaker A:Well, here's what they're doing.
Speaker A:Here's what they're doing.
Speaker A:And while I was watching, well, something on YouTube, they raised the question, is Luca LeBron's best teammate N.J.
Speaker A:what, you.
Speaker B:Think his best teammate that he has, like, right now?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Is Luka the best teammate LeBron has ever had.
Speaker B:What happened to D.
Speaker B:Wade and Kyrie Irving?
Speaker B:Like, what happened to those two?
Speaker B:Like, did they not play with him?
Speaker A:They did.
Speaker B:Oh, okay.
Speaker A:But here's my chat.
Speaker B:What's your chat?
Speaker A:Here's my chat.
Speaker A:Forget their resumes.
Speaker A:Take D.
Speaker A:Wade's resume out.
Speaker A:Kyrie, out.
Speaker A:AD Out.
Speaker A:Because it's just those four clearly Are you taking any one of those players over Luka.
Speaker B:In the prime?
Speaker B:Like prime?
Speaker A:We talking?
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:Prime, Prime.
Speaker B:Oh, I got Luca.
Speaker A:Exactly.
Speaker A:That's what I was thinking as well.
Speaker A:So to answer the question, is Luca Doncic, LeBron James, best teammate?
Speaker A:If you took.
Speaker A:If you took that resume and you put it to the side and you forget about everything else that's outside of the world of basketball and you just look at the court, I don't see how you could dispute that D.
Speaker A:Wade.
Speaker A:Once again, let's forget resumes, because we all know outside of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, tell me a shooting guard that's as decorated and as good as D.
Speaker A:Wade.
Speaker A:Exactly.
Speaker A:It's the same chat that we have I was having with a homie of mine the other day.
Speaker A:Prime for Prime.
Speaker A:James Harden versus D.
Speaker A:Wade.
Speaker A:Hey, that was such a heavy conversation, man.
Speaker A:That was such a heavy conversation.
Speaker A:I had to accept a few things I wasn't ready to accept.
Speaker A:But take D.
Speaker A:Wade's resume aside.
Speaker A:Kyrie, Kevin Love, Anthony Davis, Hell, I'll even throw Dwight Howard in there.
Speaker A:Are you taking any of those guys over Luka Doncic?
Speaker A:If we just came to you and said you got one game, you got one game or one playoff series, and I need you to pick either one of these guys, okay, but let's be serious.
Speaker A:Are you.
Speaker A:You're not, right?
Speaker A:I'm not.
Speaker A:N.J.
Speaker A:clearly isn't.
Speaker A:He said doesn't make sense.
Speaker A:Luca is a great player, and if they win, hell, I need them to just win one championship.
Speaker A:And I'm ready to say he's LeBron's best teammate.
Speaker A:However.
Speaker A:Hey, I went back and I watched LeBron James and D.
Speaker A:Wade highlights.
Speaker A:Just them playing in tandem.
Speaker A:I wasn't really fair, bro.
Speaker A:Was it really fair what those guys were doing?
Speaker A:D.
Speaker A:Wade was throwing lobs from the other side of the court, bruh.
Speaker A:D.
Speaker A:Wade was literally just rebound.
Speaker A:I know LeBron is down there somewhere.
Speaker A:Lob.
Speaker A:And guess what happens?
Speaker A:LeBron dunks it somewhere.
Speaker A:Do you know how many plays like that there are?
Speaker A:You probably don't even know that.
Speaker A:The iconic meme or the iconic photo of d.
Speaker A:Wade with LeBron Duncan in the back.
Speaker A:Did you know that wasn't even a lob?
Speaker A:That was a bounce pass?
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, know your ball.
Speaker A:But anyway, the Lakers are doing well, and they are the fourth seed in the West.
Speaker A:And I owe JJ Redick an apology the most because I.
Speaker A:I doubted him.
Speaker A:And we all knew offensively this was going to be a better team because I trust J.J.
Speaker A:redick to coach better than Darvin Ham did defensively.
Speaker A:That's where we all had our questions and our reservations.
Speaker A:And I think we can confidently say they are performing well.
Speaker A:Excuse me.
Speaker A:They are defending.
Speaker A:They are playing with passion.
Speaker A:They are playing with heart.
Speaker A:They are playing with drive.
Speaker A:JJ Reddick for coach of the year.
Speaker A:JJ Reddick for coach of the year.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, I said it.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:I don't, I don't see how if the Lakers make it all the way to the end of the season as a top four seed in the west with JJ Redick, a rookie head coach, leading the way.
Speaker A:Especially with the, with the mid season moves that they did.
Speaker A:So he had to recalibrate his team and he still managed to get a team that we had all written off to be a top four seed.
Speaker A:Am I lying?
Speaker A:Is that not magical?
Speaker A:Is that not Laker and Luca Magic put together?
Speaker A:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker A:But the west is a very interesting conference.
Speaker A:I'll tell you why.
Speaker A:The Lakers are just four games behind the number one seed.
Speaker A:The west is wild, bro.
Speaker A:I keep saying it.
Speaker A:The west is wild.
Speaker A:The Dallas mavericks.
Speaker A:Okay, maybe.
Speaker A:OkC.
Speaker A:OkC.
Speaker A:Hey, OkC.
Speaker A:I'm lying.
Speaker A:The Lakers are not four games behind.
Speaker A:That was my bad.
Speaker A:OkC has blown the gates wide open.
Speaker A:Okay, let's not, let's forget about that top seed, that number one seed in the West.
Speaker A:It's okc, bruh.
Speaker A:And there's nothing anyone can do about it at this point in time.
Speaker A:So from number two going down, let me tell you the number of games the second seed has won all the way down to the eighth seed.
Speaker A:And aren't you to tell me if this is not crazy?
Speaker A:Nuggets 38 wins, Grizzlies 37, Lakers 34, Rockets 35, Clippers 31, Timberwolves 32 and Mavs 31.
Speaker A:So between the second seed and the, and the eighth seed, all you have is a seven game deficit, bro.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:The west is crazy.
Speaker A:And let's not forget Golden State has gotten better.
Speaker A:That Jimmy Butler move turned out to be beneficial for everyone.
Speaker A:I thought it wouldn't move the needle much.
Speaker A:Oh no.
Speaker A:If they going to play like this, it's great because as everybody has been saying, Jimmy Butler now gives Steph Curry a chance to rest and not have to run around as as much.
Speaker A:Because at 36 years old, Lord knows those legs don't need to be moving that much.
Speaker A:So shout out to Jimmy Butler for doing that.
Speaker A:And then him and Draymond Green, the iq, the basketball IQ between those two alone should be enough to carry the warriors, at least to a respectable seed.
Speaker A:And for them to make some noise in the first round, I still don't see them making it all the way.
Speaker A:Maybe conference finals at best.
Speaker A:But I don't see them beating okc.
Speaker A:I don't see them beating Denver.
Speaker A:Hell, on a great day, I don't see them beating the Lakers.
Speaker A:As it stands, the Grizzlies, you know, but it's.
Speaker A:Man, there's no better time to be a basketball player, to be a basketball fan.
Speaker A:Right now the league is lit because I want you.
Speaker A:I want to tell you about the east while I'm at it.
Speaker A:The Cavaliers are the best.
Speaker A:Are the best, best, best, best, best team in the league.
Speaker A:It's not even close.
Speaker A:Okay, it's about that close, but it's not even close.
Speaker A:The Cavaliers are dominant and they have everything going well for them.
Speaker A:You know, when a team just has everything it needs to win?
Speaker A:I will tell you why I say that they have.
Speaker A:Who's their coach?
Speaker A:Kenny Atkinson.
Speaker A:Kenny Atkinson has been in the league a long time.
Speaker A:He's coached a lot of great players, coached a lot of teams.
Speaker A:But I never seen him coach like this.
Speaker A:Fine, the Cavs.
Speaker A:What do the Cavs have?
Speaker A:Let's see, my criteria for a championship winning basketball team.
Speaker A:You need a superstar.
Speaker A:Unquestionable superstar.
Speaker A:They got that in Donovan Mitchell.
Speaker A:You need a running buddy who can pick up the slack when your superstar goes down for at least 5, 10 games.
Speaker A:Or when your superstar is not playing well, you know, your second fiddle will carry the slack.
Speaker A:Darius Garland does that quite well.
Speaker A:You have a defensive anchor, a big boy, a big athletic boy in Jared Allen.
Speaker A:He can give you great defense, but still give you a solid 15 and 10.
Speaker A:Any other night, we need that.
Speaker A:And then you got great role players all around.
Speaker A:I can even name some of them boys.
Speaker A:Evan Mobley is an all star.
Speaker A:I don't even know why I said Darius Garland.
Speaker A:We just so used to Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
Speaker A:But the second best player on this team is Evan Mobley, the all Star.
Speaker A:Evan Mobley.
Speaker B:Cool.
Speaker A:So I got Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland.
Speaker A:We can call those 2B and 2.
Speaker A:2A and 2B.
Speaker A:Yeah, right.
Speaker A:And then you need great coaching.
Speaker A:We said Kenny Atkinson is that you need a team that can put up points.
Speaker A:They can do that better than.
Speaker A:Better than most teams, if not any other team in the league.
Speaker A:You need a team that can defend.
Speaker A:They can do that.
Speaker A:You don't win 47 games by not playing defense.
Speaker A:And you need a team with the right experience.
Speaker A:What do I mean by that?
Speaker A:Fine.
Speaker A:They got young players.
Speaker A:They're most of their players.
Speaker A:Most of this roster is young, which means athleticism is there.
Speaker A:It's not a problem.
Speaker A:Right?
Speaker A:From Donovan Mitchell to Jared Allen, everyone is athletic on that team.
Speaker A:Anyone can give you a nice and a respectable dunk, you know, some of them can even give you 360s, you know, and then what else do you need besides that?
Speaker A:Experience.
Speaker A:Play of experience.
Speaker A:Donovan Mitchell has been in the league long enough to be considered a vet.
Speaker A:Now, he's still young, but he's been in the league eight years now he's a vet.
Speaker A:There is.
Speaker A:Garland is a fit.
Speaker A:Jared Allen is a vet.
Speaker A:But where's the danger?
Speaker A:They are young vets.
Speaker A:Meaning.
Speaker A:While LeBron James is 40 and tired of running up and down because he's had to play the past three series, guess who's still young, fresh, and ready to rock it?
Speaker A:The Cavs.
Speaker A:I don't see anyone doing that.
Speaker A:Boston can try.
Speaker A:That's why they're the second best team in the league.
Speaker A:But there's something about Boston I don't like.
Speaker A:Jason Tatum, but there's something about Boston I can't stand.
Speaker A:But they're a great team, and they might be that team.
Speaker A:However, I want to tell you about the third best team in the east, the New York Knicks.
Speaker A:The New York Knicks should just give up.
Speaker A:No, here's why.
Speaker A:Here's why I say that.
Speaker A:On paper, you'd think, oh, okay, they're the third seed in the East.
Speaker A:Should be good, right?
Speaker A:What if I told you that the New York Knicks are yet to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics, and the Oklahoma City Thunder in a game they are 0 and 7 collectively against those teams.
Speaker A:So does it matter if you're winning games, but you're not beating the best teams?
Speaker A:Exactly.
Speaker A:It doesn't.
Speaker A:That's.
Speaker A:I'm saying the New York Knicks should just give up.
Speaker A:They play no defense.
Speaker A:They have no defense.
Speaker A:Which is weird for a Tom Thibodeau team to not have any defense because Tom Thibodeau is one of the best defensive coaches of his generation.
Speaker A:Right up there with Frank Vogel.
Speaker A:I don't know what happened.
Speaker A:He just can't seem to teach them how to play defense.
Speaker A:Is it because Julius Randle is gone?
Speaker A:Is it because now you got cat?
Speaker A:You got bodega cat.
Speaker A:What's happening?
Speaker A:What's happening?
Speaker A:It makes no sense.
Speaker A:Their firepower is just the same, but their defense has gone back.
Speaker A:And what's the point?
Speaker A:Defense wins you championships.
Speaker A:Yeah, you can put up points.
Speaker A:What if you find a team that can put up points better than you, I.
Speaker A:E.
Speaker A:Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder.
Speaker A:You can put up points all day, but if the other team can put up points and stop you, it's Chai.
Speaker A:It's Chai.
Speaker A:Defense wins championships.
Speaker A:NJ and I had a very long discussion about this and I was right too, wasn't I?
Speaker A:I was right too, wasn't I?
Speaker B:No, I was right.
Speaker A:He won't tell you that I was right.
Speaker A:Defense wins you championships, bro.
Speaker A:Defense winning championships.
Speaker A:Shout out.
Speaker A:Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker A:You know what I'm talking about.
Speaker A:So the Bucs are the fourth seed and the rest of the east going down.
Speaker A:I don't even care if I'm being honest.
Speaker A:We got the Pacers, Pistons, Magic and Hawks.
Speaker A:Who cares?
Speaker A:The Philadelphia 76ers are the 12th seed.
Speaker A:And I want to talk about Joel Embiid.
Speaker A:There was a time where we all questioned Joel Embiid's love for the sport of basketball, his drive to win, his will to want to be the best player he can possibly be.
Speaker A:We used to question that.
Speaker A:And then he got in shape.
Speaker A:And the one season he was in shape, he won the MVP and then he never got back in shape.
Speaker A:That was two years ago.
Speaker A:Damn, time flies.
Speaker A:But that was two years ago.
Speaker A:And I'm questioning again, does Dwell Embiid really take the game of basketball seriously?
Speaker A:Let me tell you why he's injured and he's been injured all season.
Speaker A:We all know that.
Speaker A:That's a big reason why this.
Speaker A:Why the 76ers are the 12th seed in the East.
Speaker A:A team we had high expectations for, championship expectations.
Speaker A:But that's not gonna happen when your best player is not on the court.
Speaker A:And your second best player, who are supposed to be Paul George, is also not on the court.
Speaker A:And the time he is on the court, he's dropping six points.
Speaker A:The best player on the Philadelphia 76ers is Tyrese Maxey.
Speaker A:And that is just about him being at the right place at the right time.
Speaker A:Tyrese Maxey is a great player, an all star caliber player, but he was never meant to lead this team.
Speaker A:He was never meant to be the leader of this team.
Speaker A:He was never meant to be the best player on this team.
Speaker A:It's just circumstance.
Speaker A:And he's taken the ball and he's rolling well with it and he's shooting.
Speaker A:He's shooting it well.
Speaker A:Thank God for that because Lord knows the future would have.
Speaker A:The franchise would have had no future.
Speaker A:We've been trusting the process since Joel Embiid.
Speaker A:Was drafted.
Speaker A: That was in: Speaker A:How far does the process know?
Speaker A:We're trusting it.
Speaker A:Like what's happening?
Speaker A:Joel Embiid is always hurt.
Speaker A:Joel Embiid is always injured.
Speaker A:Now, sure, he's a big boy.
Speaker A:And as big boys, those are injury riddled.
Speaker A:But at some point we have to question your drive.
Speaker A:At some point we have to question whether you take this seriously.
Speaker A:Joel Embiid, he hobbled into the playoffs last year and he hobbled out of the playoffs last year.
Speaker A:And we said nothing about it.
Speaker A:Why did we say.
Speaker A:We said he's injured and we understand.
Speaker A:However, he needs to take the time to work on that knee because as a big boy, your knees are gonna take all that work.
Speaker A:We said he needs to sit down, work in his knee and then make sure he's fine, get some surgery, sit him out.
Speaker A:What did he do?
Speaker A:No, he feels good, right?
Speaker A:He wants to go play in the Olympics and be part of Team usa when he's not even born in the usa.
Speaker A:He was raised in Cameroon and then moved to France.
Speaker A:Why didn't he at least play for France?
Speaker A:But you know, that's not what I'm getting into today.
Speaker A:What I'm getting into is that Joel Embiid wanted to play in the playoffs in the, in the Olympics.
Speaker A:And in doing so, he cost his team.
Speaker A:Sure, his country thanks him for the gold medal, but his team is in trouble.
Speaker A:Something that wouldn't have been happening if he just took the time to get surgery in the off season and work on it.
Speaker A:Now.
Speaker A:Look what they're doing.
Speaker A:Constant injections, constant IC heart, constant, constant load management.
Speaker A:For what?
Speaker A:The 12th seed in the East.
Speaker A:No.
Speaker A:Joel Embiid should have been shut down from the get go.
Speaker A:I'm starting to question whether he takes the game of basketball seriously.
Speaker A:Because at some point you have to want to play, right?
Speaker A:And if you know that my knee is bad and I can't play and be the player I know I can be with a bad knee, then why don't you prioritize making sure your knee is not bad?
Speaker A:And even if that means losing out on an Olympic, on an Olympic gold medal, which you can go try for again in four years and you know it's guaranteed because you're going to play in team for Team usa.
Speaker A:They don't even pay you.
Speaker A:And yet the people that are paying you and just gave you 126 million dollar extension are not getting anything out of you.
Speaker A:But those are the thoughts of one man sitting on a chair in Joburg.
Speaker A:Tell me what you think NJ what's up with you, dog?
Speaker A:You got a question for me?
Speaker B:There's a process that we're trusting it.
Speaker B:That is a meme.
Speaker B:I'm putting WhatsApp.
Speaker B:Oh, my.
Speaker B:Oh, my.
Speaker B:That was classic.
Speaker A:See what happens when you let me cook?
Speaker B:I was like, you're overtime.
Speaker B:I'm like, let him cook Madman Mukundi's heart.
Speaker B:That's okay.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:So with the trade Luca and with how well Donovan Mitchell's doing.
Speaker B:What's his nickname?
Speaker A:Spider.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:Spider man.
Speaker B:Let's say Donovan Mitchell.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I call him D.
Speaker A:Mitch.
Speaker B:Potentially looking at a Lakers, Cleveland's finals.
Speaker A:That's actually.
Speaker A:That might happen once again if the Lakers keep playing this way and JJ Reddit coaches this way.
Speaker A:I trust Luca and LeBron in the postseason, and that's the only thing.
Speaker A:I trust Luca and LeBron in the postseason in the east, as long as it's not Boston.
Speaker A:So it's fine.
Speaker A:Cavs number one seed, so obviously they're the favorites.
Speaker A:Yeah, I can see a Lakers, Cleveland Finals, which would be mad, but.
Speaker A:Yeah, I can see it.
Speaker A:I can see it.
Speaker A:I don't.
Speaker A:I don't think the Lakers will make it out of the.
Speaker A:Out of the west.
Speaker A:I see them.
Speaker A:They can get to the conference finals, maybe.
Speaker A:No, no conference finals, bro.
Speaker A:Do you know how much of a bad man Luca becomes in the playoffs?
Speaker A:Do you realize how many points he's averaging in the playoffs?
Speaker A:Let me tell you, he's behind only one man.
Speaker A:Guess who it is.
Speaker B:I don't know.
Speaker B:I was guessing.
Speaker A:Damn, Kevin, you know what?
Speaker A:Fair.
Speaker A:But his points per game average in the playoffs is 30.9 points.
Speaker A:He averages 30 in the playoffs.
Speaker A:The only other player to do that is Mike ii.
Speaker A:Even Jordan did that for the first couple of years, dog.
Speaker A:Give him.
Speaker A:Give him time.
Speaker A:He's been in 1, 2, 3, 4, 4 postseasons.
Speaker A:Two of those, he went to the fight.
Speaker A:He went to the conference finals.
Speaker A:One of those, he went to the finals.
Speaker A:I think that's not a bad run.
Speaker A:That's not a bad run.
Speaker A:Just like how he's been in the league, what, seven years and he's already a five time all NBA first team.
Speaker A:That's ridiculous, dog.
Speaker A:But yeah, Cleveland, Cavs.
Speaker A:Nah, he's saying no ring.
Speaker A:You know what?
Speaker A:That's why I end it.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:As I said earlier, thoughts of a man sitting on a chair in Joburg.
Speaker A:Tell me what you think.
Speaker A:Am I being too harsh on Joel Embiid?
Speaker A:Yeah, I thought so.
Speaker A:I'm not.
Speaker A:I'm actually being too nice.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:But yeah, the NBA is, man.
Speaker A:There's no better time to be a basketball fan than this stretch from April to from.
Speaker A:There's no better time to be a basketball player, to be a.
Speaker A:There's no better time to be a basketball fan than this stretch of time from February to April because after that it's the playoffs.
Speaker A:So we can even sit all the way until June.
Speaker A:Why?
Speaker A:Everyone is desperate.
Speaker A:The play in teams are trying to make it to the play ins.
Speaker A:The top seeded teams are trying to kick their top seeds.
Speaker A:The lower tier teams are trying to get better seeding so they don't have to fight so they don't have to play the top seeds in the first round around.
Speaker A:It's pure peak entertainment and I'm here for it all.
Speaker A:However, next time I come through, we'll talk some ufc.
Speaker A:And if I really feel strongly about it, I do want to talk wwe.
Speaker A:But I don't know how you feel about that because it's not really sports, but it's my channel and guess what?
Speaker A:So yeah, actually, I'm lying.
Speaker A:You're my boss.
Speaker A:You tell me what to talk about.
Speaker A:It's all good.
Speaker A:Episode 28 is in the bag.
Speaker A:I'm very happy.
Speaker A:I'm very proud.
Speaker A:Go watch some sports, be nice to your mother, and as always, enjoy the violence.
Speaker A:I'm gonna let you go.
Speaker A:You done?
