NBA Playoff Reaction: Nuggets-Timberwolves, Knicks-Pacers, Celtics, JJ Redick-Lakers | Colin Cowherd

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Download it today. Last minute tickets. Lowest prices guaranteed with a playtime app. I use it. You also should. Alright. It is customary on Sunday night. You hear it mostly on Monday morning. Jason T's Podcast released his Hoops tonight. You know schedules are interesting, they can matter. The NFL is releasing their schedule on Wednesday and I think it's a big deal. We all already know who is playing, but the order is, for example, playing in Denver at high altitude in September when you leave camp. It has always been difficult to face Andy Reid in September. Some of the defensive coaches experiment more offensively at first, but I never had a great September, so back-to-back tough games too.

Away games. You know, Miami would rather never go to Buffalo with your. as a quarterback in December and January, they would love to be able to play that game in September, October, when the weather is great, so there's Absol, you know, Dome teams that don't want to play December games in January up north, when the league had a gap between games two and three Denver Minnesota and it hurts Minnesota's momentum and it gives Denver time to prepare you get that extra video session or three it's a totally different team I mean there they were Denver was so bad defensively so lethargic now it's almost like Denver saying, "Let the ant have him, he'll get 40." We're not going to stop him and we're going to shut down the other guys, but I mean, it seems to me like that's the time for one or two more days here for a really smart veteran team. and a good staff feels so substantial, not absolutely, Minnesota came out with pretty bad energy in the third game and by his own admission after the game, it's like he came out with low energy, meanwhile, for three straight days, Denver had to sit and listen to everyone talk.

About them, literally, it was like they were humiliated for three straight days and you know, I said after the second game that it wasn't really about basketball to me. I thought Minnesota brought a level of physicality that Denver hadn't seen at all. The previous five rounds they had played in the postseason and I thought it caught them a little off guard and specifically in the second game they mentally broke down in a way they never had before and honestly, do you remember the third game? at the beginning of that play when Anthony Edwards was playing with his shoulder for about 30 seconds, that was the first play of the game and on that play, Nicole yic just rocked him with the screen like a super super hard screen and when I went back and looked at the film of that game as if all that really happened was that Denver did the same things they've done all season, they just went harder, faster, harder, they finally faced the physical confrontation and when they did, You figured it out pretty quickly.

They can still score on these guys, it's like Jamaal hasn't seen a long perimeter defender before, of course he has, it's not like Joic hasn't seen two crossers on the court before, of course he has, everyone has. before they just didn't handle it well and then the big one here and this is something I mentioned before the series and I was really surprised it took so long but Minnesota is a mediocre offense Anthony don't listen go ahead listen Anthony that's what I think Denver looked and said, just give your 40, they just have a lot of really good athletes and length, but if Carl Anthony Towns like tonight are just wandering, there's really no second scoring option on this team.

It's not like that, you need Towns, who's always been talented to me, but a little unstable, a little inconsistent, you know what I mean, like he disapproves. Anthony Davis gives you the same defensive game. Carl Anthony Towns, who was more offensively talented, should be as good offensively as Anthony Davis is defensively, you don't get it, you just get it, he's lost and I thought in this game, what are we doing here? And when he doesn't deliver, it doesn't matter what ant SC can score 50, I mean Jordan scored 63 and They couldn't beat the Celtics like that. I think Denver just said, listen, we're not going to stop this kid and make everyone else work, and I think your point is right: If Towns is out, he's an athletic team.

It's been a long time since they've almost had one extra wing defender and one less shooter than they need, they absolutely don't need it and it really comes down to this, they were a mediocre offense all season and then they have a bunch of these streaky C guys. guys like Nikil Alexander Walker, guys like Nas Reed, who are capable of playing at a higher level offensively, but Phoenix couldn't really get them out of that situation. Denver's lack of official defensive effort in the first two games couldn't play into that. that, but as soon as Denver tightened the screws, Pat fell apart Nel Alexander Walker fell apart Nas Reed fell apart as you know immediately Rudy Goar looks like a damaging offensive player because he has hands of stone and doesn't like to make quick decisions when he catches on a roll and literally Min Minnesota looked like regular season Minnesota if anything, it's really impressive that the ant is showing that his jump is real and specifically in front of Carl Anthony's cities, you know, these Carl cities Carl remind me of a specific species. type of player I have seen several times in NBA history, the most recent example reminds me of Kevin Love.

Now, obviously, the cat has a better pedigree, but he's like the big scorer, like some kind of big hybrid, but he's not really that superior. An athlete compared to his teammates is right and can shoot, so what happens is that during the 82-game regular season they get their 25 points a night because they can bully the smaller players and they can make threes, but every time Kevin Love does it. would do. meeting a really big athletic forward, someone like a young guy like that or a Draymond Green and just turning Kevin Love into a shooter and then everyone's like, oh LeBron turned Kevin Love into a shooter, it's like that's really all it is.

What can you do? when you reach these super high levels of intensity, Aaron Gordon demolished Carl Towns tonight just completely took his soul away for the world to see he's a much better athlete, he's much better exactly, he's like the UN, he's like the guy who It's a little lower. but stronger, more athletic, like Draymond or Young Dad, like I was talking to Kevin Love, they can beat Carl Towns and make him not be able to drive and then if he can't drive, suddenly he's just a shooter and it's like the shots weren't going in, then their impact craters and yeah, like there was another conversation to have, I mean, you, even when Minnesota was playing well, you were pointing out that Carl Anthony Town would still be here in the future and it's like there was a Real conversation about Minnesota's team structure that Carl Anthony Towns being what he is, he's never going to become a super reliable secondary shot.

Creator, you can't let the ant out. there alone every night as the only one who can get to his spots and create shots so I don't know what they're going to do about it long term but tonight was the last two games this isn't game one and two of a series . where they sit each other down, everyone knows exactly what they're good at and bad at right now and no one in Minnesota can score except Ant and that's a major problem, well, and I also want to say that Yic and Ant are Transcendents, so even to a certain point you know. going into a game, you're giving up 30 more, you know, bird, you know, Jordan Kobe, some guys are like you've been in the gym, like that guy is going to get his thing, the series really comes down to that It's amazing Gordon versus Carl Anthony. cities, you say, oh, that's what the series has been reduced to because you can't and can only do so much to neutralize a superstar in this sport and then all of a sudden, and again, this is what we champions do. we forget this.

I remember a couple years ago the Celtics played the Warriors in the finals and for the first two games of the series, for three games, Boston was so much better than Golden State and you're like Steve Kerry having an extra day. preparation, they go to Boston and you say who turned off the power with the Celtics, like what happened and I think the mistake I make in thinking that Denver is cooked is that you give these championship teams time, they are well coached, I mean, Malone It's there, I mean. You forget, I mean, he had been around for like seven years and they just let him bake.

I mean, there was no pressure, they couldn't win with jic for years, so this is a team that, you know, has been through a They lost a lot of these battles in the early years, but they have had to make major adjustments and, already You know, I'm quick to judge. I look at Denver now and say, oh, this is what I thought. The series would look like this, again they would match in length and physicality and jic, would you know that Murray and yic are Elite scores? So I'll say this. I don't know why the media does this, they get so protective. people who don't need it, but Ant is spectacular, as I always felt this and I'm not saying he's Jordan, but he has some Jordan qualities and it's okay, Mahomes, you know what they're talking about.

Caleb Williams has Mahomes' qualities, yes, he has them. all the scouts say he plays like Patrick Mahomes, there are things about Ant, but the biggest thing about Jordan about him is I remember watching Jordan against Phoenix in his prime and I was sitting on the couch with a friend watching him and I thought . Well, he's not the best shooter, the best ball handler, he's not the fastest guy in the league and he's 66 years old, why does it seem like he's the only division one player playing at the Y? That's right he makes it all look so easy and he gets past people on the first step these are NBA athletes he just passes everyone so when you see him on TV I don't think you appreciate it, everyone's ability They know where he's going, he loves the first step, he evaluates you. he makes the game look easy Mahomes does this Jordan did this you say why why I'm seeing ants and even against good criminals I mean, Jamal Murray went out on him once.

I think this is not even competitive. Murray is a world class athlete, I mean you've been in trouble with guys, but I look at this and think when guys start making 38 points look easy, there are about three in the league at any given time who can do that. , maybe one, yes, there is athletic and then there is athleticism among athletes, it's like a completely different stratosphere, true and true, that is to me the difference between a Jason Tatum and an Anthony Edwards like Jason Tatum is a very good NBA athlete like a like he's on is close to that like truly Transcendent, but clearly there's a difference between an ant sizing up an elite defender and beating him off the dribble and Tatum doing the same thing, it's like the next level of top-tier elite athletics, honestly, regardless of what happens with everyone else. of this series and I think Denver is going to release this now.

I think they've effectively just crippled Minnesota's offense and they're going to go home and I think they're going to win the fifth and biggest game. The thing is also that Minnesota hasn't been particularly competitive in any of these games, which is a big concern, but no matter what, it's very clear that Anthony Edwards is here to stay. I think he's the next guy in that line of truly transcendent Great American Basketball Players, like he went from MJ to Kobe and from Kobe to LeBron, and there were guys along the way who had their little moments, but no one who really had the potential. to take over the league for a long time. time and can't you see it?

Colin, can't you imagine what the next 10 years will be like? You could imagine him continuing to rise and get better and better. I started thinking like Ant could have pulled this game, it could have been one of those transcendent moments where you think like you met LeBron in the2007 or 2008 and honestly, like Denver was too good, that's really all LeBron was like. the 08 Spurs and he got swept so at a certain point it doesn't matter how good you are at that phase of your career it's a team sport and literally while all his veteran teammates were falling apart he continued to rise it was really impressive yeah I mean, and this is appropriate, Jordan couldn't overcome a fully formed Pistons or Celtic Dynasty, so I mean Denver is fully formed, they have the experience, they are better offensively, they have the length of Minnesota, so again, this It's the way it works, it's the little steps that he takes, pushes and makes Denver, you know, take a step back.

I got beat up at the Gin, oh we got D, you know, they're the champion and they lost, that's what happened to Jordan, that's what happens to LeBron, so to me this is totally appropriate. We are surprised by the individual player, but they still have to make adjustments. I mean, we all know what Minnesota is going to do in the offseason. They will probably move Carl Anthony and get more offensive players. I mean, eventually Jordan needed Pippen and, you know, I mean. like you don't have to be a great player every night, but you do have to find players that take something off the ant's plate a little bit.

You think Minnesota should go. It's not terrible because, again, what's the great KD gift you can give him. ball eight seconds into the shot clock four will get a great look, he doesn't need it, you know, he's a little Klay Thompson, but obviously much better, he doesn't need the ball in his hands, that's why, that's why Jaylen Brunson KD. work on KD's emotional side for the Knicks, that style, you know, he's up for it, let's get to that because listen, the Knicks are beaten, nothing you can do, just leave the guys on the ground, get ready for the Tuesday, shame on you, you know?

You'll be on fire on Tuesday, so OG is hurt. OG also took a hit this year. Brunson is not 100%. We already know Mitchell Robins and Julius Randall are out, so this is a limited team offensive league with no injuries, so we all held on. expecting this team that was playing with Game 7 intensity to just collapse, the wheels just came off and they kind of did. I still think they have a chance to win this series, but I said this earlier this week and I said it last time. The time I was with you there are a lot of different scenarios with Nick and it's very easy to convince yourself that we're just one step away, but the East is going to get better, it's just going to get better.

Butler will be healthy. Give to me. To be healthy, Yannis will likely return and get help. There are so many scenarios for the Knicks and I wonder if instead of looking at Kevin Durant and Paul George they simply find another OG on the market. You know, they're going to look for another one. Really good player because I think you know that playing hard maybe has limitations if you fade away. I don't think they can keep up with Denver Minnesota, but Min, the Knicks have done something in the last three years that they haven't done in 20, which they're patient, they're like you look at them and you're like that, a good team. directed that they don't take, I mean, they used to take, you know, big reaches in Amari stmy when I had knee problems, it's like what.

Are you doing like all the general managers in the leagues like Omari? You know he has about two years left. He is a cook for Carmelo when they could, they signed him as a free agent, a year later they did not get the list. Yeah, I don't know exactly what they did. Do I think Paul George fits in everywhere? um, but again, it's such a unique culture that it's not for everyone. I mean, I can't wait to see it. No, they are not a championship team. I think you know, listen, they're not. We know, it just can't be done, there are too many great players, too many good teams in this.

The Knicks are not a champion team. I don't know what the solution is. I want to see him, he's not in the draft, we know that. that it's not a good draft, I mean, KD, it's just I don't know, KD is small, you look at him after Golden State, it's just that he's different, he's analyzing coaches, you know, and Tibs has power in that room now to a segment called creation. It Seems Easy by Morgan and Morgan America's Largest Injury Law Firm. The Pacers scored a big win over the Knicks. 32 points that seemed pretty easy, as did Indiana.

Morgan and Morgan do the exact same thing in over 100 offices. Throughout the country, more than 800 lawyers. This is what $15 billion recovered over the years with 300,000 Morgan clients does, and Morgan has a proven track record of providing you with full, fair and reasonable compensation. Well, they have been fighting for people for over 35 years, if you ever get injured. to the column forthepeople.com if you have ever been injured, visit for the people /in or dial pound 529 to see America's Largest Injury Law Firm Winning in the NBA is Hard Morgan and Morgan Makes It Look Easy to Win in NBA it's hard to hire Morgan and Morgan is really easy no one is pushing the tibs yeah I think for sure they need someone who can play.

That's bigger. I mean, the biggest problem they're running into right now is that their best five guys are four guards and Isaiah Hartstein because of the organ. anobi injury so they were literally running around with Brunson Hart, Devan Chenzo and Duce McBride with Isaiah Hartstein and trying to make plays happen and there have been times where they have been playing with Alec Burks at the four like they are really very small at the moment, so I'm encouraged by Ju's idea. If you could somehow get KD without OG and an Obi, which I think would be really hard.

I like the idea of ​​having OG at the three with KD and a Haren Stein because you're really big on the front line and then you could still have a d chenzo or duro at the two to keep some of that physicality, it's just that if you had to giving up OG, that's such a big part of it. identity, I mean just look at this Pacers series since OG and anobi went down, the Knicks just look different physically, they just look different right now, like Indiana has to feel really good going into game five, uh , as if they were going to win this. series because they really controlled things outside of some decisive stretches in games one and two and that's the other thing.

New York actually has a negative point differential up to this point in the postseason, which is actually a little crazy, but it's because they've been in all the close games and they just pulled it out late, so you've got to get some rebounds. let them go your way, even when you look back it's like 'they beat the Sixers in the game, uh, in the sixth game it was It was a Josh Hart 3 from the top of the key and so he broke a tie in the last minute , you know what I mean, they are important shots at the end of games, as if really the teams that can win the championship.

You don't have to do that every night, so I think they need more firepower, but it's going to be very difficult to draw that line between adding firepower and sacrificing physical identity, which is such an important part of how they win. Now yeah, you know, I said this last week and sometimes we lose count because I'm doing three hours a day and I'm doing this with you and I'm doing other things, but I want to talk about the Celtics for a Secondly, I said the NBA , I grew up in the 70s, is pretty well told. I could tell you the starting lineups of the Washington team that won, the Portland team, the Sonic team, the Sixer team like that, it was really in my wheelhouse.

I was collecting basketball cards. it was like you know, like you are now, I literally couldn't get enough, it was the only thing I cared about, you know, when I was a little kid and then you get dynasties, you get the Laker dynasty and the Celtic dynasty. and the Piston Dynasty and the Bulls and the Shas and Kobe and the Spurs and all these dynasties come up and I think it's the first time we don't have another Dynasty. I think we have really good teams now again Denver wins. You've gotten into the Heatles conversation where you're very close now it's not a dynasty but you can, it's got a Spurs feel to it, like it's joyful, it doesn't need attention, it's the kind of guy who would take a paycheck.

I don't need the drama, they have a very Spurs feel, you know the star is like a good guy, kind of like Brady, let's just keep our roster, but I was. I look at Boston and I think in this era of good, maybe Boston is just two very good things because they have 500 at home in the last three years, historically it doesn't make sense, that's just not how great teams work, so think in "This is that they are 500 at home in the playoffs, they have only been in one final which is against the East. The East has been terrible for about four years, so they are 500 at home in the playoffs against a weak conference and much weaker.

It's hard to argue that they do." re Elite or special what they are is very good I said I think they don't have a shack a Kobe and MJ in their Prime not even an ant it is possible they have two Scotty pippens and you say they are good enough to win a title but they need some breaks because I keep watching them and only if they don't hit threes they get bad quickly like you're like wow this is they're solo and they're hardly serious like they're just the energy is terrible, is it possible that we overrated them because it's a big brand that we like?

Tatum is a, you know, you have two players, uh, they do it. Point difference in the regular season, they are outstanding, you can't have 500 at home. three years against the East and tell me your Elite what would be different Jason if they had a title and then you take down the governor like we've seen this like Shaq Cobe's teams are like they're great or KD and the Warriors then you take him down like we just surpassed the regular season, what is Boston Elite? or, in my opinion, just very good in an Age of Good, they're very good, I mean, coming into the season, you and I were. on the same page on this like they were on the same level as Denver and then when we did our playoff preview, we thought they were on the same level as Denver, but they said, "I want the I can." I don't remember exactly what the Nuggets ended up with, but they were a mid-50s team and the Celtics were a mid-60s team in terms of wins, so it's like they won 60s games this year, but they didn't.

They are like a traditional 60. - the powerhouse wins because the Eastern Conference is very weak and, again, it's really that simple: you play 52 games each season against your own conference, you play 30 against the other conference, so all you have to do is go to look. in the ESPN rankings and look at Boston's record against the Western Conference, they were just another team against the Western Conference. I think if Boston were in the west, they would be near the top but wouldn't have separated. themselves the way they did against the rest of the East now one of the things with Boston like Boston doesn't have anywhere near the defensive personnel that Minnesota likes so much and that's what's scary with what Denver is doing in this moment.

You couldn't build a better team to protect the Denver Nuggets than the one they have and Denver has cut and cut them in two games in a row now, so it's like Denver is going to score on Boston, but what Boston has and Minnesota doesn't What they have is that they have a ton of offensive ability, all five in the starting lineup can shoot, they can all dribble, so they have the ability to space Denver and have some success there. I think Boston presents some challenges for Denver, but I would pick Denver to beat. them and to put it simply they are just another team in the top tier whereas if you look at the rankings you would see them as if they have broken up and it really comes down to Tatum for me as Tatum is somewhere in my opinion place around the 7th to 10th best player in the league and it's really difficult to win the championship in NBA history if you don't have the best players who won it last year, the best player in the world who won it before Steph, top three players. in the world, who won it before, that Giannis, one of the three best players in the world, who wanted it before, that LeBron kawhai KD and Steph LeBron like you, you have to go back to 2014 with a crazy and fluid Spurs team who had magical ball movement and Everything is Magic to find a team that can win a title without a dog Bonafide Alpa, one of the five superstars of all time, great and I like Jason Tatum as much as I do and he's a guy Super nice.

He had another really insightful quote about the media and how much he appreciates it. He's dedicated to the game and he's a super cool guy, a great team leader, but he's just not as good as the best, it's literally that simple, well yeah, and I think this is the first year I've seen Anthony Davis this year and I thought it was one I always thought they were the two best in Lee history I thought it was Pippen forever and then Anthony and we've had a few of these like ants one you can see it he the trash talks the intensity . everything you don't have to argue about, that Tatum is seen as oneabsolute and yes, like Anthony Davis, he's the best two in the league, because I really thought this year I'm like God, Anthony, this is a healthy, dominant defender. mostly good offensive plays through pain literally changes changes everything that can allow LeBron to be bad Defensive and cheat, allows the team to cheat and I look at Tatum and think that's not a hit.

I know he does the entire NBA, but it's very hard to find an all-time one. Basketball is a trash-talking sport. It is a sport that consumes a lot of energy. Most of the guys are in the top five in the league. You know, Kawai doesn't talk to anyone. But I mean, most of them do. a little bit of chip a little bit of almost play angry and Tatum doesn't have that he's almost like a guy, you know, let the game come to him, he, you know, can always take guys down when I've seen him live three times , he always gets his chance but it's like he plays as a two but we've anointed him to be one and I know it sounds ridiculous but I don't know when I watch him play when you say something for five years in a row it's probably true for five years in a row , we've said that Jaylen Brown sometimes acts like he wants the ball more than Jason, okay, we're in year five of that because it feels true, am I wrong?

Is he low-end or is he great too? Not that it matters, but I look at it and think. his body language his mentality how he plays his aggressiveness he feels great too you start when you're one of those guys when you're one of the real top-tier superstars in the league and you're in the middle or the end At 20, you put in incredible performances in the playoffs after an incredible performance in the playoffs, there is a level of expectation that comes from that and I think Tatum is 26 now and has played eight playoff games against considerably inferior competition and shot under 45% in seven of the eight games like his best game was a 50% night, so you'd think there would be a 14 for 20 game somewhere, like it's one of those things where it really comes down to The first step for me is which is a guy who doesn't have a great first step and is an inconsistent shooter.

Those two things will make you feel the way he often does. He is a very good defensive player. He is a much better playmaker. than most of the forwards, his fellow forwards that he has in the league, he is a very good player. I want to be clear, that the top seven, the top 10 in the league is nothing that you like, you know, uh, to be dumb, but at the same time. There are levels to this and when you get to the best guys in the league it's like 39-year-old LeBron James is having a more mentally productive offensive playoff run than you against inferior competition every night.

It's like it's really weird, but at the same time, and here's the other thing, what really worries me is that Boston has no hierarchy and since Tatum isn't this guy who can really control games offensively every night, it's like now Jaylen Brown wants to. the Reigns now Dereck White wants the Reigns like Drew Holiday to start Game 3 against Cleveland being super aggressive out of the gates and looking for shots, and really that's what leads to some of the bad Boston Pace games you see really bad. It's like everyone is pulling for the Reigns and no one can get going and it's like that's not what happens on these other teams, it's like if you look at the Cavs they run the offense for most of the game , Donovan Mitchell, if you look at the Knicks who run the offense most of the game Jaylen Brunson tires Halberton are Nicole yic and Jamaal Murray are Anthony Edwards is LCA donic is Jay gildas Alexander in Boston it's like everything is just Vibes it's like whoever wanted to take control could take control and like that and that's the thing, not like that if this team is going to get to the promised land Jason like you really have to take control of this because everything is great against Cleveland and everything is great against uh against Miami without Jimmy Butler, but you have a little bit tougher team in the next round and then you will meet a very likely Denver team in the NBA Finals that will want to take your heart the way they are What I'm doing it to Carl Towns and all these other Minnesota guys, so it's going to get tougher and they need more from him.

He just hasn't been able to get there consistently. The NBA playoffs are heating up. They have been so good. I know it's over, but the Lakers Nuggets may have been a five-game series, it was great, the Knicks Sixers, awesome, why don't you sign up for the DraftKings Sportsbook app? Take 90 Seconds, the official sports betting partner of the NBA, if you are on DraftKings once you sign up, you have to check this out. New customers bet five dollars to get $150 bonus. Bet instantly. Great proposal. Five dollars and get 150 dollars. Download the Draftking Sportsbook app. Codee's Collins c i n It's me C l i n Very quick, very easy if you've never done it. bet on sports before you check it really makes gaming fun the code is Colin new customers get $150 in bonus bets when you bet five only on DraftKings the crown is yours and I think if you look at what Brad Stevens did , Zingis' construction of the team was due to a very good offensive year.

Drew Holiday was a better offensive player than Marcus. Smart To Me. Brad Stevens tells me they didn't move away from Al Harford, who can have these weird offensive nights like he's watching Brad. Stevens, who was a very smart guy and I think he wanted more offense, like clearly, you know, if you look at Kobe, he was getting people to not threaten to shoot Kobe or MJ, or, you know, you don't want to. to get the ball even into Jaylen Brunson's hands, of course, don't get the ball into his hands too much with Luca, although his ball usage rate is too high, but it seems like Brad Stevens said: I would like to improve. scoring in the front court I would like a better offensive player than Marcus Smart, like he's just adding offensive chips, that's fine, but a lot of times if you have the guy, it's not about that, it's about adding a guy that can get some advantage. from their defensive pressure of a certain size on The Rim, you know, if you look at what they added to LeBron, they didn't get Kevin Love to get his hands on the ball, it was basically Bader Allen, it was just other people who were able to increase the game. but I don't take responsibility.

I look at them and I think that, you know, when he was healthy, Porzingis would have 28 nights and you're like, oh, this feels like his team tonight, like this is his team, so again, that looks like It's a criticism, but you know, if you look at how a team is run, they will tell you what they are. I always say this when you watch a football game and see what the team does in the first two series, they tell you this. "It's what we think we can do because you want to get ahead, if you lead in an NFL game, you take the lead, you win like 65% of the time, so teams tell you this is what the movie says : "We can do this, they can." I can't stop this, there are times when I watch the Celtics and I watch their build and again I'm just spitting, but there are times when I look at them and they tell me I have reservations about Jason it can take a series, I mean, I'm happy that it's established and it's already absolutely established.

Donovan Mitchell can be hot and cold, but Jesus, I have to tell you something. I said it the other night. Jaylen Brunson becomes more consistent, no. he's so athletic Tatum Jaylen Brunson has a great look, he puts it great, I don't know how he does it, great shot, so anyway, yeah, it's going to look like a criticism, but I think it's a reality, okay, I want to. do this topic, so I saw this on the internet and I apologize for not giving credit, but someone said that everyone starts somewhere. JJ Reuck is supposed to go to the G League.

You know, a lot of these guys just don't want to coach college and they just don't do it. Do you want to deal with limitations? The NCAA is JJ Reick. Is this a bad idea for the Lakers? I mean, do you think Good Hoser would have taken the Lakers job and LeBron would have accepted? They couldn't get him out of town fast enough and he had a title in Milwaukee. Yannis wasn't a fan. Is JJ Reic a terrible choice or are we getting over that thing about everyone starting somewhere where he's going to start? He's Rich, he's not going to the G League, he's not taking that job, kid Jason's first experiment is no good now. he's established himself, I mean what's your opinion on JJ Reck?

People are being eaten. I could be the class leader now for the Lakers, yeah, so experience doesn't matter as much to me for a couple of reasons, one is it's classic corporate ideology, like you're constantly dragging the line between rewarding experience versus rewarding talent and like there's always a fine line between, well, this guy's been doing it for eight years, but it's like, yeah, but it's mediocre because that's the other question here, this guy, if JJ has the talent to That, if you have the basketball IQ or whatever, then of course make the move and a lot of that depends on how you're acting behind the scenes in interviews. if they go through an interview process, but the second part is that you can counteract a lot of the lack of experience or inexperience by simply putting experienced head coaches on their staff, so you can address that by simply giving them As far as I'm concerned, it's a really good assistant coaching staff with JJ Reick, like when it comes to the Lakers, what I'm really looking for is someone who will hold the players accountable because I see them as a anchored, defensive-minded team. by two great athletic forwards in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, just look at the league when the Lakers won, they won when they defended, you know that was always their bread and butter, they made the Western Conference finals last year as a defensive player. offensive-minded team, they lost in the first round this year as an offensive-minded team, since 2020 they won when they were a defensive-minded team, so I'm really interested in someone to hold them accountable and I really don't know.

If JJ is willing to do that with LeBron, that will be something that will have to be eliminated in the interview process, but I'm not worried about experience simply because if JJ has the talent, he has the talent and they have the talent. We're going to anchor him with experienced NBA coaches who will help him navigate the 882-game regular season, and honestly, it's going to be like a collaborative effort between LeBron James and JJ Reic to nail him down. what are the strengths and weaknesses of the squad and from there it is very difficult, honestly, Colin.

I wonder what it's like for you to cover the NFL, too. It is very difficult with coaches, especially new ones, we are not there for interviews like with a player. I can watch the tape and I can have a very good idea of ​​what he's good at and what he's bad at, but like with JJ, he's good, what's his philosophy going to be? What are its basic principles? What will be its basic principles? team on like what is it, are you going to continue with the five out offense? They were running out of Darin Ham with Darin Ham.

Are you going to run something different? What are they going to do something different defensively? It's very hard to say because we're not in the room for those interviews, but if JJ interviews well and they give him good assistant coaches and he has the talent for it, I absolutely think it could work out well, I mean, Duke guy, you know, you hear the podcast, he's, you know, he's a thoughtful one. boy, for me, you know, his experience is funny, you know, it's me, I create the volume or I worked for years at ESPN or Fox Sports, you know, managers came up to me and said, Hey, listen to a tape or do you? what do you think of this guy? and my opinion is that if you've never done Network, who cares?

We listened to your tape and thought yeah, he's ready to go, okay? I didn't, you didn't have to be somewhere we thought you'd be here, so it's, you know, it's Jerry Seinfeld was speaking at Duke, he had a commencement speech and he had a great line, he said having things is nice to become things. or having things is nice becoming something is actually more important and becoming something is lost is swinging is is a climb in every job I've ever had. I was a little bit on top of my skis for the first six to eight weeks like I was bailing water here.

I'm trying to catch up. I once had a friend who got a job at Google. and she was like, literally six weeks later, I was like oh, I'm dumb and this is full of smart people. I'm too dumb to work at Google and she leaves, then the light comes on, you start clicking and then like six months later, you say it's okay, but it's okay. Darvin Ham learned on the job. If you're smart in any industry, you'll figure it out. A lot of this stuff with coaching is like I heard Frank Vogle, you know? some complex defensive stuff that Beal didn't really buy Booker was around an assistant coach much closer than him Vogel Kevin was fine, but Kevin is Kevin at this point and it was like Vogle just didn't resonate with all the guys in the room, JJ reic if LeBron buys it it will resonate with everyone in theroom so my take is you start somewhere if you get LeBron there's some credibility like with Jason Kid there's player to player credibility that JJ has and I think that's kind of unspoken but kind of a mid-range guy age, you know, a guy who didn't play.

I always think you walk into a dressing room and about half the room is like the star can't believe it. Half the room doesn't believe it. maybe I'm cynical but I think everyone would accept JJ Reic, well he's like M, he's like Mike Anori from the Timber Wolves or I can't remember his name, that Celtics assistant that just got hired by the Charlotte Hornets, he's as if you brought In an assistant, no matter how hard he's been working in the stuffing room, no matter how much he impressed the previous organization, he has to be able to look at LeBron and say "hey, I need you to do this" and LeBron has to say "it's okay, you know." , and not only that, but I will hold the rest of the team accountable to help them along the way." And so, I agree that that's the seriousness piece and, by the way, that's why they hired Darin Ham.

They thought Darin Ham could bring some of that real gravitas to the situation. The thing about JJ is that you have to recognize the risk. because you're right, they let Darin play along and he didn't really start making big mistakes until this season with the roster, when he was leaning on Cam Rish, we've gone over it, but he made too many mistakes. and then the Lakers had a situation where they saw the urgency of their situation and said we had to make a move, so I just hope that the Lakers management and ownership understand that if you take JJ there is a risk and although I think That he could do this well, especially with a well-experienced staff behind him, every time you look for a head coach for the first time, there's a question: What if he's really bad at in-game adjustments?

What if he's really bad like us? I don't know what it's going to be like, we'll find out over time and that's where, let's say, the alternative, let's say they were like Kenny Atkinson, for example, like Kenny Atkinson, it's more of a known commodity. It may be a higher floor, but you may not get some of the advantages you get from taking a strange city to your point. Steve Kerr, like Steve Kerr, is considered one of the best coaches in the league. I think he is the second. The best coach in the league behind Eric Spoler so it was a risk to sign Steve Curry because of the way Steve Curry was radical.

He came on a Mark Jackson Le team that was spamming the pick and roll and said, Hey Steph Curry, let's get the ball out. from your hands we're going to lead the league in passing we're going to run this ball movement and player movement offense and I'm sure there were times in training camp when it looked ugly and I'm sure there were times when that the front office was looking down like, uh, this is weird, you know, like we just went, you know, two big playoff runs in 2013 2014, just having Steph run pick and roll, so this It's weird, but then it works out and now Steve Cerr is considered one of the best coaches in the league, so there are advantages to taking JJ, but there's also a risk, so for me I'm okay with that risk because I really don't I don't think there's any candidate out there that's a home run anyway, so I think there are risks everywhere to begin with, yeah, and I also think you have to do it, because the league is so driven by the players that you have.

That being more patient, as you know, in football is really driven by the coach owner, GM, so there's no excuse for a coach to say, you know I can't get the space, I just can't get the space, I just cut guys, if you can't get the space, you will never be a good coach in the NFL in international NBA football where you have these ronaldos and LeBron that are literally, I mean, they are almost above the sport, they are these figures iconic, it is more difficult to attract attention, it is more difficult to get the purchase. hopefully you'll get a Tim Duncan uh or or you know, I mean, I think sometimes we forget that Phil Jackson had replaced Doug Collins.

Michael liked Doug, but Doug is very intense and there was a certain combative nature to his personality, but Doug Collins and Michael mainly worked. That was the first time Michael got real buy-in from Doug and then they got real bayin from Phil. Phil considers that you know the Zen master as the best coach, but part of his acceptance, but I think LeBron also has to recognize, you know, when Michael in his prime for both Collins and Phil, like LeBron was no longer there and I think when he was completely unselfish for 15 years in his prime, he could have scored 12 to 15 more points in every game he played, now it may be a little more. he looks for weak spots in the defense that he can manipulate smaller players that he can drive to the basket.

About what you've talked about, I think LeBron is getting a little selfish now that it's more about Legacy and production. It's time to take a step back. I don't deny that he's a top six player on any given night, but it feels a little like LeBron has gotten a little selfish and it's okay to recognize that you can't, literally, even if you're great, you don't guarantee anything in this league, This is the West, it's packed, you could be a playing team and I know you know LeBron better than anyone his game, but I feel like with LeBron he's a little more receptive. that a giver now not only not only helps, but looks for play, sometimes looks for production to maintain and I think it's time to take a step back.

I think he should be a two on a team. I think you are ABS. You know. I think you're absolutely right, I mean this was actually kind of a subplot the last two seasons, more so last year than this year because LeBron was so good this season, but for the record, I really don't. I don't think it's Legacy, I think it's confidence, I think LeBron still thinks he's the guy you know and I think a lot of times LeBron faces a basketball problem like, okay, we're in this slow basketball game, uh, I need to get something. go for my team offensively that means give me the ball and then I'm going to play basketball surgeon, you know, bring this guy in, I'm going to get a change, I'm going to attack this smaller player oh, I want to pick joic and pick and roll, so we'll bring Anthony Davis on the screen, but one of the things I've noticed over the course of the last few years is that LeBron faced almost every basketball problem when he had the ball. his hands and and and there's something to be said about that, although LeBron on the ball is still a very effective form of offense, it's not the same as it used to be and, specifically, with Anthony Davis, I actually think that LeBron would benefit from leaning on more on Anthony Davis offensively over the course of the first season to build Anthony Davis' confidence, so that when they find themselves in some of these situations where they need to lean on a perfect example of this was the second game against Denver, when they blew the 20 point lead, it was LeBron and AD were bothering Nicole yic on ball screens and then Michael Malone made a very smart adjustment: he moved Aaron Gordon to Anthony Davis so they could change LeBron's pick and roll and uh. and then LeBron instead of saying "Hey, Aaron Gordon" is in the ad, let me keep running ads against Aaron Gordon.

Instead he thought he could beat Joic on ball screens because I'm LeBron, so now I'm going to take Ruy to the screen because Joic is guarding ruie and I'll start bothering joic in the Lakers offense. came down and then I don't think LeBron made a bad read because he was thinking I'm LeBron James but I'm not. I'm LeBron James. I'm LeBron James, 39 years old, so maybe I should go to this other guy who made 14 shots in a row at the beginning of the game, maybe I should go to him, so I think you're right in what I think in general and This is something I think from an organizational standpoint, the Lakers hire a coach and as they get closer to this offseason, they need to offer a clear non-LeBron ballhandling option so LeBron doesn't have to feel who needs to reach out to everyone.

The problem is that he played LeBron's ball over the break and the big guy I'm looking at and I really want them to go after Jonte Murray. I don't know if you saw it today, but in the draft lottery the Hawks got the number. an at-large pick that's super interesting because I imagine they'll see that as we rebuild around Trey Young and Jaylen Johnson, so I think they'll probably look to move Deonte Murray this summer. and he's one of those guys where, like Dejonte, he was really good in games and really good down the stretch of the season.

He really he can beat people off the dribble. He is an excellent point of attack. Defender, he's the kind of guy that he can really do. put yourself in a situation where you have a like because as good as Austin Reeves is, you just want to lean on him, he better be able to do it in spurts, you don't want to lean on him in large doses. I saw if you look at Dejonte Murray's numbers when Trey Young didn't play like that, he's a little Jayen Brunson without Luca, you go oh oh no, he could be one on a bad team or one of the best, I mean, like when Trey Young didn't did.

During the game there was like a 30% rise in assists, like 25% I don't remember the exact numbers, but I ranted about it and said, "Look at it, it's obviously explosive, you can see it, but it's like we did this." with Brunson you know you're like well he's kind of a two for Trey and it's like no maybe it's two ones if the numbers when Trey's not playing Jon's numbers go up and his efficiency goes up so that's a interesting, yes, to put it simply, Luca Trey is a heliocentric player who does everything. It's hard to be number two, so at least we can admit that if anything, it's kind of a testament to Kyrie because like Kyrie, he's the type of guy like in Game Three Who or Game Two Who Can Score Eight Points and still dominate the game as an excellent defensive player and passer and all that kind of stuff, but it's hard to be in that role and Deonte Murray in particular, like he's a guy. that he can really dance with the ball, beat people off the dribble and make things happen, and what you know, what nobody said about Deonte Murray is that he's Klay Thompson, like he's not going to excel on the wing and just step shooting, catching and shooting threes throughout the game, so it actually makes a lot of sense.

In fact, I look at it like he's the Lakers this summer. I would look for two routes through the interchange. I would look for dejonte. Murray via free agency because they will have their mid-level exception that they can use every year. I would like to target a real center like a real big center that can play alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis and give them a great look, I think if they do it and Jared Vanderbilt bounces back. Everyone suddenly becomes a much more physically imposing team with much more ball handling thanks to Deonte Murray. In fact, I think there is an option if they can nail this summer and the head coach. the hiring works, I think there's a small chance for them to do some damage next year, but yeah, like me, the JJ reic piece, I really think it's as good as any other option, not that there's anything Option mate home run, so I think as long as he gets the interviews and they put the right personnel around him, it could work Jason Temporal, who tonight, as always, is a big deal, good to see you man, looking forward to the next. week