FULL NBA GAMETIME | Dennis Scott "goes crazy" Mavericks def Spurs and Nets fall to Cavaliers

to be honest it's not on anything what's

crazy

is the san antonio

spurs

getting rid of guys who i thought were going to stay forever and then all of a sudden they're always in the playoff hunt so , what is Greg Popovich feeding his players with that? Nobody else is because you'd look at their roster and say, okay, they've got Demar Derozan, they've got Lamarcus Aldridge, they've got Deshonte Murray, you know, and they've got some other really good guys, on top of that, you wonder who these guys are, but still in every game, for the most part, they're competing, they're playing the right way, they're professional, their approach to the game, they're prepared, and to me, it's like the san antonio

spurs

are a much better culture. than many others.

There are other teams in the NBA that you could put almost anyone on and they compete at a high level every night, so I'm impressed and I love watching them play because guys, you get to see them improve in their roles on that team, well, history. and the statistics say yes, the culture is much better, I played there, I played there, but I would like to tell you that it is Channing, the reason you said it, they are more prepared, they prepare, they prepare, they prepare, but also they develop. Also think about what Pop does an excellent job: you are going to play to your strengths or the strength of the team.

There will be no one outside those lines. You know, if the team's strength is shooting three-pointers, you better line up. shoot threes, but the one thing that's consistent: you're going to compete, you're going to be prepared and everyone's going to know the scouting report up to the t, if not, you're going to come sit next to dad, I love that and talking about it. development What about Kelton Johnson and the appearance of him? You'd love to, I mean, you saw his senior year wasn't as strong, he got bigger and bigger and you look at this young man, it's not that he's not capable, but I love it, you know.

The games he has are 13 11 rebounds 14 10 rebounds. I think tonight he's in double digits playing extremely hard on defense and he was more of a scorer coming out of high school and college, but you can change his role with the pop, but I. We will also talk, I would add that this is something different that a lot of teams don't do with all the players during the shoot around Channing and Steph has to choose a player and be able to tell the coaching staff everything he does, the nuances on and off the court. I love it, I think more teams should incorporate that when I was a coach, we would do what you do, but we would do it randomly, we would pick a player and we would do it, which is good, it's good, they have to know it, they have to be prepared, Channing, you know how. important, that's what we do in the playoffs just in the playoffs uh, I mean, it depends on how good your team is, you know, here's a look at the box score, it's the fourth quarter in san antonio, dallas, He is currently up 113 to 109. and as I mentioned Luka Doncic, just one rebound.

You know, it's the same team you're playing back to back. Cleveland gained a lot of confidence with the last win against Brooklyn. I mean, you have two guys, Tori and Prince, and also Jared. Allen is telling the coaches to make every play, every decision that they already know, but then you can tell that Jared Allen had a little more in these last two games with the Brooklyn Nets, a little tip on his jersey, oh, sure there is the victory. at 113 again sexton with 25 and 9 assists drummond with another double double 19 and 16 for the brooklyn

nets

kyrie irving led the way with 38 points james harden had 19 points 11 assists so let's hear what james harden and the head coach steve nash had to say after the game i thought we were getting open shots honestly our problem is on offense as we scored a hundred something 113 points tonight and even the last game was more than enough to win the game i think that defensively we have to be We are more committed and we have to make more consecutive stops and that will make our offense much better, so offensively we are not worried at all, it is our defense, we have a lot of things to work on, there is a lot to clean up . um, you know, it's very early, like I said, it's relatively new to have Kai back after two weeks, uh, James joined the team, Kevin was out tonight, it's a lot for us, so you know, no I want to overreact, but let's do it.

We urge the guys to clean up as much as we can, the hustle areas, but also schematically continue to refine and improve and you know what this league is like. A few days ago, we're on a four-game winning streak and now I've underperformed in two games, so we've got to find a way to get ourselves to, you know, play a little bit cleaner, a little bit sharper and try to to clean up some of these categories where we're not competing well enough. It's interesting to hear your perspective first. From the mouth of James Harden it is that the offense is not a problem.

I don't think anyone has ever accused them of having an offensive problem, but anyway, smitty, let's talk about Cleveland a little bit because they've had some success. Head coach JB Bickerstaff has done a fantastic job. Instill a new culture in this team. Colin Sexton seems to stand out, especially here lately. Your thoughts on his game. Well, Colin. I have known this young man since he was born and raised here in Atlanta. I've seen him play for so long. He has always played extremely hard. He watched it in high school, I did and then you got a chance to watch it in college and also his first year in the league.

I think for him now he's understanding how to slow down offensively, but what I love is that I'm watching. on his turnovers, only one turnover tonight for every nine assists, a nine to one turnover ratio is fantastic, he's more of a scoring point guard, but one thing he can do now is get some guys look easier and will compete defensively, that's the one. What I love about the young guys and I like what they're doing and I will say JB Bickerstaff isn't getting enough credit. You've had all these trades, you've got all these young guys and if you look at their history right now, the Cleveland Cavaliers. it's eight and seven the brooklyn

nets

are nine and eight that says something, so does this statistic about colin sexton, the first player in cass history to score 20 or more points in each of his first 10 games of the season, That's awesome people, yeah, that's all. true channing frye we have not forgotten you we are not going to leave you out the other side of this equation of this basketball game are the brooklyn nets that we have talked about we are going to continue talking about them obviously with their big three kevin durant out due to the break , you know he has the Achilles injury and is still trying to make sure it doesn't come back and haunt him, but they should still be good enough to beat most teams, right?

You might think so, but I don't think so. you have an emotional leader, right, you have a guy who is an MVP, uh, James Harden, who I think is super skilled, super incredible, obviously, as you know, the defense asks Kyrie, who is coming back from his time off, whether let it be about mental health or whatever issue, and then I have a depleted bench and guys coming in there who were third and fourth string guys who now have to play, you know, for an extended period of time, but what I look at them, it's like who is their emotional leader who gets angry when they make mistakes. on defense or don't make the extra pass or don't run to play right, they don't have one of those right guys and I think again you're asking so much of Deandre Jordan to come out and be the center. and then you ask Perry to come out and you say he just the game is moving pretty fast for him and for me there are a lot of variables that go into why they've had their struggles lately um and the Cavs just don't match up with them and I saw to the Cavs one in a zone and we were talking about this and you would think that James Harden beat the best shooter in the league.

Kyrie, one of the best shooters in the league, they got it. They have shooters, no one can do shots in a zone, it's like people go to the zone for scenes that they can't do shots, so to me, it's about them getting used to each other and, again, emotionally, each game must be important, who is that guy? he's playing five minutes or 35 minutes they can yell at james harden, kyrie and kd and say hey pick up defense this matters tonight it's a great point channing because what you said i thought was important whether they play five minutes or 35 minutes because your The verbal and emotional leader doesn't have to be your top scorer or your best player, right, it has to be someone your teammates respect, so when they say it everyone listens, very good point, your channing , okay, we'll move on to you.

You're welcome, let's move on to another game, Boston, Philadelphia, this has become a big deal even though it's early in the year due to the NBA scheduling format, the teams play each other in back-to-back situations. generates elevated, heated physical play and this series I'll call it that broadly is no exception uh marcus smart and joelle embiid actually had some comments it's tough it's tough especially when you know we're you know we've got our hands. many times and you know he misses and gets the call, I mean I'm sure he knows himself and he knows his game too.

You know it's been a long time and to highlight, Joel Embiid coming off a 42 point game against the celtics seth curry's first game after missing seven games due to kovid and how things are starting well seth returned to the gym knocking down threes in his blood kimbo walker back in action yes, it's going to be special for Boston, he's another guy, you could just give him the rock and he could give you 12 to 14 important game-winning baskets. Kemba Walker plays the right game all the time and he is very good at the rim. It's for his height, he understands angles quickly and there's oh okay joel and b a little dream shake it a little bit it was a tied game man this guy right here i mean jalen brown channing he's so good and Even so, he doesn't lose his defensive principles, that's what I love to block, let's talk about someone who doesn't know what Dr.

Rivers said to Joel Embiid, but for me Joel Embiid is the favorite for MVP this year. It's a spicy tape, but Joel Embiid is finally doing what everyone expected him to do. He now he has the confidence, the body and the attitude. do it every night, example of that, you know what I love, that's not that skill said singing, that he made it, he fought for position down there in the paint, yeah, it makes a big difference, you try to establish yourself within the final. philadelphia wins 122 122-110 deland brown a great effort even in defeat 42 points nine rebounds for him joel embiid led the way with 38 and 11 rebounds and actually stopped to chat after the game joelle 38 and 11. a double-double In a physical game where we saw you literally all over the court, how would you describe what the battle was like for you tonight?

Well, first of all, I started with Ben Simmons, his defense, in the fourth, he did the last play, he did it. Again tonight he just took over the game defensively. I know I want to be defensive player of the year, but you have another candidate. We have three candidates on this team. Matisse is also doing great work, but the way it was necessary. The way the game went was great for us and from what you know about the physicality, you could say I probably went to the free throw line with about 15 pounds, but I could have gone 10 times as much.

I knew one was called after Boston uh, complaining about all those calls last game, you know I got fouled, but me, I just told my teammates I told them I'm going to make them call him, You know I'll be physical, they if they don't. I don't want to call him, I'm going to have him called and that's what we did sometimes when you look at the box score you don't get the

full

picture of Ben Simmons' impact so can you just describe how you played with him? I know what he does for this team oh he's great he's a playmaker.

I don't know, sometimes you know I can't be a playmaker, but I don't need to be. His job is to organize the team. You know how to get the assist, move the ball and my job is to score, so you know that he is doing a great job organizing us and you know that defensively he is one of the best in the league. Well, a unique aspect of the season is sort of like playing against your rival. Celtics twice in one week, so what did you learn about your team after these two tough wins? Oh, it was great.

You know, we fought in moments that were more physical than us. Tonight they started the game. It was physical and we responded well. we made plays and only in our last game we took over in the

fall

, well congratulations on the victory, joy, thank you very much, let's take a look at social media, the Philadelphia 76ers said, I hope you enjoyed your stay, the Celtics, okay, I come to you for this, this is enough. this is more smoke than they need no no i love it yeah listen you don't have to like them man we're all competing for achampionship, I think for me, obviously, you'd have to put the money up there. contenders and then for me it's Philadelphia, Boston and I may be forgetting someone, but that's it for me in the east.

I think those three teams really feel and believe that they have a chance to win a chip, so the fact that they are chippy. together you see how I played that's great and I think it's an amazing piece of work by Marcus Smart recognize that you know Joel Embiid you know how to embellish sometimes but I also agree with Joel Embiid saying hey I'm I'm going to play even more physical because I was able to dominate this game, which he did again without the free throws, so I love that back and forth and I can't wait for that moment to come.

Hope

full

y something can happen in the playoffs where the stars align and these two teams against each other, wouldn't that be silly? You hear a lot of talk about rivalries, people say it even when there isn't one in this, these two teams have historically been rivals, so this is good, yes it is, I mean, you look at it like you said historically it has It's been the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics and then you fast forward to now, today they've had their playoff battles and now you have Doc Rivers, a former Celtics coach. who is now Philadelphia's coach, but getting back to that tweet from the Sixers' social media team, let me do the talking myself.

I don't need the social media team to talk. Let me say what I have to say. I would like to be able to speak on behalf of. I think I'm just old school Channing. I don't want the social media team to speak for us. Let's establish ourselves as players. Yeah, I'm with you, smitty, because I feel like you're giving them bulletin board material and there's no one there. In the locker room, I'm okay with that, as long as I can see it. You don't know, Channing. What about Ben Simmons? What's up with his game? We talked a little about Joel Embiid becoming the dominant player we were all hoping to see.

Of him, how does Ben Simmons fit into that equation? Are we seeing this work? I'll be honest, I didn't think it was going to work and guess what less is more. Ben Simmons is taking a backseat right now from the beginning, but when? I mean, in the backseat, it's not necessarily that he's not playing at a high level, it's just that he's doing all the little things that he has. I think that today he gave 11 assists, he is attacking the rim, he is shooting correct shots and defensively he is one of the best in the league like Joel.

Embiid is doing it, it's what the team needs. He's going to be a star. He will be considered. You know, top 15. The 20 best players in this league. It's just that Joel Embiid is playing at an MVP level for them. He now he's doing everything the sexers need to win and that to me shows maturity and shows that he's growing as a player because at the end of the day, if someone plays like that, you have to let him go if I make three. shots you better find me for that fourth right maybe for the fifth right and then you know it is what it is, but for me I will be excited when Joel Embiid if the season ever cools down to see Ben Simmons explode for them because he has that ability, he's right now, he's doing what the team needs to win and I appreciate that and I respect that and we see that, so in this program we like to give the coaches their due.

We talked about JB Baker's staff with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Doc Rivers a lot of times people will say, well he had three, the big three in Boston, right, he had the players in Los Angeles, he's got these guys here, but they look different, is he the reason we're seeing to a different looking Joel Embiid? I think a different look, a different look from the Philadelphia 76ers, they're playing like they're trying to win a championship, they're focused on winning a championship, a lot of times you see Philadelphia and we've always asked what they are. They're doing it They're playing inside They're playing outside They're playing defense There are so many questions we have about them What I love right now is that Joel Embiidi has him playing the big man role We all know you can shoot threes but he's fighting in the post he's rebounding the basketball he's dominating he's talking about being physical i'm with channing i love the way ben and simmons play if you look at seven for ten gold bars we have a lot of gold bullion stuff yeah we do this board It catches you at night, so if you've just joined us, take a quick look and see what your team has been up to.

We will meet you throughout the night. We'll start with Chicago Charlotte the Hornet hosting in the center of the spectrum zach levine has been crying he's been playing great kobe white finds levine face to face with the edge god lee there's only a few of us who jump that high smithy no jenny, Did you tell us yes, the Chinese beat us, okay, got it? it's devonte graham coming out of his shell levine has been getting buckets i mean if you look at his last eight games he scored over 30 and six of them averaging 31 impressed by that but 54 shots that's pretty scary terry ooh, terry roziri, turn one over once. a month kobe white at home in the state of north carolina hayward had a great night wait wait a second we still had enough to wet that oh another university of arizona here we go lori you know china i like the marketing they have to keep adding more touches it has to start getting more touches yeah here we go they did it that's all that matters gordon harewood 34 points in a losing effort but he's been playing very well for the hornets zach levine with 25 sixes and nine assists marking him with 23 the chicago bulls seven and eight now they have won three in a row the bulls are heating up houston is in detroit two teams looking for a win remember victor oladipo is now a rocket in the last two games he has averaged 27 and seven and a half assists, okay? yeah victor at the airport oh good call of yours it's so weird seeing him in that uniform so james harden i gotta get used to this man jeremy grant bet on himself jenny fry and he's rolling yeah that one It's an 80 million dollar bet, it's a pretty good bet. bet obviously catch and knock down threes plays well good for him most improves right now oh physical take the hit and finish jeremy grant finishes 21. what they call oh man look how close it was lucky he used that and I mean he got tj tucker his face in his arm, seriously, I mean, like you catch your face in his arm, unfortunately Houston, they win by one point, Detroit, I just feel bad for them because the effort has been there consistently, just They can't seem to overcome the obstacle.

All the games you guys have lost, only one has been a piston of more than double-digit losses. Wow, yeah, it's been a tough year for them, so listen, it's been tough here for a lot of teams, uh, let's listen. stop um let's see cole anthony with the game oh yeah that was a great turning point his second shot is no good rebounded by anthony two seconds left for anthony to win cole anthony gives the magic of improbable incredible victory in minneapolis dan thousands turner Back to the action, you know, for a while, everyone's asking how Sabonis and Miles can play together again, who has to go, who has to stay, they're two big guys who figured it out, it's another game closed between the magic boot, he is a problematic man.

I'm telling you, the pacers think about it curiously, if Burke hadn't had the problem with his body, it would have been

crazy

for them, they also add TJ Warren Channing Frye, this team has and they have Jeremy Landback, this is a team, it's going to be a little scary, I know people think I'm crazy but I said Utah would be second in the west, people thought I'd been drinking chills or wine, you got it there, that's a big win , great victory for Indiana by two. in overtime fournier with 26 and nine assists vucevic with 24 and 12 another double-double that's just what malcolm alias the president does led the way for the pacers with 23 points and six assists and stopped the talk after the coach of the party trusts us.

It's been a you know, the team has been relying on the coach's trust, no trust, we trust him to make decisions if we feel like a timeout is needed, you know we would trust him to make it happen, so we were just able to play and we trust. in each other. the court um the play was actually for Doug to come out try to make a play he kicked it to me I shot it and Domas and you guys have worked so well together you know in that situation you can play each other too yeah you already know.

Don't miss it, you know, I think he got us back in that game, saved us and you know, put it in overtime, so you know, it was up to the rest of us to carry it out for him the last two games. you played without miles turner, coach bjorkman talked about the toughness he showed coming back on the court and then the way he played offensively and defensively, what can you say about miles turner's knife? uh, huge man, he's playing at an all-star level honestly. He's going to be the defensive player of the year this year.

He is proving it night after night. It's time people gave him some respect. his drive meant that yes, Jeremy is a starter in this league, people know what he does, he is a professional in every way, he approached his rehab and you know, at a high level and it is paying off here, okay Let's see this. This is Sabonis, he is the fifth player since the NBA's merger with the ABA to open a season with 15 consecutive double-doubles. Very good company there Smitty, yes, I mean, it's a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to see him play.

I remember when he was about three years old. foot tall now he's seven foot tall I play with his dad but what I love is we all know he can score the ball but the way he bounces the ball but then he adds today you look at nine assists Steph he had too five steals from a central position and then also being able to coexist with Miles Turner. I'm a true believer that two greats can't play together, especially when they have skills like those two guys have and Malcolm Brognet, who wouldn't want to be his teammate.

I mean he's just a great leader to everyone on his team and they have leadership. They have a great way of grading basketball by the way they play. Channing. Orlando's magic came together when the season began. Now they are seven and nine. I talked about vucevic and how he is a walking double double, what more does this team need? Considering they lost Fultz, they're obviously not who they were at the beginning, these kneeling bodies. I think you would say this, let me give credit to guarantee that it is. the most underrated big man in the league since he's been in the league this guy has been making double-doubles every night he could shoot three he's a willing passer he has physical rebounds even out of his area you know his area I think he's a player very very very good player, obviously an All-Star.

Secondly, I think magic culture is really good defensively. They have been one of the best defensive teams in the last two or three years. They've suffered from the injury bug, which has sucked because I thought. that his development would get better and better, but I like Cole or Cole Anthony to have the opportunity to play and show what they can do and grow and develop, so I think hold tight to what you're trying to build right now. The Magic I always have them seven or eight in the East because you have to beat them. I think the Pacers are a very good team and it took overtime to beat a depleted Magic team, so give the Magic some credit.

Give Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon for buying. stay there and really try to establish something that is a farm when what you want is something real like a good neighbor. State Farm is there the first month of the season. The main NBA stories. James Harden was traded to the Nets in a deal on January 14 that was just January 13. Nixar's playoff team for now is battling Los Angeles in the west and the Warriors are back in playoff contention. A lot has happened, it's early in the season, but let's dive right in, gentlemen, talk about some of the big things as we welcome.

You're back in the studio with Steve Smith and Channing Frye. I'm Stephanie Wrighty Channing. I want to start with you. We chatted a little bit about the MVP talk earlier when we watched the Philadelphia highlights, so Channing, what do you say about who you think? could be the clubhouse leader for the MVP race what I say joel embiid says I mean listen he is the most dominant big man in the game right now and think about what I'm saying and why very good that he is having the season as jokic. Joel Embiid is helpless down there, he's leading this Sixers team not only on the offensive end but on the defensive end, he's being consistent, he's being aggressive and he's making better decisions this year again, I say maturity and growth, and He's taken it and I think he put the pressure on and said, hey, you're going to be his main man to lead this team andhere you go, here's the whole dish, now let's see what you do with it, okay smitty, what do you think I love Chinese pork?

I like the Joker too, but I'm going with one of Channing's teammates, Lebron James, they're 12 and four, they just finished winning a championship a week ago in the bubble, so for him to keep playing in this elite level, the numbers will not increase. like embiid and the wild card but 24 basically eight eight and he's 52 i'm going to pick lebron james right now as my main mvp because they're still winning 12 and four wins means a lot and i have nothing against joel embiid could definitely go there too and joker you're rolling with the hyperbole he won the championship last week he's 52 man lebron it's i'm shocked shannon is still playing at a hot mvp level not elite it's impressive, it's ridiculous, it's impressive, many. shakes, you both mentioned nikola jokic so I'm going to go ahead and show you some numbers because as impressive as he's been in the past, yes, this year he's surpassing that look from last season on the left compared to this one. season right every major number has significantly increased assists have increased three rebounds have increased three point percentage has increased I mean literally every number looks at its plus minus so this is a big man who is averaging a three pointer double, I would say he's definitely in the conversation he's in, except he's out of the playoffs right now, that's the only thing for me, that's it for me, Channing, I mean his numbers, right, I I mean Steph, you made a great case, but the numbers look great, but then the letters are w and l, the letters right now is what he has to work on with his team, it's not his fault, but outside of the playoffs, that It's hard for me, yeah, that's not good, no, no, no, you can.

Don't you have to be at least eight years old? Or you know, I think Denver is still trying to find the identity of him without Jeremy Grant without uh Mason Plumlee, like defensively they're struggling and offensively maybe they're relying on Jokic as well. Very true, maybe they need to go a little bit more to Jamal Murray and obviously I'm just saying you know whatever, but give him credit, credit deserves it, he's doing incredible things in the center position, but the winds matter more and I always say this and I got this from James Jones, maybe doing less gives us more wins, just take it seriously, okay, sounds good on that, um, and I would agree with both of them winning, it certainly matters, I'm not claiming that at all.

Someone who isn't on a winning team should win MVP, but this is very early, so I imagine the wins will increase as we go. You're right, you're right as we move forward, what else are we going to talk about? Well, let's talk about this biggest surprise team, Smitty, who did you get, Channy's old teammate, I mean the Cleveland Cavaliers, a lot of teams, yeah, you hadn't played much, so I could have thrown a dart, but the Cleveland Cavaliers are singing as we speak now. fifth in the east oh fifth i know it's early but jb bickerstaff these young guys all trades all moves they have about nine centers and they're still winning and they're fifth in the east i'm going with the cleveland

cavaliers

congratulations to jb, bigger staff, support that part, baby bickerstaff, shout out, okay, changing your surprise team so far, uh, it's the Minnesota Timberwolves, how's it going on with them.