Joel Embiid’s Struggles, Wagner’s Big Leap & Pacific Division Drama: NBA Deep Dive

[00:00:13] It's Friday, you know what time it is. Front Runner Podcast Collective is back on the air. I am your humble host Vince. I'll be joined today by co-host, producer Suresh. You'll be breaking down the stats. And we are going to be talking all things NBA today.

[00:00:34] We have an exciting explosive episode for you. And we're going to actually coin a new segment. It's called Around the Art. Basically, we're taking the Pacific Division and putting it under the microscope and giving you a couple things to look at.

[00:00:54] And we're also going to continue our baseline buzz feature. And today we're going to be talking about the Philadelphia 76ers struggles and Joel Embiid's public frustrations.

[00:01:09] And everything around that. And also, we'll be talking a little bit about Franz Wagner and how he has stepped up his game.

[00:01:19] But before we get to all of that, we're going to get to the socials. X, it's at Front Runner Pog. No, it's at Front Runner PC. And then, so Raya is at at Raya underscore punch FRPC.

[00:01:38] And when we do this next time, we're going to have Blue Sky. We do have it, but we're going to put it in our thing, in our rundown.

[00:01:46] So we can go ahead and write a little off to you, but we are on Blue Sky. So if you put Sarea in or if you put Front Runner PC in, you will find us over there as well.

[00:02:01] And we will be putting up a lot of stuff from this week in regards to polls, questions, things of that nature in regards to all the things that we discussed on the YouTube page.

[00:02:13] So go over to the community page starting tomorrow and we'll have basically everything that we talked about on this podcast or certain questions that may be derived from the podcast that we want your feedback on.

[00:02:29] So go over to the community page tomorrow and those will be up there.

[00:02:34] And after that, let's go ahead and let's kick things off with a little baseline buzz.

[00:02:39] Now we're going to be focusing in on the Philadelphia 76ers. It's been a disastrous start.

[00:02:46] They're sitting at 2-12 at this point in time with injuries and internal drama threatening to just derail the season.

[00:02:54] Paul George and Joel Embiid have been huge setbacks as far as their injury situations.

[00:03:02] George has hyper-extended the same knee for the second time and he's going to be out at least a couple more games, if not more times.

[00:03:15] Now, I want to talk about Joel Embiid's knee soreness that's kept him from finding consistency.

[00:03:23] And then you add the leaked details from the fiery team meeting and this team feels like it's on the brink.

[00:03:29] But before we get there, I want to go back.

[00:03:38] I want to take you back to early April of 2024.

[00:03:48] And there was a report that came out that Joel Embiid was going to come back and play the last four or five games of the season,

[00:04:02] take some of the rust off, and then play in the playoffs.

[00:04:08] At that time, I thought it was a bad idea.

[00:04:13] In the summer, I thought it was a completely bad idea that he plead for the Olympic team.

[00:04:22] And where we are with this is this.

[00:04:24] I want to ask a couple questions.

[00:04:27] Because there's some things going on here that need some discussion.

[00:04:32] The athlete care team, Simon Rice, Kevin Johnson, Dr. Matidas Zagonis, did they allow him to play in April?

[00:04:47] Did they tell the team or tell Joel Embiid that the ramifications of you playing this early after surgery could have these long-term ramifications?

[00:05:06] I don't know.

[00:05:08] These are questions that I have.

[00:05:12] How much was Joel Embiid told?

[00:05:16] I'm not saying they held back information.

[00:05:19] I don't know.

[00:05:20] But these are questions that I have now that we're here.

[00:05:24] He looks like a shell of himself.

[00:05:27] He looks like he can't move.

[00:05:30] Any sort of defensive rebound is not going to be his.

[00:05:36] He does not seem spry.

[00:05:38] He seems like he has cement in his knees.

[00:05:41] And then he's falling every three or four minutes.

[00:05:45] He doesn't look stable.

[00:05:49] And my question is, who gave this go-ahead?

[00:05:54] Or, if there were precautions or there were cautionary tales of, hey, if you do this, it could lead to this.

[00:06:06] How much information was given?

[00:06:09] Who made the final call?

[00:06:12] Because now, you're 2-12.

[00:06:16] Paul George is hurt.

[00:06:18] We'll get to that, too.

[00:06:20] Because there's some other stuff that I want to get to with that.

[00:06:24] And you got Tyrese Maxey, who's also banged up.

[00:06:28] And he's come back.

[00:06:30] So my question is, this seems to be a pattern.

[00:06:33] Ben Simmons talked that he felt that the medical staff in Philadelphia didn't do right by him with his back injury.

[00:06:42] Now, there's a lot of stuff that we can say about Ben Simmons.

[00:06:46] We could talk about his play.

[00:06:48] His lack of wanting to shoot.

[00:06:52] All of these things.

[00:06:53] I'm not blaming Philadelphia for him.

[00:06:57] Because there's a lot of inconsistencies with those stories.

[00:07:02] But we have multiple examples of players coming back too soon.

[00:07:13] Now, Maxey, the jury's still out.

[00:07:18] Because he just came back from the hamstring pull.

[00:07:24] So I hope that he's healthy.

[00:07:28] But at this point, I'm looking at the situation.

[00:07:33] And I'm trying to figure out, well, did they just not see this when they went in to the knee?

[00:07:42] Because he had the surgery.

[00:07:44] He was out for six weeks.

[00:07:46] They pulled some of the meniscus out, whatever that was torn off.

[00:07:53] Stitched up the flap, whatever case may be.

[00:07:57] Patched him up.

[00:07:58] And he came back in April.

[00:08:02] What were the discussions at that time?

[00:08:05] Did we give him the A, B, C, D scenario?

[00:08:09] And what were the inflection points of those different options?

[00:08:20] Because he played the playoffs.

[00:08:23] He got hurt right before the playoffs.

[00:08:25] The knee was injured.

[00:08:27] Somebody ran into the knee.

[00:08:29] Then he played in the playoffs.

[00:08:30] He hobbled along through the Knicks series.

[00:08:32] He looked completely diminished and compromised in that series.

[00:08:38] And now he's not.

[00:08:41] He does.

[00:08:42] He's proclaimed, I'm not playing back to backs.

[00:08:45] I've done a lot for this effing city.

[00:08:48] And my body cannot take that.

[00:08:51] And I'm going to do right by my body at this point in time.

[00:08:55] Where was all this?

[00:08:56] And we haven't even talked about the weight loss that he wants to do and all of these things.

[00:09:02] Where was all of this in April?

[00:09:05] You could have shut him down in April and said, hey, listen.

[00:09:10] Thank you for being a warrior.

[00:09:12] You know what?

[00:09:13] We got a plan in the offseason.

[00:09:15] One of these superstars is going to become available because of the cap constraints and things of that nature.

[00:09:22] We're going to get you the help that you need.

[00:09:25] We're going to get you somebody that you can rely on.

[00:09:28] We see that Tyrese Maxey is becoming a superstar.

[00:09:32] So we're going to lean into this.

[00:09:34] You're going to be fine.

[00:09:35] Go ahead.

[00:09:36] Get recuperate.

[00:09:38] Get all the rest you need.

[00:09:40] Get all the physical therapy you need.

[00:09:43] Don't worry about the Olympics.

[00:09:45] There's enough seven footers and 6'11 dudes that can dunk for the United States of America.

[00:09:53] They can find somebody else.

[00:09:54] Get yourself healthy because, like he said, the only thing that matters now is championships.

[00:10:03] And you should have had that sort of mindset in April when you were trying to play hero ball, knowing damn well you were diminished.

[00:10:12] Knowing damn well you were going to be compromised on the defensive rebounding side of the basketball, knowing that you weren't going to be able to get out to shooters because your lateral mobility was shot.

[00:10:27] I cannot believe the rash of injuries, Vince.

[00:10:31] To Paul George and Joel Embiid have been huge setbacks.

[00:10:35] George's hyperextended knee has sidelined him again, while Embiid's knee soreness has kept him from finding consistency.

[00:10:41] Add to that leaked details from a fiery team meeting, and this team feels like it's on the brink.

[00:10:47] Add to it that 70 Sixers fans were expecting so much more than this abomination lately.

[00:10:55] Still, even with Daryl Morey steering the ship as president of basketball operations, the Sixers look like they need a major reset, whether that's trades or better internal cohesion.

[00:11:08] Soraya, these are things that I want to know.

[00:11:11] Was it Embiid that made this call?

[00:11:13] Was it the doctors?

[00:11:16] Or was it Daryl Morey?

[00:11:19] You would think it had to be the player, meaning Joel Embiid's call, right?

[00:11:25] There's a lot of mystery shroud in this, and I just want the mystery to be solved.

[00:11:35] You know what I'm saying?

[00:11:36] Do we need to go out and get Sherlock Holmes?

[00:11:41] Do we need to go out and get Columbo?

[00:11:46] We might have to dig up, like, Angela Lansbury from Murder, She Wrote.

[00:11:55] Who's the woman on, I think it's Hallmark?

[00:11:59] Is it Lori Loughlin?

[00:12:01] They do those little mysteries.

[00:12:05] I believe you are referring to Candace Cameron Bure, of Full House fame.

[00:12:10] This just made my day.

[00:12:12] Pop culture references from Vince got to love it.

[00:12:16] When it's not the Christmas season, by the way, gotta get locked into the Hallmark Christmas season.

[00:12:23] You know what I'm saying?

[00:12:24] I dig it.

[00:12:26] I ain't gonna lie.

[00:12:27] It's me all day.

[00:12:29] But anyway, Soraya, we need to get somebody on this.

[00:12:34] We need to get our highest intelligence on this situation because the Philadelphia fans need answers.

[00:12:44] They were expecting a team to contend this year.

[00:12:48] And this team is as bad as the Washington Wizards.

[00:12:55] And that, that can't fly in Philadelphia.

[00:13:00] Thank God the Eagles found a way to get themselves straight so 76ers fans can have a little respite.

[00:13:11] Vince, let's give 76ers fans something.

[00:13:14] Rookie guard Jared McCain.

[00:13:16] McCain is averaging 15.3 points a game, all the while entertaining us on TikTok.

[00:13:24] I see you, Philadelphia fans.

[00:13:26] I recognize you.

[00:13:28] And I'm looking for answers, too.

[00:13:31] I'm looking for answers for you.

[00:13:37] Answers come in the form of Tyrese Maxey.

[00:13:40] Maxey, the vocal leader of the squad.

[00:13:42] See what I did there?

[00:13:43] He is averaging 25.1 points a game, but on terrible efficiency due to the Sixers.

[00:13:49] Head coach Nick Nurse is forced to overuse their young star.

[00:13:54] To something a little bit more upbeat.

[00:13:58] And this is also part of the baseline buzz.

[00:14:01] Last night, Franz Wagner hit a dagger three against the Lakers.

[00:14:09] And they won the game 119-118 in a miraculous comeback because they were down the whole game.

[00:14:18] Now, I want to talk about Franz and the game winner.

[00:14:23] But I also want to talk about his whole game in totality.

[00:14:28] He posted 37 points.

[00:14:30] He had 11 assists.

[00:14:32] He had four steals.

[00:14:34] And he's become the heart of the Magic team, especially with Paulo Bencaro being out.

[00:14:40] Now, Paulo is going to be out.

[00:14:42] He's going to be re-evaluated in four to six weeks.

[00:14:46] We know that.

[00:14:48] But Wagner's evolution is clear in his stats.

[00:14:53] He's averaging 27.5 points a game.

[00:14:56] He's averaging six rebounds a game.

[00:14:58] He's averaging six assists over the last 10.

[00:15:02] And his off-the-dribble three-point percentage has jumped up from 28.1 to 34.4.

[00:15:13] That's a huge jump for a player drawing the tougher assignments.

[00:15:19] Keep that in mind as well.

[00:15:22] Now, when we talked about their...

[00:15:26] When we had their around-the-arc situation, the Southeast Division, we talked about Wagner's growth and how the three-point shooting was escalating up and it was on the upward tick.

[00:15:41] And what we talked about at that point in time was we wondered if he lost confidence when Paulo took that leap last year.

[00:15:49] And now there's things that are coming out that maybe there was something to that.

[00:15:54] Listen, I'm not trying to toot my own horn.

[00:15:57] What I'm trying to do is give you insight to make sure you're looking at the things that I'm seeing.

[00:16:03] And so then we can make a determination of what's going on.

[00:16:08] But the reason why I bring that up is because this is such a critical phase for Franz in his development.

[00:16:18] And what I mean by that is that he has a little more runway now to extend his confidence, extend the playmaking, extend the parameters of his game.

[00:16:31] Because guess what?

[00:16:34] When Paulo comes back, he's going to have to shift back to that number two role.

[00:16:38] Now, the more he extends his game now, the better it is for his confidence level and what he feels he'll be able to do surrounding Paulo Bencaro.

[00:16:55] And if he gets enough confidence, he might look at himself as an equal.

[00:17:00] And then Orlando, it becomes scary season.

[00:17:05] If you can get Franz to the level in six weeks and then Jamal Mosley says when Paulo Bencaro is rumored to come back.

[00:17:16] He just whiskers in Franz's ears and says, hey, big fella.

[00:17:21] You're equally as important.

[00:17:23] You guys are going to split the shots.

[00:17:26] This is kind of what goes on in Boston.

[00:17:29] Jason Tatum, Jalen Brown.

[00:17:32] Tell me who does not want to emulate that kind of success with some mid-20s, big wing, playmaking, play on ball initiating skills to have the ability to shoot from the outside and also post you up.

[00:17:52] Tell me who does not want to sign up for that.

[00:17:56] I want to sign up for that.

[00:17:58] I'm here for it.

[00:18:00] So Orlando, we love you.

[00:18:03] We're giving you love.

[00:18:05] Shouts out to Franz.

[00:18:07] This is the leap that I thought he was going to take last year.

[00:18:10] Got a little scared.

[00:18:12] I even maybe whiskered the name Josh Giddey for a second.

[00:18:17] But I always had faith that Franz would bounce back.

[00:18:22] And now he is.

[00:18:23] Let us know on Twitter or on Blue Sky.

[00:18:28] At Frontrunner PC.

[00:18:30] Do you think Franz is an all-star?

[00:18:33] Will he make an all-star team this year?

[00:18:35] Let us know.

[00:18:36] We give you love, Orlando.

[00:18:39] And we expect love back.

[00:18:42] Hit us up on Twitter.

[00:18:44] We will put this on the YouTube community page.

[00:18:48] Will Franz make an all-star team this season?

[00:18:53] To our series.

[00:18:56] Of Around the Arc.

[00:18:58] Pacific Division style.

[00:19:00] We're going to spotlight the Pacific Division.

[00:19:03] We're going to be talking about all the teams in the La La.

[00:19:08] We're going to talk about that team in the Valley of the Sun.

[00:19:13] We're going to talk about the team that's next to that Golden Gate Bridge.

[00:19:18] And then we're going to talk about that team that hails from the actual capital of California.

[00:19:25] Sacramento.

[00:19:26] Buckle up.

[00:19:27] It's the Pacific Division.

[00:19:29] You know what it is here.

[00:19:30] I'm a Laker fan.

[00:19:32] I'm not going to sit here and lie to you.

[00:19:34] Now, I do put my analytic hat on.

[00:19:37] I'm not a purple and gold glasses tint guy.

[00:19:44] So, we're going to give you the real here.

[00:19:47] So, buckle up.

[00:19:48] All right.

[00:19:49] Let's start with Golden State.

[00:19:51] They're 11-3.

[00:19:53] They're firing on all cylinders at this point in time.

[00:19:56] But there's an injury situation that we need to get to.

[00:20:00] Then you got the Lakers at 10-5 at this point.

[00:20:06] They just lost to Orlando, which we just talked about.

[00:20:09] It was a gut-wrenching loss to Orlando.

[00:20:14] The 3 by Wagner was bad enough.

[00:20:17] And then AD got a look at the end of the game.

[00:20:19] And it didn't even hit rim.

[00:20:22] It was a tough look for my guy.

[00:20:26] After that, you got the Phoenix Suns at 9-7.

[00:20:29] You got the Clippers also at 9-7.

[00:20:34] And then you got the Kings at 8-7.

[00:20:39] So, it is a half-Pacific division at this point in time.

[00:20:44] With the Warriors on top.

[00:20:47] Which is cool.

[00:20:48] And we will get to them.

[00:20:50] Before we get to them,

[00:20:54] our stat siren,

[00:20:57] Soraya

[00:20:58] has an interesting stat for us.

[00:21:01] Soraya,

[00:21:03] break it down.

[00:21:05] Let's talk trends, Vince.

[00:21:07] The Warriors' plus 10.2 net rating shows their dominance,

[00:21:11] while the Suns' negative 2.5 net rating

[00:21:14] highlights their struggles without Kevin Durant.

[00:21:17] Meanwhile, the Clippers are third worst in turnovers,

[00:21:19] and the Kings ranked 24th in three-point shooting.

[00:21:23] Those numbers tell a story.

[00:21:25] Join the conversation on Twitter at

[00:21:27] atfrontrunnerpc

[00:21:28] or follow me at

[00:21:30] rayafunchfrpc.

[00:21:31] Don't forget to check out our YouTube channel

[00:21:33] for exclusive content,

[00:21:35] Frontrunner Podcast Collective.

[00:21:37] Let's get into it.

[00:21:39] Yep.

[00:21:40] Yeah,

[00:21:40] we're going to get into all of that.

[00:21:43] I love the stat about Kevin Durant.

[00:21:46] So,

[00:21:47] I can't wait to talk about that.

[00:21:49] But we're going to start with the Golden State Warriors

[00:21:50] because they're on top of the division.

[00:21:54] So,

[00:21:55] let's show the Warriors some love.

[00:21:57] First of all,

[00:21:58] I want to highlight a young man who has stepped up

[00:22:01] and because of the

[00:22:05] incredibly heartbreaking injury

[00:22:07] to DeAnthony Melton

[00:22:09] who has an ACL injury.

[00:22:12] He will be out for the season.

[00:22:14] Draymond Green spoke

[00:22:17] about DeAnthony Melton

[00:22:19] and talked about how he had left his impact.

[00:22:22] He had left an indelible mark on that team

[00:22:24] and he hopes that

[00:22:25] even though he's a free agent next year

[00:22:28] that he would consider

[00:22:29] coming back to Golden State.

[00:22:31] Here's a guy who is an all-world defensive player

[00:22:35] talking about the wares,

[00:22:37] of one DeAnthony Melton.

[00:22:40] So,

[00:22:40] that tells you about the crucial loss

[00:22:42] that DeAnthony Melton is.

[00:22:46] Now,

[00:22:48] Lindy Walters III has stepped up though.

[00:22:52] Now,

[00:22:53] if you don't know the name,

[00:22:55] check this out.

[00:22:57] He was on OKC's

[00:23:00] G League team.

[00:23:01] He got a little run

[00:23:02] when they were,

[00:23:04] okay,

[00:23:04] we got to

[00:23:05] shut down

[00:23:06] SGA

[00:23:07] a couple years ago.

[00:23:09] He's done a little bouncing around,

[00:23:11] but

[00:23:11] he was primarily with

[00:23:13] OKC and the G League team.

[00:23:16] Lindy Walters is like 6'4".

[00:23:18] He shoots the ball.

[00:23:20] He's been in that OKC system.

[00:23:23] A role is something that he can fall right into.

[00:23:26] And it looks like he has.

[00:23:28] He's shooting the ball incredibly well.

[00:23:31] He's had a couple games where he's had some spurts

[00:23:35] where it propelled the Golden State Warriors to victory.

[00:23:39] Kudos to the Golden State Warriors

[00:23:41] and their advanced scouting staff,

[00:23:44] their pro scouting staff

[00:23:46] for,

[00:23:48] in a sense,

[00:23:49] picking up a piece that

[00:23:51] was available

[00:23:53] because OKC has way too many dudes

[00:23:58] and

[00:23:59] recognizing the talent

[00:24:01] and being able to utilize talent.

[00:24:04] Now,

[00:24:05] here's an advanced stat.

[00:24:08] Their 69.5

[00:24:10] free throw percentage

[00:24:11] is the worst

[00:24:12] among winning teams

[00:24:13] and it could cost them

[00:24:16] in tight games

[00:24:17] later on.

[00:24:17] But here's the thing.

[00:24:19] They're a jump shooting team.

[00:24:23] You got Steph.

[00:24:24] You have

[00:24:25] Buddy Hill.

[00:24:27] Lindy Waters

[00:24:28] shoots the J.

[00:24:30] Our guy,

[00:24:31] Andrew Wiggins,

[00:24:32] has bounced back

[00:24:33] from the dead.

[00:24:34] He's shooting about 39%,

[00:24:35] which is about as good

[00:24:37] as he's going to get.

[00:24:39] So,

[00:24:39] they're shooting the ball.

[00:24:41] So,

[00:24:41] the people who are primarily

[00:24:43] handling the ball,

[00:24:44] oh,

[00:24:44] and I,

[00:24:45] Pazinski is struggling.

[00:24:47] We'll get to him

[00:24:47] a little bit later.

[00:24:49] But,

[00:24:50] they have good shooters

[00:24:51] on that team

[00:24:52] and they're confident

[00:24:53] shooters

[00:24:54] and right now

[00:24:55] they're playing

[00:24:56] with,

[00:24:56] in such a flow state

[00:24:59] that it's just

[00:25:00] organically,

[00:25:01] the ball is moving,

[00:25:03] it's finding energy.

[00:25:05] These are things,

[00:25:06] these are buzzwords

[00:25:07] that Steve Kerr

[00:25:08] likes to use.

[00:25:10] So,

[00:25:10] they're playing

[00:25:11] his style of basketball.

[00:25:12] You're seeing a bunch

[00:25:13] of movement.

[00:25:14] It's beautiful to watch.

[00:25:16] They're sharing the sugar

[00:25:18] and now

[00:25:19] you got this situation

[00:25:21] where

[00:25:21] they're 11-3.

[00:25:23] The

[00:25:24] DeAnthony Milton

[00:25:25] situation,

[00:25:25] though,

[00:25:26] is a huge loss.

[00:25:27] So,

[00:25:28] I do not want to

[00:25:29] downplay that

[00:25:30] whatsoever.

[00:25:32] we will see

[00:25:33] what the defensive

[00:25:35] point of attack

[00:25:36] defense looks like

[00:25:37] for Golden State

[00:25:37] now

[00:25:39] without

[00:25:39] DeAnthony Melton

[00:25:42] who is also

[00:25:43] part of that

[00:25:43] space,

[00:25:44] that pace and space

[00:25:45] play that they were

[00:25:46] doing

[00:25:46] because he shoots

[00:25:48] the ball

[00:25:48] very well

[00:25:49] from three as well.

[00:25:51] It will be

[00:25:52] interesting to see

[00:25:54] will they put

[00:25:55] Steph

[00:25:55] and make him

[00:25:57] the point of attack

[00:25:58] defender

[00:25:59] because that's

[00:26:00] what

[00:26:00] DeAnthony Melton's

[00:26:01] job was

[00:26:02] when he was there.

[00:26:04] So,

[00:26:05] I'm interested to see

[00:26:06] what the lineup

[00:26:07] changes

[00:26:07] and how

[00:26:08] it changes

[00:26:09] going forward

[00:26:11] and who

[00:26:12] actually matures

[00:26:13] into that spot.

[00:26:14] I think

[00:26:15] Posinski

[00:26:16] is there now.

[00:26:18] We will see

[00:26:19] how that

[00:26:20] goes.

[00:26:22] Will they have

[00:26:23] to go bigger

[00:26:24] to make it all

[00:26:25] work?

[00:26:27] We will see.

[00:26:29] Now,

[00:26:30] let's get to

[00:26:31] the Suns real quick

[00:26:32] because Soraya's

[00:26:34] stat was really

[00:26:35] interesting about

[00:26:35] their net rating.

[00:26:38] Kevin Durant's

[00:26:39] absence has led

[00:26:40] to a 1-6

[00:26:41] record

[00:26:42] emphasizing his

[00:26:43] value

[00:26:44] to the team.

[00:26:45] Here's the

[00:26:46] advanced stat.

[00:26:48] Devin Booker's

[00:26:49] true shooting

[00:26:50] percentage

[00:26:50] is

[00:26:52] 58%.

[00:26:54] Now,

[00:26:54] here's the thing.

[00:26:55] It was lower

[00:26:56] than that

[00:26:57] about two

[00:26:58] weeks ago.

[00:26:58] I want to say

[00:26:59] it was hovering

[00:27:00] around 52%.

[00:27:01] So,

[00:27:02] in the absence

[00:27:03] of Kevin Durant,

[00:27:05] Devin Booker,

[00:27:06] who is an

[00:27:06] absolute superstar,

[00:27:08] who is a guy

[00:27:09] who can carry

[00:27:10] the water

[00:27:10] for a team,

[00:27:12] has done

[00:27:13] what you're

[00:27:14] supposed to do.

[00:27:15] If you're a

[00:27:16] max player,

[00:27:17] you step up

[00:27:18] and be a

[00:27:19] max player.

[00:27:22] I know it's

[00:27:23] hard,

[00:27:24] Philadelphia fans.

[00:27:26] I know you

[00:27:27] want that guy

[00:27:28] to step up

[00:27:29] for you,

[00:27:30] and he's

[00:27:30] not going to

[00:27:31] be able to,

[00:27:32] but Devin

[00:27:33] Booker

[00:27:34] is that guy.

[00:27:35] So,

[00:27:36] he's gone

[00:27:36] from 52%

[00:27:38] true shooting

[00:27:39] percentage to

[00:27:40] 58% in two

[00:27:41] weeks in the

[00:27:43] time that

[00:27:44] Kevin Durant

[00:27:44] was lost.

[00:27:45] Now,

[00:27:46] you know

[00:27:46] that Devin

[00:27:47] Booker

[00:27:47] was going

[00:27:49] to get

[00:27:49] the toughest

[00:27:50] defensive

[00:27:52] assignment.

[00:27:53] You realize

[00:27:54] that

[00:27:56] without Kevin

[00:27:57] Durant,

[00:27:58] that the

[00:27:59] offense for

[00:28:00] the Phoenix

[00:28:01] Suns was

[00:28:01] going to run

[00:28:02] through Devin

[00:28:03] Booker.

[00:28:03] Thank God

[00:28:04] they have

[00:28:05] Titus Jones

[00:28:05] now,

[00:28:06] who is an

[00:28:07] incredible

[00:28:08] point guard,

[00:28:09] who is

[00:28:10] continuing to

[00:28:11] value the

[00:28:11] basketball,

[00:28:12] I would say.

[00:28:14] And we'll

[00:28:15] get to that

[00:28:15] stat later.

[00:28:17] Soraya will

[00:28:18] have it.

[00:28:19] But I am

[00:28:20] really,

[00:28:22] I just love

[00:28:23] Devin Booker.

[00:28:24] I love his

[00:28:25] game.

[00:28:26] Now,

[00:28:26] it hasn't

[00:28:27] equated to

[00:28:28] wins,

[00:28:30] but at

[00:28:30] least Devin

[00:28:31] Booker,

[00:28:32] when Kevin

[00:28:33] Durant comes

[00:28:34] back,

[00:28:35] and he will

[00:28:35] be coming

[00:28:36] back very

[00:28:36] shortly,

[00:28:37] and we'll

[00:28:37] talk about

[00:28:38] that a little

[00:28:38] bit later.

[00:28:40] But,

[00:28:41] what will

[00:28:41] happen is

[00:28:43] that you

[00:28:43] got De

[00:28:44] Book

[00:28:44] back.

[00:28:45] in Phoenix.

[00:28:47] Let's

[00:28:48] move on

[00:28:48] to the

[00:28:48] Clippers

[00:28:49] real quick.

[00:28:50] The

[00:28:50] Clippers,

[00:28:51] right now

[00:28:52] the reliance

[00:28:53] on veterans

[00:28:54] like James

[00:28:55] Harton versus

[00:28:56] limited

[00:28:57] opportunities for

[00:28:58] the young

[00:28:58] talent such

[00:28:59] as Jordan

[00:29:00] Miller and

[00:29:01] others could

[00:29:03] be a little

[00:29:03] concerning,

[00:29:04] but here's

[00:29:05] the thing.

[00:29:05] Norm Powell,

[00:29:07] Amir

[00:29:07] Coffey,

[00:29:08] Terrence

[00:29:09] Mann,

[00:29:11] those are

[00:29:12] the development

[00:29:12] stories,

[00:29:13] Terrence Mann,

[00:29:14] Amir

[00:29:14] Coffey.

[00:29:16] Those guys

[00:29:17] were in

[00:29:18] the G

[00:29:19] League,

[00:29:20] grinded,

[00:29:21] got to

[00:29:21] the league,

[00:29:22] and now

[00:29:23] playing valuable

[00:29:24] minutes for

[00:29:25] a surprising

[00:29:27] Clippers team

[00:29:28] who is

[00:29:28] feisty.

[00:29:30] So a

[00:29:31] credit to

[00:29:31] Ty

[00:29:31] Lou because

[00:29:32] we talk

[00:29:34] about his

[00:29:34] coaching

[00:29:35] acumen all

[00:29:36] the time

[00:29:38] and we

[00:29:39] just haven't

[00:29:40] even really

[00:29:41] seen him

[00:29:42] with a

[00:29:43] full-fledged

[00:29:44] Clipper team

[00:29:44] and this

[00:29:46] year is no

[00:29:47] different

[00:29:47] because Kawhi

[00:29:48] is nowhere

[00:29:49] to be found

[00:29:50] yet again.

[00:29:53] But we

[00:29:54] digress.

[00:29:56] Here's an

[00:29:57] advanced stat

[00:29:58] for you.

[00:29:58] Despite their

[00:29:59] struggles,

[00:30:00] their fourth

[00:30:01] ranked defense

[00:30:02] has kept

[00:30:03] them in

[00:30:03] games.

[00:30:06] It's been

[00:30:06] Zouac is a

[00:30:08] good anchor

[00:30:09] on the

[00:30:09] defensive end.

[00:30:11] They've

[00:30:12] gotten a

[00:30:13] lot of

[00:30:13] contributors

[00:30:14] and Norm

[00:30:15] Powell has

[00:30:15] been

[00:30:16] incredible

[00:30:17] this year.

[00:30:18] The

[00:30:18] production

[00:30:19] that they

[00:30:19] lost with

[00:30:20] Paul

[00:30:20] George,

[00:30:22] Norm

[00:30:23] Powell has

[00:30:23] stuffed up

[00:30:24] his game

[00:30:24] to the

[00:30:25] point

[00:30:25] where he's

[00:30:26] eaten into

[00:30:26] some of

[00:30:27] that

[00:30:27] production

[00:30:27] so that

[00:30:28] loss

[00:30:29] hasn't

[00:30:29] really been

[00:30:29] felt.

[00:30:30] And then

[00:30:31] when you

[00:30:32] compile the

[00:30:33] young guys

[00:30:33] on top

[00:30:34] of it,

[00:30:35] the

[00:30:35] Amir

[00:30:35] Coffees

[00:30:36] of the

[00:30:36] world,

[00:30:37] the

[00:30:40] Terrence

[00:30:40] Manns

[00:30:41] of the

[00:30:41] world,

[00:30:41] when you

[00:30:42] put them

[00:30:43] on top

[00:30:43] of that,

[00:30:45] this is

[00:30:45] why the

[00:30:45] Clippers

[00:30:46] are hanging

[00:30:46] tough right

[00:30:47] now in

[00:30:48] the Pacific

[00:30:49] Division.

[00:30:51] So we

[00:30:51] are going

[00:30:52] to move

[00:30:52] along to

[00:30:54] the

[00:30:55] Sacramento

[00:30:56] Kings.

[00:30:57] Now,

[00:30:58] obviously

[00:30:58] this week

[00:30:59] or within

[00:31:00] this last

[00:31:00] week,

[00:31:01] we saw

[00:31:01] De'Aaron Fox

[00:31:02] go off

[00:31:02] for a

[00:31:03] 60-point

[00:31:04] game and

[00:31:04] a 49-point

[00:31:05] game.

[00:31:07] I love

[00:31:08] that Sacramento's

[00:31:09] record in that

[00:31:10] was 1-1

[00:31:11] and the

[00:31:12] 60-point

[00:31:13] game is the

[00:31:14] one they

[00:31:14] lost.

[00:31:17] Now,

[00:31:19] what this

[00:31:20] highlights is

[00:31:20] that some

[00:31:22] dudes on

[00:31:23] that team

[00:31:23] need to

[00:31:23] step up.

[00:31:24] Now,

[00:31:24] DeMar DeRozan

[00:31:25] has been

[00:31:25] hurt.

[00:31:26] He's coming

[00:31:26] back.

[00:31:27] I think

[00:31:27] he's back

[00:31:28] very shortly.

[00:31:29] I think

[00:31:29] the next

[00:31:30] game,

[00:31:30] he is

[00:31:31] back.

[00:31:33] But

[00:31:36] Kevin

[00:31:36] Herter

[00:31:39] is no

[00:31:40] longer the

[00:31:40] guy that

[00:31:41] he was in

[00:31:42] Atlanta.

[00:31:44] And

[00:31:45] low-key,

[00:31:46] the guy

[00:31:47] who also

[00:31:48] has taken

[00:31:48] a step

[00:31:49] back,

[00:31:50] Keegan

[00:31:51] Murray.

[00:31:52] Look at

[00:31:53] the three-point

[00:31:54] stats for

[00:31:54] Keegan

[00:31:54] Murray right

[00:31:55] now.

[00:31:55] He's below,

[00:31:56] he's sub-30

[00:31:58] at this

[00:31:59] point in

[00:31:59] time.

[00:32:01] That is

[00:32:02] not great

[00:32:02] for the

[00:32:03] what,

[00:32:04] the

[00:32:04] like the

[00:32:05] beam team.

[00:32:09] Mike Brown

[00:32:10] has some

[00:32:10] work to

[00:32:11] do,

[00:32:11] but

[00:32:12] DeMar DeRozan

[00:32:13] comes back

[00:32:14] and he

[00:32:14] basically

[00:32:16] cosmetically

[00:32:16] fixes a

[00:32:18] lot that

[00:32:19] ails

[00:32:19] Sacramento.

[00:32:21] Here is

[00:32:22] another

[00:32:22] consistent

[00:32:23] point

[00:32:24] producer

[00:32:25] that will

[00:32:26] take a

[00:32:26] lot of

[00:32:27] stress off

[00:32:27] of

[00:32:28] Dearon

[00:32:28] Fox

[00:32:28] and also

[00:32:30] then

[00:32:30] allows

[00:32:31] Sabonis to

[00:32:32] fall into

[00:32:33] his tertiary

[00:32:34] role where

[00:32:35] he's more

[00:32:36] comfortable,

[00:32:38] he can be

[00:32:39] more productive

[00:32:40] in that

[00:32:40] role,

[00:32:40] he can be

[00:32:41] more impactful

[00:32:42] as a rebounder

[00:32:43] in that

[00:32:43] role.

[00:32:44] So,

[00:32:44] these things

[00:32:45] in a sense

[00:32:46] settle themselves

[00:32:47] and everybody

[00:32:48] can get

[00:32:48] slotted back

[00:32:49] into their

[00:32:49] role and

[00:32:50] hopefully you

[00:32:51] will start

[00:32:51] to see

[00:32:52] the improvements

[00:32:53] of one

[00:32:54] King and

[00:32:55] Murray.

[00:32:55] That's one

[00:32:56] guy that

[00:32:57] needs to

[00:32:57] absolutely

[00:32:58] be better

[00:32:59] if the

[00:33:00] Sacramento

[00:33:01] Kings are

[00:33:01] going to

[00:33:01] make any

[00:33:02] kind of

[00:33:02] run in

[00:33:04] the Western

[00:33:04] Conference.

[00:33:06] Now,

[00:33:06] here's the

[00:33:07] advanced stat

[00:33:07] for you.

[00:33:08] Their

[00:33:09] assist to

[00:33:09] turnover

[00:33:10] ratio

[00:33:11] is 1.55

[00:33:13] were ranked

[00:33:15] in the

[00:33:15] middle of

[00:33:16] the pack

[00:33:16] but it

[00:33:17] needs

[00:33:17] improvement.

[00:33:19] They're

[00:33:19] sloppy with

[00:33:20] the wall,

[00:33:21] no doubt.

[00:33:22] Some of

[00:33:22] this is

[00:33:23] going to be

[00:33:23] with the

[00:33:26] bringing in

[00:33:27] the addition

[00:33:27] of DeMar DeRozan.

[00:33:29] Now,

[00:33:30] you say

[00:33:30] DeMar DeRozan's

[00:33:32] plug and

[00:33:32] play.

[00:33:33] I would

[00:33:34] consider that

[00:33:35] true.

[00:33:36] The problem

[00:33:37] is that

[00:33:38] you still

[00:33:39] got to know

[00:33:39] certain spots

[00:33:40] that guys

[00:33:41] like.

[00:33:42] You got to

[00:33:43] know,

[00:33:44] okay,

[00:33:45] when he gives

[00:33:45] you the thing,

[00:33:46] when he gives

[00:33:46] you the one

[00:33:47] up,

[00:33:48] that could

[00:33:49] mean a lofted

[00:33:50] up or it

[00:33:51] could mean

[00:33:51] a harder

[00:33:52] pass or

[00:33:53] whatever the

[00:33:53] case can be.

[00:33:54] So you got to

[00:33:54] know those

[00:33:55] things,

[00:33:55] those little

[00:33:55] nuances that

[00:33:57] you're just

[00:33:58] like a half

[00:33:59] a second

[00:33:59] off.

[00:34:00] Now,

[00:34:02] with time,

[00:34:03] with reps,

[00:34:05] with continuity

[00:34:06] that comes

[00:34:07] along,

[00:34:08] DeRozan

[00:34:09] with DeMar DeRozan

[00:34:10] being out

[00:34:11] and DeRozan

[00:34:12] Fox having

[00:34:12] to run the

[00:34:13] offense and

[00:34:14] do whatever,

[00:34:16] they're going to

[00:34:16] have to rebuild

[00:34:17] that continuity.

[00:34:18] So this

[00:34:20] might stay

[00:34:20] around for a

[00:34:21] second.

[00:34:22] They might be

[00:34:23] a high volume

[00:34:24] turnover

[00:34:25] team for a

[00:34:25] little while

[00:34:26] and stay

[00:34:26] mid-pack.

[00:34:28] But I do

[00:34:29] believe that

[00:34:30] at the end

[00:34:31] of the day,

[00:34:32] De'Aaron Fox,

[00:34:33] DeMar DeRozan

[00:34:34] and DeMontis

[00:34:35] Sabonis will

[00:34:36] figure it out.

[00:34:37] Triple D

[00:34:38] will get it

[00:34:39] done.

[00:34:42] We did not

[00:34:43] forget about

[00:34:43] the Lakers.

[00:34:45] No.

[00:34:47] The Lakers

[00:34:49] are playing

[00:34:50] very well.

[00:34:51] We talked

[00:34:52] about the

[00:34:52] Dalton

[00:34:53] Connect game

[00:34:54] in our

[00:34:54] last pod.

[00:34:55] Anthony

[00:34:56] Davis is

[00:34:57] MVP

[00:34:58] candidate.

[00:34:59] He scored

[00:35:00] 39 points

[00:35:01] last night

[00:35:02] and a

[00:35:02] loss

[00:35:02] 119-118

[00:35:04] to Orlando.

[00:35:05] But

[00:35:05] the dude

[00:35:06] is playing

[00:35:07] great.

[00:35:08] Great

[00:35:09] basketball.

[00:35:10] He's the

[00:35:10] number one

[00:35:11] option for

[00:35:12] the Lakers

[00:35:13] now.

[00:35:13] Hallelujah.

[00:35:14] Thank God.

[00:35:14] good.

[00:35:15] But they

[00:35:16] still have

[00:35:17] injuries.

[00:35:17] We haven't

[00:35:18] seen Jerry

[00:35:19] Vanderbilt

[00:35:19] all season.

[00:35:21] Christian

[00:35:21] Wood looks

[00:35:22] like he

[00:35:23] is absolutely

[00:35:25] going to be

[00:35:26] out for

[00:35:26] quite some

[00:35:27] time.

[00:35:28] Here's the

[00:35:29] advance

[00:35:29] stat for

[00:35:30] you for

[00:35:30] the Lakers.

[00:35:31] Despite

[00:35:32] their struggles,

[00:35:33] they're

[00:35:33] sixth in

[00:35:33] offensive

[00:35:34] rating,

[00:35:35] but they're

[00:35:35] only 24th in

[00:35:36] defensive

[00:35:37] rating.

[00:35:37] now here's

[00:35:38] the thing.

[00:35:40] That 24,

[00:35:41] they were

[00:35:42] 28th like

[00:35:44] a couple

[00:35:44] days ago.

[00:35:45] I want to

[00:35:46] say before

[00:35:47] the last two

[00:35:48] games,

[00:35:49] they were

[00:35:49] 28th

[00:35:51] because they

[00:35:52] had horrific

[00:35:53] performances on

[00:35:54] the road.

[00:35:56] But they

[00:35:57] settled down a

[00:35:58] little bit.

[00:35:59] I think people

[00:35:59] are starting to

[00:36:00] figure out their

[00:36:00] role.

[00:36:02] Dalton Connect

[00:36:02] is in the

[00:36:03] starting lineup

[00:36:03] right now.

[00:36:04] I don't

[00:36:06] I from

[00:36:07] what I

[00:36:07] gather from

[00:36:08] what JJ

[00:36:08] said,

[00:36:09] he's not

[00:36:10] going to

[00:36:10] start,

[00:36:11] but he is

[00:36:12] going to

[00:36:12] have a

[00:36:13] significant

[00:36:13] role off

[00:36:14] the bench.

[00:36:15] He will

[00:36:15] be playing

[00:36:16] 22 plus

[00:36:17] every single

[00:36:19] night because

[00:36:20] they have to

[00:36:20] have that

[00:36:20] shooting.

[00:36:22] He is the

[00:36:23] only one that

[00:36:24] can provide

[00:36:25] that type of

[00:36:26] shooting,

[00:36:26] the off

[00:36:27] platform.

[00:36:28] I can get

[00:36:29] hot.

[00:36:29] I can hit

[00:36:30] four threes

[00:36:31] in a span

[00:36:32] of three minutes

[00:36:33] and we're

[00:36:35] back in a

[00:36:35] game where

[00:36:36] we've extended

[00:36:36] our lead.

[00:36:37] He's the

[00:36:38] guy for

[00:36:38] that.

[00:36:40] So more

[00:36:41] that the

[00:36:41] Lakers are

[00:36:42] doing very

[00:36:42] well.

[00:36:43] The only

[00:36:43] thing about

[00:36:44] it is I

[00:36:44] still think

[00:36:45] they need

[00:36:47] one more

[00:36:48] move,

[00:36:49] one more

[00:36:50] move.

[00:36:53] Now

[00:36:55] to button

[00:36:55] up the

[00:36:56] Pacific

[00:36:56] division,

[00:36:57] we have

[00:36:57] our

[00:36:58] front runner

[00:36:59] takeaways

[00:37:01] in the front

[00:37:02] runner

[00:37:02] takeaways for

[00:37:03] the Pacific

[00:37:04] division.

[00:37:04] while the

[00:37:05] Warriors are

[00:37:06] leading the

[00:37:06] pack,

[00:37:07] the Suns'

[00:37:08] success depends

[00:37:09] on their

[00:37:09] health.

[00:37:10] Obviously,

[00:37:11] Kevin Durant

[00:37:12] coming back

[00:37:12] in the next

[00:37:13] couple games,

[00:37:14] we know that

[00:37:15] is just going

[00:37:16] to improve

[00:37:16] that team

[00:37:17] and slot

[00:37:18] everybody

[00:37:18] down to

[00:37:19] their normal

[00:37:20] level.

[00:37:21] So,

[00:37:21] Devin Booker

[00:37:22] will not have

[00:37:23] to do as

[00:37:24] much as

[00:37:25] what he's

[00:37:25] doing.

[00:37:26] But the

[00:37:27] efficiency is

[00:37:28] back,

[00:37:28] which is

[00:37:29] good.

[00:37:33] the Clippers

[00:37:34] must address

[00:37:35] their turnover

[00:37:36] issues.

[00:37:38] Again,

[00:37:40] this is a

[00:37:41] team that

[00:37:41] is going to

[00:37:42] struggle.

[00:37:42] It's trying

[00:37:43] to find its

[00:37:44] identity.

[00:37:45] It's running

[00:37:46] through James

[00:37:47] Harden.

[00:37:48] Oh,

[00:37:48] it's going to

[00:37:48] have a lot

[00:37:49] of bunch of

[00:37:49] alley-oops

[00:37:50] and everybody

[00:37:51] who is

[00:37:52] standing around

[00:37:53] the three-point

[00:37:54] line is going

[00:37:55] to have to

[00:37:56] just stand

[00:37:56] there and

[00:37:58] be ready to

[00:37:58] shoot.

[00:38:01] Know the

[00:38:02] assignment,

[00:38:02] gentlemen.

[00:38:03] Know the

[00:38:04] assignment.

[00:38:06] And then the

[00:38:07] Kings,

[00:38:07] I'm going to

[00:38:07] tell you right

[00:38:08] now,

[00:38:08] what they're

[00:38:08] going to

[00:38:09] have to

[00:38:09] do is

[00:38:09] they're

[00:38:10] going to

[00:38:10] start

[00:38:10] playing

[00:38:10] with some

[00:38:11] pace.

[00:38:12] They're

[00:38:12] going to

[00:38:12] have to

[00:38:13] get that

[00:38:13] pace up

[00:38:14] again.

[00:38:15] They used

[00:38:15] to be able

[00:38:16] to tire

[00:38:16] teams out

[00:38:17] towards the

[00:38:17] end of the

[00:38:18] fourth quarter

[00:38:19] and then

[00:38:19] De'Aaron Fox

[00:38:20] used to have

[00:38:21] his way

[00:38:21] with his

[00:38:23] athleticism,

[00:38:23] his skill

[00:38:24] and his

[00:38:25] speed

[00:38:26] and his

[00:38:27] ability to

[00:38:27] stop on a

[00:38:28] dime and hit

[00:38:29] that eight-foot

[00:38:29] floater or

[00:38:30] eight-foot

[00:38:31] little jumper

[00:38:31] that he

[00:38:32] hit.

[00:38:33] So they're

[00:38:34] going to

[00:38:34] have to

[00:38:34] start playing

[00:38:35] with pace

[00:38:35] again.

[00:38:38] The other

[00:38:38] thing is

[00:38:39] Keegan

[00:38:39] Murray's

[00:38:39] going to

[00:38:40] have to

[00:38:40] show up

[00:38:40] too.

[00:38:41] He's

[00:38:41] going to

[00:38:42] have to

[00:38:42] put his

[00:38:43] big boy

[00:38:43] pants

[00:38:44] on and

[00:38:45] give them

[00:38:46] more than

[00:38:47] what he is

[00:38:48] giving them

[00:38:48] right now.

[00:38:50] And then

[00:38:51] last but not

[00:38:51] least,

[00:38:52] the Lakers

[00:38:53] need more.

[00:38:55] They need

[00:38:55] more of

[00:38:56] something.

[00:38:57] There's a

[00:38:58] couple ways

[00:38:58] to go.

[00:38:59] I've heard

[00:38:59] the rumors

[00:39:00] about

[00:39:00] Adna

[00:39:01] center.

[00:39:02] I don't

[00:39:02] think that's

[00:39:03] a bad

[00:39:03] idea because

[00:39:04] Anthony

[00:39:05] Davis is

[00:39:05] such a

[00:39:06] freak when

[00:39:07] it comes to

[00:39:08] being able to

[00:39:08] switch on the

[00:39:09] perimeter so

[00:39:10] you don't lose a

[00:39:11] lot of defense

[00:39:11] that way.

[00:39:13] And also him

[00:39:14] being a weak

[00:39:15] side rim

[00:39:16] protector would

[00:39:17] be awesome.

[00:39:19] There's a big

[00:39:21] wing to

[00:39:22] Fitzsville as

[00:39:23] well.

[00:39:24] Somebody who

[00:39:24] can eat up

[00:39:25] some of those

[00:39:26] minutes when

[00:39:28] Rui's not

[00:39:28] there.

[00:39:30] Or

[00:39:30] diversify

[00:39:31] Rui where

[00:39:32] Rui's not

[00:39:33] real good on

[00:39:34] the perimeter

[00:39:35] as far as

[00:39:36] switching like

[00:39:37] he can handle

[00:39:38] his guy.

[00:39:40] But

[00:39:40] switching on to

[00:39:41] other dudes is

[00:39:42] not his like

[00:39:43] real strength.

[00:39:45] So a switchable

[00:39:46] wing would be

[00:39:47] great as well.

[00:39:48] I'm not

[00:39:49] pigeonholed to

[00:39:50] anything.

[00:39:51] But the

[00:39:52] Lakers do need

[00:39:53] something.

[00:39:53] We're going

[00:39:54] to move on

[00:39:55] to a couple

[00:39:57] of things I

[00:39:57] want to get

[00:39:58] to about

[00:39:59] what I see

[00:40:01] coming out

[00:40:02] of the West

[00:40:03] and specifically

[00:40:04] when it

[00:40:05] involves the

[00:40:06] Pacific Division

[00:40:07] because the

[00:40:09] Pacific Division

[00:40:09] has something

[00:40:10] that no other

[00:40:11] division has.

[00:40:13] They have the

[00:40:14] old guard.

[00:40:16] And what I

[00:40:17] mean by that

[00:40:17] is that you

[00:40:18] have Steph.

[00:40:19] If you want

[00:40:20] to throw

[00:40:20] great Draymond

[00:40:22] Green in there

[00:40:22] with him.

[00:40:23] But we're

[00:40:24] talking about

[00:40:24] the luminaries

[00:40:25] of the sport

[00:40:26] now.

[00:40:26] So we're

[00:40:27] talking about

[00:40:27] Steph,

[00:40:29] KD,

[00:40:30] and LeBron.

[00:40:32] And I

[00:40:32] find it

[00:40:33] very interesting

[00:40:34] that the

[00:40:36] teams on

[00:40:37] top of the

[00:40:37] West are

[00:40:38] those three

[00:40:39] teams and

[00:40:40] it's the

[00:40:41] old guard.

[00:40:42] What does

[00:40:43] this say

[00:40:43] about Sacramento?

[00:40:46] What does

[00:40:46] this say

[00:40:47] about the

[00:40:47] Clippers

[00:40:48] just hurt

[00:40:50] and lost

[00:40:51] players to

[00:40:52] free agents

[00:40:53] seeing things

[00:40:53] of that

[00:40:54] nature?

[00:40:54] But I

[00:40:55] just do

[00:40:55] find it

[00:40:56] interesting

[00:40:56] that Curry

[00:40:58] 35,

[00:40:59] 36,

[00:41:01] KD

[00:41:01] 36,

[00:41:04] LeBron

[00:41:05] 39 about

[00:41:06] to turn

[00:41:06] 40 at the

[00:41:08] end of

[00:41:08] December.

[00:41:09] I just

[00:41:10] find it

[00:41:11] very interesting

[00:41:12] that those

[00:41:13] are the

[00:41:13] three guys

[00:41:14] that are

[00:41:15] propelling the

[00:41:16] Pacific Division

[00:41:17] at this

[00:41:17] point in

[00:41:18] time.

[00:41:19] Now,

[00:41:20] they all

[00:41:20] have help,

[00:41:21] so it's

[00:41:22] not a

[00:41:23] whatever.

[00:41:23] It's not a

[00:41:24] situation where

[00:41:25] it's LeBron

[00:41:26] and the

[00:41:28] LeBronneers

[00:41:28] or whatever.

[00:41:30] AD is

[00:41:31] an MVP

[00:41:32] candidate.

[00:41:34] Obviously,

[00:41:35] Steph has

[00:41:36] his bully

[00:41:37] in Draymond,

[00:41:38] and then he

[00:41:39] has a bunch

[00:41:39] of other

[00:41:40] shooters and

[00:41:41] hustle guys

[00:41:42] and guys

[00:41:43] that are

[00:41:43] more than

[00:41:45] the sum of

[00:41:45] their parts.

[00:41:47] And then

[00:41:48] KD has

[00:41:49] Devin Booker.

[00:41:50] And every

[00:41:51] once in a

[00:41:52] while,

[00:41:52] a really

[00:41:53] good Bradley

[00:41:54] Bill game.

[00:41:55] They're not

[00:41:56] doing it by

[00:41:57] themselves,

[00:41:59] but it's

[00:42:00] like almost

[00:42:01] like the

[00:42:01] ESPN

[00:42:02] fantasy

[00:42:03] dream come

[00:42:04] true that

[00:42:06] Steph is

[00:42:07] relevant.

[00:42:09] LeBron is

[00:42:10] relevant right

[00:42:11] now.

[00:42:12] And really,

[00:42:13] Phoenix

[00:42:14] struggled

[00:42:15] because KD

[00:42:15] was hurt.

[00:42:17] So it's

[00:42:18] all working

[00:42:18] out for

[00:42:19] the TV

[00:42:20] networks.

[00:42:21] I'm happy

[00:42:22] that the

[00:42:23] Ogar can

[00:42:24] hold it

[00:42:24] down for

[00:42:25] you.

[00:42:25] So those

[00:42:26] Nielsen

[00:42:27] ratings or

[00:42:28] whatever the

[00:42:28] hell you

[00:42:29] use now

[00:42:31] work out.

[00:42:32] I'm sure

[00:42:32] in the

[00:42:33] league office,

[00:42:36] people

[00:42:36] of Adam

[00:42:38] Silver's

[00:42:38] ilk and

[00:42:40] others,

[00:42:41] are extremely

[00:42:42] excited about

[00:42:43] this start to

[00:42:44] the season

[00:42:44] for those

[00:42:46] three guys.

[00:42:47] It's just a

[00:42:48] credit to

[00:42:49] obviously

[00:42:50] greatness.

[00:42:51] It's a

[00:42:51] credit to

[00:42:52] work ethic.

[00:42:53] It's a

[00:42:53] credit to

[00:42:54] their

[00:42:56] discipline of

[00:42:57] diet,

[00:42:58] discipline of

[00:42:59] lifestyle,

[00:43:00] discipline of

[00:43:01] not overindulging

[00:43:03] in certain

[00:43:03] things or

[00:43:04] whatever.

[00:43:04] but the

[00:43:07] one thing

[00:43:07] that I do

[00:43:08] want to

[00:43:08] say about

[00:43:08] this,

[00:43:09] this

[00:43:09] renaissance

[00:43:10] of these

[00:43:11] three

[00:43:14] luminaries

[00:43:15] of the

[00:43:15] sport,

[00:43:16] we better

[00:43:17] enjoy it.

[00:43:19] Better not

[00:43:20] take this

[00:43:20] for granted

[00:43:22] because

[00:43:25] one guy

[00:43:26] who doesn't

[00:43:27] now he's

[00:43:28] not as

[00:43:29] a

[00:43:30] brightest

[00:43:30] star

[00:43:30] as the

[00:43:31] three I

[00:43:32] mentioned.

[00:43:33] But Jimmy

[00:43:34] Butler

[00:43:36] doesn't look

[00:43:37] the same

[00:43:37] anymore.

[00:43:39] Just saying.

[00:43:42] There's been

[00:43:42] good games,

[00:43:44] right?

[00:43:45] But more

[00:43:46] often than

[00:43:47] not,

[00:43:47] there have

[00:43:48] been games

[00:43:49] of struggle.

[00:43:50] and I

[00:43:51] wonder if

[00:43:52] the years

[00:43:53] of

[00:43:54] Tibbs

[00:43:54] basketball

[00:43:55] that Jimmy

[00:43:56] played

[00:43:58] and that

[00:43:59] he's a

[00:43:59] normal

[00:43:59] 35 year

[00:44:00] old man.

[00:44:02] I

[00:44:03] understand

[00:44:04] that

[00:44:05] Tom Brady

[00:44:06] and LeBron

[00:44:07] have ruined

[00:44:08] it for all

[00:44:08] of us.

[00:44:10] But there

[00:44:12] are still

[00:44:12] mere mortals

[00:44:13] in this

[00:44:14] world

[00:44:14] and Jimmy

[00:44:16] might be

[00:44:16] one of

[00:44:17] them.

[00:44:19] So just

[00:44:20] saying about

[00:44:21] that.

[00:44:21] Now,

[00:44:24] we are

[00:44:25] out of

[00:44:26] time.

[00:44:27] We're

[00:44:27] ready to

[00:44:27] go.

[00:44:28] What we

[00:44:29] want to

[00:44:29] do is

[00:44:30] tell you

[00:44:30] what's

[00:44:31] coming up

[00:44:31] next week.

[00:44:32] We are

[00:44:32] going back

[00:44:33] to the

[00:44:33] east.

[00:44:33] So it's

[00:44:34] Atlantic

[00:44:35] Division,

[00:44:35] Central,

[00:44:36] and

[00:44:37] Southeast.

[00:44:37] So if

[00:44:38] you missed

[00:44:39] it the

[00:44:39] first time,

[00:44:40] you didn't

[00:44:40] get it

[00:44:41] the first

[00:44:41] time,

[00:44:42] you can

[00:44:42] go back

[00:44:43] to the

[00:44:43] archive

[00:44:44] pods

[00:44:44] and get

[00:44:45] yourself

[00:44:45] caught up

[00:44:46] to see

[00:44:47] what we

[00:44:47] were talking

[00:44:47] then.

[00:44:48] And then

[00:44:49] what we're

[00:44:49] going to be

[00:44:50] focusing in

[00:44:50] on now.

[00:44:51] because

[00:44:52] obviously

[00:44:53] things change

[00:44:53] and things

[00:44:54] move around.

[00:44:55] In basketball,

[00:44:56] there's never

[00:44:57] a dull

[00:44:58] moment,

[00:44:58] I tell you,

[00:44:59] never a dull

[00:45:00] moment.

[00:45:01] But with

[00:45:02] that being

[00:45:03] said,

[00:45:06] Joel Embiid,

[00:45:07] I think

[00:45:09] honestly,

[00:45:11] if I,

[00:45:12] I'm going to

[00:45:12] put this

[00:45:13] out to

[00:45:13] Philadelphia

[00:45:14] 76ers fans,

[00:45:16] hit me up

[00:45:17] on Twitter

[00:45:17] at

[00:45:18] Frontrunner

[00:45:19] PC.

[00:45:20] Do you

[00:45:21] think

[00:45:21] Joel Embiid

[00:45:22] should just

[00:45:22] basically

[00:45:23] go away?

[00:45:25] I believe

[00:45:27] Tim

[00:45:28] Bontemps

[00:45:29] of ESPN

[00:45:30] brought this

[00:45:30] up on the

[00:45:31] Hoop

[00:45:31] Collective,

[00:45:32] that

[00:45:33] maybe right

[00:45:34] now,

[00:45:35] Joel

[00:45:36] should just

[00:45:37] go,

[00:45:38] rehab,

[00:45:39] lose weight

[00:45:40] that he wants

[00:45:41] to lose

[00:45:42] too,

[00:45:42] right?

[00:45:42] Get on

[00:45:43] the whole

[00:45:44] lifestyle

[00:45:45] switch up

[00:45:47] and then

[00:45:48] come back

[00:45:51] mid-January

[00:45:53] and be

[00:45:54] the absolute

[00:45:56] beast that

[00:45:56] you could

[00:45:57] be.

[00:45:58] Because

[00:45:58] you're

[00:45:59] walking

[00:46:00] around,

[00:46:00] limping

[00:46:01] around,

[00:46:01] struggling,

[00:46:02] looking

[00:46:03] lethargic

[00:46:04] and also

[00:46:05] having these

[00:46:06] quotes and

[00:46:07] being like a

[00:46:08] quote machine

[00:46:08] right now,

[00:46:10] it's not

[00:46:11] helping you.

[00:46:12] It's definitely

[00:46:13] not helping

[00:46:14] your team.

[00:46:15] And it's

[00:46:16] putting undue

[00:46:17] stress and

[00:46:18] they have to

[00:46:19] answer questions

[00:46:20] about you

[00:46:21] every single

[00:46:22] day.

[00:46:23] My advice

[00:46:24] is what

[00:46:26] you should

[00:46:26] have done

[00:46:26] back in

[00:46:27] April,

[00:46:28] you may

[00:46:29] as well

[00:46:29] do now

[00:46:30] because

[00:46:30] player,

[00:46:32] y'all

[00:46:32] 2-12.

[00:46:34] Still need

[00:46:34] some questions

[00:46:35] answered about

[00:46:35] who made

[00:46:36] these calls

[00:46:37] while who's

[00:46:37] allowing him

[00:46:38] to play.

[00:46:40] Somebody hit

[00:46:41] me up on

[00:46:41] Twitter about

[00:46:42] that too,

[00:46:42] at

[00:46:43] FrontRunnerPC.

[00:46:44] If y'all

[00:46:45] got the answer

[00:46:45] to that,

[00:46:46] I would

[00:46:46] love to

[00:46:47] know.

[00:46:48] Love to

[00:46:49] know.

[00:46:50] All right,

[00:46:51] with that

[00:46:51] being said,

[00:46:52] it is

[00:46:52] Friday.

[00:46:53] Feel good

[00:46:54] Friday.

[00:46:54] We want

[00:46:55] you to

[00:46:55] do

[00:46:55] this.

[00:46:56] Remember

[00:46:57] that the

[00:46:57] best part

[00:46:58] of you

[00:46:58] is you.

[00:46:59] Surround

[00:47:00] yourself

[00:47:00] with people

[00:47:01] who better

[00:47:02] your light

[00:47:03] and go out

[00:47:04] and do

[00:47:04] some good

[00:47:05] in this

[00:47:05] world on

[00:47:06] this weekend

[00:47:07] and we'll

[00:47:07] see you

[00:47:08] back on

[00:47:08] this feed

[00:47:09] on Monday

[00:47:09] for another

[00:47:10] banger of a

[00:47:11] podcast.

[00:47:12] So keep

[00:47:13] it locked

[00:47:13] here for

[00:47:14] FrontRunner

[00:47:14] Podcast

[00:47:15] Collective

[00:47:16] where we

[00:47:16] keep the

[00:47:17] NBA news

[00:47:18] hot fresh

[00:47:19] for you

[00:47:20] Monday,

[00:47:22] Wednesday,

[00:47:22] and Friday.

[00:47:24] I'm Vince.

[00:47:26] Soraya is

[00:47:27] on the ones

[00:47:28] and twos

[00:47:28] and we're

[00:47:29] out.

[00:47:30] Deuce.

[00:47:31] We'll be