LeBron’s Defensive Woes, Mavericks’ Depth Without Luka, and Pelicans’ Crisis Mode

[00:00:14] It is time for our fourth quarter rim protector.

[00:00:18] It's Monday, you know what time it is. Front Runner Podcast Collective is back on the air. I am your humble host, Vince. And joining me today is Soraya, our producer. She'll be on with some of the stats later on in the podcast, because we have a jam-packed podcast for you today.

[00:00:38] First and foremost, what I want to do is a quick personal note. Now, obviously this game of podcasting is hard. It's super hard. You're trying to get your voice out there. You're trying to get your whatever your ideas are out there.

[00:00:58] The thing about it is that sometimes you come across things because you're trying to become more informed. And I listen to Lakers Nation, Alan Sliwa. I listen to Locked On Lakers, because I live in Los Angeles. That's my team. This is the epicenter for me as far as basketball.

[00:01:26] Now, no offense to the New York Knicks. I'm just talking about for me. This is my epicenter. So I'm a Laker fan. Now I have an analytic hat on a little bit.

[00:01:36] I go back and forth and I listen to some of the topics. And sometimes the topics take me down another rabbit hole in the sense of where I'm looking to, OK, let me see if there's a way for me to prove this point.

[00:01:53] Or is there anything that I can expound upon this? Is this the reason why this is going on? All those type of things. So I say all that to say this.

[00:02:04] I understand the level of optimism that as if you are just doing one particular team. I don't. I'm not going to sit here and tell you I do.

[00:02:17] I don't watch every Orlando Magic basketball game, but I can tell you I caught probably 18 of them so far this year.

[00:02:28] But the ins and outs, the every day that goes on, I have to drop in and do my work and get out. So that's how it works.

[00:02:38] So I have a lot of sympathy and I have a lot of empathy for the guys that do like the Lakers or the Phoenix Suns or the Dallas Mavericks.

[00:02:48] And that's all you talk about. The one thing that I always have had somewhat of an issue with.

[00:02:54] Is when you have a situation where clearly it's not working.

[00:03:00] Clearly there is something has gone awry.

[00:03:04] And to not. And I'm not saying that people weren't pointing out these things.

[00:03:11] It was that these things could be fixed.

[00:03:17] Kind of easy.

[00:03:19] And I just took umbrage to that.

[00:03:22] Maybe not umbrage. This seems like a harsh word, but.

[00:03:26] I took just slight offense to it because I was like, I don't see what.

[00:03:31] And I didn't like the points.

[00:03:33] And what I'm really talking about is that.

[00:03:37] There are podcasters that do like daily like Lakers coverage and things of that nature.

[00:03:43] And I'm not critical of them at all.

[00:03:46] I just.

[00:03:47] I want to have a real intellectual conversation about what LeBron James.

[00:03:53] Is right now.

[00:03:56] That's what I would like to have.

[00:03:58] I don't know if we necessarily give the audience.

[00:04:03] That.

[00:04:04] I think we say he's LeBron James.

[00:04:08] And he's certified.

[00:04:10] He's stamped.

[00:04:11] We don't have to worry about that.

[00:04:12] That's all done.

[00:04:14] Wherever you have him in your GOAT ratings and things of that nature.

[00:04:21] There's no way he cannot be in somewhere in the top five.

[00:04:26] For whomever.

[00:04:27] Even if you have biases and you have certain things that you will are critical of.

[00:04:32] As far as what he's been able to do and how long he's been able to achieve it.

[00:04:37] It's really hard to keep that man out of some sort of Mount Rushmore GOAT conversation.

[00:04:45] But.

[00:04:46] If we're looking at the team.

[00:04:49] And we're pulling our hair out to say we're not giving effort.

[00:04:54] And we're not.

[00:04:56] On the switches.

[00:04:57] We're not getting to the guys.

[00:04:59] And the switching is problematic.

[00:05:03] And all of these things.

[00:05:05] Can we talk about why the issue is?

[00:05:08] Can we talk about why.

[00:05:10] Why.

[00:05:11] That the Lakers are having these problems defensively.

[00:05:17] Can it be attributed.

[00:05:18] It's not always attributed to one person.

[00:05:21] And that's the other thing that I want to get off of.

[00:05:23] But.

[00:05:24] We can't focus on one person.

[00:05:26] And say hey.

[00:05:27] We see this.

[00:05:30] That's my rant for today.

[00:05:31] You know we got a lot to get into.

[00:05:33] And.

[00:05:34] Again we're going to be doing our.

[00:05:36] Around the arc segment.

[00:05:38] Which is we're going to take a division.

[00:05:40] We're going to break them down.

[00:05:41] See where they are right now.

[00:05:43] And go from there.

[00:05:45] We're going to also do our baseline buzz.

[00:05:48] Where we go around the league.

[00:05:49] And talk about some of the news.

[00:05:50] And the topics of today.

[00:05:53] And again.

[00:05:55] Joining us today is Soraya.

[00:05:56] And she's going to give us some.

[00:05:58] Hard hitting stats.

[00:06:00] And probably some quotes from some really impressive people.

[00:06:03] So I look forward to that.

[00:06:04] But before we get to all that.

[00:06:07] Let's get to the socials.

[00:06:08] So we are on blue sky.

[00:06:11] So I want to read this to you.

[00:06:13] It's at frontrunnerpc.

[00:06:16] At bsky.

[00:06:18] Social.

[00:06:19] So we've always run into a problem with that.

[00:06:22] Giving you the actual tagline.

[00:06:24] Or whatever.

[00:06:25] I want to give you that.

[00:06:26] And also on Twitter.

[00:06:28] At frontrunnerpc.

[00:06:31] So you got that as well.

[00:06:33] Now.

[00:06:34] Let's get into today's.

[00:06:37] Actual podcast.

[00:06:38] Shall we?

[00:06:40] We're going to start off with the.

[00:06:41] We're talking about the Southwest Division.

[00:06:43] So the Mavericks right now.

[00:06:45] They're tied for third.

[00:06:46] In the West.

[00:06:48] Being tied for third in the West.

[00:06:51] The complete West.

[00:06:52] Is a good deal.

[00:06:54] Right?

[00:06:54] This phenomenal situation.

[00:06:56] The good thing about them being.

[00:06:59] At the record there are.

[00:07:01] Is that.

[00:07:01] It seems like they've stemmed the tide.

[00:07:03] They're at 16 and 8.

[00:07:05] They're on a seven game winning streak.

[00:07:08] 11 and 1.

[00:07:09] If you want to look at like the last.

[00:07:11] 12.

[00:07:14] Their offense is the second best offense.

[00:07:17] In the league right now.

[00:07:19] Which is incredible.

[00:07:21] And since November 15th.

[00:07:23] They've arguably been the most balanced team.

[00:07:26] In the league.

[00:07:27] Dallas has found their footing.

[00:07:29] We were.

[00:07:30] People were concerned.

[00:07:32] I.

[00:07:33] Can't ever be concerned when Luca is on that team.

[00:07:36] And he doesn't really ever get hurt.

[00:07:38] Really.

[00:07:39] Teams are always going to be good.

[00:07:41] Now.

[00:07:41] The Grizzlies.

[00:07:43] We've been waiting on this.

[00:07:45] The NBA's.

[00:07:46] Best net rating.

[00:07:47] 10.8.

[00:07:48] Since late October.

[00:07:51] They've gone 12 and 5.

[00:07:52] Despite.

[00:07:53] Still.

[00:07:55] Injuries.

[00:07:55] Just ravaging that team.

[00:07:58] Ja has missed games.

[00:08:00] Desmond Bain has missed significant time.

[00:08:03] And now.

[00:08:04] On the flip side of that.

[00:08:06] We have the New Orleans Pelicans.

[00:08:08] Who have been absolutely.

[00:08:11] Decimated.

[00:08:12] By injury.

[00:08:14] And now we're in this situation.

[00:08:16] Where they're 5 and 20.

[00:08:18] And they're looking for answers.

[00:08:21] And the Rockets are 15 and 7.

[00:08:23] We got a lot to get to with them.

[00:08:25] I am looking forward to.

[00:08:27] Breaking down some of the stuff that's going on with them.

[00:08:30] They're one of the.

[00:08:30] Most entertaining teams in the league.

[00:08:33] I must say.

[00:08:35] I love them.

[00:08:36] I love.

[00:08:37] The energy.

[00:08:38] I love the tenacity of that team.

[00:08:41] And we know where that comes from.

[00:08:43] Shouts out to.

[00:08:44] Head coach.

[00:08:46] Of the Houston Rockets.

[00:08:48] Ime Udoka.

[00:08:49] We love.

[00:08:51] Your junkyard dog mentality.

[00:08:53] We love how you instilled it.

[00:08:56] Into the Houston Rockets.

[00:08:57] And we'll get into that a little bit later.

[00:08:59] Now.

[00:09:00] A couple other things that we want to clean up.

[00:09:03] The Mavericks net rating.

[00:09:05] Is a plus 10 without Luka.

[00:09:07] This is an example of their depth.

[00:09:10] That they have improved.

[00:09:11] Obviously they made the trade.

[00:09:13] In.

[00:09:15] Prior to the trade deadline last year.

[00:09:18] Right.

[00:09:18] And when they did that.

[00:09:21] You got PJ Washington.

[00:09:23] You added Daniel Gafford.

[00:09:26] And.

[00:09:27] They really just.

[00:09:29] Took their team to a whole new level.

[00:09:31] With that situation.

[00:09:33] Now.

[00:09:34] You.

[00:09:35] Add in Jaden Hardy.

[00:09:36] Who's starting to come on a little bit.

[00:09:39] And.

[00:09:40] These pieces.

[00:09:41] And Derek Lively.

[00:09:42] Is just a complete revelation.

[00:09:45] That guy.

[00:09:45] Is a stud.

[00:09:47] And.

[00:09:47] He is going to be very exciting.

[00:09:50] To watch for.

[00:09:50] A decade.

[00:09:51] Easy.

[00:09:52] But.

[00:09:53] It is a good thing to see.

[00:09:55] That they have.

[00:09:56] They have a plus 10 net rating.

[00:09:58] Without Luka.

[00:10:00] Kyrie.

[00:10:01] And.

[00:10:02] Clay.

[00:10:03] Are really holding it down.

[00:10:05] When it comes to that.

[00:10:06] Now.

[00:10:07] The next thing that we want to talk about.

[00:10:09] Is the Grizzlies bench.

[00:10:12] Scoring 48% of the team's point.

[00:10:15] Now.

[00:10:16] Scotty Pippen Jr.

[00:10:19] Jake LaRavia.

[00:10:22] Our guy.

[00:10:23] Brandon Clark.

[00:10:25] All these dudes.

[00:10:26] Are contributing.

[00:10:27] To the Memphis Grizzlies.

[00:10:29] And here is a team that.

[00:10:31] Has.

[00:10:32] Found ways.

[00:10:33] To play without their superstar.

[00:10:35] In the past.

[00:10:36] They've.

[00:10:37] Always been able to overcome.

[00:10:38] When they've had.

[00:10:39] When they've been mostly right.

[00:10:42] This year.

[00:10:43] They.

[00:10:44] Staggered the injury.

[00:10:45] So it's.

[00:10:45] It hasn't been as bad.

[00:10:47] It.

[00:10:47] It hasn't had the situation where.

[00:10:49] You had Jaron Jackson Jr.

[00:10:51] Desmond Bane.

[00:10:52] And John Morant.

[00:10:54] Out.

[00:10:56] Oh they're going.

[00:10:56] Okay.

[00:10:57] Jaws hurt.

[00:10:58] So.

[00:10:59] Desmond's back.

[00:11:01] Jaron's there.

[00:11:03] And then Desmond might get hurt.

[00:11:05] And then Jaws back.

[00:11:06] So.

[00:11:07] They've been.

[00:11:07] Lucky in that respect.

[00:11:10] Fortunate.

[00:11:11] If you want to call it that.

[00:11:12] But.

[00:11:13] They're just.

[00:11:14] In a real.

[00:11:15] Different type of situation.

[00:11:17] And it's one of those things.

[00:11:18] That we really need to.

[00:11:19] Climb into.

[00:11:21] And then the Pelicans.

[00:11:23] Their struggles.

[00:11:25] Might have to do with a larger conversation.

[00:11:28] And we're going to get to that later in the podcast.

[00:11:32] So let's break these teams down.

[00:11:35] Let's do it.

[00:11:36] Let's get into it.

[00:11:37] Let's get into the Dallas Mavericks first and foremost.

[00:11:40] Because Luka Doncic was.

[00:11:43] FRPC's MVP of the National Basketball Association last year.

[00:11:48] It's a.

[00:11:49] It's a.

[00:11:50] It's a.

[00:11:51] Prestigious title.

[00:11:52] You understand what I'm telling you?

[00:11:54] This is something that is not just given out.

[00:11:57] Willy nilly.

[00:11:58] Like.

[00:11:58] We take a lot of time and effort to go ahead and.

[00:12:01] Crunch the numbers and give you this.

[00:12:03] And we had a whole.

[00:12:05] Podcast on it.

[00:12:06] So go check that out.

[00:12:08] Archive Pods.

[00:12:10] Frontrunner Podcast Collector.

[00:12:12] Now.

[00:12:14] The Mavericks.

[00:12:16] Even without Luka Doncic's clan consistently.

[00:12:19] We talked about their 11 and one stretch that they've had.

[00:12:23] Kyrie Irving has been all.

[00:12:25] He's been worth all the money.

[00:12:28] None of the distractions that he had in Brooklyn at all.

[00:12:33] He's averaging 22.7 points.

[00:12:37] 5.8 assists.

[00:12:39] Najee Marshall has made a complete difference.

[00:12:42] And everybody around the league who kind of knows anything.

[00:12:48] I remember when Najee Marshall was.

[00:12:50] Was acquired.

[00:12:52] On Clyde Dallas.

[00:12:53] And a lot of people like.

[00:12:54] Oh.

[00:12:55] That's a really good pickup.

[00:12:57] Najee Marshall has kind of.

[00:12:59] Become that.

[00:13:01] Real glue guy.

[00:13:02] Roll guy.

[00:13:04] That Alex Caruso.

[00:13:06] Was talked up to be.

[00:13:08] And I'm not saying he.

[00:13:10] He's not that guy.

[00:13:11] What I'm saying is that.

[00:13:12] We.

[00:13:13] We're just fawning over.

[00:13:15] Alex Caruso.

[00:13:18] But.

[00:13:18] Najee Marshall has turned himself into that situation.

[00:13:22] He is just an additive type of player.

[00:13:25] And he brings.

[00:13:26] A winning brand of basketball with him.

[00:13:28] Everywhere he goes.

[00:13:30] And.

[00:13:31] Tell you what.

[00:13:32] The Pelicans miss him.

[00:13:35] Pelicans miss that guy.

[00:13:37] That tells you a lot.

[00:13:38] So Rhea has something.

[00:13:40] It's a key stat.

[00:13:41] That I want to get to.

[00:13:42] So Rhea.

[00:13:43] Go ahead.

[00:13:43] And break that out for us.

[00:13:45] You know.

[00:13:45] Derek Lively.

[00:13:47] I do as an animal.

[00:13:48] Great point by you.

[00:13:49] So Rhea.

[00:13:50] Lively's presence is helping the Mavericks play.

[00:13:52] A competitive.

[00:13:54] Defensive.

[00:13:55] Brand of basketball.

[00:13:57] With Luca off the court.

[00:13:58] But the other thing that.

[00:14:00] Derek Lively Jr.

[00:14:01] Possesses.

[00:14:02] Is his ability.

[00:14:04] To screen hard.

[00:14:06] All the time.

[00:14:07] And make.

[00:14:09] Decisive.

[00:14:10] Rim runs.

[00:14:11] Or also.

[00:14:13] In that short roll situation.

[00:14:15] He is a really adept passer as well.

[00:14:18] He's able to help the offense.

[00:14:20] As well as defense.

[00:14:21] When he's in the game.

[00:14:22] So that definitely is going to.

[00:14:24] Stave off any like.

[00:14:26] Real runs.

[00:14:27] Against the Dallas Mavericks.

[00:14:29] When Luca is getting rest.

[00:14:31] And.

[00:14:31] That's a key point.

[00:14:33] Because Luca ran out of gas last year.

[00:14:36] I don't care.

[00:14:37] I don't care what anybody says.

[00:14:38] And Luca's conditioning.

[00:14:39] Is been.

[00:14:40] That one sticking point.

[00:14:42] That we all had with him.

[00:14:44] Since he's come into the league.

[00:14:46] And we thought that.

[00:14:47] He might have solved it.

[00:14:48] After this year.

[00:14:49] Going to the Olympics.

[00:14:51] And.

[00:14:52] Maybe changes some things.

[00:14:54] But.

[00:14:54] It's kind of more of the same.

[00:14:57] More of the same with him.

[00:14:58] And it's not a big deal.

[00:14:59] Because.

[00:15:00] He's so.

[00:15:01] Extremely talented.

[00:15:03] So it doesn't really matter.

[00:15:05] But.

[00:15:06] I wonder.

[00:15:07] Will it matter.

[00:15:08] In the sense of.

[00:15:09] The difference between.

[00:15:10] Going to the finals.

[00:15:12] And winning the finals.

[00:15:13] At some point.

[00:15:14] But.

[00:15:14] I think that's for a different day.

[00:15:16] And speaking of Luca.

[00:15:18] Here is a mind-blowing stat for you.

[00:15:22] Vince.

[00:15:23] Here's an eye-catching stat.

[00:15:24] During the Mavericks current run.

[00:15:26] Kyrie Irving has averaged.

[00:15:27] 22.7 points per game.

[00:15:29] While the team has a plus 10 net rating.

[00:15:32] With Luca off the floor.

[00:15:33] This is a stark contrast to last year.

[00:15:36] When they were 8 to 17.

[00:15:37] Without the Don.

[00:15:39] Positive 10 net rating.

[00:15:42] Without him during this stretch.

[00:15:43] Is compared to last year's.

[00:15:46] Net rating without Luca.

[00:15:48] Which was a negative 6 points.

[00:15:50] 6.2.

[00:15:51] So they have.

[00:15:53] Flipped the script by 16 points.

[00:15:55] From last year to this year.

[00:15:57] What do you think the difference is?

[00:16:00] People will say.

[00:16:01] Clay Thompson.

[00:16:02] Okay.

[00:16:03] I got you.

[00:16:04] You got another stable.

[00:16:06] Outside sniper on the team.

[00:16:09] But I believe.

[00:16:10] In the Quentin Grimes.

[00:16:12] Pickup.

[00:16:13] And I believe.

[00:16:13] In the Najee Marshall.

[00:16:15] Pickup.

[00:16:16] I believe those guys.

[00:16:18] Those type of glue guys.

[00:16:20] Are helping them.

[00:16:21] Win games.

[00:16:22] And also.

[00:16:23] Playing smart basketball.

[00:16:25] You don't have your.

[00:16:27] Super superstar.

[00:16:28] Ready to go.

[00:16:30] That's just my opinion.

[00:16:33] Now.

[00:16:34] Clay Thompson.

[00:16:35] Is in a sludge.

[00:16:37] He's in a shooting slump.

[00:16:39] He's shooting 33% from three right now.

[00:16:41] I wonder.

[00:16:43] Now I wondered about this.

[00:16:44] I wondered if this was going to be a situation.

[00:16:48] Was the shine going to kind of fade away.

[00:16:51] And then we would get to see what Clay has been the last couple years in Golden State.

[00:16:58] I still think that Clay Thompson is in a better position with the Dallas Mavericks than he was with the Golden State Warriors.

[00:17:04] No shade to Golden State.

[00:17:06] But I think what he provides them.

[00:17:09] And the shooters that you can put around.

[00:17:14] The Luka Kyrie combination is so important.

[00:17:20] Not just important.

[00:17:22] That is wild.

[00:17:23] It shows that Nico Harrison's offseason moves.

[00:17:26] Bringing in guys like Clay Thompson and Quentin Grimes are paying off.

[00:17:30] I do worry about what crunch time will look like in the playoffs.

[00:17:33] But for now.

[00:17:34] This second.

[00:17:35] It is a master class during the offseason.

[00:17:39] Having space.

[00:17:40] Having shooting.

[00:17:41] And I'm talking about shooting that has a pedigree.

[00:17:46] It's so essential to the Dallas Mavericks offense.

[00:17:49] Because you got to be able to open up the lanes for Luka and Kyrie.

[00:17:53] So it's so important for that to go down.

[00:17:57] So even if he's shooting in a shooting slump.

[00:18:01] And 33% for Clay Thompson.

[00:18:03] Is a shooting slump.

[00:18:06] This is a career 40% plus three point shooter.

[00:18:12] I think that get these kinks worked out.

[00:18:16] And we can roll.

[00:18:18] You know what I'm saying?

[00:18:18] I think that's where we need to go with this.

[00:18:22] We're going to get into the Grizzlies a little bit.

[00:18:25] Now the Grizzlies.

[00:18:27] Since late October.

[00:18:29] They've turned it on a little bit.

[00:18:31] They are 12 and 5 in the last 17.

[00:18:34] We talked about their net rating being 10.8.

[00:18:38] And again.

[00:18:40] It's a testament to their depth.

[00:18:43] It's a testament to their drafting.

[00:18:45] Salty.

[00:18:47] Santi Aldama has given them minutes.

[00:18:49] We talked about Jake LaRavia.

[00:18:51] We also talked about the pickup of Scottie Pippen Jr.

[00:18:55] Allowing him to flourish in that system.

[00:18:59] And it's all worked out for them.

[00:19:02] It has all worked out for them.

[00:19:06] Soraya has a real cool stat about Jaron Jackson Jr.

[00:19:10] Soraya dropped that stat on us.

[00:19:11] Clay Thompson is shooting a career low 33% from three.

[00:19:16] His gravity on the court is opening lanes for other scorers like Spencer Dinwiddie, who's

[00:19:21] quietly putting up 12.6 points per game off the bench.

[00:19:24] Even still, Clay's slump is frustrating.

[00:19:27] But his value goes beyond the numbers.

[00:19:31] That's for sure.

[00:19:33] And Soraya, just also on that note.

[00:19:35] And let's not forget John Morant's job dropping.

[00:19:39] Dunk devastating on Boston.

[00:19:41] That shit was sick.

[00:19:42] It was so nasty.

[00:19:44] His vertical is still crazy.

[00:19:46] His balance is still crazy.

[00:19:47] Even though he has told us that he is going to try to stop dunking.

[00:19:53] He's really going to try to stop dunking.

[00:19:56] I don't know if that's going to happen, though.

[00:19:58] Because he's so freaking athletic.

[00:20:03] Here's a question that I will post to you, Memphis Grizzlies fans and NBA fans.

[00:20:08] Can this depth sustain them in the playoffs?

[00:20:12] Or what's going to end up happening is that we're going to see the real dudes.

[00:20:16] This is just regular season.

[00:20:19] Real dudes show up in the playoffs.

[00:20:21] We got to cut the rotation down.

[00:20:22] And your production from the bench, which is at 48%.

[00:20:26] Do you do we think?

[00:20:28] Here's the thing.

[00:20:29] It's not going to stay at 48%.

[00:20:32] Do you believe that the Memphis bench is for real?

[00:20:37] Is it a bench that will be able to be counted on in the playoffs?

[00:20:42] Or is this something of a regular season kind of mirage?

[00:20:47] Let me know.

[00:20:49] Hit me up on Twitter or on Blue Sky.

[00:20:51] And we'll give you those at the end of the show.

[00:20:55] The next thing I want to talk about is the New Orleans Pelicans.

[00:20:57] The New Orleans Pelicans are in a tailspin.

[00:21:00] They're 5-20.

[00:21:02] They have injuries to Zion.

[00:21:05] Brandon Ingram just had an ankle sprain that seems to going to be able to keep him out for a legitimate piece of time.

[00:21:14] They have one of the worst net ratings, which is negative 10.3.

[00:21:20] This offense can't get a rhythm because everybody's hurt.

[00:21:24] Anytime they get somebody back, another guy goes down.

[00:21:28] So we're just in this perpetual state.

[00:21:31] It gets worse.

[00:21:33] Way worse.

[00:21:34] Murray B., I and Zion have missed a combined 43 games so far this season.

[00:21:39] At this point, I wonder, what do you do in New Orleans?

[00:21:46] What do you do?

[00:21:48] But before we get to that part, Soraya, what's that thing that you want to talk about with Ingram?

[00:21:55] It's clear that they're too reliant on Ingram and Zion, both whom are—they struggle with their health.

[00:22:02] You're 5-20.

[00:22:04] Let's start getting real serious about what's going on here.

[00:22:07] Okay?

[00:22:09] It hasn't worked.

[00:22:10] The Lakers won.

[00:22:12] The Lakers won that deal.

[00:22:14] Yeah, you got Brandon Ingram.

[00:22:17] You had a chokehold on the Lakers draft picks.

[00:22:22] But what did it actually net you?

[00:22:25] Because right now, you're not winning.

[00:22:30] You haven't been relevant.

[00:22:33] Zion stays injured.

[00:22:36] Low-key, Brandon Ingram misses about 20% of the games as well, which was one of the reasons why he wasn't able to get traded in the offseason.

[00:22:50] So if you're David Griffin, where do you go from here?

[00:22:54] And I think the logical choice is to blow it up.

[00:22:59] It is to absolutely blow it up.

[00:23:04] And you can say you can pick guys who you feel are giving real max effort right now in these dark days.

[00:23:13] And you can say, hey, those are the guys that I want to lean on when we go to start to make this rebuild.

[00:23:20] These are the type of guys that I think I want in the foxhole.

[00:23:24] Trey Murphy III might be one of those guys.

[00:23:26] Jordan Hawkins might be one of those guys.

[00:23:29] Obviously, Jose Alvarado, just for the grit factor and just him being a complete pest on defense, might be one of those guys as well.

[00:23:39] I think at this point, you got to figure out if you can get something for Ingram.

[00:23:45] Now, your ROI on that is probably not going to be as good as the last time you sent out a skinny front court kid.

[00:23:56] But it is better than losing him from nothing.

[00:24:01] And that's what you're faced with come this offseason because we all know that Clutch Quartz is not having it.

[00:24:10] He will not be in New Orleans next year.

[00:24:12] That's for sure.

[00:24:14] And I don't think he'll be in New Orleans before the trade deadline, personally.

[00:24:18] That's just my point on that situation.

[00:24:22] Now, a couple other things is that we both know that Zion and Brandon Ingram were high draft picks.

[00:24:30] Problem is that Brandon Ingram has been thinking he was a number one for a long period of time.

[00:24:37] And it was because of the absence of Zion.

[00:24:40] And Zion's conditioning, or lack thereof,

[00:24:46] His kind of cavalier attitude about what it's going to take for me to stay on the court for 72 plus games or whatever.

[00:24:55] He never took it seriously.

[00:24:58] He showed up, did a couple things that went crazy on IG or TikTok.

[00:25:05] And then he was gone for another two months.

[00:25:08] So you can never build that momentum that said, oh, we are coming.

[00:25:13] We're coming.

[00:25:15] Because as soon as you started to get just a tad excited, either one of these guys were out for a significant amount of time.

[00:25:24] And it's the same.

[00:25:26] It's literally the same exact script every single year for the last three years.

[00:25:32] At this point, I don't even understand how we didn't start this last year.

[00:25:39] But at this point, I think it's apparent that the New Orleans Pelicans should be looking to see what they could get back for Brandon Ingram.

[00:25:49] And then maybe in the offseason tackle the Zion thing and see what happens.

[00:25:54] But here is the bright spot to this whole deal.

[00:25:59] If you got your pick, 5-20, you know what this draft is going to look like.

[00:26:05] There it is.

[00:26:06] The excuse for you to bring up Cooper Flagg in his last game.

[00:26:10] Flagg again avoided turnovers in the victory over Louisville and dropped 20 points with 12 rebounds and two steals before fouling out with 39 seconds left.

[00:26:19] And Duke up 76-63.

[00:26:22] You know exactly what this draft is going to look like.

[00:26:25] So maybe you can start all over and learn the lessons from this previous situation.

[00:26:35] Keep some of this talent like Trey Murphy III and let him know how vital he is to the next iteration of the Pelicans and keep it moving.

[00:26:46] Zion has not paid off.

[00:26:48] Brandon Ingram probably could have been a really cool second lieutenant.

[00:26:54] Maybe we find out that he's the third wheel of a successful continuing team.

[00:27:01] But we never got that opportunity to find out because of Zion and also because of Ingram.

[00:27:07] There it is.

[00:27:08] Okay.

[00:27:09] The next thing I want to talk about is the Houston Rockets.

[00:27:11] Now the Houston Rockets have.

[00:27:15] I don't know quietly is the right word.

[00:27:17] I think they've just been doing it real G-like the entire year.

[00:27:23] They play stifling defense.

[00:27:26] Atari Eason is absolutely incredible.

[00:27:29] Amen Thompson has played great defensively.

[00:27:34] And they're getting what they are supposed to get from Van Vliet, Dylan Brooks, and Alperen Shingun has been masterful.

[00:27:44] So this team has really pulled it together.

[00:27:46] They've taken on the personality of their head coach, which is Emea Doka.

[00:27:51] But before we get into all of this, Saraya hit us with that Atari Eason stat.

[00:27:58] True.

[00:27:59] The fines for Emea Doka and Eason and Alperen Shingun highlight the growing pains of a young team.

[00:28:08] But here's the thing.

[00:28:10] I'm not checking their tenacity.

[00:28:13] I'm not checking that.

[00:28:15] Go out there and be ferocious dogs.

[00:28:19] We'll deal with the physicality or the fines and all that later.

[00:28:23] We just need you to find what it is that you do.

[00:28:27] And I think that's one part where you don't have to rein that in.

[00:28:33] Because maybe people become a little more apprehensive going to that lane.

[00:28:39] Maybe people are a little bit more deliberate with their moveset.

[00:28:45] So then the flow of the game kind of bogs down in the way that Houston would want it to be anyway.

[00:28:52] So I think Emea Doka has this right.

[00:28:56] I think this is going great.

[00:28:58] And I dig the physicality.

[00:29:02] Muck it up.

[00:29:04] Muck it up as much as possible.

[00:29:07] The Rockets have the talent.

[00:29:09] But discipline will determine how far they go.

[00:29:13] So here's the thing.

[00:29:14] They're so young.

[00:29:16] What?

[00:29:17] Eamon Thompson's not 21.

[00:29:18] We got Cam Whitmore who can't even get minutes on the court.

[00:29:22] We got Jabari Smith Jr.

[00:29:24] Tari Ezes what?

[00:29:25] 22, 23.

[00:29:27] These are young pups still.

[00:29:29] They're still breaking into the league.

[00:29:31] They're still getting...

[00:29:32] They're still...

[00:29:32] They're still...

[00:29:33] Figuring out what they can...

[00:29:37] Decisively get away with...

[00:29:39] The more nuanced pieces of the basketball game as far as the defensive side of the ball.

[00:29:46] And that just takes time.

[00:29:47] And it takes reps.

[00:29:49] And it takes...

[00:29:50] Going around the league and also...

[00:29:54] In a sense...

[00:29:55] The referees will find a way to flow towards you.

[00:30:00] And what I mean by that is...

[00:30:01] Is that if you're an aggressive, handsy type of guy...

[00:30:05] They're not going to call every foul.

[00:30:07] They're just not going to do it.

[00:30:10] Because they have a mandate from their commissioner that...

[00:30:15] The beauty of basketball is just the fluidity of the game.

[00:30:19] And spacing, getting shots up.

[00:30:22] Nobody wants to see an absolute free throw shooting contest.

[00:30:26] I could not have said it any better, Vince.

[00:30:29] The rugged and tenacious Rockets are quietly having a strong season.

[00:30:33] Sitting with a record of 15-7.

[00:30:36] Terry Eason's hustle and defensive impact have been key.

[00:30:40] Eason's 3.2% steal rate leads all bench players this season.

[00:30:44] And his energy is infectious.

[00:30:46] But don't forget the disciplinary issues.

[00:30:49] They've got to clean that up.

[00:30:51] Do your thing.

[00:30:53] Do your damn thing.

[00:30:56] I am...

[00:30:57] I'm here for it.

[00:30:59] Absolutely here for it.

[00:31:01] And the other thing is this.

[00:31:02] Is that Ime Adoka doesn't play around.

[00:31:06] He doesn't play around with effort.

[00:31:09] He did it in Boston.

[00:31:11] He's doing it here.

[00:31:13] And he's doing it with a different type of group of guys.

[00:31:16] I think what he had in Boston...

[00:31:19] Is he had guys that he had to...

[00:31:21] He was the amplifier of tough...

[00:31:24] He was the amplifier of toughness in Boston.

[00:31:29] Here...

[00:31:30] I don't think he's the amplifier of toughness.

[00:31:33] I think he's the kind of...

[00:31:36] The gatekeeper of toughness.

[00:31:39] And what I mean by that is that...

[00:31:43] He's got tough dudes on his team.

[00:31:46] He just lets them out.

[00:31:48] Go out.

[00:31:49] Cause chaos.

[00:31:50] He had to coax that out of Boston.

[00:31:53] So there was a difference.

[00:31:54] And I think a lot...

[00:31:56] A lot gets lost...

[00:31:59] When we talk about coaching.

[00:32:02] Because...

[00:32:02] Some people say...

[00:32:04] Well the players is what make the coaches look good.

[00:32:06] I don't disagree with that.

[00:32:09] And then some people say...

[00:32:10] It's the brilliance of the coaching.

[00:32:12] And he creates a culture and a standard.

[00:32:14] And the players fall in line.

[00:32:17] And that's how...

[00:32:19] They build this...

[00:32:22] Contending team.

[00:32:22] I don't disagree with that either.

[00:32:25] If you look at Ime Adelka...

[00:32:29] The only guy on that team...

[00:32:31] For Boston...

[00:32:33] That he had...

[00:32:35] That was pretty tough...

[00:32:36] Was Jalen Brown...

[00:32:38] Then maybe Marcus Smart.

[00:32:41] Everybody else.

[00:32:42] He had to coax...

[00:32:45] And what he talks about is...

[00:32:48] Defensive impact.

[00:32:49] Make them feel you.

[00:32:51] Make them feel you.

[00:32:54] Every single time down the court.

[00:32:56] There is no...

[00:32:59] Type of rhetoric.

[00:33:00] There's no message...

[00:33:01] That he has to give the Houston Rockets...

[00:33:03] About that.

[00:33:05] Those guys...

[00:33:06] Go out every single night.

[00:33:07] And they play extremely hard.

[00:33:09] You don't have to worry about effort.

[00:33:11] You don't have to worry about that...

[00:33:13] With the Houston Rockets whatsoever.

[00:33:14] And it's a credit to Ime Adelka.

[00:33:17] Credit to coaching...

[00:33:19] Damn it.

[00:33:20] Alright.

[00:33:20] We get to...

[00:33:21] One of our...

[00:33:22] Best segments...

[00:33:23] And we call this...

[00:33:25] The Baseline Buzz.

[00:33:26] Baseline Buzz.

[00:33:27] Baseline Buzz.

[00:33:30] Alright.

[00:33:31] First up...

[00:33:32] In the Baseline Buzz segment...

[00:33:34] Chris Paul...

[00:33:35] Milestone...

[00:33:36] Our guy...

[00:33:38] CP3...

[00:33:39] He is down...

[00:33:40] Second...

[00:33:41] All time...

[00:33:42] On the NBA's...

[00:33:44] Assist list.

[00:33:46] He just surpassed...

[00:33:48] Jason Kidd...

[00:33:50] With...

[00:33:50] 12,099...

[00:33:53] Dimes.

[00:33:54] At age 39...

[00:33:56] He's still one of the best...

[00:33:57] Floor generals in the league.

[00:33:58] There's no question about that.

[00:34:01] Now...

[00:34:01] Is he gonna help you win?

[00:34:03] I don't know.

[00:34:04] But...

[00:34:06] I think Soraya has something else...

[00:34:08] Of a milestone...

[00:34:09] That Chris might be coming up on.

[00:34:11] Soraya...

[00:34:12] What's that milestone?

[00:34:13] Paul is also just...

[00:34:14] 37 steals away...

[00:34:16] From passing Kidd...

[00:34:17] For second...

[00:34:17] On the all-time steals list.

[00:34:19] His leadership for the Spurs...

[00:34:21] Is undeniable.

[00:34:22] His impact will shape...

[00:34:24] These young Spurs...

[00:34:24] For instance...

[00:34:25] Stefan Castle...

[00:34:26] Will benefit far into the future...

[00:34:28] After Chris Paul...

[00:34:29] Is long gone.

[00:34:30] Wow.

[00:34:32] Yeah.

[00:34:32] Victor had a quote...

[00:34:34] About Paul...

[00:34:34] And he said this...

[00:34:35] He says...

[00:34:36] Paul's competitiveness...

[00:34:37] Is something you can only...

[00:34:39] Appreciate as a teammate.

[00:34:43] Now...

[00:34:43] Here's the thing...

[00:34:46] Chris Paul...

[00:34:47] I mean...

[00:34:48] In all likelihood...

[00:34:49] He's probably not gonna end up...

[00:34:50] A champion.

[00:34:51] He had a good team in New Orleans...

[00:34:53] He wasn't able to see it through.

[00:34:56] He had a pretty good team...

[00:34:58] With the Clippers...

[00:35:00] And...

[00:35:01] Now...

[00:35:02] You can say whatever you want to say...

[00:35:04] About the FX show...

[00:35:05] Donald Sterling...

[00:35:07] But for those who live in Los Angeles...

[00:35:10] I can tell you...

[00:35:10] That impacted that team...

[00:35:12] Mightily.

[00:35:14] Dudes don't want to have to answer questions...

[00:35:16] Basketball players do not want to...

[00:35:18] Have to answer questions...

[00:35:19] That they consider distractions...

[00:35:23] It just changes the vibe...

[00:35:25] Of their whole situation...

[00:35:26] And it just makes it really hard...

[00:35:30] To...

[00:35:30] Want to come and do your job...

[00:35:32] But...

[00:35:33] Chris Paul...

[00:35:34] Kept that Clipper team together...

[00:35:36] They made...

[00:35:38] Impressive runs in the playoffs...

[00:35:40] They had some...

[00:35:41] Patastrophic losses...

[00:35:43] Chris Paul...

[00:35:45] Injured at the wrong time...

[00:35:46] A lot of the time...

[00:35:49] And then he goes to...

[00:35:51] Well...

[00:35:52] Houston right...

[00:35:53] He goes to Houston...

[00:35:55] And...

[00:35:56] It doesn't work...

[00:35:57] It doesn't work...

[00:35:58] With...

[00:35:59] James Harden...

[00:36:01] But they make it work...

[00:36:02] He makes it work...

[00:36:03] He figures out a way...

[00:36:05] To make it work...

[00:36:06] Where...

[00:36:06] Yeah...

[00:36:06] Necessarily...

[00:36:07] They didn't get to the mountaintop...

[00:36:10] But...

[00:36:10] Really...

[00:36:12] Houston was the only team...

[00:36:13] Really trying to go get...

[00:36:14] Golden State at that time...

[00:36:16] Remember when...

[00:36:17] Chris Paul was there...

[00:36:18] This is...

[00:36:19] This is Kevin Durant...

[00:36:21] Still...

[00:36:22] In...

[00:36:23] Golden State...

[00:36:24] And Darryl Morey was like...

[00:36:26] We still gonna throw talent at it...

[00:36:28] We...

[00:36:28] We're gonna try to chase it down...

[00:36:31] But...

[00:36:32] James Harden wanted to play that...

[00:36:34] Heliocentric...

[00:36:35] Type of basketball...

[00:36:36] And then he went off to...

[00:36:39] OKC...

[00:36:39] Now...

[00:36:40] There were...

[00:36:42] No...

[00:36:42] Expectations on...

[00:36:44] OKC that year...

[00:36:45] When he walked in that door...

[00:36:46] And he willed that team...

[00:36:48] To a...

[00:36:49] To the playoffs...

[00:36:50] And along the way...

[00:36:51] He taught...

[00:36:52] Shea Gilgis Alexander...

[00:36:54] A lot about basketball...

[00:36:56] A lot about...

[00:36:57] Foul baiting...

[00:36:59] And now...

[00:37:00] Shea Gilgis Alexander...

[00:37:02] Is one of the best guards in the league...

[00:37:04] Bar none...

[00:37:06] And now his team is...

[00:37:08] What?

[00:37:08] The number one seed in the West?

[00:37:11] And then he goes to Phoenix...

[00:37:13] Know the story there...

[00:37:15] And then we can clown...

[00:37:17] And talk about how he's old...

[00:37:19] And washed...

[00:37:19] And...

[00:37:20] What happened in Golden State...

[00:37:23] But I'm gonna tell you this...

[00:37:24] Victor Wimbayama...

[00:37:26] Will...

[00:37:27] Be better...

[00:37:28] Because Chris Paul...

[00:37:29] Has entered into his life...

[00:37:31] I have no doubt in my mind...

[00:37:34] That Chris Paul...

[00:37:35] Chris Paul...

[00:37:36] Is a...

[00:37:37] First ballot Hall of Famer...

[00:37:39] I...

[00:37:39] I think that he was...

[00:37:41] Instrumental in some of these...

[00:37:43] Really cool...

[00:37:47] Rivalries that...

[00:37:48] Don't get a lot of play...

[00:37:50] Because...

[00:37:51] A...

[00:37:52] They don't have the legs...

[00:37:53] Of legacy like Boston...

[00:37:56] And LA...

[00:37:56] And New York...

[00:37:57] And Boston...

[00:37:58] Or whatever the case may be...

[00:37:59] But...

[00:38:00] Those Golden State...

[00:38:02] Warrior...

[00:38:02] Clipper series...

[00:38:04] Or...

[00:38:04] Those games...

[00:38:05] Before they even got to the playoffs...

[00:38:07] Was some of the most incredible...

[00:38:10] Basketball...

[00:38:11] That we've seen...

[00:38:13] And just some of the stuff...

[00:38:14] That was...

[00:38:15] Overlooking those games...

[00:38:18] We talked about the Sterling thing...

[00:38:20] This is some of the incredible stuff...

[00:38:23] That has gone on with the Clippers...

[00:38:25] Where...

[00:38:26] There's just been incredible things...

[00:38:27] That happened to the Clippers...

[00:38:29] That you just sit there...

[00:38:30] And go...

[00:38:30] Wow...

[00:38:30] I just...

[00:38:31] How the hell did you lose this one?

[00:38:33] What?

[00:38:36] Like Corey Brewer...

[00:38:37] Going crazy...

[00:38:39] You know...

[00:38:40] Just...

[00:38:41] Nutty things...

[00:38:43] Happened...

[00:38:43] But I think...

[00:38:46] We can sit here...

[00:38:47] And talk...

[00:38:47] Ring culture...

[00:38:48] And talk about...

[00:38:49] Was this good...

[00:38:50] Was this dude...

[00:38:51] Good in the league?

[00:38:52] Was he nice?

[00:38:53] Was he...

[00:38:54] Oh...

[00:38:55] This dude's a problem...

[00:38:56] Or...

[00:38:56] Whatever it is...

[00:38:57] Or you put this dude...

[00:38:58] With GOAT status...

[00:39:00] Here's what I will say...

[00:39:02] About Chris Paul...

[00:39:04] I think...

[00:39:05] That you can look at...

[00:39:07] Brandon Pozinski...

[00:39:08] And say...

[00:39:08] He got better...

[00:39:09] Because of Chris Paul...

[00:39:10] You can look at...

[00:39:11] Shea Gilgis Alexander...

[00:39:12] And say...

[00:39:12] He got better...

[00:39:13] Because of Chris Paul...

[00:39:15] I don't know...

[00:39:15] If you could have done anything...

[00:39:16] From James Harden...

[00:39:18] But I'm sure...

[00:39:18] There was somebody...

[00:39:19] On that Houston team...

[00:39:20] That Chris Paul...

[00:39:21] Had a major influence on...

[00:39:24] There were several people...

[00:39:25] In the...

[00:39:26] Within the...

[00:39:27] Clippers organization...

[00:39:28] That sang...

[00:39:29] The praises of Chris Paul...

[00:39:30] And also...

[00:39:32] The Phoenix Suns...

[00:39:33] Organization...

[00:39:34] Who hadn't won anything...

[00:39:36] In quite some time...

[00:39:38] Until Chris Paul showed up...

[00:39:40] So...

[00:39:41] I'll say...

[00:39:42] It's hats off to an incredible career...

[00:39:44] For Chris Paul...

[00:39:45] Personally...

[00:39:46] I think what he's doing...

[00:39:47] In San Antonio...

[00:39:49] Is God's work...

[00:39:50] Thank you for helping...

[00:39:52] Win by Yama...

[00:39:53] Reach his...

[00:39:54] Full potential...

[00:39:55] Chris Paul...

[00:39:56] Personally...

[00:39:57] And...

[00:39:58] I just wanted to celebrate him...

[00:40:00] Because it's so easy...

[00:40:03] To...

[00:40:03] Walk past guys like Chris Paul...

[00:40:06] And go...

[00:40:06] Oh yeah...

[00:40:07] But you couldn't get it done...

[00:40:09] In the big one...

[00:40:10] I understand that...

[00:40:12] And yes...

[00:40:12] At the end of the day...

[00:40:13] Rings do matter...

[00:40:15] Especially on this podcast...

[00:40:17] Winning matters...

[00:40:19] On this podcast...

[00:40:20] Did you win?

[00:40:21] Did you lose?

[00:40:23] I don't know...

[00:40:24] But...

[00:40:25] At the end of the day...

[00:40:28] Did you...

[00:40:30] Did you go out there...

[00:40:31] And put effort out?

[00:40:34] Did you...

[00:40:36] Sacrifice things...

[00:40:39] To...

[00:40:39] For the betterment of the team?

[00:40:42] Did you...

[00:40:44] Try to hog all the glory for yourself?

[00:40:47] Did you cause distractions...

[00:40:49] Off the court...

[00:40:51] That your team had to deal with...

[00:40:53] When they entered the locker room?

[00:40:54] Did they have to ask questions about you?

[00:40:58] And the answer to all of those...

[00:41:00] Are no...

[00:41:01] Chris Paul is being basically...

[00:41:03] A model citizen...

[00:41:05] Yeah...

[00:41:05] There's been a couple...

[00:41:06] You can talk about...

[00:41:07] Maybe a couple hard fouls...

[00:41:09] Here and there...

[00:41:09] But...

[00:41:10] He's competitive...

[00:41:11] He's a little asshole...

[00:41:13] He would tell you that...

[00:41:15] But Chris Paul...

[00:41:17] Is one of the great point guards...

[00:41:19] Of this league...

[00:41:20] Of this league...

[00:41:21] And I just wanted to say that...

[00:41:23] Before...

[00:41:24] We moved on to something else...

[00:41:27] But...

[00:41:28] I think...

[00:41:30] That we're gonna take time...

[00:41:33] Out for people like this...

[00:41:35] Because...

[00:41:37] He...

[00:41:38] Brought so much to the game...

[00:41:40] And also...

[00:41:40] He was part of...

[00:41:42] One of the greatest...

[00:41:43] Non-trades...

[00:41:44] That...

[00:41:45] Has ever gone down...

[00:41:47] Chris Paul to the Lakers...

[00:41:49] So...

[00:41:50] There's so much...

[00:41:51] Chris Paul has been involved in...

[00:41:54] That it was time to take...

[00:41:56] A couple minutes...

[00:41:57] And since he...

[00:41:58] Passed Jason Kidd...

[00:41:59] Who was...

[00:42:00] Another...

[00:42:02] Tremendous...

[00:42:03] Point guard...

[00:42:04] Thought it was time to...

[00:42:06] Take a little time out...

[00:42:07] And celebrate our boy...

[00:42:09] CP3...

[00:42:10] So hats off to CP3...

[00:42:12] And all...

[00:42:13] That you do...

[00:42:14] My guy...

[00:42:16] Thank you for...

[00:42:17] Giving us...

[00:42:18] Almost two decades worth...

[00:42:19] Of basketball...

[00:42:21] Thank you so much...

[00:42:23] Now...

[00:42:23] With that being said...

[00:42:24] We can get up out of here...

[00:42:26] We're gonna be talking about...

[00:42:27] The...

[00:42:28] Northwest Division...

[00:42:30] On the next podcast...

[00:42:31] So...

[00:42:31] Keep it locked here...

[00:42:33] On Front Runner Podcast...

[00:42:34] On Front Runner Podcast...

[00:42:35] Collective...

[00:42:35] Where we come to you...

[00:42:36] Monday...

[00:42:37] Wednesday...

[00:42:37] And Friday...

[00:42:38] And also...

[00:42:41] Keep us...

[00:42:42] In your thought process...

[00:42:44] When you are...

[00:42:45] Going over...

[00:42:47] To Blue Sky...

[00:42:50] Absolutely...

[00:42:50] Blue Sky...

[00:42:51] We are building our own...

[00:42:52] Basketball community...

[00:42:53] So join us...

[00:42:54] And my handle on Blue Sky...

[00:42:55] Is at...

[00:42:56] FRPC...

[00:42:56] Hyphen...

[00:42:57] Rhea.B...

[00:42:58] Sky.Social...

[00:42:59] Start following the both of us...

[00:43:01] What is your handle?

[00:43:03] Remember...

[00:43:04] It's...

[00:43:04] At...

[00:43:05] Front Runner...

[00:43:05] PC...

[00:43:06] Dot...

[00:43:07] B...

[00:43:08] Sky...

[00:43:08] Dot...

[00:43:09] Social...

[00:43:10] Make sure...

[00:43:11] You find us...

[00:43:12] On Blue Sky...

[00:43:14] And also...

[00:43:15] If you are one of those people...

[00:43:16] That says...

[00:43:18] I'm staying to...

[00:43:19] I'm staying loyal...

[00:43:20] Twitter...

[00:43:21] Or X...

[00:43:22] I'm sorry...

[00:43:22] I call it X...

[00:43:23] Right?

[00:43:24] Elon wants to...

[00:43:25] Call it X...

[00:43:26] If you are loyal to X...

[00:43:29] I understand...

[00:43:31] You can hit us up there too...

[00:43:33] At Front Runner PC...

[00:43:35] On X...

[00:43:36] So...

[00:43:37] With that being said...

[00:43:38] The best part of you...

[00:43:40] Is you...

[00:43:41] Surround yourself...

[00:43:42] With people who...

[00:43:43] Do nothing...

[00:43:44] But to try to...

[00:43:45] Brighten your light...

[00:43:47] Go out...

[00:43:48] With your light...

[00:43:49] And do some good in this world...

[00:43:50] And we'll see you back on this podcast...

[00:43:52] On Wednesday...

[00:43:54] Deuce...

[00:43:54] And to all...

[00:43:55] A very happy hoops night...

[00:43:57] Bye...

[00:43:57] Bye...

[00:43:57] Bye...