Jokic's 200th Triple-Double, Ja's REVENGE GAME & Wolves LOSING Without Ant Has The Arena Heated! Part 1

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1:00 get $ 25 in bonus funds when you deposit just $ 10 on Polymarket. You ever have one of those days when you get home and you're thinking, man, I just need to feel something different. Maybe you just want to laugh. Maybe you want to get hyped. Maybe you want to watch something that's going to have you locked in. Or maybe you just want to chill. And that's exactly what I like about Amazon Prime. I'm not just choosing what I want to watch or what I want to buy.

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1:50 From streaming to fast shipping, it's on Prime. Welcome back to Kills Arena, presented by Poly Market and powered by Playmaker. Woo-hoo! I can't keep doing it. Halloween is tomorrow, so it's getting spooky. In the arena, we are festive. You know we like to celebrate holidays around here. This is Gil's Arena.

2:13 I'm merely host Josiah Johnson. I'm here with NBA legend, 2K Uncle Badges, Theater King, and the goaded Gilbert Arenas. What's up? Hello, Gilbert. We got NBA champion of the world. Rocking a whole new dude. You're creeping today. Swaggy P, Nick Young. Back on the couch.

2:47 On the dead homies. I ain't Swaggy P.

2:49 I'm Blueface. On Blueface, on the dead homies.

2:53 Blueface, baby. Yeah, all right.

2:56 And we got NCAA champion of the world. Three-time NBA champion of the world. And when he's not in the arena, you can check out his Inside the Green Room podcast or catch him calling Lakers games. Danny Green.

3:12 He look like a Spartan. He look like he get my hair right.

3:15 You know what I'm saying? Agamemnon. Say those damn names.

3:20 I like it.

3:21 He ain't talk much in the movie.

3:28 Y'all ain't got no sense. It is almost Halloween, but we still have NBA things that we need to get to. We got a lot of things to discuss. Here's what's cracking in the arena today. John Morant faced off against the Grizzlies for the first time since getting traded to the Blazers. Did Memphis make the right decision moving on from the former face of their franchise? Jokic messed around and dropped his 200th career triple-double. But are the Nuggets doing enough to keep his championship window open? And the Y Emberwolves got humbled by the Warriors in their first game without Ant-Man. Will the squad stay afloat in the West until his return? We will find all that out.

4:06 Ladies and gentlemen, we have our regular mostly fans for you guys. So throw some bread on the offering plate. Drop a good question in the chat and we will get to it at the end of the show. And shout out to all our Twitches out there. Gills Arena everywhere you want to be. If you're watching the show on Twitch, make sure you sub to our at Gills Arena show channel. Appreciate y'all for all the subs. And all the love. The boys. No, that is a Hollywood.

4:35 That's a Hollywood. The Hollywood Michael. You want to be a Hollywood boy?

4:42 $ 10 for a picture? All right.

4:46 Well, let's get to it. After COVID. Damn. Because they're coming outside and they probably gained a little bit of weight. Okay. Eating good. Eating good in the neighborhood. Just a little too slow. They'll have all the moves, all the steps down.

5:01 The loafers too. Not the loafers.

5:07 But Blazers and Grizzlies have been two of the surprise teams in the league so far this season. Both squads being undefeated heading into their meeting Thursday night in Portland as John Morant faces former team for the first time since getting traded this offseason. So during Blazers' media availability Wednesday, Ja tried to downplay it is just another game, saying he's not a big grudge guy while also saying I don't got no hard feelings with nobody unless they got it with me. Ja also took some accountability by acknowledging the role his off-court decisions played in his departure from Memphis after spending his first seven seasons there where he was a rookie of the year, two-time All-Star, and an

5:45 All-NBA selection. But during pregame warm-ups, he appeared to send a subliminal shot at his former team, Let's take a look. We cannot play the audio, but you can read the lower third graphic on the screen. Ja was tasked with picking the song for pregame warm-ups when with NBA Young Boys' Cross Me, a song that deals with the pain of betrayal and cutting people off for good once they violate your trust. So there's a little something there. Ja might have been looking for revenge, but he wouldn't find it in this game as the Grizzlies rookie Cam Boozer joins some elite company to keep his squad undefeated. Let's take a look at the highlights if we can, please.

6:23 Thank you, Palo.

6:24 He had a triple-double, no?

6:25 He did.

6:26 Early on, this was a battle as both teams traded buckets throughout the opening frame. Ja was aggressive in the first quarter. He had eight points in that first quarter. He had two threes, was three for three from the field. The game tied at 25 after the first frame. Second quarter, Cameron Boozer and the Grizzlies started to make their presence felt.

6:44 Third overall pick was scoring, finding open teammates, and helping Memphis keep pace with Portland's offense. John Denny Abia kept the Blazers rolling, but neither team could create separation.

6:55 Damn. Oh, wow.

6:56 Yeah, you see it?

6:59 Ty Jerome would get into it.

7:00 Ty Jerome in the house. Neither team could create separation, though they were going back and forth in that first half. Tied after the first quarter. Tied going into the half as well. We see Cam Boozer right there. He had four threes in the game. I love Boozer, son. Get into it. In the second half, Memphis took control. They went on a 10-0 run in the third quarter. Took a double-digit lead. Like we said, Boozer doing it all.

7:30 Messed around and dropped his first career triple-double. He had 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. Second youngest player ever with a triple-double behind Josh Giddey and the youngest big man to accomplish the feat. Shout-out to Cam Boozer out there doing it. Meanwhile, Ja finished with 14 points and three assists before leaving the game in the fourth quarter.

7:50 with a left hamstring injury. Danny Abdiah led Portland with 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Damian Lillard struggled in this game, scoring just nine points on three of 13 shooting. Oh, there we go. For the Grizzlies, Beef Stew, Isaiah Stewart, friend of Gilbert Arenas, was big off the bench, had 18 points on seven and 10 shooting. Cedric Howard added 17. Ty Jerome was leading the league in scoring at one point this season, cooled off, After his hot start, he had just 10 points on three of 12 shooting.

8:23 Grizzlies hit 18 threes, dished out 32 assists, outscored Portland 66-45 in the second half, went on to get the 21-point win. Memphis remains undefeated while handing the Blazers their first loss of the season. Danny, we're going to start with you. What are your biggest takeaways from the Grizzlies beating Ja and the Blazers to improve to 5-0 this season?

8:46 I mean, they look good right now. Um, nobody predicted from either side. These two teams are kind of like what Phoenix was last year for the West. Like Memphis could be one of those teams or what we expect Utah to be this year.

9:00 Right?

9:01 Like we expected them to make a jump, make a, you know, a turnaround, but Memphis looks good. So does Portland. You know, they, they put up some big numbers. They didn't have a great shooting night. Portland didn't, but Memphis, you know, Carlos Cameron boozer keeps saying, uh, Had a hell of a night. It was a pretty damn good stat line. It was balanced scoring. You know, Todd Jerome was averaging like 35 at one point. He came down to earth a little bit. But the rest of the group, they pitched in, man. So they're looking good. You know, they don't seem like they have a lot of talent.

9:32 But they have some good pieces to figure out. Probably due to coaching. They look like they're pretty well coached for the most part. And getting some guys to get hot at the right moments.

9:42 Grizzlies coach Tomas Isalo had some issues with John Morant last season. Tried to change the offense up. John was not feeling it. Part of the reason that led to his departure from Memphis, getting traded to the Blazers. Let's shift over to Blueface. Blueface, biggest takeaway from the Grizzlies getting the win over John, the Blazers, and Portland. improving to 5-0 this season? I would say confidence, man. You're giving guys like Memphis confidence. They winning games. Nobody expected them to win. Boozer, you know, having a great start to an NBA career.

10:18 Triple-dub. Man, that's big for somebody coming in. I thought Boozer been a pro since I think his junior year. I always seen it in him. But the way he's taking over games, controlling games this early is big. Jerome averaging 30-something. You know, you're giving these corner guys. It dropped down to 26 now, Swaggy. And it's hard to turn that off, you know. They all got something to prove.

10:48 The big thing, it wasn't as big as I thought. Jock coming back to Memphis, I don't think nobody even watched the game or knew about it.

10:56 But it's the Blazers and the Grizzlies. He's not back in Memphis yet.

10:59 Oh, yeah, but playing, at least just playing Memphis, period. I thought it would have been some type of buzz, you know. But, you know, shout out to Memphis. The way they playing, they big. They pushing the ball, playing defense, hitting the shots in threes. they looking all right. You know, if they could keep this going, that'd be, I think, one of the biggest surprise teams of the year.

11:24 Memphis Grizzlies 5-0 right now, one of two undefeated teams remaining in the National Basketball Association along with the Houston Rockets. Move on to Arc Raider, Gilbert Arenas, the Grizzlies 5-0, Cam Boozer. Triple-double, second-youngest triple-double, youngest triple-double by a big man in the history of the NBA. What's your reaction to that?

11:45 They might not have a superstar, but they actually have a really good team. When you actually look at the players that's on the team, like coming off the bench, you got Jeremy Grant over.

11:56 There, right?

11:58 You got Gigi Jackson still there, Isaiah Stewart, Post, right? You got Spencer and then you still got Scottie Pippen Jr. So when you're talking about like experience and guys who are smart and know how to play the game of basketball, you know, that's coming off your bench. So, you know, I mean, it is surprising that this team is 5-0.

12:19 You know, after you get rid of, you know, John Morant, you would think they were, you know, trying to rebuild. But when you look at the team and you look on paper, it's like they actually have a solid group of guys that know how to play the game of basketball. So, you know, Carlos Boozer fits right in. Now it makes me wonder, damn, if John Morant was there, what would this team be? Like, you finally put you know, players around him who actually understand, you know, basketball itself. This is like putting them with that team that went to the playoffs.

12:53 That's an interesting part of that, because you got Jaffer, Jeremy Grant, and Chris Murray. There was no draft picks involved. Jeremy Grant, Chris Murray combined for two points last night in 30 minutes. Yeah, but Jeremy Grant, like he's, yeah, he can play basketball. Point being, though, if you still had Jaffer on that roster without those two, this is.

13:13 A, Because now you gave him a big guy who actually plays, you know, he can play outside and inside. You know, those screens he's going to be setting is, you know.

13:24 A lot different.

13:24 Yeah, so it's what ifs, but, you know, they both moved on.

13:29 Grizzlies 5-0 this season, but their five wins have come against the Jazz twice, the Warriors, the Kings, and now the Blazers.

13:37 I mean, still. Five wins in association in a row, not easy to do regardless of the opponents. Yeah, Memphis looks good. And those guys, like Swaggy said, they're getting confident and they're looking like starting to get– they're looking like pieces people want to go after that are trying to make changes or like, well, we need a piece to get in playoff contention or even being a contender.

14:02 Like if you add a Ty Jerome to your– he don't seem like he's on an expensive deal. You can add him to your roster. You can get one of those other young guys, even Beef Stew, somebody go out and get him, be an enforcer. Not saying that Memphis will give these guys away right away, but if they wanted to start over, these guys' value is only stock.

14:24 Is rising right now.

14:26 They have a good crew. Like you pointed out, this is a good crew. Quinn and Post even, I love it. With the Warriors, Grizzlies got them on their beef stew. Brings that grit and grind. Bad boys 2.0 intensity. But let's talk about the rookie, the third overall pick, Cam Boozer. So through five games, Boozer averaging 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, playing 32 minutes a night, has two double-doubles in those five games. And now a triple-double. So, Danny, what are your impressions of Cam Boozer after his first five NBA games?

14:58 I mean, you know, it was him, Caleb Wilson, and A.J. for me that I thought had the best chances of being, like, rookie of the year. And right now he's in that conversation. Right now, Yaxel probably number one on the rookie meter, like, ranking. He's probably number two. after that performance. Um, AJ's only got one game on his belt. He still has some, he had a really, a pretty good debut. Caleb Wilson is on the right. Like those guys are good. A cuff is putting up some numbers. Like he has an opportunity to be in there. Uh, but yeah, we knew it.

15:28 What cam was before he got, he was the most polished guy coming out in the draft. You know, they didn't think he had a, a lot of room to a ceiling because he wasn't like an athlete, but he was a pro and he can do all the things you knew he was going to give, give you. And, Kind of like, you know, even though he's, Yaxel's older, but that's why Golden State, they like older guys, more polished, you know, solidified guys when they bring him in and they're not like true rookies. So he doesn't look like a true rookie right now. He looks like he's ahead of his, ahead of his time.

16:01 That's why you're looking at Cam Boozer, what he's been able to do. 5-0 as a rookie, triple-double.

16:09 Man, I just like, I like that. I didn't expect the 12 assists. I don't think I ever seen that from him. The fact that you know he got that in his bag along with how hard he played, how big he is. He got a little bit of this Tim Duncan demeanor. He's quiet. And if Memphis somehow continue to make noise, you got to give it to Boozer because nobody has seen Memphis being 5-0. And him being in that starting lineup, being a big part of that, I think that would help his chances.

16:47 Yeah, I mean, impact winning.

16:48 Yeah.

16:49 Rookie of the year, though, do you, most times, it doesn't matter because, you know, Cooper won.

16:55 Yeah.

16:55 But Khan, I thought.

16:57 But Khan had, like, LaMelo and all that.

16:59 Yeah.

17:00 He had a good, he had a better team.

17:02 Brandon Miller and all them, but who's on this team?

17:04 But I feel like he had a big impact on winning.

17:07 Coming in.

17:08 You take that into account when it comes to rookie of the year, though?

17:11 But, Like, coming in and seeing that team on paper.

17:16 Yeah.

17:18 Yeah.

17:18 And if he continued to put up, like, triple doubles.

17:21 They're going to be terrible.

17:22 Continue to put up, like, triple doubles and getting close to 20 and 8 and 6 or something. That's crazy.

17:30 Yeah.

17:32 It's similar. Kind of the same team with Golden State. It'd be hard with Yaks. Because Yaks with Golden State, all you know is Steph and Draymond. Mm-hmm. So....

17:42 When it comes to Boozer, I was one of those guys that was like, I wouldn't have drafted him one, two, three. Like, I'm looking at the upside. I didn't see the upside, right? It's like, because of college and he's banging, I'm like, well, you're not going to be able to bang like that in the NBA.

18:03 But watching him.

18:03 Play, right?

18:05 He has the understanding of his ability, and he's using it.

18:09 You're going to sag, I'm going to shoot.

18:11 Gonna pick up i'm gonna drive by you so when you're talking about dominating and playing uh to your skill set um you know i'm always iffy on duke guys you know i mean they're more systematic so i'm like this is a great place for him right when you're talking about like just being an all-around basketball player right um.

18:38 He's really good. You know what I mean? He's really good at what he does.

18:44 High IQ.

18:44 He's been a winner, I mean, from fucking seem like elementary school.

18:49 You know what I mean?

18:50 It's like he's one of those guys that's held his position throughout his basketball career. And winning usually shouldn't be factored into the rookie of the year. Because those guys are going to bottom-feeding teams. Now, if this team is a bottom-feeding team and he has them in the playoffs, you actually have to consider his presence and moving the needle for that because it's all about where was the prediction on this team and then your.

19:28 Impact helping them get to the playoffs. That's how I look at it. But you look at this Grizzlies squad, they've been able to build through the lottery over the past few years. Obviously, Zach Eaddy Cedric Coward, who you were unfamiliar with his game, but out of Washington State.

19:41 G.G. Jackson.

19:41 G.G. Jackson, yeah. I mean, literally, their core is all 25 or younger with the exception of Ty Jerome and Jeremy Grant. Even Cam Spencer. who's a solid player. Quinton Post coming in, who's 26. We got Wells still there. Yeah, Jalen Wells, 23. This is a... I feel like a great regular season team because them young boys are going to be able to go out there.

20:05 They don't have the experience yet.

20:06 They still.

20:07 If you want to be in contention, you need at least one star, probably two. But they can be a team that can sneak into the playoffs, buy through the play-in. But that first round is going to be ugly.

20:20 Portland did last year a little bit.

20:22 Yeah, Portland did. No, but you still got a Danny Ivey.

20:23 I mean, this is a team that they'll probably be– they can be in the playoff hunt, be a 7, 8, 6-y by all-star. And you'll be sitting there trying to figure out who the all-star is on the stage.

20:39 I mean, I'll say Ty Jerome at this point, if the numbers hold.

20:42 Yeah, but his numbers are probably down. He could probably average like 18.

20:45 Yeah, by the time all-stars. He averaged 20 last year with the Grizzlies in a limited amount of time. Yeah, but that's what I'm saying. By the time he gets here. But that's what I'm saying. You'll still be looking at it like.

20:54 Well, we might just take three off of– we'll take three off of Detroit if they're number one, and you'll be sitting there like, yeah.

21:01 I know it's five games, but 26 and six. Man, that's– Right now. That's a great way to start off.

21:06 Yeah.

21:07 I said I think he's going to score for them. I'd imagine there'll still be balanced scoring for that group to win. I can't see him averaging 26 for the season. At best, probably 22.

21:18 What?

21:20 That was a career high for Danny, what's it called, last year, right? Averaging 24.

21:24 Yeah, but he's big.

21:27 There was a time when he was averaging like 27, though. I know. He was cooking.

21:31 That's what I'm saying. He's like really like 6'9. Probably with his shoes off.

21:37 Got to the free throw line. And Portland was pretty– they were better without Dame and a lot of those guys being there. They were solid.

21:48 So we're talking about the Grizzlies 5-0 right now. I'm going to give you their next slate of games. So Halloween, they got the Kings at the crib. Then the Pelicans, Pacers, Thunder, Raptors, Nuggets, Pelicans again, Nets.

22:01 They're scheduled until it gets to Thunder and who else was it? Thunder and Nuggets. Thunder, Raptors, Nuggets. Those are the three teams that are a little more testy for them. But this Pels and Saks, again, they're playing a lot of Saks in Utah.

22:20 A lot of Saks. Yeah, get them out of the way. But I'm saying this team has the potential now to jump out and have a good record and not take a hold on.

22:28 Yeah.

22:29 Start to believe in themselves. It's better.

22:30 I'd rather start off 10-0 and then have a rough schedule at the end versus, you know, starting off 0-10 and then.

22:37 Have these sorry teams.

22:38 You feel like you just done for already.

22:41 0-10? Yeah.

22:42 On that Memphis team?

22:44 Yeah.

22:44 And that's when really good teams are like, well, yo.

22:46 Why can't I get the Memphis game?

22:48 Yeah.

22:48 They need that schedule. Let me start off 10-0, man. The 5-0 feels a little fugazi, but I'm just saying they have the potential now to stretch this thing even more. Kings aren't trying to win. It's just the Darius Acuff show over there, so.

22:59 4-5, right?

23:04 He still put up the shots.

23:05 You were wondering if he was going to.

23:06 No, I'm thinking, like, I understand the tanking looked bad. In a sense, because everybody was trying it. But when did it hurt the league? It's built every single dynasty.

23:20 Yeah.

23:21 I mean, it's helped teams a lot. Huh? It's helped teams a lot. It's just hurt probably with certain ticket sales and certain, like, it's hard to get fans to come out to those games.

23:33 Yeah.

23:33 When it's Washington versus Sacramento or. Utah, and then both teams are trying to lose.

23:38 But were those games ever well attended? I'm just, you know, those are... Like I mean, like Sacramento.

23:43 If they're playing the guys, they'll be more attentive. They sat everybody. You know, like if you still played your guys, that's where it hurts. Like, we came to see Laurie Market and Jaron Jackson. They're on the bench. What the hell? Like, we came to see A.D. and Trey Young. If they don't play, it's like, all right, they're selling tickets for $ 8 with them there now.

24:04 You know, like, give them away for free, right? Empty fan night. I think AD made some comment about it. That's what I'm saying.

24:10 So, like, Sacramento, I mean, so you're going to penalize them for being sorry. You know what I mean? Like, you're going to penalize them this year, right, for being sorry. So the best they can do is be better than the bottom three.

24:23 So they start at four? If they get to, but also there's rules in place, too, about.

24:29 Yeah, you just can't. The bottom three is where you get most penalized. You get less lottery.

24:33 So bottom three, and then I think the end of the crew.

24:35 Oh, yeah, that was kind of like the same thing. That was the same thing I was saying. Whoever's in last place, you get penalized. Remember, I said if you're in last, you get the 14th pick.

24:45 You're hard-locked. So the last three get less lottery. Last three teams, the play-in losers, and they're, I think, four through ten. is kind of the sweet spot, has the best odds of landing number one. But you also can't get.

24:57 It helps the league for those teams that will do that and build through the draft. When they can get a Cooper flat, you know what I'm saying? If you can get A.J. DeBonsa.

25:06 But what if your team just asks, though? You get penalized for that? Life? Like, Kings are just bad. And you want to put them... They just going to continue to be bad. If you don't give them a draft pick, they're going to continue to be bad.

25:22 I'm just saying, in life, last place, you don't get rewarded.

25:28 Message!

25:31 Only in sports where the last place team gets the.

25:35 You get a chance to get a dynasty. Like, you get in a lottery. Yeah. You're right. No. If you're last in racing, nigga, you're out. Don't race no more.

25:46 You should race no more.

25:48 If you're not first, you're last, though. Your team last. Whatever. If you're last. Group project, y'all last. Y'all are done. Get out. We need to get help.

25:58 How are we going to get better if we keep getting.

26:02 It's all working. Work your fucking self. Last place track team. Last place track team. Don't get the fastest guy.

26:09 That's an individual sport.

26:10 No, work your shit together. No, that relay team. They get replaced. That relay team gets your ass. They get replaced. Go recruit. They get replaced.

26:21 But it's only sports where they do that. You're literally a losing team, and we're literally giving you winners.

26:30 You're going to get winners to winning teams?

26:33 That's what they did in the past.

26:35 They could find other ways, man.

26:37 You think teams like Boston had a bunch of losers on their team and won.

26:43 Nine straight championships? Like, no, there's a reason. It's like you got a.

26:46 Bunch of winning players, and then you kept getting rewarded number one, number two pick.

26:50 That's back in time. That's different times, though. Yeah, no, that should be the same times. No, no, hey, I'm lying.

26:57 If I won a championship, give me the goddamn number. I want a top five pick. Let's keep this bitch rolling.

27:03 Well, that's going to mess up your team, too, because every year you get a good player. How are you going to balance that out?

27:11 They're using it for trade, baby.

27:13 Easy. I'm just saying. You think they're going to like that? Who? If you get an A.J. each year, you think. If New York just got A.J.? Yeah. I think they'd be fine. If they get another A.J., then the next year get another A.J.? Huh?

27:27 But it gives you something to go for. Yeah.

27:31 Like, literally, it's the opposite here. But you're telling me if I don't try, I get rewarded.

27:39 No, but I'm saying if you really try.

27:42 But I'm just saying apply that to life. I don't try, I get rewarded.

27:45 Yes, there's some people that don't try and hit the lotto, motherfucker.

27:49 No, they get a dollar. They get a dollar.

27:52 They don't try and they get their crack, too. They get what they want. But I'm saying if you really try, like, and you just ask, like, it's some teams that just are weak. Like, they're not trying to be weak.

28:06 They were trying to be weak, though. All of them were trying to be weak. They can try to be better than weak. Like, at least they're going to try to win now and stop being at the bottom. So they'll play their guy.

28:13 That's what I'm saying. Like, the Kings. You think they can be good?

28:15 Sabonis Levine will play.

28:16 They've been good in periods before. Obviously, they had a 16-season playoff drought. I mean. But they've been good at times.

28:23 If you look at the talent on the team, you have Sabonis.

28:28 Let's go to the Warriors. You think they could be really good? Hell no.

28:31 Who? The Warriors. They got to rely on Steph at 40 to average 40. Not really good, but they can win some games. They can win some games. Now, here's what we call tanking.

28:44 Steph is averaging 34, and Draymond is damn.

28:47 Near averaging a triple-double. You say, all right, Steph, sit down. I get that. And it's like, nah, they're not. You got to play.

28:57 But at what point do you sit Steph down?

29:00 Never.

29:01 I'm saying if you know you're not making the playoff, you just.

29:04 No, he's paid to play.

29:06 Do you got to reserve Steph at the end?

29:09 Me, I think I always have history.

29:13 And I consider history with certain guys. So with someone like Steph, he is chasing number one or trying to expand on number one, right? So I got to take that in consideration as a coach. So I'm going to, hey, listen, these are the milestones.

29:31 This is what you're up. What do you want to do?

29:34 Like, I'm going to ask my player because we've been there where we're on a record we're about to beat a record, we get subbed, and there's eight minutes left.

29:42 Yeah.

29:42 And you win it.

29:43 Yeah, you win it, but it's like, well, damn, you could have just fucking kept me in a little bit longer. You know what I mean? We do have those. Yeah, you know what I mean? Let me get the milestones. So with him, I'd be like, all right, look, this is what you need.

29:54 What do you want to do?

29:55 I mean, and for NBA purposes, they're saying... people are coming to watch you. You're getting paid to play. It's part of the job, bro.

30:04 I get that. I'm just saying, if the team just naturally has... There's going to be a last place team.

30:11 There's going to be a last place team.

30:12 There's not as high as it was before to get a lottery.

30:16 There's going to be a last place team, and you being last.

30:19 They still could get a top five pick. They just have lesser odds.

30:24 Let's talk a little bit about the Blazers, and specifically John Morant, obviously. Revenge game for Ja fell short of that, but even more concerning, had the hamstring injury just reported by Shams that he suffered a grade two left hamstring strain. Will be out at least four weeks, at least four to six. I would lean towards more than four.

30:44 Yeah, four to six. Grade two?

30:46 Grade two. Yeah. Hamstring strain. So through four games, Ja averaging just under 16 points, five and a half assists and a steal in 26 minutes per game.

30:55 Do they go to Memphis in that span? So he's going to miss the Memphis trip if they go?

31:00 Let me see.

31:00 If they go? Yeah, four to six. When is Shaden Sharp coming back? Like, they're going to need... Not for a while. I mean, Portland was rolling. This happens again. I mean, I said I don't wish nothing on anybody, and I hate to see injuries, but when you look at rosters, you have to predict and prepare for guys to go down. And most teams, role players are going to go down, but now superstars are going down more often than before in the last five years. So Ja has been out some time previous to being in Portland.

31:32 At some point, you're like, all right, there's going to be some games he might miss. Right now is not the great time, but, you know, Portland has enough guards where Drew can go in and fill a void. You know, they got Scoot there. He hasn't got a lot of minutes. Now you get a chance to prove himself a little more.

31:49 This is probably why they kept so many guards. Like, you know, Dame is still coming back off the injury. He might have a couple weeks sitting down. Ja has a history of having some issues here and there, so we need a plethora of guards so when that does happen. So I think they'll be solid. I still think they'll be okay. But, I mean, it sucks for Ja. Again, I hope he gets to make that Memphis trip.

32:13 They're not back in Memphis until February 6th, February 8th. They got two games.

32:16 So they're good, right before all-star time.

32:18 Back-to-back in Memphis against the Grizzlies. So hopefully Ja should be back by then. But like we talked about before, there was a lot of discussion before the season about, Blazers backcourt, who should start, who should come off the bench. But then, like you're talking about with the rash of injuries around the league, that problem kind of sadly sorted itself out.

32:36 Yeah.

32:36 I mean, it was a question of when they first, like even with San Antonio last year, they were like, why would you draft Dylan Harper when you got Fox? Like, do you need, I don't like all those, no, you need all those guards in today's NBA. You know, you need all those wings because something is going to happen and you need the depth. OKC just signed Ochai, I think.

32:54 So, yeah.

32:54 They had a couple guys go down, but a guy like Aaron Wiggins right now is hooping in Atlanta. I'm sure they can be like, damn, could use him right now. You just need a plethora at every position now. You need a bunch of backup bigs and a backup wings. You need not just a little bit of step above a solid role player. Damn near a starter in your second unit just to be like, all right, so we can stay afloat.

33:19 How will the absence of Ja impact the Blazers? Over the course of the next month. But you got a lot of teams around the league that are hurt right now, especially in that West.

33:30 This is sad that they still haven't came to the senses. Like, I don't know who is giving you guys your.

33:43 How about this? Fuck a doctor.

33:44 The analytics people?

33:46 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Fuck a doctor because that doctor is.

33:50 A regular human being. He's normal. Athletes are very different. They need different training. You guys are having soft tissue, pulls, tears.

34:08 There's a reason.

34:09 You're not jumping higher than nobody did before you. You're not running faster than nobody did before. So when you're talking about why are you getting injured, And you want to blame the shoes? Motherfuckers wore chucks and sandals back then, right? The difference is they trained like their sport. Hammies, that's speed.

34:38 You're taking off.

34:39 You ask a track runner, how come you don't hurt your hammies? Because they're training their muscles.

34:46 They're sprinting. They're using these.

34:48 So when they try to do something, naturally, it's not shocked for the first time. So most of these guys that's jumping out of the building, it's not strong enough to do what they want to do.

34:59 They're not lifting weights. They're not stretching.

35:02 They're not conditioning.

35:03 The muscle is not conditioned to sustain what y'all want to do all the time. So it's no different than I set my leg in a cast for a month, right? I take it out, and then I go try to jump. That's what they're doing. You're just sitting around. Y'all do little things, little band shit going on, and then you're going out there trying to fucking jump from the free throw line.

35:26 So in your mind, what is the solution to that? from front office, doctors, GMs, and even maybe the league to change for the better for all players to have less injuries?

35:37 It's training.

35:39 You don't know what these guys are doing in the summer for their bodies. So when you come into training camp and you're doing more resting instead of really training these muscles to get ready for the season, when I say longer training camp, you don't need two days. But I don't think you should start the season Until yeah, I'm with you. I mean I always said till the end of fucking like right now today should.

36:04 Be opening day, right?

36:06 I mean they had a month of really training getting ready for this season getting in shape right getting in shit like Rip Hamilton, right?

36:16 Rip Hamilton the speed.

36:18 Well, whatever it is the highest speed you can get on a treadmill 12 with the 12 incline and he's just running and He's sitting there. He's just running, getting in shape. That's what, because he knows when the season starts, that's what he's going to be doing. Yeah, just running off screens and shit.

36:35 Elijah was, it was this summer.

36:38 And Rip Hamilton is just sitting there, hours just sitting. And at the end, his son was practicing at the end. They're running line drills. And Rip got up. Started running with it started running. I said Elijah try to keep up with him. I said you he's gonna blow you out of the wall Rip was in Emma.

36:59 No, no, no, no, no, no Elijah was like what? That's him.

37:05 Yeah, but you you're you have to be you have to really train your muscles to do the things you guys are doing and it's just sad to just see it because it's it's obvious and But it's.

37:17 Like a smaller training camp, but then you're sending these guys out and they have arguably like the fastest pace. Yeah. You're looking at the pace and the speed of the game, the spacing, all these things. They're not preparing for that in training camp. No, they're not. I mean, I know watching the Timberwolves, watching the Sixers early on in the season, like there's no way this is going to be sustainable.

37:34 No, that's the issue. And again, I know a lot of people don't like preseason. I said this on my pod inside the green room. Like they said, I think to eliminate some of the back-to-backs, you can start the season a week earlier and end it a week later. Like, even if you just add two weeks, maybe two and a half weeks, it'll eliminate some of those back-to-back. But preseason is important. And training camp, you might need to start that a couple weeks earlier. You know, just so that they can get ready and have a full month of preseason. Actually have six preseason games. Because you know they're not going to play two. They're going to play half of two of them.

38:09 Ain't that on the players, too, though? Like, to get their team together and have these, like, runs like LeBron and Philly did. somebody can organize one yeah yeah they own but they need to start like you need to be going five on five at it like early like yeah mid-september like going five on five building up but this practice we're gonna do one or two quarters and then we're gonna do three or four three quarters and then preseason i'm able you have to play at least two full preseason games so that your your body is kind of in that mode you're playing half of two games, and then next you know.

38:43 You're getting ready for the season. Then you got to play again. You got to hoop.

38:45 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

38:46 That ain't going to. That's a formula for you're going to pop some shit. You're going to get a great whatever tear.

38:53 And that's why I said the reason the superstars is being hurt the most because they're the ones that's going to be pushing 100 out the gate.

39:01 Full tilt, yeah.

39:02 I mean, they got the ball in their hands most of the time. They got to make all the athletic plays.

39:06 Yeah.

39:07 It's like every injury that we're seeing right now, those are training camp. Those are training camp issues.

39:14 Sore back, groin, you know what I mean?

39:16 You find that out in the summer.

39:17 Yeah.

39:17 We used to hoop everywhere, too. Even you hoop outside. You used to hoop everywhere. They still playing, but Nah, I don't see, like, the Drew's day, all them.

39:28 I rode the bike all summer, 20, 30 miles.

39:32 I did track workouts.

39:33 You played in tournaments in the summer.

39:35 I did miles, and I was still not ready for training camp.

39:38 Yeah, and even doing that, yeah.

39:39 Yeah, that's what I said.

39:40 I came in in September. We had to do the bleachers first, and then we had to play at least 10 pickup games. And when training camp started.

39:49 Yeah.

39:50 I'm still soaring. You know what I mean? It's like, oh, my God, I got to ice up.

39:55 Everybody showed up after Labor Day and actually was.

39:57 Like, I don't see nobody hooping like that.

40:00 As much.

40:01 As much.

40:01 I see UCLA here and there.

40:03 It's not as mandatory.

40:04 It's very optional.

40:05 They hoop everywhere. So let's shift this over just a little bit. Obviously, we'll see how the Blazers fare with our job for the next four to six weeks with that. Grade 2 hamstring injury.

40:15 So many damn injuries, man.

40:16 But Josh spent seven seasons in Memphis, became the face of the Grizzlies, then got traded to Portland for Jeremy Grant and Chris Murray and no draft picks. All last season they were saying he had negative trade value, Hamlin Mello, amongst other guys. Tonight was supposed to be his revenge game. Instead, his old team smacked his new team by 21. Cameron Boozer put up a triple-double. And obviously he's now got the injury issue going on. So Memphis 5-0. Blazers have their first loss. So I got to ask the question, did the Grizzlies actually become a better team by trading John?

40:52 I wouldn't say that. I mean, they're starting off really well right now. That's still yet to be seen. It's too early. But, again, you never know how it pans out for them. Like we've seen OKC move on from Paul George. And then who would have thought Shea and company would become this? That could happen in Memphis. Obviously, the draft is different. They're killing Clippers for making that trade.

41:21 This is what Paul George turned into. This is what Kawhi turned into. But nobody thought OKC would end up being better than Clippers a couple years later. Technically, Doc did. Doc was begging Kawhi, listen, keep Shea. Trust me.

41:35 Yeah. For real?

41:43 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

41:44 Supposedly they all knew. They saw it.

41:45 But Doc was like, I mean, I was like, I want my guy.

41:48 It wasn't just like Pat Beck, all those guys that was there, they saw. And Shea, Lou Will, like they saw. Yeah, Lou Will told me he was close. But I don't know, I think... But if he had already a PG, he was already wrecked, like, you know what I'm saying? He had an MVP caliber year that year in OKC.

42:00 Yeah, you know, that's... I'm going to say Memphis became a better team without Ja.

42:04 Yeah, on the dead homies. Like team?

42:06 He means like team.

42:07 Better team on the dead homies they did. Just because... I don't like this job. He's broken, I feel like. The media and the brokenness.

42:18 I need more.

42:19 So you feel he has something to prove?

42:21 Yeah, I want him to have that type of energy. I love the shoes. I love he giving off. But I like doing the grenade job. Bring him back. Importantly quiet. I feel like.

42:35 He's still playing young boy in the warmers. I think he's trying to buy into more of the team thing.

42:42 But that's what I'm saying.

42:43 Bringing him off the bench and shit like that.

42:45 Buy in and be a job. He needs you to go out there and get 20. Would Denny and Dame know he got to do that? Yes. Dame 36, 37. I'm still in my 20s. My shoes sell more than Dame's. I'm in Nike in Portland.

43:03 It seems like an image control.

43:05 Yeah, it feels like he's just trying to fit in.

43:07 We want that electrifying job to go out there and dunk on people.

43:10 He said he was a dunk ball like last year. Was that last year or the year before?

43:14 Yeah, he always starts that and then that motherfucker freak dunk on somebody.

43:19 Yeah, I miss that job.

43:23 Do you think the Grizzlies became a better team by trading jobs? Oh, I don't care.

43:28 Do you think they became better, though?

43:30 No. They can be 20 and 0. Do we really give a shit? Let me just be honest. It's not like... You wouldn't care if they were 20 and 0? It's not like... I mean, I bought... Of course, I bought a bruiser jersey. I mean, personally.

43:43 I don't like the number 27. Like, I mean, it might be personal, but it's like, like, dog, can you get, like, number one, two, like.

43:52 You know, give me a star number. Like, you didn't use a star.

43:54 Like, you give me a star number 27.

43:58 You know what I mean? I'm wearing some shit. I'm like, oh, man, it's one of these ass numbers on the star players.

44:02 Because it's different.

44:03 I know. I know. So I got my 27. Lucas, 77.

44:05 I mean, 77.

44:05 77 is a good number. But, again.

44:11 Ja himself outsold every Grizzly player, Jersey, that ever went there combined. So they can be a great team all they want. They're not going to bring in the same money, and it's not going to be the same value.

44:24 Nobody's going to want to watch that.

44:28 It's cool, you know, to say, yeah, we won without you.

44:31 And if they keep winning games, this is like.

44:33 Yeah, no, no, no.

44:34 Jerome, if he keeps winning.

44:35 Because it was their first superstar, and they see what it looks like, they might be just... one of those cities that, you know what? We just want blue collar type players. We don't want the superstar. We want like the grinded.

44:49 You know what I mean?

44:50 We just, you know, we want to be some local ass people.

44:54 You know what I mean?

44:54 You know, you know, it's like a nice little college town. You know, that's, that's what Memphis is and was, um, I don't.

45:02 Know, Jerome in the house.

45:03 I'm with you with... Who?

45:04 Jerome in the house. Jerome in the house from night to night. If you keep.

45:09 Averaging 27, it's going.

45:12 To be Jerome in the house.

45:14 All right.

45:14 But look, I'm with you on the job thing, but I was in that situation.

45:19 I know, I know. I understand what my mindset is.

45:22 You're trying to fit in, and because how the media has portrayed you, And you really want to show them like you're not that person. And in a sense, like majority of the stuff is self-inflicted, which didn't hurt nobody, but they're still judging you as if you did something to them and they're treating your basketball game the same, right?

45:49 Injuries is what's actually stopped you from being on the court, uh, outside of, you know, the, the situation.

46:00 I believe.

46:06 No one is gonna give two shits if you change your image and your average.

46:12 No one's gonna care, right?

46:15 I'd rather take the John Morant that's throwing a grenade, dunking on people, showing a highlight. I'd rather keep that one than Him conform, be neutral, have no sex appeal on the court.

46:35 What if he can't?

46:37 Yeah. You can't. You can only be you.

46:42 His old job, personality-wise, but court-wise, not what he was two or three years ago. What if he's not as explosive? He hasn't seen two, three years.

46:53 He is.

46:53 Because he can't shoot as well as he did two, three years ago.

46:58 But we've seen him.

47:00 He still has his game.

47:02 We see it in spurts, but we don't see... He still hasn't... That's mental.

47:09 When you're going on the court and you feel like everybody's attacking you, nobody's allowing you to be you.

47:16 You tone it all.

47:17 You don't want me to be Ja? Then. All of Ja leaves. Yeah. So that means on fast break, I'm just going to lay the ball in.

47:25 I'm not doing nothing. And that's what we don't like. Athletes don't know how to go turn a little bit of this off. Like, you don't want me to be my personality. Then I got to figure out how to be a whole nother personality.

47:39 I just got it. I feel like I'd still see. I just I'm not seeing the same athletic plays as before.

47:44 Because he doesn't want to. You don't want me to be me. Maybe it is.

47:47 Maybe it's like doing the right thing every time.

47:49 Huh?

47:50 He's trying to do the right play every time. He ain't.

47:52 You're literally trying to.

47:55 That's not like right now taking me.

47:56 He played the right way in Memphis. Like, they make the right plays.

47:59 But he just was way more excited. The right way is him being aggressive, too. He don't even look aggressive.

48:03 Like, take Akoff, right, and say, hey, we want you to average 10 assists. Right? Mentally, he's going to have to try to figure out what that means. Like, so now, instead of driving and seeing all these open lanes, now he's playing to pass.

48:18 Yep.

48:20 A whole different person, right? You're taking away the swag, the bop, all of that.

48:25 I'm just saying the injuries might have played a part in his.

48:28 Yeah, but these are looking.

48:29 I got to see.

48:29 What is the injuries? It's not like he's had surgery. No. It's just little pulls here, little. Shoulder, hamstring.

48:35 But, like, those, again, D-Rose, he was still able to jump. But maybe he's just a little weary of, like, coming down. Yeah, those knees, angles and stuff. Injuries, like, you know. That would change my style of play. If I want to last longer, I can't be jumping 50 inches in the air trying to dunk him.

48:50 Over everybody. At 20?

48:52 The shit I seen this summer on them high like Dunks did. Oh, man. I thought I was about to see that in the regular season. But it is Portland. In fact, the coach already didn't have you in a potential starter.

49:05 As soon as he did that, it was over. Yeah. Because now it's.

49:09 Like, oh, shit, I got to be cool because I don't want to be subbed.

49:12 I don't want to be taken out.

49:13 Wasn't there reports that, like, false reports or something like that?

49:18 I mean, Mike and Noria talked about just the loaded back court.

49:21 They dropped that, like, right before the game, right?

49:24 Chris Haynes refuted it, but I think coming into the season, there were reports that he might come off the bench. They had talked about that during training camp, asked Ja about it extensively. He did the politically correct. I'm fine with whatever. I just want to help the team win.

49:34 Remember I said that's when I knew you wasn't really, you wasn't mentally there.

49:38 You just. Well, we will see how it pans out for Ja and the Blazers moving forward, but it's time to try and finesse some bread on Polymarket. This is Put That on Something. We're going to give you a trade on the Polymarket app, and you've got to pick a side and put that on something. So Cam Boozer, been impressive so far in his rookie campaign. The third overall pick just became the second youngest player ever to drop a triple-double, ranks fifth amongst all rookies in points per game, first in rebounds per game, and second in assists per game.

50:08 So Boozer was at the top of the first NBA rookie ladder released this past Wednesday. But right now he has the second best odds on polymarket to win rookie of the year behind Yaxel Foley, Yaxel Lindenborg. 24% of traders are picking him to take home the award, but let's take it to the couch. Danny, we will start with you. Will Cam Boozer win rookie of the year?

50:30 Again, if he puts this team in a winning position, not saying like winning at all, but like they're winning games and they're above 500 for most of the year in the play-in, you have to. You know, Yaxel looks really good. He looks polished. He's gaining confidence. He's having a great year. But if Golden State, and he has a Steph Curry with him, you know, Cam don't have a Steph Curry. He's got a Ty Jerome, who's still very good.

50:54 Jerome and a half.

50:55 But if they're above Golden State and Yaxel has slightly better numbers, I'm going with Cam. Like, And I like Cooper Flagg's game. He made a push at the end of the year. But I thought Khan, what he did over there, actually helped impact winning. Because nobody had Charlotte in the playoffs. They ended up beating Boston a few times at the end of the year last year. It turned it around. It had a good streak toward the end of the year. And I thought he helped impact winning.

51:20 So I was more on that side of it. Even though Rookie of the Year doesn't really matter winning. But I think you've got to take it on a small scale of putting that in there.

51:29 So after Cam's performance last night, he actually jumped up, and he's now tied with Yaxel. They're both at 32%. Best odds. Yeah, best odds.

51:38 What's the numbers look like, comparison?

51:40 I'm going with Yaxel.

51:41 Yaxel's averaging like 22. Yeah. Cam's averaging 15, 11, and 6. Yeah. Yaxel's like, what, 22, 9.

51:46 Yeah, and they just beat the YM rules.

51:51 They did defeat them.

51:53 I love Boozer, but.

51:55 On the dead homies.

51:56 I got to go with Yax on a day of homies. You feel me? School. This energy, like his impact is bigger than every rookie. Like right now, it's a Friday night game and the headlines is Yax versus Luka. Like that's why I wanted to see Ja versus Boozer or some shit. Like he's a rookie and he already made that impact. And as he continued to have those moments and put up the numbers he's doing, I feel like it's going to be hard not to. Give it to him, you know. And this is rare. Like, it's rare that somebody that his age come in and have this type of impact right away. So it's only a certain amount of years. Every, what, 10 years, somebody like that get Rookie of the Year?

52:41 Who?

52:42 The last one was in, what, Fort Brockman or something like that?

52:45 Brockman?

52:46 Brockman.

52:46 Yeah, yeah.

52:47 It was in 2014. What do you mean, like, last person? Like, at his age, you mean? Yeah, at his age, 24. Yeah, so I can actually compare it to Brockman. It seemed, because he came out of nowhere. But Yaxa was a first round. Malcolm Brown was a second round. But just the fact that he's older. And Golden State likes those older, more polished players. They thought championships were for grown people.

53:10 Did you see him being Rookie of the Year coming into the season? Was he in anybody?

53:15 Most people looked at AJ and Darren Peterson above him. But Caleb Wilson had a lot of potential.

53:21 For sure.

53:21 Boozer.

53:22 And then Acuff, he's putting up the shots. So it's like, yeah.

53:26 Good with Cam Boozer. Win rookie of the year. I keep wanting to call him Carlos. Boy, you look just like your daddy. It'd be so hard because... Because he's not the lead guy. Right?

53:45 He could be, though. Yeah, he could be.

53:47 You know, guys averaging 26 right now is still gonna at least wanna average at least 20.

53:54 You know what I mean? So... It's going to be.

53:58 Harder for Boozer to sustain being on that list. With Yaxel, his advantage is.

54:09 Steph needs him to score.

54:11 They're featuring him.

54:12 Yeah, I need him to score to relieve me.

54:15 They're playing more of a team game over there in Memphis. They're kind of featuring him, but they're not like, oh, we're going to just let you get how Acuff is getting the buckets. Caleb might get some of that in Chicago.

54:26 Caleb has an event.

54:27 I mean, Caleb can because he gets to do everything. But if Steph misses any time, Yaxel is Cooper flagging it.

54:38 He has to score, rebound, defend, assist. You know what I mean?

54:42 So his numbers can shoot up if Steph is ever off the court.

54:46 If he had 31, he definitely didn't play.

54:48 Then with A.J., That is going to be the sneaky one because he does have a point guard.

54:58 He does pass the ball. And he is going to average 20.

55:01 And he can average 20 even though you have those two stars over there.

55:04 And as predicted, Steph will probably miss. He'll sit down for a little bit. He'll miss some games. And from the history, AD and Trey will. So his numbers could also go when one of those guys go down or go out for a little bit.

55:21 Acuff.

55:22 All a cup has to do is if he get they're gonna use these are shooting percentage Yeah, right. They're gonna just law you a chucker, but You gotta have some but but it had a big assist night though the night but at the end of the day I don't care like for you.

55:37 You still have to stop them Yeah You still have to stop.

55:43 The kid if you like you can complain about the percentage, but that's just being a rookie Right a rookie leading, you know the team and whatever so, you know, I You know, if he's averaging 25 as a rookie, I'm sorry.

55:56 His shit can say 12%.

55:58 But he also, like I said, he had 14 assists and 6 rebounds last game. So he had 34, 14, and 6. So if he continues with assists, then there's no way you can take it away from him.

56:07 But the fact that they don't have him there as 2 or 3 or 1. You're just going to use a percentage and use that.

56:15 Yeah.

56:16 But 50%, 50%, 13 for 26. Like you keep typing.

56:19 34 and 14.

56:20 Yeah.

56:20 I guess the 34 and 14.

56:23 God damn. Yeah. So like if he continues to do that.

56:27 Exactly.

56:27 And again, like you said, you still have to stop him. And he's the main focal.

56:30 Point on the scouting report.

56:32 He's still doing this.

56:33 Yeah.

56:33 You know, it's AI type shit.

56:36 Yeah.

56:36 Well, that was put that on something presented by Polymarket.com. Download the Polymarket app and use code ARENA to get $ 25 in bonus funds when you deposit just $ 10. Make your next move your best move and join the revolution. Polymarket, the most accurate sports odds and forecasts in the world. Let's keep this thing moving. Wait, hold on before you do that. Someone asked, what is Josiah? You remember Batman?

57:01 And then you you remember.

57:03 Like the the fat do that wanted to be Batman He was going out there trying to be fat man he wasn't Just a regular dude trying to go out there Batman do me a favor.

57:20 Could you point your gun at me, please? Let's get on the hockey pants. Just point it point it at me. No point it at me You don't point. No, you don't. Point it at me. No, no, no. You more white. You the white Michael Jackson. I'll point it at the black. Point it at me. The violence.

57:35 You going to put the violence.

57:36 Stop the violence. Oh, I got it. I got it.

57:40 I don't really care. Stop the violence.

57:43 All right, but let's keep this moving. Everybody want to hang out with Josiah. Very rough week. Got ate up by some spiders. Came back for seconds. Getting delicious. I understand it.

57:54 Oh, that's not your Michael Jackson nose?

57:56 No. Oh, I thought it was like... Fluffy Swag, I tried to.

58:00 I thought you knew how Michael Jackson changed his nose.

58:02 The young Michael, yeah. I think it was in line for Halloween, but trying to get it back together. Have you went to the doctor? He's black. He's black, you know.

58:14 Spider bites is dangerous.

58:15 What's he going to tell me? A spider bit my shit?

58:17 Some good games tonight, by the way.

58:20 Jalen Brown has been very active in the media as of late, with most of it centered around his... Exit from the Celtics in relationship with his former teammate, Jason Tatum, saying they don't have beef, but lamb chops with gravy. So during a recent interview on The Young Man and the Three Show, where he was a guest alongside Harry Potter, the All-NBA wing didn't hold back when sharing his thoughts on why he no longer cares about NBA awards.

58:43 All the awards that people chase, all the outside validation, it doesn't even matter.

58:48 It's made up.

58:50 You know, somebody made up an award and made up a fake committee to give people these awards based upon what criteria nobody actually really knows. So it feels great to be validated because it gives you a platform. It gives you the opportunity to have, you know, a bigger voice or to be rewarded for your artwork over the course of however many years or whatever the case may be.

59:14 I understand that, you know, people want that. But at the same time, if you are wrapped your identity in that, you will never be happy.

59:22 You won't.

59:23 And I won't let anybody or anything control my happiness or my peace. So, like, you just got to not give a fuck.

59:30 Okay.

59:32 You enrolling?

59:33 I mean, I like it, man. Because, again, I think for us, the more important award or reward is the respect of our peers. Because there's a lot of things you might not get. You might not get a team. But, oh, Gil definitely should have been first all-NBA. They'll treat you like that, but the league may not treat you like that because of. whatever else you got going on off the court. They might not make you the face because you just don't fit the cut that they're looking for.

1:00:02 To me, that was more important. I may not have made a bunch of defensive teams, but I know certain guys respect me as a defender, and that was more important than actually getting on the all-defensive team. I would love to have been on those more, but, you know, sometimes it don't work that way.

1:00:18 Blueface, is Jalen Brown spitting or tripping with his comments? about NBA awards or awards in general seeking the validation of others?

1:00:27 I would say yes and no. They proved that when he didn't make the All-NBA team, he went out and won Finals MVP and Eastern Conference Finals MVP. I think over time he stopped caring because At this point, you feel like he ain't going to never get no awards or the respect he deserves because it's just his personality and who he beats with, like the Stephen A's. After a year like he had last year, not to even be mentioning, not to be a first team or.

1:01:12 Sixth in MVP voting, second team All-NBA.

1:01:14 Yeah, to take a team like Boston that we didn't see being number one or two and you put up the numbers you do, and you still don't get the respect, and you get traded after that year, I could see where he's coming from. As long as my peers respect me, that's all that matters prior to him. But some people live and die by rewards. That's all that matters to them.

1:01:44 Life is the greatest reward. When you know you're a winner.

1:01:49 and you know who you are, you don't need validation from other people.

1:01:53 You know.

1:01:55 Let's move on to Gil. Everybody not Gil, you know. Go and tell the people you need to be something. Tell the people cuz like I already know I do too much I do too much, you know that Don't get on the day. Oh, he's like me today say anything negative.

1:02:20 No, I Guess I guess our past is just the race, huh? Hmm.

1:02:31 I guess when we I didn't make all-stars or all-NBAs, we wasn't upset about that.

1:02:39 That's an accolade, right? You was upset when.

1:02:44 You didn't make the USA team.

1:02:49 You was upset, right?

1:02:51 So, your departure, you said you wanted to be treated like an equal to Jason Tatum.

1:03:00 Okay, so.

1:03:02 I never like these little things of people saying, you know what, it don't matter.

1:03:08 Yeah, it don't matter when you have it.

1:03:10 Yeah, when you got it already.

1:03:11 Yeah, I don't give a fuck about the final MVP and none of that shit because you got it.

1:03:15 Once he got it, he's going to get the respect he's getting.

1:03:18 But that's what I'm saying.

1:03:19 I don't care about the respect because I got things now. But when I didn't have it, I complained about it. I wanted to be an all-star.

1:03:28 Why am I not an all-star? Why Nike won't.

1:03:31 Give me a shoe deal? You were actually going after that. Once you started getting to things and you became who you are, yeah, they're not important anymore because to you it didn't change anything, right?

1:03:43 Once you got it, you realize, well, you know, it don't really do anything for me. After you get it, you realize that.

1:03:50 But when you're playing the game and you're averaging 30 a game and you're doing this, Fuck yeah you want your recognition. You want to see your name here. That's why last year was his favorite year.

1:04:03 Because he cooked them.

1:04:05 Because he got the recognition.

1:04:06 Because I got the recognition. My name is popping. I got the accolade for it. I made the All-Star game. I made the All-NBA. I got the accolades. I got my recognition.

1:04:15 He didn't get no recognition.

1:04:18 He didn't get nothing that he ain't already got from last year. What? He was always on the second or third All-NBAs. He made the All-Star every year. What else last year he got that he didn't get?

1:04:28 When he complained?

1:04:29 The MVP voting.

1:04:30 When he complained. But that's what I'm saying. There's a past with him. I can see.

1:04:35 Like the USA, if I cook these people and you don't give me the respect, he could be mad at that.

1:04:41 Yeah, that's an accolade. So don't say you don't care if you did care.

1:04:44 That's what I'm saying.

1:04:45 Don't say you don't care because it doesn't mean anything. But at the time you did.

1:04:50 But it could be like I'm better than them. It don't have to be about the awards. It could be like I'm better than them and I don't get my respect. Having a USA, that's an accolade. Winning the gold, that's an accolade. One to play for my country is just one to play for my country.

1:05:06 That's a badge of honor.

1:05:08 Yeah.

1:05:08 Now everybody gets that opportunity.

1:05:10 You know what I mean? So that's an accolade. So that's what I'm saying.

1:05:12 Like, once you start doing things, it's like a billionaire, once he becomes a billionaire, he says, you know, money's nothing.

1:05:19 Oh, okay. All right.

1:05:22 Give it over here.

1:05:25 Okay, give it all away.

1:05:26 You know, I'm not, you know, like, everyone always does the same thing. And it's just like, it's just a real contradiction.

1:05:33 Money can't buy happiness. Yeah, you know. Well.

1:05:36 But you say anything once you're already there. It's easy to say you don't want the things you have because in reality, you're not giving them up.

1:05:47 Is everybody sending these shots at you? Like, I feel like a lot of this talk is becoming because of, like, your comments.

1:05:55 But my comments are from his comments.

1:05:58 He just said he don't care.

1:05:59 But five years, the five straight years, he cared.

1:06:05 Why he was mad.

1:06:08 But he said all that stuff to determine who he is.

1:06:12 Today. You know, I don't care. I don't care about having a studio in my house. No, no.

1:06:17 You care.

1:06:18 You care. Ah, shit. If there was a studio outside, I'll go. We know I won't. No, you know I won't go there.

1:06:26 You know I'm going to be there. You barely come downstairs here. But I can say it. What I'm saying is I can say it and never say that. I can say it when I have it. But you would never say that, though.

1:06:36 Say what?

1:06:37 That.

1:06:37 Like, I don't care about my studio. I don't care about... Yeah, I don't care about having all this. I don't care about the podcast. If they tried to take it over, he would probably say that.

1:06:44 Yeah. Well... But that's what I'm saying. Just remember what your past.

1:06:50 What you were doing in your past.

1:06:54 Yeah. That actually.

1:06:55 We cared. We definitely cared.

1:06:56 But does this... I mean, does this represent a shift in Jalen Brown where he said last season was his favorite season? sixth in the MVP voting, second team All-NBA, now joining a Sixers squad where he has to now not necessarily humble himself, but probably not going to get those accolades this year anyway. It's going to take a lot to get to that point. So I'm sacrificing all those accolades. I stopped caring about that stuff because I want to prioritize winning and being a leader. Are you sacrificing it or is it sacrificed? Was it sacrificed already?

1:07:24 Like when Ja got on Blazers.

1:07:26 Yeah, like they made him.

1:07:27 Was it sacrificed?

1:07:29 Or did they have a discussion, we're going to bring you off the bench? They're sacrificing it for you. You just have to come to the same conclusion. Because that's it. So it's not like he went there and said, you know what, I'm about to average motherfucking 40 around here. I don't give a fuck what nobody say. That's just not possible on my team. So you have to come and say, hey, pup, you know, I'm going to sacrifice to do what's best for the team.

1:07:56 No.

1:07:56 That's easy to say.

1:07:58 You think Jason Tatum right now will be like, you know what, I don't care about the accolades. I don't care about averaging 20.

1:08:04 Hell no, that's not coming out of his mouth.

1:08:07 Because this is reality, he's going to average 25 or more. But that's his reality. No.

1:08:13 Jalen Brown don't care. He's been sacrificing since he came in the league down there. He could have did what he did last year with Jason Tatum. But he sacrificed his game. He could have shot shots When he wanted to, he had this chance to.

1:08:31 He did. Sacrifice. It was the best two players.

1:08:34 I know, but he could have been one if he wanted to.

1:08:36 He could have.

1:08:37 Yeah. He was one of some people when he left. Yeah.

1:08:44 Huh? So why was he mad this whole time? That's what I said. Like, like, like that's what I'm saying.

1:08:51 Like saying you're sacrificing or you don't care about none of this stuff, but in real time, if you didn't care in real time, there wouldn't be a problem being two.

1:09:00 But he said this previously. He didn't care about winning finals. The MVP were doing those things. After I got it. The fuck?

1:09:06 Do you think Iggy cared about having finals MVP?

1:09:09 No.

1:09:11 You think Siakam cared about winning finals MVP?

1:09:16 No.

1:09:17 Did Kawhi care about winning finals MVP when he was with the Spurs?

1:09:21 No.

1:09:23 That wasn't on his mind. That was on Duncan if he could have got it or Tony's at that moment in time. Tony wanted that, right?

1:09:32 Yeah, probably not Timmy though.

1:09:34 Because Timmy was older. Who wanted it?

1:09:36 Tony.

1:09:37 Tony cared. That should be mine. Like, Steph, that should be mine.

1:09:42 The people who are supposed to get it care.

1:09:46 The people who.

1:09:46 Just end up getting it, yeah, I didn't care because I didn't think I can.

1:09:50 You know, just like people who win those awards. Best music. And they're like, oh, shit.

1:09:54 Like, I didn't think I was going to win this.

1:09:57 They don't have no speech.

1:09:59 He's not in that category. It was either him or Tatum that was going.

1:10:03 To win at a war. Nobody else.

1:10:05 I'm thinking the light-skinned ain't going to win it. Just like Siakam. I'm thinking my star player is going to get it.

1:10:12 Siakam never won a final. I know.

1:10:13 What the hell are you talking about?

1:10:15 He won the Eastern Conference Finals.

1:10:17 Eastern Conference Finals MVP. We all seen it.

1:10:19 We were sitting there like, put the EC up.

1:10:22 Oh.

1:10:22 Because, you know, Halle Berry is over there like, you know, I'm about to get the.

1:10:25 Siakam! I thought you were talking about with Toronto. I thought you were talking about with Toronto. I forgot about Indiana.

1:10:35 No, no. You just sitting. Yeah, I remember that shit.

1:10:37 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

1:10:38 He was over there chucking it with his voice. Like, I like me. You know, I can win this shit.

1:10:43 Like, nigga.

1:10:44 Yeah, I feel bad for him.

1:10:45 Yeah, that's crazy. That was crazy.

1:10:50 No, but, you know. It's each his own, man. All right, so now let's talk a little bit about Jalen's current team. Philadelphia 76ers, 4-1-1. So far this season, with wins over the Knicks, Cavs, Bucks, and Pacers in their last game Wednesday.

1:11:04 Played the Knicks tonight, right?

1:11:05 They do play the Knicks tonight. NBA Cup. Smack daddy. Group stage. Open it around. Who's smacking who? We're going to talk about it later in the show, but... So, 6-4-1. Only loss coming to the Pistons on the second night of a back-to-back. Embiid sitting that game. So, let's take a look. Some positives... And also some negatives to look at the Sixers squad. Let's take a look at what we got. So through their first five games, have the third best defensive rating in the league.

1:11:32 Okay.

1:11:33 But the 27th.

1:11:35 Damn.

1:11:37 Ranked offense.

1:11:38 First? Number one?

1:11:39 First in transition? I thought they'd be higher.

1:11:41 On the offensive side, they're 27th in half-court scoring.

1:11:44 And they're 5-1 with this bad?

1:11:45 4-1. But 21st in transition offense. On the defensive side, first in half-court defense. But of concern, 28th in opponent's points. Added by transition 23rd and points allowed per 100 transition plays.

1:11:59 So, transition. They're not good in transition defense.

1:12:02 Or offense.

1:12:03 The offense is not that great. I mean, I'm surprised to be 4-1 and still, you know, they're winning games. It's early, though. I expected a lot of this. Offensively, not so much. But, yeah, they're still figuring each other out. Ron will sit a game or two here or there. Joel will sit a game. But they're still finding ways to win, and they'll get better over time. But tonight's going to be a good test. They play the Knicks tonight.

1:12:28 Second time around. It'll be a good limit set to see. Belts. Who's belting who, Gil?

1:12:34 Knicks, I'm assuming.

1:12:35 Knicks getting belted.

1:12:37 Knicks going to get belted?

1:12:38 Belted. By the Sixers. They're in Philly? Are you glazing right now? Are they in Philly? Naughty.

1:12:43 Glazer. Gilbert.

1:12:45 Belt. Yeah, they're in Philly. Do I detect some brown glare?

1:12:50 Yeah.

1:12:51 You don't think that they're going to.

1:12:52 Be booing them?

1:12:53 I think they should.

1:12:54 Come back for some get back, bro.

1:12:58 It's in New York?

1:12:59 No, it's in Philadelphia.

1:13:00 Oh, they about to win.

1:13:01 Who's about to win?

1:13:03 Philly. Yeah.

1:13:05 I'm surprised that their transition.

1:13:07 Is not where it's supposed to be.

1:13:17 On offensive offense.

1:13:18 Offense.

1:13:19 With the three guard play.

1:13:23 Like, I got some of the most athletic and fast one, two, and three in the league.

1:13:28 So why am I not in the top 10, top 15? Like, are we really slowing the game down that much?

1:13:35 For Joel and Bron?

1:13:36 Yeah. Because we're making stops.

1:13:38 Bron runs.

1:13:39 Yeah, but we're making stops.

1:13:40 Yeah, third defense.

1:13:43 Is Maxie not getting the ball first?

1:13:45 Yeah. Nice shit. What's their three-point percentage? That could be a part of it, not hitting their threes.

1:13:55 In transition, I would be thinking layups, dunks, back doors.

1:13:58 Yeah, I mean, Brown, Tyrese, and like Brown, like they're at the rim. Like three of them top ten last year in points.

1:14:06 Yeah, but Embiid, he's dragging behind, I feel like, too.

1:14:12 He's like Wimby. When we get stopped, Melanie needs to slow it down. That's his only problem. Wimby has switched it up, though, as of late, Gil. I think you and others called out his game. Been dunking a lot more, getting points in the paint. Playing like a big man. Instead of trying to be a boy. Yeah, they're slowing down for him a little bit. I think he realized, man, this shit's so easy. I didn't know it was easy down here. These motherfuckers is little.

1:14:45 Playing ass.

1:14:47 Teams. What's your impression of the Sixers after the first five games? Some positives, also some things of concern watching that team look nasty against the Cavs.

1:14:55 I want to know what I said at the beginning when I seen the team and I said their schedule was going to be what? I said it was going to be what? 6-0, 5-1. I said what I thought. I said it was going to be bye-bye-bye-bye.

1:15:08 Like 8-2, 7-2 or something like that.

1:15:11 I mean, it's just they have so much talent that, I mean, to beat them, you really got to be, like, on fire. Certain players is missing. And when those certain players are missing, the other three are playing bad. Like, it's one of those teams where If you're down by 30 at the half, nobody's going to be surprised because they actually have the talent on their team. If you're up by 20, 30, that team can come back. Yeah, that's probably why the defense is so high. So it's one of those things where, man, it's just like if they stay healthy, if one through five stay healthy, that means they're going to be playing together more.

1:15:58 They're going to understand what each other like to do.

1:16:01 And it's going to be scary, you know, after All-Star break when they're really just dialing that up.

1:16:08 Yeah.

1:16:09 Because you are talking about a team that in a half court, in the playoffs, and usually LeBron teams, what, sit at the free throw line.

1:16:22 And you have guys.

1:16:23 That's just so athletic in today's game where they're going to just be.

1:16:29 Players are going to get fouled out.

1:16:31 I mean, they're just going to pick on anybody. You're not going to be able to hide anybody.

1:16:36 Yeah, you've got to really lock in. But you've got to play four quarters to beat them. I think you have to beat them.

1:16:41 All four.

1:16:41 They've come back against Cleveland. I think Indiana as well. Indiana was up on them.

1:16:47 No Zubac, no Tyrese Halliburton. Yeah, they was down. Teams they should be smacking. And once they get their stats and everything in line. Four quarters.

1:16:55 We don't have any lulls in any quarters.

1:16:58 Confidence in a quarter is over.

1:17:00 I think Hallie is one of the guys who can probably beat him because he don't turn the ball over. You're going to get great possessions. He's playing the whole game. Shea can probably because he controls the game.

1:17:17 Brunson can too. They're disciplined enough.

1:17:21 Just as long as Cat don't take the wild threes when he hasn't got the ball.

1:17:26 Are you talking about for one game or in a series? I was about to say, not in a series.

1:17:31 In a series, all right.

1:17:32 I was about to say, one game, yeah, not in a series. Indiana versus.

1:17:38 One, because, you know, LeBron's going to take over. LeBron's going to take over two games.

1:17:43 Max, he's, you know what I mean?

1:17:44 I just don't see him beating them.

1:17:45 No, it'll be a six, seven game series, though.

1:17:47 With who?

1:17:49 Six or seven?

1:17:49 Six games, six games.

1:17:50 Against who, New York?

1:17:51 Nah, he's talking about Indiana. You talking about Indiana?

1:17:53 Indiana versus the 76ers.

1:17:55 Is that what you're talking about?

1:17:57 Yeah.

1:17:57 I'm saying it would be five.

1:17:59 I mean, Indiana played.

1:18:01 They'll probably shock them that first game.

1:18:02 They played teams tough. We forget they were just in the finals.

1:18:04 Yeah, they do. For some reason, they do play teams tough.

1:18:07 They have a weird style of play some teams can't adapt to. They caught a couple teams off guard. And Hallie plays against one game off. So, you know, Indiana was winning that game, but. They have pieces. I haven't seen TJ McConnell come back yet. Like, they have some depth. They have some pieces. That's where they're super powerful.

1:18:26 That's when their stats don't matter in the playoffs. Like, they already got their– everybody got their average and shit. Now it's about winning. I don't know. LeBron don't have to average 17.

1:18:35 For sure.

1:18:37 Yeah, the fact that he's at 17.

1:18:39 Yeah, he don't have to.

1:18:40 It lets you know what, like, he's going to be cruising.

1:18:43 Yeah. He's going to be cruising. And then when.

1:18:46 The playoffs kick in– That's when yeah, that's when.

1:18:51 Right now, they're just better than everybody, just talent-wise, I feel like.

1:18:56 Yeah.

1:18:57 And people trying to get their stats, everything in order. Max, you got to get his 27th. Once they get rolling, it's going to be tough. It's going to be tough to beat.

1:19:05 Yeah.

1:19:06 Once they get February. February.

1:19:08 Yeah.

1:19:08 It's going to be tough. But again, I don't sleep Indiana on the playoff series because they have. No, no, no.

1:19:13 Somehow they figure out.

1:19:15 I didn't see beating certain teams they did.

1:19:18 But even with Minnesota, the style of.

1:19:21 Play is undisciplined.

1:19:23 Yeah. Right?

1:19:23 So, you know, you're talking about, you know, some of the plays that you're trying to make.

1:19:28 That's why I was shocked.

1:19:29 Throwing it off the backboard, doing all that stuff. In the playoffs, you can't have– the point guard can't have seven turnovers. My shooting guard got four turnovers. Like, it just becomes like, man, we're beating ourselves at this point.

1:19:42 They beat some teams. Like, I didn't see them– even without Ann Edwards, they beat Denver. I was shocked. That's why I feel like Indiana. Indiana's like Minnesota of the east.

1:19:50 Minnesota right now.