Steph Has Luka TOUCHING EARTH, Bron's Sixers Own The Knicks Again & Klay Goes VINTAGE In Miami! 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.

1:26 I'm choosing how I want to feel. And Prime always shows up. I can throw on that show that everyone's been talking about, or I can watch basketball all night. And if the game makes me realize I suddenly need a new jersey or my favorite snacks, Prime can get it delivered fast, all before the next tip-off. So whatever feeling you're looking for, excitement, relaxation, laughs, something new, you can find it on Prime and experience it to the fullest.

1:51 From streaming to fast shipping, it's on Prime. Welcome back to Gil's Arena, presented by Polymarket and powered by Playmaker.

1:57 What's good, everybody?

2:02 Don't mind my face. Dealing with some things, but had to come to work to get my check. This is Gil's Arena. I'm your host, Josiah Johnson. I'm here with NBA legend, 2K Uncle Badges, Theater King, and the goated Gilbert Arenas.

2:18 I know, right?

2:19 27 is just a weird number, man.

2:21 You know what I mean? That's what young fella wanted. That's what he got. Bandwagon Gil. I mean, there's a lot of numbers in Memphis. I don't think anybody would be tired of much.

2:28 Of over there.

2:30 He good at 1, 2, 5, 7, 10. He could have had them all.

2:33 He's taking over for the 2-6 and 2-7. 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.

2:45 Danny Green.

2:48 Glad you came to work today, Josiah. Thank you. Appreciate you.

2:53 Thank you all for your prayers.

2:54 You got to call Lakin, baby.

2:57 That's why I be like, fuck Spider.

3:00 Spider. Spider.

3:02 Then we got four-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA selection, DeMarcus Cousins back in the building with us.

3:08 What's good, Buck? Very much, man. I didn't know they had spiders outside the community.

3:21 You know what I mean?

3:22 We don't get spiders in this community.

3:25 No bullshit, Joe. Soldier, man.

3:27 Yeah, that's that outside shit.

3:29 You better move inside, Joe. My apologies to all the ugly people out there. Now that I've joined your ranks, I understand how it feels. I know what y'all deal with every single day. I'm praying for y'all. We got a lot to discuss. Here's what's cracking in the arena today. The Sixers handed the Knicks their second straight loss this season behind a clutch performance from LeBron. It's Philly proving they run the East now, 6-1, number one team in the Eastern Conference. Not like we didn't expect that. Steph had Luka touching earth in the Warriors' 25-point comeback win over the Lakers. What did the Dubs expose about the Snowtime Lakers? Shout-out to Luka, though, being a trooper, bouncing back Sunday, 45-piece. Did his thing, but against a Raptors

4:13 squad that... Yeah, no Kawhi. That's ass?

4:16 What?

4:16 Oh, that's ass?

4:17 No Kawhi.

4:20 That's ass. Just saying how it is. He just said how it is, man.

4:24 That's fine. Congratulations.

4:26 Wait, didn't they have a good one the other day?

4:28 Who'd they beat?

4:28 They beat somebody solid. They beat themselves, man.

4:31 Not the worst.

4:32 And Giannis had a triple-double. Bam had a season-high in points, and Klay came through. Yes, sir. A vintage shooting night as the Heat secured their second straight win.

4:41 Mm-hmm.

4:42 After he finally figured it out, Clay watched the show, Gil, heard you talking, said he's been in a three-year slump. He unslumped himself.

4:48 Like it.

4:49 At least for one night. At least for one night.

4:52 Sometimes that's all it takes, one night. Get back on the track. So our new and improved Mostly fans, back for y'all today. We worked out the technical difficulties, hopefully. So we're going virtual, allowing fans to pull up to the arena to ask their questions. Go to the No Chill Gil Discord for a chance to get picked to be in our virtual crowd. Look forward to your questions.

5:11 Shout out to everybody on Twitch watching the show as well. All our Twitches out there. If you haven't done so already, make sure you subscribe to the AtGillsArenaShow Twitch channel. We appreciate y'all for all the subs and all the love. So let's get right to it. NBA Cup tipped off Friday night with a 10-game group play slate spotlighted by a rematch between the Sixers and Knicks. These two teams met on opening night with Philly pulling up to MSG and ruining New York's championship night celebration tonight. Sixers would be without Jalen Brown in this game, but they did have LeBron, Raymond, James Sr. LeBron, LeBron, LeBron. And at 41 years old, in year 24, the Kings showed he can still get it done in the clutch. Let's take

5:52 a look at the highlights if we can, please. Paolo, look at that court. Look at those jerseys. Spirited efforts. This game was a battle from the opening tip as Philly entered the night looking for their fifth win of the season while New York was trying to get back on track after a disappointing start. Sixers came out aggressive, built an early first quarter lead with a balanced scoring attack.

6:13 The Sixers outscored the Knicks 29-21 in that first frame. Why is it so beautiful that they had to freeze it up?

6:23 There's nobody weak side that can protect the rim. They always got a guard down there. Why are they at the bottom? Because they keep Joel lifted in.

6:36 I got my jumping bike.

6:37 Tyrese at the rim, Bron at the rim. Ain't nobody there to protect it.

6:41 Highlights so good they had to freeze. Most things play big in the middle of the floor now. For sure. That's why I saw all these damn layups.

6:51 None of them teams have big guards. Like a bigger guard that could, you know, damn, ask for too much.

6:57 You know, we don't need highlights. You can see them in your mind. Billy kept the pressure on the second quarter. Tyrese Maxey scored 11 points in that frame. Sixers defense made it difficult for Jalen Brunson and the Knicks, holding them just 44 points in the first half. Sixers shot 55% from the field in that first half, had a nine-point lead at the break, kept their foot on the gas in the third quarter. Maxie helped extend the lead to 14.

7:19 Knicks weren't going to go away without a fight, though. Jalen Brunson came out on fire, did his thing. He had seven points in 43 seconds to help the Knicks cut the deficit. And Simons, big off the bench, hit three big threes in that third quarter. But Game became a dogfight. Big Bodega in the fourth quarter did his best to keep the Knicks in the game. But LeBron, Raymond James Sr., like we mentioned, clutch performance. Did what he needed to do. Hit a big fadeaway over OG and Anobi.

7:46 Something in this arena. This is probably a patent move, right?

7:49 Shout out to Sean predicting that OG would not be able to handle LeBron one-on-one.

7:54 I'm disagreeing.

7:55 He did.

7:58 Game on the line. LeBron almost messed around. Had a triple-double.

8:00 20-piece.

8:02 Maxey led the team in scoring. Sixers, big win over the Knicks, their second this season. So after the game, LeBron had this to say about his squad's clutch performance. What did you like most about how you guys were able to close this one out as the Knicks tried to mount a comeback?

8:19 We just had some composure. Obviously, we had a couple big leads throughout the game. They're the world champions, so we know they're going to make runs and we're able to withstand their runs. We was able to withstand their run, make some plays, get some defensive stops and close the game out. We're just trying to prove something to each other, trying to hold each other accountable. On the defensive end is where we hang our hats, hang our hearts. And if we can defend, we can always be in the game. Offensively, it's going to take some time because we're all trying to get into the system. Joel and Tyrese, they kind of know the system. So the rest of us are trying to fill in behind them.

8:54 The way we're.

8:54 Flying around defensively, you know, giving up only 93 points, we're going to always be in the game that way.

9:01 Spider-Man.

9:03 Philly beat the defending NBA champion Knicks second time this season.

9:08 It improved to 5-1 while New York dropped to 2-4. Philly got another win over the Hornets Saturday without Brown and Embiid to move to 6-1, the top team in the Eastern Conference. But let's talk about this game. Boogie, what are your biggest takeaways from the Sixers beating the Knicks for the second straight time this season? And the Sixers are fucking good. That's what I feel.

9:27 Yeah, like, for some reason, you know, usually when you see a team with this much talent kind of come together in their brand-new team, you would think it would kind of take a while for them to start clicking, meshing, just even being on the same page, especially offensively. But this is a team that seems like they're pretty locked in from jump. Like, they got a goal in mind.

9:50 Everybody's kind of thinking championships. or bust type of season. And just to see the unselfishness, the willingness, to play the game the right way, make winning plays every possession, not really care, you know, who's shining on each night. Sitting on top of all of it, you know, really green lighting and giving the keys to young fella and Tyrese Maxey saying, you know, this is your team. So just to see a group of this much talent with the resumes and To go along with it, to just be so unselfish, I mean, it's pretty refreshing to see.

10:26 And I don't think anybody predicted that it would go this way for this team, especially this early in the season.

10:32 But, you know, they're looking like the favorite. As of right now, where we're at right now in the season, they're looking like the favorite to come out the East.

10:42 Gil predicted it, right? You predicted them to have a good start?

10:45 Yeah.

10:45 Yeah. Gil predicted them. I mean, I didn't think so. I didn't think they'd start like this. I thought they would be good later. They don't pace to be that start.

10:54 But, yeah. Yeah, I assume just when you're talking about just coming from the beginning, like, Bron's always in shape.

11:01 I mean, I don't know who arms this nigga got, but.

11:04 They look crazy. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Better shape now.

11:08 So, you know, when you're talking about coming out of training camp, people don't really understand, like....

11:14 What a training camp really is.

11:17 And if you look at his body, mass, muscle tone, and then you look across the board at everyone else, everyone looks like it's April, where there's no definition in your arm, right? You know, you're just playing. So, you know, he was going to be in shape.

11:35 Max is going to be in shape, right?

11:37 Vijay's young. He's going to be in shape, right? Then you have Jalen Brown, right? So you.

11:42 Four out of the five was going to be ready to go out of the gate.

11:45 Right. So from there, most of the games are going to lose would have been just I'm wrestling this player, wrestling this player.

11:51 Let's see this lineup. Let's see this lineup. So they're still tinkering with lineups. Oh, yeah. And it seems like no matter what, each each lineup looks like they can hold their own weight.

12:03 I don't know what Dean is out there doing. You know, 27 minutes, no shots. I like Dean Wade. I don't know what his role is.

12:10 I hope his role is.

12:11 I fuck with Dean Wade, bro.

12:13 I can show you. No, I do, but I'm like.

12:14 I fuck with Dean Wade. Look at the rim, you know, a little. Bro, he locking shit up. Facts. He can guard all five positions.

12:22 No facts.

12:22 He's getting extra possessions. He don't have to shoot.

12:24 There you go. He got it.

12:25 Before you went.

12:26 He's the Anderson Verzal of the wing.

12:28 I was about to give Dean a lot of credit because, like, him and Simons were a big part of why. Yes. They won it. I don't know if you've seen, but Philly, I forget what network it was. They released the whole Dean Wade, like, little tape, little clip. Oh, I saw the little clip.

12:42 Yeah.

12:42 Him locking him up.

12:43 No, no, no.

12:44 He's locking people.

12:44 You know what I mean? Zero shots in 27 minutes.

12:46 You don't have to shoot.

12:47 You know what I mean? You got to do something. It's enough motherfucking shooting already.

12:51 Just a little tip in. Just, you know, fast break lane.

12:54 He's capable of.

12:54 Shooting in the three, so that's why he's a threat out there on offense. So, like, he'll give you the space. But him and Simon, since Simon's outplayed their bench with Shamit and Clarkson, like, he had 21 off the bench.

13:02 Yeah.

13:03 And Dean, even though he didn't shoot or score, he was effective. And that limited OG. Like, not allowing OG to be that X factor that he's always been for the Knicks changes the whole Knicks dynamic. So if he starts scoring, then the league is really in trouble. You know, so like he said, Philly looks really good right now.

13:20 It's early. Better than I expected them to look. But this is a good team. And right now, I mean, Knicks might be a hangover, but they're not picking it up as quick as I would like them to. But like Boogie said, Philly looks like the strong team in the East right now.

13:36 What's up with New York, though?

13:38 I mean, they did win a championship.

13:40 We almost had the 10-game mark. These motherfuckers still playing that old style of ball where it's like, all right, we're going to give you all the game until the late.

13:50 Third, fourth quarter, then we're going to turn up and.

13:52 Come win it.

13:53 That shit ain't really working this season.

13:56 It's time to take a, you know, I feel like they got to start the game with more.

14:01 They start so slow and laid back.

14:04 It looks like a lot of those guys didn't I'm going to say they didn't work on their game, but they didn't do a lot of– they did a lot of kicking it this summer.

14:11 Oh, for sure.

14:12 For sure. So they're getting back in rhythm. You know what I'm saying? Well, I know– when was Fanatics Fest?

14:18 July.

14:19 July.

14:19 Right before Summer League, right? Or right after Summer League?

14:21 So you're talking about July. Brunson's hand was still fucked up.

14:25 It was.

14:25 It was, yep.

14:27 Yeah, so his hand was still fucked up. So I don't– he probably didn't touch the ball until September at least. So– But that's one guy.

14:37 That's the only guy. That's the whole team. But the whole team looking.

14:41 I mean, Cat is playing well.

14:43 Cat is playing well.

14:44 Cat won his money. Yeah.

14:47 You know the thing about... Okay, so.

14:52 The problem is with Cat, and I don't know if Cat understands this part. You're in a contract year. You want your max money. The problem is... You sacrifice for the championship, which they clearly say, man, that performance ain't worth the max. We appreciate the championship, but it's not worth the max. Right? And you're coming into the season still playing the same role you played last year.

15:22 Right.

15:25 You got to come out and play the max money. You got to be out there averaging about 20 cents. You already sacrificed for the championship.

15:32 22 and 14 not enough? Yeah, yeah.

15:34 No, no, no, no. That's the fouls.

15:37 Is it an extension or is he up?

15:40 He's looking for an extension.

15:40 He has a player option in the summer, but basically they don't want to go to second apron. They got to get a deal done by the deadline because if he opts into that 63 million, he's old. They'll assuredly hit that second apron.

15:51 He also said he would he would take a favorable deal, just not as favorable what they want to do. They were in like the 200 range. They wanted 200. He's eligible for 260. Like 270. I think he wants somewhere in the middle.

16:03 230, 240, something like that.

16:04 If you're averaging 28 and 14 right now, there's no talking.

16:07 That's a lot.

16:08 There's no talking, though.

16:09 Yeah, that's all NBA. That's like first team all NBA.

16:11 There's no talking, though. We ain't there.

16:12 There's nothing to discuss.

16:14 You know what I mean? We might be one in, wait, we might be one in 15.

16:17 So what's the point of winning the championship if I'm still not deserving enough?

16:23 I think they might be happy with just one.

16:25 And it's crazy because when we say that, these New York fans get offended by when we say it's not really making sense. Dude goes out and helps win a chip and he's still proving his worth?

16:39 Again, to me, I think it's more so him, the foul trouble is what's hurting him.

16:45 How are we looking at his negatives when he won the ultimate prize?

16:49 Because the ultimate prize.

16:52 Is a player and a fan thing and i've always tried to say this when you're talking about you're going to sacrifice for a championship right we've seen a player in real time do it right he sacrificed he sacrificed his role went to the second option didn't fight with brunson came in no matter you wanted to trade him he fed in won a championship now he's saying okay i did i did everything you guys needed me to do I'm ready to get that max.

17:20 Well, your numbers ain't quite... Ah, your numbers, yeah. That ain't max money. Right, that's bullshit. So, what we're doing, what we're told.

17:32 Does not match the person who actually is making the decision. Right.

17:38 Right? And the person who's.

17:39 Making the decision is saying, hey, don't you want to win a chip?

17:43 Yeah, right?

17:44 Do you want to... Hey, I don't want to go over the second apron. You should just take less money. I'll get you on the back end.

17:52 Back end come.

17:53 Yeah, about that.

17:54 You know what?

17:56 You know what? Listen, we don't need to talk about that right now.

17:59 We'll talk about it at the end.

18:00 Of the season.

18:01 Right.

18:01 And then that's where you get a James Harden who sacrificed to better the team.

18:05 We'll get you on the back end. Back end come. Yeah, yeah, we're not going to give you that.

18:10 You're a liar. You're a liar.

18:12 You're a liar. You're a liar. But they got to pay Brunson, too, though, Gil. So this is– We've talked about this throughout the course of this season. They can't afford to fuck Brunson.

18:21 He's the king of New York.

18:23 So no matter what, whatever he asks for, if he.

18:27 Stands on it and says, nah, I want 400, they will have to pay him for it. They don't have to.

18:36 Pay nobody else.

18:37 The city, if the city loses Brunson right now, Production, age, value. It'll burn, bro. It'll burn.

18:45 Right?

18:45 So, you know what I mean?

18:47 Well, you might be saying a lot there, too, because it's like, I feel like if Brunson is all of that to New York, like you're saying, obviously he's that franchise guy. I mean, if he said, I want Cat here, would this even still be a discussion?

19:02 Yeah, we'd still discuss it. Yeah, you want Cat? Yeah, we're going to make that work.

19:06 That's not a good thing. Yeah, yeah, we're going to make it work. Yeah.

19:10 We're still going to try to get a discount. We're going to try to get a discount.

19:13 You know, because at the end of the day, if he takes the money, it affects you. So, but that's because there's caps and salary caps in second April and all that, that's what hinders and makes them make decisions versus just saying, all right, there's no cap.

19:33 Do what you want.

19:34 Then, you know, then you're going to have New York, L.A., Boston.

19:40 Boston with shit Clippers now with super teams.

19:44 Like super, super, super teams.

19:45 Miami. Warriors.

19:46 You know what I mean?

19:49 But Cat does have some leverage.

19:50 Obviously, like we said, you've got that $ 63 million player option in the summer. If they don't get a deal done by the trade deadline, he opts into that.

19:58 They're cooked. They got to make some tough decisions now. Like McHale Bridges, they've been thrown around.

20:01 What decision you got to make?

20:02 I'll make them for you.

20:03 What decision you got to make?

20:04 You said they've been thrown around McHale Bridges? As a potential option. If you wanted to move somebody to still be able to keep Josh Hart.

20:11 Keep Cat. Probably McHale, honestly. But they probably get another Villanova. They probably go back and get Dante again. If I lose, if.

20:20 Cat opts into his 63 and I'm pissed off about it, like don't do it, and he do it, he benched.

20:30 Ain't no way.

20:32 Benched? What?

20:34 Did you say benched?

20:36 If I tell you.

20:37 You're going to bench 60 million?

20:38 Let's try this again. If I tell you, do not exercise that shit, and we're going to negotiate, and you exercise that shit. Okay. Now you're fucking with my money. Okay. All right. So I got to pay it in return. You're not going to get the same amount of minutes you got. You might hear from me.

20:57 I get what you're saying. He's not benched, but he's going to play him differently. I'm playing you differently.

21:04 Your value that you're going into the market with ain't going to be shit.

21:08 That happens. No, that happens.

21:10 No, that really does happen.

21:12 But if he's producing like that. And he's a petty owner.

21:15 Yeah.

21:15 And we know he is.

21:16 But if he's producing like that, it's hard. He's 22 and 14. 22 and 14. I mean, he's already limited his minutes with the foul. He's not only going to play but so many minutes.

21:25 I don't even feel like this is a discussion.

21:28 It is.

21:28 What are we talking about? You know why it's a discussion? Because we all know.

21:37 When we sign our contract, stress gone, pure basketball. Right now, as the second option, going into this, that uncertainty is That means you're thinking about performance also. Yeah.

21:58 Performance, not getting hurt. Like you're trying to, like you're playing.

22:01 For a contract.

22:02 Yeah, you're playing for a contract.

22:03 So it's very different. This year if he don't get it and he opts in, next year is going to be worse. Yeah. Well, let's talk about that.

22:14 Max players ain't got to worry about that.

22:16 You out there. So the chemistry you're saying because he's playing for a contract, like it's going to be different.

22:21 Yeah.

22:22 Motive. It's an ulterior motive. What's their other option, though?

22:26 Why? What leverage do they really have outside?

22:30 That's what I'm saying.

22:33 I wanted championship. We did what we needed to do. You know what I mean? It wasn't like we was going, going, going. So what do you do? You start a rebuild?

22:42 I'm confused. You start a rebuild?

22:44 Who else has the money to get catch? Catch people seem to be under pressure. There's a few teams out there. I'm sure Golden State would be one of the first teams lined up. 60 million?

23:01 They feel like the places that he could go is places he wouldn't want to go, so they could probably get him at a discount.

23:06 OKC?

23:09 Nah.

23:09 Now you're talking an intriguing situation. Yeah. Thunder are down bad like me.

23:14 You got the fives. I mean, they play Chet at the four, right? Yeah, but Chet out a couple months now. Obviously, K-Dub out, Kayser Wallace out.

23:22 I mean, there's some places that still has money that they, like, there's teams that still want to win championships, but for the most part, there's only, like, five teams that actually want to win.

23:34 Everybody else, like, this is my business. They're trying to stay afloat. It's my business. Keep butts in the seat. Are the Sixers one of those five teams? They're trying to win. They're trying to win. They're one of the fighters. So let's talk about winners now. Enough loser talk. Well, the Knicks are not a loser talk. They won a championship.

23:50 We're talking about OG. Give us a new season.

23:52 Yeah.

23:52 They're the champions, though.

23:53 Give us a new champion.

23:55 They're losing the season. And they are 2-4.

23:57 Let's talk about the 6-1 Sixers. Looking at LeBron, 41 years old, clutch performance. We had talked on this couch about LeBron going head-to-head with OG.

24:06 But what happened?

24:07 As I mentioned, Shump said he's going to hit him with that fadeaway.

24:11 Bucket. But what has LeBron shown you so far in year 24? He's a winner, right? He wants to win, right? He knows at the end of the day, winning puts him in certain categories, no matter how you want to argue it, that it was really never about... And it's hard to say this, but it was really never about stats.

24:42 It's just that.

24:44 Some people in this league are gifted enough to just walk into stats, right?

24:49 And he was always one of those guys.

24:51 Just how he plays physique, he's walking into stats, right? Jokic don't have to go out there and try to, you know what I mean? He's just going to get those. And the reason I say that is he never really truly had that selfish, selfish phase where he gets to spend three to four years of I want to lead the league in scoring.

25:14 I want to average 40. He never had that, right?

25:17 It was always, you know, amongst the greats, I got to try to win these championships, right? Fail or succeed. So he knows this is the end. This is towards the end. And whatever it takes to get the ring, that's what I'm going to do. If I got to average 15 and, you know, these guys got to be the lead, that's what we're going to do. But, you know, Because I know this game like the back of my hand, I need to be in charge, let everybody play.

25:46 You know what I mean?

25:46 Like, you can see he's still the captain of the team, and he's just letting everybody know and putting everybody in position to actually have the best chance of winning.

25:57 So, Danny, you guys have both played with LeBron. Seeing this version of LeBron, you're 41.

26:01 41. 16, 7, and 7. Yeah. You're 41. 41 years old. You're 24. Yeah, man.

26:10 I mean, outside of being... Like, he's obviously a winner, but he's a chameleon.

26:15 I literally was about to say that. That's fucking crazy.

26:19 Like, there's no... Like, not many instances where you see a superstar be able to adapt to role-playing and vice versa. Like, guys have troubles adapting and adjusting to different atmospheres and roles. He's been able to do that throughout 24... Why he's lasted 24 years. And in any situation... where I'm like, I don't think that's going to work. Like, when they brought in Luka and Austin, like, how the hell is that going to work? He's going to figure it the hell out. You know what I'm saying? In Philly, like, he had to take a step back. He's going to figure it out and still get his patent, move off, get rebounds, assists, and affect the game and impact the game because he's adaptable. Again, you don't see that in

26:56 many superstars. So, for him to be, obviously, a winner and be adaptable and adjustable throughout 24 years, he can make any situation work and It's proven me wrong plenty of times. I'm like, damn, first of all, I thought he was going to retire five years ago. Second, I'm like, I don't know. But now he's able to make certain things work where he's able to pull a rabbit out of the hat. And it's like, damn, I didn't think that shit would ever work. So that leads me to believe I have a lot more confidence in Philly as a whole because of what he's able to do.

27:30 For sure.

27:31 We've seen Dean Wade said previously LeBron can only be an alpha. Embrace an alpha role here, but willing to give the keys to Maxie after that game. We didn't show that part of the clip, but just talked about Maxie, recruiting him to come to the Sixers, but understanding it's his team, wanting to roll with the young fella and let him lead this crew. But when you see LeBron accepting this role, it seemed like obviously he had issues with it with the Lakers last season, being that third option, kind of forcing to that spot. Still led them to a playoff victory over the Rockets without Luka and Austin Reeves, but now being with this squad where he's accepting of being the fourth option at times, but knowing he can

28:03 step up in clutch when needed, but what has LeBron shown you so far in year 24?

28:09 Man, just what Danny said, a chameleon. The crazy part about it, this is a dude that has played in, damn near, in my existence, every era. Every different style of basketball that the NBA has adapted to. This dude has found a way to win in it. So, one, I feel like that shows LeBron As a complete basketball player, I think he's the greatest when it just comes to that part alone. Fuck all the other shit that we could add to it, but just that part alone, to be able to win in every era of basketball is crazy as fuck. So he deserves his flowers for that, but just to still be able to adapt and continue to adapt, and you kind of spoke on, like, you know, even taking the backseat with the Lakers in a different situation, but.

29:01 Looking at how this Philly team is built and the talent around him and how he's so willing to kind of take that backseat, it kind of lets you know, like, he knew exactly what he was looking for and able to take that step back. And whatever the Lakers was trying to offer outside of Luka, I just don't think their vision and his vision align. So you look at this Philly squad and you look at the talent and you look at pieces around them and the experience and the resumes that those individuals it's too different it's like night and day And also, when it comes to D-Way speaking on the alpha part, I still feel like he's the alpha in the room. When it comes to his voice, when it comes to spreading the knowledge. When it comes to,

29:48 you know, those tough moments, I'm sure every guy in that locker room is going to look for him first. This is a guy that's seen it all, done it all. I mean, shit, he's been in the league for most of his life.

29:58 Most of their lives.

29:59 Right.

30:00 That part, too.

30:00 In that locker room.

30:02 So, I still feel he's that alpha in the room, but it's almost like.

30:09 He can pick and choose when it's even time for him to speak. You know what I mean? So, man, just.

30:19 Just to be able to adapt again and again and again and again. One, I feel like you got to put your ego aside to do those type of things as well. That's not easy to do. It's hard for dudes to get traded one time and go to the next situation. It's like, nah, but I was doing this here. This guy, he's continuing to do it and he's still doing it even in year 24. To me, all that being said, As a basketball player, like as a complete hoe, I think he's the greatest of them, period.

30:52 But I'm sure a lot of people would agree with that sentiment. Nice to hear you say that. But Gil, let's shift over to you. LeBron, eight seasons with the Lakers, championship in the bubble, hardest championship in NBA history by most accounts.

31:05 By all the people who played.

31:06 Thank you.

31:08 By the players who played, not by the media, by the people who played. By people who know in the know. In the actual bubble. Shit is hard when you don't got your family, friends, your routine, you sitting there. And you can only think about basketball. I'm trying to.

31:20 Figure out how that is Mickey Mouse.

31:22 When we can only focus on hooping, so that means we all locked in. That means we're all dangerous. No home court advantage, right? There's no home crowd. There's no Knicks crowd. There's no Laker crowd. Now it's just us, pure basketball. And that is the Mickey Mouse one? Neither here nor there. Sheesh.

31:42 Brought a championship to Los Angeles 2020.

31:45 Right? All the stars, all the stars that performed there, the ones we've seen the breakouts in, has been dominating the NBA. Luka against the Clippers. Jokic losing in the bubble the way he did.

32:01 Right?

32:02 MVP since. What we've seen from Giannis in the bubble. Booker went to the championship the very next year from the bubble. Like Jimmy Butler in the bubble. Like, you know what I mean?

32:12 Everyone came to play and they took that bubble and.

32:16 Kept it moving.

32:17 But it counts for the heat.

32:19 What? Like making it to the finals, doing all that. It counts for them. Like, damn, that was good.

32:28 But the motherfuckers that won, it's like, nah.

32:30 Nah, LeBron.

32:31 LeBron got another one. Fuck that.

32:33 Hater.

32:35 But LeBron brought a championship to the Lakers, brought the inaugural NBA Cup title to Los Angeles, was MVP of that as well. Eight seasons there helped bring the franchise back, $ 12. 5 billion valuation, all that. But Gil, do you feel like Sixers fans have been more embracing of LeBron than Lakers fans were?

32:53 Whoa.

32:53 Absolutely.

32:55 Hell yeah. I get it.

33:00 You know why, too.

33:02 I know why, but only because it's louder here. It's just louder here. We didn't even see.

33:10 Was there a press conference when the nigga went over there? We didn't really even know.

33:14 He didn't want to go. He was chilling in somewhere.

33:16 He was embraced. He signed a minimum. You don't get a press conference when you sign a minimum contract.

33:27 It's sound because there wasn't a lot of negative noise.

33:29 You signed a minimum contract.

33:30 There wasn't a lot of negative noise, but don't get it twisted.

33:34 They acting like we was booing them when he got in the arena. No.

33:38 That didn't happen.

33:39 Damn near. They were appreciative. When he got here, you know. But they weren't going, Philly fans are like, yo, this is our year. We're going to win a championship.

33:48 Yeah, we thought the same.

33:49 They weren't expecting that. They weren't expecting Braun to come to Philly. Like, nothing happened. We wasn't expecting it. Also, it's the whole Kobe-Bron thing. That's why a lot of the Lakers fans were like... Yeah, but those are niggas who couldn't afford the tickets.

34:00 They couldn't afford the tickets. It's not like those guys are going to the game. Because that's what I said. If those were the people that was in the arena, they would have been booing. They wasn't.

34:07 So I'm confused if it's about Kobe.

34:11 But I mean... I just feel like if you're a Lakers fan, you should be happy that you.

34:15 They were appreciative.

34:16 You got two greats within.

34:18 Oh, yes.

34:19 You would think you would think that if you're a team first person.

34:25 So it's more Kobe.

34:26 Yeah. You would you would say, oh, shit, we have another great.

34:29 Right.

34:30 Hell yeah.

34:31 But if you're a Kobe Laker fan, then somehow insecurity kicked in.

34:38 He was coming.

34:39 Here and he was going to erase Kobe's legacy somehow. I don't understand how you erase 20 years. You know what I mean? But that was the insecurity.

34:48 I don't know.

34:49 You're jeopardizing Kobe's.

34:51 It's too soon.

34:54 What?

34:54 Kobe embraced the nigga. What are you talking about?

34:58 Very good friends. Kobe knows he's not taking two of my fucking.

35:04 Jerseys up there.

35:05 It was the insecurity of The Kobe Laker fans. Pure Laker fans. Oh, shit, we got another great. Right.

35:12 Let's bring it on.

35:14 And we're still in the honeymoon phase, but it just seems like Sixers fans. As a LeBron fan, Danny, I'm not getting any slander from Sixers fans.

35:20 It's all appreciation.

35:21 They booed him the first game for a little bit. They booed the whole team. That's a Philly staple. They're excited about Bron. More than any other city.

35:26 I mean, they're excited about it. Philly booed him.

35:28 The first game. They booed the team, though. They were playing like ass. They'll boo anybody. But that's what Philly fans do. First game, it was second, whatever game. You got to call the performance. And Bron said he loved it. They booed him the first half. But no, there ain't no other team I don't think that he's gone to more excited about it than Philly. Miami was excited, but again, it's a major city. They're used to getting superstars. Unless they draft them, they ain't getting no free agent superstars like that. You know what I'm saying?

35:58 At a very high discount. Yeah.

36:00 Very, yeah. So last question for you, Jim, before we move on. When looking at the Sixers squad, still a lot of concerning things. We're talking about defensively, they've been very solid. Offensively, with all this firepower, still not playing up to expectations. Do have the lowest turnovers per game in the league, but like the 23rd ranked offense. So what's been most impressive about the Sixers so far and what's been most concerning about this team?

36:21 Don't have many concerns. It's so early to have concerns. You're still winning games while you're figuring it out. So how can you have concerns right now? I'm sure Nick Nurse will say different. But as they're figuring it out and winning games, Tyrese is balling. He'll find a way, even if he has 11 points in the first half, he's going to end up with 30. You know, Jalen's going to– he's also sacrificing making winning plays and getting other guys involved. They're able to even rest Joel and Bron a game or two here and still kind of figure it out because the league has so many injuries around it going on. So, yeah, not many major concerns, but, again, just impressed with the fact that they're able to gel

36:59 so quickly.

37:01 Boogie, what's concerning you about this Sixers squad?

37:04 I think, well, I'll say the plus first. What I think is great is their depth. I think they possibly have three starting fives. But my concern outside of health is that backup big man.

37:21 Yeah.

37:23 If Joel isn't present, that's my concern. Because what's the big propeller?

37:30 Mamba?

37:30 Adem Bona.

37:31 Adem Bona. Yeah, Adem Bona.

37:33 Dude can't walk into gum at the same time.

37:36 But they play Bron at the five quite a bit, too.

37:39 I'm saying if you match up with a bigger team.

37:41 Yeah, that's going to be a concern. That's a concern, yeah. Bron and Dean Wade can kind of help, like, soothing... That type of phase. They go small because they have so much firepower and guards that they can just go get. It's kind of like Minnesota with Rudy. Outside of Rudy, you have Berenger, who's solid.

38:01 But like.

38:01 He's pretty solid. He's pretty good.

38:04 He's still young and learning. Adem, I think, is in year two, year three for Adem.

38:09 But he literally can't catch the ball.

38:11 Yeah, he's struggling with that right now. He had some moments last year. He played well. I think it was last year or the year before.

38:18 Yeah. Look at that film, Danny.

38:20 It's a tough watch.

38:22 I don't think it's as bad as Rudy catching the ball.

38:27 No, it's like ten times worse. Then Rudy's catching the ball? And that's what I'm saying.

38:30 Go watch the film. No, this shit is crazy to see.

38:34 I've seen a Dem last year. I didn't see much this year. I've seen a Dem last year.

38:36 I thought Rudy was bad until I seen this dude.

38:40 Damn. What's the joint from Lil' Giants? Yeah, he got the.

38:44 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

38:45 He got it. Yeah, he got the sticky joint. Oh, I used to hate when the big man put that on him. Touching the ball, you start drooling, like, got the little stick on it.

38:55 Nah, but he need it. It's bad.

38:57 High energy. Great motor. Shout out Rasheed. Hot hand tainter.

39:01 But, yeah, I mean, you got to give a lot of credit to Anthony Simons, KCP, Dean Wade. Like, they got a lot of guys that can hoop on their bench.

39:08 The depth. Mm-hmm.

39:09 Them losing. Drummond and then Huckporty, too.

39:14 He went down to injury. Yeah.

39:16 Drummond left. Huckporty's there, injury. That could be concerning. That was preseason, right?

39:21 You got hurt? Yeah.

39:23 Was that Achilles? Yeah, Was that the Achilles?

39:27 Yeah.

39:27 I think it was Achilles. Damn.

39:30 Yeah, they're going to need another big because, I mean, if Joel doesn't play, having LeBron at the five the whole time.

39:38 That's nuts. That's not ideal. That's defeating the purpose of wrestling. You know what I mean?

39:44 It's not ideal where you have to move them to the five a little bit earlier, then play from there.

39:49 Joel won't be able to rest in the playoffs if they don't have a backup.

39:51 Why do you just want to go get JaVale?

39:54 They could.

39:55 JaVale in China, doing what he do. JaVale is like perfect. How old is he right now? It don't even matter. JaVale is in shape like an 18-year-old.

40:04 You're right.

40:06 37, 38.

40:06 He's still seven feet. You can't teach that. 38 years old.

40:08 Run like a deer, block. He do the same stuff he always been doing.

40:11 Catch the ball, set a screen. It's an upgrade.

40:16 It is an upgrade.

40:17 He can definitely catch the ball.

40:18 He'll jump, yeah. Yeah.

40:20 In excellent shape, always in shape. I think he'll be a great fit.

40:26 When you look at the Sixers squad, we talk about what's been impressive, but what concerns you about this team moving forward? Six and one, still honeymoon phase, looking good. Have been able to roll out different lineups.

40:35 The only concern that anyone should have is Joel Embiid. I consider it, at this moment in time, everyone else is the cake. He's the cherry on top of that. That if he's healthy enough to finish a.

40:55 Season, they win a championship.

40:58 Yeah.

41:00 Right?

41:01 You know, if he has to miss playoff series, then that's when they're going to be beatable. Right. Right?

41:08 He's never, I don't think he's missed, he's just missed games in the playoffs. He missed games.

41:11 He's never missed a game.

41:12 He's always had a face, a hand, or. Hip. He had, there was a. The palsy?

41:17 Yeah, what was the shit going on with him?

41:19 He's tweaking a little bit. That's your Joe guy.

41:21 He might have missed a game or two, but he's always had an injury where he's had to sit out for a game or two. So if he actually gets a playoff postseason where he's healthy to play in the playoffs, then they have a really good shot. That's the biggest concern.

41:37 Yeah, that's the biggest concern. God bless the Sixers. God bless LeBron. For all the old people out there still showing us how to be clutch when it matters. 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. You've got to pick a side and put that on something. So we talked about Cat earlier in the show. Knicks may have some tough decisions to make before the trade deadline if they can't figure out the extension with Cat. So recently the team announced they were tabling extension talks until a later date. Like we mentioned, Towns eligible for a four-year $ 276 million extension with the Knicks reportedly offering somewhere in

42:10 the $ 200 million range. On Polymarket, you know they trade damn near everything. So Knicks will likely need to get an extension done before the deadline or risk Cat opting into the following year of his deal, moving them into the second apron, which James Dolan has said repeatedly he doesn't want to do. So right now, traders on Polymarket are predicting that if the Knicks do decide to trade Cat, the Thunder and Jazz are the most likely destinations with both at 9%, while the Heat, Mavs, and Magic are at 8%. But let's take it to the couch. Daniel, we'll start with you. This is hypothetical at this point.

42:41 Yeah. But... Will Cat still be a Knick after the trade deadline?

42:46 Yeah, I think so.

42:50 I was wrong.

42:50 I thought it was like 280, so the extension, they're a little bit farther apart than we thought. 200 to 280. I see why he might be a little upset. After all that? You know, you've got to come a little closer to the number that's fair. But I think he stays put. I couldn't see them trade. If they do trade, that might be because they know Isaiah Hartenstein. They're familiar with him. And Chet is a winner. Those two guys could be. But, again, I still don't know if that money matches up. But I don't see them, both sides, wanting to trade their pieces right now. They'll get to panic.

43:32 But I think he's a nick by the deadline. That will be a nick after the trade. They'll get a deal done. He keeps playing the way he's playing. Just stay out of foul trouble. Keep playing the way you're playing. 22 and 14, they'll give you 250, you know? That's a fair deal, right? 250, 240.

43:47 That's a fair deal to us. Like he ain't winning chip.

43:53 That's it. I'm not discrediting the chip at all. I'm saying that's the reason why they're probably looking at him. Because we have to play Mitch Robinson a lot of the finals. We have to play Drummond a lot of the finals. Like, yes, you took a sacrifice. They disappear in the fourth quarter at times. A lot of these games...

44:10 You weren't available. And you're valuable, but if you're not available, so... They won. They did. They might not win again, though. Probably won't.

44:21 Maybe not for another period. Which may be true, but they won.

44:24 Like, I don't understand why so many asterisks about what he's doing wrong when they won.

44:30 So you paying for what you did or what you're going to do? Did. Did.

44:36 You can pay for what you did.

44:38 Okay.

44:38 You get paid for what you're going to do when you're young. When you get older and you win a chip, you get paid for what you did.

44:45 What's the value in that? Is it $ 250?

44:46 I'm not mad at $ 250.

44:48 Okay.

44:49 I ain't mad at $ 200.

44:54 Do you think Cap will be a Nick after the trade deadline? I feel like he has to be.

45:00 I feel like you got to reward a guy for doing his job, winning the ultimate prize.

45:09 You know, regardless of his shortcomings, last season they won a championship. Pam, plain and simple. Like, I don't understand.

45:18 Now, I can understand the second apron. I can understand not wanting to give the full max. Obviously, you know, keeping some type of talent around the group. But when it comes to the Knicks and we're talking about the foundational pieces, I feel like it's Jalen Brunson and Kat. So I'm just confused. Even if you feel otherwise, I don't even know what other option you could go with to, you know, keep this a highly competitive team.

45:46 I mean, unless you, you know, you get one chip and then you, I don't know, go into a rebate.

45:51 I don't know. It doesn't really make sense. So I feel like you have to pay the guy.

45:55 He's making 57 next year, right?

45:57 Or this year?

45:58 Yeah, 57 this year. I think $ 63 million. They wanted him to take a cut.

46:00 So if he did 200, it would be 50 a year. So if they did 240, it'd be like 60, I think, is fair. So 240 is like a fair, fair deal. I don't know if they can do that while keeping everybody. That's the question. They were looking at, said that Mikkel Bridges being a guy that might have to be on the move, odd man out.

46:18 Yeah, a $ 61 million player option this summer for Kemp. Gil, will Kat be a Knick after the trade deadline? Unless he's signed for 200.

46:26 If not?

46:30 Cut them loose.

46:31 So you don't think that they'll come... You don't think they'll budge something to at least give him at least 220, 230? What's the number you think the Knicks' highest... Like, the highest they'll go for him?

46:42 What did they offer him? 200.

46:44 200's been... 200 even? Oh, yeah, four years. That's been with the report, sorry. Similar to Jalen Dern's, just less years. Jalen Dern, five years, his, four years.

46:52 210.

46:53 Max.

46:54 You think they're going to go 10 higher? That's the farthest they go?

46:59 Okay, I....

47:01 It's 87 million yeah yeah meaning 78 76 so 78 million dollars we're off yeah right to the point where we didn't even get a deal done.

47:15 You're not that valuable to us at that moment period they shut down but I think that could change over the way he's playing right now it could change.

47:24 No because you're missing one element he he is not part of the crew He came there, helped the crew win a championship, right? Let's not forget, there's three friends on the team. And that is non-negotiable, right? So those three, those Villanova guys, they're not breaking up. So when Brunson took his pay cut, it was for his friends.

47:56 Cap got traded, came there.

47:59 You helped us win the championship again. So if you don't want to help keep everybody here, you can get the fuck on. Damn. But these two, because these two are going to sacrifice.

48:15 They're going to take a pay cut.

48:16 That's what we do.

48:18 For each other.

48:19 You little greedy motherfuckers. You know what I mean? That's how it looks from the outside because you telling me you're offering a real max player. 200. I mean, that's... You just seen during... That's the same money. They're not even the same player. They're not even in the same realm.

48:46 Right?

48:47 One, you're paying off of youth in a sense. So, you know, he's worth that. But you're telling Cat that that's your value?

48:55 That's correct.

48:58 It's a little bit more because it's less years. So, like, Dern was five years.

49:02 Dern, 40 a year. Cat is 50. We're going to send you on your own, buddy. Because, I mean, unless you're going to come to reality that you're just in this program, but we're going to allow you to be number two.

49:15 I see that.

49:15 Or we're going to have to trade you because I don't trust you going into this.

49:19 You're definitely making sense. making sense. Where do they go from here?

49:23 Highest paid player on the team making $ 15 million more this season than OG Ananobi. Brunson, third highest player currently. Obviously, he's up for an extension next summer.

49:30 You see how I need my money?

49:34 I can't see them not going up a little bit more. I see the highest they go is probably $ 240 million.

49:39 That's 40 more million away from Brunson.

49:43 You ain't going to lie, Gil. You're making some sense, bro. You're making some sense right now. Brunson's going to sign a new extension.

49:50 I can see him getting off on him just going to go get a defensive bid. He took a $ 100 million cut at that point, but he'll be able to make it back, and it should get, obviously, much closer than what he sacrificed.

49:59 Oh, you better believe he's going to be a Knick for life. He'll make it back on the back end, Brunson.

50:03 Yeah, he'll make it back on the back end. I mean, how many championships do the Knicks want to win? One is so close to none, Gilbert.

50:11 50 years. It's good to have one.

50:13 I'm good.

50:14 I'm good.

50:15 I'm good.

50:15 I'm not going to tap my pockets out.

50:18 I'm good. You know what I mean? One, I need to really capitalize on this championship. So I need these tickets high as fuck, and I need the salary low as shit.

50:29 You know what I mean?

50:30 So if the league allowed me, this would be the Clippers. See, people don't realize the Clippers back in the day was running a real business.

50:43 Draft the number one, two pick, three pick in the draft. They put a rookie contract and they get the fuck on.

50:50 Pick, pick, pick, get the fuck on.

50:52 Pick, pick, pick. Never sign no big contract. Right? The Clipper fans are going to come in. New York can do the same thing if they want. Or back then. Get them in, ship them out.

51:05 Get them in, ship them out.

51:06 People are still going to show up.

51:07 Because they're going to show up. Open that gym, millions. Rudy making a year. Rudy. This is our new segment, Pocket Watching, presented by.

51:19 I'm more so just thinking of options. Where they could go if he decides.

51:24 Yeah, Minnesota wanted him back.

51:25 Gobert's making 37 this year, and he's got a player option for 38.

51:30 Not bad at all.

51:31 That's a good contract.

51:32 Not bad at all. Sacre bleu.

51:34 You could get two pieces... Like, you can get a Rudy in, somebody else.

51:38 You can go get Rudy and then add some bench depth.

51:40 Damn, dude, you get, I don't know if you're Minnesota.

51:42 Take one of the bigs from Dallas.

51:44 Rudy's only that much.

51:45 Utah's got some bigs. Utah's got hella bigs. Yeah, you're not going to bring. Utah got the bigs. And so does Dallas. Dallas got some bigs.

51:50 Yeah, you're not going to bring Cat back in. Cat would make sense in, oh, Daniel Gafford would make sense in New York.

51:59 Yeah.

51:59 All right, well. That's what I feel like.

52:01 Them showing signs that they don't want to. If they are, not budging off of the 200. Everything you said as far as that group of friends, sacrifice, that all clicked. That all made sense.

52:15 I could see them getting off of it and just settling with a defensive bid and adding depth.

52:20 And still like, all right, let's see where we go with this. Was y'all ticked 230?

52:25 I'm taking it. What I'm saying is to stop that. Give me one year.

52:27 So for you to play just freely, and I'm at two this and I offered you two you here, if I say 235, you're.

52:30 Going to take it.

52:31 100%.

52:31 I don't think that's on the table.

52:32 That's what I'm saying. I think they would already agree. That's it.

52:50 I don't even... That's not far. I don't think that's on the table. Even 225, 220, that's not on the table because he's taking that. Yeah.

52:56 I honestly would have took the 200, bro.

52:57 Yeah.

52:58 Like, 200 is.

52:58 A lot of money.

52:59 I don't know if I'm taking the 200. If I'm Cat, I'm not taking the 200. I don't know if I'm taking the 200. If I'm Cat after winning the chip, I'm not. I can see the organization not budging off of that, though.

53:08 Yeah. Where do you want to be for the rest of your career? Where do you want to finish it at? Who?

53:13 Cat.

53:13 If you're Cat, where do you.

53:14 Want to be? If I just won the chip, right, and I want all my bread.

53:20 I'm inviting to that deal to Texas. You don't think that... You don't think that.

53:24 For tax purposes.

53:24 If he took the $ 200... I get to go play with Youngfield?

53:27 Huh?

53:27 Back end, the city, I think, would appreciate him for it. The organization would appreciate him and give him someone to back end. Now, here's the conversation.

53:34 I think it's for Brunson, not for Cat. Yeah.

53:37 Here's the real conversation is you got your ring. You didn't have to sacrifice money. Yeah.

53:48 See, the sacrifice is coming now.

53:49 Yeah. Right? That ring, hey, the ring you just won.

53:52 If you want to win another one.

53:54 $ 78 million. We don't know if you're going to win another one. We're just talking about that ring you just sacrificed for is going to cost you $ 78. So you can take the $ 78 and charge that to the ring and sign this new deal for $ 200. Or you can say, hey, you know what? I'm going to just go on a shitty-ass team so I can make my $ 278.

54:15 I mean, he got the ring already. You know what I mean?

54:16 So this is the sacrifice. This is the one that says, do you care about the ring itself? Because you want it already. So take the less money to stay on a good team and win more, or you're going to take your whole bag and go somewhere else because you already got what you wanted.

54:33 I got my ring. I don't need another one. That's just the conversation.

54:37 I'm not mad at him next to Coop, though.

54:39 Coop and Kyle? I'm not mad at him if he goes elsewhere and gets his money. I'm not mad at him at all. But the conversation is, if I take this, are y'all going to make me a Nick for life and you're going to take care of me in the back end?

54:51 Hell no.

54:51 We're going to trade you.

54:52 I feel like if they felt like he could be a Nick for life, if they felt like.

54:56 You do this next four years and then after that, I'll need another two-year deal and I'm chilling.

55:00 None of this is even a discussion if they feel like that. The deal would have been done already. They feel like they can make him a Nick for life. This ain't a discussion.

55:06 Shut it down because also Josh Hart would have been another.

55:09 He's got a team option, so he's in a little different boat, but obviously another person needs an extension. But we will see what happens. Trade deadline coming up soon. That was Put That on Something presented by Polymarket. Download the Polymarket app. 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. All right, let's shift over to the Western Conference. Talk about Gil's favorite team. When someone says you played bad in the finals...

55:38 I look at that as irrelevant.

55:40 Yeah. I'm with you.

55:41 The reason I look at that as irrelevant is I'm in the finals. I mean, I've played 20-something more games than regular season. So if you're going to penalize me for these games... then I want to end in the regular season like everybody else who signs max deals, who didn't make the playoffs.

56:06 You see what I'm saying?

56:08 People who don't make the playoffs get full shit.

56:10 I get all my shit. You know what I mean?

56:13 If I'm averaging 30, if A-Cup is up this year, max deal.

56:17 Max. Is that the same argument for Jalen Dern, though? Yeah, but it is the same.

56:22 It is the same because it's like, wait, hold on. I can sign my max deal with no playoff experience. I can sign all the money. You're not going to say, oh, well, you didn't make it to the playoffs, so we're going to put, no, because you know that's some team shit.

56:37 So you're going to go off of my performance.

56:39 When I get to the playoffs, if I play bad, you try to use that as leverage. That's all it is.

56:45 It becomes a leverage for you. I think that's the good and bad.

56:48 Just like when we play good in the playoffs.

56:50 Or being on the good team or being on the bad team.

56:52 But it works the other way. If we average 10 in regular season and you was going to sign me for $ 20 million and I go into the playoffs and I average.

57:01 20 fucking 5.

57:02 Yeah.

57:04 That 20 turns into 70, 80.

57:07 So it works both ways in a sense.

57:08 But, you know, if I'm on the bad side of it, hey, stop me in regular season then.

57:13 The game is the game. All right, let's shift over to the Western Conference. Lakers and Warriors. met for the second time this season Friday night in their NBA Cup opener. After the Dubs' opening night loss in L.A., rookie Yaxel Lindenborg had some harsh criticism for Luka Doncic, saying he lost all respect for him after seeing how much he whines and complains during games. Lindenborg doubled down on his assessment of Luka in the aftermath, setting the stage for what should have been an exciting rematch between those two.

57:38 Luka came out ready to make a statement, but Steph Curry put the exclamation point on this game, leading his squad to an impressive comeback win that had the basketball world buzzing. Let's take a look at the highlights, if we can, please, Paolo.

57:50 Thank you.

57:50 So Luka looked like a Slovenian man on a mission to start this game.

57:54 He knew he was.

57:55 Trying to send Yaxo a message, hit a three in his grip. Luka unstoppable in the first quarter. He put up 21 points, including five threes. Lakers were looking very, very good, Danny. Yeah.

58:07 Gil, your favorite?

58:08 They started off good. They weren't supposed to lose this game, man.

58:10 Looking mighty good. Yeah, they weren't supposed to lose this game.

58:13 Meanwhile, to start the game, Warriors looked like a hot pack of ass. They had 10 turnovers in the first frame. The Lakers took a 23-point lead in that first quarter. Outscored the Warriors 38-15. Like we said, Luka, 21. Looking absurd. Yeah, he was going crazy.

58:32 Doing what he does. Missed that one.

58:34 He actually got the ball back. Said, I'm not going to do it twice.

58:38 Take that. Take that.

58:40 30. 30.

58:46 8-15.

58:46 Yeah, he was getting buckets. He was doing his Doug Dism. No matter who was guarding him.

58:51 So, Lakers pushed the lead up to 25 in the second quarter, but the Warriors completely turned things around as the game flipped like a flapjack. Golden State started getting stops, moving the ball, and knocking down shots. Steph started heating up from deep, and Brandon Pajinsky friend of the program brought energy on both ends so the Dubs erased that 25 point deficit in the second quarter outscoring the Lakers 38 to 15 in that second frame to tie things up at the break Warriors kept rolling in the third quarter as Steph and Luca were going bucket for bucket.

59:27 But Chef Curry right.

59:28 Here why would you go under Why would you ever?

59:33 And then, oh, here it is.

59:35 Are they supposed to switch or something?

59:36 Play it again.

59:37 Yeah, this picture was nasty.

59:38 Oh, my goodness.

59:39 Oh.

59:39 It's a nasty photo. Steph made Luka touch earth.

59:43 Luka's in the side of shit, too.

59:46 It felt kind of hard.

59:48 Very hard.

59:49 So, the Warriors took a five-point lead in the fourth quarter. Then came the knockout punch. Golden State completely shut down the Lakers, holding them to just 15 points in the final frame. Steph kept making plays while Bojimski and D'Anthony Melton helped stretch the lead. And what started as a Lakers blowout and Warriors trick-off turned into a San Francisco treat.

1:00:08 Steph finished with 31 points and 6 assists.

1:00:10 He had 8 threes in the game.

1:00:12 Curry also passed Dominique Wilkins for 18th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Brandon Bojimski added 21 points, 6 assists, and 5 boards. And Melton had 16 off the bench. Draymond, 2 points, 9 assists, and 3 steals. While Yaxel didn't back up his talk in this one, the rookie had 6 points. Five turnovers before fouling out after playing just 24 minutes. Luka Gill, 37 points, seven boards and five assists, but just 16 points over the final three quarters.

1:00:40 He only had two in the fourth quarter. Your savior.

1:00:42 12 for 27 from the field, six for 15 from deep. Reeves had 21 points, but he had a game-high eight turnovers. That's where it's at, man. Lakers just 57 points over the final three quarters. Keep looking at me, Gil. I was just waiting for the question.

1:00:59 Nope.

1:01:00 The largest margin of victory in the shot clock era for a team that trailed by 20 or more at the end of the first quarter. Obviously, the Lakers bounced back against the Raptors. That's neither here nor there because that was not NBA Cup.

1:01:10 I didn't hear a thing.

1:01:10 All eyes, all eyes on Slovenia and Jesus, those Los Angeles Lakers. What are your thoughts on Steph and the Warriors overcoming a 25-point deficit to beat the Lakers by 17.

1:01:22 In their NBA Cup opener? That's crazy.

1:01:25 Up 25, lose by 17.

1:01:26 They need the old man.

1:01:27 Mm-hmm.

1:01:28 Were they missing something? Yeah.

1:01:31 What was your question? Are they missing something?

1:01:34 Thoughts on Steph and the Warriors overcoming a 25-point deficit to beat the Luka Lakers by 17.

1:01:41 Oh, I thought this game was Yaxel versus Lucas. All that shit everybody was talking.

1:01:51 The Yaxel versus Lucas show.

1:01:54 I don't want to hear about big brother Steph.

1:01:57 Nah, don't bring your.

1:01:58 Big brother out because your ass is sitting on the bench with them fouls and the nigga got 21 in the first quarter. I want to hear where was the shutdown everybody was talking about. Is Lucas going to guard him? No, the bench did it. That bench guarded him very well.

1:02:14 That next to that water.

1:02:16 He was next to that water.

1:02:17 He was right there with the water towel in the towel watching the big brother do what the big brother do. Watching superstars do what superstars do.

1:02:23 Right on. He fouled out. Damn.

1:02:26 So until you address that, I don't want to hear about the Stephanie. I want to hear about the matchup that everybody tuned into. Stephanie Yaxwell versus Luka. Yeah. How did that work?

1:02:41 It worked very well for Steph Curry. How did it work out for the young fella? Did Luka come to play?

1:02:47 Sometimes you got to hit big bro up.

1:02:49 Did Luka come to play? He came to play, but at what cost? Hey, I told you, this ain't a don't do.

1:02:55 I don't when they do this.

1:02:56 Don't get your ass busted then you try to lean on a team win.

1:03:01 But I want to give him credit. I got it out. We laughed at you.

1:03:06 I laughed.

1:03:07 I had fun.

1:03:08 I was cheering. Busted that motherfucker ass.

1:03:10 You don't like when a rookie talk.

1:03:11 But he bounced back.

1:03:13 But I got to give him credit.

1:03:15 And the credit is.

1:03:16 Who was him? Who was him?

1:03:18 Yaxel.

1:03:19 After the game, he acknowledged.

1:03:22 Woo! That was a rough one. Right?

1:03:25 You know, he understood that, hey, you know, there are different levels.

1:03:31 I need to keep working.

1:03:33 I accept it.

1:03:35 Didn't even use, oh, we won the game. Didn't you?

1:03:37 Didn't stand on none of that.

1:03:39 Just, hey, hey, he got me. You know what I mean?

1:03:43 And he said, hey, the fall with Steph, all right, that's ranked two. What Luka was doing was ranked one. I think he was saying that the fall with Steph was ranked two, and Steph highlights in the one from Chris Paul when he had him doing the twister, but you might be right.

1:03:59 It don't matter. It don't matter.

1:04:01 He was a good sport about it, and that's what makes him Very dangerous and likable that the sportsman-like conduct from him.

1:04:10 Like, I talk shit. He came and backed it up.

1:04:14 Right? I didn't perform very well, but he did what a superstar does. Right? And I got to acknowledge that. And then we move on. And then the basketball gods rewarded him. Very next game, boom. Right?

1:04:27 You know what I mean?

1:04:28 So.

1:04:29 Like, that's a guy I can cheer for.

1:04:31 Absolutely. That's a guy I can cheer for.

1:04:34 Right.

1:04:34 Where, you know, it didn't it didn't lead to all. Yeah, he's even like he didn't do none of that. He's he accepted his L and he's moved on. And then that next game, that game three, he's going to watch this tape and see what he does. And hopefully the next game, you know, he can he can he can bounce back. You know, so it was a rookie mistake.

1:04:52 I appreciate you don't have PR training that he's just going to go say whatever he wants to say.

1:04:57 You don't need it. You don't need it. But we know how it is. If a rookie says something, you bust their ass. They try to double back like you're still sorry or something.

1:05:04 Oh, yeah.

1:05:06 No, he never said he was sorry.

1:05:08 No, no, no. He took accountability.

1:05:10 No, no.

1:05:10 I'm talking about the second time.

1:05:12 He never said he was sorry. They usually try to double back on some bullshit, but he didn't.

1:05:16 And say Luka was sorry is what he's saying, but he actually took accountability. Are we talking Warriors here or Lakers right now?

1:05:22 It don't matter. Danny, this is Gil Zerini. You can feel free to talk about whatever you want. We appreciate your expert analysis.

1:05:26 We'll talk about the positives then. Warriors, man, they're showing some character. They won the last two games. Rook said he stood on business, took the L like a man, took it on the chin, bounced back the next game, had 37. But Melt is really balling.

1:05:38 For them right now.

1:05:40 D'Anthony Mellon is really hoping for them. And Pods had a great game. Steph is Steph, man, still one of the most exciting guys to watch in year 18.

1:05:47 Hoop.

1:05:49 And always dangerous when he's on the floor. Always got a chance to win when he's out there and healthy. Great win for the Warriors. Should be down 25-1 by 17. It's a huge confidence booster character win. Lakers, this is a tough one, man. He's not supposed to lose this game. I don't care how early in the season it is.

1:06:12 When you got killers and closers like Luka and Austin, who's supposed to be. Luka has been that guy. Austin's kind of been struggling. He's really not... He's struggling on being himself. He's... Well, last year, he started out. He was averaging 28. Like, he was putting up numbers. What are you talking about last year? We had old man.

1:06:29 We're talking about fresh, short.

1:06:31 Yeah.

1:06:32 Right now.

1:06:32 Because, I mean, he's shown in the past himself he's done some numbers.

1:06:36 We're going to talk about some numbers.

1:06:37 I can't wait to talk. We're going to talk some numbers. He was averaging 30-something when Luka was out. He's averaging numbers when Bron was out. He's averaging 23-5 this season. Yeah, which is not bad.

1:06:45 Not amazing.

1:06:45 With Bron not there, it's okay when Bron's there. When Bron's not there, that number has to be. be more that's not good second option and then that's all it's decent but not good enough for that team unless you have a real defensive threat now the turnover and now he averaged those numbers without the turnovers.

1:07:01 Now that's my problem them fucking turn.

1:07:03 So the turnovers is really was hurting him but i think he could be a little more efficient his numbers could be a little high like again there was times where he was averaging 27 28 like he has to be there for them to be really good.

1:07:12 But now he's legit second option five turnovers a game but he's still.

1:07:15 Averaging 23 and i'm not putting it on on just him.

1:07:18 You can't average five turnovers a game as a second option. Bro, if you see the turnovers.

1:07:23 Then he done.

1:07:23 Bro, the turnovers of him just like literally dribbling, getting ripped.

1:07:28 No, it's bad.

1:07:29 Can't cross over without getting ripped. So if this is your second option, I'm scared.

1:07:35 I'm scared.

1:07:36 I'm not putting it all on Austin. He's a big part of it. But Walker Kessler, like he started the season great. Not saying he's playing bad. When you're playing against a Golden State team that really don't have bigs like that to... He had five blocks. But you should be killing him inside. Like, he was 12 for 12 when he played them the first time.

1:07:55 Doing what?

1:07:56 Put back rebounds, dunks. Like you're saying, just rolling and rebounding. You can get an easy 16, 18 doing that. Because he's coordinated and he's got good hands and he's got good touch.

1:08:05 Right.

1:08:06 10 and 13 is a solid game. But when you're playing.

1:08:09 I thought he did his job. Solid game.

1:08:11 But 30 minutes is... Like, I think against Golden State, I would imagine... a good eight points more, like six to eight points more. And probably three or four more rebounds. Like, because it's Draymond. You know, I don't know. I didn't watch the game.

1:08:23 It's a lot of threes. It's a lot of long rebounds. For sure.

1:08:26 Get your ass to the rim. All those guys switching on the top. You stay on the bottom like Wemby.

1:08:30 Like, they switching. It's a talent to rebound outside of your box.

1:08:34 It's hard to do.

1:08:34 That's hard for bigs to do. It's hard. That's a talent.

1:08:36 But that's why they, I think they're trying to get him to stay at the basket so he protects to get those five blocks.

1:08:42 Double-double with five blocks up front.

1:08:44 I thought he did his job. He did good. But offensively, I think he could give more. Maybe my expectation is too high because the first two games, he was averaging. I'm not saying average 24. You know what I'm saying? I'm saying 16 is a good number where you're at. Those two guys mainly. Quentin's off the bench. I feel like he's not getting a lot of looks or opportunity.

1:09:06 Their bench didn't do much because Luka outscored their whole bench damn near.

1:09:12 He did.

1:09:14 Yeah, man. That's the two main pieces that I'm looking at, I'm like, all right, they need to step just a little bit. And Austin just, again, he knows that. He's a hard critic of himself, and he's struggling to start. I mean, Luka had his first two games, he struggled. Austin now, you know, once they figured out that second unit with him, but this is a game you can't lose, up 25.

1:09:37 Watching that game, Lakers up 25, feeling good about themselves, standing in the bay.

1:09:43 I just, for me, and I'm speaking on the Lakers. I think it just came down to what we already thought would be an issue, and that's just being able to guard straight up. Obviously, it's easy to call out Luka for whatever reasons defensively, but I was actually impressed with the effort.

1:10:03 He had five steals. I'm not even worried.

1:10:06 About the numbers.

1:10:07 I think Luka is so talented, the numbers are going to come by default. But it was more so the effort within the possessions, defensive efforts, sliding his feet, trying to stay in front. Yeah, we can sit here and laugh and make highlight reels of him falling against Steph, but that's because the effort was there. He was actually trying to defend. When guys are trying to defend, those type of things happen. It's no different than the big that contests every shot at the rim. You're going to get your ass dunked on. So I commend the effort, but I still think it came down to that part.

1:10:41 They can't guard the perimeter.

1:10:44 And when your so-called best two players can't guard at all, for the most part, I think it's tough. Then on top of that, when it came to Austin Rivers and the turnovers, I'm not mad at turnovers. When you're trying to make the right plays, those type of things happen. Turnovers can come from charges, things like that. So the context of the turnover matters. With what's going on with Austin...

1:11:12 Just getting ripped, going one-on-one, that's supposed to be one of his strengths, being that ISO one-on-one player. So if you're getting ripped off a crossover, like I said, I'm a bit afraid because I'm leaning on you every night to be this guy, this scorer, this ISO threat for us every single night. So if you can't even do that part, that's a problem. But it's the way the turnovers are continuing to happen. They're basically one-on-one type situations where he's just getting ripped.

1:11:40 Losing the ball.

1:11:41 Losing the ball, bobbling the ball within the dribble, getting in traffic, losing the ball.

1:11:46 It's those type of turnovers that concern me. So I felt like that played more of a part in the loss than, you know, Steph going out and just having this huge performance.

1:11:57 What's their defensive efficiency right now? I mean, yeah, they've been giving up some points. Give up 112 points. Their second unit is really what struggled. You see a minus 19, minus 23, minus 13.

1:12:08 Hey, man, look, I get all that shit, man. We only lost two games.

1:12:12 Okay?

1:12:14 Y'all not going to sit here and pretend we got the record like the Warriors did.

1:12:19 Okay? We 4-2.

1:12:22 We good.

1:12:22 A lot of positive, but you lost to Golden State up to 25.

1:12:25 We lost to Golden State? That's a bad loss. Because of... Lakers' fifth best defense rating in the league right now, 115. I look at it like this.

1:12:38 Revenge games has to be played very different. Okay.

1:12:47 So, Luka plays the first 12 minutes, right? Yeah.

1:12:51 And then he's going to sit out six. Then he's going to finish the six, right? Mm-hmm.

1:12:59 I don't like that. You're only going to give me, I'm giving you three.

1:13:05 The first three minutes, you're getting back in at the nine-minute mark.

1:13:09 So he plays 21 minutes out of the 24?

1:13:12 Yes. And the reason is this. He's 7 for 12. He's on fire. His motion's going. I don't know if I want that out of the game right now. You know what I mean? Six minutes is a long time. Then he gets disinterested. You know what I mean? The whole hype comes back down and reality kicks in. Then it becomes just a regular normal thing. He's not going to keep the foot on the gas. Those are the games where once you see him rolling and he's in kill mode, you keep him.

1:13:44 In kill mode.

1:13:45 All right.

1:13:47 And little things like that. So when you look at when the Lakers struggle, it's usually the top of the quarter.

1:13:55 Top of the quarter, Luka comes out, Reeves is in.

1:13:58 And when Reeves is in, it's not like Reeves is turning into the point guard and he's getting everybody involved.

1:14:05 It's his show.

1:14:06 So it's going to start off really slow top of the second quarter. And when Luka comes back in, he's coming back in cold. He only took two shots in that fourth quarter when he came back in at the six-minute mark.

1:14:22 It's the same formula in the second. So he plays the whole third. Second half, it's the same formula. The whole third sits the first six.

1:14:28 First six and then comes back in. Yep.

1:14:30 In the fourth. So six minutes. I don't know if I want him playing 40 minutes a game, but you can find a way to stagger it better. Have him not sitting long stretches. 35, 36. Yeah, I mean, I get the long six minutes is a long stretch to sit, especially if he's hot.

1:14:48 Like, I do it in the first quarter. I'm not doing it at the end.

1:14:54 I'd rather.

1:14:55 Hold on.

1:14:55 You said they do what? They play them the whole third?

1:14:57 12, 12, minus six.

1:14:58 The whole first, 12, minus six. Why the whole third?

1:15:01 Huh? Yeah, that's where it's like.

1:15:03 I like the whole third because he gets to eat free throws in at the end of the game. So when they're in the penalty those last three, four minutes … He gets to just generate.

1:15:10 I would rather him play most of the third, rest towards the end, go into the fourth, rest at the beginning of the fourth, go back nine, eight-minute mark, finish the game out.

1:15:21 I personally never liked the idea of when we're in the penalty, take my most aggressive people out and then put in fresh guys who's just trying to get warm. So those three minutes while we're in the penalty, they're just going to shoot jump shots to get warm. So they never shoot no free throws twice. Where if it's him, he's going to get to the foul line, going to get free throws, going to put people. And the fact that people are just getting in, they're not warming up to guard them, there's a little advantage there. I think part of their problem, too, they don't have much depth.

1:15:56 They do this just on their music. I don't think they do. Nah, they've got guys over there. Sexton, Sandro, Quinn Grimes. I like our pieces. Zaire didn't play, but they have guys.

1:16:07 If that's the case, it wouldn't be such a drop-off when Luka leaves the floor.

1:16:11 Because Reeves is in by himself, and he thinks the offense is still his. And it's like, no, when these two guards get in, it's a faster pace. We can't play your pace where you come down, you want to set the pick to try to get the ball to do your little dance.

1:16:29 That's not this. You are better.

1:16:32 When someone's making a motion, you come, you get to be on the move. So when Luka goes out, let the guards lead the offense so they're moving faster, they're more aggressive, and then you can get it off the swing, swing, and then do your thing. But if you're trying to be, let me get my points in this quarter, Obviously, there's a reason that you're struggling. And you're only playing better when you're with Luka. All right, well, let's talk about the biggest moment of the game when Luka made the unfortunate decision to try and play some defense on Steph.

1:17:06 Ended up on the wrong side of what would be one of the most humbling moments of his career. So let's take a look at that again. We got multiple angles just to make sure we.

1:17:13 I'm just wondering how he fell so hard. Was he tripped on his own feet?

1:17:16 I think Steph pushed him a little bit.

1:17:19 He was tripping on somebody's foot, right?

1:17:20 Steph's foot.

1:17:21 Yeah.

1:17:23 Steph hit the three. Made Luka touch earth. Yeah, like, you don't fall that hard. I ain't mad at you, Luka. But shout out Luka got his get back right away. Came back and hit a big.

1:17:33 Three right after that. You can't get that foot back. Yeah, that's why I'm like, how you close so damn hard?

1:17:41 He fell fat as shit, bro.

1:17:43 Where's Luka's three after this? Due to time constraints, Gil, we had to. I say, but we do have Steph on the bench laughing with Jimmy Butler. Shortly after the play. I don't know what they're laughing at.

1:17:56 They're losing. But look at this. Warriors have won four straight games now. You see how that shit don't matter when you win, huh? You're losing.

1:18:03 You're dropping, nigga. You're laughing. You mean two straight games.

1:18:05 They won four.

1:18:06 They started 0-3, and now they've won four straight.

1:18:10 The Warriors? The Golden State.

1:18:13 Four straight? Interesting. They're playing, though.

1:18:20 Yeah, the Golden State Warriors.

1:18:22 Yeah.

1:18:22 Yeah, dropped their first three games.

1:18:23 He did not touch Curry's foot. Yeah, he tripped.

1:18:26 I think he gave Steph a little push.

1:18:27 No, his inside foot. Hit his foot.

1:18:29 His inside foot got stubbed on Steph Curry.

1:18:34 Obviously, embarrassing moment for Luka, but do you at least respect Luka for trying to step up to the challenge of guarding Steph Curry?

1:18:39 Absolutely.

1:18:39 I mean, he's not conceding to the screen. He'll take on a switch and guard. He'll try, at least put the effort in. He's trying to take a step in that direction this year, which, again, it's honorable. Still some work to do, but he's making an effort. That's a good thing. Again, last game, not that game, but the game after that, he ended up having five steals and being solid defensively. You can tell he's looking at the film and like, all right, I need to be better.

1:19:07 Instead of taking bad shots and complaining... If you take less bad shots, they go from 21 to 22 or 22 to 21 defensively until you can get back and play some defense.

1:19:19 I think Luka doing his best effort, and BD said this when he was on the couch, and I'm agreeing as far as trying to lead by example, being a willing defender, and obviously I don't think he'll ever be an all-defensive type of guy, but if he can just master being a great team defender, I think that helps his overall case as well.

1:19:49 Just the effort alone. Like I said, these type of highlights happen.

1:19:52 If you give an effort, you're going to get crossed over. You're going to fall. You're big.

1:19:56 You're going to get your ass dunked on. That's a part of the game, but the effort is the part that's appreciated.

1:20:02 I think that's all that matters.

1:20:05 I mean.

1:20:06 I've had plenty of, you know, low-light moments. So, to me, it's whatever to even see it. But, you know, I'm just happy for the effort. Like, I think he's trying to prove a lot of people wrong as far as his efforts every night. We know he's going to bring offensively. But I just, you know, I got to give him his credit as far as the effort that he's putting out defensively every night.

1:20:33 So, I can't be mad at nothing that's happened.

1:20:37 I know you're watching that. 37.

1:20:39 37, but came back, hit the three right after. It's just the crowd. You respect Luka for at least trying to play defense on Steph there and bouncing back quickly and getting his get back.

1:20:49 Hey, man. Y'all trying to pretend. That he fell over at Yaxo. That is Steph fucking Curry, man. He's going to drop the whole bunch of people. I don't want to hear about how great Steph is. We know he's great, okay? We know he stole the moment. Like, that's the thing that we really got to pay attention to. Luka was out here talking that big stuff. And they called in, said, hey, say it today. And Steph do what Steph do. Every time the light is shining bright, he goes.

1:21:28 Into God mode.

1:21:31 It's amazing how gifted he is at just maneuvering, getting that shot off. I mean, it's one of those things where you're still amazed at when he makes a shot because it's like, you don't supposed to make that. So, I mean, you know, Steph is going down as the greatest point guard or the runner-up to the greatest point guard, and neither one of them is disrespectful, right? I mean, you're talking about 5,800 players that ever played this game, and you're one or two in that position. That's incredible.

1:22:14 Top 10, top 20 is incredible. You know, so that's who... who that is, and that's who Luka's chasing, you know, at this moment in time. So, you know, to see the two point guards, 31 and 37, and both didn't disappoint, made for a great game, right?

1:22:35 A great game that the Warriors won, but Luka bounced back against the Raptors, Gil Sunday, 45 points. Wait, wait, wait, he bounced back. He had 37. So it was a bounce back.

1:22:44 You know what I mean?

1:22:46 37.

1:22:47 I'm just letting you know.

1:22:48 Like 37. Bounced back with 45, 15 rebounds, 6 assists.

1:22:53 I'm going to give it to you in one second, Danny Paul, but I will give you his stats. 45 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, and the Lakers win over the Raptors. Lakers nearly tricked off a 26-point lead. In that game, JJ Redick took the starters out, had to put them back in. Austin Reeves had to retrieve his headband from a fan they had given it to.

1:23:12 That's neither here nor there. They did get the win. Luka this season averaging 38 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 48, 43, 90 shooting splits. Has 226 points through his first six games of the season. Only MJ and Wilt, who both did it twice, have scored 225 or more points through their first six games.

1:23:32 So shout out Luka.

1:23:33 What is he averaging right now? 37.

1:23:34 Damn. Or 38, excuse me. Eight, seven assists.

1:23:38 How much is it?

1:23:39 37. 38.

1:23:39 So he's going.

1:23:43 To lead the league in scoring? I think that was a given, but he won a playoff series.

1:23:48 The 38.

1:23:48 Yeah, he's getting buckets, bro. 15 rebounds, too, is crazy.

1:23:56 I don't know if I would have subbed my guys out.

1:23:59 How much time was left? I don't think there's no depth, bro. Three minutes, right? It's like three minutes, all right?

1:24:05 That's two games in a row. Man.

1:24:09 No, they got to learn how to win. Let them lose?

1:24:12 Learn how to win without the starters in?

1:24:14 Yeah. So let them lose? Let them lose the game?

1:24:16 I agree.

1:24:17 I don't think they have the depth, right?

1:24:18 What I said, I put my starters on the bench.

1:24:21 Yeah. Y'all are fucking up?

1:24:24 Finish it. make it up like I'm not saving you you're not being saved make it up because I don't want to do this they save you and then say some dumb shit like well I might not just sell.

1:24:35 Them no more.

1:24:37 No that hey they got themselves in this situation this is a game of teaching too right you guys went up 15 You guys are sitting there throwing the ball over. Now you're in a position that you're usually not in, right? You're never in this position. You guys are the bench players. So this is a time to teach.

1:24:56 Finish the game.

1:24:59 They got their starters in.

1:25:00 Finish the game. Let's see what you guys can do in real time.

1:25:03 Not this one.

1:25:04 I get what you're saying, but not just me.

1:25:07 It's early because I can do it now because it's early.

1:25:09 I don't know if I can afford it.

1:25:11 They lost the lead in like a minute, right?

1:25:14 Especially losing to Golden State. If they beat Golden State, then I would have been like, all right. Exactly.

1:25:19 I got to see it.

1:25:20 After we lost to Golden State... You can't have... Back-to-back losses to those teams.

1:25:25 It's the same group, though. Something's got to change.

1:25:29 I'm going to say it again. I don't think they have that depth. Get your balls ready. Get your balls ready.

1:25:34 It was really like the third unit. Get your balls ready. Walker Custard will get 16 to 15.

1:25:41 I think he do his job every night.

1:25:43 This is my problem, too. This is why I don't like that bullshit sportsman-like conduct shit.

1:25:53 Right. Because stuff like this, I put my bench in.

1:25:57 Who you got in?

1:25:58 Your starters.

1:25:59 Your starters.

1:26:00 Right.

1:26:00 And y'all going to sit there and whoop on them.

1:26:02 And then if y'all win, y'all pretend y'all came back into this miracle shit. Right.

1:26:08 Because y'all still playing hard.

1:26:10 Right.

1:26:11 Now... So, I look at it like this. I don't ever, I'm not subbing my starters out until you quit. You quit, you show me you quit, and then I'll sub my guys out. Other than that, if you got starters in, I got starters in. I don't give a fuck what the score is. Because if my group defended you well, I'm not letting you get your numbers. I sub my guys out, now you want to go get your 20, because you're at 14. Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah. Nah, nah, nah, nah.

1:26:40 Congrats to the Lakers on getting that win. Yaxel also bounced back, Gil, from that disappointing round two with Luka. He had a career-high 37.63 to six assists. Warriors went over the Clippers. They didn't have Seth or Draymond in that game. So shout-out Yaxel. 24, doing his thing.

1:26:56 Melton.

1:26:56 Playing like his age group. Yes. He's playing like his age group. Right now, we don't need to say rookie, and we don't need to say age, because whatever group he's in, he's.

1:27:08 Playing like it.

1:27:09 So no one needs to say, oh, he's a 24-year-old rookie. That's irrelevant because right now he's not playing like a rookie.

1:27:17 All the players that was in his high school class, that was.

1:27:21 In front of him. Now, this is a big jump.

1:27:23 He wasn't ranked in his high school class.

1:27:25 Right. Right?

1:27:26 He had to take the long, long, long way.

1:27:29 Now, his first year, he's exactly in the same spot as some of them that's been in the league four or five years.

1:27:36 Right. So he's exactly where he's supposed to be. And that's damn near max.

1:27:43 But based off his draft year, he's the rookie of the year. Yeah, based off his draft year, he's the rookie of the year.

1:27:49 But next year, he's a regular-ass player. If he can help Golden State get to the playoffs, which I think is a possibility, but it's a stretch as well. They're going to need a lot of help on their side.

1:28:02 But if he can do that. I mean, Mel is hooping, man.

1:28:05 I get it.

1:28:06 Pies is a good game. And Brandon Williams.

1:28:08 Pies has been playing well.

1:28:09 So those three guys. And then, of course, with Yaxel, they finding some gems.

1:28:14 They can get Jimmy back later in the year.

1:28:16 They could be in the playoffs. They could be in the playoffs.