WHAT'S BURNIN is back as the boys breakdown Lebron's record-breaking week and discuss the Warrior's current slump and issues heading into the final weeks of the season. Plus, they preview the week ahead and discuss the young hoopers who showcased themselves in March Madness.
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Name floor players you're taking out to the blacktop with you in their prime. I don't really feel like playing basketball, so I'm gonna take a team they can fight. I'm taking back. Yeah, So I don't even care if we play basketball. We just go fighting then smoke atter. I'll play basketball no more. That's all they want to do, right. Welcome back to what's burning? Jack? What's going on out there in Atlanta? Man? Weather's nice match. Just took Louis and Dalf to get a babbitt at the count of the day at the vent today, Man, and you know it's just looking nice. I had a damage you on today. Yeah, Man, this is playoff with it? Man. Speaking of playoffs, they're right around the corner. And the second that the Golden State Warriors got Draymond Green back, they lost Steph Curry. Uh. Marcus Smart who do for a ball rolled up on Steph's ankle midfoot spring. Uh. They're saying wise man has a little bit of a setback with knee swelling. Jack. Are you concerned it all about the Warriors heading towards the playoffs currently in the third in the West, Yeah, I am, because at this point of the season, why I'm supposed to be back healthy. Jaymon is supposed to be back healthy and supposed to be playing well. He's really coming back not playing well and getting kicked out of game and stuff like that, not really coming back focused and and and step being out. That's that's a major setback. He's the main one that's been healthy the majority of this time, and now you get everybody else back and he goes down. Um. I know for a lot of balls in my career, but I never, I know, for balls when they were out in the open and me and the guy was both racingto it. I never dove at the ball under somebody's legs and I've never done that before. And I hustled a lot, so it looked kind of funny to me. And I think Steve Kerr had the right to be piste. Yeah. See, I I looked at it up. I didn't think, like, as much as I love Steph and and definitely don't want to see him hurt, I didn't think it was a dirty player. I just thought it was a reactional play and and it just happened to roll up on stuff. And it's funny you say that because I'm always Hellen you know, coaching the kids that if there's a loose ball on the ground, you gotta die for because someone else is gonna dive and they could take your ankles and knees. And I tell the kids every single game that, man, so Um, I don't necessarily think it was a dirty play, but I understand Steve Kurrs obviously frustration and anger. You mean, their best player goes down. But I did read yesterday that STEP's foot is progressing better than they thought it would, but they definitely don't want to rush him back, So I mean, obviously they're gonna need all hands on deck. You know, this Wiseman situation has been the whole season, but he's played well in the G League when he's played, so hopefully they can, you know, get that swelling down. But again, I agree with you, man, Steph is the key to this. Uh. You know, Draymond is gonna get his legs back under him in the next you know, ten eleven games before the playoffs. But obviously they're gonna need a Steph Curry on an m v P caliber type plane to to make a run in these playoffs. That will be interesting to see, um, if and when they get stepped back. Next up man timber Wolves one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now when there's a foreigner over the heat Bucks. I don't see why they put the Lakers in here, but the Lakers to UH rate number one points per game, number two and three pointers per game, number three in blocks, four and steals, also have the best records since the All Star Break. Can the Timberwolves play spoiler this year in the playoffs? I think so. I mean, because it all starts called Anthony Towns. The way he's playing, the way he's leading his team on both ends of the floor on defense out on the offense, I think they can. You know, he's he's giving uh the the young guys and other guys on the team from some confidence and taking a lot of pressure of of guys, you know, by by having big games and and and and really making a statement on both ends of the course. So I think they can spoil some teams, but longest called Anthony Towns is playing to the level he's playing that, you know, I think it's possible. I'm a big fan of car Anthony Tails, and I think this year is the year that he needs to make a step with his team. And when I say that, it's not his individual play, because like you said, he's been playing great on both ends of the ball. It's with his team. I think they need to get to the second round this year. You know they they haven't been and good in a long time. Uh. He's playing the best basketball's career. When in the three point shootout, Uh, you know you've got D'Angelo over there, You've got Anthony Edwards, You've got Patrick Beverley over there. I like this team and I definitely think they could they could steal the series in the first round. So excited to just get these playoffs started. Man, Next up the Phoenix Suns, who are clearly the best team in the NBA, despite CP three being out Uh since the Y'all Star break, they won their last five in a row. Uh, eleven games better than the next team in the league. What do you contribute this to? Jack? Obviously CPS down he's their leader, but they haven't missed a beat. Uh. As a coaching is it is it leadership? Is it culture? What is it over there to cast these guys playing so well? Well? I think it's a little bit of everything. I mean, you got a team that's basically been together from training camp to now for two years. They know each other what better than anybody. Um. I think the fact that Chris Paul is out, this team has played without Chris Paul war so they know how to step up. Uh, they all know they roles. I think we talked about the coaching. You know, mine is one of the best coaches in the league and be able to being able to relate to guys and let them know they roles. With having Chris Paul out and keep in mind of what the goal is at the end of the seeds and still be able to reach that, you know, with having Chris Paul, that says a lot about this team. And of course Devin Book he come back. He just coming fair right in and leading the team and he's averaging more assists now, you know since since Chris Paul went out. So I think that I think this team is just is just focused on his goal of getting back to the to the championship and not having a let down. And they're not having any any mishaps along the way. They they're covering all their boxes and wait for Chris Paul to get back so they can just ride off in the susset. Yeah. Man, I really like this team and I think they still had a chip on their shoulder coming in this season because everyone said what they did last year was lucky. Um, you know, for CP to go down in this team to seamlessly continue to keep it moves as if he was playing. I like the point you made about Devin Booker Um definitely becoming more of a playmaker, and me that's the evolution of his game. He's been in Elite score since he's gotten the game, but now he's taken on more of a leadership slash playmaking role, which is only going to help this team once CP comes back. So, man, this is a tight knit group that plays hard on both ends and I'm really happy for Monty Williams again. Hopefully CP comes back with no hiccups, and man, this team can make a run for the championship. Headed out to the East, a team I saw play live last week. That is a cold, motherfucking team. Man. The Boston Celtics moved up to the fourth seed, but only one game out of the second seed with eleven games remaining, You think Boston can make a run for that number one seed in the East. In your opinion. I think this is the Boston team that everybody has been waiting on. They got they know, they have their identity. They playing like it. They're confident, they're finally healthy, believing in the new young coach and the young new young coaches giving them the confidence and getting giving everybody the roles they need to put them to be successful, and they're doing it to a t. I think Tay was definitely understood that he is the start the team, and Brown is understanding he's the second star, and they're playing like it. But the last couple of games they've been even thirty and thirty twenty nine, they understand that they have to take over this team and if they can stay healthy, these guys really gonna make some noise in the East for sure. Number one defense in the NBA. Talked to email Udoka and obviously coming from the San Antonio system, and I finally think, you know his imprint is on this team and in particularly the defensive and talk to me a little bit about that. Yeah, it's it's definitely a lot of the Spurs system. You know, don't don't let anybody go middle, and I think it's it's it's It's an easy it's easiest way to play defense because everybody knows where their help is. You know, they're sending everybody baseline and the big man comes over and help. And obviously the big man goes over and help, you have to drop down to take his man. Simple defense, but they do it well and everybody's on the string. And he got all that from San Antonio Pop. And I think the fact that these young guys are buying into that. Understand that emay comes from a championship organization and where and those what it takes to get to the top. I think these young guys are buying in and that's why they went at the top of the league on both categories. Yeah, I mean rarely do you see one, two and three Marcus Smart, Jalen Brown, and Jason Tatum all playing defense. I mean Brown and Tatum Obviously their stars are offensively, but they're definitely two way players. You got Robert Robert Williams holding down the middle. Um this Boston team making said, I think you hit it perfectly. This is the team everyone's been waiting on. There's been such a mystery because they've had Tatum and Brown and people have argued that this team done with this duo. You know, how come they're underachieving. I think this Boston team, and you know as well as anyone, Jack, you gotta get hot at the right time, and that's what this team is doing. I think they've won twenty out of twenty four games, um, and they're really rolling. Man. So excited for Tatum and Brown, uh to see where they could take their team. Next up, the Ben Simmons saga sideline irritation to the L four disc. A lot of people want to say, he's this, he's that. This dude took an epidural, and the epidural is one of the most dangerous and painful shots you can take. It's what they give women, you know, when they're giving birth. So obviously there's really some something really going on in his back. He can't really participate in any basketball activities. Jack. If they're unable to get Ben Simmons on the court, are you awake over there? We're talking about Ben Simmons still. Oh yeah. If they're unable to get Ben Simmons do the next standard chance without him? In your opinion? Man, First of all, let me say this, I'm so tired of talking about this guy. Man, I just want to sit him play basketball. I'm just fed up with the saga. Two. We're talking about epidural shots. I had one in twelve in my back. My before them, when I got traded to Milwaukee, I couldn't play because my back was hurting. And when I had an X ray, they told me that my bottom dis and my back was completely gone. And on the way I can continue to play was taking a shot. I took the shot, Matt, and I played two or three more years, so maybe don't. I don't know how how serious his is, but I took the shot and it was it was painful. I need one right now because that was twelve four, two years ago, and my back starting heard again. I need it again. But he can play with it. He can play once you get the shot, though, you know he should be able to play. That's what the shot is for. And I'm just tired of talking about him, and I want to see him on the court. No, I agree. Um, I mean, anytime you got Kevin Durant, I think you're gonna be all right. Hopefully, uh Kyrie will be clear to play all games um soon. But to me, Ben Simmons is just you know, icing on the cake. So I definitely think he'll help. But without him, if something crazy happened that he can't play, I mean, he's still got Katie and Kyrie, So we'll have to see what's up with the Nets. I mean, it's crazy. Ever since this whole formulation of this NETS team, we've rarely got to see all the stars playing in two years, you know what I mean. So it's been shambles over there. I know Steve Nash is going gray over there, so be interesting to see, man if they can get all their collective ship together and get on the court together. Next up, Toronto Raptors are sneaking into the conversation winners of six straight road games, big win over the seventies sixers, who are third in the East Jack and they stink into that top five. Hell yeah, you got a lot of championship experience over there, and you got a lot of young talent. You know, you're bledding that together. Anything can happen, and you've got experience coaching over there. I think, I think, if if you look at these guys, is just starting to get health and come back Van Bleek, you know he's leading that team and you know he can have a big night any night. So, like I said, with the with the combination of championship experience and also having young guys that's hungry, that that can play this game, I think they got a shot to upset anybody. Yeah. No, I agree. My more question is after this because maybe they have a shot to sneak in and upset, but realistic on on getting back to the championship. Probably not. But I like Scotty Barnes, I like O. G. Jack In your opinion, With Scottie Barnes playing so well, does that make Siakam and his contract tradeable this summer for some more assets or draft picks. Definitely? Definitely. Yeah, that's what I was thinking. All the radar presented to you by Draft Kings with march mansis in full swing. Let's take a look at what players most likely to go number one in the upcoming draft this season. Jabari Smith at Auburn six ten for UH he's minus a hundred and fifteen. Chet home Gren the seven ft from the number one Gainzaga Bulldogs is plus one. Paolo Banchetto six ten from Duke plus eight hundred and Jade and Ivy the six four guard from Purdue is a long shot at plus hundred jack. Out of those four, do any of those guys really catch your attention for you know, the next level star. Yeah. I was able to coach most of these guys and Adan Abson game and I know a lot about him. I love Chet, but Chet has to his body is still growing, he has to fill out. He has a great upside when when his body can continue to get filled out. But I think, uh, between Jabari and Polo, I think Jabari is ready right now. I think he's more polished as far as mentally wise. Um. When you watch him play, he plays his role to a team, doesn't really get rattled. Uh. He slid on both ends of the floor. He just and he just looked like a pro already. And I think that's why a lot of people got him already to shooting at number one. You know, I played against his dad. His dad went to l s U. Um, He's definitely got a lot of game. I like Polo for some reason. I think a litterally radical with this shot selection. But you know you can get away with that in college. Jade and Ivy is a monster over at per Due, and I agree Chet hunger in the seven foot but doesn't even wait two d a pounds. So it'll be interesting to see what kind of you know program he gets on you. Maybe add ten or fifteen pounds of muscle. But you know, all four of these guys are very talented and looking forward to, uh you know what they could do at the next level. Next up. Fan questions Jason Cannon, seventeen, name floor players you're taking out to the black Top with you in their prime? Four players I'm taking to the black Top with me in in their prime, in their prime. I'm going, Yeah, I'm a funck y'all with mine, I'm going prime, Okay for my big man and the prime, I'm going Shack from my power forward, I'm going Tim Duncan. It's black Top now, i know what I'm doing As my small forward. I'm going run our tests and at my point guard, I'm going stuff on my very very nice black Top team. I don't really feel like playing basketball, so I'm gonna take a team they can fight. I'm taking I'm taking Charles. I'm taking Charles Oakley, I'm taking Derek Coleman, I'm taking I'm gonna take Ron too, and then give me my point guard, give me Vernon Maxwell. Oh wow, yeah, yeah, ain't gonna finish the game. Yeah, So I don't even care if we play basketball. We're just gonna fight and then smoke after because I'll play basketball no more. That's all they want to do anyway, right, Next fan question at un Heritage five years from now, who will be the face of the league? Good question? Five years from now. I think Janice will be the face. Um still, you know, I think Janice is what mid the late twenties, so five years will be in his early thirties. I think he'll be the face. Uh. You know, John Rant will be in that conversation. I think it'll be a handful of guys. Luca will be in that conversation. Um. I can't say if there's gonna be a clear cut face um of the league, because I don't know if they're you know, there's always so much talent. So I would say those three are probably gonna be the face. You've got anybody else out of those three? Yeah, I'll just at m beat. I mm be to that. Yeah. I love the way he's playing. Jacobe underscore Atwood most underrated player y'all played with? Oh, the most underrated player I've played with, it's probably Gerald Wallace. Oh good call. I think two guys, and I think I've said this before, but two guys I play with that if they were a lot and there's just such good guys. But they're so talented, like if they were dogs or mean or assholes, I think their story with it took a different trajectory in a good way. But Rudy Gay and Jeff green Man super talented but just nice guys. But dudes that I've played with that I think they could literally do anything on the court, three level scores, but they're just nice guys. I wish like I wanted to make both of them assholes when I played with them, because I figured if there was assholes, they would have went to a whole another level. But super skilled, but just super nice guys. Man. So both have very long careers still playing to this day. But two very talented players that I particularly play with. It I thought that that that I thought were very underrated. Yeah, it's Shack ninety two. As players get closer, who was the one player each of you played with that always turned up in the playoffs? Some of you could always count on in big moments. Man, I got to play with a lot of greats. But you know, co uh CP should you? You always play big in the playoffs? Um A, I U K D, Steph to name a few, bed Yeah, I was, I was gonna say for me, B D and and fucking Mino Genovla. Genovoli was a monster in the playoffs. Play good, Big games Forgotten Seasons, presented to you by Showtime Basketball is back this week with a look at the two thousand nine Orlando Magic with JJ Reddick, Eastern Conference Chance Blues to Kobe in the finals. Super Talented team mask when he was in his bag, the White was one of the best players on earth. Very deep team, very fun team. Make sure you guys check this out wherever you find your podcast. We got a special announcement over here at Showtime Basketball. Our brother j R. Smith is now a part of the family. Enjoy this little teaser as his episode airs April seven. Compared to Okay, you want the NBA Championship, you got all kind of NBA accolades, What does getting the four point oh measure up to for me? Again? I've always had the talent to do pretty much any and everything, so even like you know, people I've played on you know, on teams with them, tell you probably you know more than anybody, you can see me doing something like this, going into too another field and doing and being, um, you know, someone successful at it or not as uh, it's not being as hard as you know, compared to everybody else, because I've been naturally good at you know, athletically everything. But for the four point oh and that that that's like, uh, I tell anybody you know, I wouldn't change my championships in it, but I get my six man for for sure, because I never like real for real Because for me, like you know, getting a four point out. When I used to walk around the school, I see the kids getting four point dollars. It was just like and I know me, I was just not even on that level over here trying to read a page and the words scattered in my head looking that math alphabet. Now I I should lost me. So school is definitely not my thing. But now as you know, as you mature, you understand what your goals are and why you do certain things and what you're doing it for. Um, it gives you a more perspective and better insight. When I was in school. Back in the day, I just wanted to go to the gym. I just wanted to get out of there and go talk to the homies or whatever. I had so many other things going on Now that I make it a priority, and I know why I'm doing it. Like, man, my like my daughters be sending to me. They tested and we'll be sending it back and forth and like literally competing with my kids, you know what I'm saying. And it's like, it's great because I can see how engaged my kids are now when I hear the uh you know, when their mothers go to the meetings and stuff, they tell them that they see the change in my in, my in my even and my kids. Because I could be an inspiration in a level, I'd be more of a level of plan for they can relate to me now opposed to me just being their dad or being a professional basketball player. There's somebody everybody else treats so holy or Gali or think of whatever. You know what I'm saying, having that much movement, uh perspective of somebody than just a random person, you know, walking down the streets. So when they hear me talk about school, and I can understand and relate the problems that they go through at times, and you know, um and and just being so school, being so time consuming. I can relate to them and they can relate to me. So it gives us more of, you know, other things to talk about opposed just just being that adult parent. Closing thoughts, Lebron James moves past Carl Malone to become number two and scoring. Unfortunately, his team lost and they continue to fall. But funk it, we're not talking about the Lakers. We're talking about Lebron James jack the number two score but also top ten and assists. Could you imagine if he was a selfish player, he probably would have passed Kareem to three seasons ago. Yeah, and if he was that, he wouldn't be the best all around player we've that was saying, you know, that's just what he was here, that's just what he was meant to be. Passing carm Alone is is amazing accomplishment. Carm Alone put up buckets, crazy buckets in the league. And and to be you know, a couple of thousands away from passing Kareem is amazing. Man. I think he can do it. Yeah, next year he'll have the opportunity to pass Kareem, and we just hope he's able to stay healthy and get there, because if he's healthy, he'll definitely be able to come the all time leading score. In your opinion, Jack, does he need to win if all said and done, he passes Kareem? Does he need to win one more championship two be the best player all time? Or is that something that no one could eclipse and that's always gonna be Michael Jordan's seat. In your opinion, well, I think, I mean, really, at this point, really, at this point, man ain't ain't nothing he can do about that, you know what I'm saying. His career is where it is, and he's still putting on putting up stats. But it's just certain things that Mike did that's just amazing, and in the timeframe he did it in everybody respects as you see even at the seven, at the at the top seventy five, how everybody, not just us and not just certain people, but all the top seventy five was treating Mike like he was the best. So, you know, some people was just something Mike was just born to be. Mike Braun was just born to be the best player that basketball player all around that we've ever seen. And uh and and I hold both of them up highing at the same level. So but Mike's just going to be Mike and Brown just going to be Brown. No, I mean, it's it's it's a conversation. I think that will always be a conversation. Is it's it's whoever you like more. But when it's all setting down, Lebron is gonna have pretty much every playoff record. He'll be the number one scorer in the league, he'll be top seven, top five and assists and to me, if he wins another championship, he's definitely in the conversation as greatest of all time. Our brother teammate and friend of the program, Jamal Crawford, announced that he is retiring from basketball. What do you remember most about fail Man? Showtime Man? Mr Showtime Man, say say stay prime Prime smell at popcorn popping? You smell at popcorn popping? That's all him, my boys telling man before the game. Man, I hate because it's not ten people that I can tell you that I know basketball I love more than him and that can still play the game at a high level. Man, it's so many great players that the NBA pushed out and and and just stop giving him my opportunity. That it sucks, But Jamal brother from me, you had a hell of a career. You're Hall of Fame in my mind. And uh you did it Joe Way Bro. Great career. Bro. I hate your retiring because I still want to see you play. Three things. First, of a happy birthday. Fam birthday was the other day. Happy birthday. Uh, he wasn't too far away from twenty thousand, which is crazy. I wanted to get twenty thousand and last, but not least. I feel like the NBA six Man of the Year Award should be named the Jamal Crawford Award moving forward. So we gotta do a little all the smoke campaign, uh to get that, to get those engines. You heard it here. First, we signed a petition, We started a petition. The sixth Man of the Year Award is now the Jamal crawf for the ward. Let's go facts, facts, facts, facts. You can catch What's burning available every week on Showtime Basketball YouTube and on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok and Show Basketball. See you all next week. M