Playoff Push, NBA Title Odds, Russell Westbrook | WHAT’S BURNIN | SHOWTIME Basketball

Published May 11, 2021, 5:08 PM

The final week of the NBA regular season is here. The boys discuss the upcoming matchups as teams make their final pushes for playoff seeding. Plus, they examine the NBA title favorites as we head into the playoffs and talk Russell Westbrook's history making night.

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What's the one purchase you made when you got the bag when you look back and think it probably wasn't the best idea. I think every decision I made was a great idea. It was just I just learned from him. You had the most changed the most cars. I gotta advanced for twenty five thousand, and I'm gonna picked up my Mike Bibby, my little brother in this sister, and we spent twenty three of it in the mall. I got eighty thousand dollar brand new BMW. And even know how much I had in the bank after that, the red light was on my bank accounty and every seven eight for the first checks to come. Welcome back to another edition of What's Burning. With the playoffs right around the corner. Everyone's in their final playoff push starting this Tuesday with the Phoenix Sells versus of Golden State Warriors. Phoenix has been a top five defense all season long and one of only four teams to be in the top ten on the defense and offensive end. Golden State is holding onto that a spot securely. Uh The Jazz are only one game ahead of Phoenix for the number one spot. So Jack, let's talk about this. This match on Tuesday and potentially seeing this as a first round matchup for both teams have done great this year. Nobody expected to go to the the States to be in a position they and nobody expected Phennis to be able to win the West. But the matchup is kind of scary because the tempo of the game really fits Golden State. Both teams can play this tempo, but the season Step has been having. Uh, it's gonna be it would be a tough series for things to get out of and Knock can promise they're gonna get out of it, but it would definitely be musty TV. You know, I agree with everything you said, plus the experience. This is a team with you know, Golden States coming to have a dynasty. Although they don't have Clay right now, they still have you know, Draymond and Steph and those two alone have been able to rally the Warriors UM this far. You know, STEP's been on fire, leading the league and scoring, and this is definitely a scary matchup for Phoenix. UM playoffs together head to head matchups between Stephen and Chris there nine and nine in the playoffs against each other. UM. I was in the front row for a lot of those matchups and and those two whenever they play off each other in the Plaoffs, it's always gonna be special. So definitely looking forward to this Tuesday's game and potentially it's being a first round matchup. Next up, we got the Knicks and Lakers. Although they have identical records, they're both heading in two different directions. The Lakers are the in the seventh seed right now, which is a playing spot one game behind the Blazers and six. The Knicks are securely holding onto that fourth seed. Um Jack word is Braun might play Tuesday. We're starting to see a D come into form. Thoughts on this matchup and the Lakers moving forward. If not healthy, well, you know, the Legas not going to be the team that we want them to be without Lebron on the court. As like you said, a D play well, he's trying to come back to the oh a D. But a healthy team, a healthy Leggers team, a healthy team that's on the same page, has been playing together. That's the team that you want to see right now. You don't know what Legas team you're gonna see and against the Knicks, Yeah, it'll be a good game for the Knicks to win. But we look, we're talking about the legas team that we want to see in the playoffs that's gonna be in the West Conference Finals, that possibly win the championship. That strowing the way I see the Lakers team. So any other way that the Lakers team is built, or any other lineup that they have without Lebron and a D and the full lineup, it's just not gonna be right to me. Yeah. Well, I think all season long we've been saying that, other people saying, as long as the Lakers are healthy, they could be odds on favor to come out of the West. But let's play devil's advocate and say they're not as healthy as they need to be, and and Lebron is still nagged by a high ankle sprain um and a D is not the normal a D. Who else do you see having a chance to come out of the West If that's the case. Ah, well, I definitely see the Clippers having the chance. And I see if if Phoenix can can find a way not to wrestle with Golden State, are deal with them in the first round and have an easy walk to the Western Conference Finals, they probably can get out of there, but I don't know. It's still up with grads with them, but I would have to go with I would have to go with the Clippers right now because they have guys that have proven that they can take their team to the top, and they have some key pieces that we that's gonna help doing in the playoffs with Rondo and Boogie Cousins. Absolutely, and I think the Clippers have I agree with Crib has been kind of flying under the radar. You know, the Lakers have been taken all the heat this year, good and bad. Clippers have been flying on the railbow. I think my dark horse team is because they've been in the mix for the last four or five years. It's Portland's. They're not playing their best basketball right now, but they're getting everybody healthy. And we know a healthy Portland team led by Damon c J. Mellow got the big fella back. Um, they could definitely be dangerous in the playoffs. So this is gonna be interesting to watch. Um, if the Lakers aren't fully healthy headed into the playoffs, big week a hand for both the Celtics and the Heat. Uh, the Heat we're able to knock the Celtics off yesterday they play again on Tuesday, and most likely if the heat went again, that's gonna bump the Celtics into the play in situation. But the Heat can also climb the clip. I think the Heat can climb as high as possibly four. Right now, they're at six. Uh. The remaining four games are against the Celtics, the seventies Sixers, the Bucks and the Piste and Jack. What do you think about this Jimmy Butler led team. I mean, this was a team that came on late in the bubble last year and made a run to the finals. Um, Trevor Reads has been playing great, really happy he got picked up. He's in the starting line of them now playing really well. Thoughts on this team getting hot at the right time, But this is what it's all about. I mean, that's that's one thing about them. They're gonna be ready to play at any time. And uh, having a healthy team. Guy's been playing well all year. You know, I'm not really worried about seating in the Eastern Conference with any team because you know it is you can throw any team up or put any team in the series matchup, and anybody can win. In the East. I think the only teams that really matters is that one in two spot, you know, with Philadelphia and in Brooklyn. I really don't I even I really don't see Milwaukee being much of a problem in the playoffs, even though they've been playing well towards the end. So but I just I know that Miami when they show up in the playoffs, with the attitude that that team comes with, you know, they can play against anybody any rounding, any eating. I'm not worried about them. It's just the other teams in there that that that possibly just gonna get thrown in the shuffle. Agreed. Um, you know, the Celtics haven't necessarily helped themselves. They've been mediocre at best, up and down all season. But the one thing I give them the nod for is the experience, you know, so just to be able to get in, Like you said, seating doesn't really matter because you have teams that have been to the Eastern Conference finals down at the bottom, now you know what I mean. So it'll be interesting to see, um how this shakes out. But you know, agreed, I still think the head of the classes, the sixers and the nets. But um, you know, health is gonna be very important coming into these playoffs and getting hot at the right time, and I think the Sealth are excuse me, the heat or a perfect example of what can happen when you get hot at the right time. So it's gonna be an interesting final four games for both these teams to see who secures the spot and who has to do the play in work. But it's definitely something we'll keep our eye on. Next up the team I just spoke on, uh a little bit earlier, the Blazers. Uh Man, they got hot one seven other last ten games. Uh. They face the Rockets, Jazz, Sons, and Nuggets to round out the season. They're currently one game above the Lakers for that sixth secure playoffs spot. Um Jack Dawson, this team, we're obviously big fans of Dame c J. Mellow thoughts on this this team being able to hold that sixth spot and what kind of damage they could do in the playoffs. But we haven't seen this team, Matt and what three years the big fellas been out, you know, guys will been in and out. We haven't seen this full team. They even made trade so we don't even know what this whole team looked like. But we know the dynamic of the team. Mellow Dame c J and Nurkic said, we know and we know these guys can get the job done. So I'm excited to see this team. Man. I know that I know they can really do some work and be like we were in UH in oh seven when we when when we UH upset of Dallas. I think this team can really go far in the playoffs and uh probably the scariest team right now. Yeah, this is my sleeper team, um coming into the playoffs? Is this team? And I think they're the sleeper only because of what you said. This team has a as a knack for being injured, but everyone getting healthy at the right time. I think that Norman pal acquisition is going to be big for them. Um, someone who could do it on both ends of the floor. But to me, it's is the clock ticking on Portland's because they've always been good but never good enough. You know, is this backcourt with Damon c J. Have they has it kind of ran there? That has it has it ran their term? Do they still have more in the tank? Like I said, obviously we're both big fans of them. We would love to see them do more, but they've kind of been stuck in that second round exit, you know, able to make it the Western Conference, files I think once, what do you think about, you know, kind of the clock ticking on this backcourt and this team in particular in Portland. Yeah, man, Um, we love to see it. We love we love the loyalty, you know, we we we we love the brotherhood and the camaraderie. But you know, it has to transition to winning, you know, and I know, and we both know they all want to win. But sometimes certain dynamics, as much as you wanted to work, it just don't work. And I you know, like I said, I like how they look now is the first time we're actually saying that full healthy team. But uh, if this continues to go on a year or two from now, you know, you definitely have to look at making some changes. Yeah, you know, obviously we wish them the best of luck. I would like to. I think obviously, you know, they were at their best when the when the Warriors were at their best, I think the Warriors kept Houston in Portland from really shining um during their dynasty as far as the Western Conference. So now that the Warriors aren't his dominant anymore, we got to see if if Portland can get their ship together and get up in there and and it really makes some noise. But again, I think they're gonna be my sleeper team of the playoffs this year, and I'll be excited to see what they can do to round out the week. Last but not least, we got the Warriors versus the Grizzlies. Most likely the winner of this game will secure the A seed. And jack you know, if you secure the A seed, you have the pleasure of being able to lose that seven eight playing but still have an opportunity to make the playoffs when you play the nine ten winners. So this is gonna be a big game. Uh, Jaren Jackson, about all seasons since he was back, they've been to and six, struggling a little bit, but this team is loaded. Man. I think they've got seven guys averaging over ten points a game and two guys right at nine. Very young and up and coming Memphis Grizzlies team. Uh, we know what the Warriors are. You know, this is supposed to be the season and Steph was supposed to be exposed, but all he's done is lead the league in scoring and amazed us the entire season. So thoughts on this upcoming game and who you think will secure that a spot. I gotta go with Steph. I actually just seeing Josh shout out John. He told me to tell you what up to man. I saw him in Memphis. A good kid. He's been playing great man. I think what he's done for that team in the organization definitely deserves a lot of praise. But what step is doing right now and this his experience and and the numbers right now, I just see them winning this game and getting into their playoffs. I don't I love I love. Like I said, I love Giz. It's hard to go against him the way he's been going. But Steff is just, uh, such a game changer. Like you said, we didn't expect too much from them this year. He's overseated all expectations with this team, and I think he's gonna continue to do that. To to to to the firewarns out. But you want to have the best player on the court, uh, in all situations, but particularly in he's playing situations. That Steph will be the best player on the court in any playing game. UM. That comes to be honest with you, in my opinion and and and that's saying a lot. Um, I think this Memphis team is one or two years away. They got a good young core with Jackson and Morant and um, what's the kid's name from Oregon is the shooting guards Brooks like slow Mo, shout out U c l A. They got a really nice young core. So, like I said, I think this team is a season or two away. Um, in this particular setting, I'm I'm agree. I'm gonna take the Warriors because Steph is the best player on the court. He's playing well right now. Memphis isn't playing as well right now. So like I said, this is always gonna be a fun matchup when you get two great point guards. But I'm definitely taking Golden State in this in this in this game, and to lock up that AFE seed, you know, allowing them the opportunity if they happen to it was in that seven eight game, to have another chance to lock that a spot him Next up on the Radar, presented you by DraftKings, we got odds on who's most likely to take the title this year and where some of them started at in the preseason. So right now leading the charge, the Nets are plus two hundred. They started at a plus six hundred in the preseason. I think obviously adding James Harden and this team getting their chemistry together has kind of put them at the top of the chart, so they'll be interesting to watch. The Lakers are at a plus four hundred, dropping them down to beginning the season there are plus two seventy five. Obviously, injuries play a big key into what they're gonna do and if they're gonna be able to repeat the team I really like. The Clippers are at a plus five fifty. Have been consistent throughout the year. They've stayed out of the under the radar and just been playing and getting their shipped together. The Jazz, even though they're number one in the East, there at a plus seven hundred, but a drastic jump from the pre season they were at a plus four thousand, so that would be in trining to keep their eye on uh Bucks at a plus seven fifty. Um like the Clippers in the Eastern Conference, they've just been under the radar, steadily doing what they do, playing different rotations, hopefully being prepared the most they can be in the plaoffs. But we all know Yannis has to be that regular season player in the playoffs for them to make any noise. Sixers are at a plus a thousand, even though they leave the East Sons plus fourteen hundred, another drastic jump. There are a plus four thousand in the preseason, and last, but definitely not least, the Nuggets at a plus thirty five hundred. So Jack, you got the odds throwing all the odds out the window. What do you like about this list? And who do you like? Well, I mean, I just give you I can give you my two picks. I think the safe bet if anybody will be to go with the Nets. Uh, they're gonna be healthy. We know they've got some killers on their team. We know they're gonna be around somewhere around her to not that team gonna be somewhere in the rankings. So you ain't got worried about them. When I think if you want to take a chance and and want and want to you know, throw your bones out there, I think you should try with the Bucks because you know, we know they haven't showed Johnie hasn't showed to beat that player that we need to see in the postseason. But he's been shooting jumpers, he's been going crazy. In the last two times he played Brooklyn, he gave him fifty almost both nights. So, um, if if you want to gamble, I my gamble. I would gamble on on the Bucks and Johannis because you know, anything could happen. Agreed. I think I think the Nets are the safe money to me at plus four hundred, Lakers are still a little bit of a scary money because everything rides on their two players. My two sleepers again out of this list. Um, I like the Bucks, but I like the Clippers, and I wouldn't be surprised. I don't think the NBA would want it, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a Bucks Clippers finals. Like I said, these two teams have stayed under the radar, got stars on both sides playing well. Um, so it's gonna be interesting runs. So safe money is the Nets. Man. It's hard to go against Katie Kyrie in James. So if you're a better person and you like to play it safe, there you go. It's the Nets. Next up, our favorite segment, fan questions. Let's get right into it. Miguel the Pueblo, I guess excuse me for butchering your name what do you miss most from your NBA lives as a player? Oh, man, Um, I don't miss the game too much playing wise, I think my body that ran out of energy for the game. I think I just missed you know, the brotherhood. Man. We're traveling and going out to eat. Um, you know, a good times, the best memories. Yeah, yeah, I don't. It's not too much of playing because you know, everybody, time runs out, and I think I got the most of the game, you know, from playing basketball out of me in my life. I just think just things I missed most now as being around my brothers, to traveling and all the good time. Yeah, I completely agree. The locker rooms, the busses, the planes, going out to eat. You know, there's a lot of fun ship that happens during that time. Man, So that I would agree that that that's the one thing I definitely miss is just kicking it. I mean kicking it. Like I said that, the games are fun, but it became a job at the end in the real business. But you know, the thing that always remained constant and fun was just spending time with your brothers, you know, on the on the downtime outside of the game. So like that we definitely both agree on that one. Next fan question, Mia underscore point dex to seventy six. Why didn't Hall of Fame players like Shaq and Kobe win more m vps? Great question. I don't know, I've always kind of wondered this, and and because there was times where you think, you know, Kobe could have ran off a handful of them, Shot could have ran off a handful of them. Lebron could have ran off a handful of them. But I think you know, when when you leave it to these writers in these columnists that that sometimes carry a jaded point of view about someone that can hurt them or some of them didn't do give them a right interview that I mean, there's always personal feelings when it comes to voting, especially when it comes to people who who didn't get a chance to play, you know, so um and they like stuff different, you know what I mean. So tough question, great question. I don't really know the answer. They were definitely they definitely should have won. Both those guys should have won more than they have. Lebron should won more than he has. But I just kind of think that's what it is. It is what it is you thought what do you think, Oh, I know exactly what it is. You have people who never played a game of basketball in their life voting on who is the best player in the game. And it's just that's just what it is. You You you got people involved in that decision that don't know what it's like to take a charge, don't know what it's like to shoot a three point them, don't even know what it's like to snap the backboard on the layup. Matt so and and and and and it's that and it's that drastic. It's that drastic, you know what I mean. UM, I love Steve Nash, but it's nowhere in hell. If you had basketball players who actually played the game, they would have voted for him to win back to back MVP. I'm sorry, especially the way cob was playing at that time. Yeah, you know what I mean. There's no reason that Koben Shack shouldn't have more MVPs. Now, I completely agree, it's a it's a weird system. I don't know all the intricacies about it, but I agree. I think they set somehow need to get more people who have actually played UM voting on this, because when you leave it in the hands of people who haven't played all that they do their homework and they're studying. This is no knock on the people who haven't played. But I just think, like when you're voting on something like like you said, with all due respect to Steve mask the way Kobe was playing at that time, it feels up to the players or more people who had played. There's no way Steve would have won those m vps over code. But you know, obviously shout out to Steve for getting getting two m vps. But that's a good question, and who knows what the ever fix. And I also think to add on to that that it needs to be over an entire season, you know, because you saw Janice went two m vps and then get bounced in the playoffs. You know what I mean early in the playoffs saying to me, how do you have an m v P player that you can't go to down the stretch. M v P means when the game's on the line, you're gonna go to the m v P to get the job done. So I definitely think it should open up to the season, excuse me, the full season, including the playoffs, because like I said, if your MVP should be able to lead you at least to the conference finals. Yeah, and Steve wouldn't. Steve wouldn't. Steve wouldn't give those m vps back. But he know he wouldn't better than Kobe. He wouldn't say it, but he know he wasn't better than Steve was a motherfucker though, but definitely not. He was good. Steve was great, better than me and you, but he wasn't better than Kobe the way Kobe was playing at that time, absolutely right. Next up David Helm's underscore fifteen best piece of trash talk you said or heard? Oh, man, I think, well, I I didn't say it so much. I'm not. I don't know what's the best thing. I didn't say it because I just said everything in the book. But heard. And I remember shooting a three point in the corner of in Utah, and I heard a fan just say something that I've never heard when I'm shooting. He said, oh hell no, I'm like, and I like he was writing my year And for somebody to say that, like I just always missed it threw me all the way. All all I heard it was oh hell no. And I hit all the side of the backboard I turned around like that that it threw me all the way off. That was a good defense. Yeah, like you said, man, we didn't play the game so long. I heard a lot of crazy ship. I remember one thing that actually happened off the cot because I've been fine for talking to fans and all that kind of ship. Um, but I think one thing I heard, and I won't reveal the SuperStar's name, but I remember when I played in Philly, when he goes a little more cheeks story. One person told more cheeks just because you wear motherfucking suit doesn't make you the coach. And I'm thinking, like, yo, this is how motherfucker they're talking to coaches these days. And then another situation was between when I played for the Clippers, me and Floyd Mayweather got into it because he was a Clipper fan the whole season, and then Lebron came to the Cavs and this nigger had his pom pomps out for the Calves. I'm like, bro, you're at every one of our games cheering for us, and now you just dick riding the castle. Me and him went back and forth on some some crazy X rated can't be said type ship, but that was fun. But I think trash talking is what makes the game dope, and I think, unfortunately, I think we kind of caught the last of being able to at least say a little bit because we couldn't even say much. But back in the day they used to really draw and go back and forth. And now the game is so soft and the rest are so fucking weak that you can't really say or do anything without getting the tea or getting fine. So I think the days of trash talking behind us, unfortunately. But they I understand, they won't let you trash talk, but somebody get dunked on you let the whole bitch run on the court in front of the referees and all that, you know what I mean. Like this, they'd be contradicting themselves so much. I think Jimmy and uh, Jimmy and and and Cat got into it just the other day, I think, and Jimmy says some slick ship to him. So it's still there every once in a while, But I just think, as far as on a consistent note, you know, trash talking is kind of a thing of the past. Crazy KG was one of the great trash talkers in the history of the game. The motherfucker would say anything anytime anywhere. Yeah, I loved it. Next fan question, it came two times. Which team in the playing spot do you think can still the player playoff spot? Golden State. I think we talked about them earlier. Anytime you have probably the person is gonna lead the league in scoring, and Steph Curry, um Draymond's expertise on both ends of the floor and just their experience. Not saying that they're gonna go crazy and and make some unpresidented run. But I could definitely see them messing around and securing the spot and winning a first round matchup, whether it be against Utah or Phoenix. Maybe we could be dead off in Utah Phoenix into beating the ship out of them. But I just don't see it. Like I said, I think the way Steph plays you said earlier alone and Steph can get you a couple of games all by himself. So they get Ubrey and Wiggins back, everybody healthy, everyone on the same page. The Warriors are gonna be This is the one year that you know an eight beating a one or seven beating a two. Isn't that crazy? I definitely agree, you said, man you said everything that I would say, you got to go and go to State. I would never go again stuff again like I wanted to when he got drafted. So yeah, I'm going with Steff. The next question coming from Jordan's Griffin, Oh seven, what's the one purchase you made when you got the bag when you look back and think it probably wasn't the best idea? Yea, Oh man, Let's see, Well, I think every decision I made was a great idea. It was just I just learned from him. Uh, you had the most, you had them, you had the most changed, you had the most. I'm gonna tell you. I'm gonna tell you though my first Uh, when I first got drafted, Phoenix drafted me and guaranteed me two hundred fifty thousand, and I gotta check. I gotta advance for twenty five thousand, and I'm gonna picked up Mike, Mike Bibby, my little brother and his sister, and we spent twenty three of it in the mall Clo all new Arab Max. Oh yeah, I asked Mike Arab Max all the new bowls polo. He bought everything in the mall and I my mom was like, what do you think I'm like I got more money coming in? I got two thousand left. You know, I thought I was good, but I had all the clothes in the world that I think mine was. I got called up to play for the Clippers and got to ten days, ended up making the team, and I got like my first to paychecks and went and bought like an eighty thousand dollar brand new BMW And I don't even know how much I had in the bank after that ship. It is probably just to be able to pay for gas after that. But you know what I mean, when you when you don't have ship and that first money comes, like you said, you always think you got more coming, when who knows if you really got more coming. So yeah, I mean I probably say really because like I said, I can't really get no money until I got into the game. So I probably say, like my first three four or five seasons, my bank account was on red at the end of it something. Yeah, the end of every summer banking coun the red light was on my bank account into every summer bros. I couldn't we wait for the first check to come. But you gotta think, like that's back then, like we didn't talk about financial literacy back then, like that wasn't that wasn't something that was a common conversation like it is now. And they weren't really checking for our money, and really that kind of attention on saving and investing and planning that ship was we were trying to live like the rappers at that time, cars, jewelry, this, this, and that. It wasn't really no talking about saving at that time. So at least we made it out with some money, right. Next fan question one take doc. Are titles as important as the media and the majority of the fans make it seen? Are does sustained Greatness slash Hall of Fame Trump titles? Um? I think the later, I think sustained Greatness um Trump's titles. But I think we live in the era of a ring and if you don't win a ring, you ain't shipped for some reason. Um. And I think the titles count more now is because superstars are it around. Before, if you were a superstar, you just had a good team, you stayed on the team, and if you didn't win, you didn't win. UM. I think with more now, the star players moving around, I think they're starting to count rings more because guys are building super teams, but then at the same time they want to discredit you when you win with the super team. So, um, there's been a lot of great players who didn't n rings, and I don't think that should obviously tarnished. To me, I don't think he should turn as a body of work. Um that was Hall of Fame worthy. Uh. To me, I just think, you know, the greatest players, the best players are winners. That's just how I look at it. You know what I mean. When when you when you're the best player, when you're the greatest, when you dominate your whole career, you win Shock one, Kobe one, Tim Duncan won, Jordan one, Lebron one, Magic one, you know what I mean. Then you got your superstars like Yal and the guys who had to go to teams to get championships. You know what I'm saying. I'm saying. I'm not saying Ray wasn't great, but he wasn't Kobe, he wasn't Shock, he wasn't Jordan, you know what I mean. But he still was a superstar in this time. So that's a separation to me. Man, you got guys that carry guys the championships and that and that that are that just damn good. You know what I mean that they're bringing their team to win and they win it. But if you've got people that's good at basketball, they just not win us. So what would you say to like Barkley never getting one or Carl is not a Bak is not a winner. He's a great basketball player, he's just not a winner. He's a Hall of famer, he's one of the best we've ever seen play the game. He's just not a winner. And I mean that's not a knock on him, it's just that's what it says. On his career here, he hasn't won, so he's not a winner. And I mean I I that's how I look at the great players, the ones that's supposed to be talked about as the top ten players. They took the organization their team to multiple championships, you know what I mean? And and that's just what it is with me. You ain't mad at it. Next up, Divine Underscore on one player you would like to see win a ring this year? Good question. I would like to see James Harden win a ring. Um perfect example, because I had him as my m and Carrie is in my m VP votes, the way James was playing before his hamstring injury, what he how he just popped up in Brooklyn with Kevin durand the carrier and it's still average in the triple double with twenty points. It just blew my mind, and um, if I want to see anybody win the championship. You know, even though I had setain things to sail by James beginning, it wasn't personal about his basketball plan. I just felt, you know, I wanted I want to see sides to look good, and I knew James can make him look good with with with the way he played basketball has as good as he is. But if I want to see anybody within the ring right now, would definitely be James hard that's good car and I think he has the best odds on a superstar that hasn't won to get one. Uh My two would be Chris Paula Russell Westbrook And obviously I think Russell is a lot further away from than Chris, but just the way Russ plays, uh day in day out, robviously gonna touch on him at the end of the show. His greatness to what he's been able to accomplish and then CP, you know, one of the greatest floor leaders we've ever seen play this game, a guy that goes and ends everywhere, but just hasn't been able to get over the hump um. You know, has his team right in the mix this year. So those will probably be my two. But I think James was a great call to this Thursday May one of the interviews you guys have all been asking for for a long time. Gilbert Arena's agent Zero enjoyed the teaser in your prime in in d C. You've got a lot of memorable matchups young Lebron Ai co j Kid, to name a few. One out of those that stand out to the most or individually, my hardest. My hardest matchup was Jake Kid, because you gotta remember he's six four all of two twenty, you know what I mean. So I couldn't I couldn't bully through him, and I my speed he neutralized it because he was just as fast. But he was quick so when I got to take off, he can get to that spot before I I gained. So when I played against Jay Kid, it had to I had to really actually think. I mean I I scored thirty, but it was one of those ten for twenty one type games. It was never I never just dominated, you know Jay kid Um, it was it was he gave me a run from my money all the time. AI lucky me. I never actually had to really guard him like that because he was he was sitting at the two. So for those years it was either Larry who was guarding him, or the sean I'm on this highlight take us yep. I mean I was on the sidelight table. But I was a dude that like threw my hand and then like I was fake helping and like dropped drop you know what I mean. It was. It was one of It was one of those. It was one of those because for some reason, if you had on that number three um, like I was, I was in games where I'm guarding him and he just and chill mode soup and he looked at threes on that jersey. He took offense. He took forty forty and and that that that thirty that these seconds if you could, you know, but that was one of the hardest work hardest playing you know, players that I've went against. Steve Nash was hard to because he did a hunting picking rolls and he's coming on speed. Tony Parker was a good one, Um, just because you know that system that that that system was, you know it was. It was one of those like I gotta go to sleep earlier tonight because it's you're thinking, you know, defensively they all wait, they don't make mistakes. Offensively, they're gonna they're gonna get the best shots. So you know you're going against Antonio like you're playing a perfect game. And what I mean, it's it's it's it's it's it's a perfect game. You you don't got room for, you know, failure against them, because they're gonna, they're gonna, they're gonna they don't cut your legs off every time you do something. December, oh six Staples Center, you against Kope, you dropped sixteen the overtime game. Talk to us about that. Oh that was that? You know that was a build up. Um before that game, I was averaging like thirty three against the Lakers. You know you grew up why watching them that you know that you know that game that's just that's your team, young, what they do, that team you own and mentally, like even my rookie year I played them, I had fourteen and five minutes. It was just one of those teams that I just got up for. It's just watching you know, Kobe's training, you know, um four games how he trained him watching me there every single time we played them. Three o'clock, I'm near, you know, waiting for you to finish, and then I'm you know, I'm going. So we already had our shooting. I remember, I remember sitting there and like, man that I'm I'm giving him all the kudos. It was funny before the game, we're sitting there. He's going because it's a second time working out before the game, so he already worked out once. This is second time working out, and I was like, man, that man just unstoppable. Man, Like I'm seeing his coaching hacking on him. He still putting them shots up. And then you know, he said it. He said it. So this jump ball started. Hey, I'm gonna shutdown Gil yea, I'm gonna sut down Guil. Smush you go there. We're gonna go one for flat if he guards me, I'm going one for flat. That's how we go through this one for Flat we go. We're just gonna shut this ship down right now. So that was already the mode of the game, you know what I mean. So I'm already so I'm in attack mode. So I'm in attack mode. I'm like, we get it, smush comes. I'm just going like just okay. So when Kobe tried to get me, I'm already on some fire. And that's you know, That's how it it was. It was just that's to Once you got going, it was over. Once I got going, it was it was really nothing he was gonna do, you know, because I mean, you know, studying a defensive player, I knew I couldn't do the same thing twice against him, you know, So if I hit him with a crossover, I knew I couldn't hear with the same crossover coming down. So I always had to be you know, quick, pull up. You know, I'm not gonna play around with you. You know you're a great defense place. I'm not playing around with you. Like I'm just gonna just get to the ams. I'm just go just straight line, straight line, shoot it up. I don't you know, I'm not gonna sit there and bait because that that just feeds into you know, good defensive guys gonna play to the rhythm. He's gonna he's gonna pick that ship up, and I'm sitting here like I'm just gonna go, quick shot three, Let's go, let's you know, And that's that's one of them NICs. Winding down the show with quick hitters. First Step Jack shout out. Russell Westbrook, who tied Oscar Robinson with a hundred and eighty one triple doubles, has four games to go this season, starting tonight, to become the old time triple double King. Thoughts on this accomplishment. I'm not surprised the way you get triple doubles. It's just like opening the bag of grapes and picking the grape out of the bucket. I mean, that's that easy. He get triple doubles so easy, man. I knew he's gonna break the record. I knew this day was coming. I'm just so proud of him because nobody has dealt with more slammed, than more judgment than than basketball than Russell Westbrook. You know, people say all types of stuff about them, but they couldn't walk a day in isshoes. They couldn't even muster or couldn't even buy the energy and and the passion that he plays with night by Night. So I salute Rushman and I'm proud of him, and he's definitely going down as probably the well, I can't say, the best best point guard of all time, but probably the most athletic point guard and the most all around dominant point guard. Explosive. Yeah. One, you know, russ is someone who's been knocked you One thing, you know, I consisted here is a great teammate. But another thing too is I think that he has made the triple double looks so easy that people don't appreciate it no more. And triple doubles are easy to get if you look at the history of the game, how many people have played. Triple doubles are hard, very hard to get, and he makes it look easy, and I think that's how it's kind of almost watered down the accomplishment. But man, tremendous accomplishment. UM. I just love russ Man, someone I would take the war ten out of ten times. Um, someone who leaves it out there every single night. Um. So it's obviously a tremendous honor for him. So salute russ I think it's a it's a no brainer there. Within the next four games, he'll probably get shipped two or three, if not four, triple doubles to become the all time leading triple double kings. So again, man shout out Russ on this great run, great career, and we know you still got more left though, bro also keep pushing. Next up, Carmelo Anthony passes Elvin Hayes for ten on the all time scoring list, and there's only seventy two points behind the great Moses Malone rest in peace. So I don't know if Melot will get it this year. He needs to average eighteen in the next four uh to possibly get that. With Mellow that's definitely not out of the question. But if he doesn't get it this year, he'll for sure get it next year. To think this dude was sitting out with the league thinking he wasn't. I don't know what the funk the league was thinking. To be honest for you, we were big advocates for him. We still need to get him on the show. But the fact that he's been able to reinvent himself in his second act um and do what he's done in Portland's helping that team on and off the court, and now the top ten score of all time and we'll most likely finish between top nine, our top eight or nine score of all time. Talk to us about this accomplishment and Mellow's greatness. Well, I'm not surprised. He's been one of the best scores since he's step foot in the league. And that's one thing he does well is put up buckets, you know, I mean he's he's a walking bucket. I mean, we talked about earlier about guys we'd like to see with a ring with Mellow is one of those guys too. You know, I would love to get a championship man. I know it's kind of far fetched with the way they've been playing and how they've been playing. But um, I think for the most part, Man, him scoring and him being at the top, in the top ten is something that he envisioned, is something that we we saw that was that possibly could happen, you know, some of the steps in the league. Like I said, he's a walking bucket. So, uh, congrats to Mellow man and keep going bro. Yeah, definitely shout out Mellow. Uh still need you on the show. We're gonna definitely lock you down in this off season. But tremendous accomplishment Man and I'm glad you've been able to reinvent your second act to be successful at it. Next up Steph Curry and Bradley Bill going back and forth for this year's score title. Steph is currently sitting at thirty one point nine. Brad Beale is certainly sitting at thirty one point four. Brad dropped fifty the other night. Steph said he knew that and came and dropped a forty nine piece and only three quarters uh to keep his lead. This has been one of the you know, one of what one of the better scoring bouts. Obviously has been some historic runs. I think David Robinson had to drop a seventy two one time to win the scoring title. But I think this will definitely go down to the wire between Steph and Brad. And again, happy for both these guys, but particularly Steph because there's been a lot of Slanders greatest he's been throughout his careers. Oh, he's had this team, he's had that team. He can't do this, he can't do that. Well, this is the one year he showed and I remember I said this the beginning season. We're gonna see Steph Curry's version of James Harden this year and Steph definitely hasn't disappointed. Shot the ship out of the ball. Brad's been played great too. But thought on thoughts on this uh scoring title coming down to the end, Man, it's hard, man, it's hard because these are two walking buckets. Uh. Step has been steps carrying his team. I think coming down the end he might get more shot at him than Bradley Bill. But you never know because Bradley, you know, um, him and Rustban playing well together. You know, even though Rustban average and triple doubles, He's been making sure that Bradley Bill gets his attempts to win this thing too. So, UM, I'm gonna stay out of this one. I'm gonna stay out of this from man, I think I think both both of my little bros have a chance to win it, and I wish him both the best. Yeah. Absolutely, It's just it's entertaining, uh and just beautiful, say, I mean, just the way how pure of score these guys are a special then last, but not least twenty years ago this week we had a legendary battle between two former guests, Vince Carter and Alan Iverson. Both dropped fifty in the series A I ended up averaging thirty four. Vince average thirty seventy six is going to beat him. I think that's the I think this is the the series where Vince graduated and came ac and all that whole bullshit that people said he shouldn't have left and should have stayed focused. But you know, like Ben said, it was one shot away from making it in him being a hero. They graduated and took his team to the next round and instead they wanted to he missed a shot and they talked ship. But anyway, man, too great Hall of Fame players. I remember that that that series like it was yesterday and man, twenty years ago this week so crazy. Yeah, man, it was. It was. It was something that we always remember, something that we would mind going back and watching. I mean, anytime you get a do it like that too? Great like that, Man, it's definitely musty TV. But you know, I was. I was always glued when a I was on TV anyway, just to see what he was gonna do, you know what I mean, the passion he was gonna play, what Obscar he was gonna overcome this time and seeing ving him and Vince battle, you know, Vince making all these amazing plays and being half man half amazing. I think everybody in the world was watching that game, but it was you know, that's that's the history into making man. Yeah, I mean, I think a lot of people want to talk about Lebron took teams the finals that had no business being in the finals. With all due respect to his teammates. You look at the roster Allen Iverson had this season, and he took them to the finals and had the only blemish on the Raker the Lakers record because they stole Game one in l a or the Lakers would have won sixteen to know in the playoffs. Alan Iverson's team had no business being in the finals this year, and I say that respectfully, but it was just the herder Ai that got them all the way through into the finals and was able to get them game one to stole Game one. So after plenty of delays, the Hall of Fame class will finally be inducted this Saturday. Headliners Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, and our brother Kobe Bryant Um. Some are saying this is the greatest Hall of Fame class in the history of basketball. We want to wish all of the people the best of luck, congratulate them and UH again. Obviously we spoke about it. Will be sad because I was really looking forward to hearing UH Kobe speech because I'm sure it would have been well thought of and and and articulated and it would have been a speech that we always remember. So um anyway, man, I hope you guys enjoy it. Congrats to all the UH inductees. We've had a few of them on the Show. Jack. We need to get Tim Ducan on the Show Man. You need to make that homeboy, call that o G. Call your paintballing or you're paintballing, buddy. I'll try it. I'll try it. Well, that's a wrap. You can find What's Burning every Monday on Showtime Basketball YouTube and on Twitter and Instagram and show Basketball. See you all next week.

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All The Smoke

ALL THE SMOKE pairs two of the most outspoken and controversial players of their time. Known as fier 
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