Now playing what open this is open Floor. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannos back at it and lea podcast with Sports Illustrated senior writer.

Now playing what open this is open Floor. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannos back at it and lea podcast with Sports Illustrated senior writer.

I think it's time that the world get to know my guy, Chris Mannix.

I think it's time that the world get to know my guy, Chris Mannix.

I think your opinion is shared by everyone. And now it begins.

I think your opinion is shared by everyone. And now it begins.

Now it begins, all.

Now it begins, all.

Right, Martin Medina Sports Kita, Fox Sports Radio, longtime NBA journalist. Before we get into what I want to talk about today, which includes Minnesota, Boston, some stuff with the Lakers coaching search, I do to say this. I woke up on Wednesday morning in Dallas and populating my timeline was an ESPN clip that was debating the friendship of Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown. Debating the relationship between Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown, and the evidence that was being used to suggest that maybe Tatum and Brown weren't as connected as they'd like people to think. Was the scene after the Conference Finals ended where Jalen Brown was named Conference Finals MVP. The clip showed Jason Tatum smiling. The clip showed Jason Tatum laughing, but somehow, some way, the cast of characters on ESPN decided to make it a point of discussion that maybe Tatum wasn't happy for Brown and maybe there is some kind of disconnect between Tatum and Brown. I gotta tell you, Mark, it felt like I was in a time warp. It felt like it was twenty nineteen all over again, and Tatum and Brown were young players. Anthony Davis was available, Kawhi Leonard was available, and we were talking about breaking up these two stars. Not five years later, when they've gone now to two finals in three years and are going to be a favorite against whoever they face in the NBA Finals. Don't even what the question is for you, Mark, I'm just saying like, I can't believe we're actually doing this in twenty twenty four.

Right, Martin Medina Sports Kita, Fox Sports Radio, longtime NBA journalist. Before we get into what I want to talk about today, which includes Minnesota, Boston, some stuff with the Lakers coaching search, I do to say this. I woke up on Wednesday morning in Dallas and populating my timeline was an ESPN clip that was debating the friendship of Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown. Debating the relationship between Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown, and the evidence that was being used to suggest that maybe Tatum and Brown weren't as connected as they'd like people to think. Was the scene after the Conference Finals ended where Jalen Brown was named Conference Finals MVP. The clip showed Jason Tatum smiling. The clip showed Jason Tatum laughing, but somehow, some way, the cast of characters on ESPN decided to make it a point of discussion that maybe Tatum wasn't happy for Brown and maybe there is some kind of disconnect between Tatum and Brown. I gotta tell you, Mark, it felt like I was in a time warp. It felt like it was twenty nineteen all over again, and Tatum and Brown were young players. Anthony Davis was available, Kawhi Leonard was available, and we were talking about breaking up these two stars. Not five years later, when they've gone now to two finals in three years and are going to be a favorite against whoever they face in the NBA Finals. Don't even what the question is for you, Mark, I'm just saying like, I can't believe we're actually doing this in twenty twenty four.

Yeah, I mean, to your point, this is a conversation that was to be had when they're running up in the Eastern Conference Finals and losing to Ron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers. So I think, by my account, people have broken up the Jason Tatum Jalen Brown duo for about three hundred and ninety four times already, and clearly the Celtics have not done that. They've recommitted to them, They've built around them, They've shown that they're improved players. They can coexist, they can be more efficient while still doing what they do best. So, yeah, that is not a storyline, but that's not going to prevent certain people from talking about it to make it a storyline.

Yeah, I mean, to your point, this is a conversation that was to be had when they're running up in the Eastern Conference Finals and losing to Ron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers. So I think, by my account, people have broken up the Jason Tatum Jalen Brown duo for about three hundred and ninety four times already, and clearly the Celtics have not done that. They've recommitted to them, They've built around them, They've shown that they're improved players. They can coexist, they can be more efficient while still doing what they do best. So, yeah, that is not a storyline, but that's not going to prevent certain people from talking about it to make it a storyline.

The Tatum Brown relationship is it is the definition of beating a dead horse.

The Tatum Brown relationship is it is the definition of beating a dead horse.

Right.

Right.

Look, I've written about Jason Tatum multiple times, not a couple of profiles on in the magazine. I've written about their relationship, most recently in two thousand and I think early twenty twenty two, and we put the you know three guys on the cover of the magazine. And I talk to a lot of people around them for that story, and to a man, they all said that they have a really good relationship. Now. They are very different people, right like Jalen Brown is. Their personalities are different, their off court interests are very different. But they're friends. Like they are friends. They hang out. They are not just finishing games and getting into cars and not seeing each other. The relationship between these two guys is fine, and the on court relationship between these two guys is frigging great. Like they are two of the best wings in the NBA right now. And I promise you. I don't know where winning Conference Finals MVP is on Jason Tatum's priority list, but it's probably somewhere between what I'm going to have for breakfast and what kind of toilet paper to buy at the grocery store. I don't think he's overly concerned with who wins Conference Finals MVP Mark. So I look, I get that when you're programming a twenty four hour sports news channel, you gotta find things to talk about. I get I've been part of that, but this is not a story. It's not a topic. And using a clip where Tatum was smiling and clapping and suggesting that because he didn't smile harder and clap harder that it was somehow an indication of a disconnect is beyond me. So I don't if, I don't know if you have any to ad there before we move on, but that was my my spiel.

Look, I've written about Jason Tatum multiple times, not a couple of profiles on in the magazine. I've written about their relationship, most recently in two thousand and I think early twenty twenty two, and we put the you know three guys on the cover of the magazine. And I talk to a lot of people around them for that story, and to a man, they all said that they have a really good relationship. Now. They are very different people, right like Jalen Brown is. Their personalities are different, their off court interests are very different. But they're friends. Like they are friends. They hang out. They are not just finishing games and getting into cars and not seeing each other. The relationship between these two guys is fine, and the on court relationship between these two guys is frigging great. Like they are two of the best wings in the NBA right now. And I promise you. I don't know where winning Conference Finals MVP is on Jason Tatum's priority list, but it's probably somewhere between what I'm going to have for breakfast and what kind of toilet paper to buy at the grocery store. I don't think he's overly concerned with who wins Conference Finals MVP Mark. So I look, I get that when you're programming a twenty four hour sports news channel, you gotta find things to talk about. I get I've been part of that, but this is not a story. It's not a topic. And using a clip where Tatum was smiling and clapping and suggesting that because he didn't smile harder and clap harder that it was somehow an indication of a disconnect is beyond me. So I don't if, I don't know if you have any to ad there before we move on, but that was my my spiel.

Yeah, Chris, I'll add this because under the spirit that I don't want to be the dead horse either. But you know, the irrelevant wrinkle to this season specifically is christophs Porzingi's arrival and just the effect that that's had. And I remember talking to him earlier in the season about what's been the key and being able to fit in so seamlessly, and he said, it starts with Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum. They've made me more comfortable to be able to be that facilitator, help run the offense, be a complimentary score. And as a result of that, you've seen Jason Tatum's assist numbers go up, You've seen Jalen Brown's efficiency go up. The chemistry among all those three players have also been good. Now as it pertains the playoffs, obviously we have a lot of questions about KP's injury status and when or if he's going to return, But as it ties into what you're talking about with their dynamic, their chemistry, you add another third player into that mix that is a really good part of that. And he's saying, yeah, they are responsible for why I felt like I've been so successful seamlessly with this team. That further illustrates this isn't a story anymore. Guys. They get along fine, they mesh well together fine, and it's going to be okay. The only thing that could derail the Celtics is if there's health concerns or just the fact that because presumably Dallas Dallas is going to get to the finals. They're just playing at an unbelievable level. But it's not going to be because Jalen Brown Jason Tatum don't like each other or don't work well together, because they clearly do on both fronts.

Yeah, Chris, I'll add this because under the spirit that I don't want to be the dead horse either. But you know, the irrelevant wrinkle to this season specifically is christophs Porzingi's arrival and just the effect that that's had. And I remember talking to him earlier in the season about what's been the key and being able to fit in so seamlessly, and he said, it starts with Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum. They've made me more comfortable to be able to be that facilitator, help run the offense, be a complimentary score. And as a result of that, you've seen Jason Tatum's assist numbers go up, You've seen Jalen Brown's efficiency go up. The chemistry among all those three players have also been good. Now as it pertains the playoffs, obviously we have a lot of questions about KP's injury status and when or if he's going to return, But as it ties into what you're talking about with their dynamic, their chemistry, you add another third player into that mix that is a really good part of that. And he's saying, yeah, they are responsible for why I felt like I've been so successful seamlessly with this team. That further illustrates this isn't a story anymore. Guys. They get along fine, they mesh well together fine, and it's going to be okay. The only thing that could derail the Celtics is if there's health concerns or just the fact that because presumably Dallas Dallas is going to get to the finals. They're just playing at an unbelievable level. But it's not going to be because Jalen Brown Jason Tatum don't like each other or don't work well together, because they clearly do on both fronts.

All right, So I want to get back to the Celtics and the legitimate questions that there are about them and how vulnerable they are going into a final series. But let's talk about the teams that are vying to get there. I was at Game four of Dallas against Minnesota on Tuesday night. Great effort by the Timberwolves, great bounce back game from Karl Anthony Towns. I mean, I was among the people that crushed Towns after Game three because he just became this one dimensional three point shooter and didn't look like he had the proper level of physicality to compete in a series like this. He flipped the script in Game four. He was aggressive, he got to the basket. Second half of this game. He scored twenty of his twenty five points, most of those points game when he had five fouls. Mark like he played through significant foul trouble. Really for the last three quarters of this game. And really put that team on his back for chunks of it. For Edwards could take over and made some big shots down the stretch. So we know, Mark that no team in NBA history has ever come back from a three to nothing deficit. Minnesota got its first win here. Now they head back home tried to get another. Is the door open in your mind for Minnesota to pull off something historic?

All right, So I want to get back to the Celtics and the legitimate questions that there are about them and how vulnerable they are going into a final series. But let's talk about the teams that are vying to get there. I was at Game four of Dallas against Minnesota on Tuesday night. Great effort by the Timberwolves, great bounce back game from Karl Anthony Towns. I mean, I was among the people that crushed Towns after Game three because he just became this one dimensional three point shooter and didn't look like he had the proper level of physicality to compete in a series like this. He flipped the script in Game four. He was aggressive, he got to the basket. Second half of this game. He scored twenty of his twenty five points, most of those points game when he had five fouls. Mark like he played through significant foul trouble. Really for the last three quarters of this game. And really put that team on his back for chunks of it. For Edwards could take over and made some big shots down the stretch. So we know, Mark that no team in NBA history has ever come back from a three to nothing deficit. Minnesota got its first win here. Now they head back home tried to get another. Is the door open in your mind for Minnesota to pull off something historic?

I don't think so, Chris. I respect the fact that they won a game. They did do one, two, three, cancoon they extended this series, they gave themselves life. But I can't see them suddenly becoming the only team after one hundred and fifty four teams failed to overcome a three deficit to now become the exception. I also think they'll become the fifth team to force a game seven after being down in three to zero. I think that this is a gentleman sweep. I think that, yes, we give a lot of credit Karl Anthony Towns having a bounce back performance, being more aggressive at the rim, not just settling for threes. But I think in Dallas's case, Luka Dacics and Kyrie Irving didn't shoot the ball well. They missed. Yeah, and Derek Lively the second his injury in his absence obviously was a game changer because they're just how great he has been as a defender, and that has partly explained why earlier in the series Minnesota was settling for a lot of outside shots. I think that they should have been more aggressive with the taxing in the basket, but also didn't help that they knew Lively's presence there can do a lot of damage. So I think that Dallas will win Game five, they'll advance the NBA Finals, and that's that. But I think that when you look at the big picture of this series, there's a few things here. I thought that they could carry the momentum from the seven game series against Denver because of the fact that they're the defending champs. They're playing at all time level. But I think that we saw that the matchup dynamics are just different. You know, the Wolves, because of Tim Connolly, they constructed this roster to match up with Denver. Dallas's identity is completely different because they got Luka Danchich and Kyrie Irving as perimeter scoring threats. That's number one and number two. I was just very confounded that all of a sudden fatigue kid Anthony Edwards when he's twenty two years old. I was surprised at all of a sudden Karl Anthony Towns is not becoming that versatile player that made him a good center. He's just settling for threes. I'm with you that all this cottage industry contents spearheaded by Draymond Green and others to punch bags. Rudy Gobert is unfounded. Like he's a great defensive player. But you know that game two game winner that Luca had, Like I didn't see that coming, so I thought this would be more compet but I think a fairness what we've seen with Dallas is that Lucas raised his game to another level. It's more efficient, he's not complaining as much of the referees, He's trusting his teammates more. And Kyrie Irving has shown that he is that perfect compliment to Luca. They're on court chemistry seamless, and he's allowed to be that you know, veteran locker room presence because Luca's less experienced than he doesn't have that kind of dynamic personality that Kyrie has. And then the last thing is they just have a better supporting cast than they've had in seasons past, most notably led by PJ. Washington being a good two way player Derek Lily the second being a good defensive player. So I think that we've just seen Dallas is no longer that team that can just get to the playoffs and they'll just flame out because they only have Luca. This is a team that's constructed to win.

I don't think so, Chris. I respect the fact that they won a game. They did do one, two, three, cancoon they extended this series, they gave themselves life. But I can't see them suddenly becoming the only team after one hundred and fifty four teams failed to overcome a three deficit to now become the exception. I also think they'll become the fifth team to force a game seven after being down in three to zero. I think that this is a gentleman sweep. I think that, yes, we give a lot of credit Karl Anthony Towns having a bounce back performance, being more aggressive at the rim, not just settling for threes. But I think in Dallas's case, Luka Dacics and Kyrie Irving didn't shoot the ball well. They missed. Yeah, and Derek Lively the second his injury in his absence obviously was a game changer because they're just how great he has been as a defender, and that has partly explained why earlier in the series Minnesota was settling for a lot of outside shots. I think that they should have been more aggressive with the taxing in the basket, but also didn't help that they knew Lively's presence there can do a lot of damage. So I think that Dallas will win Game five, they'll advance the NBA Finals, and that's that. But I think that when you look at the big picture of this series, there's a few things here. I thought that they could carry the momentum from the seven game series against Denver because of the fact that they're the defending champs. They're playing at all time level. But I think that we saw that the matchup dynamics are just different. You know, the Wolves, because of Tim Connolly, they constructed this roster to match up with Denver. Dallas's identity is completely different because they got Luka Danchich and Kyrie Irving as perimeter scoring threats. That's number one and number two. I was just very confounded that all of a sudden fatigue kid Anthony Edwards when he's twenty two years old. I was surprised at all of a sudden Karl Anthony Towns is not becoming that versatile player that made him a good center. He's just settling for threes. I'm with you that all this cottage industry contents spearheaded by Draymond Green and others to punch bags. Rudy Gobert is unfounded. Like he's a great defensive player. But you know that game two game winner that Luca had, Like I didn't see that coming, so I thought this would be more compet but I think a fairness what we've seen with Dallas is that Lucas raised his game to another level. It's more efficient, he's not complaining as much of the referees, He's trusting his teammates more. And Kyrie Irving has shown that he is that perfect compliment to Luca. They're on court chemistry seamless, and he's allowed to be that you know, veteran locker room presence because Luca's less experienced than he doesn't have that kind of dynamic personality that Kyrie has. And then the last thing is they just have a better supporting cast than they've had in seasons past, most notably led by PJ. Washington being a good two way player Derek Lily the second being a good defensive player. So I think that we've just seen Dallas is no longer that team that can just get to the playoffs and they'll just flame out because they only have Luca. This is a team that's constructed to win.

Okay, I'm not ready to hot take it and say the Timberwolves are going to win this series, but I do think the door is open here. I think they're gonna get Game five. The last time we saw Minnesota at home in elimination game, they blew the doors off a Denver one by like one hundred and twelve points or something. I stopped counting in like the third quarter. I think they get Game five, and then I think Game six is high noon for this series. I think that is the knockdown, dragout, must win game kind of for both team because I'm not sure that Dallas would win a Game seven back in Minnesota. Look, the questions that are outstanding begin with Derek Lively. Is he going to be available in Game five? I thought Gafford was excellent for most of the game. He doesn't really have a lot of help behind him there. You know, Dwight Powell is getting some of those Derek Lively minutes and he hasn't been very good. So in those minutes that he's gotten, they need Derek Lively and Derek Lively man like. I've seen heavyweight boxers take softer shots, man like. Derek Lively was on the deck for or you know, for minutes, and then when he got up needed help get into the locker room. The fact that we haven't heard officially he's in the concussion protocol is insane to me. Like, if Derek Lively's not in the concussion protocol, I don't know what the concussion protocol is for, honestly. Like, he took a knee from a seven, two hundred and fifty five pound big man directly in the back of the head. That's how you get concussions. I'm not trying to be a doctor here, but that's what a concussion ultimately looks like. Is Derek Lively gonna be able to play in game five? Is here playing game six? You're playing game seven? Like, what's his availability for the rest of this series? I do disagree though, to a point about how the Wolves are built. Yeah, they're built to compete with Denver. They've got size obviously to match up with the Jokich, but they also have great defensive wings, like Anthony Edwards is an elite defender, Jade McDaniels is an elite defender, Nikhil Alexander Walker is a very good defender. Like, they've got guys that can get stops. Kyle Anderson is a very good defender. They've got four guys out there that you can legitimately say are upper half of the NBA type defenders and in some cases kind of top ten percent kind of defenders, like they should be able to, you know, make Kyrie and make Luca somewhat inefficiental I thought Luka and Kyrie missed a lot of open looks in Game four, and I worry about that going into Game five, because if they get those kind of looks, chances are they're gonna knock them down. But I do think Minnesota has the kind of defensive depth at the wing to due to Kyrie and Luca what they did in Game four. Now, there's gonna be some moments where Luca just makes some impossible shots. He's one of the best shot makers I've ever seen. And Kyrie, the degree of difficulty which he could make, you know, layups off drives is freaking wild. But now, this to me is a series that I think Minnesota's defense can tighten up enough that where if they get the same kind of production from Towns offensively, if they get you know, kind of a if like they got from the three point line for McDaniels and the Alexander Walker, I think they can find their way back in this mark. I do I think this. I think Game five they're gonna win big. That's my prediction. I think they win by double digits in Game five, and then Game six that's where the series is going to be decided.

Okay, I'm not ready to hot take it and say the Timberwolves are going to win this series, but I do think the door is open here. I think they're gonna get Game five. The last time we saw Minnesota at home in elimination game, they blew the doors off a Denver one by like one hundred and twelve points or something. I stopped counting in like the third quarter. I think they get Game five, and then I think Game six is high noon for this series. I think that is the knockdown, dragout, must win game kind of for both team because I'm not sure that Dallas would win a Game seven back in Minnesota. Look, the questions that are outstanding begin with Derek Lively. Is he going to be available in Game five? I thought Gafford was excellent for most of the game. He doesn't really have a lot of help behind him there. You know, Dwight Powell is getting some of those Derek Lively minutes and he hasn't been very good. So in those minutes that he's gotten, they need Derek Lively and Derek Lively man like. I've seen heavyweight boxers take softer shots, man like. Derek Lively was on the deck for or you know, for minutes, and then when he got up needed help get into the locker room. The fact that we haven't heard officially he's in the concussion protocol is insane to me. Like, if Derek Lively's not in the concussion protocol, I don't know what the concussion protocol is for, honestly. Like, he took a knee from a seven, two hundred and fifty five pound big man directly in the back of the head. That's how you get concussions. I'm not trying to be a doctor here, but that's what a concussion ultimately looks like. Is Derek Lively gonna be able to play in game five? Is here playing game six? You're playing game seven? Like, what's his availability for the rest of this series? I do disagree though, to a point about how the Wolves are built. Yeah, they're built to compete with Denver. They've got size obviously to match up with the Jokich, but they also have great defensive wings, like Anthony Edwards is an elite defender, Jade McDaniels is an elite defender, Nikhil Alexander Walker is a very good defender. Like, they've got guys that can get stops. Kyle Anderson is a very good defender. They've got four guys out there that you can legitimately say are upper half of the NBA type defenders and in some cases kind of top ten percent kind of defenders, like they should be able to, you know, make Kyrie and make Luca somewhat inefficiental I thought Luka and Kyrie missed a lot of open looks in Game four, and I worry about that going into Game five, because if they get those kind of looks, chances are they're gonna knock them down. But I do think Minnesota has the kind of defensive depth at the wing to due to Kyrie and Luca what they did in Game four. Now, there's gonna be some moments where Luca just makes some impossible shots. He's one of the best shot makers I've ever seen. And Kyrie, the degree of difficulty which he could make, you know, layups off drives is freaking wild. But now, this to me is a series that I think Minnesota's defense can tighten up enough that where if they get the same kind of production from Towns offensively, if they get you know, kind of a if like they got from the three point line for McDaniels and the Alexander Walker, I think they can find their way back in this mark. I do I think this. I think Game five they're gonna win big. That's my prediction. I think they win by double digits in Game five, and then Game six that's where the series is going to be decided.

Yeah, I'm with you. I think that they can win Game five. I think that Luca and Kyrie are going to bounce back and hit a lot more shots. That's the game changer. But I'm not going to roll out winning Game five, especially being at home the momentum. But yeah, I can't see it going past six games because of just the magnitude of it, the challenge of it, and the fact that Dallas would be on their home floor and they want to want to mess around with having to then go a seventh game in Minnesota. Heaven forbid. But yeah, I think that you do make a fair point about their perimeter defenders. I think Jada McDaniels is, you know, one of the best defenders in the league just the way that he guards perimeter players. He's very physical, you know. I know Chris Finch is often set that his impact on both sides of the floor are usually like the barometer of how well they're playing as a team, how organized they are defensively, how well the ball movement is offensively. So I've been surprised that it hasn't been as effective, But I'm more lean back to the fact that I'm just going to cough it up that Luca and Kyrie are just really special players and it's tough to really limit them when you focus to them on individually, but when you have both on the floor, it almost seems like it's an impossible task.

Yeah, I'm with you. I think that they can win Game five. I think that Luca and Kyrie are going to bounce back and hit a lot more shots. That's the game changer. But I'm not going to roll out winning Game five, especially being at home the momentum. But yeah, I can't see it going past six games because of just the magnitude of it, the challenge of it, and the fact that Dallas would be on their home floor and they want to want to mess around with having to then go a seventh game in Minnesota. Heaven forbid. But yeah, I think that you do make a fair point about their perimeter defenders. I think Jada McDaniels is, you know, one of the best defenders in the league just the way that he guards perimeter players. He's very physical, you know. I know Chris Finch is often set that his impact on both sides of the floor are usually like the barometer of how well they're playing as a team, how organized they are defensively, how well the ball movement is offensively. So I've been surprised that it hasn't been as effective, But I'm more lean back to the fact that I'm just going to cough it up that Luca and Kyrie are just really special players and it's tough to really limit them when you focus to them on individually, but when you have both on the floor, it almost seems like it's an impossible task.

All right, So the Western Conference is going to sort itself out over the next few days. Meanwhile, Boston is just kicking back on effectively a ten day break, which is good for them because Chris has Porzingis needs every single day he can get. By the time the NBA Finals start next Thursday, I believe will be like five weeks since Porzingis suffered that calf injury, so it should be good to go. Like he's been going through practice already and getting an extra ten days off. I think he's being valuable to them. The Celtics. Look, they they ran through this Eastern Conference playoffs. They lost two games in these conference playoffs. That's the positive. The negative is that people will say, well, they played depleted teams in every single round that they were in, most recently Indiana with Tyre's Halliburton going out midway through that series. When you look at how the Celtics have played, do you look at it like they're a team that is kind of clicking on all cylinders right now or do you see some vulnerabilities there that a good team coming out of the West might be able to exploit.

All right, So the Western Conference is going to sort itself out over the next few days. Meanwhile, Boston is just kicking back on effectively a ten day break, which is good for them because Chris has Porzingis needs every single day he can get. By the time the NBA Finals start next Thursday, I believe will be like five weeks since Porzingis suffered that calf injury, so it should be good to go. Like he's been going through practice already and getting an extra ten days off. I think he's being valuable to them. The Celtics. Look, they they ran through this Eastern Conference playoffs. They lost two games in these conference playoffs. That's the positive. The negative is that people will say, well, they played depleted teams in every single round that they were in, most recently Indiana with Tyre's Halliburton going out midway through that series. When you look at how the Celtics have played, do you look at it like they're a team that is kind of clicking on all cylinders right now or do you see some vulnerabilities there that a good team coming out of the West might be able to exploit.

Yeah, They're a confounding team to look at because I'm not going to be one of those guys that say, oh, they had a less bumpee road in the Eastern Conference playoffs, so they're not ready. Like it reminded me of when people were doing that against the Golden State Warriors in twenty fifteen, and then Steph Curry said, yeah, I'm sorry, we played the opponents in front of us and that we were healthy, Like, so, yeah, you played the ponents that are in front of you. The only thing that leaves me questions no doubt Christoph sports agaus win or if he's going to return, what that's going to look like is a minute restrictions. Are there any vulnerabilities there? But the second part is just what will their best version of basketball be? I haven't seen them play at their best compared to some of the West teams with Dallas, and so with that, I would give the edge to Dallas there. But I also know on paper that Boston should be a better team because they're more experienced together. They don't really have too many on paper weaknesses. We've discussed ad nauseam. The chemistry with Jason Tatum and Jayn Brown are fine. Derek White, I think he's gotten like career highs in every statistical category here. There's continuity on the team. Once KP is back, there's going to be even more offensive synergy in terms of ball movement, floor spacing, and another dynamic passing perimeter threat, So I think really the only vulnerability is presuming they prevase Dallas, they will have to raise their game. And we've seen when Dallas Fields or when Boston Fields challenge they do, they do raise their game, you know, for better or for worse. They sometimes play with their opponent play down to the competition. So I would think that they wouldn't do that to Dallas, But we just haven't had the opportunity to see them really have to do that so far in the playoffs because of the quality of opponents. So again I'm not holding against it them that they faced teams like Miami, New York and Indiana that face serious injuries, but it has prevented us from really seeing them having to dig deep and play at an absolute high level just to win a game.

Yeah, They're a confounding team to look at because I'm not going to be one of those guys that say, oh, they had a less bumpee road in the Eastern Conference playoffs, so they're not ready. Like it reminded me of when people were doing that against the Golden State Warriors in twenty fifteen, and then Steph Curry said, yeah, I'm sorry, we played the opponents in front of us and that we were healthy, Like, so, yeah, you played the ponents that are in front of you. The only thing that leaves me questions no doubt Christoph sports agaus win or if he's going to return, what that's going to look like is a minute restrictions. Are there any vulnerabilities there? But the second part is just what will their best version of basketball be? I haven't seen them play at their best compared to some of the West teams with Dallas, and so with that, I would give the edge to Dallas there. But I also know on paper that Boston should be a better team because they're more experienced together. They don't really have too many on paper weaknesses. We've discussed ad nauseam. The chemistry with Jason Tatum and Jayn Brown are fine. Derek White, I think he's gotten like career highs in every statistical category here. There's continuity on the team. Once KP is back, there's going to be even more offensive synergy in terms of ball movement, floor spacing, and another dynamic passing perimeter threat, So I think really the only vulnerability is presuming they prevase Dallas, they will have to raise their game. And we've seen when Dallas Fields or when Boston Fields challenge they do, they do raise their game, you know, for better or for worse. They sometimes play with their opponent play down to the competition. So I would think that they wouldn't do that to Dallas, But we just haven't had the opportunity to see them really have to do that so far in the playoffs because of the quality of opponents. So again I'm not holding against it them that they faced teams like Miami, New York and Indiana that face serious injuries, but it has prevented us from really seeing them having to dig deep and play at an absolute high level just to win a game.

I think they needed some of the close games that they played in the conference playoffs to sharpen them going into the finals. Remember, the Celtics had like a historic point differential this year. They didn't play a lot of clutch time minutes, so when they got to the playoffs they almost needed to use it to sharpen themselves a little bit. They got to do that a little bit in the Cleveland series. They got to do a lot more in Indiana series. You know, all those games except for you know, basically Game two were really competitive. The last couple of the Celtics had to storm back and win, overcoming deficits in the second half. So I think that's going to benefit them going into the finals. But I mean, man, like all the talk about injuries this postseason, and every time the Celtics are discussed, it's rarely brought up that one of their best players only played a few games, you know, in this postseason, like Chris Deshperzingis was instrumental to this team's success on both ends of the floor. He was the floor spacing big offensively, and he's basically the only shot blocker they have defensively. He also is a big key to their depth. When Porzingis is out there, Al Horford goes to the bench and everybody else gets bumped down a slot. So you they're not gonna see Oshae Brissett in the NBA Finals. You're gonna see a lot less probably of Luke Cornette in the NBA Finals. You're gonna see Horford off the bench. You're gonna see Peyton pritch It off the bench, and as long as he's making three pointers, you're gonna see Sam Hauser come off the bench. That's gonna be an eight man rotation that the Celtics play. I mean, we keep not we, but like the media writ Lards sometimes ignores the fact that the Celtics have not had one of their best players all throughout this postseason run. So I think I think they're gonna be fine. Look, I think the you know, assuming it is Dallas that they play, the energy for a matchup with Kyrie is going to be off the charts, Like that building is going to be frothing for that matchup. Like I remember being at Game two last week, and this is before I think there was only one game in the books in the Timberwolves Mavericks series, and as fans were trickling out the exits, the concourse was filled with people screaming, we want Kyrie. Like five years later and nothing has changed for anybody in Boston. So the electricity of that building I think is going to give them a good charge. Look, they're vulnerable if Luca plays great, if Kyrie plays great, if you know one of the other supporting players on Dallas plays great. But they're still the favorite. You got to look at them as the favorite. Jason Tatum is having a really strong overall postseason. To me, criticism Boston is Offen nitpicking, like, oh, well, you know they didn't. Like they're almost expected to blow out the teams that are banged up by thirty. It's not how it works in the NBA, like in the in the Pacers series, like Halliburton goes out, but like Andrew Nemmark stepped up and had a monster game, Like you know, TJ McConnell's had a monster postseason. So you know you're not gonna blow out teams in the postseason all that often, no matter where where you are. So I don't look at the Celtics as being vulnerable at all. All right, last thing will hit you on We are still wondering when the Lakers are going to make a coaching higher. All indications to me, Mark are that JJ Reddick is the guy, and I've heard some stuff about you know, I've heard some other executives tell me that they think the Lakers are going to have a coaching staff around JJ Reddick put in place before they even make the announcement of Reddick being hired as the head coach. I actually think James Barrego, who has been discussed as a potential head coach, I think a decent chance he winds up on the bench as an assistant to JJ Reddick. So let me ask you this, Do you think JJ is the front runner and is that the right hire at this time for the LA Lakers.

I think they needed some of the close games that they played in the conference playoffs to sharpen them going into the finals. Remember, the Celtics had like a historic point differential this year. They didn't play a lot of clutch time minutes, so when they got to the playoffs they almost needed to use it to sharpen themselves a little bit. They got to do that a little bit in the Cleveland series. They got to do a lot more in Indiana series. You know, all those games except for you know, basically Game two were really competitive. The last couple of the Celtics had to storm back and win, overcoming deficits in the second half. So I think that's going to benefit them going into the finals. But I mean, man, like all the talk about injuries this postseason, and every time the Celtics are discussed, it's rarely brought up that one of their best players only played a few games, you know, in this postseason, like Chris Deshperzingis was instrumental to this team's success on both ends of the floor. He was the floor spacing big offensively, and he's basically the only shot blocker they have defensively. He also is a big key to their depth. When Porzingis is out there, Al Horford goes to the bench and everybody else gets bumped down a slot. So you they're not gonna see Oshae Brissett in the NBA Finals. You're gonna see a lot less probably of Luke Cornette in the NBA Finals. You're gonna see Horford off the bench. You're gonna see Peyton pritch It off the bench, and as long as he's making three pointers, you're gonna see Sam Hauser come off the bench. That's gonna be an eight man rotation that the Celtics play. I mean, we keep not we, but like the media writ Lards sometimes ignores the fact that the Celtics have not had one of their best players all throughout this postseason run. So I think I think they're gonna be fine. Look, I think the you know, assuming it is Dallas that they play, the energy for a matchup with Kyrie is going to be off the charts, Like that building is going to be frothing for that matchup. Like I remember being at Game two last week, and this is before I think there was only one game in the books in the Timberwolves Mavericks series, and as fans were trickling out the exits, the concourse was filled with people screaming, we want Kyrie. Like five years later and nothing has changed for anybody in Boston. So the electricity of that building I think is going to give them a good charge. Look, they're vulnerable if Luca plays great, if Kyrie plays great, if you know one of the other supporting players on Dallas plays great. But they're still the favorite. You got to look at them as the favorite. Jason Tatum is having a really strong overall postseason. To me, criticism Boston is Offen nitpicking, like, oh, well, you know they didn't. Like they're almost expected to blow out the teams that are banged up by thirty. It's not how it works in the NBA, like in the in the Pacers series, like Halliburton goes out, but like Andrew Nemmark stepped up and had a monster game, Like you know, TJ McConnell's had a monster postseason. So you know you're not gonna blow out teams in the postseason all that often, no matter where where you are. So I don't look at the Celtics as being vulnerable at all. All right, last thing will hit you on We are still wondering when the Lakers are going to make a coaching higher. All indications to me, Mark are that JJ Reddick is the guy, and I've heard some stuff about you know, I've heard some other executives tell me that they think the Lakers are going to have a coaching staff around JJ Reddick put in place before they even make the announcement of Reddick being hired as the head coach. I actually think James Barrego, who has been discussed as a potential head coach, I think a decent chance he winds up on the bench as an assistant to JJ Reddick. So let me ask you this, Do you think JJ is the front runner and is that the right hire at this time for the LA Lakers.

Yeah, the first part of your question you asked, he's the front runner. If I had a guess when it will happen, it's going to be happening at some point after the NBA Finals ends before the NBA Draft, partly because the fact that JJ Reddick is doing the broadcasting duties. Partly because this gives the Lakers time to not owe additional money to another head coach, and also gives them time to go through the interview process. To what you were saying, They've been interviewing candidates not just from what they say of due diligence of entertaining all head coaching possibilities. It's also having conversations with those same candidates about how they would feel about being part of the coaching staff, and the message from them is that that's also applied to JJ Rednick. But I think all signs have indicated that he will be the head coach, and now it's just about figuring out among those other candidates that they've talked to, Okay, who would be good lead assistant coaches, who would be good player development coaches?

Yeah, the first part of your question you asked, he's the front runner. If I had a guess when it will happen, it's going to be happening at some point after the NBA Finals ends before the NBA Draft, partly because the fact that JJ Reddick is doing the broadcasting duties. Partly because this gives the Lakers time to not owe additional money to another head coach, and also gives them time to go through the interview process. To what you were saying, They've been interviewing candidates not just from what they say of due diligence of entertaining all head coaching possibilities. It's also having conversations with those same candidates about how they would feel about being part of the coaching staff, and the message from them is that that's also applied to JJ Rednick. But I think all signs have indicated that he will be the head coach, and now it's just about figuring out among those other candidates that they've talked to, Okay, who would be good lead assistant coaches, who would be good player development coaches?

I think, And there's some good coaches out there. I mean I mentioned Brego. Scott Brooks is also available after not having you know, well, I don't think Sam Sale is gonna go like I think Sam Sam, I think has a good gig in Boston. Look, Sam has a pretty good chance of getting bumped up the bench next year with Charles Lee going somewhere else. But there are some some you know, high quality experience coach and I think that's gonna be a big key. That is a big key for the Lakers as they start to piece together a JJ Reddick staff. Like there's gonna be a lot of criticism about him being a new head coach or a new coach at any level above like AAU. I think they're gonna want to show people that they have and experienced staff around him that can guide him through some of the bumpy stuff.

I think, And there's some good coaches out there. I mean I mentioned Brego. Scott Brooks is also available after not having you know, well, I don't think Sam Sale is gonna go like I think Sam Sam, I think has a good gig in Boston. Look, Sam has a pretty good chance of getting bumped up the bench next year with Charles Lee going somewhere else. But there are some some you know, high quality experience coach and I think that's gonna be a big key. That is a big key for the Lakers as they start to piece together a JJ Reddick staff. Like there's gonna be a lot of criticism about him being a new head coach or a new coach at any level above like AAU. I think they're gonna want to show people that they have and experienced staff around him that can guide him through some of the bumpy stuff.

Yeah, And so answer that answer the question fully, is he the right head coach? I have skepticism, but it has less to do with JJ Reddick and more to do with the Lakers dynamic because whoever is the head coach, and all signs again point to JJ Reddick. They're inheriting a team that's trying to do multiple things at once, you know, squeeze some championship run window with Lebron James, because it's Lebron James paved the way for Anthony Davis to then be the number one guy and also develop some of their younger players on the fly, and is seemingly impossible to do, especially with the fact that's the Lakers and they haven't had a trek record of being you know, patient with head coaches ever since Phil Jackson's retirement in twenty eleven. The other thing that I think we also have to keep in mind is there's been messaging put out that, oh, well, JJ Reddick could follow the same path that pat Riley did or that Steve Kerr did, and the comparisons aren't apt at all. There's so many apples to oranges here where pat Riley, yes he'd jumped from the broadcast boot to head coaching, but in between he was an assistant coach with the Lakers before he got that head coaching position, and he inherited the show timely where you know they're already winning championships. They're all in their prime. Bring up dul Jabbar was a veteran, but he's still playing a high level here with the Lakers. Completely different dynamic of Lebron's last few years. Anthony Davis, he's been healthier, but you never quite know if that can last. And then a lot of decent role players, but that are also inconsistent. The Steve Kerr comparison also is an apt because before he became the Warriors head coach, he had front office experience, not the same as being part of a coaching staff, but he had a window on how coaching staffs work. The other thing is he inherited a team with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green all in their prime and just ready to make that next push after Mark Jackson helped, you know, really give them a defensive identity stamp. So this pathway that JJ Reddick's going through is going to be very ununique because of what I just said, And so why I am a fan of JJ Reddick. I think he's a great basketball mind former he can relate to Lebron James and you know other role players. I just think that what he's stepping himself into is not going to be conducive for long term success, no matter what they do with protecting the blind spots, with having good assistance around them.

Yeah, And so answer that answer the question fully, is he the right head coach? I have skepticism, but it has less to do with JJ Reddick and more to do with the Lakers dynamic because whoever is the head coach, and all signs again point to JJ Reddick. They're inheriting a team that's trying to do multiple things at once, you know, squeeze some championship run window with Lebron James, because it's Lebron James paved the way for Anthony Davis to then be the number one guy and also develop some of their younger players on the fly, and is seemingly impossible to do, especially with the fact that's the Lakers and they haven't had a trek record of being you know, patient with head coaches ever since Phil Jackson's retirement in twenty eleven. The other thing that I think we also have to keep in mind is there's been messaging put out that, oh, well, JJ Reddick could follow the same path that pat Riley did or that Steve Kerr did, and the comparisons aren't apt at all. There's so many apples to oranges here where pat Riley, yes he'd jumped from the broadcast boot to head coaching, but in between he was an assistant coach with the Lakers before he got that head coaching position, and he inherited the show timely where you know they're already winning championships. They're all in their prime. Bring up dul Jabbar was a veteran, but he's still playing a high level here with the Lakers. Completely different dynamic of Lebron's last few years. Anthony Davis, he's been healthier, but you never quite know if that can last. And then a lot of decent role players, but that are also inconsistent. The Steve Kerr comparison also is an apt because before he became the Warriors head coach, he had front office experience, not the same as being part of a coaching staff, but he had a window on how coaching staffs work. The other thing is he inherited a team with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green all in their prime and just ready to make that next push after Mark Jackson helped, you know, really give them a defensive identity stamp. So this pathway that JJ Reddick's going through is going to be very ununique because of what I just said, And so why I am a fan of JJ Reddick. I think he's a great basketball mind former he can relate to Lebron James and you know other role players. I just think that what he's stepping himself into is not going to be conducive for long term success, no matter what they do with protecting the blind spots, with having good assistance around them.

Can we be real about something too, Like this is not a good job, you know. I mean, Cleveland is a really good job. I'd even argue Charlotte is a good job because Charlotte has LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, draft capital, cap space, all that. The Lakers are going nowhere, Like, I mean, can we just be real about that? Like, they had an all NBA season or seasons from Anthony Davis and Lebron James last year, and they still got stuck in the play in Tournament and they still got busted up by the Nuggets in the first round. The chances on them getting those types of seasons again from Anthony Davis and Lebron James are not great. Give Ad props for staying healthy like he did has over the last season and a half two seasons, but he's past thirty and he's got a history of injuries, and Lebron James is going to be forty coming up in December. You just can't keep counting on these guys to be playing at all NBA level. I know what people will say, well, they're going to get somebody this summer, and they might. Right. They've got potentially three first round draft picks the deal on draft night, They've got a couple of movable contracts. But the suggestion, the idea that, like, for example, Trey Young, if you swap him for Austin Reeves and you know, Dangelo Russell and three first round draft picks, that that is going to push you into the elite of the Western Conference is crazy. Like that is crazy. Look at the Western Conference right now. Oklahoma City was the number one seed this year. They are going to get better next year. Organically, they're going to get better, and more than likely they're gonna use one of their four hundred and twelve draft picks to get somebody that helps them in ways that they need help. Denver they're gonna be back, Dallas, they're gonna be back, Minnesota, They're gonna be back. To say nothing of the teams behind the Lakers that are moving up the up the rankings. Houston is going to be better. San Antonio is going to be better. New Orleans might make some moves. I'm not so sure what to make of them, but you know they're more likely than not going to be better with a healthy Zion. I don't know how you win with this team. I don't know how you do it. I don't know what move you can point to them making that says they're anything but a play in team next year, because again, great seasons from Ad and Lebron still playing team still got wiped out in the first round. I just mark, I don't know all the narrative around, like who's going to be the head coach and what kind of deal are they going to make. I don't think it matters. I mean, they could put pat Riley back on that bench, and I don't think it would matter. They could make any trade that would get any one of the available players that are out there, whether it's you know, the two guys in Atlanta, Young and Murray. Hypothetically that just throw Paul George into that mix. Maybe they could trade with the Warriors. I'm just throwing them out there for Draymond, Like, none of this puts them on a level or on the same level as the teams I just mentioned at the top of the Western Conference. Do you disagree?

Can we be real about something too, Like this is not a good job, you know. I mean, Cleveland is a really good job. I'd even argue Charlotte is a good job because Charlotte has LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, draft capital, cap space, all that. The Lakers are going nowhere, Like, I mean, can we just be real about that? Like, they had an all NBA season or seasons from Anthony Davis and Lebron James last year, and they still got stuck in the play in Tournament and they still got busted up by the Nuggets in the first round. The chances on them getting those types of seasons again from Anthony Davis and Lebron James are not great. Give Ad props for staying healthy like he did has over the last season and a half two seasons, but he's past thirty and he's got a history of injuries, and Lebron James is going to be forty coming up in December. You just can't keep counting on these guys to be playing at all NBA level. I know what people will say, well, they're going to get somebody this summer, and they might. Right. They've got potentially three first round draft picks the deal on draft night, They've got a couple of movable contracts. But the suggestion, the idea that, like, for example, Trey Young, if you swap him for Austin Reeves and you know, Dangelo Russell and three first round draft picks, that that is going to push you into the elite of the Western Conference is crazy. Like that is crazy. Look at the Western Conference right now. Oklahoma City was the number one seed this year. They are going to get better next year. Organically, they're going to get better, and more than likely they're gonna use one of their four hundred and twelve draft picks to get somebody that helps them in ways that they need help. Denver they're gonna be back, Dallas, they're gonna be back, Minnesota, They're gonna be back. To say nothing of the teams behind the Lakers that are moving up the up the rankings. Houston is going to be better. San Antonio is going to be better. New Orleans might make some moves. I'm not so sure what to make of them, but you know they're more likely than not going to be better with a healthy Zion. I don't know how you win with this team. I don't know how you do it. I don't know what move you can point to them making that says they're anything but a play in team next year, because again, great seasons from Ad and Lebron still playing team still got wiped out in the first round. I just mark, I don't know all the narrative around, like who's going to be the head coach and what kind of deal are they going to make. I don't think it matters. I mean, they could put pat Riley back on that bench, and I don't think it would matter. They could make any trade that would get any one of the available players that are out there, whether it's you know, the two guys in Atlanta, Young and Murray. Hypothetically that just throw Paul George into that mix. Maybe they could trade with the Warriors. I'm just throwing them out there for Draymond, Like, none of this puts them on a level or on the same level as the teams I just mentioned at the top of the Western Conference. Do you disagree?

No, I completely agree, and I think to further illustrate this, and I say this not as a criticism of Lebron James or Anthony Davis. It's more of a validation that it can't fall on them. It would be foolish for the Lakers or any NBA fan to think, oh, well, Lebron James has still played at high level. He's going to continue to replicate that. Anthony Davis was a beacon of relatively good health last season. He's going to replicate that. I know ever since Lebron James has made those finals runs. It's the old adage you never bet against Lebron. But I think, in fairness to him, it can't be set up that Lebron James has to play at his absolute best, at an all Star caliber level, all NBA first team level, just to have a fighter's chance. It has to be Okay, we have enough good players that we can scale back the minutes, and as we saw last season, that idea coming into preseason went away after the first game. The second thing with Anthony Davis. I know that the Lakers will say yeah, well, he really has improved his offseason regiment and he's a lot more aggressive, and I will validate that. But again, his injury history is his injury history. And so I think the point that you're making here is that this is setting themselves up regardless of whether they make reasons League good moves or marginal moves. That's going to require them to be mostly healthy and mostly dominant on a night to night basis. And that's not saying themselves up to succeed.

No, I completely agree, and I think to further illustrate this, and I say this not as a criticism of Lebron James or Anthony Davis. It's more of a validation that it can't fall on them. It would be foolish for the Lakers or any NBA fan to think, oh, well, Lebron James has still played at high level. He's going to continue to replicate that. Anthony Davis was a beacon of relatively good health last season. He's going to replicate that. I know ever since Lebron James has made those finals runs. It's the old adage you never bet against Lebron. But I think, in fairness to him, it can't be set up that Lebron James has to play at his absolute best, at an all Star caliber level, all NBA first team level, just to have a fighter's chance. It has to be Okay, we have enough good players that we can scale back the minutes, and as we saw last season, that idea coming into preseason went away after the first game. The second thing with Anthony Davis. I know that the Lakers will say yeah, well, he really has improved his offseason regiment and he's a lot more aggressive, and I will validate that. But again, his injury history is his injury history. And so I think the point that you're making here is that this is setting themselves up regardless of whether they make reasons League good moves or marginal moves. That's going to require them to be mostly healthy and mostly dominant on a night to night basis. And that's not saying themselves up to succeed.

And even that doesn't guarantee anything. He guarantees nothing for this team. I don't I don't get it. I mean, I've talked to enough coaches that who have told me, like, if they were interviewing for the Lakers job and they were asked what to do with this group, it will be trade everybody, like start over. Like, I know, that's DIFFICULTI they've given away a lot of their draft picks over the next four or five years, but you know, the holding on to Lebron ad for the hope that you can cling to a six, seven or eight seed for the right to get battered around in the first round. Again, I don't get what that. I don't get what that does for anybody, right, Like, I don't get it. Like there, I understand Lebron is the biggest star in the game, and you want him wearing your uniform, probably for financial reasons, because he's worth it. He's worth every nickel that you are ultimately going to pay him. But I just don't get from a basketball perspective, how that gets you closer to a championship goal. Like that window to me isn't closing. It is completely closed right now for the Lakers.

And even that doesn't guarantee anything. He guarantees nothing for this team. I don't I don't get it. I mean, I've talked to enough coaches that who have told me, like, if they were interviewing for the Lakers job and they were asked what to do with this group, it will be trade everybody, like start over. Like, I know, that's DIFFICULTI they've given away a lot of their draft picks over the next four or five years, but you know, the holding on to Lebron ad for the hope that you can cling to a six, seven or eight seed for the right to get battered around in the first round. Again, I don't get what that. I don't get what that does for anybody, right, Like, I don't get it. Like there, I understand Lebron is the biggest star in the game, and you want him wearing your uniform, probably for financial reasons, because he's worth it. He's worth every nickel that you are ultimately going to pay him. But I just don't get from a basketball perspective, how that gets you closer to a championship goal. Like that window to me isn't closing. It is completely closed right now for the Lakers.

Yeah, and look, as we know what the Lakers financial and business decisions are a major factor in their decisions. But I will say in fairness and this is their internal think and we clearly view otherwise. But you know this isn't the equivalent of how they operated with Kobe Bryant, with hey, let's just enjoy the farewell tour. I think through their lens, it's, hey, Lebron James is still playing at a high level, and as long as he's playing at a high level technically, no matter how slightly slim the odds are, there is that pathway to still be a championship contender, even if it requires so many things to have to go right, and so that's where they're operating on that vantage point. I think there's also a feeling that to do that, not just from a business standpoint, from a basketball standpoint, they don't have the patience to do it, and they feel like it would just be very difficult to go into asset collecting mode and make that kind of potential change work in the long run.

Yeah, and look, as we know what the Lakers financial and business decisions are a major factor in their decisions. But I will say in fairness and this is their internal think and we clearly view otherwise. But you know this isn't the equivalent of how they operated with Kobe Bryant, with hey, let's just enjoy the farewell tour. I think through their lens, it's, hey, Lebron James is still playing at a high level, and as long as he's playing at a high level technically, no matter how slightly slim the odds are, there is that pathway to still be a championship contender, even if it requires so many things to have to go right, and so that's where they're operating on that vantage point. I think there's also a feeling that to do that, not just from a business standpoint, from a basketball standpoint, they don't have the patience to do it, and they feel like it would just be very difficult to go into asset collecting mode and make that kind of potential change work in the long run.

Well, it's not easy. It's painful, like but look at the teams that have gone through it, like the team that's in the finals right now, the Celtics have gone through it. Minnesota went through it, Dallas to a degree, went through it. You can't avoid it, like you can't, like unless you're Miami. You can't keep putting band aids on bulletholes and waiting for you know this, you know, something big to happen that springboards you back to the top. I understand the Lakers are in a big market. Everybody wants to be a Laker, everybody wants to play in LA. But you have got an aging team that lacks athleticism, that lack shooting, and I don't think Trey Young is going to solve all those problems. Putting aside for you know, just for the record, I'm not sure they can even get Trey Young. Like, Trey Young goes on the market, and there's gonna be teams with better offers out there for him. Teams have more draft capital, teams a better young talent. Like if Atlanta really goes the full rebuild route, and I think that's probably likely what they're gonna try to do, you're gonna be teams with better offers to go get Trey Young. Like if I'm San Antonio and I'm sitting there with what four and eight in this year's draft, and I've got, you know, some decent young players and a whole bunch of draft picks, some of them Atlanta's to potentially get back to them, that'd be a player i'd probably go after to play alongside Victor Webbin Yama. Like if you're Cleveland, like I don't know, if you want to go small guard again, maybe you go get Dejonta Murray to play next to, you know, Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland deal. Like, there's's so many other potential trades that make more sense for a team like Atlanta or other teams that have an asset to deal so.

Well, it's not easy. It's painful, like but look at the teams that have gone through it, like the team that's in the finals right now, the Celtics have gone through it. Minnesota went through it, Dallas to a degree, went through it. You can't avoid it, like you can't, like unless you're Miami. You can't keep putting band aids on bulletholes and waiting for you know this, you know, something big to happen that springboards you back to the top. I understand the Lakers are in a big market. Everybody wants to be a Laker, everybody wants to play in LA. But you have got an aging team that lacks athleticism, that lack shooting, and I don't think Trey Young is going to solve all those problems. Putting aside for you know, just for the record, I'm not sure they can even get Trey Young. Like, Trey Young goes on the market, and there's gonna be teams with better offers out there for him. Teams have more draft capital, teams a better young talent. Like if Atlanta really goes the full rebuild route, and I think that's probably likely what they're gonna try to do, you're gonna be teams with better offers to go get Trey Young. Like if I'm San Antonio and I'm sitting there with what four and eight in this year's draft, and I've got, you know, some decent young players and a whole bunch of draft picks, some of them Atlanta's to potentially get back to them, that'd be a player i'd probably go after to play alongside Victor Webbin Yama. Like if you're Cleveland, like I don't know, if you want to go small guard again, maybe you go get Dejonta Murray to play next to, you know, Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland deal. Like, there's's so many other potential trades that make more sense for a team like Atlanta or other teams that have an asset to deal so.

Well, the Lakers are on the ultimate they're chasing their own tail predicament because what you just said will also apply. If Cleveland and Donovan Mitchell can't agree to that extension, that then conclude, Okay, let's see what he's available. I don't think they have anything Cleveland would want besides draft picks, but that's not going to be enough. I think when you're looking at the Lakers roster, they're all decent role players, but I think that they can only make marginal moves out of them. The only sweetener of value are those draft picks. But you still again need to attach significant players. But then that goes back to the circular discussion that the Lakers have internalized ever since winning the championship in twenty twenty, and also the Russell Westbrook fiasco. That they've determined they have a better chance competing with Lebron James and Anthony Davis if they have roster depth versus a third star. So if they somehow pull off that third star, but it's all veteran minimum guys, even if it's a better fit than Russ wound up being, it's still that predicament of they're only an injury away from this is completely falling apart, as well as not having enough reinforcements just to fulfill positional needs.

Well, the Lakers are on the ultimate they're chasing their own tail predicament because what you just said will also apply. If Cleveland and Donovan Mitchell can't agree to that extension, that then conclude, Okay, let's see what he's available. I don't think they have anything Cleveland would want besides draft picks, but that's not going to be enough. I think when you're looking at the Lakers roster, they're all decent role players, but I think that they can only make marginal moves out of them. The only sweetener of value are those draft picks. But you still again need to attach significant players. But then that goes back to the circular discussion that the Lakers have internalized ever since winning the championship in twenty twenty, and also the Russell Westbrook fiasco. That they've determined they have a better chance competing with Lebron James and Anthony Davis if they have roster depth versus a third star. So if they somehow pull off that third star, but it's all veteran minimum guys, even if it's a better fit than Russ wound up being, it's still that predicament of they're only an injury away from this is completely falling apart, as well as not having enough reinforcements just to fulfill positional needs.

Yeah, it's I mean, if we're sitting here talking this time next year about the Lakers, I f look rebbing the exact same conversation that they didn't have enough. And now we're talking about a soon to be forty one year old Lebron James. And you know what do you what kind of team can you put around him? At that point? All right, Mark Medina check him out over at Sports KEYDA Fox Sports Radio. Mark, I'll let you go back to penning your opus on Tatum and Brown and the body language between the two, what does that mean? Are they friends or are they enemies? Coming to a Mark Medina byline very.

Yeah, it's I mean, if we're sitting here talking this time next year about the Lakers, I f look rebbing the exact same conversation that they didn't have enough. And now we're talking about a soon to be forty one year old Lebron James. And you know what do you what kind of team can you put around him? At that point? All right, Mark Medina check him out over at Sports KEYDA Fox Sports Radio. Mark, I'll let you go back to penning your opus on Tatum and Brown and the body language between the two, what does that mean? Are they friends or are they enemies? Coming to a Mark Medina byline very.

Soon, great content, Chris. We can never beat that dead worse enough. I will leave you at this. I had my own playoff shortcomings. Boston's pathway was not with New York obviously, Miami, Cleveland, Indiana. But I'll blame it on playoff attrition. But I will leave you with this. I am looking forward to seeing Kyrie Irving, you know, do the sage routine in the garden. Oh yeah, they have to stomps on the LEPrecon this time and.

Soon, great content, Chris. We can never beat that dead worse enough. I will leave you at this. I had my own playoff shortcomings. Boston's pathway was not with New York obviously, Miami, Cleveland, Indiana. But I'll blame it on playoff attrition. But I will leave you with this. I am looking forward to seeing Kyrie Irving, you know, do the sage routine in the garden. Oh yeah, they have to stomps on the LEPrecon this time and.

Get ready, get ready to relitigate the eighteen nineteen season. I'm already doing it like I'm ready to go, like I am good to go if and when Dallas eliminates Minnesota. Just one final thought on the pathway thing, Like I took some shit last year for saying that I didn't think Nicole Jokic's playoff run was an all time great playoff run in part because he didn't have to go through like a murderer's row in the postseason. He went through Minnesota, which was a young team Phoenix, which was down Chris Paul for more than half that series. The Lakers, we know they weren't as good as advertised. Then they played the eight seed heat in the NBA Finals. So if you're gonna sit there and pontificate about the Celtics path to the finals, you've also got to go back and say, all right, well, Jokic and the Nuggets had the exact fact same path, exact same type of path where they played, you know, not exactly a peer at any point during the postseason.

Get ready, get ready to relitigate the eighteen nineteen season. I'm already doing it like I'm ready to go, like I am good to go if and when Dallas eliminates Minnesota. Just one final thought on the pathway thing, Like I took some shit last year for saying that I didn't think Nicole Jokic's playoff run was an all time great playoff run in part because he didn't have to go through like a murderer's row in the postseason. He went through Minnesota, which was a young team Phoenix, which was down Chris Paul for more than half that series. The Lakers, we know they weren't as good as advertised. Then they played the eight seed heat in the NBA Finals. So if you're gonna sit there and pontificate about the Celtics path to the finals, you've also got to go back and say, all right, well, Jokic and the Nuggets had the exact fact same path, exact same type of path where they played, you know, not exactly a peer at any point during the postseason.

That's I will say that the Celtics are going to play a better caliber of opponent in the finals. Yes, and Denver did with Miami. I mean, Miami is great, but they overachieved. But since you're on this topic, I mean, do you want to do their victory lap. You're saying, yeah, Denver's not a dynasty.

That's I will say that the Celtics are going to play a better caliber of opponent in the finals. Yes, and Denver did with Miami. I mean, Miami is great, but they overachieved. But since you're on this topic, I mean, do you want to do their victory lap. You're saying, yeah, Denver's not a dynasty.

No, no, I'm not a victory because like the dynasty's like they they could still do it next year, Like they were one crappy half away from being the prohibitive favorite to win a championship. So like, I'm not nobodys counting the Nuggets out. It's just like you know, turn about is fair play, right. They they had a relatively easy path to the finals, and they took advantage of it. You can only play the teams that are in front of you. They didn't ask Boston to choke away, you know, Conference finals against the Heat in twenty twenty three. But like the people that are criticizing the Celtics for who they played to get to this point, you have to go back and look at who the Nuggets played as well. It's a it's a very similar type of situation with Boston and with Denner. All right, Mark, good stuff, man, we'll do it again soon.

No, no, I'm not a victory because like the dynasty's like they they could still do it next year, Like they were one crappy half away from being the prohibitive favorite to win a championship. So like, I'm not nobodys counting the Nuggets out. It's just like you know, turn about is fair play, right. They they had a relatively easy path to the finals, and they took advantage of it. You can only play the teams that are in front of you. They didn't ask Boston to choke away, you know, Conference finals against the Heat in twenty twenty three. But like the people that are criticizing the Celtics for who they played to get to this point, you have to go back and look at who the Nuggets played as well. It's a it's a very similar type of situation with Boston and with Denner. All right, Mark, good stuff, man, we'll do it again soon.

I appreciate I appreciate it. Just say travels. Whoa whoa

I appreciate I appreciate it. Just say travels. Whoa whoa