Thanks for listening to the best of The Jason Smith Show with Mike Carmon podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weeknight from ten pm to two am Eastern seven to eleven pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every night on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.

Thanks for listening to the best of The Jason Smith Show with Mike Carmon podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weeknight from ten pm to two am Eastern seven to eleven pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every night on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.

This is the best of The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon on Fox Sports Radio.

This is the best of The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon on Fox Sports Radio.

The Jason Smith Show with My best friend Mike Harmon Live from the Tyrach dot com studios. The NBA night is over mercifully. We saw a game that was out of control very early and never got in control. The t Wolves go on to even the series with the Warriors one seventeen to ninety three. They got out to a big lead early and they never looked back and looked for a while it was Julius Randol and Joe Nathan Kaminga where the leading scorers in this game? And it was my goodness, and then it ended up with Julius Randall and Jonathan Kaminga being the leading scores in this game. Uh yeah, we could have seen like Nick's off Day News. It might have been a better show on TNT. But the t Wolves win this game, and they even up the series at one game apiece, and we're gonna hear Steve Kerr on Draymond Green coming up at a minute, which is awesome. But I want to tell you this first, right, I'll hit you with it with a big Bowl prediction out of here. Every game Steph Curry doesn't play the rest of this series, Minnesota should win by double digits. There should be no game even back in Golden State, even if Scott Foster is cloned and they're all doing the games together and and Chris Paul suddenly gets signed by the Timberwolves, Like, even if that happens, it should still be a double digit win for the t Wolves in every single game. In fact, as long as Steph Curry doesn't play, the t Wolves win every game. If Curry's out through Game four, game five, this is an happening for the For the Warriors, it was a great effort in Game one. I gave them their flowers after Game one they lost Steph Curry. They had a big lead and they were still able to hold onto it. Buddy Heel turned into Superman and look what happened. The t Wolves couldn't get their their their their footing, and they wound up losing by more points. And when Steph left the game, which really defied logic. And after the game there was a lot of concern is there is there any at odds between Chris Finch and Edwards because Finch said I needed an Edwards to step up and be a leader and Edwards said, nah, I was fine. I played great defensively. All of a sudden things were a mess. But with a day off, with a way to recalibrate, the t Wolves come out and win exactly how I thought they would win what they should have done in game one. It wasn't close. The Warriors don't have the firepower tonight. Buddy Healed a much more pedestrian, a much more Buddy Healed, like fifteen points he had those last two games. That was great, the Buddy Healed games game Buddy Game seven. In game one, Buddy Heald was so good. But this is how I expect things to go, no matter how the officiating goes better. What happens in game three, every game Steph Curry misses the Tea Wolves should win. They should be in the Western Conference Finals with absolutely zero difficulty.

The Jason Smith Show with My best friend Mike Harmon Live from the Tyrach dot com studios. The NBA night is over mercifully. We saw a game that was out of control very early and never got in control. The t Wolves go on to even the series with the Warriors one seventeen to ninety three. They got out to a big lead early and they never looked back and looked for a while it was Julius Randol and Joe Nathan Kaminga where the leading scorers in this game? And it was my goodness, and then it ended up with Julius Randall and Jonathan Kaminga being the leading scores in this game. Uh yeah, we could have seen like Nick's off Day News. It might have been a better show on TNT. But the t Wolves win this game, and they even up the series at one game apiece, and we're gonna hear Steve Kerr on Draymond Green coming up at a minute, which is awesome. But I want to tell you this first, right, I'll hit you with it with a big Bowl prediction out of here. Every game Steph Curry doesn't play the rest of this series, Minnesota should win by double digits. There should be no game even back in Golden State, even if Scott Foster is cloned and they're all doing the games together and and Chris Paul suddenly gets signed by the Timberwolves, Like, even if that happens, it should still be a double digit win for the t Wolves in every single game. In fact, as long as Steph Curry doesn't play, the t Wolves win every game. If Curry's out through Game four, game five, this is an happening for the For the Warriors, it was a great effort in Game one. I gave them their flowers after Game one they lost Steph Curry. They had a big lead and they were still able to hold onto it. Buddy Heel turned into Superman and look what happened. The t Wolves couldn't get their their their their footing, and they wound up losing by more points. And when Steph left the game, which really defied logic. And after the game there was a lot of concern is there is there any at odds between Chris Finch and Edwards because Finch said I needed an Edwards to step up and be a leader and Edwards said, nah, I was fine. I played great defensively. All of a sudden things were a mess. But with a day off, with a way to recalibrate, the t Wolves come out and win exactly how I thought they would win what they should have done in game one. It wasn't close. The Warriors don't have the firepower tonight. Buddy Healed a much more pedestrian, a much more Buddy Healed, like fifteen points he had those last two games. That was great, the Buddy Healed games game Buddy Game seven. In game one, Buddy Heald was so good. But this is how I expect things to go, no matter how the officiating goes better. What happens in game three, every game Steph Curry misses the Tea Wolves should win. They should be in the Western Conference Finals with absolutely zero difficulty.

Game three, the Timberwolves are five point road favorites, So we'll put a pin in that for a second. The over under on your guy, little Buddy's points for today right at fifteen plus or minus the half, depending on which way you got on it. So you got that going for you. We did have the anxious moment Anthony Edwards, because you know, there's been a lot of talk of how except for Steph Curry, it's been a great path and everybody's getting their stuff done. It's like, well, hold my beer, and we had the anxious moment. He goes back, not putting a lot of weight on his leg and eventually comes back, finishes with twenty points. But you get great work from Alexander Walker off the bench. He finishes with twenty. Luca Garza got into the game. It was so laughable at the end, the IOWA favorite.

Game three, the Timberwolves are five point road favorites, So we'll put a pin in that for a second. The over under on your guy, little Buddy's points for today right at fifteen plus or minus the half, depending on which way you got on it. So you got that going for you. We did have the anxious moment Anthony Edwards, because you know, there's been a lot of talk of how except for Steph Curry, it's been a great path and everybody's getting their stuff done. It's like, well, hold my beer, and we had the anxious moment. He goes back, not putting a lot of weight on his leg and eventually comes back, finishes with twenty points. But you get great work from Alexander Walker off the bench. He finishes with twenty. Luca Garza got into the game. It was so laughable at the end, the IOWA favorite.

In the game.

In the game.

It was so out of control, showing, wow, look what you did that. I'm out of Lucas now.

It was so out of control, showing, wow, look what you did that. I'm out of Lucas now.

You just had to take that big swing at him while you're at it though, But yeah, I mean you didn't have that other player step up to give you any kind of offensive juice to give the Haymakers back to Minnesota, and that game got out of sorts in short order. Right, We're looking at fifty six thirty nine at the break, and that was only on the winging a prayer of a couple of big shots, you know, towards the end of shot clocks to make it so So for the Timberwolves, you know, a game they were able to maybe take a little bit off in the second half, which which is key as well. Right, get guys out of arm's way, something Steve Kerr talked about as well as his comments on Draymond. So all of that one one, we go back to the Bay and see what we can come up with.

You just had to take that big swing at him while you're at it though, But yeah, I mean you didn't have that other player step up to give you any kind of offensive juice to give the Haymakers back to Minnesota, and that game got out of sorts in short order. Right, We're looking at fifty six thirty nine at the break, and that was only on the winging a prayer of a couple of big shots, you know, towards the end of shot clocks to make it so So for the Timberwolves, you know, a game they were able to maybe take a little bit off in the second half, which which is key as well. Right, get guys out of arm's way, something Steve Kerr talked about as well as his comments on Draymond. So all of that one one, we go back to the Bay and see what we can come up with.

So, you know, when I was when I was young growing up in New York and Mike Tyson first burst onto the scene right in the mid to late eighties, and all his fights would last like thirty forty five seconds because he would just crush everybody. And it was a fun thing on the local news. They would say, hey, you know, and you get like three minutes to do sports, right, you get like three minutes to do It's like okay, hey, And luckily, because of the way it was. We can bring you highlight. We can bring you the entirety of Mike Tyson's fight last night, right, and they would play twenty eight seconds and it was over right because at eighteen seconds he knocks the guy out and he wins.

So, you know, when I was when I was young growing up in New York and Mike Tyson first burst onto the scene right in the mid to late eighties, and all his fights would last like thirty forty five seconds because he would just crush everybody. And it was a fun thing on the local news. They would say, hey, you know, and you get like three minutes to do sports, right, you get like three minutes to do It's like okay, hey, And luckily, because of the way it was. We can bring you highlight. We can bring you the entirety of Mike Tyson's fight last night, right, and they would play twenty eight seconds and it was over right because at eighteen seconds he knocks the guy out and he wins.

Right.

Right.

That was kind of fun in that vein. We can bring you the entirety of Draymond Green's post game tonight following over his loss.

That was kind of fun in that vein. We can bring you the entirety of Draymond Green's post game tonight following over his loss.

Uh.

Uh.

Draymond was taken out of the game by Steve Kerr because Steve Kerr didn't want to see him get any more technicals. We'll hear from Steve Kerr in a minute on this. He had a great sound by post game. So he's taken out because you know, hey, we're getting close to potential suspension for Draymond Green. But Draymond was asked, hey, how do you feel about all these technicals and all these flagrants and everything going on getting called against you? And here is Draymond Green's statement.

Draymond was taken out of the game by Steve Kerr because Steve Kerr didn't want to see him get any more technicals. We'll hear from Steve Kerr in a minute on this. He had a great sound by post game. So he's taken out because you know, hey, we're getting close to potential suspension for Draymond Green. But Draymond was asked, hey, how do you feel about all these technicals and all these flagrants and everything going on getting called against you? And here is Draymond Green's statement.

You look like the angry black man. I'm not an angry black man. I'm a very successful, educated black man with a great family, and I'm great at basketball. I'm great at what I do to the a gender to try to keep making me look like an angry black man is crazy. I'm sick of it. Is ridiculous.

You look like the angry black man. I'm not an angry black man. I'm a very successful, educated black man with a great family, and I'm great at basketball. I'm great at what I do to the a gender to try to keep making me look like an angry black man is crazy. I'm sick of it. Is ridiculous.

Woof wow, Wow that is absolutely loaded. Like that is loaded.

Woof wow, Wow that is absolutely loaded. Like that is loaded.

Yeah, his the fall that ended up becoming the flagrant and they're you know, getting him the drawing the ire to where he was chasing the referee around was play where he tried to sell that he'd been fouled. The problem is in his follow through. He gets up around the head and neck area of the defender, so you immediately have other teammates stepping in and then you have two minutes of him berating and all sorts of word combinations we can't possibly try to emulate here on Fox Sports Radio for fear of FCC licensure and our jobs. But suffice to say, he did not say fertilizer. He was saying other things along the way and screaming and would start heading back towards the bench and then would go back at the official. So it's not anything having from where I said, anything having to do with race other than Draymond Green doesn't like officials and he's giving it getting his two cents.

Yeah, his the fall that ended up becoming the flagrant and they're you know, getting him the drawing the ire to where he was chasing the referee around was play where he tried to sell that he'd been fouled. The problem is in his follow through. He gets up around the head and neck area of the defender, so you immediately have other teammates stepping in and then you have two minutes of him berating and all sorts of word combinations we can't possibly try to emulate here on Fox Sports Radio for fear of FCC licensure and our jobs. But suffice to say, he did not say fertilizer. He was saying other things along the way and screaming and would start heading back towards the bench and then would go back at the official. So it's not anything having from where I said, anything having to do with race other than Draymond Green doesn't like officials and he's giving it getting his two cents.

All right, let's hear it one more time and then we'll break it down again. This is Draymond Green, the entirety of his post game from earlier, from just a few moments ago, Play one more time, look.

All right, let's hear it one more time and then we'll break it down again. This is Draymond Green, the entirety of his post game from earlier, from just a few moments ago, Play one more time, look.

Like the angry black man. I'm not an angry black man. I'm a very successful, educated black man with a great family, and I'm great at basketball. I'm great at what I do to the gender. To try to keep making me look like an angry black man is crazy. I'm sick of it. Is ridiculous.

Like the angry black man. I'm not an angry black man. I'm a very successful, educated black man with a great family, and I'm great at basketball. I'm great at what I do to the gender. To try to keep making me look like an angry black man is crazy. I'm sick of it. Is ridiculous.

Oh no, okay, what's ridiculous, Draymond? Is you saying this? Okay? No one is questioning how great you are a basketball No one's questioning you know, how you are, how successful you are. No one's questioning how great your family is. That's not you know. The games are broadcast and we can see replays of what you do and how you hit people and plays you make that have been on the borderline for the better part of your entire career. It's how you make your money. I get it. But don't sit here and tell don't sit here and tell me that, Oh, there's some kind of agenda out there. An agenda would be, Hey, we're gonna preemptively whistle you for stuff. No there's stuff that happens that you do during a game because you get out of control. You do get it. I'm sorry, but you get out of control. It's how it goes. Does your reputation precede you, Yeah, but that's for any player. It happens, right. No one's questioning anything about that. But I see Draymond Green. There's a guy that's responsible for plays that are on the line, maybe over it of the vast majority of the time. So to sit here and all of a sudden say, I get he's frustrated, he feels like he's being picked on. I'm sorry, don't play that way anymore. But then you lose your effectiveness because playing the way you do is what's given you the edge. Don't curse at the refs, don't get in the ref's face when they want to talk to you about different things. And I'm pretty sure it's referees of all different races who he talks to when he gets mad at So for this, I get that he's mad. I get he's upset. I get he's frustrated. I understand this, but wow, man, you want to take this into a different direction that nobody is talking about. No one is saying anything other than Draymond Green, here's suspensions, here's this. I mean, I'll go back to Steve Kerr saying Draymond's got to keep control of himself. I mean, I don't think anybody's making anything up about Draymond Green in this situation. But he wants to take this and he's upset. And I get it. And we've seen the strategy in this country the last few years, because hey, no matter what something goes on, if I just come out against it, I will have people having my back on social media and it becomes a hole he said. He said type situation. So I get it, and I get that he's mad, but dude, come on, man, no one is going to this at this level and make it or make it a racial thing for you. Come on, that's ridiculous. There's other players that get complained about all the time. Let's go back Grace and Allen came into the league and he was the dirtiest player in the history of the game. Right Look at the guy was tripping everybody in college getting to the NBA trip So you know, yeah, I get that you're mad, but but go somewhere different than this.

Oh no, okay, what's ridiculous, Draymond? Is you saying this? Okay? No one is questioning how great you are a basketball No one's questioning you know, how you are, how successful you are. No one's questioning how great your family is. That's not you know. The games are broadcast and we can see replays of what you do and how you hit people and plays you make that have been on the borderline for the better part of your entire career. It's how you make your money. I get it. But don't sit here and tell don't sit here and tell me that, Oh, there's some kind of agenda out there. An agenda would be, Hey, we're gonna preemptively whistle you for stuff. No there's stuff that happens that you do during a game because you get out of control. You do get it. I'm sorry, but you get out of control. It's how it goes. Does your reputation precede you, Yeah, but that's for any player. It happens, right. No one's questioning anything about that. But I see Draymond Green. There's a guy that's responsible for plays that are on the line, maybe over it of the vast majority of the time. So to sit here and all of a sudden say, I get he's frustrated, he feels like he's being picked on. I'm sorry, don't play that way anymore. But then you lose your effectiveness because playing the way you do is what's given you the edge. Don't curse at the refs, don't get in the ref's face when they want to talk to you about different things. And I'm pretty sure it's referees of all different races who he talks to when he gets mad at So for this, I get that he's mad. I get he's upset. I get he's frustrated. I understand this, but wow, man, you want to take this into a different direction that nobody is talking about. No one is saying anything other than Draymond Green, here's suspensions, here's this. I mean, I'll go back to Steve Kerr saying Draymond's got to keep control of himself. I mean, I don't think anybody's making anything up about Draymond Green in this situation. But he wants to take this and he's upset. And I get it. And we've seen the strategy in this country the last few years, because hey, no matter what something goes on, if I just come out against it, I will have people having my back on social media and it becomes a hole he said. He said type situation. So I get it, and I get that he's mad, but dude, come on, man, no one is going to this at this level and make it or make it a racial thing for you. Come on, that's ridiculous. There's other players that get complained about all the time. Let's go back Grace and Allen came into the league and he was the dirtiest player in the history of the game. Right Look at the guy was tripping everybody in college getting to the NBA trip So you know, yeah, I get that you're mad, but but go somewhere different than this.

I mean, come on, Yeah, if you're responding to someone in particular, then then you got to call out the name, You got to call out the venue.

I mean, come on, Yeah, if you're responding to someone in particular, then then you got to call out the name, You got to call out the venue.

You gotta go.

You gotta go.

If it's just you know, the equivalent of the Jason Smith one to what I forgot, whatever the number was that JJ Reddick did, then then you know, cite that or don't. But to just throw out a blanket thing that that infuses the race part of it it And look, I don't live a life where where folks are casting that on me, and I haven't felt that. Maybe Draymond certainly does. He's taken that out here. But how many incidents have we seen on the court? How many technical falls, how many suspensions near brawls, near fights? And Steve Kerr, you know, has spoken on it many many times, and certainly we'll hear from him in a moment. But it's you play on the edge and it's part of the greatness and sometimes you go over it. And in this case, they decided that it was too egregious and then the I don't know, put a stopwatch on it. How long does he stalk the officials screaming before they finally get him to the sideline we were on air, and we're starting to talk about it. Steph Curry had to come off the bench, limp and grab him and pull him back towards the sideline, pull him away from the officials, pull him away from the opponent, pull him back past all the coaches, towards the back end of the bench. They basically went to the giant camera that's at as high a point as they possibly could to show, Hey, Draymond's getting put all the way back over here because he's been too loud and might get himself thrown out, Get that extra technical, get one more towards suspension. It was a well thought out discussion point of where he's at on the continuum, and it had nothing to do with raise, Like, here's just fact.

If it's just you know, the equivalent of the Jason Smith one to what I forgot, whatever the number was that JJ Reddick did, then then you know, cite that or don't. But to just throw out a blanket thing that that infuses the race part of it it And look, I don't live a life where where folks are casting that on me, and I haven't felt that. Maybe Draymond certainly does. He's taken that out here. But how many incidents have we seen on the court? How many technical falls, how many suspensions near brawls, near fights? And Steve Kerr, you know, has spoken on it many many times, and certainly we'll hear from him in a moment. But it's you play on the edge and it's part of the greatness and sometimes you go over it. And in this case, they decided that it was too egregious and then the I don't know, put a stopwatch on it. How long does he stalk the officials screaming before they finally get him to the sideline we were on air, and we're starting to talk about it. Steph Curry had to come off the bench, limp and grab him and pull him back towards the sideline, pull him away from the officials, pull him away from the opponent, pull him back past all the coaches, towards the back end of the bench. They basically went to the giant camera that's at as high a point as they possibly could to show, Hey, Draymond's getting put all the way back over here because he's been too loud and might get himself thrown out, Get that extra technical, get one more towards suspension. It was a well thought out discussion point of where he's at on the continuum, and it had nothing to do with raise, Like, here's just fact.

He's playing again, he's playing against other black players, So I don't say he's he's playing against other black players. So wait, so it's racist that that's going on. It's a race thing for you and you're playing. He's the one making it racial. He's the only one making it racial.

He's playing again, he's playing against other black players, So I don't say he's he's playing against other black players. So wait, so it's racist that that's going on. It's a race thing for you and you're playing. He's the one making it racial. He's the only one making it racial.

Yeah, it's it's exasperating because we we do have so many issues as a society, as a as a country, as a global populace. We don't need to invent more.

Yeah, it's it's exasperating because we we do have so many issues as a society, as a as a country, as a global populace. We don't need to invent more.

Nothing is invented. Nothing, nothing is again. We are a read and react business in sports talk and sports talk radio, right, Hey, lots of ideas, we have the things. Hey, we're gonna do this, and we're gonna but we are in a read and react business, and the games happen and we react to them. Nothing is made up. There's no something hey, that never happened in the game last night. No a I put in that that you went and grabbed a guy around the neck and knocked him to the ground. No, that doesn't happen. We read and reacts. It's the playoffs. The highlights are everywhere. Everybody gets to see it. All the games are on television. I'm sorry, it's how it goes.

Nothing is invented. Nothing, nothing is again. We are a read and react business in sports talk and sports talk radio, right, Hey, lots of ideas, we have the things. Hey, we're gonna do this, and we're gonna but we are in a read and react business, and the games happen and we react to them. Nothing is made up. There's no something hey, that never happened in the game last night. No a I put in that that you went and grabbed a guy around the neck and knocked him to the ground. No, that doesn't happen. We read and reacts. It's the playoffs. The highlights are everywhere. Everybody gets to see it. All the games are on television. I'm sorry, it's how it goes.

Yeah, I think when we get down to it, we have in the NBA and they've made up a lot of awards, but at this point they don't have what is it. It's the Lady Bing right, the Sportsmanship Award in hockey.

Yeah, I think when we get down to it, we have in the NBA and they've made up a lot of awards, but at this point they don't have what is it. It's the Lady Bing right, the Sportsmanship Award in hockey.

We don't have one of.

We don't have one of.

Those for the NBA. And I gotta imagine Draymond ain't winning that one.

Those for the NBA. And I gotta imagine Draymond ain't winning that one.

I don't know how you have the career that he has and do what he does and say, yeah, Yeah, that's what it is. That's what it is. I'm the victim. No, no, yet not really.

I don't know how you have the career that he has and do what he does and say, yeah, Yeah, that's what it is. That's what it is. I'm the victim. No, no, yet not really.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith Show with Mike harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith Show with Mike harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.

The Celtics are now down two. You've feared a lot of different reasons behind it. What's going on the last couple of days. If I said, do you feel the blank Rick the Nix lead the Celtics two? Is it because blank? What would you tell me?

The Celtics are now down two. You've feared a lot of different reasons behind it. What's going on the last couple of days. If I said, do you feel the blank Rick the Nix lead the Celtics two? Is it because blank? What would you tell me?

Because they are more prepared to play the physical style of basketball that we're seeing in the postseason. I think that they're comfortable playing with force. I think that force is one of the reasons why you're seeing the Celtics miss as many threes as they are, and even wide open threes. I mean, for the most part, the shots have been good, but I think that the physicality of the game is taking their legs out a little bit, and they're finding that with the physicality having you know, the physicality is one going to stop finishes at the rim. You get a little more contact, it's a little more difficult to finish at the rim. And then if a team is energetic and is willing to run guys off the line, then it's and and they're going to meet them at the rim. Then it comes down to your mid range game. And the Knicks have a guy in Jalen Brunson who shoots the mid range as well as anybody in the league and can do it in a variety of ways and under pressure. And conversely, the Celtics have just been so so focused on either threes or layups that I was looking at the numbers and Jason Tatum nearly half of his shots this season were threes and shot the fewest took the fewest shots at the rim this season as he has in any of his seven seasons in the league. So that's one of the one of the elements here in the fourth quarter, I checked the shot chart and I was just curious, and Game two, in the mid range, the Boston Celtics were zero for seven and the New York Knicks for six for ten. That's where they're that's where they're winning this game. They can once they can get the pace down and they can make it a half court game. They can get to their spots and score and Boston is not nearly as comfortable playing that way.

Because they are more prepared to play the physical style of basketball that we're seeing in the postseason. I think that they're comfortable playing with force. I think that force is one of the reasons why you're seeing the Celtics miss as many threes as they are, and even wide open threes. I mean, for the most part, the shots have been good, but I think that the physicality of the game is taking their legs out a little bit, and they're finding that with the physicality having you know, the physicality is one going to stop finishes at the rim. You get a little more contact, it's a little more difficult to finish at the rim. And then if a team is energetic and is willing to run guys off the line, then it's and and they're going to meet them at the rim. Then it comes down to your mid range game. And the Knicks have a guy in Jalen Brunson who shoots the mid range as well as anybody in the league and can do it in a variety of ways and under pressure. And conversely, the Celtics have just been so so focused on either threes or layups that I was looking at the numbers and Jason Tatum nearly half of his shots this season were threes and shot the fewest took the fewest shots at the rim this season as he has in any of his seven seasons in the league. So that's one of the one of the elements here in the fourth quarter, I checked the shot chart and I was just curious, and Game two, in the mid range, the Boston Celtics were zero for seven and the New York Knicks for six for ten. That's where they're that's where they're winning this game. They can once they can get the pace down and they can make it a half court game. They can get to their spots and score and Boston is not nearly as comfortable playing that way.

Rick, I'll tell you how strange these two games have been. Jason issued a nationwide and global apology to Bridges based on the ending of both of these games. That's how big and monumentally shifting. This is like me and my new White Sox loving pope. It's it's Smith apologizing to the world for wanting to ship Bridges out of town.

Rick, I'll tell you how strange these two games have been. Jason issued a nationwide and global apology to Bridges based on the ending of both of these games. That's how big and monumentally shifting. This is like me and my new White Sox loving pope. It's it's Smith apologizing to the world for wanting to ship Bridges out of town.

I yeah, I almost called in sick on this episode because I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to I was going to be able to handle Jason and the outright floating that would be going that would be going on. You know, you know you're in a really happy place when you are running the show and you're issuing apologies at the same time. That is that is very strong. That's very strong.

I yeah, I almost called in sick on this episode because I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to I was going to be able to handle Jason and the outright floating that would be going that would be going on. You know, you know you're in a really happy place when you are running the show and you're issuing apologies at the same time. That is that is very strong. That's very strong.

Well, well listen, because I and I know you know you you could have called him said here, but you sat next to Paul Pierce when he said on speak a day, oh god, hey if the Celtics game to walk to work the next day, and he sort of walked to work today, Rick, what was that like?

Well, well listen, because I and I know you know you you could have called him said here, but you sat next to Paul Pierce when he said on speak a day, oh god, hey if the Celtics game to walk to work the next day, and he sort of walked to work today, Rick, what was that like?

Man?

Man?

We we we tried to stop him. The best part. Quite honestly, the best part of it all was we were on a tech string while that game was going on last night, and so we had like we had like why reaction. Paul at one time texted us and he said, you're never gonna see me again. I'm just going And then I texted, I said, you know what, we need to alert the authorities because if they see Paul wandering around barefoot in a bathrobe, they're gonna think he's been eating bath salts and they're gonna have n't we got to look out for him. So yeah, look, I mean, I I'm really happy that he did that because he gave me cover because I was just confident about myself. He was. I just wasn't making ridiculous, ridiculous claims. But you know, it's it's it's really interesting how this physicality in the game. I mean, we saw it ratchet up in last year's playoffs, but I don't think it's ever been like this in oh maybe twenty twenty five years. And I think it's why the games have been so good and entertaining and relatively close, because the players are now able to play, and they're allowed and they're able to show their emotion and they're able to get after it, and you have to earn your buckets. It's not you know, stopping every five minutes to look at a replay to send somebody to the free throw lines. There's a lot more natural flow to the game. So I'm loving that. But in looking at teams going into the playoffs and looking at how they matched up in typical matchups like there's, there's, it does change the dynamic, it does change the game, and a team like New York is much more formidable playing this style than they were during the regular season, obviously against the Boston Celtics, who just you know, ran away with games. None of those games were close, and but but this is a different game, and and right now, the Knicks are more suited for it, and I don't think that's I don't think that's going to change. Celtics might shoot the three a little bit better, but if you look at the at the the width and breath of the season, the Knicks and the Celtics are are just about dead. Even when it comes to three point shooting percentage. They shoot it just about as well, and they have as many guys who can shoot it well. The only difference is that Boston shoots more of them. So if you can limit the number of shots that you that they take, then you or or they're just missing a ton of them, that that evens the scales. And then it goes to who has an advantage in other places, And and I think that the Knick's just by value of because they think we've seen at the end of games, like everybody knows the Nicks, know how they're going to play, they know who their go to guy is, they know where he wants to operate from, so everybody can work off of that with a sense of understanding. The Boston Celtics don't know where Jason Tatum's going to shoot the ball, if he's going to shoot the ball, and and so it leaves them uncertain in these nip and tuck games, and most playoff games come down to that.

We we we tried to stop him. The best part. Quite honestly, the best part of it all was we were on a tech string while that game was going on last night, and so we had like we had like why reaction. Paul at one time texted us and he said, you're never gonna see me again. I'm just going And then I texted, I said, you know what, we need to alert the authorities because if they see Paul wandering around barefoot in a bathrobe, they're gonna think he's been eating bath salts and they're gonna have n't we got to look out for him. So yeah, look, I mean, I I'm really happy that he did that because he gave me cover because I was just confident about myself. He was. I just wasn't making ridiculous, ridiculous claims. But you know, it's it's it's really interesting how this physicality in the game. I mean, we saw it ratchet up in last year's playoffs, but I don't think it's ever been like this in oh maybe twenty twenty five years. And I think it's why the games have been so good and entertaining and relatively close, because the players are now able to play, and they're allowed and they're able to show their emotion and they're able to get after it, and you have to earn your buckets. It's not you know, stopping every five minutes to look at a replay to send somebody to the free throw lines. There's a lot more natural flow to the game. So I'm loving that. But in looking at teams going into the playoffs and looking at how they matched up in typical matchups like there's, there's, it does change the dynamic, it does change the game, and a team like New York is much more formidable playing this style than they were during the regular season, obviously against the Boston Celtics, who just you know, ran away with games. None of those games were close, and but but this is a different game, and and right now, the Knicks are more suited for it, and I don't think that's I don't think that's going to change. Celtics might shoot the three a little bit better, but if you look at the at the the width and breath of the season, the Knicks and the Celtics are are just about dead. Even when it comes to three point shooting percentage. They shoot it just about as well, and they have as many guys who can shoot it well. The only difference is that Boston shoots more of them. So if you can limit the number of shots that you that they take, then you or or they're just missing a ton of them, that that evens the scales. And then it goes to who has an advantage in other places, And and I think that the Knick's just by value of because they think we've seen at the end of games, like everybody knows the Nicks, know how they're going to play, they know who their go to guy is, they know where he wants to operate from, so everybody can work off of that with a sense of understanding. The Boston Celtics don't know where Jason Tatum's going to shoot the ball, if he's going to shoot the ball, and and so it leaves them uncertain in these nip and tuck games, and most playoff games come down to that.

Rick, let's go to the Cavaliers and the Pacers. Calves get the Oh, here's your apology on official letterhead about lane violations. That might be the only win they get the series at this point.

Rick, let's go to the Cavaliers and the Pacers. Calves get the Oh, here's your apology on official letterhead about lane violations. That might be the only win they get the series at this point.

Yeah, it's you know, I was I was sleeping on the paces because I watched them earlier in the year and kind of through the course of the year, and they didn't looked that much different than the team that I saw in in the playoffs last year, which I just thought was a crazy kind of running, gun up and down team that got of got favorable matchups, ran into a next team that was already already beaten up and you know, just basically broke down because of the pace that the Pacers played, and uh and then got swept by by the Celtics, and so I really wasn't expecting that much. And then whatever whatever reason, Andrew never Nemhart becomes like Superman in the postseason. Aaron Smith. Aaron Smith is is legit. I mean, if you look at if you look at Nemhart's numbers like he is, his numbers are crazy high compared to what he does in the regular season. That's usually not the case in playoffs. Aaron Ne Smith has taken a nice step. Benedict Matherin, I've always liked uh Ty Halliburton got the you know, the rocket booster of his peers. Saying that he's the most overrated player in the league has really juiced him up. And and they got a sneaky pick up in Thomas Bryant from Miami mid season. That's given them just enough size, uh to be able to battle and not be you know, a little apputian when when Myles Turner goes to the bench so uh. And then Rick Carlo is actually coaching this team this year, it looks like a Rick Carlisle coach team. They're they're defending their executing on offense, and honestly, I think that I would not be the least bit surprised if we see Pacers Nicks and uh, and I think that that's going to be a real battle. I think that could easily go seven games to decide who goes to the finals or in next.

Yeah, it's you know, I was I was sleeping on the paces because I watched them earlier in the year and kind of through the course of the year, and they didn't looked that much different than the team that I saw in in the playoffs last year, which I just thought was a crazy kind of running, gun up and down team that got of got favorable matchups, ran into a next team that was already already beaten up and you know, just basically broke down because of the pace that the Pacers played, and uh and then got swept by by the Celtics, and so I really wasn't expecting that much. And then whatever whatever reason, Andrew never Nemhart becomes like Superman in the postseason. Aaron Smith. Aaron Smith is is legit. I mean, if you look at if you look at Nemhart's numbers like he is, his numbers are crazy high compared to what he does in the regular season. That's usually not the case in playoffs. Aaron Ne Smith has taken a nice step. Benedict Matherin, I've always liked uh Ty Halliburton got the you know, the rocket booster of his peers. Saying that he's the most overrated player in the league has really juiced him up. And and they got a sneaky pick up in Thomas Bryant from Miami mid season. That's given them just enough size, uh to be able to battle and not be you know, a little apputian when when Myles Turner goes to the bench so uh. And then Rick Carlo is actually coaching this team this year, it looks like a Rick Carlisle coach team. They're they're defending their executing on offense, and honestly, I think that I would not be the least bit surprised if we see Pacers Nicks and uh, and I think that that's going to be a real battle. I think that could easily go seven games to decide who goes to the finals or in next.

Week because we owe them, like like I'm thinking, I'm thinking that the crowd, the Knicks fans a TD guardless Jet Nixon for that's the next round too, Rick Nixon.

Week because we owe them, like like I'm thinking, I'm thinking that the crowd, the Knicks fans a TD guardless Jet Nixon for that's the next round too, Rick Nixon.

Four.

Four.

This is why I almost called in right that, right there is.

This is why I almost called in right that, right there is.

A four.

A four.

You know, four is a big number. We just watched the t Wolves beat the Warriors even that series up at one game at piece and Steph Curry says, hey, gonna be out through game four. I'm you know, I've never had this injury before where we're being smart with it. Rick I have a hard time believing that if the if the Warriors are down to one, I expect them to be down to one because this Timberwolves team is better than the Warriors. When the Warriors don't have Steph. I have a hard time believing if they're down to one, with the possibility of them going down three to one, he's not playing in Game four.

You know, four is a big number. We just watched the t Wolves beat the Warriors even that series up at one game at piece and Steph Curry says, hey, gonna be out through game four. I'm you know, I've never had this injury before where we're being smart with it. Rick I have a hard time believing that if the if the Warriors are down to one, I expect them to be down to one because this Timberwolves team is better than the Warriors. When the Warriors don't have Steph. I have a hard time believing if they're down to one, with the possibility of them going down three to one, he's not playing in Game four.

It is.

It is.

It is a tricky thing, and I I mean, I see that, but I also because his mobility and his quick movement is so vital to his game. I also don't like how demoralizing would it be if you trot him out there and then the first five minutes he makes a move and he pulls it and he's done. Like I think that's where they have to be really careful with something like that. And we were having a debate on morning show in the green room about where he grabbed his hand string, because the football guys on the show were saying, if you grab it high, it's not as bad as if you grab it sort of in the middle of the back of your thigh. And I thought I saw him grab it in the middle, and so even if it's maybe you know, a first degree, I just looked with the way he has to play to be effective, I would lean toward them not pushing it as opposed to trying to get him out there if he's if he's at all compromised, because he's either going to make it worse, which at thirty seven, I don't know that you want to create a hamstring problem for yourself long term, and I just don't know how effective he would be if he's at all compromised.

It is a tricky thing, and I I mean, I see that, but I also because his mobility and his quick movement is so vital to his game. I also don't like how demoralizing would it be if you trot him out there and then the first five minutes he makes a move and he pulls it and he's done. Like I think that's where they have to be really careful with something like that. And we were having a debate on morning show in the green room about where he grabbed his hand string, because the football guys on the show were saying, if you grab it high, it's not as bad as if you grab it sort of in the middle of the back of your thigh. And I thought I saw him grab it in the middle, and so even if it's maybe you know, a first degree, I just looked with the way he has to play to be effective, I would lean toward them not pushing it as opposed to trying to get him out there if he's if he's at all compromised, because he's either going to make it worse, which at thirty seven, I don't know that you want to create a hamstring problem for yourself long term, and I just don't know how effective he would be if he's at all compromised.

He's on Twitter at Rick Buker, That is at Rick Buker. Check him out tomorrow morning, Rick, you'll be on with Paul Pierce. Are you gonna walk to work tomorrow? Are you just you're gonna hear? Take a car and and everything.

He's on Twitter at Rick Buker, That is at Rick Buker. Check him out tomorrow morning, Rick, you'll be on with Paul Pierce. Are you gonna walk to work tomorrow? Are you just you're gonna hear? Take a car and and everything.

I'm staying in Manhattan Beach. I don't have my driver. Patrick out there bright and early, ready to go.

I'm staying in Manhattan Beach. I don't have my driver. Patrick out there bright and early, ready to go.

Well played.

Well played.

Check out the On the Ball podcast as well with Rick an hour and a half talks about the shot selection of Jalen Brunson. Ricks always buddy appreciated and congratulations again to your daughter all the best man. That's fantastic you brother. All right, there goes Rick Buker. I think he's all nervous. When I said I think it's the wrong move, and he's like, Okay, what are you gonna say? The hell are you gonna say?

Check out the On the Ball podcast as well with Rick an hour and a half talks about the shot selection of Jalen Brunson. Ricks always buddy appreciated and congratulations again to your daughter all the best man. That's fantastic you brother. All right, there goes Rick Buker. I think he's all nervous. When I said I think it's the wrong move, and he's like, Okay, what are you gonna say? The hell are you gonna say?

Man, Well, there's always that fear that you might have done a snippet of research and.

Man, Well, there's always that fear that you might have done a snippet of research and.

Found that one hankle.

Found that one hankle.

It's like, oh, we didn't have that, hey man, potential for chaos in this universe. But no, we appreciate Rick all the relationships we have with our our guests and friends of the show. It's it's Rick rolls with the punches and even just saying I thought about calling out Sick.

It's like, oh, we didn't have that, hey man, potential for chaos in this universe. But no, we appreciate Rick all the relationships we have with our our guests and friends of the show. It's it's Rick rolls with the punches and even just saying I thought about calling out Sick.

I mean, he's not kidding, by the way, He's not.

I mean, he's not kidding, by the way, He's not.

He was I have no doubt.

He was I have no doubt.

I bet as soon as the Knicks won last night, he was like, uh, he was more of a game time decision than Steph Curry. But as always, thanks to Rick for stopping by with us. Awesome. I liked you got the Rick rolled in there. That was very nice.

I bet as soon as the Knicks won last night, he was like, uh, he was more of a game time decision than Steph Curry. But as always, thanks to Rick for stopping by with us. Awesome. I liked you got the Rick rolled in there. That was very nice.

Harmon.

Harmon.

I liked that well.

I liked that well.

You know.

You know.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven pm Pacific.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven pm Pacific.

He has Fox Sports Radio MLB Network Insider extraordinaire. He is the Pope John Paul Morosi, who John Paul, Welcome to the show once again. As always, I have a question for you. My Internet is down currently and I know I'm putting you on the screen. Goo who won the Knicks Piston series? I can't find that.

He has Fox Sports Radio MLB Network Insider extraordinaire. He is the Pope John Paul Morosi, who John Paul, Welcome to the show once again. As always, I have a question for you. My Internet is down currently and I know I'm putting you on the screen. Goo who won the Knicks Piston series? I can't find that.

Evening, Hi, buddy, that uh with with me and the building. The Pistons were un defeated, so evidently I should have gone to all the games. Now, I would also flip it around and say, Jason and to New York Knicks fans everywhere, you're welcome, because the Knicks have not lost since we had our conversation on the show one night ago, or one week ago, this very night, they have They have not lost since the the MSG security guards were very much on their game and decided to throw me out of the building.

Evening, Hi, buddy, that uh with with me and the building. The Pistons were un defeated, so evidently I should have gone to all the games. Now, I would also flip it around and say, Jason and to New York Knicks fans everywhere, you're welcome, because the Knicks have not lost since we had our conversation on the show one night ago, or one week ago, this very night, they have They have not lost since the the MSG security guards were very much on their game and decided to throw me out of the building.

And uh so ever since then, the Knicks have adopted their tenacity and and now I think that's the reason why they won Game one.

And uh so ever since then, the Knicks have adopted their tenacity and and now I think that's the reason why they won Game one.

By the way, it was amazing. I'm speaking to you from New Jersey. Of course, we're here covering the Yankees and Padres this week, and so I was driving to the ballpark yesterday. Let's just say that there was not a majority of New Yorkers who bel leave that they would prevail in Game one, just based on my my little driving around listening to talk radio here, listening to the callers gauging it was not exactly an an all for one, one for all idea that they were they were about to go up to Boston and and and take on the parquet floor and defeat the defense, the defending world champions. And yet they did it. And so basically now I'm sure the attitude is, well, of course, hey, we had we believed in you all along. Next venue, you're going to do it. So it is definitely interesting for me to ride the waves of the New York fan as a bit of a as a bit of an outside observer, who is who has joined join the flocks for at least this week.

By the way, it was amazing. I'm speaking to you from New Jersey. Of course, we're here covering the Yankees and Padres this week, and so I was driving to the ballpark yesterday. Let's just say that there was not a majority of New Yorkers who bel leave that they would prevail in Game one, just based on my my little driving around listening to talk radio here, listening to the callers gauging it was not exactly an an all for one, one for all idea that they were they were about to go up to Boston and and and take on the parquet floor and defeat the defense, the defending world champions. And yet they did it. And so basically now I'm sure the attitude is, well, of course, hey, we had we believed in you all along. Next venue, you're going to do it. So it is definitely interesting for me to ride the waves of the New York fan as a bit of a as a bit of an outside observer, who is who has joined join the flocks for at least this week.

Oh no, Look if I was back in New York where I grew up, and I'd be on the radio call and go, okay, so we got a fire tips, we got to get rid of bridges. He stinks, we got to make these change. I'd make the changes right now because we know we ain't beating the Celtics. I'll hang up.

Oh no, Look if I was back in New York where I grew up, and I'd be on the radio call and go, okay, so we got a fire tips, we got to get rid of bridges. He stinks, we got to make these change. I'd make the changes right now because we know we ain't beating the Celtics. I'll hang up.

They were advocating for the dismissal of the code before the series.

They were advocating for the dismissal of the code before the series.

That is.

That is.

I listened to this and I said, wow.

I listened to this and I said, wow.

I am.

I am.

I am now a very place they had to even say it just beating the Pistons in a fairly, you know, fairly highly contested series. And the whole idea was was, oh, well, are we gonna fire a cipoo? And I've been like, guys, let him play game one, like, let him, let him at least have the opening tip before we start firing the guy.

I am now a very place they had to even say it just beating the Pistons in a fairly, you know, fairly highly contested series. And the whole idea was was, oh, well, are we gonna fire a cipoo? And I've been like, guys, let him play game one, like, let him, let him at least have the opening tip before we start firing the guy.

Come on.

Come on.

Well, so it was.

Well, so it was.

It was an interesting insight for me.

It was an interesting insight for me.

I would say, welcome to New York. But you had a very curve. You had a very un New York moment last night because you know, you did the Yankees game with it with the padres and all the rain that came down. I watched your postgame interview with Manny Machado where you interviewed him while you held an umbrella over Manny Michado's had not over your own head, John Paul Morosi, but you looked out for your fellow man holding an umbrella over Manny Michado's had that as a very very nice thing to do.

I would say, welcome to New York. But you had a very curve. You had a very un New York moment last night because you know, you did the Yankees game with it with the padres and all the rain that came down. I watched your postgame interview with Manny Machado where you interviewed him while you held an umbrella over Manny Michado's had not over your own head, John Paul Morosi, but you looked out for your fellow man holding an umbrella over Manny Michado's had that as a very very nice thing to do.

Well.

Well.

I appreciate that. The funny thing is that at the beginning of the interview I said to Manny. I said, Manny, I'm sorry that I'm short. I'm gonna have to sort of extend my arm about as high as it goes to be able to get this over your head. He was like, he laughed, but I think it's first of all, how about this, I've got a credit the one and only Susan Waldman. That was actually Susan's umbrella. So we were we were down at the so the rain was pouring down. Susan was there had the Yankees prevailed, and we were standing next to each other and Susan said, well, I'm not going to go into the field because the Podreys once So do you want the umbrella that for your you know, for your on field. I said, well sure, Susan, thank you. I appreciate that. So I'll get I'll get it back to you in the press conference. So I brought it out to the field that Susan's umbrella so big. Thanks to Susan, and I interviewed Manny. I think as I watched it back later on that night, I realized you couldn't even see my face, which many would say I've never looked better on TV. I mean, you can't see my face that that's how indeed most would prefer to see me on television and not having to see my face, So I just hold the old the umbrella up there interviewing Manny. There was quite a comeback by the Padres that was I'm sure it warmed your Mets loving heart to see the Yankees fall in such fashion. And then I got the umbrella back to Susan and the Yankees responded with a thorough victory tonight. So we'll see what happens in the rubber game tomorrow.

I appreciate that. The funny thing is that at the beginning of the interview I said to Manny. I said, Manny, I'm sorry that I'm short. I'm gonna have to sort of extend my arm about as high as it goes to be able to get this over your head. He was like, he laughed, but I think it's first of all, how about this, I've got a credit the one and only Susan Waldman. That was actually Susan's umbrella. So we were we were down at the so the rain was pouring down. Susan was there had the Yankees prevailed, and we were standing next to each other and Susan said, well, I'm not going to go into the field because the Podreys once So do you want the umbrella that for your you know, for your on field. I said, well sure, Susan, thank you. I appreciate that. So I'll get I'll get it back to you in the press conference. So I brought it out to the field that Susan's umbrella so big. Thanks to Susan, and I interviewed Manny. I think as I watched it back later on that night, I realized you couldn't even see my face, which many would say I've never looked better on TV. I mean, you can't see my face that that's how indeed most would prefer to see me on television and not having to see my face, So I just hold the old the umbrella up there interviewing Manny. There was quite a comeback by the Padres that was I'm sure it warmed your Mets loving heart to see the Yankees fall in such fashion. And then I got the umbrella back to Susan and the Yankees responded with a thorough victory tonight. So we'll see what happens in the rubber game tomorrow.

Evening JP we talked about using the protective layer of an umbrella to shield you from the storm. How soon do we start seeing more fielders with you know, helmets or other security purposes. After watching what Chase my dropped of the White Sox did tonight in a ninth inning that led to the White Sox downfall, I'm first.

Evening JP we talked about using the protective layer of an umbrella to shield you from the storm. How soon do we start seeing more fielders with you know, helmets or other security purposes. After watching what Chase my dropped of the White Sox did tonight in a ninth inning that led to the White Sox downfall, I'm first.

Of all, I feel bad for Chase, and there was a replay after For those who have not yet seen it, there was a pop up that just planked our man Chase right on the top of the dome. There's just there's no other way to describe it.

Of all, I feel bad for Chase, and there was a replay after For those who have not yet seen it, there was a pop up that just planked our man Chase right on the top of the dome. There's just there's no other way to describe it.

I've not seen John Paul. It was Jose Conseco in ninety three. Was the last time so somebody got hit with a fly ball or a pop up and it hit them in the head.

I've not seen John Paul. It was Jose Conseco in ninety three. Was the last time so somebody got hit with a fly ball or a pop up and it hit them in the head.

It was. It was as much of a direct hit of a pop up as you're probably gonna see a major league game. It was even with ken Seko was more of a glancing bloke. He was moving this. This was Mike Drop was almost camped underneath it. It was a fairly extraordinary moment. So I feel badly for Chase. And there was a there was a moment after where you used where the camera goes in there and and looks at his reaction to the play itself, and you almost you could almost see on his face that he was thinking, Yeah, this this replay is going to be around for a while, and and you can just kind of tell that he's having that thought. Of course, he came over in the Garrett Crochet trade. I'm a big fan of him. I think he's going to be a good contact bat for the White Sox for a while. But my goodness, that was that was not the kind of contact he was looking for.

It was. It was as much of a direct hit of a pop up as you're probably gonna see a major league game. It was even with ken Seko was more of a glancing bloke. He was moving this. This was Mike Drop was almost camped underneath it. It was a fairly extraordinary moment. So I feel badly for Chase. And there was a there was a moment after where you used where the camera goes in there and and looks at his reaction to the play itself, and you almost you could almost see on his face that he was thinking, Yeah, this this replay is going to be around for a while, and and you can just kind of tell that he's having that thought. Of course, he came over in the Garrett Crochet trade. I'm a big fan of him. I think he's going to be a good contact bat for the White Sox for a while. But my goodness, that was that was not the kind of contact he was looking for.

And uh and by.

And uh and by.

The way, so speaking of speaking of I can't believe I didn't bring this up earlier. Speaking of also was listening to the to the F A N Post game show a couple of days ago of Sunday Sunday and and and there was literally a twelve year old called up and demanded the removal of Aaron Boone as the Yankees manager.

The way, so speaking of speaking of I can't believe I didn't bring this up earlier. Speaking of also was listening to the to the F A N Post game show a couple of days ago of Sunday Sunday and and and there was literally a twelve year old called up and demanded the removal of Aaron Boone as the Yankees manager.

And I said, to myself, you got twelve.

And I said, to myself, you got twelve.

Year old caught up and the host basically said, like, do you even were you even alive when Joe Girardi was the manager of this team, Like that wasn't that long ago? Were you even alive when that happened? I just I couldn't believe it. I had to I forgot that earlier. That was That was one of my other favorite New York moments, Like a middle schooler legit calling up and saying that Boon should be dismissed. I just I thought that was I did not mention this Aaron the next day when I went in for the meeting of a day by the way, it was a twelve year old from from Suffer, New York, who thinks you should be you should be let go. And I didn't.

Year old caught up and the host basically said, like, do you even were you even alive when Joe Girardi was the manager of this team, Like that wasn't that long ago? Were you even alive when that happened? I just I couldn't believe it. I had to I forgot that earlier. That was That was one of my other favorite New York moments, Like a middle schooler legit calling up and saying that Boon should be dismissed. I just I thought that was I did not mention this Aaron the next day when I went in for the meeting of a day by the way, it was a twelve year old from from Suffer, New York, who thinks you should be you should be let go. And I didn't.

I didn't mention that.

I didn't mention that.

I just kind of let that go.

I just kind of let that go.

Yeah, No, that was my son's best friend. He calls the shows all the time. Yeah, is that a relative?

Yeah, No, that was my son's best friend. He calls the shows all the time. Yeah, is that a relative?

Is that?

Is that?

Yeah?

Yeah?

Hey?

Hey?

Speaking of speaking of calling, you know, making predictions, wanting things happen. Did I read this right in your in your Twitter account? Did you do another interview where you said how much you like the Mariners to make the postseason? Did you did you do that again? Year fourteen in a row? John Paul? Are you are you still that bullish picking how much you like the Mariners for the playoffs?

Speaking of speaking of calling, you know, making predictions, wanting things happen. Did I read this right in your in your Twitter account? Did you do another interview where you said how much you like the Mariners to make the postseason? Did you did you do that again? Year fourteen in a row? John Paul? Are you are you still that bullish picking how much you like the Mariners for the playoffs?

Well, if the question is did I say that today? The better question is does this day end in why? And if I and if I made this prediction this year, the question is does the year begin somehow with the number two? And if it does, then basically.

Well, if the question is did I say that today? The better question is does this day end in why? And if I and if I made this prediction this year, the question is does the year begin somehow with the number two? And if it does, then basically.

Yeah, I've said it.

Yeah, I've said it.

I mean it's the year. It's to zero two five percent. I said the marriage make the playoffs, and I might actually be right. But can I can I tell you? Can I tell you the team that's making me the most worried right now about my pick?

I mean it's the year. It's to zero two five percent. I said the marriage make the playoffs, and I might actually be right. But can I can I tell you? Can I tell you the team that's making me the most worried right now about my pick?

Okay? Good, so the.

Okay? Good, so the.

West Sacramento Athletics, My friend, they have got a good thing going. Kurtz Wilson, Butler Rucker. If you don't know these names, you better learn them. Soders from Langeliers. They've got some guys that can hit now, pitching wise that they're probably an arm short. But they had a walk off went over the Mariners last night, and the A's have me a little bit concerned. The Mariners pitching has got me a little bit worried to Kirby Gilbert on the injured list. But yes, I like what Edgar Martinez has done as the hitting coach, so much so that the Texas Rangers have now hired Brett Boone, who was known as the Boone, to be their hitting coach. Now they're basically all two thousand and one Mariners are now up to be hitting coaches in Major League Baseball. So Mark maclamore, Carlos g and Jaye Buner, we're coming for you to get back on the field.

West Sacramento Athletics, My friend, they have got a good thing going. Kurtz Wilson, Butler Rucker. If you don't know these names, you better learn them. Soders from Langeliers. They've got some guys that can hit now, pitching wise that they're probably an arm short. But they had a walk off went over the Mariners last night, and the A's have me a little bit concerned. The Mariners pitching has got me a little bit worried to Kirby Gilbert on the injured list. But yes, I like what Edgar Martinez has done as the hitting coach, so much so that the Texas Rangers have now hired Brett Boone, who was known as the Boone, to be their hitting coach. Now they're basically all two thousand and one Mariners are now up to be hitting coaches in Major League Baseball. So Mark maclamore, Carlos g and Jaye Buner, we're coming for you to get back on the field.

There you go.

There you go.

I'm going to leave the legacy question since you mentioned Boone there for a second. But we got big news in Los Angeles right Clayton Gershaw's on the gumback trail, but ta Oscar Hernandez goes to the il and now we get the next coming of James Outman. The injuries piling up and Dodgers still, you know, pacing through, but got to be a bit concerning early May with the number of guys that they've had cycle in and out in the lineup.

I'm going to leave the legacy question since you mentioned Boone there for a second. But we got big news in Los Angeles right Clayton Gershaw's on the gumback trail, but ta Oscar Hernandez goes to the il and now we get the next coming of James Outman. The injuries piling up and Dodgers still, you know, pacing through, but got to be a bit concerning early May with the number of guys that they've had cycle in and out in the lineup.

Yes, indeed outman back in, and you're right, best record in the game. They still have, I think, fairly a fairly clear path to do a playoff for the we get with a good degree of certainty. But let's not forget who leads the Los Angeles Dodgers and RBI, and not by a little, by a lot after and Endez leads the major leagues in fact thirty four RBI, which is ten more than Tommy Edmond, who was number two, by the way in this category. Otani has thirteen for him this season. So, but Taoscar is the guy who I think in a lot of ways makes this lineup go. He gives protection for Freeman, he lengthens the lineup. He is a natural run producer. There are not many bats in the in the game now who have just different plate appearances when there's a man in the scoring position, and tai Oskar does the Threeman does the two. But I think part of the reason why the Dodgers have been so good lately is They've got both of them, and now with only having Freddy, I mean only, of course, they also have Otani's best at Edmund as well. But I think ta Oscar is a massive, massive loss. He is to the lineup. He is about as important as probably right now anybody, with the exception of Freeman. That's again, Otani's the reigning MVP. I got that, But the way the lineup has set up this season, I think he is the co most important player along with Freeman, and this is a massive absence for the Dodger staff to handle right now.

Yes, indeed outman back in, and you're right, best record in the game. They still have, I think, fairly a fairly clear path to do a playoff for the we get with a good degree of certainty. But let's not forget who leads the Los Angeles Dodgers and RBI, and not by a little, by a lot after and Endez leads the major leagues in fact thirty four RBI, which is ten more than Tommy Edmond, who was number two, by the way in this category. Otani has thirteen for him this season. So, but Taoscar is the guy who I think in a lot of ways makes this lineup go. He gives protection for Freeman, he lengthens the lineup. He is a natural run producer. There are not many bats in the in the game now who have just different plate appearances when there's a man in the scoring position, and tai Oskar does the Threeman does the two. But I think part of the reason why the Dodgers have been so good lately is They've got both of them, and now with only having Freddy, I mean only, of course, they also have Otani's best at Edmund as well. But I think ta Oscar is a massive, massive loss. He is to the lineup. He is about as important as probably right now anybody, with the exception of Freeman. That's again, Otani's the reigning MVP. I got that, But the way the lineup has set up this season, I think he is the co most important player along with Freeman, and this is a massive absence for the Dodger staff to handle right now.

All right, Lastly, John Paul, I want to ask you you you you have turned forty one, forty two. How old are you right now?

All right, Lastly, John Paul, I want to ask you you you you have turned forty one, forty two. How old are you right now?

Forty two?

Forty two?

I think forty twenty three?

I think forty twenty three?

Next week, I think I got I gotta get the county. Yes, butts turn forty three and I'm already forgetting about it.

Next week, I think I got I gotta get the county. Yes, butts turn forty three and I'm already forgetting about it.

I'm getting old, guys.

I'm getting old, guys.

Okay, So I asked you, guys, how old did you feel today when you saw that Prince Fielder's son, Cecil Fielder's grandson just hit his first minor league homer and his first at bat. That now Cecil Fielder's grandson could be on his way to the majors.

Okay, So I asked you, guys, how old did you feel today when you saw that Prince Fielder's son, Cecil Fielder's grandson just hit his first minor league homer and his first at bat. That now Cecil Fielder's grandson could be on his way to the majors.

Yeah, it is amazing. I remember so I covered Prince. Prince played two years in Detroit twelve and thirteen, and so Jaden and Haven were both around the ballpark fair amount at that point. They were also around I covered Prince a bit during his time in Milwaukee was around the ballpark then too. So I've seen Jaden and Haven since they were probably eight years old, seven, eight, nine years old. So it is it's time is catching up to me. Families are beginning to lap me, guys, my years of covering the game. It used to be that.