HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF?

[00:00:10] Yes, you are now listening to the sound of Sports Reports As Ordered. And those sounds are brought to you by the one and only world renown. Born in Texas, raised in Virginia, representing everything New Jersey. And he wants y'all to know that there would be no Alexander Hamilton play unless he got shot in Jersey.

[00:00:39] You can catch where you come out here too. Yes, sir. He is Mr. Logical. And you got your unorthodox statistician. I believe in Joe Hendry just like you should. Who one left so much you thought I was South Park, they call me 2-5. Sports Reports As Ordered, let's preview the Super Bowl. Let's talk about the NBA trade deadline. But I need a couple of things from you.

[00:01:06] I need you to like, review, subscribe, share, rate, do all the free things. Do all the good things. So, we're going to start this off with something that we haven't done in a while. Yeah, oldie with goodie. Get it off my chest is back. So, real quick. I'm not even going to belabor this. There is a such thing as multiple people deserving something.

[00:01:36] I know you have to pick a winner. But the list of the winners that you're picking from are great individuals. But there has to be a loser, right? So, you got the MVP. You know, we talked about this. We did our talks. I thought Saquon Barkley should have been the MVP. Mr. Logical thought Lamar Jackson should have been the MVP. And you know what? Maybe he should have.

[00:02:03] So, first of all, before I even go any further, whoever you are out there that voted Lamar Jackson, fourth on that ballot, you got to go. You got to be revoked. You kicked out the club. And I'm Mr. Don't Fall for Groupthink. But that's just ridiculous. But anyway. Yeah, fourth. They had him behind Goff or Joe Burrow? I'm not sure. I didn't see the ballot. But look.

[00:02:32] So, Josh Allen was the leader of a team that had no business accomplishing the things that they accomplished this season. And I know it's a regular season award. But, you know, he went into Detroit and smacked around the Lions. Coming off of a six-touchdown game on the road the week prior. Now, granted, they lost that game by two. But LeBron James fans told me it's okay to give a loser MVP. So, I'm rolling with that.

[00:03:01] You know what I'm saying? I knew that was going to make it into the show. I was thinking about it yesterday. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But the point being, Josh Allen had a great season. You know, his team lost a lot. He did have James Cook in the backfield scoring touchdowns. Lamar Jackson had a 1,900-yard rusher in his backfield. You know, Saquon Barkley changed the way that the Eagles play football.

[00:03:27] Joe Burrow, even though they didn't make the playoffs, they had a winning record, had one of the greatest seasons ever. And to put the cherry on the top for Lamar Jackson, first quarterback ever. 4,000 yards passing, 900 yards rushing. So, all of these guys were very deserving. But what I do like about the decision, even though I didn't think Josh Allen was the MVP, what I do like about the decision is that they kept it consistent. Because last year, we talked about this.

[00:03:55] Russell Wilson had more touchdown passes than Russell Wilson. Josh Allen led in total touchdowns last year. Jalen Hurts had 10 more rushing touchdowns than Lamar Jackson last year. And he won the MVP because his team was the last team standing that lost later at the end of the regular season. They were the ones that won out while Dallas lost. San Francisco lost to them. Miami lost. So, Lamar was just standing there.

[00:04:21] And we went with, hey, imagine the Ravens without Lamar Jackson. Even though we saw that before. You know, with people like Snoop Huntley and some other quarterbacks, we saw that before. But literally with Josh Allen, what is the Buffalo Bills without Josh Allen? You know, and there's your answer. They kept it consistent. And they went with, this guy is the straw that stirs this team's drink.

[00:04:52] Yeah. Yeah. I gave it that. Like I said, people are trying to go back and forth. The, I think the word valuable creates this, I don't know, it's like, it does kind of convolute the award. Because we talk about the Heisman in college. That is like the most outstanding player. And you have all these different layers of awards. And I think college is great.

[00:05:20] But college also has like 134 teams that they're choosing these guys from. With the NFL, MVP, the fact that it was a quarterback that won MVP, I still feel like, I thought Lamar was going to win it. But if you, if Lamar wasn't going to get your vote for MVP and you voted for him, because it's the same people who voted for the all pro team voted for the MVP.

[00:05:47] So you say he's first team all pro. Josh is second team. If you don't feel like Lamar was the MVP, then naturally you probably should have gone with the Saquon Barkley vote. Because he is the reason why, if people are picking the Eagles this weekend, it's partly because they believe Saquon's going to have another one of those games like he had against the Rams.

[00:06:14] You know, one of those, or one of these 60 yard touchdowns because it'll be one missed tackle like he had against the commanders. You know, so that's the thing. I don't think people going forward, like as you look at the season, were like, I think Lamar is going to be the guy to get some of the hump because they still had to defeat KC. I think people believe that Saquon is going to be the guy that slays that dragon. But Josh Allen did get that regular season win. Like I said, you're splitting hairs, but I get it. I get it.

[00:06:44] But I kind of get it in the same way I get the Luka AD trade. Like I get it if I look at it in the vacuum, but just on the surface, like one dude was, you know, first team all pro. The guy was second team, but you got him as MVP. Very similar to LeBron's argument where he said, I was first team all defense. Marc Gasol was second team, but he got defensive play of the year. So it was like, you're not even better than the other guy in your position, but yet you're the best defender over everyone else.

[00:07:12] So I understand the argument and I understand how someone who voted for Lamar for all pro and then someone who voted for Josh. I understand how they can rationalize it to themselves when the same sense of still looking at it like it didn't need that. Right. It didn't like if you.

[00:07:37] If you kept it just a little bit more consistent, you wouldn't need to rationalize it a lot like what I said with Atlanta. Paying Kurt draft to Michael Penix. If you just would have just picked one thing that you were going to stick to, you wouldn't have this scenario where now you're creating a situation where you have to you have to talk it out. But keep it simple. What up, Mike? I'm a simple thinker. I'm a logical thinker.

[00:08:04] What might get off my chest sometimes is like I get a little fiery. And I think this week I've just been having conversations. Like I have conversations with myself. I don't like I'm talking to myself crazy. I just think about like, okay, I've had a lot of years of experience on earth. I mean, I'll be 44 this year. I've had a job that's given me different layers of responsibilities. And I travel the world. I have, you know, I got a bunch of kids. They're a bunch of different personalities.

[00:08:34] They have a bunch of friend groups. I'm incorporated there. I'm a retiree. You know, like I have all these different things. College student. You know, like I said, I got a couple degrees. So like I figured like I learned enough about the world and I've had conversations with people. And I really enjoy like the mentorship aspect of my existence. I enjoyed it growing up. Like getting good, common information. Good. Just, you know, just learn how to be a better person with, you know, via conversation.

[00:09:00] So early this week, I was talking to some young guys in my office, dropping some gems on them. And I'm starting to realize like, yeah, I'm really like living in this world that like fits my personality. The way I communicate with people, how often I communicate, the frustrations that I don't get. I'm like, okay, I'm really like enjoying this bubble that I'm in. And I'm like, I like, you know, what I'm going around. So like when I go to the games, like I go to my son's game. So tonight I'm at the JV game.

[00:09:31] Then I had a break between the JV and the varsity game. My cool. And we run home. I was wearing like my work clothes. Like I want to throw in some sweats. I want to be comfortable. You know, I have like the pee coat on. I'm like, I'm just in this gym. I'm like, you know what? I live 10 minutes away, run home, change, come back. So I get home, change real quick, get back to the game. And the first half already played through. A couple of the parents are like, oh my God. Yeah, he's not a good game. He hasn't a good game so far. They put him in. He's a sophomore. He doesn't really get a lot of varsity run.

[00:10:01] But he's getting more recently. So I get to my seat. And we're playing against this other town. And they had a couple of their fans sitting in our section. It is what it is. It's like this old tactic that you want to rile people up. But now I'm going to get the beeps out. So I'm hearing them. And it was like, don't shoot that bum ass shot. I'm like, OK, cool. Whatever is obnoxious. But I'll do it. And then.

[00:10:29] But it was like just very abrasive and loud. Like, nigga, you suck. Don't shoot that shit, nigga. You bum ass nigga. I'm like. I'm like, am I hearing what I'm hearing? I'm like, OK. I'm like, yo, stop being obnoxious down front. Because I'm sitting in the back. Back is, you know, on top of the bleachers. So they calmed down for a second. And they did again. Oh, you bitch ass nigga. You fucking suck. Niggas ain't doing shit. You motherfuckers. Blah, blah, blah, blah. I'm like, just going on and on. I'm like, so the whistle blows. Goes to time out. I stand up.

[00:10:58] Like, yo, shut up. Get out. If you know how to behave yourself, get out of our section. Get out of the gym. Nobody came here to see you act like this. Act like you got some damn sense. Like, if you don't have no damn sense, get out. Right? So he's on our side. I'm standing up. Great sweatsuit. Big, loud black dude. So other teams from Blacktown, New Jersey, Brompton Township. And the city I live in is very white. It's a very white, blue collar, super white town. And I honestly think, like, I'm going to keep it a bean.

[00:11:28] I think some of these white people are afraid to say shit to black kids because they don't want to perceive a way. I'm like, yo, I'm not living in this world where you're going to inconvenience me while I'm trying to watch my son play a basketball game by just being obnoxious and cussing and screaming. All things you know you're not supposed to do, they read out. Like, do not do and say these things. But no one's saying anything. So I'm like, fuck that. I stood up loudly. I'm the only one in the gym talking.

[00:11:55] So then some of the people from the Burlington side, a couple of, like, administrators had, like, badges on or whatever. A couple of people came over and told them to get up. And everybody was looking. So my son was like, hey, chill out, chill out. I'm like, nah, you do your job, I do mine. He plays his game. And then probably a few minutes later, he, one of his teammates had gotten a tie-up. So, like, he was fighting for the ball, his teammate. And then the whistle blew, so they're still fighting for the ball, dude hits the floor.

[00:12:22] So the whole, that whole, all the starters from the other team ran up on his teammate. So he ran around and got in their face and was, like, pushing people back. And then he ended up getting the technical. So he was talking to me outside. I was like, yo, son, you did the same thing I did. You realize, like, listen, we're in an environment where we're trying to enjoy ourselves, trying to play a good game and be protective of the people around us. They were being disrupted to the people in our section. And I get it. You want to be a fan. But act like you have some damn sense.

[00:12:52] And, like, the same way you stepped up to each other, like, yo, you're not going to run up on my teammate. I said to them, you're not going to sit here and ruin my experience watching my son play basketball because you're behaving like you don't have any damn sense. Which then with all the other people who came over, I'm like, yo, so you have the reach to get to this person, to get them to listen to you as soon as you say get up. Why weren't you doing that before? Why are we allowing our behaviors to act like this and be like, oh, oh, we went to the white school. They didn't want us to act up.

[00:13:22] But, no, my black ass got up and said, you got to take that shit somewhere else. Like, this behavior is unnecessary. Stop acting like we didn't learn stuff. Stop acting like you didn't talk to an uncle to tell you how to behave yourself in public. Stop talking like your pops didn't tell you that. I don't care what your relationship is. Because someone told you how to behave and you deliberately went out there and did that way. I'll apologize if you felt embarrassed. But you have to ask yourself, why did I put myself in a position where I was embarrassing?

[00:13:52] I can say, you know what? Maybe I was too loud. Maybe I did embarrass my son. But when he organically did the same thing, I was like, son, you did the same thing I did. Somebody didn't understand you did it on the floor. He was like, yeah, but he's like, everybody knows. I'm like, Joe, I've been coming to your school for 10 years. You're the third one I put to this high school. So it's like, people know who I am. I've been at all the games since 2016. So people know who I am. They know who you are.

[00:14:21] But you also stood up for your teammates the same way I stood up for the people in my section. Like, listen, we are adults. We've worked all day. We've worked all week. And we're trying to watch our children, people we are raising, perform at a high level in this basketball game. You're not going to disrupt that because you act like you don't have any goddamn common sense. So get your shit together. Stop blaming people for how you behave. Because when I was yelling, he didn't turn around. He kept his hoodie on. They both was looking straightforward.

[00:14:50] Because you knew this isn't Twitter. This isn't this. It's not your real. This is reality. Reality of grown people. Grown men will challenge you. And if you can't handle that, you need to check yourself. Behave accordingly. Because you're not fucking up my magic. I work too hard and work too hard on my mentals to just be enjoying my day for you to come in and try to ruin it. I'll let you. Right. For sure. For sure.

[00:15:20] And with that being said, you know what I'm saying? Let's get right to it. You know what I'm saying? Q. D-bow. And Sticky Fingers. I forgot his character's name in the movie. But they jumped out the back of the truck. This the rematch, Craig. Yeah, this the rematch, Craig. So you know what? I've been talking about it all year, Mr. Logical. All season long, I've been saying, even though we had last year in the middle, this is unfinished business for Philadelphia.

[00:15:48] And how poetic is this? Philadelphia was the team that this potential three-peat started against. Philadelphia gets to be the team to attempt to stop the three-peat. You could almost say it was written. But I'm not going to say that, though. I'm not going to say that, though. But you know, but Philly is the last stand to save America from collectively vomiting on Sunday night.

[00:16:16] Now, the first thing I did when I tried to figure out this game, I was like, I got to find out who the referees are. No, I'm just playing. I'm just playing. I made that up. You know, but look. I saw a stat out there from Warren Sharp the other day. And it caught my eye.

[00:16:36] So, when the Chiefs go up against 11 personnel this year, they fall from third against the run yards per carry all the way down to 24th. And that's one running back and one tight end, right? Yep. And there's a running back that should have been MVP. MVP, you know, that is coming for blood.

[00:17:01] You know, like, how better to stick it to the Giants than to win a Super Bowl in year one? You know, Jalen. The fact that he had the playoff run that he had, if I'm the Giants ownership, I would have reconsidered. After I know it came out publicly that they were going to keep their jobs. But then what he did against the Rams, it's like. And then what he did against the commanders, it's like, yeah, man, y'all got to go. So, yeah. There's no way in hell I can let you keep your job.

[00:17:29] That's a good question, Mike. You know what I mean? So, Devontae Adams. You know, three games against Kansas City in his career. In each of those games, at least six catches. At least 99 yards. Smith. You know, the Eagles. 15-1. In their last 16 after starting the season 2-2. All that being said, Mr. Logical. Why am I so scared to pick the Eagles? I'm going to tell you why.

[00:18:00] All right. Two things that I don't know. They might not really factor in at all. But it's just like a couple of fun things that I saw this week. Vic Fangio's coach defenses are 0-8 against Patrick Mahomes. That's one piece. And I don't know who started this. But I think it's great. Any team that lost to Kirk Cousins in the regular season, they don't go on to win the Super Bowl. It's probably a dumbass stat.

[00:18:28] And it's probably not even like – I don't even know how long this has been around. I didn't even want to research. I just want – I like hearing it. And I think it's just mysterious. But – Yeah, that was the reason people said San Francisco wasn't going to win last year because he beat them on Monday Night Football. The drop by Saquon against Atlanta that caused him to kick the field goal and then Atlanta go up – or Atlanta went down the field and did what they did.

[00:18:53] So I think the reason you're afraid to pick Philly is because the scenario I'm about to lay out right now, and I think it's going to play out at least once if not a couple times in this game. And I talked about it with this guy in my office, retired guy, Philly guy. And I was like, listen, I got this scenario in my head, and I think it's going to play out this way at least once,

[00:19:21] and it's going to completely mess up the flow of the game. The same way Buffalo – like I said, when Buffalo is going to get down 10, and they're going to do something dumb. And that's when they kicked the extra point, got the penalty, decided to go for two. Now they're down five instead of being down four. This is my scenario for Philly. First and 10 from the 40. This side. Hand the ball to Saquon. It's going to be no gain or short gain. Gives you second and nine.

[00:19:51] You're going to call a pass play on second down. Incomplete. It's not going to be like Jalen's a terrible – it's just going to be a situation where it's going to be an incomplete pass on second down. Now you're at third and nine. Design quarterback run to Jalen. It's going to get you about six and a half, seven yards. Going to put you at the 47. 47-48. Now you've got fourth and two from the 48. Kansas City is already up 3-0, maybe 7-0.

[00:20:20] Does Sirianni stick to his guns and goes for the tush push at midfield? Or does he punt it? And I think those are the kind of plays that are going to dictate the whole game because I think you go for it. I don't know if Kansas City can really stop it or if Buffalo and these other teams that run the tush push don't do it as well as Philly. Well, Buffalo's problem was they kept running the ball behind the same person every time they ran the ball.

[00:20:48] So Kansas City just goes over the top. No, I know. But Jalen Hurst just lays down and they just like push him up over the pile. But as a Washington fan, I also saw Philly pass out of the tush push a couple of years ago. Rutgers had a great play out of the tush push a couple of weeks ago in their bowl game where the quarterback leaned on the pile and stuck the ball back. And the running back came through and grabbed it and ran to the outside. And for some reason, the offensive tackle from Rutgers still was holding.

[00:21:18] I don't know why. But I just have a feeling that's going to happen and either it's going to happen once or twice. And if it doesn't work, I don't know if he's going to consistently go to it like Dan Quinn did against Detroit where they were going for it. And he's saying the same thing against Tampa Bay. And I think they're going to do the thing that people do against the dynasty teams, the things that people did against Indianapolis when Peyton Manning was rolling. They're going to chase points. Fourth and two from the four-yard line.

[00:21:48] Just get the three points. And I'm not sure if that's good. And I have a feeling like those kind of things are going to happen. So, you know, yeah, this game is going to come down to who can be effective on third and fourth and short. That's what it's going to come down to. I think that these teams are – I think Philadelphia is the better team, you know, for all – you know, for lack of better words. I think Philadelphia, all things everywhere.

[00:22:16] You know, they're the number one defense in the league. So, we go quarterback. Quarterback Kansas City. Kansas City. Running back. You got to say it out loud. Philly. Kansas City. Set up the violent. No. So, Kansas City. That's where you go with – sorry, Philly. Tight end. Receivers. Receiving core. Philly. O-line. Philly. Philly.

[00:22:46] D-line. Push. Maybe slightly Kansas City. Front seven. If we go front seven, give me Kansas City. If I go front seven, I'm going Philly. If I go front seven, I'm going Kansas City because I think continuity matters and I think versatility matters. And I believe that Kansas City – like the blitz that they called against Josh Allen.

[00:23:16] I just think that the Kansas City front with the experience, the longevity that they've had, like the time they had together, I think they execute those kind of plays better. But that's the key. I think Philly's better, but Kansas City has spags. That's where I think it evens up. And I think Philly has the better secondary. Yeah, they have the better secondary, but I think – Yeah, I was just about to bring that up, Mike.

[00:23:45] Yeah, I think the secondary – That's the other thing is that Jalen Carter and some other guys in that locker room are a little under the weather too. There's some kind of illness going on. These dudes are going to get – No, they're going to be fine by game time, but I'm just saying. There's a nurse in his room right now with an IV hooked up to him dripping saline to him right now. Well, the other thing that Philly has is they got sentimental value going into this game. They got Brandon Graham coming back.

[00:24:12] You know, he hasn't played since the Sunday night football game against the Rams when Saquon ran for the 255. And he made the announcement that this is going to be his last game. You know, but then on top of that – You got the Ray Lewis, Jerome Bettis kind of – Yep. And I brought up that game, right? The last time he played was that Sunday night football game. The last time Jalen Hurts threw an interception was two weeks before that.

[00:24:43] So who can protect the ball? Because we've seen Patrick Mahomes have some lackluster Super Bowls until the game was on the line. And he made the plays late, right? All right. Now – That was weird because Tom Brady and New England Patriots had the same thing. Like, I believe the Super Bowl all the way up until they played the Giants in 2011, they hadn't scored in the first quarter. Yeah, it was weird. Yeah.

[00:25:10] I think the first original three out of four, then the game against – when the Giants beat them, and that game in 2011 when the Giants beat them. I think in all five of those games, they didn't score on either the first drive or the first quarter. I believe it was the first quarter each time, which is weird because Mahomes and this is that same thing. So this is where Kansas City will have success. So on the season, Jalen Hurts has been sacked 38 times.

[00:25:42] Ten of those sacks was against zone blitzes. You know what that sounds like? That sounds like spags. Sounds like a nightmare for – You know what? To bring it back? Sounds like coaching to me. You know. Coach – There's definitely going to be a one-up on coaching because I think Andy Reid – if Andy Reid, Spags, and Nagy are sitting in a meeting right now.

[00:26:08] Like if they're 1130, they're on one of the balconies just kind of having a cigar talking. Right. And Nagy says something like, hey, I think I want to use – I want to do our short yardage package. I want to do the tush push the way the Ravens do it. Andy's like, all right, how? Like I want to motion a tight end under center and just go on one. Nothing fancy. I just want to get them under center, go on one.

[00:26:36] He's like, all right, what else do we have to set up? Well, I want Kelsey over here so we pull the defender here. I want Pat over here, whatever. And I think Andy will go back and forth and then Spags is like, yeah, cool. I got this stat from Sports Reports' order talking about how Jalen Hurst got sacked 10 times because of zone blitzes. I think we can use that. I want to use this guy. I want to go, you know, 3-3-5 and I want to blitz three corners off this side. Whatever the case may be.

[00:27:05] I think Andy's listening to it. I'm not sure if Sirianni has the leeway to sit around and be like, you know what? I'm going to let you take that chance. I'm going to let you gamble there because, like you said, you're talking about Brandon Graham. What if he's ineffective? What if he's ineffective in a movie? They got plenty of other weaponry. They got plenty of others. But what if he's in there and they know, like, you know what? His pop's not the same. And he runs raw plays right at him. Then you take him out.

[00:27:34] And you rely on the other point. So now how does that run state with the sideline? That's fine. All season long, you've had the number one defense in the league. You've only given up 18 points a game all season, you know, where he's missed most of those games. You know, so I don't know. You know, the key for me for Philly's defense is going to be how loose do you let Kelsey get? You know, and I'm not saying that the other guys, Hollywood, Juju, and all those guys are going to be ineffective.

[00:28:02] You know, but I think as long as you keep an eye on Xavier Worthy and you keep Kelsey within reason, I don't know where Kansas City generates points from unless you give them the ball. You got 11 guys on defense. Kansas City's probably going to flow four guys in the routes most plays, maybe with a chip and the running back leaking out of the backfield.

[00:28:32] I can see those other tight ends besides Kelsey making that third and seventh catch. I can see Juju getting open, you know, because he has that relationship with Mahomes. I think Mahomes is going to look for him on third down. I think Kansas City runs the ball effectively, and I believe because they know Mahomes is going to maximize whatever pass the opportunity gets.

[00:29:01] You know, some of these guys want to throw the ball. You see games that Trevor Lawrence is throwing the ball 45, 50 times. You know, a lot of the guys throwing the ball 40, 45 times. I think Mahomes is good with first down, full house formation, some, you know, maybe a little, you know, a little song and dance and then just a straight hand up up the middle. I think he's good with that on first and 10, second and seven.

[00:29:29] And then on third and six, getting a little flare pass into the flat to Pete Ryan or something like that, moving the chains. I think he's perfectly content with playing like that until the moment says, you can't do that. And he's like, cool. That's what I'm going to take my one-on-one matchup on the backside with Worthy. Can you catch up with him? And that's the difference. I just believe that, and I believe that's why Kansas City wins so many close games because that's what it boils down to.

[00:29:58] We talk about the spread in most NFL games throughout the week. The 32 teams, you got 16 games. Most of the spreads are less than a touchdown. It's rare that. You know what this spread is? I imagine like one and a half to Philly. It's a pick them. It was one and a half Kansas City all week, you know?

[00:30:22] So that's why I don't understand with the sicknesses and the illnesses going around, I don't understand how it dropped to a pick them. Because it's probably a rumor. Maybe. But, you know, like I was saying, Travis Kelsey, that last time they played in the Super Bowl, he had six catches for 81 yards. But they didn't have a Xavier Worthy then. So you got to worry about that big play element, taking something short and getting a big play. So I'm not fearful of Kansas City throwing 20-yard passes, throwing bombs over the top.

[00:30:52] I'm worried about catching that screen like Buffalo tried to run, but throwing it to a guy that runs a 4-2 and he turns that three-yard into 17 because you missed the ankle tackle. We talk about Kelsey's catch against San Francisco last year when Greenlaw went out. Right. And Warner was guarding him. And he caught the drag route, turned it up field. Now they're already in field goal range. You know, so it's like those kind of plays. And granted, you can't bank on that.

[00:31:22] But I just feel like. But it happens a lot. But Kansas City and Mahomes and Reed, I think they're good with Worthy going this way, Hollywood Brown going this way, DeAndre Hopkins running this route, Kelsey being covered, and then this tight end just sitting in the middle of the field because there's no more defenders because you're doubling here. You're hedging here. You're looking over the top here. And you got to do Gray, number 84, 83, one of those guys, Beach or Gray or something like that. I think he's 83 and then you got Watson.

[00:31:52] Yeah, Watson, 84. You know, so now they're just sitting there. Boom. Reliable guys. They know. All I got to do is catch this ball, turn up field, get this first down, go back to blocking on the next play. And I think that's because I don't know if Philly has that. I don't know if Philly has the I'm willing to play a different way per the situation or they're just going to be like, listen, we are the hammer.

[00:32:21] These are the ants. We're going to hit them hard. It's like that's how we're going to do it. Whereas I think Kansas City were like, you know what? We'll throw Xavier Worthy in the backfield and see if we can get them loose in the flat for eight yards. So do you sell out? So do you sell out to stop Saquon if you're Kansas City on the other side? I don't think you sell out because he's that pushing position where you're one missed tackle in a Saquon open field. And it's like. Yeah, he averages. What was it? 32 and a half yards on his touchdowns this year.

[00:32:51] Yeah, his touchdowns are ridiculous. So I imagine that I imagine that there's probably going to be Jalen Hurst is going to get a handful of opportunities. In each half with one-on-one coverage as they are low, not necessarily low in the box to like blitz, but they're going to. I think it's going to be a couple of times where they just.

[00:33:16] They say, hey, man, just you got to you got to keep A.J. Brown in your sights for this. This play, because I got to send Corloff. I got to send Bolton. I got it. I got to make. I got to make this. I got to get Jalen Hurst uncomfortable on this second and 10. So you have to keep A.J. Brown in your sights. Well, last time in that Super Bowl that they played, the reason that I asked because Jalen Hurst was the killer.

[00:33:45] You know, 15 rushes for 70 yards, three touchdowns. The running backs in that game only had 17 rushes for 45 yards. So from that standpoint, you can't let you can't let Jalen kill you on the ground. You have to force him to throw. Not saying that he can't, but if Philly gets the run game going, it has the potential to be a long night. Maybe. But and I get it.

[00:34:13] And I know a lot of a lot of it was made of A.J. Brown reading his book on the sideline. But we have seen different times throughout the year where it's like he was verbal about, you know, the passing game. These kind of situations can be kind of aspirated. It's like. We are in the Super Bowl. I'm getting one on one coverage and I'm not getting the ball.

[00:34:37] And Jalen's like, yo, they're sending three guys at me and dropping Chris Jones in the coverage in the middle. Like, I mean, like stuff we haven't seen. Granted, I seriously doubt they'd ever do that. But something like that, like I got Korlovskis in the flat instead of rushing off the edge. I'm blitzing two corners off the other side. Yeah. So I'm so. So all things like I said, all things created equal. I think Philly's the better team year in between.

[00:35:06] But I think Philly's model this year is probably unfinished business because they were the first team that showed us that you could put Kansas City on the ropes outside of San Francisco. You know, Nick Bolton should have been Super Bowl MVP, but Philly got the brick with the non fumble call. James Bradbury. Grabbing Juju's jersey at the end there, which took the chance away from Philly getting the ball back.

[00:35:31] You know, against Kansas City in that Super Bowl, you gave up the longest punt return in Super Bowl history to Kadarius Toney. You know, they caught you sleeping in the same defense twice with Kadarius Toney and Skylar Moore. I can't help but think that Philadelphia has learned from that. But also, since the beginning of the season, you know, since the playoffs started, Philadelphia was the team that I was most confident in getting to the Super Bowl.

[00:36:00] And plus, I know Mr. Logical's pick in Kansas City anyway. So, give me the Eagles. You know, I'm going to go ahead and go against my better judgment. I'll preface it by saying that. I'll go Philly 34-27. Oh, you got that many points? Well, last time it was 38-35. Yeah, but neither one of their defenses were top five. Well, not both of them anyway. No, no.

[00:36:28] But I also think that Andy Reid is going to find wrinkles. You know what I mean? I think they're going to use Xavier Worthy as a decoy that will open things up for the others. Because, you know, I can't imagine that DeAndre Hopkins, he's got like three targets in the whole playoffs and one catch. So, I can't imagine that he's not going to have something to do with the result of this game. You know, a great player of his – even though he's at the twilight of his career. But he's a great player.

[00:36:56] So, I can't imagine that he's just going to be locked down in that way again. I imagine Saquon's going to break something. And if Saquon is any kind of effective, any kind of effective, that opens up Jalen Hurts' legs as well. So, I just think that we're going to see – I don't think the game is going to be similar. To the last game that they played in the Super Bowl, like as far as the way that it looks. But I just think that they – I think that they're both more dynamic this time around as well.

[00:37:26] Because last time, it was just a whole diet of Jalen Hurts running down your throat. There was no Saquon. You know what I mean? So, Jalen Hurts played his ass off. And I don't like when people say, you know, he outplayed Mahomes because – Don't be like that, Mike. I think Mahomes had like 84% completion percentage. He was like 24 for 28. He just didn't have the numbers. But he was 24 for 28, three touchdowns. Yeah, it was only 100 yards because they were getting the ball on the other side of the 50.

[00:37:56] Right, they didn't need to. They didn't need them in the yards. But he also ran for multiple first downs, long run, bad ankle. It's just that – Yes, sir. When they played against – When Kansas City played Tampa Bay, I was like assured, but like arrogantly assured that they were going to beat Tampa Bay. And the score ended up being 31-9. Because their offensive line was out. Offensive line was falling – had fallen apart and they were just putting pieces together.

[00:38:29] Buffalo did score 29 points. They did. But they scored two of their touchdowns on fourth and goal situation. So it was like Kansas City plays either one of those possessions a little better. Because like James Cook got a hit. He just – he broke through that tackle to score a touchdown. And then Samuel, a guy who I live, like slipped through. I think Kansas City handles it a little bit better.

[00:38:58] I saw how Stafford – granted, it was snowing. But I saw how Stafford was moving down the field after Philly went up 28-15 on them. And I felt like – I thought he was going to get them in. I thought they were going to win. I thought when he got the ball back because coaching, they called the bootleg play. In the snow, rolling to the left with a right-handed quarterback. It's like – and then Jalen took the sack, which was smart. He didn't put the ball in harm's way.

[00:39:27] But it was like you didn't put the ball in the proper pathway. Like if you want the play action, just run the play action to the left and roll him out to the right. Instead of having him have to turn his hips all the way around in the snow. It's like he's more likely to naturally turn and look upfield with the ball in his right hand and make a play that way. Or just straight up hand the ball off. It's like you don't have to be tricky when we all – we all know what's coming.

[00:39:56] Like with the tush push, the way they treat the tush push is how they should treat everything and they don't. The tush push, they feel like this is it. This is the play that we're going to run forever. But on third and seven, it's like – and I think a coaching decision here or there, I think a decision to punt is going to adversely affect them potentially. Or a decision not to punt. They don't get it.

[00:40:22] So I got Kansas City, I'm going to say 27-20. Okay. Yeah. I'm not banking on mistakes. I just feel like the 55 that we saw against the commanders, 21 of it is a bit of fool's gold. And I say that to say this is not to discredit Philly and any Philly fans that are watching.

[00:40:48] But when Eckler fumbled that ball, that took all the air out of the sails of the commander's sideline. And it's like – because realistically, they were in a position – because they were moving the ball. If he holds on to the ball, it's the first down. So, like, he's up. He slips. He's up. He makes this incredible play by getting back up, getting his arms around the ball, getting the first down. Jaylen's moving. They could potentially kick the ball back to Philly and the score could have been 34-31.

[00:41:18] I mean, so I just feel like Kansas City's going to play a little bit more – they won't play as – I don't want to say aggressive. But I just want to feel like they're going to take the chance. I think they're going to play good ball control. I think Piran's going to have, you know, a lot of catches out of the backfield because he got the pass that sealed the AFC championship game. But Pacheco went out of bounds. Kareem Hunt was getting a lot of run up the middle.

[00:41:46] So, I just feel like Patrick Mahomes knows I can make any play a football team needs me to make. So, handing this ball off to Kareem Hunt does not discourage me in how I feel about the game. Like, the same way we felt about Lamar last year at the AFC championship. It was like, yo, you didn't have to prove to us that you can throw the ball. But when they got eight dudes in zone and they're 15 yards off the ball, you don't have anybody in the flat.

[00:42:16] It's like, just wiggle out of there and get you seven to eight yards and got out of bounds. Right. But it was like, nope, I'm going to throw it. So, I think – Okay. Yeah, I think – like I said, I think coaching – I think – and I like Kansas City's fourth down calls better. I think they are just – I think they are better constructed play calls.

[00:42:45] They're not complicated. It's very simple. Normally, it's some kind of RPO or some kind of quick play action where Mahomes is getting on the edge and just – just getting the first down. Just go get the first down. Like, I don't need to do anything else. I don't need to score a touchdown on this play. Like, I don't need to cut it back inside and try to get more than I need out of this. It's fourth and two from the 50. I need to get to the 48.

[00:43:13] I get to the 47 and a half, and I'll slide out. Yeah. And now it's first and ten, and I can give it to Pacheco. I can give it to Kareem Hunt. Or I can throw this quick check down to Kelsey. And it's second and six. I'm good with it being second and six. I just feel like Philly is going to be like, third and seven. AJ, let's get this deep shot to AJ because he's getting one-on-one coverage.

[00:43:35] I don't think they're going to throw up a deep shot to Hopkins on third and seven because they think he might get one-on-one. I think they'll still work the tight end in the middle of the field and try to get that seven yards. And then maybe on first down you look to DeAndre. But I think Philly, third and seven, scored 13-7. And they're going to be like, you know, we need to make a play right now. Right. I feel like Sirianni and his staff are going to do the, we need to make a play right now.

[00:44:04] And where's Kansas City? I'm like, no, we just need to stay consistent. Well, I'm excited either way. And, Mike, to your point, you know, how healthy and effective is Quincy Mitchell going to be? You know, we'll have to see. You know, I think he'll be fine, but we'll have to see. You know, but, yeah, like I said, I mean, all things created equal. This is a great game because, like I said, I think Philly's the better team. But Kansas City has the coaching. So, what else has got me excited?

[00:44:33] The NBA was on fire yesterday. I saw the tweet with Sean's screen time. 20 hours and 42 minutes with all this stuff going on yesterday. And we saw it all, you know, like the Lakers winning got their big man. You know, like. He plays zero defense. Yeah. Absolutely zero defense. They are going to be so disappointed. And Brooke Lopez was cooking him.

[00:45:02] AD last game as a Laker. Like 42-23 against him. 42-23. And this is the other part of it. In his career, Mark Williams we're talking about. 85 games played. 127 missed. Missed. And remember, we talked about this last week because I said, I'm the only person in the world that's going to look back and be like, LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Mark Williams. Like, what could have been out of that trio?

[00:45:31] But none of them could stay on the court. So, the Lakers went out and, you know, they went and got him instead of Miles Turner. Instead of Nick Claxton. But now, you know, Ben Simmons has been brought, has been bought out by Brooklyn. So, it sounds like he's either Clipper or Cavalier bound. Speaking of the Cavaliers, first place. They went and got DeAndre Hunter from Atlanta. The one thing that they were missing was that wing player that could hit threes and play solid defense.

[00:45:59] They had a Coro, but he can't shoot. You know, so you got that going on. Kevin Durant almost went to the Timberwolves? I wonder what caused it to fall through. Did Phoenix not want Julius Randle? I don't know. I know Julius Randle's hurt too. You know, so, from what I had saw originally, you know, and this was what blew my mind, right?

[00:46:27] Because for the last couple of weeks, we've been talking about Jimmy Butler. And everything was Jimmy Butler to Phoenix. Jimmy Butler to Phoenix. So, I was thinking, Jimmy Butler, you know, was going to try to get to Phoenix. Bradley Beal would waive his no trade. And then you would have a three-team trade that would facilitate that. Correct. So, what it sounds like actually happened was Jimmy Butler was trying to get to Phoenix

[00:46:55] and Miami was trying to get Durant. So, then... In what world would you think Phoenix is going to give you Durant for Jimmy Butler? Right. And so, then, you know, so we talked about Bradley Beal not waiving his trade clause to go to Chicago. There's two championships and two finals MVPs. So, in a regular season MVP. You don't get that if you're a loser. In another finals appearance. Shout out to Mike.

[00:47:24] In another finals appearance. Yeah. You've been in the finals four times. So, Durant, I guess, was on the table for Golden State, which could have brought Jimmy Butler to Phoenix as well. But then Durant said no. You know, saying, I guess he's still upset at Draymond, still upset at the organization for how they handled Draymond, I'm guessing. And then... So, then I thought... He's been very vocal about how the organization handled the Draymond situation. So, I don't know how they...

[00:47:52] I don't know how they didn't catch up on that. Because there's plenty of interviews. You got to focus on the whole story, Mike. Like, Golden State has two less championships if he doesn't show up. You know, but also, Kevin Durant is upset now because his name was attached to trade rumors. So, what was already... I think Jalen Brown tweeted that out a couple years back, too. I don't know how...

[00:48:23] We're talking about the whole story, man. The whole story. Yeah. It's a whole career, man. It's a whole life. I had a couple bad years, but I'm 43. I'm not bad. I'm a man. I'm 43. 43. I had a couple bad years. You know what I mean? It happens. I like the... I really like KD. Like, KD posted KD's... I think the main thing I like about KD is that he's very vocal about how much he doesn't give a shit about what people say. And he responds to it. Like, delivered. Like, he's really active on it.

[00:48:53] And he said, like, it's fun. I find fun in it. But the constant movement, he's playing basketball because he loves basketball. I don't think he's really made that many championship moves. I thought the Brooklyn move was that until they went and got James Harden kind of depleted. Like, the core Brooklyn guys that were there before they got there.

[00:49:22] Very much like how LeBron did when he went to the Lakers. It's like... Instead of thinking it won't work or hope or say, you know what? This guy can replace these four guys. Because, you know, in Durant's case, the guys you had, they had like Spencer, Willie, Karris, LaVerd, I think. I don't know if D'Angelo Russell was still on the team then. But they had guys that they could have added...

[00:49:45] They could have added, like, these ancillary pieces at the trade deadline if it just was him and Kyrie and Brooklyn with the Brooklyn original group. I think in the West... I mean, in the East, I think they didn't get to go. But they rushed it. They tried to microwave it. James Harden was unhappy Houston. I don't know if he was wearing a fat suit or if he just was, like, wearing, like, hoodies a lot. But, like, wearing, like, a couple of t-shirts.

[00:50:12] But he did look a little slimmer when he got to New York after he left Houston, like, a week later. But that didn't work. So then to move to Phoenix, that wasn't going to work because nothing about Phoenix said they could beat Denver. Which was, like, that was your nemesis in the West. So going to Phoenix is, like, this team can't beat Denver. So you're just playing basketball for the love. And I think that's why a lot of these players, you know, they're upset.

[00:50:41] I get it. But a lot of these trades were – I saw something that someone said – Adam Silver said, this is for ruining Christmas for the NBA. But having all this action is, like, yeah, we haven't talked much about the Super Bowl. But you did everybody a favor because now everyone can save all their Super Bowl takes for now. So now between Friday – today, Friday – well, now we just turned midnight.

[00:51:11] From now into the Super Bowl, the NBA won't get as much run as they got. It was great. And we got the Luka trade. And that was wonderful. But it fizzled because it still is on the sandwich between the NFL playoffs and the culmination of the playoffs in the Super Bowl. So, like, until Luka plays or until A.B. plays and plays well, it's going to fade.

[00:51:37] So if these guys don't play for a couple of weeks and you get your all-star break and the all-star game format is boring, you're going to lose the buzz again. Right. So unless these guys – all these trades that have happened, something has to turn around. Like, someone's got to go on a six or seven-game winning streak. Someone's going to have to drop 60 out of one of these new trades. Someone's going to have to, like, get in a fight against their old team.

[00:52:02] There's got to be something else that thrusts the NBA back into the limelight because all the guys that got moved, so many of them are injured. That too. But the Suns fell into the Laker trap, you know, when they got Russell Westbrook. It was like, oh, we got a name. You know, forget the fit. You know, forget if it should work. We're just going to get a name. And that's what the Suns did with Bradley Beal. And, you know, now he has the no trade clause.

[00:52:29] And it's actually hilarious because the reports came out today that Washington and Atlanta were the only two teams that even tried to get Beal away during the trade deadline. So that just shows you where his stock is and what people think of him right now. But they ruined his stock. They should have let him cook. No, he ruined his stock. Have you seen him play? They should have let him cook. They should have ran all three to him. They should have rested KD for four or five games. People's star players get swept all the time.

[00:52:58] Jordan got swept. You know. But KD's resting his calf and let Bradley Beal go drop 51 game and then enamor someone. Man, you see Bradley Beal last night? Yeah, man. He was like 17 for 26. Yeah, but he can't. Those days are over. Yeah, it's prisoner of the moment. Sometimes you got to create that moment. Was it a Patriot fan? Oh, never mind. We ain't doing that right now.

[00:53:27] You know, but at the end of the day, like the trade deadline was... I'm about to set it on fire. It was great for me because, man, the Wizards were wheeling and dealing. You know what I'm saying? Marcus Smart, Chris Edelton, picks galore. Even though I'm sure... Yes, I said MJ got swept. He got swept by... Come on, man. Stop. Stop. Like, these things all happen, man. A career is a rich tapestry.

[00:53:57] You know what I'm saying? That's why Eli Manning didn't make all the things. He got swept twice at that. You know what I mean? But anyway, so, you know, the Wizards are, I guess, a lot of people don't realize the GM came from OKC. So he's of that Sam Presti creed. Oh, now we care about when the sweep happened. You know what I mean?

[00:54:16] But at the end of the day, the Wizards are trying to get to be the next team that gets all the picks, that gets the young youth and tries to build a contender the OKC way. Charlotte's kind of doing the same thing. They've been involved in all these trades getting picks. But Charlotte has had the players. Like, Charlotte has, I don't know what the health is.

[00:54:42] And as I think about all the guys in the 80s and 90s, mainly the 90s when I could really pay attention to basketball, that were playing, you know, 75, 76, 78 games and playoffs. And it's just, I'm just concerned that so many stars, young stars are either hurt all the time or sitting out.

[00:55:08] It can't, you can't be that physically gifted and hurt all the time. Like, I'm old. And I get it. And if I was out here trying to play pickup basketball every day, yeah, my body would hurt. But you're 24 and you just hurt all the time? It just doesn't seem logical or reasonable to me.

[00:55:35] And it's just, it seems like the money has gotten, they're putting a cart before the horse. And I feel like a lot of guys are just constantly making business decisions. It's like, yo, dog, all y'all not business decisions. You're just, you need to be available. And it's like, how will you always hurt? Right. I don't know.

[00:55:56] But like I said, it kind of ruined, it ruins your franchise because Charlotte, Charlotte has been rebuilding since the Berlin Wall went down. Damn near. Like, I mean, they've been rebuilding for so long, but they keep getting these pieces and then it doesn't fit. I don't believe in something doesn't fit. I believe you don't know how to coach or you don't know how to manage egos or the people on the team have such an overinflated ego that they can't manage themselves.

[00:56:26] Because good basketball requires people who know how to play good basketball. You can put any group, we go play pickup basketball with strangers all the time. Ten random people and we play pickup basketball. I know it's a different level, but you, you can make it work. You can play a game with Terry Rozier and LaMelo Ball if LaMelo Ball knows he can't take 24 shots every single game. Terry Rozier ain't about to be playing shit.

[00:56:53] But I'm saying like, you know, like when they, when they were all together, like, oh, we got to move this guy because it doesn't work. It's like, oh, I don't want to come off the bench. It's 48 minutes in an NBA game. If you're a starter, you're playing 32 minutes. Or if you're on the bench and you're playing 28 minutes. The hell is the difference? So if you get whatever check you get, it's like, let me cook for 28 minutes. Oh, I can't work with this guy who's going to pass me the ball. Cool.

[00:57:19] Then I'm going to run the second unit and we're going to run this style offense. He can run the first unit, whatever the case may be. It was like, I don't know who's, who, if it's a situation where people aren't managing their own egos or the coaches and the GMs can't. And mainly because a lot of the guys get fired in the middle. So I'm the franchise player. You're the new coach, the new GM. The owner loves me like a son.

[00:57:47] He signs my checks or she signs my checks. So why am I inclined to really buy into your system knowing that, like, you're the third iteration of these guys since I've been here. And this person has been paying me $100 million over the last three or four years. So it was like, that's my piece with the NBA. And like I said, we talked about they got to showcase the young teams and stuff like that. They need to have, like, classes. They need to get all these GMs together and they need to trade secrets.

[00:58:16] Yo, dog, how do you do this? Mentor me so the lead going forward is better. Because right now it seems like there's some people gatekeeping, cap concepts, gatekeeping how to sign contracts, gatekeeping negotiations. Like, Jalen Brunson didn't sign a crazy max deal his last time. He sounded like a little one. Like, how'd you pull that off? We all need to know this information so we can balance this league out.

[00:58:45] Because right now you're hoping that Luka pops out west. You're hoping that the ramp plays two more years. You're hoping that the resurgence of Luka out west with LeBron gets you LeBron opening night with Bryce James and Luka and Bronny. And Mark Williams is a starting lineup for the Lakers. 2026. It's just unlikely.

[00:59:11] And I just feel like a lot of these teams, there's an aptitude piece that I'm missing. Because I'm not understanding a lot of these moves. I'm not understanding why everyone around you is telling you, like, listen, Chris Middleton should have been moved two years ago. AD probably could have been moved two years ago. Don't trade for Kevin. Don't trade all your young capital for Kevin Durant and then trade more of your young capital for Bradley Bill. You know, like, who's advising these people?

[00:59:42] Right. So real quick before we get into this other trade that I want to talk about, I just pulled this up so I don't forget about it. So I got a question for you. Let's play a quick game. All right. So we're looking at the standings in the west. You know, you got Minnesota here at six. Clippers a half game behind them. Mavs a game and a half behind them. Suns a game behind them. Then you got the Warriors and Kings a half game behind Phoenix.

[01:00:11] And you got the Spurs two games behind the Warriors and the Kings. But then don't forget about it. Don't let this record here fool you. Portland has just won 10 out of their last 11 games to include six straight. So Mr. Logical, out of this list from six down, well, we're not going to count Portland. We'll stop at the Spurs. So from six to 12, what two of these teams don't get in?

[01:00:45] Warriors, Suns. Warriors and Suns. Okay. I think Warriors, Suns, step back. I think people talk about fit. And we think we're referring to like fit, like playing on the court. I think personality plays a large part to that. I think Phoenix, and I've talked about this before.

[01:01:09] Some of these owners that aren't, they didn't grind their team from being worth $600 million to being now worth $2.5 billion and $3 billion. These owners who swooped in and just bought the team, like Steve Ballmer, he bought the team for $2 billion. He was, his net worth was like $40 billion or so when he did it.

[01:01:37] The Suns owner hit his money in like some kind of communication or something like that. Got big money. Decided, hey, I want to buy a basketball team. The Suns were available. Now he's trying to manufacture. Like, yo, the Bradley Bill. They don't have no clue what the fuck he's doing. No clue what he's doing. If you showed him a picture, a basketball card of Michael Jordan with a hair, he wouldn't know who it was.

[01:02:07] Like, just no clue. I think the Warriors are going to fall off because inevitably, Steph is in his mid-30s. He's going to need a couple of days here and there, here and there. And they're going to lose. They're going to lose some silly games with Steph on the floor. He's going to have to take a break. Draymond can't carry Jimmy Butler and Draymond. It's like having two peas in the same goddamn pod. I just, I just don't, I don't trust the moves.

[01:02:37] And like, honestly, it's just a math thing. It's a young man's game. Anybody relying on a guy over the age of 32, you're more likely going to not end up in the final two to four year of your conference. So that includes the Lakers. Because I don't think they're relying on Luca just yet. But if you're still relying on LeBron to make this glue work, it's going to be tough to make. I say the Western Conference Finals.

[01:03:07] If you're relying on a guy that's 32 older, injury history, it's going to be tough. And I'm just going to give a nod to the young guys. I'm going to give a nod to the Kings. They're a little younger. I'm giving a nod to the Timberwolves. I can't press them far because, like you said, Julius Renner's not your favorite guy. But he also doesn't really put, he doesn't put any stress in the other team's defense. You know, he doesn't, he doesn't make you game plan for him.

[01:03:36] So, you know, Rudy Gobert is just going to play at the rim. But in a seven game series, someone's going to recognize, Rudy Gobert can't guard these guys. He can't guard these two guys in this situation. So, we're going to put them in the pick and roll all day and just exploit that. And then they'll have another matchup. So, I just feel like, yeah. I think the Mavericks might work. I'm going with 9 and 10. I'm going with Phoenix and Sacramento. So, you got the Warriors getting up to 9? I do have the Warriors.

[01:04:04] Well, you got the play-in at 10, so. Well, that's why, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's why I said two of them won't, yeah. So, I thought about Clippers. So, you got the Spurs jumping up into the play-in. I do. Okay. I thought about the Clippers. That was the first team that stood out to me. I thought about the Clippers. You know, because you just never know what, you know, Kawhi, you know, what his status is going to be long-term. But they have quality coaching. They do. They do. They have quality coaching.

[01:04:33] They do, but they also got a guy who runs out of gas. 104 to 101 victory. They also have a guy that runs out of gas a lot, and he's just getting older every year. You know, I thought about Minnesota, you know, just because I just don't like the way that they are constructed as a team. I think they have a good coach. I just don't like the team. You know what I mean? Julius Randle is injured now, so maybe Nas Reed will come in and, you know, go back a little bit to last year's form.

[01:05:01] But they would have them, you know, they have a three-and-a-half game lead. Right, but now, right, they have a three-and-a-half game lead. But they're only a game-and-a-half up on this team that just got Anthony Davis. So provided that Anthony Davis stays healthy, provided that kind of – Who's five and six, if you can scroll up real quick? Five is the Lakers. Well, four is Denver. Five is the Lakers. Okay. All right. So you got the Lakers.

[01:05:31] Okay. So six through 12 is the – Yeah, that's why I started there. Yeah, yeah. So the Suns are just not a good team, period. You know, like whatever Mike wants to say about KD and all that stuff, cool. The Suns are just not a good team. They're not – they've traded Nurkic now, so we'll see what happens, you know, because if nothing else, he could at least grab rebounds. But Devin Booker, if he's not scoring, he's not effective.

[01:06:00] You know, Bradley Beal, we've already talked about him enough and he doesn't deserve another mention out of my mouth. You know, so then you look at the Kings here. You know, they went and got Zach Levine to put back next to DeMar DeRozan. And I don't trust the Wolves either. But then they got Malik Monk running that point now. So that's obviously a significant downgrade. And it's a guy that I don't know if he can play point guard full time.

[01:06:29] You have an interim coach. And we still don't even know the reason that you fired Mike Brown in the first place because it was talked about how him and De'Aaron didn't get along. But now De'Aaron's not even there. You know, the Kings are just a shit show. You know, they took – they had De'Aaron Fox already, so I gave him a pass for taking Marvin Bagley over Luka. But then you went out and got Halliburton. So why get Halliburton when you could have just had Luka? And now you don't have none of the three that I just said.

[01:06:57] The Halliburton trait – the Halliburton draft pick was so baffling. Even the people on the podium were like – like Jake Billis is trying to make his way through it. And then they went and got De'Aaron Mitchell, who guess what? Is not on the team anymore. You know what I'm saying? So I think the Warriors will be fine just because I think Jimmy Butler, you know, provided that he's on his decent behavior at least. Jimmy Butler is just one of those dudes that refuses to lose.

[01:07:26] Like he's going to give his all. You know what I mean? And I think that the Warriors have enough veteran and playoff experience that I think late season – bless you. I don't think – Thank you. I don't think late season they're going to get spooked even if they're still in a bad spot. I think that they're going to trust and feel that, hey, we got the experience. We're better than these teams. Let's go out and turn it on or whatever. It might not work. Yeah, it might not work. But I think that's the thought process.

[01:07:55] You know, and then the Spurs, you know, adding De'Aaron Fox now, they have a – even though I don't like Chris Paul starting still, they have a guard that scares you offensively now. So, you know, Steph Castle, you know how I feel about him. He's been coming on as of late, but he's still better at defense than he is at offense. So I think De'Aaron Fox is going to give them a dimension that they've been dying to have. So I think the Spurs jump up.

[01:08:23] I think the Suns and Kings fall down. I think the Mavs jump up to where the Wolves are. You know, so I think it'll be Mavs, Clippers, Wolves, Warriors, Spurs. And then, you know, we'll see. Like, we'll see what Portland does. You know, like I said, they just want 10 out of 11. Props to Chauncey Billups. Everybody was calling for your job this year. So, you know. This is going to be one of the years where the play-in teams are basically just –

[01:08:51] it's going to be my same argument I made for the NFL with the 14 teams. This is going to be evident, like, okay, teams. So you go 1, 8, 2, 7, 3, 6, 4, 5, 6, or 5, 6. 6, 7, 8 are going to get blown out. It won't even be close. Yeah. So then you've got the other trade, the other crazy trade.

[01:09:19] I ain't going to call it crazy, but just for how it ended up. Kyle Kuzma to the Bucs? I mean – Unless you're trying to just get – unless you're just trying to move on. Just, I mean, if you say, you know what, I'm sick of having you in the building.

[01:09:47] Not necessarily sick of having you in the building, but it's like, we need to rebuild. Let's get some expiring contracts. Let's get some guys we don't have to renew. Let's get some roster spots. Let's get some draft compensation back and try to rebuild. I don't know what the Eastern Conference stands for. If you want to pull them up, we can kind of like – someone, you know, have that same kind of conversation. Well, Indiana just passed Milwaukee, and Milwaukee just blew a 21-point lead tonight to Atlanta.

[01:10:17] Who doesn't have Jalen Johnson or DeAndre Hunter? The thing about the league, it just feels like I'm not sure what team really wants to, like, stand out and be that squad. You know, it just feels like a lot of teams are just using a regular season, like the first two rounds of a boxing match. Yeah. And they're just jabbing and jabbing and filling people out.

[01:10:46] It's like – I like how Cleveland is running with it, you know, 42-10. They did lose to Boston at home the other night. That's not a shame for us. No, I know. I'm saying, but it's like – like, I just – I like Detroit. Detroit handled Philly tonight. Philly – Embiid. Embiid was playing with – I don't know – I don't know what the brace he's playing with is protecting

[01:11:14] because it was literally from his mid-thigh, like, down his – the front, like, past his shins, like, lowering his calf. It was a sleeve over that. It looked like it was, like, four separate, like, bands on this brace. I'm like, I don't know what's wrong with this leg. It's like – and then, of course, he's flailing everywhere and falling and just doing all the theatrics.

[01:11:41] It's just – it doesn't feel like each team has this dog of a guy and everyone's making these trades. It's like, Giannis, you should never be in a position where you need new players. You just need to – like, you got Dane. It's you and Dane. Somebody who's coming in and plays a fucking defense and then let these guys who want to be alphas

[01:12:07] who are getting all the acclaim, getting all the shots, go win you games. It just feels like guys are just all waiting for the trade deadline, all waiting for the coach to get fired, all ready to talk to the media and blame them. It's like real-life Twitter fingers. There's no way you can just sit here and just play every single week. Like, oh, I really wish we can get rid of this guy.

[01:12:35] Just fucking play basketball. See, I think that – so Miami, of course, they got Andrew Wiggins out of the Jimmy Butler deal, and apparently Pat Riley has wanted Andrew Wiggins for quite some time. Well, it's been a long time, and it's not the same Andrew Wiggins that was Eric Canada out of Kansas. Correct.

[01:12:57] You know, but Miami also got the aforementioned Davion Mitchell from Toronto. They're going to need another guard because Terry Rozier is probably going to join Jontae Porter in jail if all this is true. But, you know, they would have got Davion Mitchell to be their point guard, I'm assuming now, you know, as a part of the Brandon Ingram trade. But looking at these standings, I feel like Orlando should have made a move.

[01:13:28] And from the standpoint of wheeling and dealing, because if you're Atlanta, Jalen Johnson's out for the season. You know, you traded DeAndre Hunter. You were trying to trade Boganovich. So why you're keeping Trey Young, I have no idea. So. Once again, it's like I blame the media and I blame people not setting realistic expectations.

[01:13:57] You know off the rip, if you. Your son is an athlete. He play basketball. He does track. You know, when you show up to the meet. If you look across and you see a team. And no one's bullshitting. Everyone's stretching properly. They're coordinated with the coaches. And they looked the part. You're like, you know what? I think that team's going to win the relay. It's going to be a long day. We just know it.

[01:14:28] Deion Sanders says something about Texas high school football. He's like, if you show up to a Texas high school football game and their football field doesn't have a track around it. It's going to be a long day. Because all they do is play football. This isn't like something they use. Like not this stadium that seats 30,000 people is strictly for football. A lot of these teams are not built that way.

[01:14:55] And they want to act like they're built that way. And they don't want to make moves to recognize like we're not that way. The Chris Middleton trade should have been two years ago. Miami should have stopped trying to think they're going to claw their way back to the NBA finals. And win a championship. Because you're not built to beat any other team that can score fluidly. The one game you beat Boston, you hit 23 threes. I don't think you hit 23 threes totals than the rest of the four games that you lost.

[01:15:24] I mean, granted, Jimmy Butler was injured. Even what? It's like, that's it. Where are your points coming from? Tyler Hero? Tyler Hero weighs less than his glass I just was drinking my drink out of. It's like, the teams are not built to be as successful as their admirations. It's just, and that's the part is like, should they make a move? No, you shouldn't make a move for what? Why would you make a move to go from five to six?

[01:15:54] Most of these teams, the moves that they made, the Heat, seven to six. Six, the Bucs' best case scenario, staying at five. The Pistons, I don't think they made any moves. Maybe they can leapfrog the Bucs. Didn't make any. Hawks, your moves isn't going to do anything for you. 76ers, you're playing for next year. You're already out of it. It's like baseball.

[01:16:20] When people start losing interest in baseball, it's because baseball stopped getting the guys that could hit the long ball, the pitchers that can throw hard, and they started doing all this other shit that they've been hearing about. It's like, that shit doesn't work. Who won the championship last year? Does your team look like anything like that? Who was one, two, and three ahead of you? Your team look like anything like that? Then cut it out. Most of these guys made trades just to sit right where they were. So looking at- None of them are going to advance.

[01:16:50] The Raptors aren't going to do themselves any good. Brooklyn's going to be terrible. The Hornets are going to be terrible. The 76ers are going to have all this money to pay out, and they're going to give you a crap product. Maybe the Bulls get you the 37 wins, best case scenario. These teams are cooked. They should have just kept their assets, humbled themselves. I'm not trading for Brandon Ingram. For what? To get what out of them? To go from 13 to what? 12?

[01:17:18] My whole thing about it was, if you want to get Brandon Ingram, fine. Because we talked about it all offseason about how he should have been traded and all that. But to put Brandon Ingram next to RJ Barrett? It's like you got enough bricks for all the chimneys and three little pig stores. I mean, I know they both went to Duke, but damn. You know what I'm saying? But yeah, so you had that going on. You know, the trade deadline was just nuts.

[01:17:46] You know, Dennis Ruder got traded, what was it? Four times in one day? Yeah, he was on four different teams. He got traded three times in 18 hours. Yeah. And then he ended up on Detroit, which I do like. I do like that as an addition. You know, so Detroit getting a veteran in there, you know, for basically free, you know, if you will. Ben Simmons got bought out. He shouldn't be on anybody's team. Well, they said it's down to the Cavs and the Clippers. He shouldn't be on anybody's team.

[01:18:15] A smart GM right now should be like, no, why? Why? That's what I mean. If I'm an owner. You want something else that'll make you laugh? Why am I giving money? Like, what do you think you can get out of him over the next 26 games? Why? Why waste my time? Why money and your time? And that's the thing. It's like, you guys suck. You suck that managing these teams for years. You suck that these trades. This is probably the most active trade deadline.

[01:18:42] And the thing about it, it just was a wave because one, two teams made a trade that makes you go, eh, that might impact the NBA finals look or the playoffs. For the most part, these trades were to just get guys in new jerseys, new uniforms, new cities, new side chicks or whatever the hell they got going on because it's not, none of them are going to move the needle at all. Kuzma to Milwaukee does nothing.

[01:19:09] Milwaukee's going to be where they are because they can't seem to get it right with two superstars already. And look no further than the head coach. You want something else to laugh at Toronto about? You know who else Toronto traded for yesterday? It was something ridiculous. I saw it. They traded for James Wiseman, who's out for the season. To do what? Just to cut the contract?

[01:19:37] I guess just to, maybe they just want him on the roster next year. I don't know. But the Clippers surprised me because they traded Terrence Mann, you know, and he was one of those guys that I felt is a Clipper. Like, you know, like he was a part of their movement a couple of years ago and now it's over. So, you know, he went to the Hawks along with Bones Highland for Bo Donovan. They already waived him. Yeah. Yeah. They already waived him.

[01:20:03] You know, half of these players that got traded either got bought out or waived. You know, Jalen Hushapino. He was the part that Utah took in the A.D. Luca deal. They waived them. Which makes no sense. You know, they're just trying to save money and get them off the books, I guess. You know, DeAndre Hunter. So this is what this is. The DeAndre Hunter trade is the one that gets me because, you know, obviously I'm not a GM and I try to figure out how they figure out these trades.

[01:20:30] So you had DeAndre Hunter for Karis LeVert, Niang, three second round picks and two first round swaps. I don't understand. I just don't understand. Jimmy Butler got the two year $121 million extension from Golden State. Now, that screams of nothing but desperation. That's what happened when you hired Dunleavy.

[01:20:59] But let me go back to the Lakers for a second. Can't British and Golden Connect. Yes. That's what I was going to bring up. Yep. And they gave up that last first rounder. Well, I mean, that dude's in ninth grade right now, so it doesn't matter. Like, let's keep it up being. That kid's 14. Yeah. So, you know, I was shocked that the Lakers, I mean, I shouldn't be because they are the Lakers, but I was shocked that they came off of Dalton Connect.

[01:21:34] That's a tall starting lineup they got, too. My Dalton Connect thing is that... J.J. do be cussing them out, though. I don't know. Like I said, I watched Mark Williams give up all those damn points and rebounds to AD, and then I watched goddamn Brooke Lopez cook them. Brooke Lopez was literally standing two feet behind a three-point line, just waiting on the ball.

[01:22:04] He wasn't running off the screens. He just was standing there, waiting on the ball, got the ball from Dane, turned, shot the three, like a lumbering seven-footy that he is. Mark Williams is barely in the picture. He come back down another possession. He's had a 20-13 in his last 10. Yeah. How much has he given up? The plus-minus factor isn't. Good question. If you score 20 and the other guy scored 42, your plus-minus just against him is negative 22. What good are you?

[01:22:34] I could put anybody in there, and maybe he wouldn't score 42. But that lineup, though, you know, like you got Luka, you know, what are you about? 6'7", ish? 6'7", 6'8". You know, you got Austin Reeves at 6'5". You know, you got LeBron, 6'8", or 6'9". You got Mark Williams, you know, who's like 6'11", or so, and actually has the longest standing reach in the league, you know. Yes, I saw that. Like, longer than Wimby's. Yeah, longer than Wimby. And then, who am I missing?

[01:23:04] I forgot who the other star is. Is it Rui Hachimura? Yeah, it's Hachimura, who's 6'9". So, you know, that's a pretty big lineup, especially for this era of the NBA. Do me a favor. Swing the ball two times, who's knocked on the open three? The same problems they've had for years. The same exact problems. I am not a GM. I've never worked in a basketball organization.

[01:23:29] But every single trade they make, it creates this optimism. But the logistics of what they get for the players that come there does not fit. And every year, even with the Luka deal, you can't get, unless you really think you're going to get Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, 30 points each out of these two guys. You can scratch it. It's going to be entertaining.

[01:23:59] Did you see who picked up another guard? Probably Houston. Yep. Maybe they'll buy him out. You know, they picked up... Kevin Porter Jr. got traded again. I think that was a different Porter. No, it was Kevin Porter Jr. Was it Kevin Porter Jr.? He got traded to... I thought it was a different Porter. No, Kevin Porter Jr. got traded from the Clippers to the Milwaukee Bucks. That's right.

[01:24:28] And I know they say he's a talent, but you can't keep moving. Marcus Smart, it's... How about my Wizards taking the guy in that Kyle Kuzma deal? They took the guy that came from Australia, averaging two and a half points a game, and got drafted number 23 in the draft. You know, so we got him now. You know what I'm saying? Like, A.J. Johnson, welcome to the team. You'll fit right in.

[01:24:57] I can't imagine the Wizards are going to keep Chris Middleton and Marcus Smart. Yeah, I can't imagine either. Or Reggie Jackson even. Like, is there a limit on how many players you can buy out? Just bring up your G League guys. Like, honestly, unless you're making... Like, unless it's a cap situation, bring up your G League guys that you drafted.

[01:25:22] Bring the guy you have the rights from Israel or Serbia or wherever they're playing basketball over there. And really try to build your team. Because taking other people's leftovers just to waive it later doesn't make a lot of sense to me. And I think the NBA does a lot of that. Yeah. It might be a situation where either you need to expand the salary cap or cut some teams. Relegation. You, what was it? To keep it even. Two teams from the East, two teams from the West, you're going through the G League.

[01:25:52] Yeah. Because this is a... It's not even like... Like, all of these trades sounded great. But most of them were 24 to 30 months overdue. The biggest one was... I'm still baffled because I've seen pictures of Luka. If he is 270, it must be all in his ass.

[01:26:20] Because every picture I see from the front, he doesn't look like he's 270. I mean, going back to what we said, though. I mean, he is 6'7". You know, height adds on weight. So, you know. Yeah. Even at 270, I don't know if you'd have been able to wear the slacks and the sweater with the button up underneath. And it all just kind of like not spill out somewhere.

[01:26:46] He didn't wear like one of these extra ass baggy outfits like Jamar Chase wears when he's coming to the game. Looking like a goddamn hot air balloon. He was running like a regular business casual fit. I mean, even if he is 270, it doesn't look like it's weighing him down. Because LeBron, you should say he was 250 plus. But if he's 6'8", 6'9", if he can still move, you know. I don't know. I just feel like it's...

[01:27:16] Once again, like that trade was the most intriguing one. But for the rest of these guys, man, they made these trades to go from 7 to 9 to 10 to 8. I thought I was getting... Probably didn't hit. No, I thought I was getting this Canelo-Jake Paul fight. It already is already off? Yeah. One day after Eddie Hearns is, oh, this is definitely on. Jake Paul said, I'm blaming the money hungry, I think was the word.

[01:27:42] Canelo for ripping the fight or whatever he said. Canelo beat the brakes off Jake Paul, though. You know what I'm saying? I don't know what's going on with Canelo, man. He need to fight some damn body. And I'm going to fight some damn body. It's sports boring. If the Chiefs win another fucking Super Bowl. But we will be back... At least that's exciting. We will be back on Tuesday to talk about it. Good, bad, ugly, or indifferent. Enjoy the Super Bowl.

[01:28:11] And I don't know. Are all of y'all going to be in your living room in unison with the crowd talking about a minor... Luke McGroman. So, he is just a logical. Do not bring feelings to a fat fight. I am. Your resident. I don't know what the lock status is. We are Sports Reports and Order. Like, review, subscribe, fear, break, do all the free things.

[01:28:42] Do all the good things. And we love you. See you in a few days. Peace.