Stephen A. HATES LeBron James DOWNPLAYING the REMATCH vs. the Denver Nuggets 😡 | First Take

ESPN
19 Apr 202414:09

Summary

TLDRThe transcript discusses LeBron James's approach to competition, particularly his downplayed reaction to a rematch against the Denver Nuggets. The conversation highlights his tendency to avoid engaging in theatrics and focuses on winning championships. The discussion also touches on the contrasting styles of LeBron and Kevin Durant, their legacies, and the potential impact of their current playoff performances on their historical standing in the NBA.

Takeaways

  • 🏀 The speaker expresses a personal dislike for LeBron James' approach to the rematch against the Denver Nuggets, feeling that he should be more engaged in the competitive theater.
  • 🤔 The speaker acknowledges LeBron's focus on winning championships and respects his drive, despite disagreeing with his demeanor.
  • 📉 The Denver Nuggets have had a strong record against LeBron's team, having beaten them in significant games and during the previous season's playoffs.
  • 🗣️ There is an expectation for LeBron to show more emotional investment and personal motivation in high-stakes games, which the speaker feels is missing.
  • 👑 The speaker refers to LeBron as 'King' and discusses the public's desire to see him embrace a competitive spirit, similar to past performances.
  • 🤷‍♂️ It is noted that the Nuggets lack a specific player who actively antagonizes LeBron, which might be a factor in his subdued response.
  • 👀 The speaker observes that LeBron is not comfortable being an underdog and has historically changed teams when faced with consistent defeat.
  • 📈 LeBron has an impressive playoff record, particularly in the first round, and there is a sense that this should bolster his confidence.
  • 🏆 The conversation also touches on Kevin Durant's legacy and the importance of his performance, especially in relation to his team's success and past achievements.
  • 🥇 The speaker argues that Durant's accomplishments, including multiple Olympic gold medals, should be considered significant parts of his legacy.
  • 🤝 The dynamics of team play and the impact of individual players like Kyrie Irving and LeBron James on their respective teams are discussed, with an emphasis on the importance of strong team play.

Q & A

  • What is the speaker's personal opinion about LeBron James downplaying the rematch versus the Denver Nuggets?

    -The speaker personally dislikes LeBron James downplaying the rematch, as they believe he should embrace the competition and show a desire to win against a team that has previously dominated his team.

  • Why does the speaker think LeBron James should be more vocal about his intentions against the Denver Nuggets?

    -The speaker believes that LeBron should be more vocal because it would raise the stakes and show that he is taking the matchup personally, which could motivate his team and engage the spectators more.

  • What does the speaker think about the Denver Nuggets' behavior on the court?

    -The speaker perceives the Denver Nuggets as a group of good players who are not overly vocal or antagonistic, which contrasts with some other teams that have tried to provoke LeBron James in the past.

  • How has LeBron James typically responded to being an underdog in the past?

    -LeBron James has not often been in the position of an underdog and does not seem comfortable with it. In the past, when he felt another team had his number, he changed teams, such as moving to Miami when the Celtics were dominant and to LA when the Warriors were a challenge.

  • What is the speaker's view on Kevin Durant's legacy and his performance since leaving the Golden State Warriors?

    -The speaker believes that Kevin Durant's legacy is strong and that he doesn't need additional accolades. However, the speaker also suggests that Durant's performance since leaving the Warriors has not met expectations, particularly in the playoffs.

  • Why does the speaker think it's important for LeBron James to show confidence against the Denver Nuggets?

    -The speaker believes that showing confidence is important because it acknowledges the Nuggets as a top team while also conveying a belief that the outcome will be different this time, which can be motivating for the team and engaging for the fans.

  • What does the speaker suggest LeBron James could have said to better prepare for the matchup against the Denver Nuggets?

    -The speaker suggests that LeBron could have spoken confidently about the matchup, referring to past experiences, and showing that they are ready to face the challenge and change the outcome.

  • How does the speaker feel about Jamal Murray's on-court demeanor?

    -The speaker does not find Jamal Murray to be quiet, as he is known to talk on the court and back it up with his performance, especially against the Lakers.

  • What is the speaker's opinion on the importance of the current playoff series for LeBron James' legacy?

    -The speaker believes that while LeBron's legacy is secure, an upset win in the current series would be a significant feather in his cap and could be seen as a legacy-defining opportunity.

  • Why does the speaker think Kevin Durant's performance in the Olympics should be considered in his legacy?

    -The speaker believes that Durant's performance in the Olympics, including winning gold medals and being a standout player, should be part of his legacy because of the difficulty in achieving such success in international competition.

  • What is the speaker's perspective on the Phoenix Suns' current situation and Kevin Durant's role in it?

    -The speaker is unsure if the Suns, with their current lineup including Durant, can win a series, let alone multiple ones. They suggest that the team hasn't played well together and that it's not solely Durant's responsibility.

Outlines

00:00

🏀 LeBron James' Approach to Rivalry and Public Perception

The first paragraph discusses the speaker's personal opinion on LeBron James' attitude towards competition and public opinion. It highlights LeBron's focus on winning championships and not getting entangled in public disputes. The speaker respects LeBron's competitive spirit but also expresses a desire to see more personal investment and emotional response from him, especially against teams like the Denver Nuggets, who have had a history of defeating LeBron's team. The summary touches on the anticipation of a more aggressive approach from LeBron and the importance of embracing the competitive theater of sports.

05:01

🗣️ The Challenge of Underdog Status for LeBron and Durant's Legacy

The second paragraph delves into LeBron's discomfort with being an underdog and how it contrasts with his usual dominance in the first round of playoffs. The discussion also compares LeBron's legacy to that of Kevin Durant, highlighting Durant's different narrative and the pressure on him to perform, especially given his team's composition and past performances. The speaker emphasizes the potential negative impact on Durant's legacy if he fails to progress past the first round of playoffs, despite having a talented team.

10:03

🏅 Kevin Durant's Legacy and His Choice to Join Brooklyn

The third paragraph argues against the notion that the Golden State Warriors could have won the 2017 NBA title without Kevin Durant, asserting that his contributions were significant and underappreciated. It also discusses Durant's successful recovery and performance after his Achilles tendon injury, his achievements with Team USA, and the debate over his decision to join Brooklyn. The speaker ponders Durant's reflections on his career choices, especially in contrast to other players' behaviors and team dynamics, and the potential implications for his legacy.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡LeBron James

LeBron James is a professional basketball player, widely considered one of the greatest of all time. In the script, he is discussed in the context of his performance and attitude towards a rematch against the Denver Nuggets, highlighting his desire to win championships and his approach to competition.

💡Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team in the NBA. They are significant in this transcript as they have a history of defeating LeBron James' team, the Lakers, which shapes the discussion around LeBron's response to the rematch and the psychological impact of their past encounters.

💡Championship

A championship refers to the title or trophy awarded to the winner of a competition, such as a sports league. The script discusses LeBron James' pursuit of championships as a key motivator for his actions and the pressure it places on him to perform well in high-stakes games.

💡Underdog

An underdog is a person or team that is not expected to win a game or match, often due to being at a disadvantage. The transcript explores LeBron James' discomfort with being an underdog and how this might affect his mindset and performance in the upcoming game against the Denver Nuggets.

💡Confidence

Confidence is a belief in one's own abilities or qualities. In the context of the video, it is suggested that expressing confidence could be beneficial for LeBron James and his team, as it would contrast with their underdog status and potentially motivate them to overcome the odds.

💡Legacy

Legacy refers to the lasting impact or memory of a person's life or career. The script discusses the potential legacy-defining implications of LeBron James' performance in the playoffs, as well as the broader legacies of LeBron and other players like Kevin Durant in the context of their basketball careers.

💡Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is another professional basketball player mentioned in the script. He is compared to LeBron James in terms of their respective careers, achievements, and the expectations placed upon them. The discussion also touches on Durant's performance and choices, particularly his move to the Brooklyn Nets and subsequent time with the Phoenix Suns.

💡Olympics

The Olympics are an international multi-sport event featuring summer and winter sports. The script mentions Kevin Durant's achievements at the Olympics, where he has won multiple gold medals and is considered one of the greatest performers for Team USA, as a significant part of his career legacy.

💡Achilles Tendon

The Achilles tendon is the tendon located at the back of the human ankle. The script refers to Durant's recovery and success following an Achilles tendon injury, which is a significant milestone and testament to his skill and resilience as an athlete.

💡First Round

In the context of the NBA playoffs, the first round is the initial stage of the postseason competition. The transcript discusses the importance of the first round for LeBron James and Kevin Durant, with a particular focus on their teams' performance and the potential implications of an early exit.

💡Team USA

Team USA refers to the United States' national team in various international sports competitions, including basketball. The script highlights Kevin Durant's contributions to Team USA, including his pursuit of a fourth gold medal, as a noteworthy aspect of his career and a testament to his abilities on the global stage.

Highlights

Personal opinion on LeBron James' approach to the rematch against the Denver Nuggets.

Respect for LeBron's focus on winning the championship despite public opinion.

Critique of LeBron's tendency to avoid engaging in the theater of competition.

Recall of public enjoyment when LeBron was antagonized by Lance Stephenson.

Expectation for LeBron to take the matchup against the Nuggets personally given their history.

The Lakers' anticipation and disappointment regarding key games against the Nuggets.

LeBron's comments on the upcoming series and the public's reaction to them.

The unexpected nature of the Denver matchup for the Lakers.

Desire to hear LeBron express confidence and readiness for the掘金 (Nuggets) series.

Discussion on the Nuggets' demeanor and their impact on LeBron's motivation.

LeBron's discomfort with being an underdog and his team's move strategy.

LeBron's playoff record and his usual dominance in the first round.

Stephen A's perspective on LeBron's legacy and the importance of the current playoff series.

Comparison between LeBron James and Kevin Durant's current situations and legacies.

Kevin Durant's performance and the expectations set for him post-injury.

Debate on whether Kevin Durant's choices have impacted his legacy and current performance.

Wendy's argument on Durant's legacy and his achievements regardless of future games.

The significance of Durant's Team USA performance and its contribution to his resume.

Concerns about the Phoenix Suns' performance and Kevin Durant's role in their success.

Transcripts

00:00

do you like love or hate LeBron

00:02

downplaying the rematch versus de well I

00:04

hate it that's my personal opinion I'm

00:06

not blaming him for it he can't be

00:08

worried about what the public thinks

00:10

what I think what anybody thinks he's

00:12

trying to win the championship and I

00:13

respect that but this is what LeBron

00:15

James does you know he wants you to rely

00:18

strictly on the game right but on far

00:21

too many occasions when the theater of

00:23

competition takes fold he doesn't want

00:26

to be a participant in that meaning that

00:28

you somebody you talking him you coming

00:30

at him and what have you he doesn't feed

00:32

into that one of the reasons we loved

00:34

when when Lance Stevenson blew in his

00:36

air legs and Wendy is because we knew

00:39

that obviously he was the superior

00:41

player he was playing on the superior

00:43

team the Indiana Pacers were trying to

00:46

antagonize him and we knew that LeBron

00:48

James was going to respond to it we

00:50

could just tell and we were good with

00:52

that in this particular instance it's a

00:54

different animal you ain't the giant

00:57

okay you supposed to be the Giant Slayer

00:59

the Giant are the Denver Nuggets the

01:01

reigning defending NBA champions who by

01:04

the way swept you last year four

01:07

straight in the Western Conference

01:08

Finals who by the way have beaten you

01:10

eight straight and oh by the way the

01:12

last three times y'all played against

01:13

one another in this this season okay

01:16

opening night it was their ring ceremony

01:19

so they watched it they let you watch

01:20

them get their rings then they went out

01:22

there and took you out the second go

01:24

round they took you out when Kobe's

01:27

statue was unveiled and the third time

01:29

they took you out was when LeBron James

01:31

Dropped 40,000 points for his career

01:35

okay those are the three nights that

01:37

that that the Lakers obviously were

01:39

looking forward to celebrating and it

01:41

was ruined by the Denver Nuggets so you

01:44

would think that when you've got that

01:46

going up against you you raise up and

01:48

you're like yeah we I need to take this

01:50

personal nothing else has worked being

01:52

calm hasn't worked being even kill

01:54

hasn't worked just preparing myself as I

01:56

always do hasn't worked something or the

02:00

normal procedures that works against

02:02

everybody else hasn't worked for me

02:05

against this particular Squad the Denver

02:08

Nuggets and still we hear what LeBron

02:10

James says so again I understand it you

02:13

understand he's the player not me and he

02:15

can't be worried about what other people

02:17

thinking but if you're a spectator it

02:20

does raise the ante a bit if you

02:23

listening LeBron James like they don't

02:25

whip our ass about they straight times

02:27

I'm sick of these dudes I I I I want

02:29

this I want this bad and I hope that

02:31

we're ready it would have been nice to

02:34

hear the quote unquote King Embrace that

02:39

kind of competition like kings are

02:42

supposed to do well look Stephen A

02:45

everybody knows I'm far from any sort of

02:47

LeBron apologist or anything like that

02:50

in fact people that love LeBron think

02:52

it's the other way I pride myself and

02:54

not having an agenda just come out give

02:56

my honest opinion here's the thing when

02:58

I first heard it and then read it again

03:00

cuz I want to make sure I got it all

03:02

because sometimes I look for little

03:03

subtle things and something somebody

03:04

might say I thought you know what this

03:06

this isn't that bad this is nothing

03:08

inflammatory where I'm going to go in on

03:09

him to think he was coming off soft or

03:11

weak in this matchup and I wanted to

03:13

hear more about it I really didn't think

03:15

there was much to it and here's why

03:18

bottom line is they didn't know they

03:19

were gonna get Denver so it's easy to

03:21

sit there and say hey man they swept us

03:23

last year this is the team we should be

03:24

thinking about them all year the bottom

03:26

line is the Lakers were trying to

03:27

survive they were just trying to get in

03:29

to play in surviv the play in we didn't

03:31

know they were going to get Denver till

03:33

right the last couple days of the season

03:35

now the matchup is here okay now you

03:37

know you're going to get the Nuggets so

03:39

could he have said something Stephen A

03:41

along the lines of what you're

03:42

intimating yeah it probably would have

03:44

been better to hear words like confident

03:46

we're confident this time around refer

03:49

to what's happened here in recent

03:50

history nothing wrong with referring to

03:52

getting swept last year hey man they

03:54

swept us last year like we we remember

03:57

that we're confident this time around

03:59

say things like we know you got to go

04:01

through this team to come out of the

04:03

Western Conference they are on top of

04:05

the mountain right now so we're going to

04:07

get them now let's get them now like

04:09

things like that I think is what you're

04:10

saying I completely agree that kind of

04:13

gives an air of we know we're going into

04:15

this against a top team you give them

04:17

their due respect but at the same time

04:18

you portray an air of confidence that

04:20

you think things are going to be

04:21

different this time around I think

04:23

that's what you're saying and I would

04:24

agree with you on that and let me ask

04:25

you guys both something do you think

04:27

part of the reason that LeBron like

04:29

can't go more in is because man the

04:32

nuggets are a bunch of good dudes they

04:34

don't have a Lance Stevenson they don't

04:36

have a dude that's poking LeBron James

04:39

and and and talking to him they don't

04:41

have a Dylan Brooks they don't have a

04:43

guy like that it's just a bunch of good

04:45

dudes including their best player

04:47

they're just quiet they're not arrogant

04:49

they show up and do their business and

04:50

almost feel like something like that

04:52

injected into this might give the Lakers

04:55

a little bit more of an edge a little

04:57

bit more of that of what you're talking

04:59

about Stephen that would come out of

05:00

LeBron's mouth legs uh uh uh I don't

05:04

find Jamal Murray to be

05:07

quiet I mean that brother talk now I

05:09

mean I mean he go out and back it up but

05:11

when he giving it to you he giving it to

05:13

you and he lets you know he's giving it

05:15

to you I've seen him do that to the

05:17

Lakers am I right

05:19

Wendy yeah and Aaron Gordon does it uh

05:22

and Michael Mone is not afraid to talk

05:25

trash I would have found it more

05:28

entertaining for for LeBron to do a

05:30

little WWE Action here and you know

05:34

really gotten into it and said you know

05:37

sort of embrac being the underdog and

05:39

you know talked about how oh they're

05:41

they expect to beat us well they got to

05:42

come do it and everything but the thing

05:44

about it is he's not comfortable being

05:46

an underdog it's not something he's done

05:48

very often in his career and he really

05:50

doesn't like it when a team has his

05:52

number I mean he's changed teams in the

05:55

past a couple of times when he's felt

05:58

another team has his number when the

06:00

Celtics had his number he went to Miami

06:03

when the Warriors had his number he went

06:06

to LA the nuggets have had the Lakers

06:08

number what's his move he doesn't really

06:11

have a move and that's why I think he's

06:13

playing it a little bit Meek look he's

06:16

15- one in his career in first round

06:19

playoff series I'm gonna say that again

06:21

he's 15 and one when he's made it into

06:24

the first round of the playoffs he has

06:26

owned that round he he is not used to

06:29

having the idea of being Underdog even

06:32

last year when they went into that

06:34

series with Memphis they had a lot of

06:36

confidence in that series you could see

06:38

by the way they approached it that is

06:40

clearly not the case here you can tell

06:43

by those comments LeBron does not want

06:45

to build it up Stephen A you came on

06:47

this show yesterday and built this up as

06:50

a possible Legacy defining opportunity

06:52

for LeBron pull this upset and it's a

06:55

feather in that cap what's on the line

06:57

for KD versus Minnesota

07:00

well I think that you know if we going

07:01

to talk about listen LeBron's Legacy is

07:04

paint is is is etched in stone for

07:07

championships for League MV MVPs and and

07:10

in this 21st season approaching 40 years

07:13

of age look at how he's looked on the

07:15

basketball court Kevin Durant's a few

07:17

years younger averaged over 27 a game

07:20

has looked spectacular this year but

07:22

Kevin Durant has a different story guys

07:25

um he hasn't been out of the second

07:28

round since departing from Steph Curry

07:31

and the Golden State Warriors that's an

07:33

entirely different animal oh that's an

07:35

entirely different narrative that we

07:37

have to be talking about here someone

07:39

that great that has had Kyrie Irving and

07:41

James Harden as his teammates that now

07:44

has Devin Booker and Bradley beill as

07:46

his teammates that once had Russell

07:48

Westbrook and others as his teammates I

07:51

mean since you departed from Steph Curry

07:53

and Golden State after claiming that you

07:55

wanted to go there to begin with because

07:57

you just wanted to play the right way

07:59

you just want to hoop that's all you

08:01

cared about well you in a pristine

08:03

situation where you'd still be winning

08:05

championships if you had stayed there

08:07

but you passed that up it's been a long

08:09

long time since Kevin Durant has been in

08:12

the Conference Finals and I'm telling

08:14

you right now you can't be in this

08:16

situation and go out there and lose in

08:18

the first round if that happens that is

08:20

not good there's no question about it

08:23

and we talk it's not an accident that as

08:26

great as he is as marvelous of a player

08:28

as he is we don't talk about him nearly

08:30

as much as we should and we damn sure

08:33

don't talk about him nearly as much as

08:35

we used to because the results haven't

08:38

been there and the thing about it that's

08:40

really really alarming is that you get

08:42

the impression no matter how LeBron

08:45

tries to downplay stuff that LeBron

08:47

wants to be talked about LeBron wants to

08:50

be to the center of attention he wants

08:53

to be that dude that is the Marquee and

08:56

whereas when you look at Kevin Durant

08:57

and Phoenix you know I don't know this

09:00

to be true but it definitely looks a

09:02

certain way it almost looks like the

09:04

less we talk about him the happier he is

09:07

he just wants to fly under the radar and

09:09

hoop but in the end guess what you know

09:13

what this the sure five best way for us

09:15

not to talk about you if your ass is at

09:18

home when it really really counts

09:20

because somebody bounced you out of

09:21

there and that has been the case for him

09:25

since he's departed from Golden State I

09:27

don't blame him for the series against m

09:29

when Kyrie got hurt because I thought

09:30

they could have won it all then and

09:32

Kevin Durant was absolutely Sensational

09:34

but other than that it it's it's been

09:37

it's it's been rough there's no way

09:39

around

09:41

it Stephen you and I have been here

09:43

before this is one of those triggering

09:45

conversations where you and I are just

09:47

never going to see eye to eye okay

09:49

because I don't think Kevin Durant needs

09:51

anything else in his career does he want

09:54

it do we want it yeah absolutely he

09:57

doesn't go to Brooklyn unless he wanted

09:58

it but he's a two-time Finals MVP and I

10:02

absolutely and here i' said this before

10:04

and here we go I absolutely reject the

10:08

premise on its face that the Warriors

10:11

win especially the 17 title without him

10:14

the idea that he wasn't a driver in that

10:16

is just absolutely patently unfair to

10:19

him who said that the MVP of the finals

10:22

many people said that not you I agree

10:24

not

10:26

you other colleagues in our in our

10:28

industry have have downplayed that final

10:30

I know he's the best stand for it yeah

10:34

okay all right

10:36

also his his performance in the 2021

10:39

Olympics I know it's not the NBA he won

10:42

us a gold medal ask Greg papovich asked

10:46

Devin Booker ask the other guys there he

10:48

won us a gold medal and in between

10:51

getting to those finals and now he Tes

10:53

Achilles tendon he is the the biggest

10:55

success story coming off in Achilles

10:57

tendon in history now now I still to

11:00

this day don't understand why he chose

11:02

with the with the menu of options that

11:04

he had I don't understand why he chose

11:06

to go to Brooklyn with with Kyrie I

11:08

thought it was a mistake the day he did

11:09

it it ended up being a mistake and I

11:11

would love to know how he really feels

11:13

sitting there in Phoenix this year where

11:15

they've had a disappointing Season

11:17

watching Kyrie over in Dallas play every

11:20

game be on his best behavior be an

11:23

absolutely Picture Perfect cohort and

11:26

teammate to Luca donic and that team f

11:29

flying high I wonder what he thinks

11:31

about Kyrie playing that way in Dallas

11:34

when that's what he could have been in

11:35

Brooklyn but that's all off the table at

11:38

right now I don't think Durant needs

11:40

anything in his career I think he

11:42

doesn't play another game by the way

11:43

he's going to play for Team USA again

11:45

this year and try to win a fourth gold

11:47

medal he is already the greatest Team

11:49

USA performer in our history and I think

11:51

that should count on his resume because

11:53

it's hard to win those Olympics we don't

11:55

give him credit for how hard how hard it

11:57

is and how great he was in that that's

11:59

to me two finals MVPs regular season MVP

12:03

three-time gold medalist in the Olympics

12:05

where if there was an MVP of the

12:06

Olympics he would have won it and so I

12:09

think that's relevant I also think that

12:11

the suns are out of position they are

12:13

not as good as they needed to be they

12:16

they they've made some decisions and

12:17

they've and this Trio hasn't played well

12:19

together and I'm not sure that they're

12:21

going to be able to win one series much

12:22

less three but I'm not going to blame it

12:24

all in Kevin

12:25

Durant all right well listen I I

12:28

disagree with you Wendy I I lean with on

12:30

this I lean and here's why many people

12:32

do well here's why it's very rare when a

12:35

player gets into you know mid-30s and

12:37

you know most of their career is behind

12:39

them and they're this great of a player

12:41

usually by this time a guy if you they

12:44

they've clearly had the the production

12:46

right they've had all of the individual

12:48

accolades you can have and they've also

12:50

won which Duran has done by the time you

12:52

get to this point you almost feel like

12:54

okay there's there's nothing that

12:55

anybody can do where to bring this guy

12:58

down a notch he can only grab additional

13:00

real estate in terms of how we view them

13:02

historically and when you talk about

13:04

historically Legacy I'm talking about

13:05

like 15 20 years down the road when we

13:07

look at Kevin Durant's career very

13:09

rarely is a guy in that spot like take

13:11

LeBron for instance there's nothing that

13:13

can happen to LeBron James gonna drag

13:14

him down nothing to Steph Curry that

13:17

happens the rest of his career is going

13:18

to reduce the way we view him 15 20

13:21

years from now looking back on his

13:22

career I think KD is that rare guy that

13:25

actually they lose to the Minnesota

13:27

Timberwolves when he's got that kind of

13:29

talent around him those two guys and

13:32

what that represents offensively and

13:34

what you should be capable of doing and

13:36

you lose to a team with no Collective

13:38

winning experience in the playoffs in

13:41

Minnesota I know they're the three seed

13:43

they got Anthony Edwards that team

13:44

hasn't won anything in the postseason

13:46

and you get them in the first round and

13:48

you get knocked out I actually do think

13:51

it's the kind of thing not not a lot but

13:53

I do think it's something that

13:55

detractors can use against Kevin Durant

14:03

he

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[Music]