LeBron scores 40 in Lakers win, talks retirement & Embiid set to return | NBA | FIRST THINGS FIRST

First Things First
1 Apr 202419:34

Summary

TLDRThe transcript discusses LeBron James' exceptional performance and work ethic, particularly at the age of 39, where he scored 40 points with nine three-pointers. It highlights his continuous improvement in shooting, despite being known for other skills earlier in his career. The conversation also touches on the potential for LeBron to still be a top contributor in winning titles and the challenges faced by the Lakers in the current NBA landscape. Additionally, there's speculation about the impact of Joel Embiid's return on the Philadelphia 76ers' playoff chances.

Takeaways

  • 🏀 LeBron James continues to defy expectations at 39, showcasing an improved three-point shot.
  • 🎯 Despite his age, LeBron's work ethic and adaptability have led to his fifth best field goal percentage and third best effective field goal percentage this season.
  • 🏆 The discussion around the greatest athlete in history often includes LeBron, with his sustained performance into his late career.
  • 🚫 The script suggests that the Lakers' front office, coaching, and drafting strategies may not be conducive to LeBron winning another title with the team.
  • 🤔 The possibility of LeBron retiring before becoming a 'bad' player is discussed, with the belief that he will likely not continue if his performance significantly declines.
  • 🌟 The Lakers' roster, while talented, may not be deep enough to compete with the top teams in the Western Conference.
  • 🏅 Joel Embiid's return from injury could make the Philadelphia 76ers a dangerous team in the playoffs, assuming he can maintain his regular-season performance.
  • 📈 Advanced stats place LeBron in the top ten in various categories, indicating that despite his age, he remains a high-level player.
  • 🤷‍♂️ The script questions whether the Lakers should pursue a third star to complement LeBron and Anthony Davis, given the depth of talent required in today's NBA.
  • 🏀 The overall talent level in the league is so high that even strong rosters can struggle to outperform their competitors.

Q & A

  • What is the main theme of the discussion in the transcript?

    -The main theme of the discussion is the performance and work ethic of LeBron James, particularly his ability to adapt and improve his game even at an advanced age in his career.

  • How does the speaker describe LeBron James' development as a basketball player?

    -The speaker describes LeBron James as one of the hardest-working athletes in American history who has continually improved his game. Initially not known as a shooter, LeBron has developed his three-point shooting skills over time, showcasing his adaptability and work ethic.

  • What was significant about LeBron James' performance at the age of 39?

    -LeBron James scored 40 points with nine three-pointers at the age of 39, which is considered an impressive feat. This performance highlights his ability to add new elements to his game and maintain a high level of play despite his age.

  • How does the speaker compare LeBron James to other legendary athletes?

    -The speaker compares LeBron James to other legendary athletes like Jim Thorp and Michael Jordan, discussing their work ethics and career achievements. The speaker also mentions other athletes like Kareem, Carl Malone, Kobe Bryant, and Magic Johnson in the context of their career longevity and performance in their later years.

  • What is the speaker's opinion on LeBron James' potential future performance?

    -The speaker believes that LeBron James will never be 'bad' in terms of his performance on the court. He suggests that even if LeBron's skills were to decline, he would still be a valuable player due to his experience and work ethic.

  • What is the speaker's view on the Lakers' chances of winning another championship with LeBron James?

    -The speaker expresses skepticism about the Lakers' chances of winning another championship with LeBron James, citing concerns about the team's front office, coaching, and drafting strategies.

  • How does the speaker evaluate the impact of Joel Embiid's injury and potential return on the Philadelphia 76ers' performance?

    -The speaker believes that Joel Embiid's return could make the 76ers a very dangerous team in the playoffs. However, there are concerns about Embiid's stamina and whether his performance in the regular season will translate to the playoffs.

  • What is the speaker's opinion on the current state of the Los Angeles Lakers' roster?

    -The speaker thinks the Lakers' roster is good but questions whether it is strong enough to win a championship. He suggests that the team's depth and overall talent may not be sufficient to compete with other top teams in the league.

  • What is the speaker's stance on the idea of teams resting players during the playoffs?

    -The speaker acknowledges the modern strategy of resting players during the playoffs to manage injuries and maintain peak performance. However, he contrasts this with the 'old school' approach where players played almost every game and did not avoid opponents.

  • How does the speaker view the potential matchup between the 76ers and the Celtics in the playoffs?

    -The speaker believes that if the 76ers were to face the Celtics in the playoffs, it would be a challenging matchup. He suggests that the 76ers would be better off facing a different team in the first round given Embiid's recent injury and the team's overall performance without him.

  • What is the speaker's perspective on the importance of a team's seed in the playoffs?

    -The speaker suggests that the top seed in the playoffs should ideally be able to choose their playoff opponent. He argues that teams should aim for the best possible matchup to increase their chances of progressing further in the playoffs.

Outlines

00:00

🏀 LeBron James' Evolving Skillset and Work Ethic

This paragraph discusses LeBron James' incredible work ethic and his ability to adapt and improve his game over time. Despite being 39 years old, LeBron has managed to add a three-point shot to his game, showcasing his dedication and commitment to the sport. The speaker highlights LeBron's transition from not being a great shooter initially to becoming an impressive three-point threat, shooting 41.6% from beyond the arc. This evolution is seen as a testament to his hard work and willingness to evolve. The paragraph also touches on LeBron's career statistics, comparing his current performance to his previous seasons, and suggests that if LeBron had maintained his current shooting form during his prime, there would be no debate about the greatest of all time (GOAT) in basketball.

05:03

🤔 Speculations on LeBron's Future Performance and Legacy

In this paragraph, the discussion revolves around the potential future performance of LeBron James and the impact it could have on his legacy. The speaker contemplates whether LeBron will continue to play at a high level or eventually decline, as is typical for athletes. The conversation includes a comparison to other legendary athletes like Tom Brady and Jim Brown, highlighting the rarity of athletes retiring at their peak performance. The speaker also considers the possibility of LeBron retiring in five years and how that might affect his standing in the history of basketball. The paragraph emphasizes LeBron's current standing in the league, his advanced stats, and his potential to remain a top player, despite his age and the increasing depth of talent in the NBA.

10:03

🏆 Analyzing the Lakers' Roster and Championship Prospects

The focus of this paragraph is on the Los Angeles Lakers' roster and their chances of winning a championship with LeBron James. The speaker assesses the Lakers' current lineup, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the team. The conversation includes a comparison of the Lakers' roster to other competitive teams in the Western Conference, such as Denver and Minnesota. The speaker questions whether the Lakers have the necessary depth and talent to compete for a championship, despite LeBron's individual performance. The paragraph also explores the hypothetical scenario of acquiring a third star player like Kyrie Irving and how that could potentially change the Lakers' championship prospects. The speaker concludes by expressing skepticism about the Lakers' current approach and LeBron's chances of winning another title with the team.

15:03

📊 Joel Embiid's Impact on the Philadelphia 76ers and Playoff Predictions

This paragraph centers on Joel Embiid's significance to the Philadelphia 76ers and the team's potential playoff performance. The speaker discusses Embiid's recent injury and the impact of his absence on the team's performance. The conversation delves into the potential challenges Embiid might face in the playoffs, such as minutes restrictions, stamina, and maintaining his regular-season form. The speaker also speculates on the 76ers' playoff seeding and their potential matchups against other strong teams in the Eastern Conference, like Miami and Milwaukee. The paragraph concludes with a discussion on the strategic considerations for playoff seeding and the potential advantages or disadvantages of facing certain teams in the post-season.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡LeBron James

LeBron James is a professional basketball player, often regarded as one of the greatest athletes in American history. In the context of the video, his work ethic, skill development, and sustained excellence over a long career are discussed, emphasizing his ability to adapt and improve aspects of his game, such as his three-point shooting, even at the age of 39.

💡Work Ethic

Work ethic refers to an individual's commitment and dedication to their job or chosen field. In the video, LeBron James' work ethic is highlighted as a significant factor in his ability to maintain a high level of performance and to improve his game over time.

💡Three-Point Shooting

Three-point shooting is a basketball skill where a player attempts to score from beyond the three-point line, which is a designated area on the court. In the video, it is mentioned as a key aspect of LeBron James' game that he has significantly improved upon throughout his career.

💡Athleticism

Athleticism refers to the physical abilities and skills, such as speed, strength, and agility, that are essential for sports performance. The video discusses how LeBron has compensated for losses in athleticism due to aging by refining his three-point shooting.

💡Career Longevity

Career longevity refers to the length of time an individual is able to maintain a successful and productive career in their chosen field. The video emphasizes LeBron James' impressive career longevity, noting his achievements in his 21st season and comparing them to other legendary athletes.

💡GOAT Debate

The GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate is a discussion among sports fans and analysts about who is the best player in the history of a particular sport. In the video, the argument is made that if LeBron had shot three-pointers as well in his prime, there would be no debate about the GOAT in basketball.

💡Team Roster

A team roster refers to the list of players who are part of a sports team. In the context of the video, the discussion revolves around the quality and depth of the Los Angeles Lakers' roster, and whether it is sufficient to support LeBron in achieving further success.

💡Playoffs

The playoffs are the elimination rounds held at the end of a sports league's regular season to determine the champion. The video discusses the potential impact of LeBron James and other players on their teams' playoff performances.

💡Coaching

Coaching in sports involves the management of a team, including strategy development, player training, and game tactics. The video touches on the coaching aspect as it relates to team performance and the potential for a team to win a championship.

💡Draft Picks

Draft picks are selections made by sports teams during a draft, allowing them to recruit new players. The video discusses the Los Angeles Lakers' draft history and the impact of their choices on the team's current and future success.

💡Team Chemistry

Team chemistry refers to the interpersonal relationships and cooperative dynamics among team members. It is crucial for a sports team's success as it affects communication, coordination, and overall performance. The video implies that despite having individual stars, team chemistry is a factor in the Lakers' and other teams' ability to win championships.

Highlights

LeBron James is arguably one of the greatest athletes in American history, and also one of the hardest-working.

LeBron James managed to score 40 points with nine three-pointers at the age of 39, showcasing his adaptability and work ethic.

LeBron's shooting percentage from the three-point range has significantly improved, now at 41.6%, demonstrating his continuous effort to refine his skills.

This season, LeBron's performance statistics rank high in the league, indicating that despite his age, he remains a top player.

LeBron's career field goal percentage and three-point percentage this season are among the best in his 21 seasons.

LeBron's ability to maintain his performance into his late career is a testament to his exceptional work ethic and dedication.

LeBron's potential to still be a very good player at 42 in his 24th year is discussed, highlighting his unprecedented longevity.

The idea of LeBron never being 'bad' in his career is explored, emphasizing his consistent high-level performance.

LeBron's defensive capabilities have diminished due to age, but his overall game improvement compensates for this.

LeBron's impact on his team's success is discussed, and the possibility of him retiring if he is not contributing to winning.

The Lakers' front office, coaching, and drafting strategies are questioned in relation to LeBron's chances of winning another title.

The potential for LeBron to win another championship if he stays with the Lakers is discussed, with a focus on team dynamics and strategy.

The possibility of LeBron teaming up with another star player like Kyrie Irving for a potential championship run is considered.

The depth of talent in the current NBA league is highlighted, making it more challenging for individual stars to dominate.

The importance of coaching in a team's success is debated, with opinions on the effectiveness of current Lakers coaching.

The potential impact of Joel Embiid's return from injury on the Philadelphia 76ers' playoff chances is discussed.

Embiid's performance in the playoffs compared to the regular season is analyzed, with speculation on his potential this year.

The strategic considerations for playoff seeding and selecting opponents in the modern NBA are explored.

Transcripts

00:00

fly from New York better all the way

00:02

back all the way

00:04

back because it's April Fool's Day I

00:08

promise you a show with no jokes Rick

00:11

had a joke this morning no joke that's

00:13

where we're at he's like you guys should

00:14

all trade seats well yeah that that

00:17

would be just ratings Bonanza just no

00:22

jokes today I'm serious you can't do it

00:25

is that in addition to being arguably

00:28

the greatest athlete in American history

00:31

arguably just pure athlete okay Jim

00:35

fired up right

00:37

now there there's a discussion and Jim

00:39

Thorp can be in it too but LeBron James

00:42

is in it he also is one of the hardest

00:46

working athletes in American history

00:50

because he just did this at 39 years old

00:53

and it was 40 points on nine

00:55

three-pointers so to add something to

00:58

his game that's what that's where the

01:00

work ethic comes in when we know when

01:02

LeBron came into the league he wasn't

01:04

much of a shooter the strategy in the 20

01:07

207 finals when his first time he got

01:10

there San Antonio was to give him the

01:12

jump shot and it was the same thing in

01:15

2013 give him the jump shot all right

01:18

and now he goes out at 39 years old and

01:22

hits nine threes and it's not just what

01:23

we saw yesterday he's shooting

01:26

41.6% from three which this is a sign of

01:30

how good they shooted today he's still

01:32

only 21st in the league but still 41%

01:36

from three is incredible and so LeBron

01:40

having accomplished all he has for him

01:43

to add a the threo shot to his game it's

01:48

just a testament to his work ethic even

01:49

last year I know it was an aberration

01:51

but last year only shot 32% from three

01:54

he's a 34% almost 35% for his career so

01:58

this year he's just showing how much

02:00

work he put in in the off season and

02:03

even now and I'll say this I mean if he

02:06

had shot the three like this in his

02:08

prime there'd be no goat debate I mean

02:11

this would be ridiculous If he if he

02:13

shot it like this in his prime but still

02:15

to added this late in his career is is

02:18

impressive and shows how hard he works

02:19

well some context on that so he is right

02:22

of 21 Seasons he's played this is his

02:25

fifth best field goal percentage this is

02:28

his third best effective field goal

02:31

percentage his best ever three-point

02:33

percentage and his sixth most assist per

02:35

game of any season of his career so what

02:38

it appears to me is to offset some of

02:41

the losses in athleticism he has

02:44

compensated by improving the three-point

02:47

shot and he said when he was asked about

02:49

the difference between last year and

02:50

this year was he thought last year being

02:52

in and out of the lineup with injuries

02:54

and he talked about missing practices

02:56

and shoot arounds that he thought that

02:58

actually hampered his ability to that he

03:00

could have shot like this last year had

03:02

he been healthy but to me what he's

03:04

proving is I think he's further

03:07

validating something I said at the

03:09

beginning of the Season that I was

03:12

mocked for because it sounds silly you

03:15

know if you just read the quote but I I

03:17

don't brew and I are lucky that we have

03:19

been made fun of on the internet long

03:21

enough that it doesn't bother us anymore

03:23

one of the reasons I think Wilds refuses

03:25

to his Brew put it let the tiger out is

03:27

because he's relatively new to people

03:29

being mean to him on the internet so you

03:32

so you shy away from

03:35

it you don't brw so used to it there's

03:38

Brew can take things people made fun of

03:40

him for that he didn't actually say like

03:42

wimy is going to be better than AEM and

03:44

like you know what I I said it everybody

03:47

say I said it I said this a few months

03:50

ago and I believe it 100% to be true

03:53

he'll never be bad LeBron will never be

03:57

bad he said in the postgame interview

04:00

he's like I'm not going to play another

04:01

21 years I'm like okay well then my take

04:03

safe like in 20 years probably would be

04:05

bad but in 5 years wouldn't be five

04:08

years wouldn't be because he's you say

04:11

we don't know but we didn't Brew five

04:14

years ago even his biggest supporters

04:17

would have said in five years he will be

04:20

a shell of himself we can LeBron in year

04:23

21 has now lapped the other year 21s put

04:28

together that's all all of them that's

04:30

Vince that's Durk that's Parish that's

04:32

kg that's Willis that's Moses Malone

04:35

LeBron like when we Kareem whose

04:39

longevity was the best we had seen

04:40

before LeBron his last excellent year

04:43

was year 17 at age 38 LeBron is age 39

04:46

year 21 Carl Malone his last great year

04:49

was year 16 age 37 Kobe's was year 17

04:54

age 34 MJ's last game with the bulls was

04:57

year 13 age 35 so doing this at age 39

05:02

year year 21 seemed impossible so the

05:06

idea that he wouldn't still be a really

05:08

good player at 42 in year 24 like I I

05:13

just don't think he'll ever be bad

05:15

here's the here's the challenge for that

05:17

and it's why there have been a couple

05:19

guys that that weren't obviously in

05:21

football Tom Brady Jim Brown retired

05:23

early but the challenge for that is if

05:27

you're not bad like a lot of guys will

05:29

keep playing until they're bad you know

05:32

what I mean and I don't know that LeBron

05:33

would do that but that is the th that is

05:36

why you see so few guys retire I mean

05:39

Jordan to be honest wasn't bad he never

05:41

was bad but he kept he obviously retired

05:44

multiple times but yeah I I just think

05:46

it's it's an interesting point I think

05:48

five years is probably that's too I I

05:50

think that's too much he'd be what

05:52

44 uh but I I don't see I don't know if

05:56

he'll if he's still playing well like

05:58

averaging 20

06:00

that's what is he going to retire so

06:02

that's what I wanted to so while just on

06:03

a bad te in five years he's going to

06:05

average no I'm just saying I'm not think

06:08

that well that's that's kind of my point

06:10

like the because I would argue this

06:13

obviously he is not not only is he not

06:15

Peak LeBron no matter what the numbers

06:17

show you he's not close to Peak LeBron

06:20

for a lot of reasons most notably Peak

06:22

LeBron I believe was the best defensive

06:24

player in the league and now and he's

06:26

you know telling JJ like I got to pick

06:28

my spots now on that side of the ball

06:29

things but I don't think he he is

06:33

deteriorating year by year I think he is

06:35

better this year than last year yeah I

06:37

think that LeBron because he's healthy

06:39

this year is and he's shooting better is

06:42

better this year than last year by the

06:44

the advaned stats and I understand like

06:47

the raw counting stats everything's

06:49

inflated and all of this stuff I get

06:50

that part of it but amongst his peers

06:54

this season of that are playing right

06:55

now he's sixth in the league in PR he's

06:59

seventh in box plus minus he's sixth in

07:02

value over replacement player like those

07:04

catch all stats so his deterioration has

07:07

been so slow that he's gone from clearly

07:10

the best in the league to clearly in the

07:12

discussion to okay not the best or

07:15

second best or third best but in the

07:17

discussion for somewhere from 4 to 10 so

07:19

how much fur you know what I mean like

07:21

how much worse does he have to get each

07:23

year to where you get to the point of

07:24

like ah he's you know what I mean it's

07:27

Willie Mays in the Outfield it'll never

07:29

happen for this guy it'll never

07:32

happen that's I mean we'll see it

07:34

depends on when he retires you know but

07:37

I think with LeBron we just look at his

07:39

winning you know like the numbers are

07:41

nice the numbers like you said people

07:43

are putting up more inflated numbers in

07:45

this year's NBA but for him it's about

07:48

winning if he's putting up these numbers

07:50

and not winning that's the thing with

07:52

him he probably wouldn't want to play in

07:54

that situation and that's why he might

07:56

retire but now usually with guys you can

07:59

still put up numbers but you get injury

08:01

he even said that in the podcast with JJ

08:03

it's that can I have to pick my spots

08:06

you know and so that's the thing like he

08:09

can do it but can he stay healthy like

08:12

for 60 games in a year to do it so

08:14

another day another record for LeBron

08:16

chances LeBron wins another title I mean

08:19

if he stays with the Lakers for the rest

08:21

of his career I'd say quite slim cuz I

08:24

don't trust the front office I don't

08:25

trust the coaching I don't trust the

08:26

drafting like I just don't I mean even

08:29

up to this year you be like ah they

08:30

don't have a lot of draft picks because

08:31

Anthony Davis trade this year at pick 17

08:34

they took jayen Hood chafino the three

08:36

picks after him are all all helping

08:38

teams in the playoff mix right now cam

08:41

Whitmore pods for the Warriors and the

08:44

best player hakz for the heat all guys

08:46

that are you know what I mean as as and

08:48

so right after the prior to that the

08:51

biggest pick that they had you before

08:53

they traded all those guys away it was

08:55

they took Lonzo over Tatum and fox which

08:58

by the way I supported at the time time

08:59

to be fair but it's not but okay I mean

09:02

it was I don't think the Celtics would

09:03

have done it I think that the Celtics

09:05

would have taken Tatum at one so there's

09:07

that piece of it but I don't I mean he

09:10

just had the first ever 40-point game on

09:13

that few shots and free throw attempts

09:15

in NBA history he right now this season

09:17

Brew is in the fourth quarter You could

09:20

argue we can show it to you the best

09:22

player in the league in the fourth

09:24

quarter so can is he is he good enough

09:29

to still be a top two guy on a champion

09:32

unequivocally yes are the Lakers cuz I

09:34

think the Lakers Brew are going to go

09:36

after that third star approach which I

09:38

don't think is the right approach in

09:40

today's NBA I think that the talent

09:42

pulls too deep I think the approach they

09:44

had when they want a title in La is the

09:46

right approach LeBron ad and a good

09:48

Supporting Cast and so I think he's I

09:51

think he can I think with the Lakers it

09:53

be very very difficult yeah I don't

09:54

think he will now the third I agree with

09:57

you on the third star approach

10:00

unless and this is the one way I think

10:02

that he could win another championship

10:05

and this won't happen because this team

10:06

is really playing well if they somehow

10:09

were able to get Kyrie Irving and you

10:11

talking about ad LeBron and Kyrie Kyrie

10:13

knows how to play with LeBron he'll

10:15

defer to LeBron respects LeBron like

10:19

that would be I think they'd be able to

10:21

win a championship but that's not going

10:22

to happen obviously Dallas is happy with

10:24

Kyrie otherwise I don't I don't see them

10:26

winning it and this is where it's a bit

10:28

baffling to me and maybe it's because

10:31

we've been spoiled by LeBron's career as

10:34

you see the numbers are very good we

10:36

know he's not quite what he used to be

10:38

because particularly defensively and

10:41

when he was in his prime he would

10:42

control the tempo of games and that's

10:45

what he can't do now because he doesn't

10:46

have the ball all the time and he

10:48

doesn't want it all the time because of

10:50

the stamina but I I gota be honest I I

10:53

think their team is good like the roster

10:56

I mean you got two legitimate stars that

10:58

whose games compliment each other Austin

11:01

Reeves uh D'Angelo Russell ruy I mean we

11:04

Tori and Prince we could go down the

11:06

line I think they've got depth they

11:08

shoot the three well they don't shoot it

11:11

a lot but they're in the top 10 they're

11:13

I think seventh in three-point field

11:15

goal percentage so it's a bit baffling

11:18

that with LeBron putting up these

11:19

numbers ad putting up these numbers and

11:21

playing great defense and the players

11:23

that they have the role players that

11:25

they're not better is it so I don't is

11:28

it that b it's not that baffling to me

11:30

cuz I think it just speaks to the depth

11:31

of talent in the league right now you're

11:33

right that on paper the roster doesn't

11:35

look terrible but when you I watch the

11:37

games though the I think these guys can

11:39

play yeah but when you stack it up

11:41

against the teams they're competing with

11:43

in the west I mean Denver's roster is

11:45

that much better yeah yes after yo

11:48

really kcp playing a huge role Aaron

11:52

Gordon who is good but nobody thought he

11:55

was all that spectacular before he's a

11:57

third guy so I think but Denver also has

11:59

the benefit of having the best player in

12:01

the league or certainly one of they

12:04

found a way to really play great team

12:06

basketball so take Denver out of it

12:07

because joic in for a lot of people's

12:09

kind of a cheat code right now like

12:11

LeBron maybe a decade ago you look look

12:13

at the Thunders overall roster far

12:15

better Minnesota's overall far better

12:18

yeah I mean seriously hold on we're

12:20

talking about after their top two guys

12:22

right cuz that's everybody agrees LeBron

12:24

and they I mean the top two guys are a

12:26

part of it no of of course I mean you

12:28

can't just say after top two cuz and

12:30

even after the top two yes Jaden

12:32

Williams and and and and Chad who's

12:35

young in his first year that I mean ched

12:37

is I get number two Josh giddy Josh

12:40

giddy uh Austin Reeves yeah I think

12:42

giddy's better and I think and I

12:45

think and Chad is definitely better as

12:48

an all-around player than DLo like and

12:50

then well Chad would be the second best

12:53

right Jay so you second best player on

12:56

OKC versus ad ORS LeBron right and then

12:59

Giddy and then Dort you go down I just

13:01

look at the I look at the rest of the I

13:04

how you can say OKC's roster is better

13:06

overall now they might have better

13:07

coaching this is what if people want to

13:09

start looking at the coaching than they

13:10

do with Darin I think Darin's a CO good

13:13

coach but I and look let's face let's be

13:16

honest the Lakers have played good

13:18

basketball for now for a few months yes

13:20

and we'll see what they do in the

13:22

playoffs so this may all you know show

13:24

out but I think the roster is good I

13:27

really do do you have a winning in title

13:29

no no you're no so and you think he

13:31

needs to leave yeah I mean that's what

13:34

you AG right you think he should leave

13:35

this I me I don't think he will leave I

13:38

think that and I'm not saying he should

13:39

I'm saying if if the question were the

13:43

if the only thing that mattered was best

13:45

chance to win a title as a major

13:47

contributor you know what I mean so

13:48

remove I'll go sign with the nuggets for

13:50

the minimum you know that doesn't exist

13:53

uh then I would say yes leave I the and

13:55

you know in my perfect world Philly

13:57

would be the Philly would work I also

13:59

told you I thought you know the fantasy

14:01

camp of he and Steph teaming up in

14:03

Charlotte was pretty neutral territory

14:04

Steph gets to go to his hometown LeBron

14:06

get LeBron gets to get a trump Jordan be

14:09

like he owned the team for 20 years they

14:10

won one playoff game oh I'll go I'll go

14:13

bring you to the finals that'd be fun

14:14

too guess who's back or almost back it's

14:16

Joel embiid reports are that the

14:19

reigning MVP could be back for

14:20

tomorrow's game against the thunder in

14:22

Philly he's been out since late January

14:24

with a knee injury brw how dangerous is

14:26

Philly if Joel returns dangerous uh look

14:30

there'll be three questions and maybe

14:32

they'd work through these in the seven

14:34

games he may play at the end of the

14:35

regular season what is there a minutes

14:37

restriction how's his stamina and then

14:42

thirdly what is Joel gonna be as great

14:45

in the playoffs as he's been in the

14:46

regular season he was playing better

14:48

than joic even in the when he got hurt I

14:51

mean they were 26 and8 with him that's

14:54

like a 62 win Pace I believe and so they

14:56

were playing great basketball but we

14:58

look at his numbers regular season

15:00

versus playoffs rebounds is fine but

15:03

scoring field goal percentage three

15:05

point go way down and I would I I tend

15:09

to think it may be because he's always

15:12

banged up in the playoffs even if he

15:14

plays there'll be a g game or two here

15:17

or there that he has to sit out or he

15:20

plays but he's only 80% and that's where

15:23

this year could really help now if he

15:24

comes out this year and looks good in

15:27

these last few regular season games and

15:29

then in the playoffs his numbers drop

15:31

off like that then you know okay there's

15:33

it maybe it's not quite James Harden but

15:36

there's something like that going on but

15:39

I think look outside of Boston now they

15:42

if they the eighth seed then they

15:44

probably face Boston I don't see them

15:45

beating Boston but outside of Boston and

15:48

this team because they play So Hard

15:51

Miami you're believe I think they have a

15:53

shot you don't think they'd have a shot

15:55

against Miami no I think no I think

15:57

they'd have a shot against Miami but I'm

15:59

saying that'd be a tough one for him to

16:00

win because of the way Miami's played

16:02

just the grit Boston I think would beat

16:04

him after that I'm not saying I'd pick

16:07

him over my Milwaukee but I give him a

16:10

good shot against Milwaukee and anybody

16:11

else obviously last three series for

16:13

embiid he's played uh 13 games but he's

16:15

missed four games missed the first two

16:17

in Miami then he rested that close out

16:19

against the Nets remember we were like

16:20

that was smart which you know is a

16:22

problem we're like hey it's good to rest

16:23

when you're resting within the playoffs

16:26

and then he missed game one in the

16:27

Celtics end up losing LeBron of course

16:28

is has never missed a playoff game so

16:30

you see sort of like the dichotomy on

16:32

the a block of like all right LeBron's

16:34

never missed still going strong at 39

16:36

and beid kind of needs legitimate load

16:39

management and we think this is going to

16:40

I mean might be good for right the glass

16:42

half full ideas that he got the inj not

16:45

I don't want to say got the injury out

16:46

of the way but is going to be fresher

16:48

for this postseason than before the

16:50

glass half empty is this is too

16:52

drastically different teams and we can

16:54

like the fact that the Sixers have

16:56

fallen as far and as fast as they and if

16:59

we can show you them with and without

17:01

embiid I mean that win percentage like

17:03

Bruce said would was right on Boston's

17:06

heels and without him they're the

17:08

Raptors which I know I pitched this in

17:11

the meeting and you guys said you didn't

17:12

want to do it I'm doing it anyway this

17:14

is why if they are the eight seed the

17:17

Celtic shouldn't have to play them

17:19

that's right this is why that the number

17:21

one seed it can you imagine if you get

17:24

the one seed you're Boston you get

17:26

Philly and you're Denver and you're the

17:28

one seed and you have sitting there at

17:29

the six line are the Sacramento Kings

17:32

with no Malik monk or it's like hey by

17:34

the way congrats guys here's the Suns

17:36

they've beaten you twice in a row

17:38

they've got Durant and Booker that's

17:39

your per that's your uh prize for being

17:42

the one seed of course the top seed

17:44

should be able to pick their playoff

17:45

opponent if you're Philly though you

17:48

don't want to play Boston round one

17:49

obviously I agree with you guys that

17:52

they are super dangerous they would be

17:54

to me similar to the Lakers last year

17:58

where they're a seven seed in name only

18:01

and for the Lakers it was because they

18:04

remade the team on the fly at the

18:06

deadline for the Sixers it would be we

18:08

were going to be have one of the two or

18:10

three best records in the sport our guy

18:12

went down but now he's back and so yeah

18:15

I mean they would be to me the third

18:18

most dangerous team in the East but if

18:20

they stay in the playin one of those two

18:23

teams ahead of him is going to have to

18:24

play them in round one and so that'd be

18:27

a huge bummer for either CS it's a good

18:29

idea it will never happen but it's a

18:31

good idea really I don't I don't you

18:33

don't think can I just Pi real I mean

18:36

you like you you would say last year it

18:38

could come into play but maybe that's

18:40

what I don't know I I just think you

18:41

play who you play right but I'm old

18:43

school I understand but in the old

18:45

school can I just tell you something

18:46

real quick in the old school guys

18:49

everybody played almost 80 or 80 82

18:52

games there was no ducking opponents

18:54

there was no right but now that that

18:58

does exist

18:59

you have to do things to mitigate it

19:01

what we don't want is teams being like

19:03

we could be the one seed but it's better

19:06

for us as you know a top seed to lose

19:09

games at the end of the year so we then

19:12

drop in the seeding you know what Joe

19:13

moula would do I don't know try to block

19:16

embiid shot I don't know what he would

19:18

do he we want Philly no I mean Lula

19:20

would probably be like give us the Bucks

19:22

round one we'll take it give a th yeah

19:24

moula is out of his mind thanks for

19:26

watching subscribe here to get more from

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