NBA Playoffs - Knicks, Nuggets, and Too Much Spike

[00:00:00] This is the Church Pew Sports podcast featuring a group of pastors delivering bombastic takes on the first time in the world.

[00:00:05] This is the Church Pew Sports podcast featuring a group of pastors delivering bombastic takes on sports, life and faith.

[00:00:37] It likes to drink their hate or hate and eat their hate or tossing.

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[00:00:47] These are some of the best questions I've had to tell you that straight up.

[00:00:51] That's special.

[00:00:53] As the Church Pew Sports podcast begins,

[00:01:26] The Church Pew Sports podcast is a part of the Church Pew Sports podcast.

[00:01:31] I'm doing great, Bill, but you need to understand that you can only layer Gus Johnson over the top of Jim Harbaugh.

[00:01:44] I've been doing this for a long time, but I'm just going to do it forever.

[00:01:51] But the two days, I woke up at 3.30 a day and I realized it's not just a day, it's two days.

[00:01:58] It's just too good.

[00:02:00] It's just too good.

[00:02:01] It's your world where all just kind of living in it.

[00:02:04] It's good to have everybody with us as we continue on Church Pew Sports.

[00:02:08] Thank you for subscribing and hopefully sharing the link with other sports fans in your world.

[00:02:13] And we've got a fun conversation coming up today.

[00:02:16] We're going to kind of take you in some degree to some degree out to the East Coast as we talk with some New York fans,

[00:02:22] but we'll talk all things playoff, both in hockey and in basketball.

[00:02:26] So Paul, I've got a guest and you've got one.

[00:02:29] I'll let you introduce your guest first.

[00:02:31] Yeah, and I don't know that other layer of context to this conversation, Bill.

[00:02:35] Ever since my change from working as an executive pastor to my role with the ETA,

[00:02:41] as you know, I've been traveling a ton.

[00:02:43] And I found myself outside the Ann Arbor Columbus Echo Chamber of College Football.

[00:02:50] So I find myself asking guys who don't live or die around Michigan and Ohio State for their perspectives and opinions on sports.

[00:02:58] And I'm learning a lot.

[00:03:00] I'm not sure that I agree with everything, but I'm learning a lot.

[00:03:03] So it is going to be fun today to talk all things New York sports.

[00:03:08] I want to introduce Brian Sharp to you guys.

[00:03:10] Brian is a new friend of mine from the ETA.

[00:03:13] He's out in Denver and first met Brian because he was trying to explain to me how you can be a Bill's fan and a Nick's fan at the same time.

[00:03:24] And I didn't understand so Brian, welcome to the show.

[00:03:29] I hope that you'll be able to help all of us understand that strange dichotomy that you are as a sports fan.

[00:03:36] But I do have to give you the standard hazing question that we give to all for some guests on the show.

[00:03:42] So that our listeners can get to know you a little bit need to know who are your irrational sports loyalty.

[00:03:51] Who are the teams that you follow any sport, any level?

[00:03:56] At teams that you follow at irrational levels so that other sports fans maybe your wife whatever look at you and go,

[00:04:03] I don't know what is wrong with you.

[00:04:06] Who would that be for you?

[00:04:08] I don't think my wife would say what's wrong with you just because of my sports shoes.

[00:04:12] I think she often says that.

[00:04:15] So my sports teams are I grew up in Western New York, some of a huge Bill's fan.

[00:04:22] Pretty big Sabres fan.

[00:04:24] My mom was a met fan and an ex fan.

[00:04:27] And so I started watching the met in 87 a year or two late and then started watching the bills about the same time.

[00:04:35] So a couple years a little early.

[00:04:37] So people often ask me how I can still be a bills fan after so many years of terrible.

[00:04:43] I'm like, you can't take my child away.

[00:04:45] They were so good when I was growing up that you just can't take it away.

[00:04:49] There were an exam, since.

[00:04:50] Well, it's good to have you with us.

[00:04:51] And also joining us is my friend Steve McNus.

[00:04:54] Steve is the first guest in church Pew history to wear a Lithuanian t-shirt, which he most likely comes by honestly because Steve I want to have you kind of introduce yourself to our audience by ticking off.

[00:05:08] Some of the cities and countries in which you have coached basketball in the last several years of your career because your passport is it's just fascinating to me.

[00:05:20] Well, appreciate it. I obviously appreciate you all having me here.

[00:05:24] Yes, so last couple years, I'm doing a little more of the world traveling, bouncing around here with the next organization in New York but.

[00:05:34] Previously coached overseas in the British league.

[00:05:37] Glasgow Scotland.

[00:05:40] In London during the summer's usually now.

[00:05:44] Last year's tour took us to Portugal, Hungary, Bulgaria, France.

[00:05:51] This year our tournament is going to be in Macedonia, so head into Macedonia and finish up with a trip to Norway for a camp as well through the North.

[00:06:01] Yeah, so that's another one. So keep stamping the passport.

[00:06:05] Yeah, it's been great. So I appreciate it.

[00:06:07] So same question to you, the Paul asked of Brian. What's your irrational sports fandom? What's it directed towards?

[00:06:14] So probably first and foremost just being in the Michigan growing up in the Michigan area through and through all four major sports.

[00:06:25] The Detroit fan, Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, Pistons specifically.

[00:06:30] 2000 more chance he'd build up sled pistons. We're kind of my lead into the future of basketball.

[00:06:39] Also a University of Michigan fan, so I've had some great fandom watching the maze in blue.

[00:06:45] But that was also grown up, so now that I've bounced out of that realm and into some different sports work with the Pacer's organization and in the Atlas.

[00:06:55] At some allegiance to them, but now out here in New York City with the next organization. So all my my allegiance goes straight to who pays me.

[00:07:04] All right, so let's get into some playoff talk because you worked for the Pacer's and now you work for the mix, which brings to mind one of those other great rivalries between the two called it's the Reggie versus Spike rivalry.

[00:07:17] Reggie Bellary giving the choke side to spike the Brooklyn and his shot.

[00:07:22] And he hits it. It's a three pointer for Reggie Miller who again is staring in the direction of yes, that man.

[00:07:32] Man, I miss Marvelberg. So all right, so Steve, you start us off when you hear that throwback sound bite to I mean, it doesn't seem as long ago as it actually was because in New York, they're still reliving it every time Reggie walks in the building.

[00:07:46] What is the intensity of that rivalry like and in the NBA today in 2024? Is there as intense a rivalry as the next and Pacers and Brian Schick and has said no, as well. So Steve, what are you seeing from inside the between the ropes as we like to say in golf.

[00:08:05] Yeah, I'd say the the gardens definitely a fun place to be during the playoffs.

[00:08:11] You know, there's a lot of talks about robbery. It's it's definitely kind of cool to go back to those 90s groups and especially it's fun to if you watched some of the nicks alumni at the garden or usually down there standing on the court, cheering and during plays but

[00:08:25] It's different, you know, it's kind of a new wave of players who were practically not even born. You know, when that rivalry took place previously so you know, it has its has its similarities but I think it also this series is taking on kind of a

[00:08:41] You know, a new a new look on what the rivalry can be. I think that the you know, the players on this team are a couple of pretty young groups that it could develop into a and all a Reggie Miller type rivalry

[00:08:54] I think it's just a little bit new for this group but it has been a fantastic series nonetheless.

[00:09:00] It's really Spike Lee going to go away.

[00:09:04] I mean, he's going to have that seat as long as the credit card keeps running. That seat is going to be permanently affixed with his name on it.

[00:09:12] So Brian is a nicks fan.

[00:09:15] Is there an athlete in your nicks fandom less liked than Reggie Miller?

[00:09:23] I don't think for the longevity. I mean, Tray Young. I mean, he is well hated by this generation of nicks fans because of the playoffs a couple years ago. So Tray Young's up there but like just that interaction between Spike Lee and I mean that was at nine points in eight seconds or whatever.

[00:09:41] Like I was watching that game and I could not stand Reggie and still to this day. I can't stand Reggie. So like the it goes deep the Reggie hate.

[00:09:52] It's the real deal. Well, we don't we don't see as many of those personality clashes anymore because players move around so much but in an era where they stayed with the same team usually for a very long time then you got the chance to build up some some animosity.

[00:10:07] Like I don't know that everybody in New York and Indianapolis and Chicago and would have despised Le Amberis much if he had played in a different team every year and half but because he was part of the fabric of the bad boy pistons of course they were they grew to really really appreciating.

[00:10:23] I'm also reminded Paul that in the NBA there's an owner who is largely considered just a lovable, hugable teddy bear of a guy by the name of James Dolan.

[00:10:35] I think Charles Oakley and he spend a lot of quality time together so Steve's kind of on the on the far end he's working in the Dolan organization and Brian loves the Dolan organization.

[00:10:47] So I'm going to let you two guys talk about how fun it would be to just see something finally good happened to such a wonderful guy.

[00:10:54] Well, I think if you take a trip out to Las Vegas you can see the beautiful sphere that he's built just a nice place to catch a concert.

[00:11:06] Yeah, that's not what I asked. I didn't ask at all about his biggest technology and the sphere and the big eyeball out there but nice trying.

[00:11:15] What helps though is he's letting basketball people run basketball operations. I think from the mellow deal up through.

[00:11:26] Oh my goodness now I can't even think it was named up through the previous GM before Mills came in like he was pretty involved but I think since we're always in and the GM kids come in now.

[00:11:40] And he's let them kind of run things and you're seeing a patience with the next that you haven't seen in years.

[00:11:45] I mean, the fact that they have two first round picks this year.

[00:11:49] They have a bunch of first round picks coming up so you see this building of a team, a culture of patients letting their team develop.

[00:11:58] I think you're seeing Dolan take that back seat and I think the results are pretty good.

[00:12:06] Paul have you been pumping enough caffeine into your veins to watch 10 30 tip times on some of these playoff games. It's really America's game existed none of America's kids are able to stay up and watch it in many cases neither are America's old guy who have had a busy day.

[00:12:23] It seems like the NBA is missing an opportunity here to capture an audience if they would just start things a little bit earlier, but I think I've picked up from you.

[00:12:32] A hint of a push maybe, maybe appreciation for the NBA for the first time since you and I've known each other.

[00:12:40] Yeah, like this is the point in the season where I normally start to pay attention to the NBA.

[00:12:48] And just to give a little context for you see, I'm a Chicago guy born and raised and so the lead for my vantage point the league has not been the same since Jordan left and I unapologetically hold to that loyalty.

[00:13:02] And so I'm actually really into the playoffs this year. So if I make it through half time of the late game, I'm good to the end of the game.

[00:13:12] But sometimes making it through half time of the six challenge unless Charles is in rare form or something, but I'm really intrigued by the mix.

[00:13:22] I really hope it's the mix and the mix and the Celtics. It looks like it's probably trending that way.

[00:13:27] I'm a little bummed that the T-wolves seem to be whimpering their way to the end of their series with Denver because I think Anthony Edwards is probably the most interesting and exciting young player in the league right now.

[00:13:45] That's just my own deal. And I'm just trying to figure out how Jalen Brunson is as good as he is because he doesn't look like he should be.

[00:13:55] I don't maybe I need a mixed perspective on that. He, I don't know what it is. What are his excellent qualities that allow him to continue to perform at such a high level he just seems like a guy that walked in.

[00:14:10] And he puts it up, you know off the geolig stage or something else. And he's tearing it up. I don't know if that could help me out.

[00:14:18] Yeah. I mean, he's a relentless worker, man. He's just wanted to watch him and just even continues to while you no matter what the game or what the defensive coverage they throw at them.

[00:14:31] And he just gets to his spots and he's kind of learned how to play a little bit more this year on the ball.

[00:14:38] You know, I think with the Nick's organization took a hit when we had a chance to see it out this year with Julius Randall.

[00:14:47] And then once he's a little more of a ball dominant player, once he has season was done.

[00:14:55] I got the ball in playing Gartsans a little bit more and yeah, I don't undone.

[00:14:59] I think across the board that especially from a Nick's fandom that it's been, you know, ever more impressive each time he stepped on the court.

[00:15:08] You know, just keeps going 40 points with all those double teams as impressive.

[00:15:12] He's like a non-annoying version of James Harden.

[00:15:17] That's a good one.

[00:15:18] And Paul and Game 5, the Nick's started four players under six four in a league where I never thought that was possible.

[00:15:29] I really didn't.

[00:15:30] In fact, I didn't really know in Steve probably knows this and Brian probably knows this, but I didn't.

[00:15:36] I really didn't know that there was a roster that would have four players under six four on it.

[00:15:42] And I was like, you know, I'm a little bit slow in guys who would go out and start and fight end by the way when the rebounding battle through basically sheer determination.

[00:15:49] So, you know, Brian, this is one for for the short guys, although in real life six four's not really all that short it NBA life, it's fairly miniature.

[00:15:58] So you got to be impressed by the fight in your next.

[00:16:01] Well, I think again, it goes back to that team and I think, you know, in previous podcasts, you guys talked about your frustration with super teams with, you know, Sarah Flopoulot.

[00:16:11] And just other people that it was all about them building their group, whereas like the Nick's or a team that's built.

[00:16:20] And it's it's a bunch of dogs that want to fight and I think David Chenzolass night set the tone with his block on Siocam like just like who does that and Siocam's right there at the rim and even Chenzol didn't care and like you just see that fight from all them and I think really one of the things about Bronson that

[00:16:40] that's been helping him this year is he's playing with two of its college buddies like who does it was able to do that where the GM brings in two college buddies.

[00:16:51] You want a national championship together and now you get to run it back in the NBA and man, they just fight for each other but they're like common dudes.

[00:17:00] They're like everyday dudes at least that's the perspective I have as a fan.

[00:17:04] I don't get to see them in person obviously but they just seem like just everyday dudes and I will root for that all day long in New Yorkers.

[00:17:11] They will root for that all day long. They're the starcs, the Oaklees like the everyday guys that bring me your once pale and let's kick it.

[00:17:19] So we we look at this game in general. I look at it in terms of areas so we had the era of magic and Larry we had the era of Michael and Kobe certainly and you can throw some on.

[00:17:33] You can throw Isaiah in there if you wanted to because I'm biased that way and then you move forward and we kind of get into the next era.

[00:17:40] Steve, are we currently in the early days of the Bronson Anthony Edwards era? Are these going to be the faces of this league moving forward?

[00:17:51] It looks like kind of maybe slowing down a bit would be Steph Curry and KD and that group that was so powerful and so dominant.

[00:18:00] Are these guys the next on the stage?

[00:18:03] I would say very much so. I think they've grown up pretty quickly and I think just the things that you see even that you didn't think you would see from athleticism and size.

[00:18:15] I mean look at Victor Wemm and Yama. I mean you'd be doing a game.

[00:18:20] We were hoping to look at Victor Wemm and Yama in Detroit.

[00:18:23] Exactly. The rigged lotteries two years in a row.

[00:18:26] If you'd have placed him in a game in, you know, 1985 against Michael Jordan need to people would run for the access because they wouldn't know what was going on.

[00:18:35] But yeah, I know I definitely think that this way of talent and the young talent, you know how like you said Anthony Edwards,

[00:18:41] I could watch him play every night and stuff that he does is just incredible.

[00:18:46] You know, I've seen you know, brunch and seven a great year for sure. But no, definitely definitely kind of see in the changing the guard a little bit and especially with with Yo Kitch and Donchitch with the European factor with those those lot of players coming from overseas.

[00:19:01] You didn't see that as much in the 70s, 80s, 90s and even early 2000s era.

[00:19:06] So I think that would be the game going a little more global and seeing these type of talents that have access to the game.

[00:19:13] And it's definitely a quality changing the guard.

[00:19:16] Right. So Steve, we talk about the difference between the playoffs and the regular season regular season.

[00:19:23] We've got low-admanagements. We've got fake injuries.

[00:19:27] We've got all sorts of things so that guys don't generally play more than 70 75 games.

[00:19:33] I think he vote with overwhelmingly passive somebody said, how about we make the regular season 50 games and we get right to the playoffs?

[00:19:40] But that's not the case. What from a coaches standpoint, what do you see as the biggest difference between regular season and the playoffs?

[00:19:49] And how is it that every player seems to have an extra gear they've been holding off on?

[00:19:55] Yeah, it's definitely a long season.

[00:19:58] You know, you kind of from from an outsider originally, you kind of don't understand the the the rigors that go into it.

[00:20:06] But you spend a little more time like even for our season within the G league season that's you know, 50 game to does still seem like a lot.

[00:20:13] You know, you're traveling into cities at 3am and trying to get sleep and you know, well, well, you know, it's definitely a really unique lifestyle.

[00:20:22] And you have a lot of time, a lot of downtime, but it is at a high performance level.

[00:20:27] It does wear on you.

[00:20:29] I don't have any data to back up any type of injuries and the playoffs that are connected to the regular season with players sitting in those type of things and resting, but

[00:20:40] I think the difference between the two, I mean it's tough from a you know, the NBA is definitely the focused on entertainment.

[00:20:48] So I think that there's a lot of free flowing play. You see games that now are back to score in 130, 140 points a game.

[00:20:56] I think players and there's a lot of fouls called that you know, allow them to take, take softer hits and get to the line and shoot a lot of free throws.

[00:21:07] But at the same time, I think in the playoffs that whether it comes from the officiating side of that or even the player side, I think that.

[00:21:15] I think the entertainment aspect of it goes out a little, out the door a little bit.

[00:21:19] I think the intensity ramps up a little bit more and there's a little more freedom defensively in contact and so on that may not may not go in the regular season.

[00:21:29] So I just think that the difference is just kind of that intensity level and I think the players match that because it is a long season.

[00:21:36] You know, I'm not not the huge you know, you've got to you got to span it out a little bit but definitely a whole new level in the playoffs.

[00:21:42] Well, Paul, I'm going to take that one step further. I really think it's an entirely different game in the playoffs from a physicality standpoint.

[00:21:49] Been watching some of the Minnesota series and it was texting with your friend to mind and I said, I feel like I'm watching a game in 1986 and it's wonderful.

[00:21:57] Guys are getting knocked down and they're continuing to play with the one exception that we still are stopping to review so many thinking plays and these referees are becoming a

[00:22:12] famous as the players because they got the camera right there at the scoring table, look right up their nostrils.

[00:22:17] So what are you seeing as you watch this game as a guy who's just kind of getting drawn into basketball a little bit from a flow standpoint and an officiating standpoint and a physicality standpoint?

[00:22:29] Yeah, Bill, I'm enjoying the playoffs this year. Like I said, more than I have the last several years.

[00:22:38] Being your friend, I get the constant disc contend Holy disc contend around replay and all the stuff and 27 different camera angles for you out of who's fingernail touched the ball last and all that kind of stuff.

[00:22:54] But I am enjoying the game. What I'm trying to figure out and maybe Steve, this would be a question. You can answer.

[00:23:00] I'm trying to figure out if the game is better now than it was back in the Pistons bulls era better. How?

[00:23:13] I guess, okay, as a coach, do you prefer today's game?

[00:23:17] Do you prefer the way it was back then? Totally unfair question.

[00:23:22] But this is coming from a guy who constantly is getting brought by people telling me that LeBron's ago and he's better than my calling. I have this reaction that I just can't deal with.

[00:23:32] They met Ronnie.

[00:23:34] Ronnie, yeah.

[00:23:35] Yeah, that's I mean, it's tough. It's a lot of what Colin talking heads like to talk about areas.

[00:23:43] It's difficult to do almost merely impossible. I probably haven't been in the game long enough to from a coaching aspect.

[00:23:50] I mean, I really I enjoyed watching rip Hamilton run off 10 screens and get a mid range shot in the early 2000s and the Pistons win 74 to 71.

[00:24:02] Obviously, I know the game has gone more to a spread type offense that just gives a lot more spacing.

[00:24:11] Obviously, you know, the Steph Curry era has changed it from the excitement of the amount of threes.

[00:24:16] I mean, every year you see new records being broken. It's not because they're better shooters. It's because they're shooting more and more threes.

[00:24:24] Yeah. As an offensive junkie for the game of basketball, I think this playing within the parameters of the game that I like them equally as much.

[00:24:34] You know, I think the goal is just to try and score as many as the other other team and from an offensive mindset.

[00:24:40] I enjoy them equally as much. So but to compare them, it's so difficult to do. I think I will never understand. I'll never understand the propensity of driving to the basket.

[00:24:51] Having a fairly wide open layup and passing that up to kick it outside for somebody to bring a three over and over and over and over again. It just drives me nuts. It worked for Golden State.

[00:25:01] They have a great shelter coaching actually on top of that, it's it's analytics.

[00:25:07] It's the good. It's the shot selection. It's the if I'm shooting 72% at the rim. I can score more points by shooting 38% from three on that same shot.

[00:25:19] So if you have a team that, you know, is in the red zone around the basket but they're in the green zone or yellow zone from beyond the arc. Then simple math. It's, you know, you're trying to score more than a team.

[00:25:33] But on those nights when the 3.0% is 17%. It is hideous thing to watch and it's just start. So Brian, let me bring you into the conversation as a fan.

[00:25:44] I'm going to give you the sector. You are in charge. You are writing a top the throne of your the ZAR. Adam Silver reports to you.

[00:25:53] Is replay done or we get to keep it?

[00:25:57] They're going to keep it.

[00:25:58] No, you as the ZAR.

[00:26:00] I am going to keep it.

[00:26:03] I want the right play. Like I want the right call. I think there's been too many instances where it's come down to the wrong call.

[00:26:11] And I mean, you've seen it even in this series where like at the end of the game, the moving screen and game won't like that replay.

[00:26:19] People can play in all they want about that call. It was replayed.

[00:26:23] Like so it takes some of the.

[00:26:27] The objectiveness out of it. So I like, I like it and Scott Foster last night was at the replay more than probably any game, you know, probably five, seven games combined.

[00:26:40] But like I thought they did a good job trying to keep the game flowing even though he had to keep going back to the replay.

[00:26:46] So I think it's a good thing for the game.

[00:26:49] And yet they don't replay a double dribble, a kickball.

[00:26:53] You know, so you're in the last couple minutes, Steve has a coach and you've got to replay on this particular incident, but not on the other one because they say that's not covered.

[00:27:01] And my point would be if you're going to do some of it, you better do all of it.

[00:27:05] And if you're going to do all of it, we've got no flow to the end of any game because every stinking trip down the floor is going to be stopped.

[00:27:13] And that's hard to watch man.

[00:27:16] Yeah, no, it's a I think it's trending in a good direction as far as the you know, you only get the two challenges. You have to win the first to get the second.

[00:27:25] Yeah, definitely would agree that I'd you know the streamlining of it because it's funny and you sit at home and you see the replay in four seconds and you're like, oh, he definitely kick that or didn't kick that right.

[00:27:37] But then you have to wait two minutes for phone call for the head said for the announcement.

[00:27:42] So I think that'll that'll be more and more you know, trending in the right direction.

[00:27:46] I will also tell you that I'm on the opposite end of this spectrum with you because I have the luxury of in our on our G league team.

[00:27:54] I'm in the second row so I actually do our video. So I am part of our replay challenge. So if the coach looks at me, I have the video in front of me.

[00:28:04] So I love nothing more than a replay. So that's always kind of my time to focus in and that's awesome.

[00:28:13] Do you have some impact on the game?

[00:28:15] Do you make it a big dramatic presentation like you clear your throat straight in your tie stand up and give the dramatic thumbs down or thumbs up?

[00:28:22] I've got a proposal for you. This is this is for all of sports by the way, but we'll apply it to basketball. How about this?

[00:28:29] If you challenge a play, that's fine. You've got your challenges. You've got your two, your 10 whatever there's 84 TV time outs anyway. So it shouldn't matter if you if you win the challenge, you know, get the ball or whatever the outcome.

[00:28:42] If you lose the challenge, two free throws for the other team.

[00:28:47] It's someone brought that up on a, I was at the late night crew brought that up maybe or something, but I'm very bad.

[00:28:54] I don't hate it. I think there's, you know, if there's reward, there's penalizing as well at the same time. It's not a, you know, maybe it's one technical for the amp. But no, that's unique. I don't hate it.

[00:29:07] That's unique. Okay Steve.

[00:29:10] That's a nice Steve by the way, that Steve's way of saying going to be with Bill this weekend and we're going to eat really good food and I don't want to be stuck at the kids table.

[00:29:19] Yeah, I'm just going to, I'm just going to call you unique whenever I need you to.

[00:29:23] You're a little bit of a lot.

[00:29:24] So here's my question. I'll see, I got to ask tell us about a time where like you told the coach definitely challenged this one and then it didn't go your way and he had to turn around and look at you and be like dude, you're killing me.

[00:29:37] So that was your next Steve.

[00:29:40] Yeah, I was confident that I would be very much on it.

[00:29:44] The first challenge of the year, I learned the hard way because when I get the feed, I see about there's like a four second delay on the bench for my feed.

[00:29:57] So I'll be able to watch the game, watch the play and then I looked down and I'll be able to speed it up slow down.

[00:30:03] But I'm only getting like the same broadcast angle that everyone else is getting. I don't have a bunch of different angles.

[00:30:09] But I remember the first there was a follow play that a couple of our guys went up to the ball together and their guy tried to tip it in and one of their own players hit his arm.

[00:30:20] And they called a follow on us and it's tough because like one of our guys was like, hey, I didn't hit him. I didn't hit him.

[00:30:26] You're awesome.

[00:30:27] Yeah, you go like this. So I only watched the first part of the play and I said, oh we're good.

[00:30:32] You know, we can we're diving it. Thumbs up and say we're good and challenging it. So we go. We call the time out. We go to challenge in a zirly on in a season.

[00:30:40] You know, plan on going 100% the whole year. I'm going to get and I look back down at the computer and I watched the continuation of the follow through and he landed right on top of the guy who tip the ball in.

[00:30:53] Oh, and it was a bit of a heat followed and it wasn't even close. And I didn't realize because I wasn't focused enough on I thought the follow they called is at the rim.

[00:31:01] But it was really the guy came down on top of them. And one of our assistants was watching it and he said, oh, he definitely followed him. And I looked at it and I watched it and I was just like, it's that was a bad start.

[00:31:11] I was going to throw a game.

[00:31:13] Did they come over and slowly take the tablet away from you and just ask you to slide down one more seat on the bench.

[00:31:20] Okay, Brian, you are the unique combination of a guy who is in Colorado Springs and a fan of the nicks in the bill. So here's your hypothetical question.

[00:31:30] You're being offered a pair of tickets either in a suite on the 50 yard line at the AFC Championship game in Buffalo or on the floor for game seven nicks versus the timber wolves in the NBA finals.

[00:31:48] You can only have one, which one are you taking?

[00:31:52] I'm taking the finals that's the finals. Like if it was Super Bowl or finals, I'd be super bowl white.

[00:32:00] Oh, okay.

[00:32:02] Yeah.

[00:32:03] You're going finals.

[00:32:04] All right. Well, let's go and find us.

[00:32:05] I should have asked the question with a little more challenge to it like Super Bowl versus finals or Western Conference Finals.

[00:32:12] Okay.

[00:32:13] Let's just build which is going to happen first right next are going to the NBA finals or the bills are going to the Super Bowl which is going to happen first.

[00:32:21] Man, if they were healthy this year, I get Randall's playing right now and I know that's the what is but I would love to see OG and Randall and bitch like in Bogdan like I would just are going on I would just love to see them healthy because

[00:32:42] Well, that it's frustrating.

[00:32:44] That's not an answer to my question by the way.

[00:32:46] I know.

[00:32:49] It's hard because the nicks or the bills are in the middle of a reset in some ways.

[00:32:54] Yeah.

[00:32:55] They sell Josh out but they've gotten younger and are they are they right up where they were last year?

[00:33:02] I can't tell you because it's just a new year.

[00:33:05] And with Josh Allen, you know anything's possible.

[00:33:08] I think I mean when your cut quarterbacks is good to Josh Allen, I think you can go to the Super Bowl really quickly but when you look at the next roster.

[00:33:16] How about this?

[00:33:18] Both next year.

[00:33:19] Both next year.

[00:33:20] Oh, let's not get greedy Mr. We're trying to do some things here and Detroit.

[00:33:24] It's been a long time.

[00:33:25] Oh, wait.

[00:33:26] To the track my world.

[00:33:28] I'm going to say a Lions band should be here.

[00:33:31] Come on.

[00:33:32] I'm going to say a Lions band should be here.

[00:33:35] Well, I think we should be here because it's a world where you get this guy.

[00:33:38] But my fault that your Lions ownership has been terrible for years and haven't gotten confident people.

[00:33:41] The guy who loves James Dolland is telling me about terrible ownership.

[00:33:45] I've never said I love James Dolland.

[00:33:48] I love the next.

[00:33:49] It just happens he owns the next.

[00:33:51] I love it.

[00:33:52] By the way, while all of this has been going on while the NBA playoffs and the NHL play

[00:33:56] and the NHL playoffs have been going on.

[00:33:58] Under the darkest of night in a smoke-filled back room,

[00:34:01] they had the NBA draft lottery,

[00:34:04] where once again somehow my pistons end up

[00:34:06] with a fifth pick even though they're the worst team

[00:34:08] in the history of organized basketball.

[00:34:11] And Steve, you would know this,

[00:34:14] there's an NBA draft combine taking place,

[00:34:17] which doesn't get nearly the press

[00:34:19] of the NFL draft combine.

[00:34:21] And at the combine,

[00:34:23] there was a young man with the last name of James.

[00:34:27] First name, Brani.

[00:34:29] And this kid, first of all, let me say this very clearly.

[00:34:34] I wish nothing but the best for this young man.

[00:34:36] I don't know reason whatsoever to be annoyed with him.

[00:34:40] I don't, not a big fan of his dad,

[00:34:41] but this kid is, he's got a clean slate as far as I'm concerned.

[00:34:46] But you talk about the weight of expectation.

[00:34:49] Found a kid who's just trying to prove

[00:34:51] that he belongs, and there's a lot of skepticism

[00:34:54] as to whether or not he does.

[00:34:56] Brani James is being talked about either,

[00:35:01] there's no way on Earth, he should be in the combine.

[00:35:04] The, yeah, the combine,

[00:35:06] there's no way he should be a draft pick all the way up

[00:35:09] to he might slide somewhere in the late first round.

[00:35:13] Here's Brani himself talking a little bit

[00:35:15] about his own prospects.

[00:35:17] My dream has always been to put my name out here

[00:35:26] and I never thought about his name.

[00:35:29] I'm not mad, but of course he's brought it up for the time.

[00:35:35] It's hard to hear the couldn't apparently get Brani

[00:35:37] a microphone that just picked up his own voice

[00:35:40] in that setting, but he said,

[00:35:42] I'm just trying to get my name out there

[00:35:43] and trying to play hard and I never talked about playing with my dad,

[00:35:47] but I think my dad's talked about that.

[00:35:49] His funny, his voice does sound exactly like his dad.

[00:35:52] So Steve, as you watch, that part of the storyline unfold,

[00:35:57] what's your impression of young Mr. James

[00:36:00] and what his prospects look like in this

[00:36:03] soon to becoming draft and please tell me

[00:36:05] he's not at coming to Detroit?

[00:36:08] I can't guarantee anything there.

[00:36:10] I don't know what I should about

[00:36:11] we'll go on in the, the 313 there, but,

[00:36:15] no, I think for him, I mean,

[00:36:18] they talked about about, you know,

[00:36:19] he's always been listed at 640,

[00:36:21] but now he's truly 640 and it happened.

[00:36:23] That's up to you.

[00:36:24] Big difference.

[00:36:26] Yeah, I think one thing though,

[00:36:28] it's unique about him,

[00:36:29] it's obviously had great resources.

[00:36:32] You know, he's got a name for himself.

[00:36:33] Yeah, there's an insurmountable amount of pressure

[00:36:36] that he's gonna have to deal with,

[00:36:37] but I always kind of go back to watching one of my fair players,

[00:36:43] actually was Fred Bhandley, who helped the Raptors

[00:36:45] in a championship.

[00:36:47] He's a six-point on draft the guy

[00:36:49] has nowhere near the athleticism that a Barani James has.

[00:36:54] And I think there's so many types of players

[00:36:56] that obviously he could have gotten a draft,

[00:36:59] a combine invite because who he is that I don't know,

[00:37:02] but at the same time, I think that so many guys,

[00:37:06] they definitely need the opportunity

[00:37:08] to get into the game.

[00:37:10] I think there's some ways that he could impact the game

[00:37:13] just from his athleticism.

[00:37:14] He could be a really good defensive player,

[00:37:16] a 3 and D, you know,

[00:37:17] just, I mean, my guy Duncan Robinson wasn't,

[00:37:20] if you told me the seventh man

[00:37:21] off the University of Michigan bench

[00:37:23] was gonna be a $20 million top shooter in the NBA.

[00:37:27] I had to told you you were crazy too.

[00:37:28] So I didn't even say so many what ifs,

[00:37:30] it's fun to talk about, but you know,

[00:37:33] I'm like you said, I clean slate, I'm pulling for him.

[00:37:36] I would not be surprised if he has,

[00:37:38] you know, marginal to more than marginal success in the NBA.

[00:37:42] All right, one time around the horn here,

[00:37:44] NBA playoff, wrap up, talk who are the two teams

[00:37:48] in the finals, Brian will let you lead us off.

[00:37:52] At her heart, are you gonna talk with your head

[00:37:55] or are you a heart rate?

[00:37:57] I just can't stand the Celtics.

[00:37:59] So how can I say that?

[00:38:00] Hey man.

[00:38:02] And you just have they played a real team yet?

[00:38:06] I'll say, Nick's in nuggets.

[00:38:10] All right, Steve, where are you going with this one?

[00:38:13] Not the last.

[00:38:14] All right, Paul, what do you got?

[00:38:16] I'm a Brian.

[00:38:17] I'm picking the next mostly because I want Nate Murray

[00:38:20] to be angry, who's our resident Celtics

[00:38:24] apologists on this podcast.

[00:38:25] Yeah.

[00:38:26] And I kind of, I want to root against the Celtics.

[00:38:30] There's just that.

[00:38:31] And I'm picking the nuggets.

[00:38:32] I feel like they are showing up

[00:38:34] at exactly the right time and Yo Kitch is,

[00:38:39] he's on a heater right now.

[00:38:40] I cannot get enough of Yo Kitch.

[00:38:42] I'll jump ahead and play a sound bite

[00:38:44] that we were gonna save for a little bit later on.

[00:38:46] But this guy is accurately describing himself

[00:38:50] as a freak of nature.

[00:38:52] I mean, I had open, open lane and just

[00:38:55] you know, I'm the freak of nature.

[00:38:58] And why not to show my athleticism?

[00:39:06] That's a great sense of humor.

[00:39:08] He is a freak of nature.

[00:39:09] The things this guy can do make no sense

[00:39:12] for somebody that size.

[00:39:13] So I would also concur that I think

[00:39:15] I think I see kind of a Celtics.

[00:39:17] No good.

[00:39:18] It's fine.

[00:39:18] I don't necessarily want it that way,

[00:39:20] but that's where it seems to be headed Steve.

[00:39:22] How about you?

[00:39:23] Yeah.

[00:39:24] So I always find myself cheering for the referees

[00:39:29] to have a really good game and everyone

[00:39:30] to stay healthy.

[00:39:31] So that being said, I have zero prediction.

[00:39:34] Well, wait a second.

[00:39:35] We don't come out of this show to walk

[00:39:36] the fine line down the middle just because you're

[00:39:38] gonna have to send out a resume in a year

[00:39:40] to one of these teams that you picked against.

[00:39:43] I'm just a huge Scott Foster fan.

[00:39:44] That's all I say.

[00:39:45] And then what's next?

[00:39:48] You can go to another person.

[00:39:50] Oh, Scott Foster.

[00:39:52] That's the very funny.

[00:39:55] The Angel Hernandez of the NBA.

[00:39:57] How about that?

[00:39:59] All right, speaking of officiating,

[00:40:00] let's go into our Holy discontent.

[00:40:03] Time to blow off some steam.

[00:40:10] Get it off your chest, rant about

[00:40:12] what's most bothering you.

[00:40:13] I got a lot of problems with you people now?

[00:40:16] You're gonna hear about it.

[00:40:17] time for holy discontent. Yeah, Steve, you're new to us if if you have something

[00:40:23] you want to get off your chest will let you kind of go a little bit later in the

[00:40:26] lineup here but it's our cathartic time to sort of vent a little bit. Paul, what

[00:40:31] do you have? Well, my Holy discontent this week is kind of motivated by my

[00:40:38] empathy for Brani to be honest with you. I think about LeBron's parenting of

[00:40:44] his boy and I think, okay, when he first when LeBron first started talking

[00:40:49] about yeah, I want to play with my son in the league. I was like, that's actually

[00:40:55] pretty cool. Like is it that I would say something like that but I wouldn't

[00:40:58] keep saying it and I wouldn't keep talking about it in such a way that people are

[00:41:04] going to now wonder if Brani does get picked if he goes any if he ends up

[00:41:10] going to the lake or whatever happens. People are going to wonder if he got that

[00:41:15] shot just because of his dad so I don't know how it's a win, how it turns out

[00:41:21] to be a win win other than a cute story and I'm feeling bad for Brani on

[00:41:26] because of that and it's another chance for me to grow a little by LeBron

[00:41:29] and I'm always going to take that matter where it is or a break game. So there you go.

[00:41:33] Brian, what do you have? You know, I just get tired of talking hands and how

[00:41:39] the talking heads get to create fanaratives. Yeah, the people that follow teams and

[00:41:44] our with teams all the time like what they say for some reason doesn't become

[00:41:49] the main narrative. It's what the main people on the talking head shows get to

[00:41:54] do and it's frustrating as a mixed fan to get to hear after one loss all

[00:41:58] these points that just didn't make any sense and then they get proven wrong

[00:42:02] and yet there's no set of accountability for that. Like when in life, we allow

[00:42:07] the stages to anything we want and don't get all the problems. So there's my

[00:42:10] Holy discontent. Very fair. Man, there's enough panels to close. Of course here

[00:42:15] we are at the four of us sitting in four Zoom windows is talking heads but I

[00:42:18] don't just stay in your point. I understand your point entirely. Steve, is there

[00:42:22] any or not creating the narratives though? That is true. Anything irritating

[00:42:26] you Steve? Yeah, just one thing that's really kind of always been on my mind.

[00:42:30] I hosted a watch party the other day watching one of the games ordered about

[00:42:34] $80 worth of pizza and wings. Went to pick it up and they wanted to charge me

[00:42:40] 50 extra cents for the ranch and marinara. It's something I just can't get

[00:42:46] over. I'd rather you just charge me a hundred dollars who gave me all the

[00:42:49] sauces I wanted. I hate that more than anything. That's really good and very

[00:42:55] spot on. Really true. Man, okay my Holy discontent takes this completely away from

[00:43:01] the world of basketball and into the world of golf. As you all know, the world

[00:43:04] of the PGA Tour and Liv golf have been at odds for a couple years now. One of

[00:43:08] the big names on the PGA Tour who departed for Liv is John Rom who was a

[00:43:12] master's champion. He's the PGA champion. He's a great player and a very thoughtful

[00:43:17] guy. So it was especially surprising to hear him this week during his press

[00:43:22] conference for the PGA championship say I'm still a member of the PGA tour. Well

[00:43:27] no you're not. You actually gave that up and I'm a big fan and I'm a big

[00:43:32] supporter of the tour. No, you took $500 million to leave the tour and go

[00:43:37] I mean he was literally just spouting off things that were we're literally

[00:43:41] not true. Factsually inaccurate. My friend Aaron Oberholzer who is one of

[00:43:47] the analysts for golf channel did not appreciate what John Rom had to say. Because

[00:43:52] he doesn't get it. As a PGA tour player and as a PGA tour member, still a card

[00:43:57] carrying PGA tour member and someone who supports the PGA tour not happy with

[00:44:02] what's going on right now obviously. But supports the PGA tour I'm

[00:44:06] in sense by that by that by the level to your point of naivete that you don't

[00:44:11] get it. You still don't get it. You took 500 large and then you're gonna sit

[00:44:16] there and tell me oh you still feel like a PGA tour member I want to support

[00:44:19] the PGA tour and I want the P I mean I want to I want to ring his neck through

[00:44:23] the television. I'm that mad right now. I'm that mad. There you go I

[00:44:28] don't know that it would work out all that well for Aaron to try that would

[00:44:31] John Rom but I understand the sentiment and that's why he's he's my holy

[00:44:35] discontent. Let's move over to our feature called that guy. Right now this

[00:44:42] minute today this week. So the the that guy signal we kind of actually already

[00:44:54] jumped ahead and stolen our own thunder on this one but this is where we we

[00:44:57] kind of sing out the praises of somebody who's doing things the right way

[00:45:00] that we wanted to say well done good job. Kudos pat on the back after our

[00:45:04] holy discontent rant so a Paul let you go first. Yeah my that guy shout out

[00:45:10] this week goes to PK Suban who on the NHL network was giving a dose of

[00:45:17] reality to New York Rangers fans after they they won their what their first

[00:45:23] seven playoff games right they swept the capitals and then they were up

[00:45:27] three oh and Carolina and look out. Carolina's one two in a row and I think

[00:45:31] they I think they played tonight maybe for game six and he was asked if mixed

[00:45:38] fan at mixed fans. If Ranger fans should be getting nervous and I just like

[00:45:42] the way he answered that question. Well we know that Rangers fans are going

[00:45:45] to be very concerned because every single Rangers fan thinks that the

[00:45:49] Rangers are going to go on to feed it all the way to the Stanley Cup final.

[00:45:52] Well I'm here to tell them they're not they're they're playing a real team and

[00:45:56] the Carolina hurricanes are for real. There you go. I just like the straight

[00:46:01] shooter in yeah get real get real people my that guy it's coach Harba and here's

[00:46:08] why I know I know Paul's tired of coach Harba I know Brian is probably like

[00:46:12] what what are we doing here. I really think we are we are in the era and the presence

[00:46:19] of Yogi Barra in the form of a khaki wearing football coach. The things he says

[00:46:26] are so bizarre and off the wall living in an RV near the beach in San Diego when he moves

[00:46:33] out there talking about the chicken being a nervous bird having a garage sale in an

[00:46:38] arbor before his family moves out west and then this week he was doing some sort of a

[00:46:43] press conference he's out of breath entirely as he steps to the microphone and says this.

[00:46:49] 334 in the morning woke up. He's straight at the ceiling and said to myself it's not just another

[00:46:56] day it's two day and maybe that's just another way of saying attack this day when the enthusiasm

[00:47:03] unknown mankind but yeah it was a it was a great hit. It just cracks me up and Steve I want you to

[00:47:10] use the next time you have a team meeting I want you to use it's two day it's not just any day

[00:47:18] you just see what kind of looks you get back from the fellas now will be unique. I'm going

[00:47:25] to try that this weekend on our TV shoot and see how the guys react Brian anybody you want to call

[00:47:31] out in the that guy's like you know I'm going to be called the homework for this but that's okay

[00:47:37] coming off a terrible loss on Sunday we have Jaylin Brunsyn who owns it right away and takes it

[00:47:45] and part of what you talked about is just his relentless work and someone who first on all star

[00:47:52] like he could fight for his own fame he doesn't just seems like a humble guy and it seems like

[00:47:58] he's going about his career in the right way and I just I'm impressed with his humility.

[00:48:06] Yeah well said good yeah Steve anybody you want to praise absolutely. Scott Foster maybe

[00:48:13] I'll let Scott slide by this one. My that guy is in in the zoom call right here Mr. Bill Hobbson

[00:48:21] 25 plus odd years developing content for Michigan golf live and given me the opportunity to

[00:48:27] tag along it's been a heck of a ride so thank you my friend. Well I appreciate that and wait

[00:48:32] till we get rained on this weekend and see if you feel the same way. So it's good by do appreciate

[00:48:36] that we are blessed that's for sure to do things that they're very fun and we are spoiled rod and so I won't

[00:48:43] pretend otherwise. Alright let's close things out with our three minute message.

[00:48:47] A Homer I'd like you to remember Matthew 7 26. Oh foolish man who built his house on sound and you remember

[00:48:58] Matthew 21 17 and he left them and went out of the city into Bethany and he lodged there.

[00:49:08] Yeah think about it. Think about it all right so for those of you that don't know

[00:49:16] we try to take the last three minutes or so of every episode and talk about something that's

[00:49:21] loose we connected to the topic of our conversation here and apply it to real life and there's

[00:49:27] another story that's out there that could have been my that guy segment but I just I'm struck by the whole

[00:49:33] Harrison but her graduation speech that he gave I've been a Dictane College I don't know if you guys saw this

[00:49:42] he was asked to speak at their graduation and he had some things to say about women and he is the

[00:49:49] subject he's in the eye of the storm right now because there's a lot of people trying to cancel him

[00:49:55] there's a there's 30,000 signatures in Kansas City calling for him to be cut from the team and I just

[00:50:02] why don't read to your guys I just want to read to you guys the part of his commencement speech that

[00:50:09] was so controversial and I want to remind you that this is what three days after Mother's Day and I want

[00:50:16] to ask you I'm not even gonna come and I just want to read it and I want to let all of us just think

[00:50:21] about what he had to say he said for the ladies present today congratulate and again he's talking

[00:50:27] to at a commencement a college commitment for the ladies present today congratulations on an amazing

[00:50:32] accomplishment you should be proud of all that you have achieved at this point in your young lives

[00:50:37] I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you the women who had the most

[00:50:42] thaiabolical lies told to you how many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are

[00:50:49] thinking about all the promotions and titles you're gonna get in your career some of you may go on

[00:50:54] to lead successful careers in the world but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most

[00:50:59] excited about your marriage and the children that you will bring into this world I can tell you that my

[00:51:05] beautiful wife is about would be the first to say her life truly started when she began living her

[00:51:11] vocation as a wife and as a mother I'm on this stage today and I'm able to be the man that I am because

[00:51:18] I have a wife who leans into her vocation I'm beyond blessed with the many towns God has given me but it

[00:51:24] cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because the girl I met in band class back

[00:51:31] in middle school would convert to the faith become my wife and embrace one of the most important

[00:51:37] titles of all maker that was his controversial state that's what's gonna get him canceled right

[00:51:44] that's what's gonna get him canceled proverbs 31 honor her for all that her hands have done

[00:51:49] happy mothers day to all moms that I don't know you are up there listening to church view sports

[00:51:56] but happy mothers day to who you are and thank you Harrison Bucker for standing up for what you think.

[00:52:02] I believe there's a passage in scripture that says and a kicker shall lead them.

[00:52:07] I'm not really sure where where that's found but I Brian you can look that up for us if you

[00:52:11] would I know it's in there somewhere and while Steve is on his old testament NBA association

[00:52:16] tour next year in Macedonia, Philippe Philippe and Thessalonica maybe you can see some of the original

[00:52:22] language of that good to have you guys with us thanks Brian thanks Steve really fun talking with you

[00:52:27] we will certainly need to do it again Steve drives safely we'll see you this weekend up north and

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