Jeff Goodman returns to the show after a very busy month, to break down the biggest stories in the NBA right now including Bob Ryan and Gary Tanguay's concerns about the Celtics, the most exciting playoff matchups coming up, and the end of Warriors as we know them. That, and much more!
00:00 - Worries about Celtics
05:07 - C’s bench usage
06:35 - Knicks / Sixers
08:23 - Orlando Magic
09:30 - Play-In Tournament
10:20 - PrizePicks
11:20 - Blow up the Warriors?
14:42 - Lakers / Nuggets
16:50 - Suns / TWolves
19:08 - Look around the West
21:35 - Zion Williamson
23:05 - Michael Cooper
28:09 - NCAA Tournaments’ Results
This episode is brought to you by Prize Picks! Get in on the excitement with PrizePicks, America’s No. 1 Fantasy Sports App, where you can turn your hoops knowledge into serious cash. Download the app today and use code CLNS for a first deposit match up to $100! Pick more. Pick less. It’s that Easy! Football season may be over, but the action on the floor is heating up. Whether it’s Tournament Season or the fight for playoff homecourt, there’s no shortage of high stakes basketball moments this time of year. Quick withdrawals, easy gameplay and an enormous selection of players and stat types are what make PrizePicks the #1 daily fantasy sports app!
00:00 - Worries about Celtics
05:07 - C’s bench usage
06:35 - Knicks / Sixers
08:23 - Orlando Magic
09:30 - Play-In Tournament
10:20 - PrizePicks
11:20 - Blow up the Warriors?
14:42 - Lakers / Nuggets
16:50 - Suns / TWolves
19:08 - Look around the West
21:35 - Zion Williamson
23:05 - Michael Cooper
28:09 - NCAA Tournaments’ Results
This episode is brought to you by Prize Picks! Get in on the excitement with PrizePicks, America’s No. 1 Fantasy Sports App, where you can turn your hoops knowledge into serious cash. Download the app today and use code CLNS for a first deposit match up to $100! Pick more. Pick less. It’s that Easy! Football season may be over, but the action on the floor is heating up. Whether it’s Tournament Season or the fight for playoff homecourt, there’s no shortage of high stakes basketball moments this time of year. Quick withdrawals, easy gameplay and an enormous selection of players and stat types are what make PrizePicks the #1 daily fantasy sports app!
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SportsTranscript
00:00 [MUSIC]
00:10 Hey, hey, hey, look who's back.
00:25 >> [LAUGH]
00:26 >> The long lost son.
00:27 The Jeff Goodman Show is brought to you by PrizePix,
00:30 exclusive daily fantasy partner of CLNS Media.
00:33 Pick more, pick less.
00:35 It's that easy with PrizePix.
00:37 Jeff, welcome back.
00:39 I give you a hug over Zoom.
00:42 >> Good to see you guys.
00:43 >> I miss you guys.
00:44 >> Good to see you too.
00:45 >> All right, we gotta get going here.
00:48 Bob and I have been, we've been kind of nervous with the Celtics.
00:50 We've had too much time in our hands, quite frankly.
00:53 >> Why, nervous?
00:54 >> Well, they don't finish strong.
00:57 I'm wondering about, they go in with the wrong attitude.
01:00 I know they play the winner of the heat,
01:02 winner of Jimmy Butler and the Heat and the Bulls.
01:04 So it should be an easy opening round.
01:06 >> Yeah, I mean, that's the only worry, right?
01:10 The only worry is it looks too easy.
01:12 And it looks like an easy sweep for the Celtics.
01:17 My guess is it ends up being 4-1.
01:20 Maybe they took their foot off the gas in one of these games.
01:23 And I would think the Bulls win this, but who knows?
01:27 And the Bulls have been playing well, they really have.
01:30 Actually, Billy Donovan's done a great job with this team
01:32 without a true point guard.
01:34 Imagine if this team ever had a healthy Lonzo ball.
01:37 But I just think, listen, the road for
01:41 the Celtics looks so easy right now to the NBA Finals.
01:45 And I know that that may be taboo to say, and Bob's probably looking at me like,
01:49 I've done this long enough.
01:52 Don't say that.
01:54 But Giannis is not Giannis right now, he's hurt.
01:59 The Knicks are the two seed.
02:01 They don't have Julius Randle, and I'm not scared of the Knicks, no offense.
02:05 I just, it looks easy.
02:07 It looks like a cakewalk to get to the NBA Finals for the Celtics.
02:11 >> You dismissing Philly?
02:15 >> Yes, yes, after watching Joel Embiid, you look healthier walking around
02:19 the court than Joel Embiid did.
02:22 You look more agile.
02:23 >> Yeah, well, no, if he's in that case, that state,
02:26 then yes, they're not gonna be a major threat.
02:29 No, I just, to me, I just don't trust them yet.
02:34 I wanna see it.
02:35 I wanna see them kick ass against the weak guys and leave no prisoners.
02:42 That's number one.
02:44 Those two Atlanta games bothered me way back when.
02:47 And I wanna see, once we get to the tougher opponents,
02:52 how Coach Mazzulla handles his new weapon that he has this year,
02:58 that he didn't have last year.
03:01 And I'm just, I don't, namely, the 7'3 Latvian.
03:05 And I want him utilized properly, and I'm not sure he will be.
03:09 That's all.
03:11 >> Well, the thing that worries me is the final two minutes of a close game.
03:15 >> And then we got that too.
03:16 >> Bob and I talked about that a lot, Jeff.
03:19 Because quite frankly, Jeff, the Celtics, as soon as they clinched,
03:23 Bob and I were really working hard to come up with something.
03:26 But it's true, I mean, it's the final two minutes of a game.
03:29 For me, that's the one where, but it's a seven game series, so I mean-
03:34 >> But okay, let me talk you off the ledge here.
03:37 Let me talk you off the ledge.
03:39 They now have a point guard who makes quality decisions.
03:44 If they give him the ball.
03:47 >> Right, agree.
03:49 Yes, but the last guy that played that position for
03:53 the Celtics was a disaster.
03:56 >> Right. >> Was a disaster.
03:57 You never knew what you were gonna get.
03:59 And they would leave him open and
04:00 pray that he was the one taking the shot with the game on the line.
04:04 You don't worry about Drew Holiday in that capacity.
04:06 He's gonna move the ball.
04:08 He's gonna make the right decision.
04:09 So is Derek White.
04:11 Jalen Brown is still playing the best basketball of his career on both ends of
04:15 the court.
04:16 And yes, Jason Tatum has to make the right play.
04:21 Generally, I think he's proven he's willing to do that.
04:24 I just, I don't know guys.
04:27 I just think you're fighting for things right now, as you said,
04:29 because there hasn't been a lot to talk about with this team.
04:32 But I think in the playoffs, you're gonna see this team play the right way.
04:36 Because frankly, they've got adults on the court now.
04:40 And in the locker room, you've got a coach who's now not in his first year.
04:44 Now he's still got a lot to prove.
04:47 He's still got a lot to prove.
04:48 Cuz if they bow out early in the playoffs, Joe Mizzou is done.
04:52 I don't care what he did in the regular season.
04:54 It doesn't matter, but I don't expect that.
04:57 I expect them to get at least to the Eastern Conference Finals.
05:00 And in all likelihood, get to the NBA Finals this year.
05:05 >> Here's a new thing that's happened.
05:08 We haven't discussed this necessarily specifically.
05:10 Given what we saw from Peyton Pritchard when he was spotlighted,
05:15 is this effect changed the big picture any about how he will and
05:20 how often he will be used in the playoffs?
05:23 >> Matchup wise, it'll depend on matchup spot.
05:25 I think more than anything.
05:26 >> That's fair.
05:27 >> The beauty is you can play him and again,
05:29 you know what you're gonna get out of Peyton Pritchard now.
05:33 I'm not sure you could have said that the last year or so.
05:36 I think you kinda know what you're gonna get out of him.
05:38 He knows his role, and Mizzou has clearly established his role.
05:42 And Hauser, same thing.
05:45 Like, hey, you've got confidence now.
05:47 When Sam Hauser goes in there, you know what he's in there to do.
05:50 And now he's not a disaster like people thought he'd be on the defensive end
05:55 when he came into the league.
05:56 >> Yeah, I mean, to me, they have the best one to five talent wise.
06:03 They've got the best one to six, seven, eight, nine, right down to ten with Tillman.
06:07 And they have the best roster.
06:12 And wouldn't you think any coach in the league would trade his roster for
06:15 that roster and say, let me work with him, and I'll do my thing.
06:19 So it's such pressure.
06:22 I mean, they're the best T-E-A-M, but they have to go do it.
06:25 They go play basketball in certain circumstances and
06:30 better than they've shown in the past.
06:32 But this is it, they gotta do it with this team right now.
06:36 >> Should the next six a series, Bob, should that be enjoyable?
06:41 >> Well, once again, the Embiid factor.
06:43 They're building it, and the New York Post is building it as Embiid versus Brunson.
06:47 [LAUGH] The seven footer versus the six one, or whatever he is.
06:51 And but Brunson's had a, I think it's worth talking about what a wonderful year
06:56 he's had and how he's emerged as one of the great stars in the NBA.
07:00 And a worthy guy, nothing not to like about Jalen Brunson, we know that.
07:07 So anyway, I think the Knicks will win that series, even without Randle.
07:15 They got on an OB back, and that's important, very important.
07:19 And one thing we learned this year is that when Mitchell Robinson went down,
07:23 they were, my God, guess what, Hartenstein's played pretty well for them.
07:27 And they're not hurting, of course, he's not Joel Embiid, but
07:31 I'm just saying, but he gives them what they need.
07:33 And Thibodeau, fan coach, we know, and they'll go out,
07:38 whenever they go down, if it's the us, quote unquote, they'll get on hard.
07:44 They'll be a quality opponent.
07:48 >> I generally, just as a fan, I've always hated the Knicks.
07:51 But I have to say I have a little affection for this team because I do like
07:54 Brunson, and I like Tibbs.
07:56 I like him this year.
07:57 >> The whole Villanova connection, I mean, Hart's such a cerebral player.
08:03 And Dante DiPenzenzo, there's a big legitimate candidate for
08:08 most improved player.
08:11 >> The only problem is the uniform, I just don't like it, you know what I mean?
08:15 >> [LAUGH] >> Before we move on to the West,
08:18 do you guys have anything else in the East you wanna cover?
08:19 I mean, you mentioned the free speed hurt.
08:22 >> Yeah, you know what I wanna mention?
08:24 The job that Paulo Bencaro has done to get Orlando to the number five seed in
08:29 his second year is insane, insane.
08:32 I knew Paulo was gonna be good.
08:34 >> Yeah. >> First time I saw him was at
08:36 a USA basketball event in Colorado Springs.
08:39 I think he had just finished his sophomore year in high school.
08:43 And I'm like, this is like Chris Webber.
08:45 That's what I felt like when I first saw him.
08:47 And I continue to kind of say that he wasn't quite as big and strong.
08:50 I think I've made that comparison, at that time he wasn't as big, but he's a beast.
08:57 And again, we can talk about what Oklahoma City's done.
09:01 It's taken them a little bit of time and they've got a great core.
09:04 But Paulo, in year two, to flip this franchise like he's been able to do.
09:10 And the beauty in the East is you can do it,
09:12 cuz you've got some garbage teams at the bottom of the East right now.
09:16 I mean, absolute garbage.
09:20 So you don't even have to be that good to make the playoffs anymore,
09:23 especially when you include if you're gonna count playoffs as play in, right?
09:27 It's not very hard now, it's not very hard.
09:29 >> Do we like to play in?
09:30 >> I don't know.
09:33 >> I don't want to.
09:35 Cuz I look at Atlanta and I go, Atlanta shouldn't have a shot at the playoffs.
09:39 You know what I mean?
09:39 I don't know, Bob, what do you think?
09:41 >> No, I don't like it at all.
09:42 I mean, it's totally unnecessary as far as I'm concerned.
09:44 For me, certainly for me it is.
09:46 I mean, I don't like it.
09:49 No, period.
09:50 I just, apparently Adam Silver's obsession with European soccer,
09:54 it's got something to do with this.
09:55 But I don't know.
09:56 >> It's just more money.
09:57 I mean, it's another thing.
09:59 >> And more interest.
10:00 Hey, they've gotten games with Steph Curry and LeBron when they win them.
10:05 >> Right, right, right.
10:07 >> Right?
10:08 >> Right, true.
10:08 >> I don't know.
10:10 >> Then on the other side, you wanna say, well, okay,
10:12 you should be able to make the top eight.
10:15 So I get it.
10:16 I'm like, hey, but we understand why they're doing it.
10:20 >> Football season may be over, but the action on the floor is heating up.
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11:15 [MUSIC]
11:18 >> All right, let's get to the West because Jeff, you brought up a good thing.
11:23 Do you blow up the Warriors now that they're out?
11:26 >> Well, I mean, Clay's gone.
11:29 I mean, we got it.
11:30 Like, honestly, Clay should be gone.
11:33 He had a horrible last game.
11:35 Obviously, we give him so much credit for coming back from major injuries like he
11:39 has, but you can see the writing on the wall now.
11:41 And I just wonder if he'll retire or try to hang on and go somewhere else.
11:45 I kind of hope he retires at this point and goes out.
11:48 I don't know if it's the right way because that final game was a disaster,
11:52 but his contract's up.
11:55 They got a couple more years of staff.
11:56 They got Draymond on the books.
11:59 They got some young guys like Cominga showed some promise this year,
12:01 which surprised me, Trey Jackson Davis.
12:04 >> Yeah.
12:06 >> They gotta do something, though.
12:07 I mean, they gotta get another dude.
12:09 If Clay leaves, they gotta find a way, if you're gonna keep this core together.
12:13 I might just say, you know what?
12:15 It's time to move Draymond, too.
12:16 I just don't know if you're gonna get enough value to move him.
12:19 >> Chief Curry's officially on record as saying he wants them to keep them all,
12:25 including Clay, and wants them to retire as warriors and be lifetime warriors.
12:31 I'm just saying, that's his public stance.
12:33 Don't ask me what he's saying behind the doors.
12:35 >> As long as Clay retires as a warrior today.
12:37 >> [LAUGH] Yeah, well, now Clay did play better near the end, right?
12:42 And then he had that, totally hit the wall in that final game.
12:47 That disaster was 0 for 10, but he actually did play better in the last three
12:50 weeks or a month, and you started thinking, well, he's-
12:54 >> 34, but he's 34 and
12:56 he looks like he's like 39 most days.
12:58 >> No, so, but now they're in a crisis mode.
13:03 But they did, you mentioned those two guys, the kids,
13:06 Kaminga and Tracy Jackson Davis.
13:08 That is exactly what people were saying they had to do,
13:12 was find some young blood, and they look pretty legitimate, the two of them.
13:16 I liked Davis, Jack Davis in college.
13:19 I never saw Kaminga, of course, but Kaminga's come on.
13:23 >> He didn't play in college, he didn't play in college.
13:25 He went straight to the league.
13:26 >> Yeah, right, so I never had no idea.
13:27 >> I saw him on the circuit, I saw him on the AU circuit, and I did not.
13:31 He was highly ranked, but I didn't love him.
13:33 But the great thing if you're in Golden State and you're a young kid,
13:37 what are you gonna do?
13:38 You're gonna learn, right?
13:40 I mean, you are gonna learn how to do it the right way watching the combination of
13:44 Steph, Clay, and Draymond.
13:46 They're very different, but they're gonna work, and
13:49 they're gonna work the right way.
13:51 Now, Draymond's crazy, we know on the court, but the dude is still a worker, and
13:56 he's gonna hold people accountable.
13:59 The one who has always bewildered me is Andrew Wiggins, always, always.
14:06 From the first moment I saw him, I'm just like, there's something missing.
14:10 This dude should be a top five player in the NBA talent-wise.
14:15 And he just plays to the level of his competition.
14:18 He had a great year a couple years ago with Golden State after he was traded.
14:22 And obviously, some things have happened to him personally as well, but
14:26 he looks like an ordinary player.
14:29 >> He never matched that playoff series since then.
14:32 >> Yeah, he's been okay.
14:33 >> He teased people with that, and they just said, we really have something right.
14:36 We thought we really had something there, and they've gotten just meh, meh.
14:40 So it's always been, yeah.
14:42 >> That's him.
14:43 Bob, your thoughts on the Lakers and Denver, that matchup.
14:47 >> Well, it's interesting, of course, that Denver has won the last eight matchups,
14:51 the Lakers and games, and LeBron, of course, properly so,
14:54 is dismissing that as that's his ancient history.
14:56 He doesn't have to do it with what's gonna happen when we play them now.
15:00 But you'd certainly be surprised if the Lakers beat them.
15:05 I mean, I expect Denver to win.
15:06 I still think Denver is the favorite for everything until we prove otherwise.
15:10 And yeah, but it'll be maybe a decent six, maybe, something like that.
15:17 And the Lakers have their moments, I must say.
15:21 They do have their moments.
15:22 And Davis, when he's in there and he's healthy, on a given night that he's
15:26 healthy, as opposed to tomorrow or the day after or yesterday,
15:30 you never know what state you're gonna get him in.
15:34 But he has reminded us on many occasions this year how great he is when he's ready
15:39 to go, and he's a force, he's a terrific force.
15:42 >> Bob, if you're drafting players off this series,
15:46 obviously, Jokic is number one.
15:49 Aren't you then taking Davis and LeBron, don't they have the second and
15:53 third best players on the court every night or no?
15:56 >> Well, and Murray, you could throw him in there.
16:00 But yeah, but basically, yes, LeBron is still a marvel.
16:05 And just don't even think of him to be in 39 when the game starts.
16:13 >> It's just amazing to have LeBron on a team that beat the underdog.
16:16 I mean, I need to get used to it.
16:18 It's a big underdog.
16:19 >> It's just that so weird.
16:20 >> No.
16:21 >> Not just the underdog.
16:23 The key for me is like, will D'Angelo Russell show up and be consistent?
16:27 If he does, you got a third guy and
16:29 that takes some of the pressure off of LeBron and Anthony Davis.
16:33 But Russell and Reeves are both a little bit inconsistent.
16:38 >> Yeah, but Reeves, I'm still one of the great phenomenon is how Reeves
16:43 emerged in those playoffs last year.
16:45 And it really turned himself into a nice NBA player.
16:49 But I expect that.
16:50 But my only question, my big question, not big question, but
16:54 the question of West is this X factor team to me is Phoenix.
16:57 And whether those big three play up to the level they can.
17:03 And if they do, then they're- >> That's an interesting one, Bob,
17:08 because the Wolves and the Suns,
17:10 Bob, that is a true changing of the guard moment, right?
17:13 Like the Wolves come in and then take care of business.
17:18 You sit back and you go, I remember when the Wolves showed up and
17:22 they became a man, or they grew up.
17:25 >> Yeah, no, that's a good, it's interesting.
17:27 I think that's a very good way of putting it.
17:29 And I had my eye on that series for that reason.
17:33 And that's true.
17:35 But I'm just curious to see what's gonna happen with Phoenix Beal.
17:39 It took a long time, but he just settled in.
17:43 And Booker is an Olympian, best remember as well.
17:48 There's been some controversy about that in New York about Brunson not getting
17:52 picked, but anyway, so Phoenix is curious to me.
17:56 They got a chance to silence a lot of people, and we'll see if they can do it.
18:03 So- >> Aren't all these Western, hey, Gary,
18:06 aren't all these Western Conference matchups more intriguing than all
18:09 the Eastern Conference?
18:10 >> There's no doubt.
18:11 Yeah, God, yeah.
18:13 >> Is there one Eastern Conference matchup that you're like, to me,
18:16 all the Western Conference matchups are like the Lakers-
18:19 >> Yeah, I mean, I just like, I like Tibbs.
18:22 So to me, I always like Tibbs, so the Knicks game is a little interesting to me.
18:26 But it's not more compelling, the Lakers, this is it, LeBron, to me.
18:31 LeBron, how are you gonna go out?
18:33 Now, Denver should win it, but LeBron's gonna go.
18:36 I would love to see, Denver's gonna win it, and they should, but
18:39 I would love to see LeBron go out with 40 a game.
18:43 >> Just go on a blaze of glory to me.
18:46 The Wolves in the Sun, I think, is the most intriguing one because of what Bob said.
18:51 I mean, this is like the changing of the guard.
18:54 We've been hearing about Minnesota forever, right?
18:57 So this is, are they gonna knock the old guys off the perch?
19:01 That's the most fascinating series to jump on what Bob said out of the whole thing
19:06 right now, I think.
19:07 >> So what about the OKC in general?
19:11 >> Yeah, I mean, I think, depending on how the bracket comes down to that,
19:16 it comes down to them and Denver, I think.
19:18 >> Yeah.
19:19 >> I don't think- >> What about the one with OKC?
19:21 Were you a regular season deal or
19:25 can you actually do this in the playoffs when it matters?
19:28 >> Well, that's the key, and that's the same thing with Minnesota.
19:31 >> Right, right.
19:31 >> Those two teams, are they ready for prime time?
19:34 >> Yes, yes, and then the Clippers, Mavs.
19:37 Like Kawhi, are you healthy?
19:39 And whoever wins that one gets an Oklahoma City team that nobody trusts yet.
19:46 So you're gonna look at that as like, all right, whoever comes out of there is gonna
19:50 have some pop to where we're gonna be talking about them.
19:53 Legitimately, can they beat Oklahoma City,
19:55 especially if it's Dallas with Luke and Kairi?
19:58 Like you don't wanna- >> Dallas has sneaked up on the rail to be
20:02 a problem when people were paying so
20:05 much attention to so many other compelling stories in the West.
20:08 With the two young teams and with Lakers in this war,
20:11 the Warriors and the Lakers in this sense.
20:13 And Dallas was quietly winning some ball games.
20:15 And Kairi, he's a guaranteed 20, and he's a 40 waiting to happen any night.
20:24 He's so aggravating to have in the mix, personally, but the guy can play.
20:31 The guy has always, he can play.
20:32 >> Hey, we've never denied that, have we?
20:34 >> No, no, sir.
20:35 They can go to the basket as well as any guard his size has ever gone to the basket.
20:39 >> Well, they are the sleeper.
20:40 I mean, they are the sleeper, there's no doubt.
20:43 >> Yeah, so we got lots of intriguing, lots of intriguing-
20:47 >> I mean, we're gonna be up late.
20:49 >> [LAUGH]
20:50 >> Taking naps, boys.
20:51 The West is the way to go.
20:53 I mean, there's no doubt about it.
20:54 I mean, there's just- >> I think the East gets interesting in
20:59 the next round.
21:00 I just don't think there are gonna be a lot of great, intriguing-
21:04 >> Really?
21:05 >> I'm just bummed out that Embiid can never be healthy.
21:08 >> And Giannis, and Giannis right now.
21:11 >> Giannis, right, but I'm just an Embiid guy, and
21:15 I long for the days of Boston, New York, Philly.
21:19 I mean, I just wanna, the fact that the Celtics have defeated the Sixers,
21:23 how many times in a row?
21:24 Like a gazillion, right?
21:26 I would just, I want the Celtics to win, but I would just love a knockdown,
21:29 drag out Boston, Philly, seven game series.
21:33 Would be awesome.
21:34 >> Yeah. >> And it's just not gonna happen.
21:36 >> There's one more significant injury we gotta discuss,
21:40 because it just never ends, Zion.
21:43 And the way that happened to him, dunking, getting his 39th and
21:48 40th points, and then heading right to the locker room.
21:52 And it just never ends.
21:55 When he's out there, he gave the full glimpse of where he can be, but
22:00 he's just not, that body just keeps betraying him in one way or the other.
22:05 >> That game literally encapsulated what's gonna be Zion's career, unfortunately.
22:10 I really believe that, and I've said that since he walked in the league.
22:13 Like, if this dude's healthy, he's a problem, and he's gonna be a problem.
22:18 But, and I remember, I think I said this when they were both coming in the league,
22:22 right, Zion and Chet.
22:24 Like, are they gonna stay healthy?
22:26 >> Yeah. >> Different reasons,
22:27 different bodybuilds.
22:29 >> Totally different reasons.
22:30 >> Yeah.
22:31 >> But that was a shame, cuz we'll never know how that game would have come out.
22:35 And they had momentum, they had come from 18 down, and
22:39 the crowd was going crazy, and then deflation like that.
22:46 God, it's too bad.
22:47 You just feel bad, what can he do?
22:50 I mean, that's his body, and he's lost weight, he's done everything he can.
22:56 But he brings a body type that has never really had great longevity in this league.
23:02 >> Yeah, it is a shame cuz he's a terrific player to watch.
23:07 We got Bob's take on Michael Cooper in the hall.
23:10 Some great stuff on CLNS Media with Bob and
23:13 Michael responding to Bob's kind words.
23:15 And so where do you fall on the Cooper fandom, Jeff?
23:21 >> All right, so I'll give you a story.
23:23 Michael Cooper and James Worthy were the first two players I ever interviewed,
23:28 ever, ever.
23:29 I was like 15, 16 years old.
23:31 I was in high school, and I went down to the Marriott Copley where they were
23:35 staying that day, me and a buddy of mine.
23:38 And we asked them if we could interview them for our-
23:40 >> Metro West Daily News?
23:42 >> No, it was our high school newspaper.
23:44 And we didn't even do anything for our high school newspaper.
23:46 We basically just lied to them and
23:47 said we were doing something for our high school newspaper.
23:50 So both of them said, yeah, yeah, call us later tonight.
23:55 Call us later tonight.
23:56 I think they'd just gotten back from shoot around or
23:58 practice the day before the game.
24:00 They were playing the Celtics the next night.
24:02 So we called them both and literally we wrote down a bunch of dumb questions.
24:08 Who was your idol when you were younger?
24:10 I don't know, I mean, it was bad.
24:12 It was really bad.
24:13 And my voice hadn't even changed.
24:15 I mean, I sounded like a girl.
24:17 And both of these guys, and I'll be forever indebted.
24:20 I had a chance to tell James Worthy this a few years ago.
24:23 So I'm in the locker room somewhere.
24:25 Might have been a North Carolina game or something.
24:28 And I tried to find Michael Cooper at the Final Four.
24:32 And I couldn't find him to kind of remind him of the story of how nice.
24:36 I mean, think about it, I'm 15 years old.
24:38 And they take their time to do that with two 15 year old kids.
24:44 It was really cool.
24:45 Michael Cooper, again, and as good a defender as you're ever going to see.
24:50 Forget about what I'm talking about off the court.
24:53 He was an unbelievable human being.
24:55 But on the court, that guy did not get enough credit.
24:59 Although now he's obviously in the Hall of Fame for what he did team-wise.
25:05 He could have went somewhere, probably doubled his scoring output if he wanted
25:10 to, but he bought into his role, which was to be the best damn defender there
25:17 was and lock dudes down and he was unbelievable.
25:21 >> And he made a lot of timely three point baskets, let me tell you.
25:25 I can still see them against the Celtics.
25:27 And that game four in 87 when they were down 15.
25:33 And they got back into the game and he stuck a three right in front of my face.
25:38 I can see it now that tied the game at the 20th.
25:42 He is such a worth, I'm so happy for him.
25:45 I got to meet him and talk to him in January and
25:48 in conjunction with the Larry Bird Museum to have him accounted for.
25:54 And he was happy to do it and this is just such a bonus.
25:58 And his teammates speak so highly of him.
26:00 Kareem and Magic are both over the moon, happy about this.
26:04 And I think that's really telling.
26:06 >> Yeah. >> Jeff, as we wrap it up,
26:07 got a few minutes here.
26:09 Just give us your, you finally have a life back, but your thoughts on the men's and
26:14 women's tournament and with the women's obviously Kate McClark.
26:17 >> Yeah, I mean, I'll start with the men's and just UConn,
26:21 Dan Hurley going back to back is incredible.
26:25 Because when he took the job, he left Rhode Island, goes to UConn.
26:28 Remember, they're in the American Athletic Conference and
26:31 they can't get players.
26:32 And what changed everything was going to the Big East,
26:34 getting back in the Big East for UConn.
26:37 He could recruit a high level, he did that.
26:40 He is an absolute workhorse and he's out of his mind.
26:44 He's out of his mind.
26:45 I don't know how well either of you know him, but I've known him for 20 plus years.
26:50 We didn't talk for like four months last year.
26:52 We didn't talk because I called him out on his behavior against the referees.
26:57 And he mellowed for the most part until the championship game and
27:02 then I think he admitted again.
27:04 They kind of got the best of them and he was out of his mind with the refs again.
27:11 But now what he's done there is insane to be able to flip it like you did in this
27:16 era when you have NIL and you have the transfer portal and you have social media
27:22 and you have all this to be able to do what he's done.
27:25 And we'll see if they can kind of get in position for
27:29 a three-peat, which I'm not betting against them.
27:32 >> Well, he's gonna have to work his magic again because now Caravan is coming out.
27:37 Alex Caravan is coming out and Klingon is coming out.
27:39 Although they're retaining their option.
27:44 So they're not 100%.
27:46 >> Klingon is gone for sure.
27:48 Castle's gone for sure.
27:50 Newton's gone for sure.
27:51 He graduated.
27:52 >> This is the whole.
27:53 >> The whole starting five is gone.
27:56 Cam Spencer doesn't have any eligibility left.
27:58 So Caravan was the one guy that could still potentially come back if he doesn't
28:03 like his draft stock, but they're gonna have to flip this thing even more than they
28:07 did this past season.
28:10 >> I think we can agree on one thing and in both cases, the men and the women.
28:13 There is no doubt in either case that the best team won.
28:18 That the team that should have won, that they got the job done.
28:23 The undefeated women of South Carolina and
28:26 the UConn team that just destroyed people down the stretch.
28:30 Starting with the Big East tournament, I mean, just once again.
28:33 And nobody can question their validity.
28:38 That's for sure that the best teams won.
28:40 >> Hey, May 14th, go to Mohegan Sun.
28:46 I already bought tickets.
28:49 I was smart enough to do it early and got them fairly cheap.
28:51 >> Caitlin's debut.
28:53 >> Caitlin Clark plays at Mohegan Sun.
28:55 >> On May 14th.
28:56 >> Yes, so I've taken my parents as well.
29:01 We're gonna have dinner.
29:03 My daughter will probably be covering it, I would assume.
29:06 She's covering the Indiana fever this summer.
29:08 >> Yes, right, Indiana, yes.
29:10 >> So- >> How fortuitous that is.
29:12 >> Yeah.
29:13 >> I just, did you guys see the Saturday Night Live?
29:17 >> Yeah, I saw clips of it.
29:18 It was great.
29:20 >> I mean, her presence is, she's the entire package.
29:24 She can deal with this.
29:26 It's not overwhelming for her, the celebrity, the thing.
29:30 The fact that she's already a cultural icon and not just a basketball player.
29:35 And okay, I'm all right.
29:38 [LAUGH] >> Yeah, it was great.
29:41 And like you say, cultural icon, and hopefully it continues for the game.
29:44 >> Yeah, I know.
29:45 >> Hopefully they pick up where they left off.
29:48 >> It's just remarkable.
29:49 And once again, just yesterday, I had a reprise of something that I pointed
29:54 out to you guys about a month ago.
29:57 And that was, it happened in the same spontaneous way.
30:00 Three or four guys, middle-aged white guys, talking about women's basketball.
30:06 And one of them said, this is the first year that when they had their draft,
30:11 I knew who some of the people were.
30:13 >> Yeah.
30:14 >> And it's just, and it is her.
30:17 She's shed the light, she just shed this giant spotlight on the sport.
30:22 So now people can discover other things, other players than they should have known.
30:26 And remind people about how great some of the players were.
30:29 And how about her citing Maya Moore as her model, her.
30:33 So it's astonishing what she's been able to do.
30:37 And I just hope that they can build on it the way that they properly.
30:40 >> I hope they can too.
30:42 All right, guys, we'll talk again next week.
30:43 Jeff, it's good to see your lovely face.
30:45 >> Thank you, thank you.
30:46 >> All right, for Bob Ryj, Jeff Goodman, I'm Gary Tangway.
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