Hi, I'm PJ Vote and I want to tell you about my podcast Search Engine. We try to make sense of the world, one question at a time. No question too big, no question too small. We will even answer your questions if you send them in. Stuff like What happens when a cemetery goes out of business?
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Yes, you are. Welcome back, everybody. This is the Good Shepherd in for JR Sport Brief, right here on the Infinity Sports Network number to join the busy program 888-710-4ISN, 888-710-4476. Thank you again to Brian Diardo of CBSSports.com for joining us to break down the NFL. We are in the top of the fourth inning.
The score remains 0 to 0. This is certainly a pitching. Dual A lot different than what we saw from the Dodgers. in their first four games of this series.
So it's good to see this go down to the wire, at least for the first four innings. You certainly expect the Dodgers to prevail after an incredibly disappointing game three. In which they gave up eight unanswered runs. Clayton Kershaw doesn't help when he's having the kind of eighth inning that he had. In game number three, I don't think Clayton Kershaw is going to be doing any relief pitching anytime soon.
The reality is his postseason demons continue to get the better of him, not bring out the better in him.
So that is certainly something to keep in mind.
Someone. who dealt with their fair share of postseason demons. and playoff baggage. was Aaron Judge. Make no mistake about it.
he was hearing the rumblings and the murmurs from the Yankees faithful, that he had these great regular season numbers and performances, But he could not carry that over. to the postseason. And sometimes when you lose. There's still a lot of good. to take away from those losses.
And that is not an exception. with what happened. With the performance of Aaron Judge.
Now, yes. it is disappointing from the Yankees' perspective. that You have 27 World Series titles. You are the winningest team in the history of North American professional sports by a mile. and you have not had a World Series win, in the last sixteen seasons.
But the good news is your highest paid player? the face of your franchise? doesn't get blown away and overshadowed by the moment. He embraces it. He steps into it.
And exceeds Expectations. And you couldn't say that about Aaron Judge the last five postseasons. He was absolutely incredible. not just against the Red Sox, but against the Blue Jays. every single playoff run he had this decade prior to twenty twenty five He never batted over 250.
He batted over 500 in these six playoff games. Both against the Red Sox. And against the Blue Jays. And as you are aware, The Red Sox and the Blue Jays happened to play in the same division.
so it wasn't like Judge was sneakin' up on anybody. These were the teams he saw most during the regular season. And he was still basically a guy that could not get out. and when it looked like the Yankees were about to get swept in game number three, It was Aaron Judge, Captain Clutch, Tommy. to the rescue.
With that incredible signature home run moment that we have been wanting for forever from Aaron Judge. He's able to hit it off the foul pole. I think it still should be called the fair pole. Three-run home run, tying it up at six. The Yankees never looked better.
Back, and it's always nice when the baseball gods are looking down on the Bronx. The game was over with that particular swing. And look, game three. He wasn't just the best hitter on the field. I mean, you saw the complete player.
You saw him make incredible diving catches. You saw him make catches, go to his knees, and be able to throw from right field all the way. to second base with like it was just on a rope. Like, that's the kind of complete player that Aaron Judge is. He doesn't get nearly enough credit for what he does with the glove.
And this wasn't just in a playoff game, this was in a do-or-die game, this was in an elimination game. And even in game number four, he was still able to get on three or five times the plate. You saw him locked in throughout. He had multiple hits. And even that first out that he committed, that only happened because the infield just happened to be taken two steps back and they were playing shallow outfield.
That's the only reason why he didn't go three or four in game number four. And to tell you what kind of performance he had against Toronto, Yankees batters 1 through 8 in game number 4, not named Aaron Judge. went one of twenty-two at the plate. Judge was five hundred. which just tells you how respectable he was in getting this game to a three-run deficit.
Again, you had batters 1 through 8, not named Aaron Judge, go 1 of 22 at the plate, and it was only a three-run game. And that is because of what Judge means to the Yankees. And what I also respect greatly about him is no matter what he produces results wise, No matter what kind of performance he has, good, bad, neutral, don't matter. He's the exact same way. after a win.
as he is after a loss.
Now game number three, Was an instant classic. I just want you to hear the tone. And the swag and the confidence Of Aaron Judge after a game three win. Then, Botcher, I want you to play Aaron Judge. After game number four, if losing gets old.
And if he has an issue, With the Blue Jays celebrating the way they did at Yankee Stadium, and what you will notice. Is the tone and the temperament never sways. Take a listen. We just gotta keep playing our game. Just, you know, it's going to be a battle.
They're going to be coming out fighting the clan just like we are. They focus on one thing, it's just... You know, gotta win every bit, that's it. Every year is different. Just based on how it goes, but I think the feeling's still the same of You didn't win, so.
It's uh That's not what you want. You know, they beat you. It's just um Just showing respect, just Not happy about it. You don't like seeing somebody celebrate on your field, so. Uh she's I guess good fuel going into the offseason.
I don't know how many of y'all do this after games. I do this all the time. I will go listen to the news conferences. All the time. the second it goes up and and I get my alerts because I want to know how they're feeling.
right after they know their season has just ended. I want to be one of the first to comment on it. I want to be one of the first to hear it. Because you really can tell who somebody is in those tough moments. Because after the fact, when you have time to reflect, when you're able to sit down with your agent, with your publicist, with your manager.
you are able to kind of get a lot of opinions on how you should go about handling yourself. But in those moments, pretty much right after games, you're raw. You're speaking from the heart. It's not filtered. It it's not meant to be a a a hidden message.
You you say what's on your mind. You're speaking from the gut. And when I listened to Aaron Judge speak, Sounds like a manager. He's never pointing fingers at anybody. He's never blaming anybody.
He's never insulting the opposition. That's why he's the Yankee captain. And fans of the New York Yankees, they expect to win every single year. If you do not win in pinstripes, it is considered a disappointment. I don't care if it's the 80s.
I don't care if it's the 2020s. I don't care if it's the thirties and forties. That is the expectation of playing for the New York Yankees.
Well, all they did was win aid straight to close out the season and tie for the best record in the American League. All they did was by a mile. have the best run differential. And It's just unfortunate that they tied the Blue Jays for the best record in the American League, and as a result of the two same teams in the division having the same record, they went with the tiebreaker, so the Yankees unfortunately had to take the first wild card. And it's also unfortunate that the Yankees don't make it back to the ALCS because they were looking to avenge a World Series loss where they were genuinely swept.
by the Dodgers. But here's how I also look at it. They were able to win The most wins in the American League, along with the Blue Jays, without their ace, without their best pitcher on the mounding, Garrett Cole, due to Tommy John surgery.
Well, that doesn't get brought up enough. And so we can't get lost in that, but we also can't get lost in. is the clutch factor of Aaron Judge. because the mental toughness wasn't just revealed, it shined. And yeah, the Yankees they they lost the game.
They lost the series. But Judge shifted. and completely change the narrative. on who he is in the month of October. He is a big time player.
He is clutch, he is potent, he is reliable. I don't know how many times you could have said that about Aaron Judge in the playoffs prior to twenty twenty five. And by the way, That three home run game that he had. It was The most home runs and elimination game. He is tied now with David Ortiz for the postseason.
record of six. And once Judge made contact, it shifted the momentum of this series. It's just a shame that the others. Weren't able to hold up then end of the bargain in game number four, where again, outside of Aaron Judge, hitters one through eight. didn't even bat a hundred collectively.
And again it goes back to Not allowing at your best? to feel all high and mighty? and at your worst Allow yourself to dig a hole. and never want to come out. Because we played you those clips of game number three, we played you those clips of game number four.
It sounds the exact Same. And in the past thirty years, Brian Botcher, you ready for some trivia, man? You're a big baseball guy.
Okay, I'm a little nervous, but I'm ready. You can do this, brother. I believe in you, Botcher. The last thirty years How many captains have there been for your favorite team, the New York Yankees? For the Yankees on the captains?
Yeah. Last third two. Yeah, that's pretty good. Yeah, Jeter and Juda. That's it.
Now let me ask you another question. When was Judge named captain? Twenty when he re-signed.
So, is it 2023? 2022. Dah, the year off.
So, year five. Cheater was year eight. Jeter had to win four World Series, and make five World Series appearances. and that's when he was named captain. Judge never even got to a World Series at any point in his career by that point.
But the Yankees brass knew who they had in Aaron Judge. Folks, when you're the captain of the Yankees, There may not be a more respected position in all of sports. There have been just two In the last thirty years. I mean, even in Green Bay, where they can't miss a quarterback, there's been three quarterbacks in the last thirty years. There's been more than three.
Hi, Matt Flynn.
So you talk about judge. And his ability to not just be a factor. But be the factor? That's gotta feel really good if you're a Yankees fan. And when you get Garrett Cole back on the mound in 2026, you really gotta like their chances.
Now, here's the other component to this. I had a fan ask me this in the first hour. And I've had a couple of people reach out to me about this on social media as well. And what your belief tells you is that Aaron Boone is not the right man for this job. and that he's somehow in over his head, that he doesn't hold the players nearly accountable enough.
Well Let me enlighten you on what Aaron Boone has accomplished as the Yankees manager. He is top 10 all time, all time. in the hundred and fifty plus year of Major League Baseball, When it comes to win percentage, he is one of the 10 winningest managers in MLB history. And he is signed. through at least 2027.
And he gets along with the players, and he gets along with ownership, and he gets along with management with Brian Cashman. And he gets along with the media. You don't think he's going to be around for the long term? You know better. You know he is.
And winning a World Series, he said it himself. In the post-game press conference, man, he's still chasing it. It's hard. It's Hartberry Bonds. you know, performance enhancing drugs and all.
Is the greatest hitter that I've ever seen in my lifetime. I was not alive for Willie Mays. I was not alive for Mickey Mantle. I was not alive for Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth. Barry Bonds.
is the greatest hitter I have Ever scene. If you left the ball, A little bit over the plate. and you missed your spot by a centimeter? Gone That ball was 400 plus feet out and if it was in San Francisco, you know it was finding its way to McCovey Cove. That's the greatest hitter I think most people have ever seen.
Barry Bonds played For Almost a quarter. quarter of a century. Barry Bonds never won a World Series. It is horrible. Hard.
But what you know is that you have the right guy. to get you over that hard. to get you over that hump. That is Aaron Judge, and they have the right guy managing. erron judge, and it's an erron just in this case it's Boone.
One of the 10 winningest managers of all time. climb. In terms of winning percentage, and the only other active manager to win 60% of their games in their career. is a guy by the name of Dave Roberts, who, oh, by the way, might be winning World Series number three. as the Dodgers manager come 2025 by the end of this postseason.
So anyone. thinking that the Yankees are better off. Without Aaron Boone. I would challenge you. And say then who?
Who would be the replacement? Who for a decade would have this Yankees franchise winning 60% of their games. Would tie for the best record in the American League without their ace for the entire Season. Tell me who's out there. Is it Bobby Valentine?
Is it Mike Socha? Is it Tony La Russa?
So he can have another miserable season as he shouldn't be a manager? Is it Bruce Bocey? Most recently parted ways with the Texas Rangers. You tell me somebody out there that you believe would be a better fit for the New York Yankees. Is it Ozzy again?
Because outside of 2005, how great has he been?
So my point is It's easy to point the finger when the Yankees come up short because they're the New York Yankees. But if you really Take a step back and don't look at this from a 30,000 foot view, but really look at this up close and personal. You realize the Yankees had themselves a pretty good season, all things considered. And they just went up against a team. that was healthier.
And took advantage of that tie break, And got the momentum of this series from Jump, and that was because they are so good at home. And they never looked. Back. Aaron Boone He talked. about falling short.
after their serious loss, let's take a listen. The awful part of this is the journey you go on that and this has been a tough year. For me personally, um you know. But all you go through to kind of Become this kind of team you think can really do something special, and then for it to abruptly end is always difficult. I I cannot believe someone asked him if he Should not be the manager next year according to this really exquisite cut sheet that is designed by Ryan Botra.
Botcher, play this particular clip. I want to hear this. No, I'm I'm under contract, so no, I'm I don't expect anything. Yeah. Alright, Botcher, but before we go to break I I want to tap your brain here.
So this guy is one of the ten winningest managers in the history of Major League Baseball.
Okay. They're essentially in the playoffs every single year. They've been to a World Series as recently as 2024. They just happened to run up against the modern day Babe Ruth, and oh yeah, That team also had three other MVPs playing for it. Do you feel like because Aaron Boone is in New York, He gets an extra set of scrutiny as a result of that.
Or do you feel like the chatter and the conversation and the questions about his job status afterwards are appropriate? When I see Aaron Boone, I think... Is he making the playoffs every year because of His managing? Or is he making it because of Brian Cashman's ability to spend money on talent? And with how many times he's been in the playoffs, Into the World Series once.
you can maybe put one year or two years on the Astros cheating. But at this point You have to be able to take a team and win. I I don't See How the message going across in the Yankees' locker room. is not going stale. with how this guy's probably preaching every single year.
to the team. Where it's hey, we'll get them next year, guys. Just don't drop a ball in center field, or you You know, just don't get hurt.
So it's just I think maybe a new voice. could help the Yankees. But I wouldn't be surprised if they're like, Yeah Give him more chances just because of, like you said, the injuries and A lot of extra factors. You're you're a very knowledgeable sports person. Who's the most successful head coach in the history of the Buffalo Bills?
Parsiles? I dunno. Uh I'm not a football guy like that. Fair enough.
So there's no debate to this. It's Marv Levy. Marv Levies in the Hall of Fame. Marv Levy is considered one of the greatest coaches In football history, not pro. Football history.
Never won a Super Bowl. Never won a Super Bowl. Bacher, if you go to Buffalo, if you go anywhere near upstate New York, and you mention the name Marv Levy, he is royalty there. And what's the difference?
Well the difference is One location is in Buffalo, where it's not if you don't win at all, you're a loser. The difference here is he's managing the Yankees And what comes with that is unrealistic and irrational expectations. There are so many great great coaches. in all sports. That don't win at all.
And To me, If we're going to define coaches Because of a championship?
Well, then Brian Billick is royalty. And John Gruden is royalty and Gary Kubiak is royalty. But I guarantee you people in Minnesota would take Bud Grant Seven times. out of seven days of the week, and not think twice about it. before they ever took John Gruden, Brian Billick, or Garrick Kubiak.
I just think we put too much of an emphasis, too much importance on that sought after championship. Because only one team wins it every year. But when you're competitive in every single year that you manage and that you coach, That has to count for something. But because it's the New York Yankees, If you don't win a World Series, then you suck. Then you're overrated.
Then you're a waste of air time, you're a waste of space, you're no good. And that's not fair. And when this is one of the 10 winningest managers in the 150-year history of Major League Baseball, The guy shouldn't be having to answer questions after the game. Should you or should you not be the manager next year? Especially.
when it is well documented that he is under contract until 2027. I would just say the standard in baseball compared to the standard in every other sport? is a little different because NFL Hard cap. is a thing. MLB Yankees are consistently.
top five, top three in spending every year. And Just to be acknowledged to be one of the greatest managers is tough. to make the Hall of Fame.
So I just think Your top three spending, top five spending, the last 10 years. and you're still not getting the championship when there's a big gap in pay. in the effort you're trying to win over some of these other teams where it's that I don't care. Talent winning with the talent you have should be happening. Championships are needed.
for how much you're putting into it. How'd the highest payroll team do this season? Missed the playoffs by half a game. Not even half a game. Yeah, half a game.
They they they missed the playoffs. Yes, it it could have been by 20 games. But like I'm and I'm not saying that to rub it in. Because I thought Juan Soto got a raw deal. I thought he had a better year than people gave him credit for.
happened to set a career high in home runs, should have made the All Star team. I thought Alonzo was very good. I think if I'm the Mets brass, I am finding a way to make him priority number one in keeping him and giving him the long-term extension that we all know he's worthy of. But That's not a guarantee. You can have the highest payroll.
You know, Botcher, there there was a time the New York Yankees had Randy Johnson Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Cheater, Bernie Williams. They Jorge Posada, Mariana Rivera, Gary Sheffield, and we're talking first ballot Hall of Famers. They might have had 10 first ballot Hall of Famers on one squad. They couldn't get out of the first round. Baseball's a tough sport, man.
It it is not easy. to win in baseball because It's so predicated. On if you're hot at the right time. It's a lot similar to the NHL playoffs. I know we're up against it, but this is a good conversation we're having, and I appreciate your perspective on this.
When we get back, NBA dot com came out with some awards. We're going to reveal what those awards are. And a guy drafted during a Taco Bell commercial. He's one of those winners. We'll explain on the other side.
This is the Good Shepherd, in for JR, right here on the Infinity Sports Network. We're coming right back. Botox Cosmetic, Autobotulinum Toxin A, FDA approved for over 20 years.
So, talk to your specialist to see if Botox Cosmetic is right for you. For full prescribing information, including boxed warning, visit BotoxCosmetic.com or call 877-351-0300. Remember to ask for Botox Cosmetic by name. To see for yourself and learn more, visit BotoxCosmetic.com. That's BotoxCosmetic.com.
Hi, I'm PJ Vogt and I want to tell you about my podcast search engine. We try to make sense of the world one question at a time. No question too big, no question too small. We will even answer your questions if you send them in. Stuff like What happens when a cemetery goes out of business?
What should we do about teens using AI to do their homework? Who buys luggage at the airport luggage store? Follow and listen to Search Engine in partnership with Odyssey. wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief.
Here's David Shepard. Welcome back, everybody. This indeed is the Good Shepard on the Infinity Sports Network. Number to join us is 888-710-4ISN, 888-710-4476. You know, the NBA.
They come out with a prediction From writers, media personnel members of who's going to win the NVP, who is going to win the NBA's most improved player, who's going to win the NBA championship, and they do that on NBA.com. And a couple things that I wanted to highlight. The Oklahoma City Thunder by a wide margin. Are considered the favorites to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy, and that would obviously make them back-to-back NBA champions. There is no question in my mind That OKC is the favorite.
You talk about a team that won 68 regular season games last year, able to win 16 games, obviously, in the postseason. They are the third winningest team in NBA history if you combine regular season and postseason, and they bring back all nine of their key players. Players from last year's title team. Not just the starters: SGA, Lou Dorts, J. Dove, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein.
They bring back the other Jalen Williams, Aaron Wiggins. Kayson Wallace and Alex Caruso.
So that is certainly something to keep in mind.
And I know there's a lot of people that respect the Thunder, but aren't necessarily in love with them because there's nothing too scintillating about them. There's nothing stylistically that's that provocative, that's really that jaw-dropping.
So there's gonna be some teams that are gonna have to step up and make it competitive for OKC. The other thing. that I was pleasantly surprised about was they have Nikola Jokic winning. His fourth NVP. And that's pretty cool when you consider this guy was drafted during a Taco Bell commercial, and from that 2014 NBA draft.
Just so we're all aware, the majority of guys picked in the first round aren't even in the NBA anymore. And LeBron James, the big news in the NBA, Out with the sciatica injury, and so he is going to miss the first game of the regular season and will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks. But it is amazing that we are still talking about a guy in year 23 that is relevant and one of the NBA's best players. He is not, though, going to win that coveted fifth MVP award. Nikola Jokic, I also like as the MVP winner for the 2025-2026 regular season.
When we get back, We have Gerald Brown, SiriusXM NBA radio host, discussing with us. The latest NBA major headlines, including What can we truly expect? of a forty year old LeBron James who's logged more minutes than anyone else in regular season and postseason history. We'll get to Gerald Brown on the other side. Before we do anything else, let's get to our latest sports flash.
Here's Rich Ackerman. Botox Cosmetic, Autobotulinum Toxin A, FDA approved for over 20 years.
So, talk to your specialist to see if Botox Cosmetic is right for you. For full prescribing information, including boxed warning, visit Botoxcosmetic.com or call 877-351-0300. Remember to ask for Botox Cosmetic by name. To see for yourself and learn more, visit BotoxCosmetic.com. That's BotoxCosmetic.com.
Hi, I'm PJ Vogt, and I want to tell you about my podcast search engine. We try to make sense of the world one question at a time. No question too big, no question too small. We will even answer your questions if you send them in. Stuff like What happens when a cemetery goes out of business?
What should we do about teens using AI to do their homework? Who buys luggage at the airport luggage store? Follow and listen to Search Engine, in partnership with Odyssey, wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief. Here's David Shepard.
Welcome back, everybody. This is David Shepard on the Infinity SportsNet. We're going to get back to your calls at the top of the hour, but we're joined by a good friend of mine and an excellent radio host in his own right. You can hear him on Sirius XM, the bottom line sports show, Saturday mornings, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Eastern Time. None other than Gerald Brown. G-Money, how you been, man? Chepp, it's always a pleasure to talk with you, my friend. I can't complain, man, at all.
Well, it's a pleasure to have you, gee. It really is, man. You've been a good friend over the years. You've been great on the Infinity Sports Network. And so, listen, man, we had a lot of people hitting me up about Giannis Ante Tecumpo.
Gee, we know this guy's loyalty. We understand he has now been in Milwaukee for 13 years. But the only guy that remains on that title team other than Giannis is the mayor, and not Sean Casey, but Bobby Portis. Gee, 2026-2027. What uniform is Yannis Ante Decumpo wearing?
I really gotta say, he might be in a Milwaukee Bucks uniform. I think yeah, you know, I I think a lot's gonna depend on How the next start the season. Also, I think with the Bucks, The Lakers There's kinda be it's gonna be a film. you know, like a domino effect. In terms of teams that either get off to a great start or teams that struggle out the game, maybe encounter an injury.
And that will probably set things up when we get around the all-star break. and see what teams will offer. uh specifically playoff teams because I I don't know, Shep, if there's if the Knicks Honestly, what are you gonna give up? And how much are you gonna give up to get Giannis? Give up everything.
Yeah, you give up everything, but then here's my question. Will his situation be better? in New York. Or wherever he goes. than it is in Milwaukee.
I look at what John Horse. and the Milwaukee Bucks have done. They have really, really tried to do a lot. And clearly, you know, the decision is to say, hey, we're going to go in the luxury tax when they went out and got Dame and and really tried to enhance that roster. But I think ultimately, you know, we we heard up this summer about the Brooklyn Nets and all the draft picks and You know, I was just thinking and it's like, yes, that is a trade that would benefit and help the Milwaukee Bucks.
Going forward. But if you're Giannis and your you know, your aspirations is is pretty much that I want to be playing for championships. Where do you go and what's going to still be there for you to be able to compete for a championship?
So I think a lot is really going to depend on. how these specific teams start this season. Uh which will really dictate if there's going to be some type of movement of Giannis. at the trade deadline. But I honestly, I really believe he stays with the The Milwaukee Bucks throughout the season, and perhaps if they do decide to go a different direction, both of them, this will be something that transpires in the offseason next year.
All right.
Well, listen, many people in the Midwest are very happy to hear that. Again, we are joined by Gerald Brown, SiriusXM NBA radio host. You can follow him at Gerald B L S S on social media, on Twitter. And you, of course, can hear us on SiriusXM channel 375. Gee, LeBron is out for game number one with the sciatica.
He will be reevaluated in three to four weeks. It is unreal to me. That we are discussing a guy in year 23. It's obviously unprecedented. Not only is he the first player to play 23 seasons, but he is still a top 10 player in the NBA.
But he's got that 2-8 postseason record in his last two playoff runs. Gee, How impressed have you been with LeBron? The player But My also secondary question to that would be How much longer are we going to have of LeBron one and done? Yeah. You know, I I think it goes back to like I said, you know, it it kind of ties in with You know what how the the start of the season's gonna be so pivotal for the Lakers.
Goodbye. The Knicks to see exactly how things go. And then, I mean, look, you know, I've been saying this for quite some time. You know, in some way, I I still believe the tea leaves and how everything is laid out. that you know, LeBron ends up in New York.
And that's what I said before, where, you know, Giannis is a sexy pick and say, Yeah, yeah, yeah. I you know, he makes a lot of sense. But if you look at the Knicks, And you look at the fact that look, if they struggle, Right, getting off the out the gate, and they get around their trade deadline, and they look, this is their best chance ever. you know, to get to an NBA finals and you say Well look, we can get there and LeBron. Who is the guy that honestly is probably going to be playing a very limited amount of games?
They're really gonna obviously monitor his benefits. to keep him fresh for the postseason. But we all witnessed what Tom Brady did going down to my beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Okay. Going and taking that team and taking them to an NBA, excuse me, a Super Bowl. And winning the NFL Super Bowl This would be ideal because A, you have his guy and Mike Brown that's there. B, you don't have to sort of necessarily break the bank and really leave the cupboard bare. You add some pieces in there and I think make it very attractive for the Lakers who want size.
Especially you compete in that west. You know, I mean, if you look at the Knicks and you see LeBron that's there and obviously, now that attention that he starves for, praise for, he gets it back in New York.
So I anticipate him to be very, very effective. But I think it's about managing him in year 23 in terms of saying, hey, look, we don't really need him. You know, the start of the season, we want them to really be in a space where, obviously, down the stretch, and more importantly, Come to playoff push, and he is raring to go. You know, I'm not saying that this is false about the sciatica. You know, I wish the best for them, but I wouldn't be surprised that they clearly, clearly buy in to the whole process of just really maintaining.
You know, load management, if you will, for LeBron. Gee, you bring up a great point. Again, we're joined by Gerald Brown of SiriusXM NBA Radio. You bring up a great point because. Let's just be real about LeBron's 2020 title.
We all know it counts as a fourth NBA championship, but it's not looked at the same. It's just not by most people. It's looked at at a cheap title where most guys couldn't care less about going to Orlando and being part of this social experiment. They don't win it in Los Angeles, they win it on neutral site. If he is able to go.
to New York. and lift a Larry O'Brien trophy for the first time in what will be 53 years, G. And they have not been to an NBA Finals this century. If he's able to do that, and let's say he does it in just a simple trade swap of him and Kat, like let's say it's not Giannis going to New York and, you know, Dwayne Wade and Carmelo coming out of retirement and going to New York and CP3 saying, let me go to New York too and be part of the banana boat. Like if it's a legit trade swap and he can go to New York and get them to an NBA championship, and to your point, the East is wide open.
Jason Tatum, we know he said he wants to be on the floor this season. I don't think Tyrese Halliburton is going to be back with Indiana in 2025, 2026. Gee, this to me. would be the most solidified, steadfast, case close argument you can make. about LeBron finally.
Taking that title from MJ as the greatest of all time, and you and I both know he can say whatever he wants publicly about not caring or giving a you-know-what about being part of this conversation. You and I damn well know he wants to be in the right side of this conversation, and that is the greatest of all time. And I can't think of a better way for him to finally do it than doing this because, gee, he ain't winning LA. Luca doesn't play defense, Austin Reeve doesn't play defense. You know that.
Yeah, I mean look that West is going to be a gauntlet because you know Rick Rick Mahorn and I were on the show a couple of weeks back And we were posing a question to say, You know, if you can say who is the legitimate favorite to come out of the West, It's a hard It's a hard toss up because it's probably four to maybe even six teams that you really have to really give a lot of say thought of saying perhaps that can happen. It's just too much at this stage of his career. And then obviously, he goes to New York. And, like you mentioned, all the stuff that's there that solidifies him. As perhaps an all-time great, that I won't say put him over Michael Jordan, but I would say that would put him really, really close to him.
And I'll take it a step further. You probably could put a package together that incorporates that includes a guy like Mitchell Robinson and maybe either Mikkel Bridges or OG Ananobi. And now you have still some pieces. That you know, now the Knicks go from, hey, let's instead of baking the NBA Finals. you can have an opportunity to perhaps win the NBA championship.
And like you said, They would build a statue of LeBron, and LeBron would be loved and adored. And I just see it all playing out specifically. With Mike Brown being at the helm as the head coach of the New York Knicks. I I just it just seems like it's all gonna really depend on How well the Knicks play out the gate. as well as the Lakers.
Moving forward, that we could potentially see LeBron do something like that at the trade deadline. Absolutely. And again, we are joined by Gerald Brown of SiriusXM NBA Radio. This is The Good Shepherd filling in for the great JR Sport Brief right here on the Infinity Sports Network and also heard for free on the Odyssey app. And in addition to that, channel 375 on SiriusXMG.
We got a minute and a half. I want to get you out with this because we all know. The West, in terms of getting out, is going to be heavily favorited towards Oklahoma City Thunder. Who is their biggest threat? Ah, Shep, I don't know.
You know, I want to say maybe Denver. Because of the experience. You know, but you know, they lose Michael Porter Jr. They bring back Bruce Brown. I'm not really sold on the Houston Rockets simply because, you know what?
Fred Van Fleet is gone. And what they're going to do is try to experiment with different things. I don't know. And, like, honestly, it's really going to be about matchups. That's the best answer I can provide for you.
Because I tell you this. They're going to be such great matchups that the way those matchups play out. I think we're going to see a team that potentially could be Dallas. It could be Minnesota. It could be the Clippers.
You just don't know based upon the matchups. Come that first round. That will really dictate a lot. And based upon those matchups and how favorable they are for certain teams. I don't think this is the year.
I don't think I think this is the first time in quite some time that we could sit back and say. If you poll a lot of people, they could be multiple different answers. I just don't believe that Oklahoma City as great as they were last year. A lot of things played in their favor. A lot of lucky things transpired.
You know, let's be honest. Tyree Talliburn doesn't get hurt. The way that game started really, really posed a problem for the Thunders to really say that they were going to lay claim to an NBA championship.
So I don't know if they're going to be able to repeat. It's very, very difficult. I just it's it's all going to be about the matchups, come the playoffs. starting their first round in the Western Conference.
Well, G, it's a pleasure to have you on the Infinity Sports Network. NBA.com came out with their answers based off their polling of media members alike on who would win the major awards. And I thought we can't get a better NBA guest than Gerald Brown breaking down the NBA season and headlines. It is a pleasure to have you, G. Make sure you follow him at Gerald B L S.
You can catch him on the bottom line sports show on SiriusXM, NBA Radio, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every single Saturday morning. Gee, we'll do this again soon, man. It's a pleasure, brother.
Enjoy the start to the NBA season, and thank you for making time for us. Likewise, always a pleasure, my friend. I appreciate it. Likewise, that is the great Gerald Brown of SiriusXM. NBA Radio.
When we come back. On the Infinity Sports Network. We will get to your calls. We know we've had people waiting patiently who want to weigh in on the MLB playoffs, want to weigh in on the start of the NBA season, want to weigh in, of course, on Shador Sanders. We will take your calls on the other side.
And when we get back, We are also going to discuss in great detail this Thursday night football matchup between the Eagles and Giants. Good Shepherd, in for JR. We're coming right back. Botox Cosmetic, Autobotulinum Toxin A, FDA approved for over 20 years.
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