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Download the app or visit carvana.com today. To help us cover and answer some of these questions and more. It's time to have a conversation with someone who covers the league and intensely knows about what is going on. Thank you so much to Joe Varden from The Athletic for joining us. Joe, how are you? Accused of knowing what's going on.
Accused? Gotta give you the credit, right? Yeah, I'm doing it.
It's good to be here. We'll see if we get a final set tonight. The Pacers gave the Celtics all they could handle without winning a game. We'll see if the Timberwolves can keep this going.
Yeah, I'm ready. Let's dive in. Without a shadow of a doubt. Well, when you take a look at the series that starts tonight, obviously it could potentially end between the Minnesota Timberwolves or on their side. What are the odds? We know a team never has come back from an 0-3 deficit. Do you think it's a possibility or are they going to stretch it some more?
No, I mean, I don't think it's a possibility and the reason I don't think so is because it's never happened before. We've had 155 NBA playoff series go 3-0 and all 155 times the team that was up 3-0 won the series. Now, last year I covered the Heat and the Celtics. The Heat were up 3-0. The Celtics won the next 3. They pushed it to a game 7. So, I'm not sure that we are done with fireworks in the Western Conference Finals and intrigue. And I think the Timberwolves have some fight left in them, but the sample size is too big to suggest that we're going to see history here.
Without a shadow of a doubt. Luka Doncic has gone through this playoff series on a bum knee, with a bum shoulder, with a bum ankle. Kyrie Irving has certainly ingratiated himself into this team with a better roster in year two.
What do you see in the relationship between these two where this year they've had better results? Is it just a matter of time or has Kyrie Irving grown up a little bit? I actually kind of think this is two different discussions because there is some things going on with Kyrie.
But I didn't think that the partnership last year, how it didn't work, I didn't really put that on him. Luka was not comfortable playing with someone of Kyrie's caliber. He was not used to playing, because if you think about Jalen Brunson and what he's become, Brunson was not that guy in Dallas and everything still revolved around Luka. And Kyrie wants Luka to be the alpha male now and to dominate, but Luka didn't know how to play the way he's used to playing and also get Kyrie the shot that he should get.
And I just think that as far as those two are concerned, it took some time. Kyrie is never a player or hasn't been for a long time who plays all the games. He misses time, so that is a factor as well.
But yeah, I just think they have kind of figured it out together and it doesn't have a whole lot to do with the, whether it's growth or healing or recovery. Whatever you want to say about what Kyrie has gone through personally, he appears to be in a different place than he had been for years. But I do think that that's separate from why Luka and Kyrie work on the floor.
Joe Vartan is here with us, the JR Sport Reshow on the Infinity Sports Network from The Athletic. You talk about the relationship between Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic. I guess people got to make up things to talk about. There's a lot being said about the relationship in Boston between Tatum and Brown. Despite their success, their successes over the past couple of years, obviously still waiting for that championship.
Do you think people are making a mountain out of nothing or do you think there is something there? Well, listen, I mean, they've been together since 16, 17 is when they have been teammates since then. They've been to the Eastern Conference Finals more times than I can count. This is their second Finals and so far they have nothing to show for it. And they're both wings, they both are scorers, they're dynamic players but both seem to struggle a little bit as playmakers slash with the ball in their hands.
And given the amount of money that both of them make and sort of the stress that that puts on a salary cap, I mean, those are all very tangible, on the court, basketball business reasons why you would discuss, like, do they work? To the Celtics credit, they have stuck with them and they have certainly, you know, like you could say, well, they've had three different coaches in four years but there was some controversy involved with some of that. And Brad Stevens used to be the coach and they promoted him into the front office and he's been awesome there. And so, yeah, I mean, they've put a premium on continuity, they've built properly around them and this is certainly their best chance to win a title. And I think when they do, you know, whatever you want to say about Jalen and Jason personally, they will always be remembered as champions and will, of course, certainly be given the opportunity to run it back.
Joe Vardon here with us. We know about the market in Boston, whether if you're on the radio or television, social media, what have you, somebody will catch a lot of blame if this doesn't go down to a championship, whether it's Brad Stevens who you mentioned, is it Brown or Tatum, Missoula, Porzingis, who do you think is going to carry the brunt of this if they don't walk away with a Larry O'Brien? Tatum, I do, because he's the biggest star, he's the multi-time, all NBA player, he's, you know, he's got the most all-star appearances in that group and he's got to do it. Like he's, I mean, if people don't really talk about him and like as the heir apparent to LeBron or whatever, and they probably shouldn't, but they do, like he, you know, Tatum and Booker, like this is sort of their time in the NBA. This is like their prime and like this is when they need to be winning titles. And like Tatum, this is by far the best team he's ever had, you know, he's got a real point guard in Drew Holiday. Porzingis, yeah, he hasn't played in a while, he's expected back in the finals, like I hope for their sake he does play, but he changes them. So if they've got all those pieces that, you know, the Celtics have to win, and if not, you know, I think people will be talking about is Tatum good enough?
Wow. Joe Barton is here with us from The Athletic. Joe, I know you're out of Cleveland.
You've seen Kyrie, you talk about Kyrie, he played up in Boston. We know that's not going to be a warm welcome for him. How is he going to handle that? We know he's a gamer. Is he going to block it out? Is it going to motivate him? How does his brain work? Oh, man.
Well, I can promise you that I have steered clear of that question in all shapes and forms for the last couple years. I have stopped trying to explain Kyrie. I know firsthand that he is at peace. He is at peace. He is just a different person than he has been.
It doesn't excuse the things that he's done to get into trouble with his reputation and then certainly with, you know, like with various people that have been offended over the years. But he is not there right now, like sort of with his emotions and mentally and all those things. So he knows what's coming up there in Boston. He knows that he's going to get booed.
But he knows that he's got a guy with him in Luca. You know, Kyrie is not alone. He trusts Jason Kidd. Jason Kidd is going to get booed in Boston. I've got news for everybody.
And so, you know, they're kind of all they're all going to go through this together. You know, Kyrie is a tremendous playoff player, especially when he's playing alongside someone like a LeBron, like a Luca. I think the other night was the first closeout game he's ever lost, which is crazy. Yeah, I think 13-1 now or 14-1, I believe. Yeah, I thought I saw it.
I thought it was 14-1. Like, that's nuts. So, you know, I don't think that Boston booing him is going to be his unspooling. It's going to be going up against super physical guards in holiday and white. And then if the Celtics want to, they could put Brown on him.
Those are all serious challenges. Yeah, all things considered, if he's going to go all in, he might as well just step on lucky the first game out there. He should make it interesting. I'd love it. He might.
Hey, I'd be here for it. Well, someone that he played with won that championship in 2016. Joe, we had a caller who asked specifically before you joined us about Bronny James.
Not necessarily signing a two-way deal if it's there, wanting to be on a full-time roster. What are your thoughts on the strategy so far of Rich Paul and obviously him and his dad? Well, I mean, this is tough. I've found this tough to talk about in a way because I know these people personally. I don't know Bronny very well, but I have met him. But when it comes to LeBron and Rich, you know, Rich is a businessman. So when he's going out there saying that Bronny's not taking a two-way deal, I mean, that is a business decision. It's perfectly okay to discuss this. But with LeBron, I mean, there is a human side to this.
There is a parenting side to this. And I remember playing as yesterday, being in the room with LeBron saying things like, how about we let him be a kid? And how about we let him do his homework instead of talking about this? And then we watched him go from that to Bronny is playing in the NBA and I'm playing with him. Which was just an inordinate amount of pressure and stress that I think he actually had reason to back off of.
So now you've got a shrewd agent who's doing the best for his client. You have arguably the greatest player ever as his dad who is still active in the NBA and yet doesn't seem to be placing his thumb on the scale. You know, he has backed away from this idea of I will play with him, which I have appreciated. And there doesn't seem to be like this, like, enormous pressure on the Lakers, say, to do this. They might. They might draft them.
They'd be a nice thing to do. But I don't. It doesn't seem like the pressure is there. So, you know, I think you've got an agent who knows what he's doing and you've got an unprecedented situation here with a still active NBA legend and his son getting ready to try to come in the league. Joe Vartner is joining us here with the athletic, or from the athletic.
We know if we hit the fast forward button just a little bit, we're going to blink. We'll be in July. We'll be in Paris. I know you're very invested into international hoops and get around quite a bit as well. What are your thoughts on the current roster construction for Team USA? I know we've got guys nursing injuries, guys who can never stay healthy. What do you think might change between, I don't know, a Kawhi, an Embiid, a Halliburton? What is a roster looking like?
Well, what do you need me for? You just named all three of them. You think they're going to stick around? What do you think? You're right on the money there. You know, listen, I think that Embiid will be there.
I also believe that Halliburton will be there. I think that the injury will be okay by the time training camp starts on July 5th in Las Vegas. That's plenty of time to heal up from that injury now. I think Tyrese and the Pacers both took the long-term view with how they handled that injury. I think Tyrese himself wanted to play, but I think the people around him and also the organization for whatever, whether it's long-term Pacer stuff or it's what's happening this summer. I mean, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play on this team.
So, you know, I think all those things were in mind. Kawhi is a different situation. He was not healthy enough to play for his team in the playoffs in a different way than what happened with Halliburton and with Embiid. He's treating the injury how I think that's a little bit up in the air. And yeah, I mean, I think you certainly see a scenario where Kawhi Leonard doesn't make it to Paris. And then, you know, who do they take?
I mean, they're going to want sides, you know, so I would keep my eye on Paolo Bencaro. Okay. All right. Well, what a shock, right?
Kawhi Leonard not healthy enough to play in the NBA regular season, but he'd be healthy enough to suit up for Team USA. Yeah, sure. Let me know when it happens. Hey, Joe, thank you so much for the time. Where can people follow you and your amazing work with The Athletic? Well, I mean, theathletic.com and nytimes.com, you know, that's where we are on X, you know, I'm at Joe Barden, and I really appreciate you having me on. I really enjoyed our conversation.
No problem. Next time, we will yell at Sammy to get you the right time next time. Okay, Joe?
Hey, that's right. But I was waiting, no matter what, I have two ladders out my driveway that I have to put into the garage and I was waiting to talk to you guys before I do that. No, I appreciate that. Hey, Joe, enjoy the rest of the games and the offseason, which there probably will be no offseason because basketball never stops. Appreciate you, man.
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