The Pizza Guy

All takes, no breaks, and no chance you're bored. You're clocked out email off. Back to the Triad's longest-running live sports talk show: The Drive. Our French fry conversation is picking up a little steam here. Looking in the YouTube comments here.

Corsen fam.

Sounds familiar. Shout out dad. Yeah. He has Frozen Krinkle. This is number five.

We ranked our top five just to get some context. If you're just joining us, Frozen Krinkle five. Arby's curly fries for. Bojangle Fries three. Chick-fil-A waffle fries too.

Red robin fries for the win, he says. I forgot about these. They have like the steak fries. Do they? Yeah, they're amazing.

I haven't been to Red Robin a ton. I don't, I'm not as familiar with their work. Steak and Shake, haven't been there a ton either. Love Red Robin. Unlimited shakes.

Raisin Kane should have been on here somewhere. Very simple crinkle cut fries. I've not had raisin canes before. They're building one in Greensboro. I'm so excited.

I've heard a lot about it. I'm hungry. You're welcome for that. Let's talk some basketball. Appreciate Mike Maniscalco for joining us.

Talk some hockey, talk some hurricanes. But Donovan Mitchell. To switch some gears to basketball. He Gets criticized like a player that shrinks in the playoffs, you know, lack of playoff success. But the actual evidence shows the opposite.

He's had some playoff failures, yes. But most of his playoff exits came While he was the reason his teams even had a chance in the first place, if you really look at it.

So last night... Donovan went full sp Spider Mitchell. He did that. And he tied an all-time record. 39 points and a half of a playoff game, 39 of those in the second half last night as they even up the series with Detroit.

Heading back to Detroit now, tied 2-2. Yeah. He ended up having 43 total points. 13 of 26 from the field. That floater game, just unstoppable.

But this is just the latest and many games like this that he's had in the playoffs.

So looking at 2020, we've been talking about the bubble quite a bit today, looking at the Lakers' bubble title. Things like that. beating the heat in the in the finals uh that year. But The Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz had an epic series in the bubble that year. 57 points.

For Donovan. And at the time, that was the third highest scoring playoff game in NBA history. He had a 51 burger also against Denver in that series. Had forty five another game of that series against Denver. Had 44 the next year against the Clippers.

Grizzlies put up 39. 39 again, one series or one game of that playoff series. And he had to go through an ankle issue. In that series as well.

Next year after that, he had a 38 burger against the Mavericks. 2024 in the Orlando Magic series. He had 38 one game, 50 another in an elimination game. You get what I'm saying here. And last night he came through again.

He just has a list, a catalog of these incredible playoff games. Where he's been the reason that his team still had a chance. And last night was the latest of that. Chris Paul. Speaking of point guards, the point God.

336 legend. He went on with Pat McAfee earlier today and actually spoke on. what we saw from Donovan Mitchell last night. In the first half, Donovan had a tough time getting going early, right? Looked like Detroit had it going.

Don put 39 up in the second half. That's tough. But if you know Don, he just, he wasn't going to let his team lose. And he didn't. I think he unfairly gets lumped in with James Harden in terms of the lack of playoff success.

Mainly because they're on the same team now, so they're both out there. You know, the talking points, they're all there. And The way Cleveland was looking, it looked like this might be a short trip and Detroit was going to handle things, which they still might in the series, but Cleveland at least battled back.

So is easy fodder for people. But He's made the playoffs every year. I think he's been in the league since 2018. Every year he's made the playoffs. And To look at both sides of this, have there been flame outs?

Yeah, there have been a few. Most notably when he was in Utah, He had and speaking of that battle with Denver in the bubble. They did blow a 3-1 lead. Despite having those multiple 50-point games. thirty six points per game on fifty two per cent shooting.

Jamal Murray on the other side had some other ideas, turned into Steph Curry for a week. And Utah's defense was a bit of a problem. Donovan hasn't been the greatest defender, to be fair. Um so they did blow a 3-1 lead there. And then in Cleveland in 2023, when he went up against the Knicks, That was probably his weakest series.

Playoff series of his career. didn't put up catastrophically bad numbers, but for his standard they weren't. that great. and Jalen Bronson. On the other side, really balled out.

And that's where Cleveland kind of realized: yeah, they need a little bit more, a little bit more juice.

So I do not believe. that he has the same level of unsuccessful playoff runs as James Harden. Has he not He hasn't gotten Donovan Mitchell, he has not gotten to a conference finals yet in his career, despite making the playoffs every year of his career. But A lot of time, most of the time, it wasn't because of him. It was because of what was around him.

James Harden on the other end, like when you look at some of the teams he's been on, like those Houston Rocket teams. He's kind of flamed out. in some close-out moments. Like he's had some really great performances too. This you know.

But Sometimes Too many shots go up. And be a little passive. Not as efficient. It's a little bit different.

So now the Calves, they head back to Detroit. They're tied at two games apiece. And they got a little something to build on there. Donovan Mitchell spoke after the game. last night about heading back to Detroit.

We're two and two headed to Detroit. That was what we came home to do, and that's all that matters. We need each other. We've had two good games to build off of. But it's going to be fun.

Hostile environment. It's going to be a lot of fun. And I know we're ready for the challenge. Morgan, you're the Clippers fan. You've got to experience James Harden a little bit.

I mean, I. How would you classify him compared to Donovan Mitchell in terms of their Not in terms of the playoff reputations that they have. I don't know why we're comparing the two. Because James Harden has been on some amazing teams. Mm-hmm.

The Clippers team he was on, not amazing, but it was pretty good. Kawhi, Paul George, and James Harden should have gone places. And there were nights where he was putting up 15 shots and scoring eight points in the playoffs. Yeah. That Houston team.

What was that? 20 18? 18. That was the one time. That the Warriors in that dynasty run were really threatened to not get back to the finals.

And The Rockets had them. I forget what the lead was in the series. I think the Rockets were up 3-2, I want to say, in that series. Chris Paul. gets hurt.

and James Harden couldn't get him to the finish line. No, and and James Harden fizzles out when they need him the most. Whereas Donovan Mitchell, I feel like when he was with the Jazz, didn't have the people around him to help him get to the second round. You, as Donovan Mitchell, can get your team to the playoffs with some assistance. But once you get to the playoffs, it's a different animal.

You have seven games, not eighty two. That's my point. I just think that the people around him haven't been supporting him the way they could. Still spectacular players, not saying they're not. But Eventually, if you're Cleveland, you've got to bring somebody in or make some moves to build around him that's going to help him come playoff time.

Because, I mean, he can't do everything. No. No, we can't. I'll tell you what I can do. Give away some tickets?

If you would like a chance to go and see God Smack. In Charlotte? Two days from now? 336-777-1600 is the number. All you have to do is.

Come on. And tell us what the best French fry is, of all time, we did our top five rankings today. I want to hear from you. This is for a chance to go and see God Smack. two nights from now in Charlotte.

Come on, tell us what the best French fry is. 336-777-1600 is number to call. Shifting to Well College basketball soon to be NBA in terms of. The draft. Because sticking with the theme of People being disrespected.

And I wouldn't go as far as maybe to say completely disrespected, depending on where it's coming from with this one. But Why is Caleb Wilson not put in the same conversation? As A.J. DeBonsa, Darren Peterson. And Cam Boozer.

Why is he not in the same conversation? With some people, he is, but with some, like, I'll give you a prime example. The other day after the draft lottery was complete, I was scrolling Instagram and I saw this post that said, oh, like, we all know A.J. DeBonsa is going to go number one, but it was like just trying, it was like, hey, who would look better in a wizards uniform? And it was AJ DeBonsa in a wizards uniform, Darren Peterson, and Cameron Boozer.

You know who wasn't there? Caleb Wilson. Because Caleb Wilson is viewed as the other guy, way too much for my liking in this. NBA draft cycle. And he shouldn't be.

He shouldn't be. Looks like we've got Tyler in Greensboro here who wants to get in on the best French fry. Tyler, go right ahead. Hey, how you doing, man? Longtime listener.

Love the show. Heck yeah. Two qualifications to a fry. All right. One, you gotta have seasoning, specifically Cajun seasoning, or some type of seasoned salt.

And two, you gotta have a good crunch. Yeah, all about the crunch. Do you have a place that you, like, where is your favorite French fry? Where do you get it from? I bet I can guess.

My well, yeah, go ahead, take a guess. Wha what would you say? I mean, the for the seasoning piece alone, it's got to be Bojangles, right? Mmm, seasoning. I can either go Bojangles or cookout.

Either either one. See, I tried to tell Morgan, my producer, that cookout fries are slept on.

Okay, but I was expecting a corndog. I was disappointed. Yeah, but that has nothing to do with the fries.

Now, here's the thing. Here's the thing. My favorite fry, though, to me, the goated fry, which this place gets too disrespected and they do too much work. Arby's Curly Fries. Yeah.

I could agree with that. I could agree with that. Love that. Tyler from Greensboro. Thanks so much for the call.

Enjoy the tickets. Love that he gave some love to cookout fries. I'm going to go get some cookout now just to celebrate. I wanted a corn dog, uh Yeah, you and your corn dog. But Caleb Wilson, though.

Getting back to that very quickly. Yo'll better stop disrespecting him. And when I say y'all, I mean those who don't put him in the same conversation as A.J. DeBonsa, Darren Peterson, and Cameron Boozer. You just view Caleb as the other guy.

And it's funny too because Caleb. actually had a the unique opportunity of the g of these four to go up against the other three. He played A.J. DeBonsa in an exhibition game against BYU. And he outscored him.

Had 22 to AJ's 18. Against Darren Peterson when Kansas came to the Smith Center. Outscored him too, 24 to Darren Peterson's 22. And in the second half, Carolina took over. Kansas.

Didn't have anything for the heels. The only one where One outscored the other was in the game against Duke in Chapel Hill, the only Carolina Duke game that Caleb Wilson got to play in, where he had 23 and Cam Boozer had 24. But if you really look at it, Caleb scored his 8 of 12 from the field. Cam scored his 10 of 21.

So Caleb was more efficient. And Caleb also played hero ball. I'd love to know how many, if any, of those shots were assisted in the first half. Not many of them. to keep Carolina in position.

To be in striking distance for Setrimble to hit the shot. Caleb Wilson did that in the first half playing Euro Ball.

So he really outplayed all three at one point.

Now, that doesn't necessarily mean you're pound for pound the best player. Just purely But It is a sample of something to go up against, so He's not the other guy.

Now, A.J. DeBonza is going to go number one overall. He is a better, pure scorer and shooter than Caleb Wilson is. But I will say this. Caleb.

He's one of those guys that has a chip on his shoulder. I'll never forget the way he looked when he came down the tunnel. For the Carolina Duke game, I will never forget that. He was on a mission that day, and he played like it. He is taking notes on every single person that is saying he can't go top three.

And He has the work ethic and the characteristics of somebody who would absolutely bust his butt in the gym. As a result of that, And it would not surprise me at all if when it's all said and done, we look back and Caleb Wilson actually ends up being the best player to come out of this draft. Would not surprise me one bit. Let's go, baby. What kind of like this?

Let's go! Go!

Now, back to the drive. I saw where. Con canipple? Is gonna be sitting down with Dale Jr. on On the pod?

Did you see this? Yeah, I'm so excited for this episode to come out. I can't- Well yeah, we're gonna have to get some highlights from that. Gonna have to do that. I guess that'll come out probably in a couple of days.

Um We have uh a new strategy here. On our bets on Dalton's dollars, because you know, your boy went through a bit of a rough patch. Didn't do so great the last couple of weeks. And so now it's time for accountability. It's time to answer it.

So, what we're going to do from here on today forward. We're going to keep score. There's I'm going to keep a record. of all my bets These are the summer bets.

So From now until football season, and I think when football season gets here, we'll do a completely new. Thing, new startover, new record for the football season specifically. But right now, these are summer bets. And we're going to keep a record. We're going to keep my, we're going to stay accountable around here.

Because accountability is how you Grow, become more, get better. That's how you do it.

So if I'm 0 for 12, we're going to know about it. You're going to know.

So, I better be on my game. That's all I got to say about this.

So, let's do it right now. in Dalton's dollars. Stacking on the stack, stack, got a stack. You know Get the money, get the money on the sound note. It's time to cash in.

Welcome to Dalton's Dollars. Dr. Money! Yeah. Show me the money.

Breaking down the board and building the bankroll.

Okay. We've got a pretty um We got some good variety on the card tonight. Starting with the Spurs. Minnesota. Going at it again.

Um I think I'm gonna go Spurs, and we're gonna do a parlay here.

So, Spurs Money Line. I don't usually do parlays, but I'm trying something out here. Spurs Moneyline parlayed with Wimby 12 or more. Rebounds. A basic That's he's gonna be playing in that game.

Anthony Edwards is going to be playing in that game. But that's not Jerry Maguire. I guess Jerry McGuire is not here. There he is. Love that.

So that's one. And the reasoning there is Wemby. He had nine rebounds in just 12 minutes of play before he got ejected. And came four, so he was well on his way. And The previous three games He's had Well, he's had over 12.

Even before that, so. 15, 15 exactly in the three games prior.

So I like the chances to get 12 or more tonight back in San Antonio, too. And I like the Spurs to win it. I don't want to touch. The Spurs spread. They're 10.5 point favorites.

I don't want to mess with that. Minnesota, they very well could make a game out of it, but I think the Spurs win.

So. That's what we're gonna do in that game. Sabres, Canadiens, for a chance to play the Hurricanes. Got a while to wait here. The sabers Down 2-1 in this series.

I like the money line for Buffalo. Drop me dev! I like it.

So It's a must-win spot for Buffalo. They got to get this done. And When you go back and you look at the last two games, the effort has been there for Buffalo. They've been better actually in special teams. And those types of things.

Then uh Montreal, but Montreal ends up taking it.

So I think the right things are going to actually go Buffalo's way tonight.

So I think they even this series up.

So we got them on the money line. Yankees Orioles. Or, as you call them, the snoreils or the boreals. Either one works for me. Orioles won last night.

Ridiculous. You were about to hit the SpongeBob meme, weren't you? Go ahead, you can hit it. Is it not gonna work? Apparently not.

Um So I like the Yankees tonight. To get this one back, not going to mess with the spread. I think they're one and a half run favorites. Give me the Yankees money line. You're vegan violence!

I thought of that. Against the Boreals, who I think got lucky last night. And Let's go with a pick. For the Dodgers. Taking on the Giants at 10:30 tonight, Yamamoto is going to be on the mound.

I like Yamamoto to go over five and a half strikeouts. Drop me the money!

So far, in seven starts, he's had six or more Ks in five of those seven.

So I like the odds here. They like it.

So, in review, that's the card we've got tonight. We've got it spread. Got a little variety here. That is the spice of life, as they say. Spurs Moneyline parlayed with Wimby 12 or more rebounds.

Sabre's money line against the Canadiens. Yankees money line against the Orioles. Yamamoto over five and a half strikeouts. Fire it up. Gas it up.

Let's do this. I'm in a giving mood. I'm fired up. For your opportunity to win kid cuddy tickets. He's got a concert tomorrow night in Charlotte for a chance to win.

Here's all you need to do. Call us up. 336-777-1600, and you need to tell us. What the best French fry is. What is it?

Where does it come from? Is it a Wendy's fry? Is it Chick-fil-A waffle fries? Arby's curly fries, nut what is it? That's what you gotta do.

for a chance to come on and win some kid cutty tickets. In Charlotte, we got three pairs of them, so we got plenty tomorrow night.

So, your chance to win those. In terms of Some more NBA. The Thunder are going to have that. The Lakers are not. Thunder took care of that last night, sweeping the Lakers.

It was a game, though. It was a game. But now it leads to... What does Lebrun's future hold? We don't know the answer to that.

He doesn't know the answer to that. But I will pose this question. Who has had the more impressive playoff run The Thunder or the Nix? I think the answer's the thunder. I think that's it.

But hey, the Knicks have been really because I think the Thunder were expected. They haven't lost a game yet. They swept both of their series. But The Knicks When you look at them I don't know what the exact, I don't remember what the exact number is, but I read yesterday. that the Knicks Have I believe the highest margin of victory in NBA playoff history right now.

in terms of how much they're beating teams by. like up there with the 20, 17, 18 Warriors.

So, theoretically, they're the best team in playoff history right now. in theory. Obviously that's we know that's not true, but Margin of victory. They are taking teams out. They are handling their business and it's a good thing.

Because When you remember back, we literally Saw a report out there, and we talked about it on this show about how Mike Brown's job might not even be safe if they get to the finals, or if they get to the Eastern Conference finals and don't advance, his job could still be in trouble. Like, just ridiculous things like that. And I don't know how much truth there was to that. But it's the types of things people were saying. And the Knicks are answering the bell.

Yeah, they do have the highest points differential in NBA history through these first 10 games with plus 194. The closest team, the 2017 Warriors but they were at plus one seventy.

So that's how that's how much. The Knicks are beating teams right now. Um I think the thunder, again, to go back to the original question, the thunder. between these two are having the more impressive of the run, But Nix? They might be the most surprising run.

so far in the playoffs in terms of Not them winning, but But how they're winning and by how much they're winning by, they look really good. They really look like the best team in the East with respect to Detroit and Cleveland, who's starting to figure it out, at least at home. I don't know, the Knicks might be headed to the finals, you guys. Nick's Thunder, anybody? Wouldn't that be fun?

What's that face about? He you don't like that? You don't you don't want some of that? I don't I don't know if the Knicks can get through Detroit or Cleveland. Those are different monsters than they've played so far.

Detroit's more physical. That is true. Cleveland, hmm. We'll see. I need to see them in Detroit again.

They did that what they did at home, but I need to see them in Detroit. Silence, if you please. Ladies and gentlemen. May I Will Dalton brings Triad Sports Talk with a little extra horsepower.

Now, back to the drive. I love the No Rules Top Five. Cause it allows us to expand. You know. Do things other than just talk sports, which we love to do by the way, but we like to go off the beaten path a little bit.

branch out as it were. And I think This topic came up Yesterday When you were telling me your cookout story. About the grilled cheese that was not in your bag, is that correct?

Well, the corn dogs that turned into grilled cheese that turned into French fries. Yeah. And then you were we you somehow we got on the topic of French fries. Yeah, 'cause the french fries there were not good either. Yeah, you you said some pretty blasphemous things about cook out French fries.

Little Caesars, I'm sorry. I should have stuck with you. They don't have french fries. But they have pizza. Hey.

Yes, they have pizza at Little Caesars.

So we Thought. That would be a terrific top five for today. In the No Rules Top Five The No Rules Top Five. And this is Show Business, mixed with a little monkey business. Rank it.

Huh? What? Run it. Uh Top five. Fries of all time.

I will give Morgan the floor. All right, so I got my nice list here. At number five, Chick-fil-A. It's pretty low on the list. It is, because it deserves to be low.

Yeah, they're shaving. Wow, those are fighting words. They deserve to be low. They changed their recipe last year and how they cook them. Is that right?

I had insider information as my friend is one of the managers at a Chick-fil-A. Oh. Oh sorry, a shift lead, they don't call them managers. Um, they call him a what? Shift lead.

Okay. But They changed the recipe, and since then, I found that they're a little more dry and sandy. What did they do? What did they change? They changed the way that they prepare the potato.

And the temperature and duration of cook. Interesting. I haven't noticed a difference. Yeah, so I found that they were more dry and sandy, and I did not appreciate that. Sandy.

It's like eating sandy. How can fries be sandy? If you cook them too hot. They can dry him out. That's fair.

But they do a good amount of salt damage. Perfect. It adds to the flavor.

So, number one, Chick-fil-A. Number four, you can't beat Freddy's. Fries the shoestring fries What's Freddy's? Oh my goodness. Oh, wait, is that the custard place?

Yes, but they also do burgers.

Okay, I haven't been there. Oh, you should. I have yet to go. Shoestring fries. What is this?

So they're very thin fries. Very thin. Maybe a fourth of the size of a McDonald's fry, so very thin. And they're very scrunchy. Oh yeah.

I find them amazing. They're my favorite. type of fry, but they don't beat these top three. And they're unique. You don't really find shoestring fries anywhere but the Walmart aisle, so.

I'm looking for a picture of the shoestring fries. I think I found him. Yep, here it is. If you're watching on YouTube or X, there they are. Yeah, they're very thin.

I love them. They're amazing. Very greasy though. It's a very greasy shop so There's one downside to those fries. At number three, you gotta go Arby's curly fries.

They are very good. I love Arly. I love curly fries, but Arby's does it right. Can't go wrong with that. The number two here, you're going to say something.

Yeah, I'm... Nah, just keep going. I don't want to reveal anything just yet. I love some Arby's curly fries, but. I don't know, they might be a little overrated.

Well with that incorrect statement right there. We're gonna go to number two and not a lot of people know about these french fries. But they are number two. Have you heard of Firehouse Subs?

So my best friend used to work there. And I have eaten there a number of times. Good subs. I did not know they had fries at Jimmy Jones. Or Jimmy Jones.

I ruined it. I didn't know they had. They're like right across the street, so I just like Jimmy Jones. I didn't know they had fries at Firehouse. I just always got the kettle chips.

I didn't know about this until a month and a half ago. Fries, you say? They are top-tier fries. If you're going to Firehouse Subs and you get a nice sub sandwich, They're amazing subs. And then you get some french fries on the side instead of some fillets, potato chips.

Top tier. I mean they're um They're pretty big fries. Yes, and they're reminiscent of Wendy's fries. Hmm. Interesting.

Like size comparison there from like Wendy's fries. Yeah. I do like Wendy's fries. Spectacular fries. I would highly recommend, but they're not better than my number one.

What is Wendy's fries. Wendy's fries. They have this thing at Wendy's where if you get old fries that are cold, you can request new ones, so they'll make a fresh batch. You're always getting fresh french fries, golden, crispy, and cooked to perfection. What if you just want to eat cold fries?

I like cold fries.

Well, you can eat them incorrectly, but I'm weird like that. I will eat like cold bag fries. But if you could eat cold fries versus warm fries, probably yeah, obviously. Yeah, so I love them. They're not some McDonald's fries, you know, always.

Mm. undercooked and a little soggy.

So Let's let's get to my list here. At number five. Sweet potato fries. I love some sweet potato fries. Like that.

There is nothing better. Then when you go to a top-tier burger joint And I'm a regular at Hops Burger Bar. In Greensboro. Shout out. They don't sponsor this segment, but boy, they could.

They could. There's nothing better. Then, when they bring out this savory burger, let's just pretend it's the. Diablo that I get. It's a spicier burger.

It's got pepper jack cheese on it, jalapenos, and you pair the savory with the sweet. Sweet potato fries. It's terrific. And just a little salt, just enough saltiness in there, but they mainly sweet. They got a little sugar in there with it.

Terrific. I'm not sold on potato fries or sweet potato fries. I love me some sweet potato fries. Number four. Cookout fries.

I think they're a very underrated fry. And I don't appreciate them being slandered. It I think it was the cookout you went to.

Well, I was expecting a corn dog, but I mean, they were cold. Maybe it was just the experience. I might have to try them again. See? Give them another try.

This is pure Carolina credibility. Cookout fries. That's what they are. Yeah. Just a little bit of that seasoning, it's all you need.

There's nothing better than 2 a.m. Cookout fries. Can't beat it. Number three. The OG The golden arches?

McDonald's. They get very they also take a lot of crap. But everybody knows McDonald's is has terrific fries. They're unique. They use a special potato.

Well, it's longer, so it's a longer potato. Yeah. So that the fries are longer and stick out of the little pouch, so it gives the illusion that there's more fries in it. They're not the number one fry on my list because they're not my favorite. But I think universally people know McDonald's has the best fry.

I'd say they're sixth on my list. Because it just, I don't know, like, there's something about them. You all know. It just, they're kind of small, so you can kind of eat them like chips. You can, like.

Bunch them together because they're so small and eat a handful. Just, I don't know, something about it. The saltiness. I like it even better when they're not so crispy. It's actually the one fry that I don't need it to be overly crispy.

I kind of like that undercooked little bit, a little softer. Yeah, McDonald's. Number two. Yeah. Bow jingles.

Cajun season and Seasoned fries. I've actually not had these before. I'm not a big Bojangles person. You should go get Bojangla's fries literally when you leave the station today. And tell us what you think.

You should. I'll do it. I'll do it. They're they're seasoned. They're overly seasoned in the best way.

It's a lot of seasoning, but it's so good. Uh, just elite with honey, mustard, with ranch, however, you want to do it. Bojangles fries, number two, and number one. Chick-fil-A waffle fries. Whether they're crispy, whether they're a little more on the undercooked softer end.

They're just like you The one issue is you never have enough. There's just never enough of them. And they're very filling because they they usually you know good sized. I'll agree with you. There's never enough because they take up so much space in there.

And they are really good fries. Oh, I love them.

So, in review, your five were. Chick-fil-A at five, four Freddy's, three Arby's, two Firehouse Subs, and one was Wendy's. Yep. And I go sweet potato fries. Five, four is cookout.

Three McDonald's, two Bojangles. And Chick-fil-A. The Lords. Waffle fries. Usually we say it's the Lord's chicken.

But it's the Lord's waffle fries today. It's been the No Rules Top 5. The Triad's longest running live sports talk show. The dry, because somebody has to call this stuff out. Back at it on the drive, right here on WSJS, as we get ready to wrap up hour number one.

Wanna do uh Take a look at this though. This question that's going around today. Was LeBron's time in LA a success? Yeah. You don't think so.

It was not. Why do you believe that? Do you explain? He got one chip. Many people would say that's a success.

But. There was in a time when no fans were in the stadium, there was no crowds. I'm not going to say there's an asterisk there. No. But there is definitely, I would say, an easier road to the path for anybody not having to play in front of opposing fans.

Fair statement, I believe, in my opinion, is a fair statement. But if you're the Lakers and you have a star player coming out of his prime. You're expecting multiple. Four of the eight years that he was there, he did not win a series. He only made two conference finals appearances, and he only won a single one of them in the bubble.

Which I'm not saying isn't a feat. It's a huge feat to get to the conference finals and get to the title, but a little easier without. Fans in the crowd. Missed I mean Lost in conference finals, lost in first round, lost in first round, swept in second round. That's the last four years for the Lakers.

That's not Laker. Material.

So that's That's not Laker Materials. Morgan's coming in high. No, because they hang they hung a play-in tournament championship because they were lacking so many banners. Yeah, I don't agree with doing that. I wouldn't have done that.

Um Lesson. Here's how I would answer it. I think it was a success, just not as much as. Laker fans wanted it to be. If that can be an answer.

Because I think regardless, they did win a title. And that I mean Laker fans didn't seem to have a problem with that when it happened. You know? Yeah. I wouldn't put an asterisk on it.

I get it was in the bubble. But to me, it felt like being in the bubble presented a whole different can of challenges than just typical play I mean that The way LeBron and the way some of those players describe what that bubble was like, it's like they a lot of them didn't even want to be there and playing that, which. The fact that the Lakers You know, played the way they did against the heat in that series. I mean, I think that's pretty impressive. But again, It is, it's different.

I wouldn't say it has an asterisk, which you don't either.

Now now if this was any other team besides maybe the Celtics. I think this is a successful endeavor. Right if this is The Warriors. Maybe not also, but the Memphis Grizzlies, the Miami Heat. The Knicks?

So much recent success. But a championship and a few play off wins in some series? I'll take that any day over not having that. But the Lakers and the Celtics and the Warriors have come to know. That they expect more from their star players than just getting to the playoffs.

That's valid. I mean, they did miss the playoffs six straight seasons before he got there. And they missed it two more times when they got there. Like, I don't know what we're talking about. I mean, listen.

That if I'm a Laker fan, that's how I answer it. It was a success to a degree, but not what we wanted. Maybe not what we anticipated. Because, I mean, there was. You just had the sweep against the Thunder, which I mean, the Thunder were better.

And you didn't have your star player. But then, didn't they get swept or gentlemen swept by the Nuggets a couple of years ago? Didn't that happen? Four or five games they lost, I think. I think that's when the Nuggets won the title.

It was. It was. I can't remember. That was that that wasn't the Western Conference finals, though. Maybe that was before that.

But they got handled by Denver. They did. That's how I would answer it. Does he get a statue? I don't think so.

That's the correct answer. I don't think so. The statue's gonna be in Cleveland. Or Miami. Or both.

They'll get one in both, I'd say. But Fascinated to see what LeBron's going to do. In fact, here he did I send you this clip? Yeah, I sent you to LeBron. Here he was.

last night talking about Retirement. Or what comes next, him being here he was on that. I think You guys asked me about it, and I've answered questions. Yeah, I don't think I've come out and was like, oh, retirement is coming. Yeah, so.

I mean, what my future? I don't know, obviously. I mean, this is. Obviously, we're still fresh from obviously losing. I don't know.

I mean, I don't know what the future holds for me, obviously, as it stands right now, tonight. I got a lot of time. I'll sit back, like I think I said it last year after we lost, I think, to Minnesota there, go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them. spend some time with them and when the time comes I obviously Yeah, you guys know what what what I decided to do. I don't think he's going to retire.

I don't believe that. 336-777-1600. That's the number to call very quickly as we. put a bow on hour number one here. I'll be curious to see where he goes.

Could it be Cleveland? Could it be Golden State? Is it somebody somewhere else? Or does he just say the heck with it and realize Maybe y'all just come back and be a Laker again. Luca, have him healthy.

I don't know. We'll see, but I don't think he's going to retire. Damon Clemens, what do you got for us? Real quick, there is a zero percent chance LeBron James is retiring. He will go on one of the best retirement tours ever before he retires.

I can guarantee that. Um, but yeah, real quick, and I wanted to pick your brain on something real quick with Rebron and his Lakers run. I do consider it obviously not a failure, not a bust, but also not a major success. And the reason why I put that and I wanted to pick your brain on this, do you have ever at any point when he was with the Lakers, did you consider them a dynasty or like Absolute absolutely not. And that's where that's like when he went there, that was the hopes.

Would they turn this into a dynasty? Or would they be the most dominant NBA team for multiple years? And I don't see that. And we kind of look at OKC right now As that team, as that dynasty, or maybe Victor and the Spurs, right? But I never thought LeBron and his Lakers were on gut there, and I was curious your opinion.

Thanks for the call, Dave. I appreciate it. I don't know They definitely weren't a dynasty, that's for sure.

Now, I don't know if that was their end goal. I mean, who wouldn't want to be a dynasty, but. It's a fascinating conversation. Makes it If you've ever yelled at a ref, this show's for you. You're on the drive.

Back at it on the drive, right here on WSJS. Where we welcome in the TV Voice of the Canes on FanDuel Sports Network, Mike Manascalco. Mike, how are you doing? Will, good to see you, man. This is uh.

The new look suits you, my friend. I try, man. I try. I just say some words into this thing, and they entrusted me with that. I'm not saying anything, but the show sounds really good.

Well, I appreciate that. I appreciate it. I wanted to ask you this because that's what you do when you bring on a guest. You ask questions. Yeah.

The Kanes. They made history over the weekend. Going 8-0, sweeping two playoff series. First team to do it since the 85 Oilers that featured a prime Wayne Gretzky. I'm curious, what About that.

has been the most impressive to you, Mike, being on the call for these games. I think, you know, just the... business like approach that they've had to every game and Um they are right now It's a machine. It's just the parts. Keep moving it forward.

Will, how many times have I been on? And I told you that it's not about the parts, it's the sum, right? That it's you don't rely on, and it's kind of funny that you brought up the 85 Oilers who had the best of five series sweep.

So it was only three and then a best of seven.

So the quote-unquote modern era, God, that makes me feel old because I was 12 when they switched to the current format of you've got to win four games in every round. You know, everybody looks at that Gretzky team in the Oilers and they think, oh, they had the greatest player of all time, which they did. But if you really take a look at what made that Edmonton team so special, they had everything, right? It was Gretzky, and then it was Messier, and it was Curry. But it was, and I know I'm talking about some of the greatest players in the history of the game, but they were a deep team.

They did roll four lines. They had great penalty killing and great power plays, naturally. And of course, an outstanding goaltender in Grant Fear. The thing that I think that makes this Carolina team great is You don't look at them and say, Oh, you have to shut down this line because that's been the big thing, right? People like to poke holes, or oh, this isn't happening, right?

Well, the Sebastian Aho line and Rod Brindamore brought up this comment today, Will. They have been the best they've ever been defensively. In these eight games in the postseason, the four against Ottawa, the four against Philadelphia. Then you have the Logan Stankovin line because you're getting the matchup you want for them red hot. I think they're the best line in the postseason if you want to go pound for pound.

But then you're getting contributions from Stahl and Martinook and Eelers. And then I could have easily, in the last two games, given Eric Robinson five goal calls. I mean, he was that close, you know, two misses, Mark Chankowski and Will Carey. That line's been outstanding. The decor has been great.

It's been. The funny thing is, like, what's the most impressive thing? They've all been impressive. They all know their roles, and they've all been playing their part. Mike Manascalco with us here on WSJS.

So, you might have answered some of my next question with what you just said, but I'll tell you the thing that I've noticed with this Kanes team when I've watched is that. No matter what the situation is, whether they're up, whether they're behind, it's been a little bit less of that. But when they have been behind, or whether they've been in overtime situations, like they stay very steady, they kind of stay the same, or whether, you know, there's post-whistle stuff that Philly tried to do or Ottawa tried to do, they've continued to play the way they wanted to play. What do you think the biggest reason for that consistency is? I think the the learned response from the previous years in the postseason of you know, reacting to it or not being the initiators.

It puts them behind the eight ball, especially when you're playing teams that wanna do that.

Now, this is not a disrespect to Philadelphia and Ottawa, but they're not the Florida Panthers, right? They don't have the group that that group has had the last three years, the agitators that they've had, but then the players to go out and back it up afterwards.

So, if you're gonna play that way, you have to be prepared to pay the check that comes with it. And I think that the Kanes have learned. Over those playoff series, that okay, you know, we can be a little bit more aggressive, we can be the initiators, and we're gonna have we're gonna be the guys pushing some people around. I've noticed that at a it's not that they're going out looking for penalties. But I heard it explained this way.

As good as the Keynes penalty kill has been, they've only allowed two power play goals in the eight games that they've played. I think the number is they're. I think 37 kills on 39 attempts. It might be 38 out of 40. I got to go back and keep doing the math, but I've got time for the homework with the cane sweeping everybody.

But. I think they're also to this point of, you know what, we can either take a penalty of aggression or we can retaliate if we need to, because they have this much faith in their penalty killing, what they've been able to do. In particular, what they've seen from the first series and it carried over into the second round against Philadelphia.

So that's what I've seen. It's kind of that you can call it, you know, you learn from history or scar tissue or whatever it can be, Will. But I think for me that they've learned. How to react to those situations where maybe they didn't handle them the best way possible in years past. They're handling them the correct way this year.

You know, um, The Kanes might be getting the best goaltending of anybody in these playoffs, maybe. Numbers say it. The numbers do. And Freddie Anderson, this seems to be his moment. How impressed have you been with what you've seen from Freddie Anderson?

You know what? I'm going to downplay this. And it's going to kind of come as a shock. But if you look at what he has done in his career, in particular with Carolina in the first two rounds, this is what he does, right? It's everybody likes to point to, oh, playoff failings.

Well, You know, when you get beat by a guy named Sergei Bobrovsky two times in the conference final, that's not something to hang your head about. And then, you know, he had never really been for a lot of these runs 100% healthy or going into the postseason healthy. This is really the first time he has been healthy.

Now, did I expect him to have a goals against average of 1.02 and a save percentage? It's 960. No, I didn't expect that, but I expected to get the best out of Frederick Anderson, and we've seen that. And really, the funny thing is, in some of these games, He hasn't been taxed. And I think that that is incredibly hard.

For a goalie in the playoffs to sit there. There was a, I was looking up, and it was halfway through game two. Against Philadelphia, he faced six shots. Yeah. And he's, you know, that's, you know, people, it seems counterintuitive, but that's harder for a goalie to sit there and stay in the game and be mentally sharp when they're not getting tested that way.

And I think that's his biggest asset: he is so calm. If he's facing six shots or 36, he's the same guy, the same demeanor. And now, the way that this team has been playing in front of him. They have, I think it's the other way around. It's the team having that confidence in him now that, okay, this is the guy we know.

That he can do this because we're seeing he can do this, we're living it, and he is coming up. With hasn't stopped them all. But he's made the ones you need to, right? When you're in that 1-1 game or 2-2 game or you're trailing, not that I think the Keynes have trailed for a total of 40 minutes this entire postseason.

Well, but in those situations, he hasn't given up that other goal. That makes it A three-nothing game, and now you're really in trouble, or you just take the lead and you give one up, you know, 35 seconds later. The Kanes have been the team counter-punching when they've been scored on this year.

So, for me, for Frederick Anderson, I know that it sounds like a super home or answer for me, but I'm not. I'm not that surprised because we've seen it before. But I think that now that you move into the next round, you're going to need him to keep this up.

Okay. This is great. And now this is where I can put my thumb on the scale and be like, yeah, I kind of thought you could do this.

Now show everybody what you can do in the conference final when the pressure gets ratcheted up a little bit more. And it looks like you might be seeing Jakob Dobish for Montreal. He's the only goaltender right now that I look at and say has been that influential, that important to his team the way that Frederick Anderson has been for Carolina. Mike Meniscalco of the Fandel Sports Network with us here on WSJ. Yeah, so you mentioned moving things forward.

Let's do that because, you know, you've got Montreal, you've got Buffalo, you know, duking it out right now for a chance to play the Hurricanes. Who do you think would theoretically be the better draw for Carolina? I like Carolina's chances against either one in a seven-game set. Don't think there's going to be a sweep against either of those two, but who would be the better draw? Yeah.

you know this is a cop-out answer but i don't think that one is an easier ticket than the other Because they both pose different problems. Let's start with Montreal. I just mentioned Jakob Dobish. If goaltenders get hot in the postseason and we've seen it, That's enough to carry teams to a Stanley Cup. We have seen that in the past, not as much recently.

Like, I think there's, we're all living in the old days of, oh, remember when this guy got hot and they got to a final? You know, Caps fans will tell you the only colesy gear when they got there. It's not so much that, but the more that a guy puts up these numbers, the more you believe he can keep doing it. You know, in Dobish's case, he's a young guy, and Montreal has some firepower that really hasn't been there five on five. It's the Suzuki line.

Cole Caulfield scored 51 goals in the regular season. He can't score five on five in the postseason. That kind of worries me, right? At some point in time, you got to snap that out. Defensively, they're not as deep as Buffalo.

Buffalo, I think one through 12 on the forwards is deeper than what Montreal has, but Montreal's players all know their roles right now, and they all play them really well. I think Buffalo has a better defense, but it's not that much better than Montreal. And then I think Montreal has got the better goaltending than Buffalo right now.

So, like I said, you're splitting hairs. You go to the power play. Buffalo, I think, was 0 for April until they scored a couple the other night. And, you know, Montreal's power play is just a little bit better than that.

So, like I said, I don't think there's a preferred. I know that people are going to look at the regular season and see that Carolina didn't beat Montreal at all. I can tell you right now. I put no stock into the regular season when you get into the playoffs. And then, in particular, every series you move a little bit further, the regular season gets further and further as meaningless to what you did because you never know if there was a back-to-back, if there was travel, was somebody sick, was you know, something else that was going on.

So, I look at it that way, Will.

So, it is a cop-out answer, but I don't think one or the other. I'm along your lines. I think the Canes win the series. I don't think it's a sweep, but I don't think that there's a preferable matchup if it's Buffalo or if it's Montreal that it'll make it an easier series for Carolina. A few more things for you here on the way out.

Do you worry. About the Keynes chances. Like, okay, let's just say they go to the Stanley Cup and they face an Avalanche team that is just. Terrific. If they don't get more production than what they've got.

From Sebastian Ajo or Seth Jarvis or a a Sfetch, do you worry about the Keynes chances? No, I mean, they're 8-0, right? I mean, if they had been going to game sevens or, you know, even game sixes, I'd be worried about it.

Okay, these guys aren't scoring, and you're not. They are. Sweeping these teams out, and you really haven't gotten, and again. I look at it when you try to check boxes and matchups, Will. The line that they're going up against isn't out-producing them, right?

So it's not like the Ziegris line had 10 goals for Philadelphia and the Ajo line scored nothing, right? It's not like Stutzla had six goals and Brady Kachuk had five goals and they had nothing. They had nothing to show for it. The majority of the ice time, they were against Sebastian Ajo, Seth Jarvis, and Andrei Sveshnikov. And I just have the belief that they'll probably get it going.

But right now, I would be a lot more concerned if you didn't have Logan, Stankov and Taylor, Hall, and Jackson Blake. Then I'd be concerned, but you have that going right now. I don't think that there's too much in my mind, there's not too much for me to be like, oh, well, what if they run into Colorado?

Well, I think it's more Colorado has to worry about. What are you going to do if this line continues to shut down teams like they have? Like, what's the McKinnon-Natches line going to do? You know, I like Marty Naches, fabulous player, but he's getting secondary assists, right? He's not got seven or eight goals.

Nathan McKinnon's on another planet when it comes to an outstanding player, what he can do. But I think you just look at, again, the depth that Carolina brings to the party. As long as somebody's scoring the goals, it doesn't have to be. the aho line. You want it to be, they want it to be, but it doesn't have to be.

You should know, Mike. That ever since I took over this show, we don't do the movie segment anymore.

So that's. But despite all of those movies that I watch, and it was a lot, it was probably 300 movies, I still call Paul Newman the salad dressing guy. Still do that. That's still fair. There's certain things when I come onto this show, there have to be certain things that I'm going to shake my head at.

Despite, I don't remember the other guy's name, but I just remember a lot of inane questions from him. But. I do expect when I'm joining. And there's going to be something where I just have to shake my head at no matter what you ask. Paul Newman, the salad dressing guy.

The salad dressing guy. At least call him the pizza guy. The pizzas are awesome. Does he make pizzas? Oh my gosh.

Oh Will. See there it was. Darren what? Does he make pizzas? Is that a thing?

Yes, frozen pizzas, yes, they're great. Guess I'll have to go check it out. All right, Mike. I appreciate it. I appreciate it.

You made it this far in life.

Well, don't answer that. Not long. Not long. I know. I know.

I know. Old man over here had to check himself. That's it. Mike Maniscalco, FanDuel Sports Network, TV Voice of the Hurricanes. We appreciate it.

It was fun. And we'll talk to you again sometime soon. And if I can just say, you can also hear me on the radio because we simulcast, and you can hear us on the Hurricanes Radio Network. Chip Tracy and I continuing to call the games all the way through on the radio side now. Yeah, he about elbowed you right in the face on that overtime.

I'm glad you're okay.

Well, first off, you take a hit to make a play, right? And no offense to Tripper, I've told him this, but the physical game really more suits me than Tripp. He was a goalie, so I'm a little bit more, as you can see, I'm more built. For that.

So I'm okay. I appreciate the concerns, but it's nothing that I'll use the rest. The ice tub, I'll be good to go for the conference finals. Mike, we'll see you next time, man. You gotta woke.