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Law Supplies Last ends June 30th. Terms at aka.ms slash college PC. This is The Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody! Can't get enough of The Rich Eisen Show?
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Now, on with the show. But I've never seen the Knicks play this way. It's unbelievable. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Rich Eisen?
Oh, that's Susie Eisenhelton. With guest host, Susie Schuster. Earlier on the show, sports radio legend Christopher Mad Dog Russo. Coming up. Senior NBA writer for the ringer, Howard Beck.
Basketball Hall of Famer, Shaquille O'Neal. And now, sitting in for Rich, it's Susie Schuster. Hour number two is underway. I am Susie Schuster in for Rich Eisen on his way to New York. He'll be back in a couple days.
Whatever. We'll miss him. I mean, he'll be back next week.
Next week? Yeah. Is that when he's back? Good to know. I only live with him.
Just pay attention to him. On this show.
Well, he'll be back at your house, I think, in a couple days. But on this show, Rich is back on Monday. Yeah, because I'm here tomorrow. Yeah. And then O'Shea will be here on Thursday.
Shea's on his way? Not yet. Shay's coming in for a couple days. I'm here tomorrow. I'll be in women's sports now exclusively on ESPN, Disney Plus, wherever you find your women's sports now.
I'm here to bring it to you. Andrea Carter in studio with me this week, as well as the greatest coach of our modern time in women's basketball college, I would say, and that is Corey Close. I do love her a lot. And we're going to have her in studio. TJ Jefferson, you're right to my right.
I'm going the opposite way today. Good morning. How are you? I'm great. You want champagne tomorrow?
You want mimosas? I mean, that seems only right.
Okay, fine. Yeah. I mean, I got the orange juice today, so.
Okay. You got the brains. I got the looks. We're going to make a lot of money. You guys are the pet.
Hey, Mikey, how are you? Good morning. Good to see you. The old people are talking. What?
I know. The old people. What are you, like a spring chicken? He thinks he is compared to the three of you. Watch it.
Watch it. Watch it. I'll press the mute button. Don't make me press that button. Thanks for joining us here on The Rich Eisen Show.
As you guys know, when I'm sitting in the chair, I like to take calls. Let's get right to some calls. By the way, win-lost, you guys. Yeah, win-lost games. Come on.
We're my win-lost fans. Let's go. 8404-204-RICH is the number to dial. You know, I'm going to empty the phone banks before, but let's take a call, shall we? Derek in Missouri.
Hi, Derek. How are you? Derek, what up, man? I'm good, Suzy. I just got back from Indianapolis yesterday hitting like twenty first Indianapolis five hundred, which happened to be the closest fish in the history of the race itself.
And if you guys get the chance, Be sure to check out that video. It was an epic finish to the race. And I know you don't use the show that much for a platform for uh motorsports, but um I'd be very messed up by uh Did it say uh Give my condolences and prayers to the family of Kyle Bush, who suddenly lost his life last Thursday. And my thoughts and prayers go out to Ham and his family. And I want to say this about the Knicks right now.
I mean, right, Sheriff, Rich, and everybody else at the Die Her Knicks fans are. About this run that they have going for them right now, but My question to you guys is How much momentum is too much momentum on this one instructor they have? before they go in and get the case L K C or San Antonio. Are you worried about what a cooler effect with all the days off? Is that what you're talking about?
Yeah, in a way. And plus, I mean, the the wins that they have, I mean, sure, it's great and all, but They're going to be going into a difficult. I mean, they're going into the Lion's Den, no matter who they play, whether it's OKC or San Antonio, it's going to be. I mean, we don't know who's going to come out the winner in that tonight, but it's going to be fun to watch, I'm sure, no question about it. No, you're absolutely right, Derek.
I totally agree with you. And I think that, look, you're getting ready for two totally different teams, right? But that's the whole beauty of having a really great coach is that you have to be ready for the team that's ahead of you. And they're going to watch. They're going to watch this game tonight.
And they're going to get ready for both circumstances. But any of us who have been watching basketball for a long time know you do your own thing. You play your game. You watch your film. You get ready for those opponents out there.
They'll get ready for SGA. They'll get ready for Wemby. And they'll get ready for two totally different styles of basketball. But I mean, Chris, we've seen this. And Derek, thanks again for your call.
I appreciate it. I mean, the biggest concern that they have is themselves and is the time off and is staying ready and staying focused. But They've got a coach who's going to get them ready for every scenario that's out there. Yeah, Mike Brown has done a great job in this postseason. I think during the middle of the year, even Rich was kind of bemoaning Mike Brown as, man, was this guy the answer?
Do we really need to fire Tibbs? But I think one of the things, TJ, that he's done a great job is he's playing the guys. He's playing the roster. This isn't six guys and you're running them into the ground like we saw Tibbs do, which is why these Knicks teams kind of faded as the playoffs. extended for them and Everybody contributes and look, I mean I think Shamut missed 1-3 in the conference finals.
That's not going to keep, that's not, you know, that's tough to maintain, right?
So the guys are going to come down a little bit, but they'll be underdogs against OKC, but I think they will be favored in the series if it is the Spurs. And so I think Mad Dog is right in saying that they want the West to go seven, and I think they want to see San Antonio. They got, you know, they're not the home team, so they're only going to get three home games, but. Uh you know I'm a little worried about the eight days off. But Man, the way this team is playing, I don't know how you can't be feeling sky high if you're a Knicks fan.
Right. Teach, what do you think? I mean, we've said this earlier. I've already said, I've already picked the Knicks to win. I think they're winning the championship.
Ooh, ink they're on a roll. I think the time is It's just their time. And do I have anything to back this up? No, because much like mad dogs, I hate analytics too because I'm not good at math.
So analytics and me don't go head to head. But it's a feel. But it's a feel. There's a feel. And it's years of watching basketball and having a feeling.
And I just have a feeling, man. You were talking about going to the Lions den, Derek said. This is the garden, man. Like, those teams have to come into Madison Square Garden. Yeah.
Most famous arena. The world's most famous arena where, you know. There are Championship banners on, you know, it is pretty cool seeing like the cast of 99 and the cast of 94 and all the Knicks games. That is that is pretty fun. That was special.
The fans are just going crazy in New York right now. I don't know, man. Like I said, it's just a feeling. I have nothing. You know, someone once said that, you know, sometimes I toe the line too much.
I don't really go left or right with an opinion. My opinion is this: look at this photo. Is that Marcus Cambie? Marcus Cambie and Jalen Brunson wearing an, like I'm saying, there's just something right now, Susie, that tells me that. You can't overlook stuff like that.
Jalen Brunson is maybe two years old, three in this picture. And you know that Jalen Brunson is Leon Rose's godson.
Well, yeah, I mean, I mean, Brick played for the team, so his father, like, you know, it's all there's just a story here. It can be UMass Great. Yeah. Nick Greek. Was he a Knick Gray?
I forget how long he played for the Knicks. Marcus Cambie was the band. But I like I said, man, it it it's just a feeling. Yeah. I got a feeling these Knicks are going to do it.
I could be. Am I wrong? Who knows? Maybe. But.
You know who else has a feeling? You know who else has has a feeling there?
Okay. Black eye peek. Kat's got a feeling. Let's roll this sound. I think what's.
more of an honor is growing up in the area, th I feel like the word hope has been gone from the New York Knicks name for a long time. And to for me and OG to be part of this team that revives the word hope in the city, It's something special. It's something really, really special, and it's an honor. It's one of those things, you know, when I was growing up watching the Knicks, it was Just hoping one day you could just put the jersey on. Never knew I'd be in this position at this mic talking about us going to the finals and the city believing in us.
And that speaks a lot to the camaraderie of this team, the character of this team, the willingness, the sacrifice everyone's been willing to put forward for the betterment of the team. Thank you, sir. is nowhere better in the world when the garden has hope. Carl Anthony Towns grew up in New Jersey and he worshipped Fraser. And he worshipped Ewing and he worshipped Starks, and they were all there to watch him, and it was something special to take in.
And a lot of chatter this year about Cat, is he going to be there? Should they move him out? Giannis coming there, what have you. A lot of chatter all season long. And man, he looked pretty proud up there last night.
Talk about going back to 1999, too. The Knicks played the Spurs in the 99 NBA Finals. That was the first of the five-title run that San Antonio went on with Duncan and Robinson and Genoi and Tony Parker and those guys.
So. Yeah. That's what I'm rooting for. I think that'll be the most fun finals, I think, to watch and aesthetically, and just the vibes and. I mean, I'm going to root for San Antonio, but I mean, this Knicks team, you know, they look like a title team right now.
Let's go to Steve in Missouri. We're going to go back to Missouri again. Hey, Steve. Yes, and it is an honor to be talking to you. You are Fabulous in the world of women's sports and sports in general.
Thanks. I really appreciate that. That's 100% true. My wife is the Midwest version of you. Oh, God.
So you must be exhausted then. I am. Every day I come home and she's got six stories from the athletic or the ringer, and that's what we do during dinner.
So it's pretty fun. Oh, I love that. That's awesome, Steve. Wait, well, hold on, hold on. What's her name?
What's her name? Let's not talk about her as her. What's her name? Barbara. Hi, Barbara.
Shout out to Babs. Right? We like that. Beth.
So anyway, the deal is Just long down. Because the entire Eastern Seaboard is going crazy now. This may be one of the greatest teams ever. You got there last time and did not win. We're going to have to play the games.
whether it's San Antonio or the Thunder. You're going to have to play.
So everybody calmed out. Because this follows the same kind of logic as anybody from Michigan thinking that J.J. McCarthy is going to be an NFL quarterback. You've got to play the games. Oh my god, somewhere in the air, Rich just got a sharp pain in his heart and he's wondering what just happened, right?
I mean, like, oh, he loves J.J. McCarthy so much. Steve, thank you so much for your time. Say hi to Barbara for us, please. I sure will.
I'm in the Eastern He went for the JJs.
Well, he's taking the mad dog route of pouring a little water on it. Everyone just relax. Yeah. Have you seen the ticket prices for the games at MSG, by the way? How much are they these days?
The get-in price for game three of the NBA Finals, the first one in Madison Square Garden, is $3,700. Whoop! You buy a card with that to sit where? I think all the way up. All the way up.
Yeah, the chance. I think that's last row. There's no chance. No, that is the $3,700 for the last row. That is the cheapest ticket right now to get into Madison Square Garden.
Guess I won't be going to the back game? Nope. Nope. Like I said, you buy a whip for $3,700. Did you see what I sent you about somebody bought a Wemby card for $5.5?
Yeah, nice. I didn't have a chance to open the 5.1, 5.4. The 101 all black. And fanatics?
Well, that might be a. That's probably going to turn out to be a good investment because this dude. Yeah. Sorry. It's going to be a force for the next.
It's come down. No, it's still 3,600. There are some courtside seats going for 100K online. It seems like a casual investment, right? Just for one nine.
Just to go to one game.
Sorry, this is no free ads, but this is center court. Row five. for a hundred and fifteen thousand dollars. I mean, that is insane.
Okay, what can you buy for $115? That is several salaries. Right? Several salaries. A house.
You can get a house, TJ. For how much? I mean, not in Los Angeles, you can't get a house, but In most other places in the country you can get a house for one fifteen. But by the way, it's not just 115. You're not going by yourself.
No, that was for one ticket. No, but my point is: whoever gets that ticket is going with somebody. I would have assumed so. 230?
Okay. I'm sorry. Knicks fans are out of control. I love it. I found one for $35, Brockman.
Oh, you go. There you go. Deals.
So, do you have season tickets, Mike? Did you see the dude on top of the atrium outside of MSG waving the flag? They climbed to the top. Yeah, dude, there wasn't just a person. Oh, I know.
I'm saying there were several, but one guy had a giant Knicks flag. Like. Unhinged. The crowd start chanting USA. If they win, if they win, it'll be the biggest parade ever.
I'm surprised New York's still standing right now. It'll be the biggest parade of all time. What's the last New York parade? Was it been the Yankees in 09? Yeah, yeah.
It's been a while. It's been a minute. That's a ticker tick.
Well, I guess the G-Man and 11. I was about to say, yeah, that's right. The Giants won't be. Anybody paying attention to that one? That's right.
Did the Liberty have a parade? They won a couple of years ago. Yeah, by the way, they play in New Jersey.
Well, they play in Brooklyn, right? No, I'm talking about the Giants. Oh, they play New Jersey in the swamps of New Jersey. That's true. Yeah, the Liberty won in 2014.
That's true. That's true. The Bills are the only actual NFL team in New York. That's true. Just for accuracy's sake.
No one's paying attention to the Jets, though. I mean, although, did someone call last week and said the Jets would sweep the Patriots? That was our guy in Arkansas. What do we think he did say? What are we doing?
That's ridiculous. What kind of gummies is they take it? Sweep the Patriots? What are you smoking, bro? Give me something.
Who's the guy that called in? Was it two days ago or yesterday? The wind lost. What was yesterday? Monday?
That was a holiday. Friday, the win loss, who like went 0-17 or 0-1?
Well, that was he. Yeah, it was the guy. He did 0-17 for the Patson, Dustin, and then called back last week and said that we would. get swept by the Jets, which hasn't happened since 2000, TJ. See, the win loss is starting to heat up because see all uh I'm going to take every one of these win-losses.
Yes. I mean, taking every one is kind of that's a lot. No, it's not. I'm a woman of my words, DJ. But you know, I'm not going to take notes at the same time.
I can't do two things at the same time.
Well, who's you got to keep track of these? That's part of the. You need to keep track of these. I can't do both. You have the sheets way too much.
You got the sheet, but you have the special stressful. I got to follow the lines down. All right, I'll come get the sheet. I can only do one thing at a time. During the break, I can do a lot of things at the same time, but when it comes to this, it's very stressful.
I don't want to screw up my win-loss. I take it very seriously. What's the official record? No idea. No, he's saying it's the official.
I'm saying it's the same they have to be written down by the host. No, they don't. Who said it? I'm just sitting here. Who make up the rules?
I have a I did bring a notebook, just in case. I brought my Pete Carroll Win Forever notebook.
Okay. It's really dirty. Except last year. Whatever. I was just going to say.
Wow, be a hater. I know. I just took a shot at Pete for no reason. How could you take a shot at Pete Carroll? What's wrong with you?
It was more at Britain. It was not American. It was more at the Raiders. That's fine. You can take a show.
Okay, we're going to talk to Howard, and then we'll do win-loss after. You're trying to tell me what to do? What are you saying? Go to break? I was just, you know, steering the ship.
Oh, wow. You're going to let him do that too? Captain Brockman? Why don't you take your hands off the wheel, Chris? He is from up in the we would not be good driving team the same thing either, guys.
I love how people are like, I think Susie and Chris really hate each other. It's not easy. I'm like, we're from New England. This is how we talk to each other. This is how we talk to each other.
Can I do a read or are you going to tell me what to do? Do your read. That works out really well all the time. A so-fi personal loan is here to help you achieve something once thought impossible, like listening to Chris, overcoming high-interest credit card debt. Walk the tightrope of your finances with one low fixed-rate monthly payment, no fees required, and as soon as the same-day funding, that's right, pull off your own debt-defying stunt with SoFi personal loan.
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Hi, Howard. How are you? Schuster, how are you? Doing great.
So good to see you.
So good to see you.
What was your reaction watching this close-out game last night? Oh my. I mean, it's. You have to decide which prism you want to watch this through. Through the prism of the Knicks.
I mean, just. Absolutely dominant, efficient, devastating. This team has been clicking on all cylinders for weeks already, so I don't think there's anything surprising there. But then the flip side is you're looking at it through the prism of the Cavaliers who have been knocking on the door for the last few years. 64-win team not long ago, traded for James Harden at mid-season, and they just look like they were not even meant to be there and didn't want.
to be there.
So incredibly dominant performance by the Knicks, an incredibly humiliating and I think embarrassing performance by the Cavaliers. But, you know, look, in fairness, the Knicks have made a lot of teams look humiliated and unfit for the moment from Atlanta, the last few games of that series to Philly in that sweep to this Cavalier sweep.
So, you know, maybe it's just the Knicks. Howard, by the way, I should ask you: you did wash your hands after you came in with those chicken wings. That wasn't you, was it, Howard? No, I was not in Cleveland, so I can claim innocence with some conviction. Yeah, just checking, had to find out.
Now, analytically, Um, analytically, they really should have won that game. And analytically, apparently, they the Cavs are the better team, right, Howard? Yeah. You had to go there, Susie. Always.
Always. I've known Kenny a long time. Met him when he was an assistant under Mike Dantoni with the Knicks way back when. He was actually the guy who was Jeremy Lynn's workout guy and development coach during that time before Lynn's sanity.
So I've known Kenny a long time. I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses for him out of my affinity for Kenny. He was, as I understand, he was asked a question. Again, I was not in Cleveland. He was asked a question about what still gives you confidence, you're down 3-0.
And he went into the analytics explanation of if you looked at the shot quality, et cetera, et cetera. Joe Mazzulla, by the way, gotten similar hot water for a quote like that, I think, a year ago. And I get what he was trying to say. That the process is good, the shot quality is good, and if you look at it based on the quality of our shots, we should have made more of them. They were open, they were good shots, all that kind of thing.
But the way he said it, and of course, because we live in the society we do, where everything is immediately clipped, cut, pasted, aggregated, blown out, often without any context. It's on him. For saying it in I think a um an inartful way. Uh it was probably the wrong answer and certainly the wrong phrasing for the answer, but it also wasn't quite as bad as it sounded after everybody got through cycling through it and aggregating it.
So. What do you think happens to him, Howard? I wouldn't care to speculate. I don't I don't know. The Cavaliers have been bumping up against it for the last few years.
Look, it's four years now with Donovan Mitchell. And, you know, they've been in the playoffs every year: a first-round exit, two second-round exits. And then this is the first year they've made the conference finals. They made a coaching change along the way, of course. They fired J.B.
Bickerstaff, who's now had great success in Detroit. They hired Kenny. And they did make the conference finals, like their first non-LeBron James conference finals in 40 years or something. It's not nothing, but I do think when you lose this badly, sometimes it's just the optics that take you down. Like, I think the optics had a lot to do with the Sixers deciding to fire Daryl Maury after the Knicks smoked them and in their building, and with Knicks fans taking over their building.
Like, I, you know, owners in this league are emotional too. And I, you know, I do think that whether it's the ownership there, Front office. They'll take into account everything. Moves made, moves not made. You know, that game one is going to haunt not just Kenny Atkinson, but that entire franchise because they blew that 22-point fourth-quarter lead, and it feels like in a lot of ways the series was kind of lost that night.
So I think it's fair to speculate. This is professional sports, but I have no idea where they'll land with regard to their coach. And now the Knicks are sitting there cooling off as they wait for the Western Conference to be decided. You know, that can go both ways. Obviously, it's great for them health-wise, and they're still a fairly healthy team.
But how do you think Mike Brown will keep them focused? I feel like when you say that I'm now like retracking my own question. Like, these guys are going to stay focused. This is their job, and this is what they're trained to do. How do you think this break will affect them?
I mean, Susie, you and I saw it up close. I think you were there with me in two thousand one when the Lakers had, I believe, eleven days off after sweeping the first three rounds before facing the Sixers. And of course, famously or infamously, They lost game one to Alan Iverson and then smoked the Sixers the next four games, but it was the only blemish on their postseason. Was the rest part of that and the rust that goes with it? Um.
Maybe. I think it does tend to creep in, but the Knicks, like this Knicks team. This is just the consummate professionals. You see it every night in the way that they play. They never seem to lose focus, they never seem to get out of character.
And I don't think that'll happen now. And this is not 11 days. This will be more like 8, the final start a week from tomorrow. And, you know, they could sit there in the meantime and get to watch the Spurs and Thunder beat the you-know-what out of each other. This is a team that tends to get banged up.
Jalen Brunson in particular, like knock on wood, but I think this has been his healthiest run since he's been here in New York. But, you know, there's always bumps and bruises this time of year that will do them well. I'm sure Mike Brown will find ways to keep them sharp. But yeah, this is a very professional group. I don't think they're going to need a lot to keep them sharp.
You just got to try to not lose the rhythm that you're in over a course of a week. I was telling the guys, don't you remember that? I think it was like Vic the Brick Jacobs would come in with a giant broom and like, Phil, how do we keep this broom clean? And I mean, again, like the props. It's always about the props.
Shout out to Vic the Brick. Oh, my God. I just got to give the guy a shout out. All right.
So let's flop over then to the Western. And so what are you expecting here? Flop over.
Well, did I say flop over? That was well done. Thank you very much. I was going to let that go. Listen.
Someone's got to be artful in this chair. Yeah. The series has been phenomenal. I truly wish that the Thunder had a healthy Jalen Williams and A.J. Mitchell, and that the Spurs were not worried night to night about the state of De'Aaron Fox or Dylan Harper and their injuries, because these two teams are two of the most fascinating, most talented young teams we've seen in a very long time.
It's coming up simultaneously, basically. The Thunder breaking through last year with their championship, the Spurs now. Potentially on the verge of a finals with their star player, Victor Wemanyama, being only 22, his first playoff run. Ever Could take him all the way to the finals and perhaps a championship. Like, we don't see that very often in the modern NBA.
Like, this is insane, it's fascinating, it's compelling as hell. I love it. I have a story up on theringer.com today about the idea that a lot of people, it seemed like especially after game one of that series, were already cowering at the thought of like, oh my God, who's going to beat these teams in the foreseeable future? They're both really young and super talented. And again, these are two teams that are also very professional and they play well beyond their years.
You never look for one moment and think that Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle are in their first couple of years in the NBA. We know that game five in a tied series tends to decide the series, not always, but statistically speaking, that's the way these things go. I think the Spurs do have a certain amount of momentum and better health, assuming that Fox and Harper are both playing tonight. And A.J. Mitchell and Jalen Williams remain out, that certainly gives them the advantage.
They seem to have found kind of a method for at least bottling up or making it really hard on Shea. And then, with no other playmakers, shot creators out there, in the absence of those two other guys, that gives the Spurs quite an advantage. Yeah, and Wemby has been able to make them so successful in preventing OKC from scoring in the paint, as they've been able to do so effectively all season. Let's just talk about Wimby and put him into perspective. Like, how would you describe him as compared to the great centers that came before him?
Ah. It's he's he's nothing like anybody we've seen because he combines just about everyone, right? Like the dominance. That he that he presents in a much different way than, say, the physical type centers of the past, right? Shaq, Ewing, Akeem, you know, Wilt, Kareem.
I mean, Kareem wasn't as physical, Kareem was, you know, more of a lith center, but like. Wemby does not track with any of them, but he presents the same conundrum as all of them. And, you know, and especially at 7-4-7-5, if you were anybody else in the league, all you can think is, I don't know how to guard this guy. There's nobody who can replicate him. There's nobody I can get who can do what he does.
So the best we can do is try to keep bodies on him and maybe load up on seven-footers. Again, as we saw back in the day, where teams were just grabbing whoever they could to just foul Shaq. Can you just rough them up a little? And clearly, we've seen Isaiah Hartenstein do his best to get as physical as possible, yanking on his arm, bumping in as much as possible. To Wemby's credit, like dude gets knocked out and he just like jumps right back up.
There's not a lot of complaining to the refs. There's not a lot of, you know, he's not demonstrative about it. He just gets up and does his thing. But I'm always one who tries not to get too far ahead of myself. And I cringed a little bit even during the Wemby draft a few years ago when people were saying he could be an all-time great.
And I'm like, God, let's not put that on a guy when he's, you know. 19 or whatever, 18, and just coming in, give him at least a little bit of time. But it's hard not to get hyperbolic and think about how much this guy could accomplish when he's here a couple of wins away from the finals at age 22 and doing the things we're seeing him do, right? Like a game with 12 blocks in one round. The way he completely owns the paint and can contest multiple shots both inside and out on the same possession, and then watching him pull up for logo threes and Steph threes.
It's like it's mind-boggling. It's awesome. It's so entertaining. There are not many players these days after all these years of covering the league that make me shriek from my couch or yelp or just, you know, whatever. He does it every time.
Every time. I mean, you brought up the logo shot. I mean, he had four shots in the first 319, the first three minutes and 19 seconds of the game. And that's the other thing is that you just, I don't know how you guard him. I guess nobody else can figure it out either.
But we're having Shaq on in the third hour, and that's something that I'm posing to him. which is like, what would you do against him? Because I just think he he He causes such a conundrum. And I want to ask you about his relationship with Pop and your experience having covered Pop. Pop is almost like.
He's that wild card right now. It just feels like the way he's been coming in and out of this locker room all through his retirement, right? Showing up at airports. It looks like an episode of succession.
So, how do you think Pop's wisdom and experience has played into how these guys have rallied, especially as De'Aaron Fox had said that he came in the locker room after the loss the other night and just said to them, This is not how Spurs play ball. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I get chills just thinking about that, like literal chill just now, because we don't have this very often, right? You know, Red Hourback is not walking into the Celtics locker room. You know, we don't get the legends of the past still hanging around, still attached to the organization in this way, right?
Like wherever the Lakers with Luca might end up in the years to come, I don't think Phil Jackson's going to be able to go back there and give them a pep talk after a tough loss. Pop still being there, and especially after everything, of course, that he has been through health-wise, is just incredible. And actually, the moment that struck me most just on a human level, Susie, was I think it was the last game. Wemby is reaching down. I love it, it's so endearing how he reaches down to put his arm around Mitch Johnson every time that they need to confer during a timeout or a stoppage of play.
And then there's this quick back and forth whispering in his ear. And at one point, and shout out to the producers for doing this, they moved straight from that pairing up to the luxury suite where they showed Tim Duncan and Pop. And just to see the generations kind of aligned there, and to you know, again, like you can have a dynasty, and if you're lucky enough to have the kind of talent that could get you back there years later, chances are it's going to be so long that those guys are either not attached to the organization anymore, they're just long gone. And so it's just very cool that the resonance that you have there, the emotional resonance, where the past is not that far in the past. They're right there.
And Duncan is there as a resource to Wembanyama, as is David Robinson, Bruce Bowen, Sean Elliott, all these guys from the last dynasty are still around. And Pop is still around. And Pop is the one who put Mitch Johnson in position to be able to step into his shoes when, obviously, under unfortunate circumstances, health issues forced Pop away from the sideline. But he's still there as LFA, as he calls himself. And Mitch Johnson is there as his protege, and I think doing him proud.
Yeah, it's incredible to watch. And you and I were there, and we saw firsthand that relationship with Tim Duncan when it was him and Tony Parker and the amount of time that those guys, the way that. The way that Tim Duncan would go to him as a conciliary, and the way he took in all that he had to say, and the way that he's translating that down to Victor Womanyama is a beautiful thing to watch. Before we let you go, let me ask you about Giannis, because it seems like a waste of time if I don't ask you what's happening with him, what's the latest that you're hearing. Yeah.
Everybody expects something to happen sooner than later. I think in general, it makes sense that they'll try to get something done by the draft. I have friends in Milwaukee who, as recently as a month and a half or so ago, were like, don't assume anything. This still could somehow land with Giannis staying. And I'm like, I'm skeptical of that.
I think most people around the league are pretty convinced that this is happening now. Where he lands, for whom, what the construction of that trade is, how many teams it might take to pull it off, because it may not be a two-way trade. It may require three or four or five in this era of the second apron and all these just convoluted cap rules.
Something's going to happen though, and it may be within the next month because the draft is coming up. That is a logical tipping point. And a lot of the trades of major trades of the past, I think of even like the Pierce-Garnett deal that the Nets and Celtics made back in 2013, whenever it was. That was consummated on draft night because I think there was maybe some draft capital involved, but it couldn't actually happen until July.
So the news broke, but it was a few weeks before they could actually consummate it after they have the moratorium and all that stuff. But I think we may be four weeks away from knowing his future.
Okay, I lied. What about LeBron? Yeah. That one's really hard. From everything that he has said publicly and continues to say, it doesn't sound like he's hinting much at walking away.
Sounds like he still wants to play. And I think, if anything, this Laker playoff run without Luca and largely without Austin Reeves showed that, one, LeBron can still carry a team when necessary. You don't want to have to do that for 82 games or an entire playoff run. But even at 41, soon to be 42 in December, The guy can do a lot and could still be incredibly valuable. In that secondary role, or as the number three, or whatever he may be with the Lakers.
But the Lakers have a really Difficult set of decisions to make. This is their first real summer to decide how are we building around Luca, right? This is the second summer they've had him. They didn't do much last summer. They just tinkered around the edges.
But now they've got cap room. Part of that cap room requires LeBron to be gone, but they've got to decide what to do with him, what to do with Austin Reeves. But this is the moment to do it. What does a team built around Luka Doncich in LA look like? Can you get those guys?
Can you do it right now? Because Time's a wasting. You know, Luke is in his prime, and in this league, you can't afford to mess around for too long. And rebuilding around him for a sustainable period, three to five, six, seven years. Might require deciding, you know what, it does not make sense to have LeBron James at age 41, soon to be 42, on the books at 30 or 40 or 50 million.
I do not envy Rob Polinka and Genie Buss and Mark Walter and everybody else in that decision-making sphere. This is going to be a very challenging summer, but a sup like just absolutely, positively important one, and they've got to get it right. Howard, thanks for your time as always. Thanks, Susie. Good to see you.
Great to see you, too.
Next time I'll come in with some more brooms, right? We'll come in with all of our props. More props. Oversized. More props.
More props. More props. Feeling you. Fillin' you cried. Christopher?
Bring a broom tomorrow. We'll get really hokey with it, right?
Okay, I'll bring a broom. You know, I was thinking during the, while Howard was talking, if you're a Dallas Mavericks fan, right? Oh, okay. Are you sitting here right now just like. What the heck we had Brunson and Luca.
Now, I mean, you got Cooper Flag, you lucked out, but. At some point I'm sure they're probably just shaking their heads like What could have been? We had it all. Had it all. We had it all.
Can't sing. But they didn't want to pay the man. Nope. Nope. You gotta pay the man.
It's just fun funny. You see th all these videos of, you know, reporters back when the Knicks gave Brunson that what, $104 million dollar contract and everybody was poo pooing it. You know, I watched one of those videos today and it was just like Oh, I hear you. I hear you. Let's take a break when we come back.
Michael Sharon doesn't go anywhere. We're going to win-loss this thing. TJ's going to pay attention so I don't screw this up. Let me pass you the notebook. The Rich Heisen Show, the podcast.
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4603 for details. I'm halfway reading this through, and I'm like, why can't I read this? And I was like, oh, I'm holding my glasses in my hand.
So dumb. Looks like Lamar Jackson's back to OTA.
Somebody showed up back in practice. I saw that. Jesse Minter said last week get a bunch of things going on, but he is back in practice. Good to see him there. That's a relief.
You didn't think he was gonna move something. What what's the smirk on your face for, Chris? Nothing. What's this mark on your face for?
Well, Deltufo and I figured out we could bet on the sports Emmy. You've missed the bet. Are you betting on the sports ME? They're not, but they just found out that they're not. Hold on.
No, are you not?
Okay, no. The question was could they? They just found out that they were good in there. No, I'm not. No, we're not.
However, if you're so inclined, there are some prediction markets that have it available. Out of curiosity.
So you're like, no, no. No. Why not?
Well It's not like he wouldn't.
Well, I mean, I'm thinking about it. Usually, usually, if Daniel will say, if I say, well, I'm like. Yeah, maybe you will. Like, you will kind of threw me. I'm like, well, he just placed a bet.
I'm not. Did you place a bet for or against Rich? You know what? You know what? Here's the thing.
I think his category I cannot find at the moment. Oh. That's on a good sale. Tel Tufa, what are you up for? Bye audio in the World Series.
Let's see. I don't see any audio. Oh yeah, they're not doing it. Our category is on here, uh uh Sports Show Daily. Maybe if they throw me on next year, they're going to give us a little nod.
What do you think? A little guest host action? Like go in for the Emmy Reel? Like, hey, you know, it's the Rich Eisen Show plus special guest host, Louise Schuster. Wait, you want a guest host category or you want to be.
Well, yeah. Oh, okay. I also, yeah.
Okay. Analytically, I think I should be on the reel. I mean, TJ, honestly, analytically, we've won like three Emmys. Also, isn't it Harden's look? I can't really tell you the truth, but what was the end?
I was watching his like 4-0, but we were still the better team or something. He's like, honestly, I can't tell you the truth, but. But I think we're the better team. But I think we're the better team. Excuse me, what?
So, what I'm saying is: if you're putting up, what's the expression? If you're picking up what I'm putting down. Pick up what I'm putting down. Maybe I should be on the reel for next year, because analytically it might make for a better. Real, and maybe they'll give them the hook for the Susie.
The looks will go up in the I'm pretty sure you've been on every rail the last like six years, I think. I don't think so. Oh, I for sure, at least three of them. I mean, I'm just saying that maybe the likelihood of the nom will go up.
Okay, let's see. Hold on. I'm focusing on other people. Fully focused. We got a win-loss.
Let's go. Michael in Louisiana. Saints win-loss. Mike, let's go. Hi, how are you?
Good to have you back. Do you know what? It's so nice to be back. Good to have you calling in. How are you doing?
I am doing very well. I'll tell you, you want a guest show? host the the Dan Packers show, maybe he'll finally get an Emmy for his show. Oh my God, can you imagine if I called up Dean and said, Dean, I want to do the show. Oh, I agree.
He'd be like, Can I give one shout out to my nephews? Please. Grady Brain Jr. and Lawrence Allen. Won the United States four-ball amateur in Scottsdale last week.
That's so great. Congratulations. I like that you're giving out the uncle shout outs. Shall we do the win-loss? We're going to do this fast.
I was a little optimistic last year with the Saints, but this year we got them. All right, we got 90 seconds. Here we go. Week one at Detroit. When?
Week two at Baltimore. TJ, pay attention. When? Week three at home Vegas. Week four home for Atlanta.
When? Week home, week five, home from Minneapolis, or Minnesota, sorry. Learn. Week six at the Giants. When?
It's in Paris. When? Week eight to buy week nine, Cleveland at home. Week 10, Carolina at home. When?
Week 11 at Chicago. Who lives? Mm-hmm, week twelve, Ad Cincy. Week thirteen, home for Green Bay. Will you win?
Week 14 at Carolina. Week fifteen, Tampa Bay at home at the road, on the road. We always beat them on the road. The Ridge Eisen Show Podcast. This is what everyone's talking about.
Everything's on the table. This is what champions come to take. This is what everyone came to see. No do-overs. No second chance.
No more Mr. Night Sky. This is Winner Take All. And it's all happening now on the home of the NBA Finals. Don't miss it, June 3rd on ABC and the ESBN app.
Yeah.
