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Now, on with the show. Oh my god, you guys are my favorites. This is The Rich Eisen Show. The one and only. Rich Eisen.
I know what I'm talking about. That's the headline. The Rich Eisen Show. With guest host, Brian Weber. I mean, honestly, he's brilliant.
Brian Weber. I've got a long resume. Google me. It saves time. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.
And now, sitting in for Rich. It's Brian Weber. That long resume includes.
soccer play by play on the college level. Not too long ago, so. Be prepared for useless soccer knowledge coming your way as we kick off hour number two of this Monday installment of. The Rich Eisen Show. Always an honor to keep the chair warm for Mr.
Eisen. We'll do it again tomorrow, and hopefully, as the United States will be celebrating, yes, I am throwing all Semblance of objectivity out the window when it comes to American sports. I've become a fanboy. Irrespective of the outcome, hopefully 24 hours from now, the United States is celebrating a victory over Belgium, in part because of the Gift they got from FIFA with the return of Baligan that red card has been suspended, and we'll go through how we got here again. But coming up tomorrow, scheduled to be joined and get expert soccer analysis.
When we say hello to Danny Higginbottom, you've heard him call World Cup games on Fox Sports. You hear him throughout the MLS season on Apple T V, and he played the sport at the highest level for the Premier League, the Premiership and MLS. And coming up in twenty minutes, We'll bring in today's first guest as I do my best to go with the skinny rundown, maximize your opportunities to get interactive on social media. That's BW Weber, Weber with To B.
So I never overwhelm you with Too many guests, Brian Mahoney, NBA writer of the Associated Press, will join us as we continue to spin the wheel of LeBron. Where will the king be taking his talents next? But it's all about soccer today. And it was going to be all about Team USA with or without Balogun. But yesterday, Fifah did the right thing.
So let's not. Get things Convoluted here because I realize my style is different than Rich, a lot of people, but specifically the host of the show, because he has an ensemble. As a fill-in guy, it's a lot of me, and I can understand how that can get tedious. That's why I am a fill-in host. It's not the Brian Weber show.
So, as I try to be comprehensive. And go through all of the elements that are important. I don't want anything to get lost in the sauce. That red card on Wednesday should never have been levied. It was the wrong decision.
And the goal in sports always with technology and the ability for leagues and governing bodies to get involved is to get it right.
So the outcome is proper. My issues are FIFA related. Because FIFA is always gonna FIFA. Why did it take him until yesterday to make that decision? What kind of disadvantage will this be for Belgium?
Because they've been practicing for days with the assumption that Balingen wouldn't play. And How would we feel if this had happened to the United States? Look, I don't take a ton of phone calls. I could, had that been the case, come in, put my feet up, and just roll calls like I was doing satellite radio in the middle of the night because the outrage would have been incredible.
So, while this broke the United States' way, and the decision ultimately is correct. I can't overlook how flawed And if you want to take a step back, How lacking of integrity the process is. Still, A match is going to be played tonight, and United States leading scorer will be on the field alongside the face of American soccer. That's Christian Pulissic, as you know, who was asked if tonight's match against Belgium will be the biggest game he's ever competed in. Depends how you want to look at it.
I mean, I've played in a Champions League final. I'd say that's a pretty big match as well. but it's a World Cup knockout round for my country. It's a big game. For sure.
But I don't need to rank it in any way. I'm going to prepare as best I can and try to enjoy the moment.
Now, if you don't follow soccer that closely, that is not in any way a departure from the normal approach of Christian on and off the field. He's intense, but he's not over the top. Certainly not verbally. And he's not going to walk into a verbal landmine and say anything that creates expectations he can't live up to. The bracket tells the story.
And yes, I have now March Madness in the first Or second week, I get lost. Where are we? First week of July. I have an actual bracket in front of me with illegible notes advancing last night, England over Mexico in that game for the ages. And in fact, if I was more of a soccer nerd, and thankfully for you I'm not, I'd be giving you detailed thoughts on the battle on the Iberian Peninsula between Portugal and Spain, because the winner of that match will get the winner of the United States against Belgium.
We have talked so much about How things have now been set up ideally for the United States. With the return of Balogu. with the venue for this game. If you've not been paying a ton of attention, I understand. If you want to parachute in.
The more, the merrier when it comes to the patriotic and nationalistic element of World Cup soccer. But if you were flipping around the last time the United States was in Seattle when they took on Australia, just as I was talking about that atmosphere last night in Mexico City was incredible. Seattle, not that loud, but in the vicinity. And how do you quantify that? And I don't do gambling shows yet because I have not been compensated for them.
But if we're just talking about what's the advantage, that's got to be worth like a quarter of a goal, a half a goal.
So. Balogan's back. The best venue in terms of intensity and crowd support for the United States is the side of the game. And they're taking on an opponent while. Without question.
That will be their most skilled Opposition yet? Because if you care about the FIFA rankings, Belgium, number nine in the world, not going to go through head to head. I'm not going to talk about what happened between these nations the last time they played in qualities, because you cannot replicate the atmosphere nor the stakes of the World Cup. but they're taking out a Belgium team that is older. And they've had a grang effect.
This is the last stand for this bunch that's had a lot of international success. But the balancing act is Does the United States have the athletic advantage? Because while we have more experience than we've had in the past, with so many players coming back from the last push four years ago in Qatar, I'm Brian Weber in for Rich Osen. If you're not hugely into soccer, hang with us. This is the only soccer portion of the hour.
In less than 15 minutes, we'll hit the NBA hard with Brian Mahoney of the AP coming up in 40 minutes. Not just because I'm older. Last time I checked, millions and millions of people still watch baseball. I'm based in Southern California. I watch the Dodgers play and seemingly win every time they t take the field, though they were mortal last night losing to the Padres.
Still, LA took three out of four against San Diego. They have a double-digit lead, so let's call it in the National League West. We'll get into, as this is the last week prior to the all-star break. What the dominance of the Dodgers means in terms of the labor war that's coming up? And Do they have real competition when we get to the postseason?
But that is all on the horizon. I bring that up not only because it's my job always to forward promote, but I understand there are a lot of people who are still not that revved up about soccer, even with the American Connection to it, but I can only tell you from a standpoint of TV ratings, because I still dabble in that medium. The numbers have been gargantuan. insanely big numbers, not only when the United States is playing.
So if we're talking about the impact of what's happening so far, this is the confluence that we have been waiting for for generations. I'll always trot out. I saw Pele play. I shouldn't say 1977. I was a kid, just put it that way.
All my tweets about the bicentennial. Celebration in 76 have given away that the Botox is not working. I am older, and hopefully, it's. implied by my enthusiastic delivery We have been waiting for generations for the United States to be relevant in soccer. It's been 50 freaking years since my peers grew up playing the game, and we've seen the ebbs and flows.
But here's a chance. With all of those factors I just laid out. Knowing that Belgium is a good team. Without any debate, the best team will have faced so far and If you're just thinking about different elements of the game. They have the most refined offensive attack of any of our opponents, so.
What will be the response defensively from Team USA? It's hard to find any flaws in the Harvard man's approach. Not only did he have good SATs, he's a heck of a goaltender. I'm talking about Matt Freese. Couple shutouts and only one goal allowed in his three games.
So it's not just about the boost that Balogan gives. The United States men's national team, in terms of keeping it going with their goal scoring, which has been another huge asset. United States. Tallying ten times so far. It's going to be the other side of the field.
And how much Support And linkage, and I don't just bore you with soccer terms. Defensive shaping. Because the issue with Belgium is they don't have just the one star. It's not a situation where, even though he's in the twilight of his career, but he's still unbelievable. When you play Argentina, obviously, you got a key on Messi.
Or if you're thinking about Mbappe in France, or if you watched. The, and I keep going back to atmosphere, but I'm just looking for good content to talk about and enjoy as a sports fan. After all, that's why I got into the business. What the Viking squad from Norway was doing yesterday, and Holland with the brace to knock out Brazil. Just sensational.
The Belgians don't have that kind of one-star driven approach offensively, much more balanced. But that's also a challenge because they had a bunch of strikers who can be lethal in the right situation. And yes, Belgium had to dig deep just to survive and advance after they spotted the the Senegal team, a two-0 advantage, just five minutes left, and they did rally to win with the penalty kick in extra time. But if you think about their road to this match tonight in Seattle, Belgium erupted for five goals, dismantling New Zealand in their first match.
So this is a team that can get it done in that finishing third of the field. And I'll be interested as I watch tonight What kind of defensive answers the U.S. has now If I know that, obviously. Mauricio Pochatino and his staff are aware of that and The decision to Part ways with Greg Burhalter after his second stint as the head coach continues to be justified by not only the results on the field, just the change it feels like in culture. attitude, confidence and, for lack of a better term, swagger.
Pochitina is a cool dude. He's seen it all. He's done it all. And that rubs off on his players. And now he's got his best scorer back.
So. While I have issues with the lack of transparency, while I have issues with the timetable, why did it take until yesterday for this red card to be suspended? Remember, if you care about the semantics, it wasn't overturned, but the results all that matters. Balogin's back. I'm I'm a little bit conflicted.
Because the process has to matter. Look, if I want to get. USA, USA, USA driven coming off the 4th of July. What's the phrase we use all the time? Due process.
FIFA has none of that. It's an organization that has been plagued by corruption for decades. And in this instance, and I'm not implying a quick pro quo in any way, but in this instance, a corrupt organization has benefited the United States. And I know a lot of you listening don't care about any of that. Don't tell me how the sausage is made.
Just give me a hot dog like Joe and Chestnut.
So, Advantage United States. No excuses, no asterisks, no explanations. Full strength against a team we can beat. Don't know if we will beat. but it's going to be fascinating theater tonight.
In Seattle, and we'll break it down and give you our thoughts when we return tomorrow here on The Rich Isen Show. I'm Brian Weber, and for Rich. If you want a Throw me a follow on the X platform or share your perspective. Feel free to do so. My handle is bwweber.
Weber with two bigs. In 35 minutes, we'll talk baseball coming off the 4th of July and heading into the All-Star Game in eight days in Philadelphia. Straight ahead, more NBA conversation, the latest on LeBron. Plus, with the addition of Jalen Brown, where do the Sixers now belong among the premier teams in the Eastern Conference? We'll find out when we check in with Brian Mahoney, NBA writer for the Associated Press.
My name is Brian Weber. I'm thrilled anytime I have the opportunity to pitch in for Rich as we continue on The Rich Isen Show. A bandwagon fan. The biggest insult in sports. But this summer, during the FIFA World Cup, it's an invitation, America.
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So grab a bag of Lays and jump on the bandwagon. We're undefeated. Lays, the official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
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The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Keep the pyrotechnic theme rolling on on ESPM Radio. I'm Brian Weber and for Rich. If you enjoy my approach or at least can tolerate it, I'm back with you tomorrow. Then you get a break because you deserve it because I was here on Friday as well.
Always a blast, too. Try my best not to destroy the impeccable brand of Mr. Eisen. 844-204-Rich is the phone number: 844-204-7424. To use my favorite media term.
We are efforting a conversation. About the NBA with Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press, I fully understand a lot of people are taking today off, as you should maximize it. If you have Friday off, make it a mini vacation.
So if Brian's not available, it is my job. It's a talk show, we talk. To take you around the NBA.
So let's do so presently with a reminder in 30 minutes, and I understand. Even as challenging as it is to talk soccer to a mainstream audience. And I'm one of you. The reason I got into this business decades ago, primarily radio, is I love sports talk radio. I love the notion of somebody hopefully not talking at you, but talking with you.
And I realize that I don't always live up to that pledge with my I have a microphone. You will listen to me style. But. Baseball is challenging to dissect on a platform like this because it's now more than ever such a regional sport. And I try not to be a prisoner of my area.
And I'm pleased when I fill in occasionally for Rich on the East Coast that I give you a different slant. And I understand there's a big Portion of the United States between New York and Los Angeles.
So I don't want to just talk Yankees and Dodgers all the time, but I'd be a fool to overlook what's going on with the Dodgers. Beyond the fact they're piling up all these wins, they're doing it without significant contributors because of injuries. We'll talk about the implications of the Dodgers' success as they try to become the first team in National League history to three-peat. We'll do that to wrap up the second hour of the program.
So, First hour we talk LeBron. I don't know there's been enough attention paid to What's happening with the Lakers without him? And he was clear when he decided to take his talents elsewhere. That's some of that. was motivated by personality.
And Feeling wanted, and it's bizarre to say the all-time leading scorer in the history of the NBA would have that mindset, but. And I don't want to personalize anything too much, but I am here in Southern California, and you do see. Quote unquote stars, if they exist now that everybody has a show, because everyone has a phone with a camera and high-speed editing and everything else. But when you get used to seeing somebody that for years you saw on a movie screen at your local grocery store, it does.
Well, mind you, these are just people. Yes, they have a lot more money than you and I, and yes, they fly private, but they're still human beings with real feelings and real emotions. I think, LeBron. Important. Decided to move on from the Lakers because he didn't feel wanted anymore.
Now, you could say that's D.Va behavior. You could say that's LeBron making it about himself. But I get back to. Individuals with human responses that can't be just thrown into some spreadsheet and say, well, the data comes up with this conclusion. LeBron, I think, would have preferred to stay here in Southern California, given the compound he has and.
The toniest of neighborhood, given all the meetings he takes as he builds his. Empire. In all sorts of different platforms. And this is where he wants to build his life long term. But when the Lakers made it clear.
that they were prioritizing Austin Reeves, not only with the money giving him Max Steele, but in terms of the flow of the offense, because they want somebody to be, for lack of better term, The Kyrie Irving, or dare I say, the Jalen Brunson. How's that feel, Maverick fans? Although we know Brunson always wanted to go home, and he took the discount, and he got his old man a job in the process. But once Nico Harrison handed the Lakers the donation of. Luka Doncic, it was clear.
The Luca era had started, and it was only a matter of time and the sequence of events as to how LeBron would leave. But part of me Just thinking about economics. Has the idea that the Lakers would have done everything they could to accommodate LeBron. If an ownership change had not occurred. Because remember, the Bus family.
While I'll go back to the notion they have more commas and zeros than you and I, Brian Weber, just a common man. The son of a plumber in for Rich Eisen. You can pick up the phone 844-204-7424 or have at it on the X platform, BW Weber, Weber with two B's. The bus family was run. Or the Lakers, I should say, when run by the Bus family, was run like a mom and pop operation.
And I don't know that Genie Buss would have had the gumption to go to LeBron or his Intermediates, Rich Paul, and his team, and say, Yeah, it just doesn't work anymore because I think they love the notion of having. The ability to monetize the farewell and think about What the seats would have gone for for LeBron's last regular season game, and all the rest as his farewell tour was winding down. But with the shift to the Dodgers' ownership, with their deep pockets and their analytical bent, and they have nothing invested personally in LeBron because they weren't involved in his first decision to take his talents here to Southern California. I think that was a shift. An organizational approach, and they're just looking at it from a basketball standpoint.
Now, you can back it up and say before Luca got hurt and Reeves got hurt, the Lakers were clicking in March. There's a reason why they. They were the four seed and won over 50 games in a regular season. But. Another year coming up, meaning LeBron more susceptible to injuries as he gets older.
Did he want to be the third option on the floor? And did he. Have the mindset of being accepting of the facts that he was going to make significantly less than he's accustomed to. Don't overlook that he made $50 million last year. What if the Lakers came to him and said, hey, how does 12 sound?
And you could say, hey, radio man, whoever you are. He's a billionaire. Not just on paper, tangible assets. Back to the notion. We're all people with real feelings and real.
Emotion.
So I'm not surprised we got to this conclusion. It just feels a little clunkier than need be. But where does that leave the Lakers? Because they are still a premier brand in the NBA. If brands matter at all, And I'm biased in that I am fortunate to fill in for Rich and other hosts throughout their summer vacation cycle.
So I've been doing these kinds of shows for a long time. And As recently as three years ago, there was nothing better than NBA free agency talk. In fact, you could argue that the transaction was often more compelling than the action on the floor. Everything changed with the new CBA. And yes, I'll bring up the dreaded second apron.
But the results are what the owners wanted. We now have had eight different champions crowned. That has never happened in the history of the NBA. Still, for all of the competitive balance, if you flip around the dial, you see the usual suspects on national TV and Amazon, and the Lakers brand. Is right there with the Knicks, the Celtics, if we're talking about.
The heritage and the luster of big name teams.
So, The Lakers need In addition to the reset with Luca. They got to find a third scorer now. Just because you say goodbye to LeBron for all the reasons I laid out, Who's going to be the third option? And I realize that The offseason was all about making Luca happy because his people had made it clear. Based on what he did in Dallas.
with a handful of big dudes. He wanted a legitimate big man. To help. run the offense on the pick and roll and give this team a rim protector that they didn't have because DeAndre Ayton was a mirage in the paint.
Now in fairness, he did finally play over seventy games. That's the best compliment I can give him, but He has been fraudulent since he got that massive deal after helping the Suns make that unlikely run to the finals when they lost to Giannis. There's a reason why Portland was pleased to see him go. And ate some of the celery on his way out the door. It was all about coming up with the right big fella.
To run with Luca. And Austin Reeves. And I think that the Lakers gave up too much. But you can't quibble with the outcome getting Walker Kessler because. He is.
In his early 20s, he is seven feet tall. Dare I say you can't teach tall? You might have heard that once or twice when we talk about. The dying skill of being a post player, but this is a traditional back-to-the-basket. Big dude who you can funnel the offense through in the post, and he's going to give you a shot blocking element.
If he can be healthy, I don't want to poo-poo this big move. And I keep mentioning Lakers gave up a ton to get an unproven commodity, hoping that he will build into his skill set and fill out physically as he pushes deeper into his twenties, but he missed the majority of last year with an injured shoulder. Even if he's out there healthy and vibrant. Who's going to be the third scorer for the Lakers? I don't have an answer, and they don't.
As much as it is very interesting just to pin all of our attention on what LeBron could do. For a handful of different teams, and we'll get back to that momentarily. I'm Brian Weber, Infor Rich. You can share your opinions on social media. X platform, your best destination, BW Weber, Weber with two B's.
Let's say LeBron goes because I do think Cleveland is the most likely destination for the reasons I've been detailing. If it's all about happiness, how can you be more happy than going home? And basketball fit. Cleveland made the finals. I know most people don't remember that in the Eastern Conference because they got obliterated on a big word Monday by the Knicks, but.
You can't? Just take out the whiteout and remove that from the record book. This is not. a Bobby Ewing getting out of the shower on Dallas back in the day. It occurred.
And LeBron plus Don DeMitchell plus James Harden for all of his postseason flaws in the role as a facilitator Changes the dynamic atop the Eastern Conference. But what about the West with no LeBron? In that conference. It's OKC in San Antonio any way you want to slot those teams. I'll defer to you, and we'll play fantasy basketball at a later date.
I do think it is interesting. As we go through the fallout of San Antonio not being ready for the magnitude of the moment in the finals, and that is understandable. They were the youngest team to get there since Bill Walton's Blazers in 1977. I don't think it's a coincidence that Billy Donovan wasn't. Looking for a job too long, and you might have missed this because it happened heading into the long holiday weekend.
He's agreed to become the lead assistant coach for the Spurs, helping Mitch Johnson, who was still in the early stages of his coaching career and made tactical mistakes. In the finals, namely, why he did not get the Aaron Fox off the floor in critical situations repeatedly. is baffling. And why he did not give more minutes to Dylan Harper was strange. But like his team, there's a learning curve for a young head coach, and you can't overcome.
Having to build that scar tissue. There's a reason why teams don't make a bolt from the blue in the NBA. It's usually gradual step building. And San Antonio skipped a bunch of steps by making it to the finals, in part because OKC was limited by the injuries, missing J Dub and A.J. Mitchell.
But You can pick whichever team you want. San Antonio, and I'll remind you. They led by at least a dozen points. In every game in the NBA Finals. They had a twenty-nine point lead in game four.
A game that will live in infamy. Don't you think that's a Kick in the gut that might have a little bit of an emotional hangover next season.
Now, the good news is they play 82. In the regular season, they'll figure it out. But nothing is changing at the top of the pyramid. If there's no LeBron in the West, based on what's happening so far, And a All right, free agency period.
Now the trades have been. Tremendous? And the Dominoes falling, going back to Giannis to Miami. And it's amazing. What a shadow of himself on and off the court.
John Burant is. Think about what a blockbuster that would have been. Say three years ago. Having The face of the franchise in Memphis now jettisoned to Portland going to basketball ambiguity. Although that is a team with a lot of young talent, as we saw in the playoffs, and They had some quality moments before they lost to the Spurs.
And a series of other moves around the NBA. I mentioned Balda, Minnesota. I get it. Ant-Man needs an offensive catalyst. He needs somebody to be a reliable second scoring option.
But Minnesota still has a giant hole in the paint. Because they parted ways with Nas Reid, and they simply gave Julius Randall away. They just left him on the curb with a sign saying: if you can haul it, you can have it. It's going to be interesting to see how that combustible duo plays out on the floor. But That's why we have the regular season.
I'm just going on the record now as a fill-in guy, saying I have major doubts. But Minnesota clearly felt like, after making a couple conference finals and then, as injuries did play a role in their loss around earlier this year to San Antonio, it was time to blow it up because if I'm lucky enough to be in this chair, let's say next summer or the summer after that, I think we're going to be talking about Anthony Edwards. Having enough in Minnesota and wanting out because he feels like the supporting cast is not enough. If we're just going past Oklahoma City and San Antonio, I still go with Denver. And as we discussed, there is a possibility LeBron winds up there.
It makes a lot of sense from a basketball fit and situation point of view. I will self-report. And it's not just that I was dead wrong about the Knicks. And I went back because I had that remote access to the archives here at ESPM Radio and burned the tape, literally, the old school one-inch tape. I may have said, I don't remember.
It feels like something I could not have said. I may have said the Knicks were not going to make it out of the first round after they had blown a 14-point lead at home and trailed the Hawks two games to one.
So I have now destroyed what little credibility I might have. But as I think about how things are stacking up in the West, I had a lot more optimism for Houston than they deserve.
Now, in fairness, since injuries are always the wild card. We go. It's always Sunday in Philadelphia. Wild card. I didn't know that Kevin Durant was largely going to be unavailable when they played the Lakers, and Houston actually made it interesting.
But I thought there's a young team that was the two-seed. In the West couple years ago, they looked overmatched, and that playoff inexperience came into focus when they got pushed around by the Warriors. But I thought, okay, it's plug and play with Durant exactly what they need in terms of. veteran leadership and a reliable outside scorer, and I was dead wrong.
So. The beauty of all these moves Is it allows us to go through What if scenarios? And how things should go. But Raise your hand. I can see it through the radio.
It's a little-known technology. Raise your hand if you thought the Knicks. And I'm a recovering Knicks fan, so unless you are hardcore Knickerbocker Central, raise your hand if you thought the Knicks entering the postseason would even make it to the NBA Finals. And yes, They got historically hot, and that's something no analytics can account for. But if we're just looking at rosters, Lined up aside each other, roster by roster.
Tell me who the third best team in the West is right now, and I don't think it's the Lakers. It could be the Warriors if they get LeBron, but we're all still in a wait and see mode. If I had to come up with my strong conclusion right now, I'd still run it back with Denver, hoping if you're a Nuggets fan, they can have much better luck when it comes to health.
next year. Thus ends the NBA portion of this hour. And in fact, for the rest of the show, because in 20 minutes, we get back to the countdown to what's going to take place tonight in Seattle, the most significant match in American soccer history. I know in 2002, Bruce Arena's team, led by Landon Donovan, made it to the quarterfinals of that World Cup. But given the expanded field and given the fact that all of the quarterfinals will be hosted in the United States, The magnitude of this match tonight against Belgium cannot be oversold.
That's coming up in 20 minutes straight ahead. Baseball's still an important part of July fourth weekend, so we'll use that as a platform to spin it forward as the Dodgers look to become the first national league team to ever three Pete as World Series champs Who in the National League is best positioned to slow down LA? And what does the Dodgers' success mean for the impending lockout that's feeling more and more like it's going to be a done deal when we get to the end of the season? Always a great time. Whenever I'm lucky enough to sit in for Rich, I appreciate the company on this active Monday edition of the program.
We roll on on the Rich Eisen Show. Rich Eisen here for Gusto. On my shows, we talk a lot about what happens in the spotlight, the games, the highlights, and the moments that get replayed and debated. But in any successful operation, what happens behind the scenes matters just as much. Small businesses are no different.
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Next starts now. Hyundai, an official partner of FIFA. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. This is the Rich Eisen Show, Brian Weber with you. Thanks for hanging out with us on this Monday.
The conversation never stops on social media. Hit me up on the X platform, BW Weber Weber with two B's, the content gods have smiled upon us. We will check in with Brian Mahoney, NBA writer for the Associated Press, in a moment, with a reminder. Get into the Hyundai Getaway sales event and get away with the deal so right, it almost feels wrong. Right now, you can get great deals on our most popular models, including our adventure-ready SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe or Santa Fe hybrid and the Tucson or Tucson hybrid.
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So get down to your local Hyundai dealer, get away with a deal you'll love during the Hyundai Getaway Sales Event. Visit HyundaiUSA.com for details. As promised, let's talk more MBA. Pleased to be joined by Brian Mahoney of the APA. Brian, thanks so much for your patience.
And thank you for enduring my. Detailed Odyssey across the NBA.
So, as you listen to me laying out all my thoughts about hoops, where do you think? Is the best landing spot for LeBron if we're talking about having a chance to win another championship? I was waiting for you to tell me, Brian. I thought you were going to give your answer. I can't give it away.
You know it is a radio. I need them to hang around for just one more segment.
So it was all foreplay and no payoff. I'm not sure what LeBron is openly looking for, and I'm not sure if it's the teams that he is the ones we think are on the lead Which one really can give the best shot at a championship? Obviously, Cleveland was a step away from the finals last year, so you can say maybe they're close. Miami, if Giannis is fully healthy, you join up there. They're never going to be too far away with our Bolster coaching.
So, you know, if he comes east, I think either one of those. And Philadelphia with the way they loaded up this summer could be interesting. The Warriors, I think, would be fun to watch, but I don't know if they're a contender anymore or so with him and how tough the West is.
So I don't know how much LeBron is really going to find a championship team to go to, but he's going to find someplace I think he'll be happy to give it a shot at. Talking NBA with Brian Mahoney. Check out his great work covering the Association for the Associated Press. Brian, what do you make of Minnesota being added to the list of potential landing spots for LeBron? That was an intriguing addition the other day.
Yes, I think I think one, it makes a lot of basketball sense. And I'm sure LeBron will certainly take a lot of look at this as this is not just a business move. This is not just a I want to hang out with my friends move. This is obviously going to be some basketball aspect. And Minnesota is a good reason for that.
You know, look, they're going to have firepower now. They defend. They play hard. They have a great coach. They're in the hunt every year, it seems like, as tough as the West is, they get there and they make some noise.
Ultimately, can they win out over these other teams? I don't really know. But I'm glad at least they're people are talking about them because there's a lot of reason to consider them. Brian, this show is based in Southern California, and it's always good for business to talk about the Lakers. You heard my macro thoughts about the roster composition now and mission accomplishing getting the seven footer that Luca wanted in Walker Kessler.
How would you sum up all of the moves that Rob Palenka has made, and who will be the third scoring option without LeBron?
Well, I think that's certainly the yes, you can say you like the moves to get the big man there, but that part is certainly has to be answered, another scorer. How much do they need another one with the way Luca and Reeves score? Maybe not that much. You don't need another twenty point a game guy like LeBron was. Maybe you can get by with a fifteen a game guy if they defend better.
But look, I liked their moves better last summer. Layton didn't work out the way they wanted to, but last fall I thought the Lakers, I picked them to lose in the conference finals, and I'm not sure that wouldn't have happened if they stayed healthy. You know, if as much as things didn't turn out maybe the way they wanted to with some of the moves, Layton in particular, that was a team that was on fire when Luca and Reeves got hurt. And the way they were scoring, the way LeBron was fitting in as that incredible third option, they might have found their way to the conference finals.
So I'm not sure this team's going to be quite that good next year. No question when you think about, as you said, when Healthy in March, they were playing at such a high level on Brian Weber and for Rich Osman. We're talking, oops, Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press. Brian, how do you view the Sixers now with the addition of Jalen Brown?
Well, I think really good. I think the one thing we saw from them last year is that. Uh you know, they could play fast with uh Maxie and Edgecombe. When they slowed down, look, if Embiid wasn't healthy, that was the way you beat them. And right now, Jalen Brown is a terrific score in a half court.
So they locked that up pretty good. You couldn't ask for a much better option to fix one of the problems they had.
So I think they can win multiple styles now. And you look at if they can, you know, interest LeBron. I'm not sure if they can. But again, something worth considering with the way they can play. You know, if you want to be a title contender, you have to be able to win multiple ways.
They can certainly do that now. And yeah, I see them certainly as a team that's improved in this summer. With the addition of Brown in Philly and Giannis in Miami, do you still see the Knicks as a team to beat as the reigning champs in the East?
Well, they'll be in the hunt. They haven't lost too, too much. They haven't really done a ton to improve. But again, they're the champs, and you say maybe they don't need to do much. The starting lineup is still intact.
They were a team that was getting better all through the year and peaked in the playoffs.
So maybe that all carries over. But there's going to be teams in the hunt now when you look at, again, what you just said. Miami, Philadelphia. Let's see if Cleveland can do something here, or Philly more.
So there's going to be teams in a hunt for sure. We let's see what Boston ends up being. But the Knicks have to like where they're at with the way they finish and the guys they have back. Brian, I greatly appreciate your insights and, most importantly, your patience. As you know, in the communications business, sometimes we do not communicate well, and that was all on me.
I got so wrapped up, that was like Jerry Lewis singing at the telethon. I had so much information to convey, I was not aware that you were available there.
So, thanks for hanging in there, and I appreciate you joining us on The Rich Hisen Show. No problem at all, Brian. And your stuff was dead on, I thought.
So no problem at all. Oh, thank you. All right.
Well, I'll take that from a pro anytime I can get it. Brian Mahoney. giving me A seal of approval from a basketball journalist point of view. Thinking about the Knicks, and we're up against it here. And I think I was expansive in my NBA breakdown there as we went methodically team by team.
The only Issue I have with her offseason was, and we get back to this new CBA, and the dreaded second apron. If I say second apron, I have to say dreaded. They didn't find a way to keep Mitchell Robinson, and he went to the Celtics. Look. Brad Stevens got not nearly enough in return for Jalen Brown.
Some of that was because he had been so publicly shopped, not only for Giannis, but Kevin Durant the year before.
So. They were doing the best they could, getting 40 cents on the dollar. But if you're a Celtic fan, and I know you're right now losing your mind. Think about last year. Jayla Brown.
Plus white plus Pritchard had better than 50 wins and the two seed in the east. Why can't Jason Tatum? Fill into that role as the face of the franchise. Paul George, an Enigma. I get it.
Many reasons to question why he's even there, but had to be thrown in for the salary cap purposes. Alongside White and Pritchard and Robinson, who deals with injuries, but he is a beast offensively. As we get set for the final R of the program, you can hop aboard on the X platform, BW Weber, Weber with two B's coming up. More soccer analysis because We're all now World Cup crazy getting you set for the United States and Belgium tonight in Seattle. Right here on The Rich Eisen Show.
The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
