REShow: Tom Tolbert - Hour 2

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Upgrade today by calling 877-ASK-DELL, that's 877-ASK-DELL, to save up to 48% on our latest technology. This is the Rich Eisen Show. 20 seconds to go. Jimmy, the three, off the front of the rim. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. With all due respect to heat fans, Celtics Warriors would be a much more enjoyable and competitive finals. The Rich Eisen Show. What's not likeable about the Celtics?

Get over this hump, it's special. Earlier on the show, Sports Illustrated senior writer Chris Mannix. Coming up, Warriors radio analyst Tom Tolbert. Columnist for the MMQV, Andrew Brant. And now, it's Rich Eisen.

Our number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. Great chat with Chris Mannix on the Boston side of things. As the Celtics make the NBA Finals for the umpteenth time.

And maybe one of the first times when totally least expected to make it. May have now made it as the Eastern Conference champs taking in exhilarating towards the end. Game seven in Miami. The Warriors have been just sitting around waiting after dispatching of the Mavericks within five games. Tom Tolbert, who is intimately knowledgeable about the Golden State Warriors. They're building their franchise. He'll be joining us in about nineteen minutes time.

Andrew Brant, long-time executive in the NFL. He'll be joining us in hour number three in person in studio. Hour number three is when we're going to dive deeply into the story of the weekend. Not game seven. And not anything else that's going on. Twenty-second time the Celtics have made the Finals. Twenty-second time.

They're seventeen and four. Not that. We're not looking at that in hour number three of deep dive. We're not talking about Darvin Ham, the new head coach of the Lakers. And the Lakers have yet to make that announcement. It was the Woge bomb that happened on a Friday. So it's Jock Peterson getting slapped by Tommy Pham. At a batting practice moment between the Giants and the Rebs. And apparently it's over fantasy football.

And I mean that Jock Peterson sent Tommy Pham. And it's glorious. The whole thing is incredible. And we're going to handle it in a way that I don't think any other show is going to handle it. How's that for a tease? I'm teased. Okay.

I'm teased. That's hour number three of this program. You're not going to want to miss it. You're not going to want to turn off of Peacock or Sirius XM85 or this Rich Eisen show terrestrial radio outfit.

Or Odyssey or any other way that you can get this program. It's going to be glorious is all I'm going to say on that front. 844-204-rich is the number to dial. If you want to have a conversation with us here on the last day of May. But Memorial Day weekend in the books. We hope you are all healthy. And we send our best to all the families of servicemen and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our democracy and this country.

And for anyone out there who currently serves who knows of somebody who passed. We're sending our best to you. And we're hoping you are happy and healthy coming off of that three day weekend. Which gave Chris Brockman an extra day of stuff for us to overreact to.

So because the weekend is now over even though it is a Tuesday. It's time for overreaction Monday on the Rich Eisen show. That was terrible. That was crap. That was garbage. This place sucks. Overreaction. Can we calm down?

Tuesday. Oh wow. Oh wow.

That's a whole new drop. Well done Mike Del Tufo. We'll give you credit for it even though you probably had nothing to do with it. Right Mike? Great job Mike. Good job.

Alright what do you got over there? Here we go. Here we go. Here we go guys.

We've got topics all over the board. All over the board. Well let's take NBA Finals guys. As we're first reporting here it's Warriors vs Celtics. This is the first of multiple Warriors, Celtics, NBA Finals matchups in the coming years. Overreaction. Beyond overreaction.

Yeah because the Warriors aren't going to make it. No I need to see your staying power sir. I need to see your staying power.

Okay. Clay looks like he's got his three legs under him again right? Steph shows no signs of slowing down. Draymond is still Draymond.

I love my guy Jordan Poole. As I mentioned earlier last week the Warriors went from worst record in the league to currently right now best Western Conference team right? They just won the Western Conference Finals. That is also like very misleading. No no no that's misleading because Clay was out. And Curry was hurt.

No I understand that. I understand they had injuries and then it was also the pandemic hit. I get it but who knew you know you can't know that Clay was going to come back from both of his injuries and look like this. You have to assume that he would be a shadow of his former self not like the guy that just made the NBA Finals and that netted them the first overall selection and James Wiseman didn't play at all this year.

0.0 minutes. They're going to get him back. If you gave me what's more likely I'll say the Warriors could be back in it next year and I don't know about the Celtics but that's why you got your window right now. You got you got peak Al Horford sir.

I'm just glad we have a window. Okay. All right next up saw this this morning when I was watching first take. Aaron Donald guys not going to finish his career with the Rams.

That is a total complete 100 percent overreaction. And I will I will I will dive I will dive into this a little bit more later on. He said on the end we'll play the soundbite later on. I am athlete podcast. Brandon Marshall's terrific and I think LeSean McCoy did I see Pac-Man on it.

Pac-Man was on it. Okay so they apparently flew out to Pittsburgh with their equipment and did it in Aaron Donald's house. Yes and Aaron Donald mentioned how he's at peace with things. And he also mentioned how it's not money.

And then later on said it's about the business aspect of it. So if it's not about money and it's about winning the Rams have one of the best rosters in the NFL. And if you had to look at any roster and say that team's got the shot to win the Super Bowl this year. The Rams have won and Aaron Donald is on that roster.

So check that box and then you want to check the box if it's more money. You know he's going to figure it out. Les Snead's going to figure it out. Unless he has some sincere die died in the wall.

Steeler fan I'm from Pittsburgh desire to wear that uniform. Unless there's that out there. Like Devante Adams wanting to play with the Raiders and with Derek Carr in a way that we thought never was so strong that he would leave the Packers and Aaron Rodgers. Barring that I say this is a total complete overreaction. And it's something that will get worked out and figured out.

By an organization that knows clearly how to do those things. So what else you got Chris? Tomorrow guys the match is going on in Las Vegas at the win. It's Brady and Rodgers against Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. I'm going to say Brady Rodgers blowout. Blowout? Blowout?

I don't know. I've seen their golf games. Josh Allen is young. He's thinking about Super Bowls.

Patrick Mahomes and his wife just announced they're having baby number two. They got so much going on in that house. Brady and Rodgers all they've got to focus on is golf.

That's it. They're old guys. Golf. That's all they think about. You get older Rich.

You and me we're older now. All I think about is golf. Played twice over the weekend. They're just thinking about golf. I don't know.

I've not seen Mahomes and Allen's golf game. That's another thing. I don't know. We don't know. They're young.

They don't have time to practice. We've seen Aaron Rodgers carried Bryson DeChambeau at times last year. Yeah he did. But that was also when he was on his mission to prove something. That's true.

Generally in his entire world. I mean it seems like Brady and Rodgers are just always on a mission to prove something. I'm going to say like five and four they win or something like that.

Wow. I would be unfortunate for the match as well as the Turner of our friends at Turner broadcast if it's five and four. I'll say that's an overreaction. I'll say that the young guns are going to be doing a little bit better than that. I am excited to watch that. I'm excited to watch that. That's definitely the main sporting event on June 1. That is for sure. That is for sure. There's nothing else. Well there might be hockey tomorrow. There might be some more. A couple of baseball items I saw kind of perusing this morning.

Buster only had this. The Nationals are going to trade Juan Soto? Like his name is being thrown about now. Would you pay $500 million for him? $400 million for him? I mean he's really good.

I know $400 million. What did I tell you like four months ago about Juan Soto? He's going to the Mets? Oh my god.

Could you imagine? Dude. Who would you have to give up though to get him? DeGrom? Is that DeGrom from Juan Soto? No. DeGrom is not. DeGrom is 31 and he's injured two years in a row. He's not worth it. He's worth it.

Like DeGrom in a package? I have no idea what your farm system looks like. I don't know what his free agency. I don't know how long until that happens either. But whenever he gets traded he's going to want a massive deal. And Uncle Stevie's got cash. I'm not surprised by that.

I'm not surprised by that at all. I mean because the Nationals don't seem to have much for them to wait a year to invest 400, 500 million dollars in that guy. You've got him for a long time to come. I guess you build around him.

He's going to be a free agent in two years but he's arbitration eligible the next two so he's going to want a huge deal. What else? Alright I'll just do that there. Also Rich this is for you. Did you know Aaron Judge is on a pace for 61 home runs? Yes buddy. Oh yeah. 61 home runs?

I know. So are you saying he's going to get it? Is that the overreaction?

I don't know. My overreaction was just like he's on a pace for 61 home runs. Let me just tell you something about Aaron Judge. What this guy is doing after saying no to the bag that the Yankees put down. That is 1000% in my entire lifetime of being a Yankee fan and a native New Yorker.

That is the recipe for meltdown for 99% and I use that figure purposefully. 99.9% of all the athletes who turn that down and say watch me. Watch me New York City. Watch me 24-7-365 where WFAN gave birth to that sort of conversation nationally.

Watch me. What he's doing is off the charts and he's playing center field a lot too because of injuries and Joey Gallo, Stanton's not in the lineup right now so Rizzo is protecting him. They batted him first the other day to try and get many people to protect him. So what Judge is doing is off the charts and he's the MVP of the American League.

We can't have much of a conversation about anybody else right now. Entering June 1st. As it gets later and later in the calendar year. It's still May guys. It's still May.

There's a couple more. He's ignoring the blowout loss to the Orioles that the Red Sox suffered. The day before when we won 12-2. It's alright.

It's okay Rich. We've still won 8-11. Avalanche Oilers tonight. Western Conference. Is it finals or final? I think it's final. You can't say this is for the Cup.

No, no, no. I'm going to say Connor McDavid is going to carry the Oilers to the Cup. Dude man. I love watching this guy play hockey. This dude's amazing. There's no getting him off the puck. There's no getting him off the puck.

He is a monster. But the Avalanche are terrific in their own right. This is a series I can't wait to watch. I will be watching Western Conference final hockey. And then of course the Rangers blew out the former whale.

To make the Eastern Conference finals. What a run for the range. And again the only thing that upsets me about that. Even though I grew up rooting for Barry Beck to shoot the friggin' puck. And chanting Pot Van sucks.

Yeah I sat in the blue seats. That made Dolan happy somewhere. And I just want him patently unhappy. In everything that he does sports wise. You know the Rangers.

That just shows you Nick's fans. I think he just sits back and lets the Rangers do their damn thing. He doesn't know jack about hockey.

No. Does he even go to the games? I don't even know. Maybe he does. Well you just can't tell because he can't sit there right on the action. With two age-inappropriate women on either side of him with his coffee. And his schmecky sweater scarf.

He can't do that. Alright last one. His rakish hat. I haven't seen it yet. I haven't seen it yet. But you have seen it. By all accounts.

It's amazing. It's going to do $150 million over the weekend. Top Gun Maverick immediately into Tom Cruise's top five. Immediately.

Immediately into the top five. What did Susie and I tell you the day after we saw it. In advance of Ham being here. Oh you were out. I was out.

What did we tell you guys when we came back in? You said it was amazing. Yeah. Everyone I've talked to have seen it said it's awesome. Anybody who saw the original Top Gun.

You could turn this down. Anybody who saw the original Top Gun knows what you want out of the sequel. Certainly since you haven't seen Top Gun maybe in a theater since 1986 right?

See what you want to see and they give it to you in the first 90 seconds. Which is Kenny Loggins, the heat coming off the tarmac. Tom Cruise on a motorcycle.

You go right into the danger zone. I think we're going to go tomorrow. I will say this though. Because Susie took the two boys to see Top Gun Maverick on Sunday. Amazing. She saw it a second time. She said it's just as good. She took the two boys are 13 and 11 to see Top Gun Maverick.

So the day before we showed them Top Gun. Okay. Original. Alright. I watched it with them. I watched the original with them and Susie saw the sequel for a second time.

The Tom Cruise Kelly McGillis moments. Little dicey. Okay. Little dicey. Yeah.

Okay. He shows up late by the way. He shows up way late. I mean he couldn't text ahead obviously.

He immediately wants to take a shower at her house after waiting. Very weird. It's a little dicey for the kids. But I just found it amazing that on Friday of Memorial Day weekend. They'd seen none of the Top Gun movies. And by Sunday night they'd seen both.

Four hours of Top Gun. It's it. And they loved it. Oh they did? They did. Oh good.

They loved it. There you go. Immediately top five. They'd never heard of Goose or Iceman on Friday. Literally never heard of him on Friday and by Sunday night they're now pals. They're now each other's wingman?

We just think they are. What are your top five Tom Cruise movies? I'm a little pleased with the spot but.

So okay. I would have to say Risky Business is one. The original Mission Impossible the first is incredible.

Dynamite. Rain Man has to be on that list. This Top Gun Maverick is on the list.

I'd put Top Gun Maverick on the list before Top Gun. Oh wow. So this is better.

How about that for. Again though I'm like. I felt like I was back in my high school prom days. You know it got me actually nervous. You know. In the fifth spot do you go a few good men or does he call it men? We're on the shoot of men. I mean how do you not put a few good men on there? Cocktail?

I don't know. The only reason I'd put it on there is because I'm head over heels of anything to do with Elizabeth Shue. That's true. You can't put cocktail over a few good men.

No of course not. That would be my five. I like it. That'd be my five. Alright that's Overreaction Tuesday.

Well done sir. Alright we take a break right here on the Rich Iveson Show. We come back we talk some hoops with Tom Tolbert. Let's talk about the Warriors here. Radio analyst for the Golden State Warriors.

My Warriors. Tom Tolbert when we come back. Back here on the Rich Iveson Show 844-204-rich number to dial. Former player in the National Basketball Association. And he knows the Golden State Warriors very well. He's built himself quite the career broadcasting up there in the Bay Area. And he's on the Warriors broadcasts joining me on the Mercedes-Benz Vans phone line. It's been a long time.

Tom Tolbert back here on the Rich Iveson Show. How you been Tom? Good Rich yourself? I'm fine. Are you going over the Golden Gate Bridge right now? Where you going? You going to Treasure Island?

I am not. I am running some errands. Dropping some stuff off. Getting some drinks for the granddaughter. Granddaughter?

Basic stuff. You're a grandfather Tom? I'm a grandfather.

She's two years old. Dude. That is the greatest. My mom and dad always used to tell me the best thing about being a grandparent is you give the child back at the end of the day.

You take them. Right? Well I wouldn't know that because actually well I did know it for a while but our granddaughter actually lives with us now with her son.

Oh man. She's there. She wakes up. She takes her nap. She gets up. She goes to bed.

And she's there. And Laurie and I and my wife looked at each other one day and we said, Now we know why people our age don't have kids. Now we know.

They're exhausting. I didn't realize it when I was younger. I thought, Oh this is great.

This disease is no big deal. When you get a little older it's like, Golly, I'm beat. I didn't even do anything today and I'm beat. I bet so. Well, terrific.

Congratulations on that and everything going on and certainly in the world. We're so lucky when you're ever on a beat or you're ever covering a team or you're associated with a team through a broadcast that they're so terrific and so great. Walk me through this Warriors season and when you know that the team felt it could be special.

Tom. Well, I thought early on they would be one of a handful of teams that could compete for a championship. I always felt like it was them, Phoenix, Boston.

But this was really early on. Then I said, Not Boston. Then I got back to Boston. But anyway, Milwaukee, New Jersey, if they were helped. I thought they were like five teams that had a chance to win a championship. And I always thought they were one of them just because I've seen this team play for years and years now. And I know the composition, the makeup of this team. So I always felt like they had a chance. There were times during the season where the defense wasn't great or the offense wasn't great.

I thought, Well, you know what? They need to kind of kick it in gear a little bit. But I never thought this was going to be a favorite to win the championship, Rich. I just thought they were going to be one of a few teams that have a chance to win a championship. And there they are. They're really good defensively, really good offensively.

And they're probably where they felt like they belonged all along. So what insight can you give us, Tom Tolbert, on Klay Thompson? Because the general sense is he's Klay. And, you know, now that he's back, of course, he's just going to keep splashing in threes. And game five, Klay showed up. And it looks like they're going to get the Klay Thompson we've all come to know and love for the NBA Finals. But what insight do you have on his comeback, his rehab, everything that happened in the setback, another injury, and so on and so forth, Tom?

Well, I tell you what. If you know him, you wouldn't be happier for a person to return to playing basketball at a high level. I mean, this guy loves basketball. I mean, he just loves it.

And he's so funny. He has, you know, videos, I think of Instagram or whatever, he's out on the Bay on his boat, I just captained that out, just kind of tooling around the Bay. And he'll take shots of himself tripping around the Bay Area.

He loves the Bay, loves his dog, loves hanging out. But he really loves basketball and loves competing. I can't imagine what it was like to get injured the first time and then almost come back and get injured again with the Achilles.

And then have to sit out another year to miss what you really love doing. So I'm so happy for that guy to be able to come back and play. He's not quite the same player. Like, he still has some really good knife.

And I'm sure he'll have at least one or two during the Finals. But, you know, the shot isn't quite as consistent as it once was. Defensively, he's not quite what he was. But, you know, he's getting a little bit older and coming back from two catastrophic injuries.

But, yeah, like I said, if anybody knew him, they'd just be thrilled that this guy's able to get back and compete because you just can't help but love that guy. And so what about this team continues to click? Is it Curry's, you know, consistency? Is it Draymond Green's presence? Why does it – is it Kerr's coaching? What is it, Tom, for this team?

Well, you know, Rich, I think it's just a combination of everything. I think their defense, like when they play really good basketball, I think their defense is the backbone of the team. Like, they're really good defensively. You don't really think of them as a defensive team because Steph and Clay, Jordan Poole now, you think of them as an offensive team, but they can be a really good offensive team. But when they're good, they're consistently good defensively. And Draymond Green, it was funny, I asked Steve Kerr last week, I said, you've been a good defensive team in the Apple League seven years. That's been a common thread of the Kerr era, ball movement, player movement, defense. And I said, you've been a good defensive team, really good defensive team for seven years.

What's the thread? He just said, Draymond Green. And that's really what it is. I mean, Draymond's one of the more unique defenders ever in the NBA and one of the best defenders ever in the NBA. He's so versatile, he's so smart. He's one of those guys, you see it in every sport, guys that are ahead of the play. He's ahead of the play. He's never behind the play in football parlance. He's ahead of the chains, always. He sees what's coming before it comes. He's not behind the play.

He's not reactive. He's one of the best, if not the best, help defender I've ever seen in basketball. So he gets them to where they need to be offensively, too, in sets and stuff like that. But defensively, he's like the might thrower out there.

And he's something special. You watch him play. He's one of those guys that you can't tell how great he is by the stats. You look at the stats, you look and go, eh, whatever. Nine points, ten rebounds, seven assists, eh, okay.

Members are okay. But you can't tell the impact that guy has on the basketball court by stats. He's one of the few guys that you have to watch him play.

And you have to watch him play over and over and over again to really appreciate how great that guy is. Is it fair to say, Tom Tolbert, that we saw Kurr's value when Mike Brown was filling in and the team struggled mightily against Memphis in a way that we didn't see? And it looked like the team, you know, Barkley was right in calling them out. It looked like they were playing a scrimmage. They were just doing stuff, throwing up shots out of rhythm, being out of rhythm defensively. Is it fair to say that about that moment, Tom? Trust me, Rich, I've seen them play with Steve and they look like they're screwing around out there sometimes. I mean, I'm serious. Sometimes they just do stuff. They're like, what are you doing? Or what was that pass?

What was that? So I don't know, I mean, you know, the last time Steve was out, Mike Brown was 11-0 in the playoffs. So Mike Brown can coach. I don't know. It's just them. I don't know what it is, to be honest with you.

But like I said, I've seen it when Steve's there. Steve will be there coaching and they just lose themselves somehow. It's like, what are we doing out here?

What are you guys doing? So I wouldn't blame that on Coach Brown at all. I always, I'm not one that gives too much credit or too much play into the coaches. It's the players league and players know what to do. And players are grown-ups. And players know the right play to make. And players know how to come prepared.

And if players don't come prepared and players do stupid stuff on the court and players aren't paying attention to what they should be paying attention to, then, well, that's on the player to me. I mean, at this stage of your game, you don't need your coach to hold your hand for 48 minutes. You should know what the hell you're doing. You've been taught well enough. You should be able to go out there and play. And if you don't, that's on you. So I rarely give the coaches too, like I said, credit too much blame. Players know what the hell they're doing.

Just go do it. Golden State Warriors radio color analyst Tom Tolbert here on the Rich Eisen Show. What's Jordan Poole's future looking like, do you think? What does it look like with Curry playing as incredibly well as he is and does? And Poole showing a superstar ability, I think we could say that. What do you think his future looks like right now?

That's a good question, Rich. Man, I mean, he's worked so hard to get himself where he is right now. He's legit third scoring option and sometimes second scoring option the way he can score. Defensively, he's got to get better. Sometimes he gets a little loose with the ball.

But I think he's got a limit for this guy. I mean, I think those things are things he could be tightened up and worked on. But some of the things he has, the quick explosiveness, the stroke is impressive. He's just really good.

I would have never guessed this a year ago. When he went down to the G League, came back up, I thought, yeah, maybe the worst, get a rotational piece out of this. He's much more than a rotational piece. I mean, he is a key cog in this team's wheel right now. So I'll credit to this guy because I'll be honest, he was kind of teetering on is this guy going to be in the league or not. He could go either way. He'll probably stick, but we'll kind of rotate it. Will he get consistent time? And now look at him. He's in the finals, and he's a big part of this team. He didn't get there without work, though.

Pretty impressive stuff. So he's got a long-term future there, do you think? I think so. I mean, I think, well, they're going to have to figure some stuff out because I think Wiggins is up after next year, and I think they really want to keep him. But then you've got Jordan Poole, who's up, and I think he can sign an extension this summer or wait until after the following year, where he'd be a restricted free agent, if I'm not mistaken, which I very well am. I don't know what they're going to do.

I'll be honest. I mean, Joe, one thing about Joe Akam and Peter Goober is if you can help them win, they'll pay for it. I mean, they are so far from the luxury tax, and it's insane. And people were complaining this year about, hey, we've got a roster spot open.

Maybe we should go get a center. It's like, well, what? What are you talking about? This guy will spend money.

He will. I think he was like $70 million over the luxury tax or something ridiculous like that, but that's the one thing I love about him. I hate owners. I hate owners.

I'm a sports fan. I want my owner to be a sports fan. I want my owner to want to win a championship. I don't want my owner to be a penny pitcher. I don't want my owner to think, you know, I don't want to lose too much money this year. I mean, I would think if you own a team, you've already made your money elsewhere. You're going to make more money. There's no doubt about it.

But it's okay to lose a little bit here and there. You're trying to win a championship. You're a fan of the team. Too many owners aren't fans of the sport, fans of the team, and they run it like a business, and it just drives me nuts. Phil Laker runs it like a business, but first and foremost, he's a fan, and he wants to see this team win, and Peter Goober, too. They want to see the team win, and I really appreciate that. So, yes, Jordan Poole will be here.

Long, long, long-winded answer to your question. I think Jordan Poole will be here, but, you know, they do have some decisions to make. But it would surprise me if he weren't a warrior for years to come.

Plus, just sit around. You'll get your center back next year. I mean, James Wiseman is sitting there.

I mean, the first overall pick from two years ago is just sitting there. I mean, so, but for the year and now, Tom Tolbert, does Gary Payton II come back? That was the whole conversation, is that it's possible he could if they make the finals?

They've made the finals. Kenny, what do you think? I think he will. I think so. I think that's what they're hoping for, and for my conversations with him, I think it's a pretty decent percent chance that he will be back at some point during the finals.

Now, I don't know if there could be setbacks, I guess, or maybe it just doesn't feel quite right. But, yeah, I think he'll be back, and that'll be a big cog in the wheel because he's really good defensively, and he can really make those guys work. He can make Brown work. He can make Tatum work a little bit. And he isn't going to give you a ton of minutes.

Fifteen minutes is good enough to get in there and just be a pass. And he really runs his butt off, too. Like, they're always in fast-break mode when he's in there because he can really go, and he runs the court really hard. So I would think that he'll be back. I think they're planning on him being back.

Things change. But, yeah, I would hope so. It'd be good to see him back, too, for a guy that had to go through the stuff he has. He's 29 years of age to miss the playoffs, or after the Memphis series for that second game, third game, second game, I believe, or first game, was a bummer. I felt bad for him. I was like, oh, dang, this is one chance. He'd get a chance to play, to be in the playoffs, experience this, and then to go out.

But if he were to come back for the finals against the Celtics, that'd be pretty sweet. Tom Talbert, a few minutes left with him right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Do you like the Jimmy Butler shot at the end of game seven? Down two, 17 seconds to go. It's a three. It's in transition. Horford's backing up. Did you like it?

Yeah, I did. I mean, he's not a great three-point shooter. That's the only kind of drawback. He's not a great three-point shooter, although he has been shooting them better the last, like, two, three games.

He's making a few of them. So I didn't mind it. I know what people were thinking. He could attack Horford, go to the rim, and, yeah, I mean, I get it. You could. You could also go to the rim and get your shot blocked. You could also take another dribble and dribble it off your foot.

I mean, there are a lot of things that could happen. He knew right then he was going to get a clean look at a three-pointer. And I think, to be honest, they were just, they were fatigued. I think they were spent. And I don't know if it entered his mind, but maybe he just thought, let's go for it. Let's try to get this over with and see if we can take the lead here, because we don't have enough gas for overtime.

Because that was like the war of attrition. Both those teams are limping to the finish line. And I'm not sure if Miami had enough to get to the finish line if they had to add five more minutes to the race. So, yeah, I didn't mind that shot. I mean, it was this wide-open shot, transition, great look.

No, I had no problem with that shot. So the minute that front rims and then the Celtics win and Steve Kerr and the staff start grinding tape on the Celtics, what do you think they're seeing that concerns them the most for this matchup, Tom? We're seeing a lot of big athletic bodies that can really defend. The Boston Celtics are unlike most teams in that there is not one person you could find in that starting lineup that you could pick out and try to go at defensively. I mean, these guys are really, really good.

Smart, Brown, Tatum, Horford, Williams. I mean, they can all defend. And they can all switch off if they have to. And they can all stay in front of players. They all have length.

They can all get into you and be physical. So they're really, I mean, they're the best defensive team in the league. And the numbers prove it. And they were by far and away the best defensive team in the league after the first of the year.

So it's going to be tough. But the Warriors have a great defense too. They're probably the two best defensive teams in the league. So points might be at a premium in this series. The Warriors, I think, have a little more, just a little more diversity offensively and maybe a little more firepower offensively than the Celtics. But it's going to be, I think it's a coin flip.

I really do. I think it's going to be a great series. I was kind of hoping for this one just because it's the Celtics have the most championships in NBA history. And I just, I grew up on Celtics Lakers. So Celtics in the finals is like kind of a cool, cool thing. And the fact that the Warriors get to face them, I'm not sure if the coaches feel the same way. They're like, I'm like, gee, I'm going to score on these guys. They held them to 32 points at home earlier this year.

32, the Warriors had them and they just suffocated and they couldn't do anything against them. And then the second half stuff got hurt at the end of the first half and they ended up losing. But, I mean, they're good. I mean, I'm excited about this finals. I think it's going to be a lot of fun tactically speaking, athletically speaking, Brown and Tatum are studs. And Smart is, Smart's basically Draymond Green. He's 6'4 Draymond Green is what he is. He plays a different position, but he's super smart, super physical, knows what he's doing out there defensively. So, yeah, I'm excited. I can't wait.

I think it's going to be a lot of fun and I think it's going to be close games, tight games, maybe not super high scoring, but it should be a fun series. Although Draymond plays the point sometimes, too. Yes, he does. So, Horford's in the game. Who does Draymond, you put Looney on him? Are we going to see Draymond on Tatum sometimes? I mean, what do you see there? Well, it's interesting because at the NBA now, they just run pick and roll until they figure out who they want on you.

That's all it is. It's like a high pick and roll league. You watch basketball now, if you don't like high pick and roll, you might as well turn it off and go watch something else because you'll see about a thousand of those every game. Now, Draymond's not a guy you try to get on you.

He's not the guy you try to get off of you. But I would imagine they'll match up, you know, by position. A lot of times you'll see in games where it gets, you know, depending on if a guy can score or not, they'll put a guard on him because they know you're not going to go to him. But I would think it'll be, you know, Steph on Smart, Clay on Brown, Wiggins on Tatum, Draymond on Horford, and then Looney on Williams.

I would think that's the way they'll go. I mean, you could flip flop five and four if you wanted to. You could flip flop Draymond on Loone.

But the other ones got to be, I mean, they got to. But again, everybody's got to guard somebody a little bit. But what the Warriors did a really good job of last game, they kept trying to switch Curry on to Dontich. And what they did is they caught a hedge, and Curry would hedge out and stay until Wiggins got back.

So he allowed Wiggins enough time to get back, and then he would fire back to his guy or go to the middle of the paint and then rotate out. But they weren't going to let him just go at Steph. So I don't know what the Celtics would do. I would imagine they would try to go at Steph a little bit because he's not a bad defender at all. He's just the weak link on this team.

I mean, it's a really good defensive team. So, yeah, I would think Draymond. But Draymond, if you watch Draymond, take a few serious and just watch him. He always has his head on a swivel. He always sees what's going on. And he's always able to come over and help.

Like, if somebody gets beat, he's there. He just knows what's going on. And I find myself sometimes just watching him. I won't even watch the ball.

I'll just watch Draymond and kind of watch him and see what he does on the defensive end. It really is kind of fun. I know people are like, you're kind of weird.

But, yeah, I am. But still, it's pretty cool to do, and you understand him a lot better as a player if you do that. Tom, enjoy the Finals. Look for my call during it. Love your insight, as always. Appreciate the time. Anytime, Rich.

Look for it. You got it. Thanks for the call. That's Tom Tolbert right here on the Rich Eisen Show, driving around, Grandpa Tom, right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Fascinating conversation.

I just love that sort of stuff. And anybody, just, are there people out there who think Draymond Green is not a Hall of Famer right now? Are there people out there? I hope not.

Yeah, for sure. Just because they don't like him? Just don't like him. Don't like his game.

Or they see him stat lying, they're like, how can this guy, you know? Two points, ten rebounds. Yeah, two points, ten rebounds, six assists.

Yeah, because if you're someone who just looks at the paper and reads the box score, then that's what you're feeling. But that just shows right there. Right there. You just heard from Tolbert. Right there. Steve Kerr.

What's the secret sauce defensively? Draymond Green. Draymond, you want to take Horford? Yeah, got him. Draymond, you want to take Tatum?

Yeah. Got him. Draymond, what do you want?

What do you want to do? It's going to be a battle. Time Lord, you want to take him? Yeah, got him. Got him. Oh, somebody just broke down defensively? Who's right there? And then he's ahead of the play.

I love that. Yeah, smart player. Oh yeah, the intelligence on that guy is just ridiculous. But you know my only problem with Draymond Green is, right? You know, where he went before he got to the NBA.

That's it. That's my only problem with Draymond. Michigan State. And he plays on your favorite NBA team. My Warriors.

Not a lot of people thought they were, you know, championship quality. This is just great because, you know, we have some skin in this. You know, Brockman against you. Right now, it's all maybe still a little fun and games when the series starts and it's on the line and the Celtics have a chance to win it.

I keep coming in calling them my Warriors, it's going to get ugly. I know it right now. He really can't say anything because he adopted the Bulldogs. I know. All right. Take a break. No, no, he's got a problem. He's got a problem with you having multiple teams when you have a problem with him having multiple teams. That's his point.

Even though you don't have a leg to stand on, TJ. Sorry. How dare you. Let's take a break. We'll come back. Aaron Donald wants to get paid, except he says it's not about money. That's coming up next.

The old pay for four to four riches. The number to dial. Defensive line news. Defensive line news. Breaking news. According to Adam Schefter, the Buccaneers have signed Akeem Hicks.

A one-year, $10 million deal for him. That means Sue's not coming back? That means Sue is not coming back.

Yeah. And that is a big maneuver. Bears fans know how good he can be when he is healthy. That is some huge news there in Tampa Bay. So Dominic and Sue is going to have to find a new home, but up to $10 million it is worth. Or $4 million less than what apparently Aaron Donald slated to make this year. And that's on the table for everyone to talk about because Aaron Donald was on the highly popular I Am Athlete podcast that is a honchoed by our friend, my friend Brandon Marshall. And this is a soundbite from this podcast in which Aaron Donald said he would be at peace after eight years in the league if he doesn't play anymore. That he's at peace with his career as it currently stands fresh off the Super Bowl. However, that Super Bowl winning team causes him, oddly enough, as you know, lack of a better phrase from our friends at Wall Street, greed is good.

And it might be really good for the Rams because it's apparently that's what has him thinking about nothing but winning again. I'm happy. I'm fine. I don't need to play.

I don't. The thing is I don't need to play football to be fine. Like I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm fine. Like I was blessed to play this game, to make the money I made, the accomplishments I made in eight years. It's like, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm complete. I'm, I'm like, if I can win another one, that's great. But if not, I'm like, I'm at peace.

So, so, so if the business doesn't make sense to you, you're willing to. I'm at peace. I'm at peace.

I'm at peace. By the way, Brandon Marshall asks outstanding questions. He got right into it with them, talking about the business aspect of things and asked him if it's about money and Aaron Donald said, it's not about money, but then said that the business side of things needs to be right for him and his family, which leads people to believe rightfully so, it's about money. He'd like to be paid some more, but he wants to keep playing football. So my two cents on this is if it's about money, Les Snead's going to figure it out. The last thing that's going to happen here is just like the Rams didn't want to pay me what I deserve.

I am quitting on the outset of a title defense season that looks terrific on its face. And if Donald has the pulse of his teammates and they have him, and I think he does, and I think teammates take their cues from him and he takes his cues from them too. As you know, Cooper Cupp's in line for a lot more and he's shown up. So I don't think this is an issue.

It is on the outset of June 1. I don't believe this is going to be a problem. I think the Rams, if Donald wants to be paid, will pay him. The only issue is he's 31. He's got three years left on a six year, $135 million deal that paid him a ton of guaranteed money. He's already gotten his roster bonus of $5 million.

His salary for this year is just $9 million in change, $14 million on the cap for this year for the following two years. So this is good for the Rams for that total cash for this year ranks 102nd in the league. These are not numbers for somebody who had a walk off sack in not just the Super Bowl, but also a regular season game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Remember that one? And that was when the Cardinals were two up on him for the few to go and the Rams took control of that. He also had that walk off rush of Garoppolo that led to the interception that wrapped up the NFC championship game. I mean, we don't need to go into how valuable he is and what he does and the best player in the NFL is voted by his peers and rightfully so. So if there's somebody who can figure out what to pay him and how to pay him and make sure that on the back end, they don't have a guy who's already way over the hill, which I don't know if that's possible with this guy, but Father Time is undefeated. Except for Tom Brady. Except for Tom Brady.

And Donald did defeat him, did he not? So I think they'll figure that out. But he also said that the Super Bowl is going to want him to come back and that he wants to have a chance to win.

Guess who's giving him a chance to win? With everybody coming back and then some. Alan Robinson now there, Bobby Wagner's there. He's going to basically say, I don't want to play in front of Bobby Wagner. I think this will get handled, but for the moment, something interesting to talk about on the outset of June.

Andrew Brant will place this in front of him when he comes in studio next. If you can only pay one and you're the Rams, Donald or Cooper Cup? Come on, man.

No, the other way around. Come on, bro. You can find receivers.

Again, he's very special as a receiver. Incredible. I mean, you're putting like, you know, sports talk radio gun that doesn't exist to our our salary cap. You know, this is what the people want. Heads here. What the people want.

They like this stuff. Aaron Donald affects the game so many different ways. He's the one who takes the ball away from you. He's the one who stops the runner on the way to the quarterback. He's the one that makes other people better because he gets the double teams. Cup is still dependent on getting the football to him.

So if I had to, if I could only pay one, that's the one. But who figures this stuff out more than anybody else? No, I know.

Wes figures it out. Right? I know. Because you mentioned Alan Robinson, he's new to the Rams this year.

He's actually making a million and a half dollars more than you see. That's cup. And Donald. Yeah. These things will get rectified. Again, Andrew Brandt, longtime executive and man who knows the cap very well, is going to be joining us shortly here. I'm imagining June one.

That's always a date that you keep hearing about. That can free up cap, can free up this, free up that. They'll figure this thing out. I mean, they didn't bring in Bobby Wagner just to say, oh, we don't have the money for you, Aaron. I can't imagine that.

And Donald is back. I mean, couldn't you imagine they definitely had to have some sort of preliminary conversations with him? I would think so. You would think so. And Cup knows money's coming his way too. Perfect. Honestly.

Stan's got some extra money. If there's, I mean, that's the issue is he can't dive into that. Right. You know. Not baseball. True. Forgot about that. It's not baseball. Yeah.

Is that, there is still that cap. But when it all comes down to it, I think that Donald will be paid and he will be happy and the Rams will pay everyone and they're going to all be happy and it's now just comes time to who can win football games. And they've got a hell of a roster. So if he's concerned about all I want to do is win, to win another Super Bowl, check that box. He's on a team that can do that for time to come with a coach who's not going anywhere. In terms of the money, that box remains unchecked.

I think they'll tick it before week one kickoff against the Bills. For the real story behind some of wrestling's biggest moments, it's something to wrestle with Bruce Prichard and Conrad Thompson too. All-time Hogan opponents, Macho Man's got to be in the conversation. Where's Andre for you? I've always said Andre was number one. Wow. Because even going back before, you know, Hulk Hogan was a babyface, Hulk and Andre were able to go in and headline at the New Orleans Superdome at Shea Stadium in Japan. Wherever they went, that was an attraction. Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.