How Many NBA Title Contenders Are There? (Hour 4)

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That's 20% off your first order at american-giant.com promo code LT23. Four fingers up, let's go. Fourth quarter Zach Gelb show right here on CBS Sports Radio. I got to get to a few NBA players futures who I don't want to say are in doubt, but we just don't know how much longer they're going to be with their current team.

So we'll get to that in just a second. But first, the conversation this time of the year is who's going to win it all in the NBA? Who's going to be getting the Larry O'Brien trophy?

And who's going to be celebrating coming up in June? Right now, I think there's only five teams that are capable of winning an NBA championship this year. And five teams that I can envision them actually, if all things go right, winning the championship. In the East, I only think it's two. It's the Milwaukee Bucks and it's the Boston Celtics. We know last year the Bucks probably would have been back in the finals if closer Chris, Chris Middleton didn't get hurt. And you look at the Boston Celtics, we saw them in the NBA finals a year ago. So you look at Boston, they're just a team that's tremendous with two guys that really anchor that group in Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown.

And how many games, Hickey, really, that the duo have won together in so many different renditions of the Boston Celtics? You look at that team when they were young, when it was all centered around Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. And then those injuries ended up getting those guys in the spotlight a little bit earlier. And then you have Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown in game seven of the Easter conference final up against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. And when Jason Tatum threw it down on a dunk and posterized LeBron James, people thought they were going to the finals. I know that team did not shoot well in that game seven. And then we've seen this group survive without Kyrie, survive without Gordon Hayward when they were removed off the team and not banking on them coming on back and get to an NBA final.

So we've seen this team in so many different ways get far in the playoffs. And now it's championship or bust. And I know people are going to say, what about the Sixers? And Bede's the MVP of the league right now. But it's been the same problem with Philly. They don't have that complimentary piece to Joel Embiid. I know what you could say about the regular season stats of James Harden. Let me rephrase this. They don't have the complimentary piece in the postseason for Joel Embiid right now.

And that's a big time problem. So I look at the Bucks and the Celtics hickey as the only two teams in the Easter conference that can get to the NBA finals. As good as the Sixers have been this year in the regular season, I don't view them as a team that's going to the NBA finals this year coming out of the East. No Knicks. How about the Raptors? Raptors are putting on the Bulls right now. I would agree. What are you, a court gesture?

Those are, well, I know Dennis Schroeder, that's for sure. But I am with you, Bucks and Celtics out of the East. And you know what's funny? It's like, we harp on the Western conference, right?

Being weak. And then I just say only two teams from the Easter conference to get to the NBA finals. Like the Sixers are in a different class than the Cavs and the Knicks and the Hawks and the Heat, whoever it may be. There is a pecking order there, but Bucks and the Celtics are one-two. Then there is a gap, it's the Sixers.

And then there's a gap, there's everybody else. There's some good storylines in the first round. In terms of like, really in the East, there's only one?

Would you agree? It's probably that the Cavs and the Knicks, just because of the fallout of Donovan Mitchell, the storylines are more in the West than they are in the East. We don't know yet who the Bucks are going to play, but we do know that the Hawks are going to play the Celtics. Does anyone actually think that the Hawks are going to take down the Celtics?

No. Sixers and Nets. I know Mikael Bridges got drafted by the Sixers. His mom worked for the organization.

I think she still maybe does. And then they traded him to the Suns. And now he's with the Nets. The Nets just don't have the pieces to tell you don't have the pieces to take down the Sixers. And really in the East, the only story, the only series that you think is going to be that competitive is the Cavs and the Knicks, but I don't know how much that plays nationally. I don't think Cavs-Nicks plays really well nationally in terms of people are excited for this series. I think being in New York, that maybe has a little bit of a bubble where it feels like a lot of the national media and they have every reason to do so because the Knicks have been a joke for a long time.

The only reason that Knicks get talked about a lot is just because they usually make a lot of bad decisions. So the East is kind of, it's very unsexy here, Hickey, in this first round. I mean, obviously, like I said, the best matchup and most intriguing is going to be Cavs-Nicks. I think it'll be a good series, which means I think that people will be intrigued as it goes on. I think both places will be rocking, which helps. But yes, especially in the first round, a lot of the drama, a lot of the eyeballs will be in the West.

But I don't think that moves a lot of needles nationally. I just don't. The Donovan Mitchell storyline playing the Knicks, like, again, people, I think, want to see good basketball. Donovan Mitchell wiped the floor with whoever. If the Celtics wipe the floor with the Hawks, like, he wants to see a good series. Donovan Mitchell is a great player, but does he does he come off to you as a superstar? Like that, that's the thing.

And that's why I don't think the storyline plays all that great nationally. What I equate to is back in the bubble and Nuggets-Jazz, that first round series. That was a great series. Back and forth, Nuggets win in seven. Yeah, because you had Murray and Mitchell going off. A great series where both teams played really well.

That's why I think you'll get more recognition for it. Again, because in the East, it should be, for the most part, very chalky and not a lot of sweating from the top three teams. And then you look at the Western Conference, the storylines are there. Like, we'll see the Nuggets play, but you get the Grizzlies-Lakers with LeBron.

That's always going to be a big time storyline series. And the Grizzlies love to talk crap. Kings and Warriors, I think underratedly is a good series because the Kings first time in the playoffs in forever and Mike Brown, how much of advantage does he have going up against the Warriors with how long he was in Golden State? And then Suns-Clippers should be fun too. And you don't even think about the Suns-Clippers when we were talking about the possibility a few weeks ago. Kevin, until I saw the story today where Katie's like, there's no beef, there's no bad feelings with him and Russell Westbrook. It kind of shows you just how relevant Russell Westbrook is with the Clippers that you don't even think about this. Katie going up against Russell Westbrook always is a storyline, but you know, there's other factors in this series as well. I think the biggest storyline there is we know what the record is and the Suns, I don't think have lost yet with Kevin Durant in the starting lineup.

What are they, 8-0, 9-0, whatever it is. It's just, how quickly can they wipe the floor with the Clippers? That to me is the storyline in this series. I don't think anyone is picking the Clippers to upset the Suns in this one. It's just how much of a series it's going to be. Russell Westbrook revenge. Yeah, like you don't even buy that.

You don't. I found the Clippers, I put them to the bench because the last thing you need is Russell Westbrook trying to be the hero playing out of control just to shove it to KD and next thing you know, you're down by 60. What was the cupcake line? That was Russell Westbrook too.

Oh no, no. Was that KD on one of his burners calling Russ a cupcake? No, I think it was the fans calling him a cupcake because he's soft for leaving and that was his return back to OKC and either Russell Westbrook said or the fans are talking about it but they bought into that cupcake towards KD. Thunder fans were chanting cupcake at Kevin Durant and I'm pretty sure they got smoked in that game.

So if I'm Kevin Durant, you know what I do and this may be beneath him but he also has a lot of burners so maybe it's not. I walk in and you know how that's a big deal, NBA players walk it in. It's always shown on TV, I'm walking in with a cupcake. Whether it's a cupcake on a t-shirt or just eating a cupcake and getting your fingers dirty with all the icing and covered in them, I'm doing either one of those two things. I think it would be funnier if he walked in eating a cupcake. Got like a blue and white cupcake. He's eating the clippers.

That's what I would do. I'll tell you this right now, if that happens, I guarantee, guarantee, guarantee, the Suns will not lose a game in the playoffs. If Kevin Durant walks into the arena on, I think it's Sunday if I'm not mistaken, into that round game one, eating a red, white and blue cupcake, they will not lose a game. They'll win the finals and we will be talking about them as maybe the most dominant playoff run we've ever seen. You're clearly being sarcastic. No, I mean it's not going to happen.

That's why I feel confident saying it. But if it happens, if Kevin Durant is that confident in himself and goes and makes that demonstrably loud statement that he is not intimidated, look out. The rest of the league is in trouble. You actually think they wouldn't lose a game. 100%.

If you have Kevin Durant on that level of confidence, the Suns are unbeatable. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You'll see. You say a lot of dumb things.

I hope we get it. But you're telling me that the Bucks couldn't beat them one time because Not if KD walks in with a cupcake. Because he walked in eating a cupcake. You're telling me that the Nuggets can't beat them one time.

You're telling me that the Celtics couldn't beat them one time just because Durant is eating a cupcake. Yes, that will show his confidence. He does not really project outwardly.

He is very insecure and quiet. He comes in walking a cupcake and walk in with eating cupcake, knowing the attention that's going to put on him. That shows where his confidence is at. That is bad news for everybody else in the NBA. You don't actually believe that. I know I'm being dead serious. The reason why I'm laughing is because it's not going to happen. He doesn't. He's not that kind of person, which is why it'd be shocking to see. That's why I feel so strongly that if he goes the total opposite way of what his personality is and is just almost outwardly mocking Russell Westbrook, then that shows you the belief he has and where his game is right now and the belief he has in the Suns team is so strong and so high, nothing's going to stop. I would love to see the headline tomorrow. Radio Hosts believes that if Kevin Durant walks in eating a cupcake, the Suns won't lose the game this postseason. I'm not.

I may start my Saturday show with that. I'm not kidding. I feel that confident about it.

Well, that would be kind of in your playbook of just stealing takes from others. 16-0. Phoenix Suns. You didn't hear what I just said. No, I heard you. Just don't don't belch. Did you belch last weekend, by the way?

On the air? No. I thought you had the belching yips according to you. Well, I do burp a good amount, but I made sure this time the microphone I just did was off.

Oh, so did you have a burp that happened on the wall when you were behind the microphone with the mic on during a segment that you had to turn it off? Oh, yes. Yes.

Turn it off. Absolutely. So that's a big issue for you. What was it again? I had I definitely burped release once a segment without a doubt. Once a segment? Yeah.

We have to go see a doctor. I don't I don't know if that's it. Maybe. I don't know.

I don't have an issue, but. Can I make a recommendation? Sure. I think we need management. To hire like someone like ten dollars an hour, eleven, twelve dollars an hour, whatever it is below minimum wage, what are you doing here?

Who are you hiring? What's the minimum wage now? Fifteen. Oh, really? Yeah, it's been that way for a while. Oh, OK.

Sorry. Fifteen dollars an hour. To just help you get through the show and kind of just pat you on the back just through the break. So so the burps maybe don't end up happening on the radio. That's what I think we need. We're going to get a minimum wage burper. I don't know where you'd find that. I'd be afraid to look on Craigslist for that. I think it would actually be a very high demand job around here.

It's a way to get in the building. You know, we can we can have people help preventing you from burp and maybe also we could lend them off to the morning show because I saw some video today of Mraz like sniffing a shoe. So maybe they could contain Sean like, you know, McVeigh is the whole big back coach.

Yes. We would have that person just kind of look after you and Mraz. That that person's usually jacking to break my back.

They're patting me on the back. Let's get back coaches. You got to be strong. You got to restrain those coaches. Brent Venables has one like that. That guy's ripped.

I think it'd be fun. But anyway, getting back to my main point here, the five teams that I think get to the NBA finals, the only five teams this year, I told you in the east, it's the Celtics and it's the Bucks in the West. It's the Suns. It's the Nuggets. And Steve Kerr has never lost a playoff series to a Western Conference team as a head coach until they go down. I still can always look at the Warriors as having a chance with Steph of getting to the NBA finals. So those are my five teams. I don't think anyone else you can make a case for. Do you agree with that? I agree that you can't make a case for anyone else. I would not put the Warriors in there.

You would not. So you only think four teams? Yes, four teams.

Or get to the finals. Nuggets, Suns, Celtics and the Bucks. OK. Zach Gelb shows CBS Sports Radio. Hey, by the way, three players real quickly. Let's talk about their future. Damian Lillard. I hope like when you hear what he said the other day, that he doesn't want his team drafting younger players anymore because younger players take years to develop. He wants them to go get other established complementary pieces.

If you're Damian at this point, like enough of just being a good guy. Stop thinking that you're ever going to win a championship. I know he wants to in Portland, but stop thinking that's going to happen. And also, if the Trail Blazers get the first or second pick in the draft, you know they're keeping that pick. Because it's Wen Banyama if you go one or maybe Brandon Miller too. And maybe what Dame is doing is he knows that's probably going to be a good pick for the Trail Blazers with the percentages are now.

And you got to see which way the ping pong balls do fall. He doesn't want to be the guy that requests out. He doesn't want to be viewed as a bad guy. But everyone understands at this point if he wanted out.

And I think everyone would accept it. I don't think anyone have any harsh feelings or ill feelings towards Damian Lillard because he's been as loyal as a player can be ever since 2012 in the NBA. I think pretty much what Dame is saying is, guys, I'm not going to say I'm going to request a trade.

But if you don't trade that first round pick this year, you know that I don't want to be a part of this anymore. And then I think the organization would probably not make Dame look out to be the bad guy and go, OK, if we're going to draft someone at one or two, we're then going to work to trade Damon. We just think it's in the best to go have Dame pursue a championship somewhere else because we don't really have a window anywhere close of getting to winning an NBA title.

That's what I kind of think that was yesterday or the other day whenever he said it, Hickey. And at this point, I just kind of hope that Dame goes somewhere else because as as cool as it would be to win a championship in Portland, you know, in Portland, it's just unrealistic at this point. He will never win a championship in Portland.

I would agree now, I'm just trying to find I can't find the top of my head. Didn't like did he say something a few years ago to similar? Like, I don't want to be here for a rebuild. Like, I like Damian Lloyd and I think you're right. You're not going to win a championship in Portland.

He deserves to win a championship. He just doesn't want to be the bad guy here. I'm sick of, though, like this back and forth. Do I want to stay? Do I want to go? I love it here, but I won't be here with a rebuild.

I think in his mind, he believes that if he leaves, people are going to be annoyed with him. How like has fans originally were annoyed at LeBron and how Thunder fans are annoyed at Durant. But I don't think that would even be close because I remember I think it was now two years ago and I know our last hour is now back on the game in Portland. But we did shows when they carried us for all four hours before they changed our lineup. And we had people in Portland say, no, no, no, like we're Trailblazer fans.

We know this organization is a clown show and a bleep show. We would get it if Tim wants out. The guy's as loyal as loyal as he could be. Like, you're only getting older at this point. It's really time hickey for him to move on. But he just doesn't want to say it because I think he fears that so many people are going to be annoyed with Tim wanting a trade. But I think more people will be understanding and accepting.

I would 100% agree with that. But if you truly want out, okay, then the criticism, you have to live with it like that. And you can't have both ways where you want to be the good guy, but you also want to win.

You're not going to win in Portland. And so either make a decision, you're going to go and go win a championship or you're going to stay and just ride through some rough times. And maybe it works out in three years, but you're going to stay through.

You don't be the bad guy and you're going to ride through some bad years. I already said it was three players. I got four players for you, Trey young and Luca Doncic. Lucas, three years left before that player option, Trey young. There's a port that if, if the Hawks want to move on from him, they have the okay from ownership. I'm going to say that Trey young is back next year.

And this is more of like a message tray. You got to get your act together and we're not, you know, you've had enough coaches here and now we got a new sheriff in town in Quinn Snyder, but on the Luca front, I do think Luke is good at that. There's no question. Luke is back of the Mavericks next year, but there is no doubt in my mind by the time that player option rolls around, he would have already maybe have been traded or bare minimum requested to trade at that point. Like that final year heading into that player option, because I don't see when you're going back to the well from all reports with kid and you have Cuban, give him a vote of confidence. And then also you have gone out of your way to say that you're going to bring Kyrie Irving back.

And now you're going to double down on that. I don't see how this ends pretty for the Dallas Mavericks. Unless they hit on either get the first pick in Victor Remban. Yama's is the truth. And you get finally a Luca, a legitimate running mate, make another somehow can't make a trade at this point because you gave up all your assets, but you figure out how to actually put a real team around Luca for once I'm with, if you keep on striking out like Mark Cuban is doing, I think he'll have no choice but to want out sooner rather than later.

Now, this one, it's going to be probably a bigger deal than, than what it probably should be made out to be. But the Thunder play, the pelicans coming up in about 30 or 40 minutes or so. Six, 15 left in the fourth quarter right now, Raptors up by two up against the bulls. But Hickey, did you see Zion Williamson warming up before the pelicans game?

I know he's not playing tonight, but did you see him warming up? Slam Duncan throwing thunderous slams down. So, you know, that's going to be a big deal when he says he's physically fine, but until he feels like he is Zion again, he's not going to be back on the court. At this point, if I'm the pelicans, I would just say Zion, we're getting you back on the court. Like if you are physically fine, we are, we are putting you on the court and you got to eventually get him back. But I feel like this is like a tradition, unlike any other where whenever Zion's about to get on back, it's all the moments too big.

Oh, it's too much of a pressure situation. So we'll just wait until next year. Like this to me at this point, he's now, this is year three of him in the NBA. We know when he gets on the court, he's a stud and he plays well, but at this rate, he he's got to, if he's physically fine, he he's got to get back on the court and you got to play him, but he's not playing. Even if they, they, they go on to make the playoffs this year, Hickey, like the actual playoffs when you're seated one through eight, I don't think there's a chance that we see Zion Williamson this postseason.

Yeah. I actually give Zion credit. If he feels he can't contribute to winning, don't play. If you feel like you're going to be more of a negative than a positive, I actually give him a lot of respect for saying, you know what, but let me ask you this. I'm not going to help the team.

I'm going to sit out. If he is physically fine and he says he's physically fine. Do you actually think he's going to hurt the team? I don't think so. Well, if he doesn't trust his body to move.

Yes. If you don't trust your body to move, we know Zion is so good because of his power, because of his balance, because of his athleticism. And if you're worried about tweaking your hamstring, and so you're not going to sprint and go all out, or maybe do a certain move that, you know, you can do or dunk as many times as you want to, then you're going to be a detriment.

And don't get me wrong. I do have sympathy if he's battling with this mentally, but how much of it do you think at this point is just apprehension that he's going to get hurt again? And if that's the case, it seems like it's a lost cause, because if you're afraid that you're going to get hurt again, but your body right now is physically fine, then that's a much bigger issue than anything that we're talking about right now of him just not feeling like Zion.

And I'm not a psychologist. I'm not a doctor, but it kind of feels as if when you're saying, oh, I'm physically fine, that maybe there is that fear if you get back on the court that you're going to get hurt again. And if that's the case, I don't know how this has a good ending for Zion Williamson. I think it's most of it. Like running back, if you tear an ACL or receive your tear an ACL, it takes a while to mentally be used to cutting again and feeling, okay, it's secure. It's bad for Zion.

It sounds like, right. That's exactly the issue. Physically he's fine, but he's just worried about, can he do everything that makes him great without getting hurt?

I think that's the big issue. And it's weird because there was that thought that he wanted to play. And then you hear what he said yesterday. It's, it's clear, like he says he wants to play, but he doesn't feel like he could play right now. So it's the whole thing.

I think there's just, there's so many different messages coming from so many different places. And when he says that yesterday, it's like, Ooh, that doesn't make you feel all that good. Onsides offsides. Next, that helps show CBS sports radio. You're listening to the Zach Gelb show. Zach's taking on the most polarizing issues in sports. Which side of the line of scrimmage will he end up on?

Offside defense number 69. It's onsides offsides with Zach Gelb on CBS sports radio. Alrighty, we usually do this segment every Monday and Friday, but tomorrow and Friday, I'll be hosting on CBS sports radio.

Just not in this time slot. You can hear me, I'm ending the same CBS sports radio affiliates, serious XM channel 1 58 and that free Odyssey app just a little bit earlier. I'll be co-hosting with Andrew Perloff on Thursday and Friday with Maggie Gray out on vacation on the very fine Maggie and Perloff extravaganza. So you catch me tomorrow 3 to 6 PM Eastern noon to 3 PM Pacific.

So hot day kicky. Take it away with a little onsides offsides. All right, Zach, the Bucks enter the postseason as the Vegas betting favorite to win the NBA title, followed by the Celtics, Suns and Warriors rounding out the top four. Now Milwaukee is monitoring the health of star Chris Middleton who did injure his knee late in the season. Well, the Celtics look to repeat his Eastern Conference champs and the Suns are writing an 8-0 record with Kevin Durant into the playoffs. We know the Warriors are defending champs, but if one of the one of the worst road records in the league at 11 and 30. Onsides or offsides, the NBA Finals will be a rematch between the Bucks and Suns. I know that Middleton, you know, is always a concern just because we know last year the injury probably did force them to to have their season come to a close sooner than they obviously would have liked. But I just I'm not picking against Milwaukee.

I think eventually Middleton will be fine and we know how great Drew Holiday has been for that team and Giannis Antetokounmpo is not going to win the MVP, but he's the best player in the league. I do like the Bucks to get back to the finals and have it a rematch of two years ago with the Suns because according to the hickey logic, if Kevin Durant just eats a cupcake, then they're never going to lose the game again. But even though I don't agree with that, I do think the Suns are getting to the to the NBA Finals. So give me the Bucks and the Suns.

I'll go onsides. The Lakers officially made the playoffs last night with an ugly win. Now the Wolves are playing without their two top defenders and Rudy Gobert and Jayden McDaniels both were out.

LA fell down by as much as 15 points in the second half. By the way, Gobert doing what he did kind of makes you forget about the Jayden McDaniels part about this. But the way that he got injured, hickey, that's really something. That punch was even worse. You never would have thought a punching your teammate will be the second worst punch of the day.

But the Wolves are able to top that. And he punched the wall, right? Punched the wall. Headed to the locker room at halftime because of two fouls he picked up. Didn't Amari Stoudemire punch like a fire extinguisher? With glass right up. Yeah, with the glass protecting and then he hurt his hand. Punching objects has never worked out well for athletes.

It's almost as dumb as when a football player will throw a punch at another football player when they both have helmets on. How do you think that's going to end well? Never does.

Okay, continue with your question. Never does and in the case of the Wolves it did not work well either. Now the Lakers were down by 15 points, had to rally in the fourth quarter force. Over time you did have Lebron scoring 30 points in this game. AD as well chipped in with 24 but both had brutal mistakes down the stretch that did almost cost LA the game. So onsides or offsides the Lakers will beat the Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs?

It's possible. I have trust issues with both these teams but the Lakers have been so inconsistent and they deal with their own injury bug of their own as we've seen through the last few years with this partnership of Lebron James and Anthony Davis. I think this will go to seven games. I think the Grizzlies will have to sweat but ultimately the Grizzlies will prevail. So when you ask me the Lakers will beat the Grizzlies in the first round I will go off the side. Plenty of teams are under the microscope in this NBA postseason. The Sixers have yet to make a conference finals in the Joel Embiid era while the Nuggets finally healthy for the first time in a few years do look to make a push to the finals. The Suns speaking of pushing pushed all their chips into the center in acquiring Kevin Durant a few months ago and the Bucks look to win their second championship in three years. Onsides or offsides the Nuggets have the most pressure of any team on them in the playoffs?

It's a great question. The Bucks have already won a championship I'm just going through all the team. The Sixers you could say there's pressure but I don't think it's the most pressure because I just I don't think there's a belief that the Sixers are getting to the finals. The Celtics with how close they've been you got to eventually get the job done but ultimately I go back to the Suns. You have Durant, Booker, CP3 and DeAndre Aiden if everyone's healthy. You have been in the finals before two years ago with the 2-0 lead and last year a disaster sent you to your season but you got better by bringing Durant. I do think the Suns even though they've only played like eight nine games together with Durant I do think that the Suns actually have the most pressure so you say the Nuggets I will go offside.

Let's stick in Philly because the Sixers are heading into what some are saying a make or break postseason run. Now according to Woese. You that's what you're saying. That's what I am saying.

Woese I would say is agreeing with me. Who? Woese Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Ah.

Big NBA insider. Wait is a Bonnie. What?

Went to St. Bonaventure. Oh oh is a Bonnie. I thought like is a Bonnie like I got it okay. I don't think that's a word. He is well that's why I was confused. What? He did go to St. Bonaventure so shout out to the Bonnie's out there.

I know a little Loopy from the Springsteen show last night but I know how to formulate a sentence though. So according to Woese the ramifications of an early Philly exit could be massive with the features of Doc Rivers and James Harden in question and Woese even said that Embiid could re-evaluate his future if this postseason run is disappointing onsides or offsides. Doc Rivers and James Harden will not be with the Sixers next season. I do think Doc gets fired if they don't get to the conference final. But Harden I think it's up to him if he wants to stay or go because Daryl Morey has a crush on James Harden and he has blind loyalty to James Harden and that's the part where I'm just like I don't know what Harden wants to do.

Last year many people thought that he wasn't going to be back and he ended up coming back but there was that report of him maybe going back to Houston which has been out there for a while but until I see Harden elsewhere I'm going to believe that Harden's back on the Sixers next year so I do think Doc would be gone but Harden I think will be back so I will go offside to your question. And finally it's been 29 days or for those counting 696 hours since Aaron Rodgers publicly made it known that his quote unquote intention. How did you do that Matt? 29 times 24.

24 hours in a day 29 days. Thank you but I'm I'm this is how you really care about this story how I know this because you've been putting out this theory forever that it's that Rodgers is not going to wind up with the Jets when you're you're counting down how many hours and minutes it's been. Well it's also unprecedented we have never seen this. The guy says I'm playing for the Jets and a month later nothing's happened. And you still don't think that he's going to the Jets? All I'm saying is I think that you're opening the door Joe Douglas for another team to swoop on him. And who's that team going to be every time you say this I ask you that who's that team? I think there's plenty of teams out there. Who? Say I could put the commanders in there put the 49ers who according to Craig Cardin are already interested.

Also you know that this requires it takes two to tango. A team has to be interested in Rodgers and Rodgers has to be interested in them. 49ers come calling if you're Rodgers you're going to say no?

I wouldn't but are they going to come calling? Kyle Shanahan thinks that he could just win with any quarterback he thought he could win with uh who was that uh Nate Mullins uh Nick Mullins. Nick Mullins who he broke records with. I almost combined uh Nate Sudfeld and Nick Mullins there and I called him Nate Mullins that's where I was going for a second.

I'm sure he would win with Nate Mullins too if need be. Give me a break. Rodgers going to the Jets stop with this. Well it has been 696 hours since he made that intention clear. One more time how many hours? 696 and since that declaration almost a month ago. Can you convert that into seconds for me uh coming up on Monday? Sure definitely that's my that's what I'll be focused on the most.

It's been mum since that big intention. Now Adam Schefter this week on his podcast said that very little communication has occurred between the Jets and Packers. As you know the NFL draft is two weeks from tomorrow. Onsides or offsides Aaron Rodgers will not be traded before April 27th which is the first round of the NFL draft. I think it's gonna happen during the first round. I do at the latest to start the second round because I ultimately do think it's gonna be a second round pick for starters that will turn into or could turn into a conditional first. Um I will say on draft night we find out that Rodgers gets traded. So Aaron Rodgers will not be traded before April 27th. Um I will say offside on that one. Offside.

This is that Gelb show on CBS Sports Radio. Marco let me ask you this you think there's any shot Rodgers doesn't wind up with the Jets? There's a slight chance simply because it's just taking too long. Out of a hundred percent where would you put that slight chance? That he's not a Jet?

Yeah like five percent. It's look again there's not a lot of options there's not a lot of see if there was a team that was out there if I truly believe the 49ers wanted to do this I would increase those odds. I just don't know if there's another team that really wants Aaron Rodgers and that's the biggest part for the Packers.

They need to find someone that would actually offer them something and I don't know if anyone's out there to do that. The also the other thing too if I'm Rodgers and you want to kind of expedite this process why don't you just communicate to the Packers behind the scenes? Well now I'm using logic here because there's no communication between these two sides and then the GM's trying to call Rodgers and Rodgers then says oh no one ever called me blah blah blah but I would kind of make it known through my people to the Packers that I'm actually going to show up to this the voluntary workouts if you don't get a deal done with the Jets and kind of make it awkward that I'll come into the building and then I'll start talking to the media and doing all those things or bare minimum just say I'm not getting a fine mandatory I don't care what you exempt me from I'm going to be part of the team on the mandatory workouts bare minimum. This is a possibility and we might go down that road.

That would be awesome. But I do think that a lot of people are putting it automatically that it's because Rodgers truly wants the Jets. I think Rodgers knows he can't go back to Green Bay and has no other options so he became comfortable with all right I'm going to the Jets. If another option comes out that's better for him than the Jets don't discount that he would want to do that so he may want to prolong this himself to say well I wonder if anybody else will wind up coming out and maybe there is another place that I can go other than New York because it's possible that he would marriage of convenience to go to the Jets but doesn't truly want the Jets. I think there's only two options that possibly could be those two options. Hickey mentioned one of the 49ers and if something happens which I don't know how it could how it could happen in the off season because he's now cleared out a concussion protocol but if something happens in the off season or when they resume things and Rodgers is let's say still not traded with the Dolphins something happens to Tua then the Dolphins do make a ton of sense.

Again it's possible. Are these teams willing to do this? That's the thing that's why like the 49ers are seem to make a whole lot of sense but I don't know if the 49ers want to do this and that's a big part of it so if the 49ers don't want to do it unless something really forces their hand there's a lot of places that Rodgers may look at and go this might work that might work that might work but they got to want to do it so it wouldn't shock me if Rodgers is comfortable with backing this off and saying all right worst case scenario I'm on the Jets or maybe somebody comes out of the woodwork so let's let this thing prolong as long as humanly possible and we'll see where we are because either way I'm not playing for the Packers and that I think was his true first choice. And also I could argue that if you're the 49ers if you're going to commit 50 million dollars a year to a quarterback wouldn't you rather go the younger option with Lamar Jackson available too? Again all good questions and I don't think the 49ers are going to add another quarterback. Once you add Darnold to Trey Lance to Brock like there's too many bodies right there and there's too much money now invested in all these different quarterbacks and you could say well it's only five million here and seven million you add it all together you still got too many too much money locked in same thing with the Dolphins you paid Mike White why but you paid him already so like this is money that's now invested that you can't never all of a sudden turn around and spend another what is it 18 million that Rodgers counts towards the cap if the trade is made that's a lot of money to be invested in one spot you got to be careful. By the way I know we got to take a break but Hickey I know you're usually pretty much on top of these things do you see what Jordan Palmer said about Sam Darnold today? How about Sam Darnold?

No. Okay we will pull that audio we will play it for you next in the closing bell and I'm just gonna ruin the tease here if I'm a betting man I would bet that Jordan Palmer's gonna get a stock down. You're listening to the Zach Gelb Show. Another day is in the books and we're taking stock of the sports world. It's time to find out who's up and who's down. Let's end the day right and hit the closing bell.

Only on the Zach Gelb Show. Well the Boston Bruins already set a record for most wins in NHL season well after last night now they set a record for most points in an NHL season as well. The Bruins on the year with one game left are 64 12 and 5 133 points my god give the Boston Bruins a stock up. Let's hear this is Jordan Palmer on the herd with Colin Coward talking about Sam Darnold and the 49ers this upcoming season. I think he's got as good a chance to win a Super Bowl this year as any quarterback in the NFL and let me explain that.

Here's why he's going to walk into that huddle and he's going to see Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Nyuk, and a really good offensive line and pretty good backups coming in too. Then when he's not on the field that's arguably the best defense in the league and we haven't said a word about Kyle Shanahan and play calling yet. From situational standpoint I think it's maybe the best situation to be in if you're a quarterback in the NFL right now and then it's specific to Sam you know he's had five tough years and he's had a lot of tough years he's been he's been sitting back there holding on the ball too long waiting for Le'Veon Bell to get open and Robbie Anderson and that's just not going to be the case this year. I'm sorry I know we keep on talking about how great the Niners roster is and it is but we're forgetting the point that when they lose their quarterback fails them. Garoppolo, NFC championship game, failed him. Garoppolo, Super Bowl, fourth quarter, failed him. Brock Purdy, not healthy this year, NFC title game, failed him. And all of a sudden if Sam Darnold is magically going to be healthy he's going to play well enough even though that's a great system to win a Super Bowl. You can take him far but you're not going to win a Super Bowl until until you figure out who your guy is and you could actually believe in that guy long term with the Niners and when I've seen the first two stops for Sam Darnold it ain't gonna be Sam Darnold. So just stop at this nonsense. Sam Darnold does not have as good of a chance as any other quarterback in this league to win a Super Bowl this year.

That's just ridiculous. I mean we don't even know if he's gonna play first off. So give Jordan Palmer a stock down. I gotta give a stock down to the Miami Heat. Like last night I thought they were gonna win going in. They got destroyed on the boards, their defense was horrible and now their season's gonna be on the line coming up on Friday night as they did go down uh last night to the Atlanta Hawks in just you know in Miami too by a score of 116 to 105. So give a stock down to the Miami Heat. Anthony Edwards team was up 15 you weren't playing well then the game gets close you guys got a gift to get the game into overtime as well and you did nothing.

Nine points three of 17 from the field 0-9 from three give a stock down to Anthony Edwards. And finally real quickly Mraz here we go again I have one tweet about Bruce Springsteen and Mraz sub tweets me today. When he starts talking about he's had enough of everyone tweeting about going to the Bruce Springsteen show well you know what Mraz maybe we've had enough about these giant videos that you keep on posting all the time. I think that maybe it's run his course too. If you're gonna say I think we've crossed over into we get it territory with Bruce Springsteen fans on this concert tour he sings a decent Santa Claus is coming to town he didn't cure cancer we can relax the nightly videos from the upper deck. Mraz just looking for attention over and over and over again kind of like Jack Stern you can hear him on the JR Sport Brief next.

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