Jason Thompson, 9-Year NBA Veteran

Jason appreciate the time, how are ya? What's going on? Appreciate you for having me.

Well I appreciate you coming on. So Game 1 worked oh so well for the Philadelphia 76ers without Joel Embiid. Then Embiid comes back and the Celtics they found the way to just destroy the Sixers in Game 2. The biggest thing that I've seen from this series so far is just James Harden. Like Game 1 he was awesome, Game 2 he wasn't. And that's a big concern for me because Philadelphia needs him to be that finisher if they're going to want to find a way to beat Boston in this series. Yeah I mean obviously you have Joel leading the league in scoring and you had James leading the league in assists.

So you had that balance for most of the season. And obviously when the playoffs come everything kind of just shrinkens and you kind of get to analyze teams a little bit differently. With the Celtics matchup it's a little bit tough because of their 3 point shooting and things like that. And I think with Joel and James playing against the Celtics I think they haven't had the best record. I think Joel has actually lost to the Celtics I think 6 times or 6 straight games.

With that being said like you said it just opens the floor up. I understand the Warriors aspect mentality of playing through injury and stuff in Game 2 and right after winning the MVP which was well deserved. But like you said James wasn't really that aggressive in Game 2 and then he has to use that especially when Joel is out. Did you think that was the wrong decision to play and beat in Game 2? Did you think you already took Game 1 maybe just rest him for Game 2 and then get him back in Philadelphia for Game 3 a little bit rested? Yeah people were asking me even before the game I was thinking like just keep getting one game and I just think that just keep riding and see how it is right because I think that the Celtics had to make an adjustment. But I think with Joel coming back they didn't really have to adjust.

They went through the same game plan that they did when they played against them during the season. It's tough to say because if you're MVP of the league and you say you want to play I don't know too many coaches that are going to say no or heck no. It's a tough situation for sure. But you just want to make sure that he's healthy and obviously he's definitely playing Game 3. Jason Thompson here with us. Last night Jason Tatum only had 7 points in the game and the Celtics still had a big beat down on the Philadelphia 76ers. That's also what's concerning if you're a Sixers fan. Like Tatum wasn't even great in Game 2 and they still kicked their ass. Yeah I mean I just think it was just the rhythm of the game.

Sometimes it's like that. There are times where your most crucial players don't have to do much and those type of things. I think the game was kind of out of reach at a certain point and then there was no point for the coach to put him back in the game regardless of his shooting. He didn't really shoot the ball that much but they were moving the ball around. So obviously it's just one game and it doesn't really affect the whole series but you've got to take advantage obviously now with two games at home and adjust to what the Celtics have to bring.

Hitting up some of these other series. Miami and New York. Jimmy Butler didn't play Game 2. The Knicks were able to get a win. That series now tied at one game apiece as it moves to South Florida. I know this isn't the prettiest of basketball, Jason, but I love the competitive spirit by both teams with Jaylen Brunson and then Jimmy Butler when he's been playing. Yeah I don't think it's like the old school Nixon heat from Alonzo and Patrick Ewing but I think it's a balance. I think it's going to be a seven game series honestly though.

But like you said it's just a chess match. Like I said before with the Sixers series it got their win. Even though Jimmy got hurt they're like we can be able to rest him and get him ready.

I think they had four or five days off and things like that. But also the missing piece for the Knicks was Julius Randall because he didn't play Game 1 as well too. So there's a lot of things where if guys play well guys are on the floor. But like I said Miami is still coming in there with a lot of confidence. I'm thinking they're thinking the game was still winnable for the Heat even without Jimmy.

So they got to come in there with a lot of confidence with two games going into Miami. Jason Thompson here with us. You were briefly a part of the Golden State Warriors.

All these years later what do you take away from being a part of that organization briefly? Well honestly I mean it was crazy. I went to the games one and game two in Sacramento, Kings and Warriors. And obviously I played for the Kings for seven years and longest tenured in the team's history. So it was definitely a surreal situation being back in that arena and going to a game with two teams I played against. So I say that to say that you go for one team where at the time wasn't in the playoffs for a long period of time and then going to a championship type culture. You just kind of wish you were around that environment from day one or season one the years that you play. But like you said they have that formula and even if they don't maybe have the same type of team that they had last year they still have a chance and are proving people wrong.

You know you're the chance until you're beaten. The Kings probably were the best feel good story in the league since you played there for so many years to see what Mike Brown did this year. What De'Aaron Fox did in a big spotlight on a big stage. What was it like for you to see that team success? Yeah I was happy to see man. I mean it's you know finally have the right ownership and back and then being able to have a great coach in Mike Brown and deservingly so when it's coach of the year.

And I think you know that's what happens when stuff at the top is good and smooth and you know I wasn't surprised at all. Then you have a legit superstar in De'Aaron Fox you bring an all-star in as a bonus. And then you got like a guy like Malik six man then you got Harrison and then a lot of you know and like I said Keegan Murray you know rookie and stuff like that.

So you got a lot of guys that are great pieces and you know sky's the limit for that team. Jason Thompson here with us. I got to ask you about Draymond Green because I'm all over the place with him. I couldn't stand him when he stomped on the bonus and then the other night when he came to the defense of Jordan Poole. I thought that was neat but then I remembered he punched Jordan Poole in the face before the season started.

You were briefly around him. What is Draymond like as a teammate inside that locker room? Nah man I mean it's Draymond you know it's a good dude man honest you know somebody's got to be the villain at times. And you know regardless of certain things you had in resume I understand that you know you most you know hated but you know he thrives off that. You know he's an energy type guy and he has the championship pedigree and you know use it to his advantage. So obviously there's you know certain things and you know the time that you know he got suspended against the Cavs that one year where they didn't win the championship and stuff. So I mean you know sometimes it's unfortunate but you know without him on that team you know they're not a championship caliber team.

So you kind of got to just take him and give in different situations the good and the bad. You played in the NBA from 2008 to 2016. Dylan Brooks bit off more than he could chew in that series up against the Lakers and now it seems like he's getting clowned.

The team wants nothing to do with them anymore per the reports. What advice would you give Dylan Brooks? Man I mean you know this generation is just a little bit different man. I think that like you know Dylan is you know no disrespect but like trying to be that type of like Draymond but you know with Draymond regardless if their skill sets are not the same you know he's been around you know championship you know caliber and has the rings to prove it. So you know to be the villain when you know essentially you know they haven't I don't think they've been to the Western Conference Finals and you know and all the turmoil and that young but talented team man it's just you kind of just you know like I said sometimes that works out. But you know when you get when you're going against out of all people LeBron James man I mean that's that's probably the best advice you can give is don't poke that type of bear that bear is a little bit different than than a yogi type bear. Jason Thompson with us in the Zach Gelb show that game one between the Lakers and the Warriors everyone's talking about the shot at the end of the game by Jordan Poole. Sure you'd rather have him closer to the three point line but I don't get what else he was supposed to do because the Lakers played good defense on stuff.

Yeah I mean it's tough man we live in a world where with social media and you know no one misses anything right and everyone's perfect and everyone's supposed to do what everyone thinks they're supposed to do. So regardless of saying that Anthony Davis had 30 and 20 and he was the reason why they were even in that position and you know they'd made a 14 and something run in the fourth quarter. So technically you know if the Lakers stayed home then there wasn't even that type of shot but he also had made six threes at the time.

You know obviously he could have moved in and stuff but you know like I said he took the shot if he makes it he's a hero if he misses it it's a terrible shot. I know CP3 is hurt but how much is it the lack of chemistry right now with the Phoenix Suns is why they're down 2-0 to the Nuggets? Well it's tough I mean I don't I'm not sure about the chemistry because I haven't breaking down the film like that obviously you could tell even just second half of the season I think that Chris Paul you know hasn't been himself so that could be injury. But you know with veteran guys like that man they don't try to use excuses because you work so hard in the offseason to be where they are. But like I said I mean it's obviously concerning if he's not gonna be able to play in game 3-4 I think they said 3-5 but then like you said man you got you know you got Devin Booker and Kevin Durant I feel like you know gonna be pretty solid if they're healthy. But I think with the trades and stuff it's just tough for their bench you know with the type of production that they might need so it might you know take those two and then a couple other guys. Who are you picking right now to win it all because I like Denver with the way that Murray has kind of got back and Shoji can be that finisher. Yeah I mean honestly though like before even all this second round of playoffs I was saying either the Celtics or the Suns but if I was a veteran man I might have to change stuff and maybe say the Nuggets as well too.

I mean like I said man this is that's what makes the playoffs so exciting even though it's probably not exciting for fans that are fans of specific teams because you know you never know who's gonna be able to win that series let alone each and every game. So right now you're the co-CEO of Hydrate IV Therapy and Wellness tell me about it. Yeah man it's been great I've been teamed up you know with my so I'm actually the coach assistant coach at Roddy University and the head coaches sister has been in the medical field.

So you know what a better way to kind of get back to the community and stuff and being able to hydrate you know athletes and young adults and adults and you know and you know the elderly and the list goes on. So it's from South Jersey where I'm from you know about 10-15 minutes outside Philadelphia and you know we open up this month in May so I'm really excited and being able to you know just start a new business. Well good luck we appreciate the time thanks so much for doing this. I appreciate you guys for having me thanks.