Giannis Drama, Ben Simmons In Philly, AD Resurgence | WHAT’S BURNIN | Showtime Basketball

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Speaker 1: Welcome back to What's Burning. I'm joined by my U C l A brother, Jolini McCoy um as we send in our thoughts and prayers out to the Jackson family today. Uh, Jackie is burying his little brother today, Donnie. Very unfortunate situation. Sending a lot of love, light and energy to the family and hopefully we'll see jack back here soon. Line, let's get to it. Man Bucks loss to the Sixers Friday night, Johanna shot four from four for eleven from the free throw line. Uh. Post game, he wanted to go out and get a few free those, which is very common. I don't think fans understand how common it is, whether you're on the road or you're the home team, to come out and get shots after the game. Uh. So when I really love Montrese Harold, a younger brother of mine, came out and I really honestly thought he pulled a bullshit um again, even though Milwaukee was on the road. Uh, you know, Jannice that court, you know Joanna should be able to go out there and get a few shots. I just didn't really like the way at all transpired. To understand, Montrez normally get shots too. That's why there's a full court Uh. You know, we saw Joannice push the ladder over and I just saw fans you know, taking shots at them from that standpoint in julyn You know, you've been the league long enough. You know, when you're a worker there, you sign up for the long haul. You know, no matter what, if that's a triple overtime game or a concert, there ain't no telling what time you're getting out of there. So the fact that they felt like they needed to hurry up and do this that piss me off. Um, what are your thoughts on this situation? Every NBA player owes the rights to that quarter afterwards, like nobody stopping Kidney Kenny Chatsney or any pop artists or or anybody that's that's on the line from stopping and coming back and redoing anything that they felt like they did on stage and recorrecting their mistakes. You know, this is an entertainment based league. This is an entertainment based, UH based venues. They know from tear down to different you know, different NBA games and NHL games, they know what they signed up for. Joannice is a top tier generational talent and to to take it even further, I've been like you said, uh, this it's a full court. He was just getting his free throws in. It's not like he's doing the whole wing or post series out there with a coach. And at the same time, a lot of a lot of people don't realize is when you're not playing minutes um, you go out there. So I was interested to see what you what's your tech was on trash because I know as a guy that what has to work out after games, whether it's riding a bike for thirty minutes because you didn't play a certain amount of minutes, or just going out there, what's your favorite ball developed excuse me, player development, coach and getting your extra reps up. It's a common thing whether to keep your touch, even if you're in a good group where you want to keep that group going, or you're adding something to your game in the middle of the season, you don't want to miss days. That court is a haven. That's why you can go out on the road and do it. You can feel free to go out on the road, you can do it at home. You can use sometimes that the guy's practice facility if you're if it's in the gym, so very common thing, very common thing for fail need to come out and act like that. But at the end of the day, I'm all for Yannest looking like he got a little bit of Hennessy in his blood stream and pushing that ladder away like, nah, it's not gonna happen. He always has to play a good guy, right. I mean, this is definitely right along with Philly energy. I don't mind the Philly energy at all, but I just definitely didn't like this situation. Um again, I've seen Kobe do it. I've seen other superstars do it. You know. My my question is, you know what, would would Treas have that energy for Lebron but Trea's have that same energy for Steph with trev had that same energy for k D. I don't think so, And not that he's afraid of him, but it's just he wouldn't he had. I think he has more respect for those guys. And let's keep it the buck. Yannest is the best player in the world right now. So you're trying to tell me he can't get twenty minutes. I'm get a funk where we're at to get some extra free throws up. Um again, they're lucky. All it was was a push ladder. And I didn't really like the assistant coaching there too, with his energy out in his chair, Like, who the funk are you? Yeah, yeah, get to the side, bro, you over here, you know you over here trying to do to you, motherfucking assistant coach. You go sit down and let the grown men talk. So I didn't like the energy, and you know that Janice is gonna you know, Janice will definitely internalize this and remember this, and uh, he's gonna make Philly pay for it in the long run. It's a hell of a double double coming Philly his way. Absolutely, he said. He I mean, I agree, he said. I felt like I didn't really do outside of pushing the ladder down. I felt like I didn't do it. Like I said that that worker was lucky. All he did was pushed the ladder down and not him down. Or is a nice guy any lucky? Janice is a nice guys in front of that shock, Lynne is like, if Shack was really an asshole like it run, it would be dangerous. I mean, just imagine if that if that was shot out there shooting free, you know what I mean. I'm just saying there's to me, I just didn't like I didn't like the energy. And again and I funk with Treads. Shreads is to homie, but I again, I just didn't like that energy. There's two, there's a full court Treads. You want to get your shots up, Broke knock your shots down, but don't sunk with Joannice is quick little fifteen twenty minute routine to get some extra free throws up. I thought that ship was weak. Nets match their longest ringing streak with actor back wins. Kyrie returns to the lineup after missing eight games, a solid fourteen and five Ben Simmons, Uh, it's starting to show signs of life, which I love. He had a nice little two games stretch. Thursday he had fifteen, thirteen and seven. UH. Sunday he had twenty two, eight and five. UM. In the midst of this, I think some of Kevin Durant's comments were taken out of context about his team when it's Chris Hayes interview. UM, it just seems like they're always seems to be some ship going on. UM, what do you think about this team? What do you think about Kyrie being back? How do you think it's a loaded question. How do you feel like Katie's teammates are looking at him in the locker room and will this team ever just be able to play basketball? Feel it feels like amoungst all this during this stretch, they half out of a way to play basketball. Um, Kadis has been scoring at the k D clip, but he's been also been doing some playmaking, you know, making bringing some other players to life on on that roster. Um. I know he wishes he can pull back what he said on Chris Haynes. That was just some weird ship to say at the end of the day. But Katie is starting to be in front of the camera a lot more than I feel like it in past years. So he's gonna have to find his rhythm and you know how he's presenting himself as a as an elite superstar. But you know, Kyrie being away from the team probably helped. I'm interested in saying what Ben is gonna do? You know, I hope this is the we're starting to see the uptick of being getting himself together, his confidence back together, his health back together. I'm still seeing him turn down a lot of those you know shots that we wish he would take, but I think it's on the way. Um, if they can get him, if they can get Ben together, man, just to do what he's doing on a you know, they don't even need him at a at a at an eighteen twenty point clip. He can take him out of fifteen seventeen with all the other intelligibles that he brings, and I think they can find their way amongst you know, the contenders for the East, because there's nobody there to call her a bluff at the end of the day. Reilly, Toronto. You know, you know when Milwaukee stayed. Chicago's having some questions with Zach Levine in and out of the lineup in the fourth quarter. So nobody's really taking a strong hold of the East except Boston. We know Boston's playing well and the in the you know the at Boston, Milwaukee, those front line. But I think they can find their footing if for Kyrie can come back and just play basketball, and like you said, this team can just come back and play basketball. I think Jacques von might be the right guy ironically for this job, because he's been through a lot in his career professionally as a professional player and as a coach, so I think he might be the right guy for this group of players to just come out and play basketball. Yeah, um, sticking to stricty basketball. Happy to see Kyrie back on the court. Um, I just you know, I just think there's been a lot of stuff going on outside of basketball since he's been a Brooklyn Net and I'm just as a fan of the game, as a fan of his basketball game, I'm happy to see him back on the court because he just brings so much to the game and I feel like the NBA misses that when he's not out there. Uh. To Ben Simmons, I don't think. I don't think people have appreciation, um enough for guys coming back from real injuries. Let's keep him mind. Ben Simmons had back surgery and he has a need now that's constantly being drained. And if any of your motherfucker's out there have had your knee drained, that is not an easy process to maintain. You know, you get water on your knee and you have to have to keep being drained. And this even carries over to Clay And we'll get to Clay later, which he had a breakout game last night. But people understand Clay was almost out for three years, and I think we live in a in a in a seven media market where people expect, and it's really driven by the media. People expect these players coming back off. Think about Clay's injury. Clay's injury ended both the Clay's injuries could end careers back in the day, a back injury can end anybody, period, whether it's civilian or athletes. So I don't think we have enough appreciation for guys that are that are really making a pushback from an injury. So again I agree with you. I hope this is you know, an uptick that we start to consistently see more of Ben Simmons because I just think he's such a tremendous talent. I would love to see him continue to get more aggressive. Um as far as Katie, you know, Katie is is that guy on the court every night. You know what you'reat to get with Katie. Um, I saw he got a chance I think on his podcast or with a Little Home. You don't even know what it's called, but he got a chance to kind of explain what he meant by it. And I know Katie is not someone that that is here to bash his teammates, and hopefully none of his teammates took it that way. Obviously, you know, once it gets out into the media, it's gonna get twisted in turn. But again I hope you know, everyone in that locker room can can overlook that and kind of understand that it was just out of context. And you know, Katie is a team guy and wants to see the team win. Um. And again another good point with jack Von. Jack Van has been through some ships as a player. Remember back not to cut you off, Remember back in the day when Jack Von couldn't buy a field goal and he finally made a shot and they did the run of the book Wars on ESPN BRO. He had like a month where he couldn't buy a layerub but free throw like nothing, and then like he finally made a shot in the middle of the season and the ESPN in this whole day edit where it was the run of the Bulls and like this whole celebration across the world. So who better for Ben Simmons to have. I wish we could pull that up then somebody who went through the public humiliation of his job Von. Seriously, yeah, no, it takes tough skin. Man to be in the positions we're in, but I think that sometimes people still forget we're human. Um. So again, I hope this team can can find their footing because again, I mean between those three guys, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irvan and Ben Simmon, there's a lot of talent there. Uh. So, you know, hoping for the best for the Nets because it's really been an unfortunate disaster since Kevin has decided to leave Golden State and go to Brooklyn. Speaking of Ben Simmons, uh, you know he's got his next matchup again will be against his former team. He saw him in his postgame press conference. Someone asked if if the energy has died down and he made a crazy look like, huh, it's Philly. So unfortunately, Philly will be without their hitters. Maxi's down and Beat has been ruled out, and we know Hardness still struggling with injury. Um. But we know that the show is Ben Simmons going back to Philly. So I'm I'm excited for him and his team, and I hope he just has one of those fuck you games like twenty twenty and ten, you know, all over the place of dimes. You know what I mean, Steals, I even hope you can knocked down a couple of three. And he's not even a ship talker. But being talking your ship, bro, you need Like I said, he Philly is a cutthroat city man, and again I love and respect that energy, but you definitely got to stand up for yourself and they'll walk right over you. Moving out West and it would be it be who of me to not mention our the best of the West that we're both representing today, I say you got pack and I got my Mount Westmore album. Yeah, album dropping the beginning of December. Shoutout Cube, I got a chance to I got this from Q when I co hosted hot Box on Mike the other day. But I got a forty snoop short, so make sure you guys tap in with that. But again, moving out West, man, Clay broke out of it and I couldn't be happier. You know, Clay always holds a special place in my heart because he's just such a good fucking dude man, just such a great dude. Um. But last night Captain Clay was back. He outscored the Rockets single handedly uh in the first quarter with twenty points, four for five from the three point line, finished with forty one and hit ten threes. I think Steph finished with thirty three and hit seven threes. Uh, obviously it's been a tough start. And you know, I mentioned it a little bit ago about Ben Simmons and his injury. Clay has come back from more than a probably and if I'm not miss speaking, any professional athlete has ever coming back from and achilles, Yeah, come on to monster injuries that either one could have ended a career. So talk to us about you know, obviously the early season struggles for Clay and how he continues just to try to keep his mind that didn't push forward through it. Yeah, I want to know what he's doing. Is he floating? You know what I mean? What what type of mental device is he using to put on? I hope he's on. I hope he's on that tree. Well, you know, I wasn't gonna tell Clay business. I'm just saying I'm hoping he's on that. He gotta be something trees, something from the tree. Yeah. But but but yeah, because he's just been amazing on how he's dialed in even in understanding that he's going to get pinned back on the back to back days and his minutes are going to be cut. You know, let this be a lesson to all you young ballers out there. You know that Clay can go out there, you know, not even a hundred percent of itself, But that was a Clay Thompson. Clay Thompson quarter, you know, when he doesn't even put the ball on the floor, and when he's just catching and shooting and there's not a lot of hum drum to the ship, you know what I mean. It's just girl a great shooter, taking the open shots and knocking them down and getting into a good rhythm to where he doesn't need you know, all of the extra fluff that that we see sometimes in the game. So I'm happy for Clay, you know what I mean. You know, you know, Clay's the hommy been around Clay for a few years now, you know, watched him, uh watching him on this magnificent round and all he wants to do is hoop and like play soccer on the beach. At the end of the day, hommies and barbecue and that's all you wanna do, you know what I mean. And at the end of the day, we love we celebrate guys like that, who who could be assholes or could be you know what I mean, I got there all the reasons too. But Clay's just a good salt of the earth. I believe that's what people call them sometime type of guy who's just cool. Somebody wants to have a joint with a beer with, go fishing with, you know, play darks, you know what I mean, whatever it is, you know, pretty much down for and I'm happy to see, you know, even with him in this kind of limited role, that he's able to remind people who the funk he is. Yeah, I mean, I just again I think it's it's I saw for the first time him really kind of pressing and you know, trying to find his rhythm, taking shots that he normally wouldn't take. But he came out and and said, you know when when when he hears you know, his peers, you know, people in the media who've played criticized him, that really hurts because again, we've all been through our injuries. You know, everyone has a different extent to their injury. But to understand that, like you don't have normally long they used to say, however long you're out, that's how long it's gonna take you to get your feet back under you. Clay was nearly out three years, you know what I mean, three seasons, you know what I mean. So for him to be back already and you know, starting to find his rhythm, I'm happy for him. It could again because there couldn't be a better dude. Uh. You know that Golden State team is going to keep their arms wrapped tight around him and make sure they have his back. So again, man shout out Captain Clay. The beautiful demonstratation of shooting, and we hope the hot shooting continues coming down South. Lebron misses his fourth straight game, but Lan, I'm more interested in what Anthony Davis has done these last three games. And for you that haven't been paid attention to him, thirty eight sixteen one game, thirty eighteen another game, and thirty seven and eighteen always shooting above. I think A d is obviously taking a lot of heat in the past from just injuries and his inability to be on the court. He's found a way to be on the court and he's put up these video game numbers that we know he's capable of doing. The question is how can this work with Lebron coming back because we hear the lip service Braun wants to you know, everyone wants it to go through a D and it's got to do this and it's got to do that. But is Braun really okay or or or gonna allow that because again that everyone said that's what needs to happen, And now we're seeing that a D is really finding his rhythm. When Braun comes back hopefully the next week or so two weeks at the most, um can can they continue to ride a D like this? Thoughts? First thought? Is a D looking good man? You know, even even I think he's rounding his body into shape because you know, Eddie has been playing out on the perimeter for a while now, you know, he hasn't been on the block and a live threat just as quite as often as year now and used to getting spoon fed on the block in positions to where he has to just take one or two dribbles. You know, the a D that we saw that was off the injured was out on the floor a lot, you know, a lot like k D making a lot of perimeter moves. Ye know that's hard on a on on the big body. You know, although he's he's skilled and can do it. I think I heard you guys talk about this with Sheid one time when he was at the three, and he was talking about just a little movements that he's not used to make it. And you know that you guys do on pinned downs and guarding all that ship. So a D is a five at the end of the day. I hope that he um now at this point in his career and he's the most dead probably one of the most deadly fives in the league, constant lob threat. The ability to just post up. You know a lot of bigger players have problems posting up smaller players. A D doesn't, you know what I mean. So he's able to just get to the basket and one or two moves and get am ones and make it and just run back down court. And I think at this point in his career is a big dude coming in your thirties, that's what you want. That's what Kareem got from Magic when Magic came to the Lakers, and Magic was just spoon feed him. Here's a lob, here's a dunk. Now you don't have to post and work out of the perimeter. Against triple teams. Um, these are numbers we haven't seen since Shock and el Jin Baylor as far as you know, the production and the field goal percentage and the rebound so um, it's good for Rest having somebody up front of the rim that he can you know, deliver to to do those little quick rust passes with and and a lot of even Austin Reeves, you know, he's had a three game stretch where he's looking like a very solid NBA player. I think Lebron's kind of come back in Lebron fashion. I think he sees everything and he hears everything. You know how Lebron hears everything in the media, even right he likes to act like he blacks out. I think he sees and hears everything. So hopefully he comes back and he just continues to let a d cook because that's what this team needs. It's looking good. They got their first three game ring straight, and he could just come back in healthy and you know, just you don't have to average thirty like he did last year. He can come in get getting off the ball and getting everybody better. Yeah. I mean Russ has bought in two coming off the bench, which I think is beautiful, A d is funny is rhythm, the Great White Hope. Austin Reeves is his final note rhythm. And again, like I said, Braun has such an amazing basketball mind, I Q and just understanding. And you know he's sitting on the sidelines and seeing this, and and and and saying like, Okay, I see where where I come in back and fit in to make the team the best. Not necessarily for me to have all the points or need all the points, but for this team to you know, continue on this hot streak. So again, to me, basketball is just better when the Lakers are better, you know what I mean. So forward, I'm looking forward to Brown coming back in and and and these boys getting on a run back up north like the Beam. The Sacramento Kings are the hottest team in the Western Conference. After pulling off a tough late come back when last on Sunday Night versus Detroit UM, They've won six in a row. They beat the Calves, the Lakers, the Warriors, the Nets, the Spurs, and the Pistons. I'll be up doing their next game against the Grizzlies. Uh minus John Morant and I don't even think Bane is in So they got a chance to keep this moving line. I don't know if you've got a chance to see too much Sacramento Kings, but the boys have been playing well. They've all bought into Mike Brown's system. Um thoughts about you know, you got folks up in Sacramento. We get up there often. You know, sixteen straight years of no playoffs. Um, everyone up up there is hoping this could be the year. What do you what have you seen from this King's team trying to find the rhythm excitement, you know, excitement. I feel like there are another one of those young programs like Memphis that it has an opportunity to carve a new niche out for themselves. And you know in today's new NBA. Um, it's exciting for Sacramento, a team that's been starving for some postseason activities ever since they ran into you know, the beloved leg show, you know, and couldn't get over those times. Yeah, can get over being you dig um. But at the end of the day, I'm happy for the city that city is is going to come out and supports that you know they can put Hey, shout out Mike Brown. Mike Brown coming over there and bringing some winning ways. I know that there's been some talks about it. I know we talked about how hard Mike Brown and be to play for as far as preparedness and how he wants young guys to lock in. But I think he's done a great job. That staff has done a great job up there, taking their blows on the chin. You know, about their player development and the Tyree letting go of Tyree's Halliburton. That was something I even questioned, but they doubled down on young fella swiped the fox. He's doing an excellent job. They got some good pieces around him. The beam is dope, you know what I mean. I'm I'm with everything Sack is doing right now. So congrat hats off to Mike Brown and the Sacramento Kings, and hats out, hats talk to you for doing one of your thirty jobs up there in Sacramento. It seems like, you know what, It seems like you really be out there with the fans though from looking at you and social yeah, yeah, yeah, But that's what Sack is. That's what Sack is, and I believe that's for part of the being and why Sack is doing so well, because the Sack is getting that energy and reminding them how how customed of you know. What I mean of a fan base is Sacramento is cat from calb the else to whatever else it is. They got a lineage up there that I'm they're glad it's re enthused. Yeah again, I think dear and Foxes is playing his way onto making his first All Star appearance. It's done a great job of that. But I also want to touch on Mike Brown. Definitely shout out Mike Brown. Um, I've got a chance to play for Mike twice and the reviews weren't so good. From a standpoint of I think this is a perfect situation because Mike, with veteran guys, his ways didn't really move the needle um the way they should. But I think with younger guys that are hungry for leadership, hungry to build a foundation in direction, it couldn't have been a better fit. Um. You know, every time I talked to some of those players are always mentioning Mike, which I think is great because that means that means they've bought in. So very happy for Mike's success, very happy for the team's success, and happy for the city. UM to actually again smell that postseason for the first time in sixteen years. Next up, Money Talks, presented to you by Moneyline, the only money app you'll ever need. Lebron James is putting out the Nipsey Hustle docuseries. Um behind spring Hill nor release date yet, but we've seen some trailers. Let's talk about athletes and and the ability to create this content that has always been created about us. Now we're creating it for us by us. Guys like Lebron, steph cp K, d uh Me and you have been Shaken and Bacon in this spot. How important is it for us to be able to create these platforms, have these production companies and tell our own stories about not only us but our people. Man, this ship is dumb at the end of the day. It's super important for us to learn the way we've been able to learn about production and telling our stories from it being from from from show Time to Dangerous Minds, you know, Media thirty four whatever. We've been involved in the Revolution project, thinking how much we beat each other up over over Revolution, you know, trying to make sure that we have something to put together that people would enjoy, that we would be proud of. Think of how painstate we we we we thought about everything from artwork to you know, how it was shot to you know, NBA life, learning about licensing and everything and all the the finances in production. You know, before we were always talent, I feel like, and there were a handful of people that could be talent production business, you know what I mean. There there have only been a couple of people that they've been able to do that. So as as athletes, we've always been able to do multifaceted things on a basketball court, on the on the field, whatever that is. And some of these we make decisions at genius like levels. You know that at the end of the day, if you can think of in the middlesecond, how to get this ball between five people between somebody's legs and somebody can get it done, or how to drop a dime over somebody's shoulder on the sideline. These are these are things that that that that can help you in this space because we lose factor the site of the fact that we are highly intelligent human beings at the same time as being intelligent on the field, and if we're gonna be telling these stories, who better than have an authentic lens then an athlete who has been in this situation who can tell you how another athlete can talk would talk to another one, even if it's about action, how an athlete would never do this on the on them so on the field. So typically we've been consultants. So I'm happy that not only do we have ownership, but we have places to go now where we can produce things at a premium level that everybody is proud of. Yeah, I mean it's been a great learning curve for myself obviously, learn from you and learn from other people. But I think it's important for these up and coming athletes to understand the value of of of owning and creating your own content moving forward because all the streaming, all the different platforms out here that are thirsty four content, like, we have the manpower now to read our own and and it to be just like just as just as good, if not better than the other people that are always creating it for So, man, shout out to all the athletes doing their thing in this special man, and shout out to you and you, you and Jack Man. You and Jack are don't don't get a lot of credit, you know what I mean? A brother that's not here heavy on our mind. I don't get a lot of credit for Spearhead in this movement. You know, there's a lot of people that go around saying it's our version of all the Smoke, you know what I mean, there's a lot of people. I was at the Grammy party with you when we saw some of our idols. Ben Stiller came up, Yeah, uh, Trevor Noah. These these are some dope as people in the space, and the first thing out of their mouth was, I love all the Smoke. So somebody watching you know what I mean at the end of the day, and it's nice to know that what you guys have done, you guys make a lot of sense. I've made a lot of sacrifices that the people don't know about and put in a lot of work that it's also inspiring other people on our platform. We see Draymond coming out with a great show. We see even payton E Lie able to do the things that they do. But it's been something remarkable that you guys have done. It's been a lot of hard work, has been a lot of sacrifice. But you know what I mean, you guys have set the tone and you're actually going to see. Sometimes you don't get to see the benefits of what you sacrifice for. But you, guys, I believe in the upcoming years, are going to actually see the things that you sacrifice for for other athletes and yourselves in this space. So I just wanted to give that flowers out to y'all. Appreciate that man. Love that love to be the spark that that starts that kind of fire. So out there, Yes, sir, And that's it for Money Talks, presented to you by Moneyline, the only money app you'll ever need. Next up on the Radar, presented you by Draft Kings, let's take a look at the hottest team in the league right now and what their win total should be according to Draft Kings. Currently holding the best record in the NBA despite all the offseason drama they've had, despite not having their big man Robert Williams in the middle, the Celtics over under right now is at fifty seven and a half. It was three wins less to start the season. Big jump for them, Gilanni, would you bet on this pretty eight wins? Like it? Don't like it? Like it? Um? Like? Yeah, Bert, they could, they could, but I'm about against it. Just because that's how I get down. You know, you know what time it is on this side, There's no doubt about it. I'm slightly biased about the Celtics and l a you know, but uh but at the same time, I don't know nobody wants to hear this, but shout out to email something. I know you out of there. But he didn't started to winning culture. You know, if they can continue to roll up there a couple of games they headed last year and Jayson Tatum and Jaysan Brown and the easy he said it that without the big fella uh in two games they headed last year's pace, they very well could do it. But you know, I know they're gonna get me in the comments, but you know, it is what it is. I'm saying they ain't gonna do it. The only Celtics I ride with is truth to take it. And that's how a lot I can do it. Honor Jason Tatum and what Jaylen Brown is doing. But that's all I can do for you. That's all I can do, truth and taket and that's all you need from California. I'm not mad at that. Uh. Fifty seven and a half, that's a lot um I feel like they're playing great basketball. I feel like to really make a run this year, they're gonna need Robert Williams to be healthy. Um, but I'll just I'll take it. I'll take the bet just because you didn't take the bet. But I think they're right in that range. I think they're anywhere from like fifty four to like fifty eight wins Um. You know which is should be, you know, top of the East. So we shall see how that goes. Closing thoughts man, shout out our boy. Dwight Howard made his debut in Taiwan. Who would ever thought we would see Dwight Howard the point guard? Uh? He put up thirty nine assists, nine blocks. Was coming off picking rolls, splitting picking rolls, going down the lane, finishing, obviously catching lobs, shot a lot of mid range jumpers, shot some threes. Um. Do you think there would be any chance for him to touch an NBA floor again for a team? I certainly hope. So we've seen guys come from China and other obscure places around around international basketball and have success before playing in the playoffs or during you know, when they get their all Star breaking hand get acclimated ship. I've been one of them to come from over overseas and get on the NBA roster based on just being there. But get some film. You know, if Dwhite was here, they're just trying to you know, they're taking to White's word for it that he's at the career of working out. He obviously was. You know some of them highlights, it looked like Dwhite, Dwight, you know, touching, touch, touch the top of the back door. D White. And we always know that whatever you see on TV, regardless of what roles the NBA players for a team, a lot of NBA players, if you'd be surprised big get Yeah, they can go. They can be ball handlers. So mid brain just get to see him knocking down threes, and he's obviously advanced this game. So I'm happy for Dwhite as a guy who played Overseas and Asia, especially a big guy, you can go out there and find your offensive game again and drag it back. And he's a Hall of Famer level, Hall of Fame level player, So I hope that he does get an opportunity to act back into the league after this. I would love to see him get back in the league. Um, I don't know if it will happen, because I remember why we were interviewing him. He was saying that they won't let me play my game. That's what he said, like, they won't let me be me. They're not letting me play my game. And although he put up those monstrous numbers over there, he won't be able to do that over here, you know what I mean. So I'm not really sure where his head head is at as far as, Okay, what he didn't hit, the beginning of it, what he did in Orlando, what he's doing in Taiwan, and how that mixes and and and comes to you gotta think, I mean a guy coming into your nineteen or twenty in the NBA, he would be strictly a old player. Uh, fifteen to eighteen minutes, maybe two or three shots, a couple of rebounds. That's a hard fall, Yeah, a hard fall from grace and just kind of a hard mental grasp to do it. I remember we talked to Ticket and the truth about you know, what it's like being a star and kind of understanding when it's time to go or what's your role when your role is diminished a little bit, how do you handle that mentally. So I would love to see Dwight back in the NBA. UM. I just don't know, um if it will happen, so, you know, praying for the best um that he does. But if it doesn't happen, man, just keep having fun out there. I mean he obviously still loves the game. Go out there, you know, and continue to expand his brand. All he's doing right now is expanding his brand out there, which is great. I mean he's all over ESPN, We're talking about him. Everyone's talking about him. So you know, I probably got a poppy, Yeah, probably gotta poppy. He looks happy. Man at the end of the day. You know, at this point in your career, you want to go out there and who the people that are loving on him out there probably look like some gracious people out there. And Taiwan, you know, they couldn't wait for the wire Hiward to come out there and be part of w W. E. Parkson, you know whatever that they needed. So I'm happy. Yeah. Fans stay locked in on our Instagram and submit fan questions for next week's episode of What's Burning Gilani. Before we get out here, I sent you something my phone on Instagram this morning, and I wanted to chop it up real quick. Janice was talking with Serge Ibaka about how he feels like a European starting five would destroy an American starting five, and his starting five was tough. So he had him Beat at the five, Joker at the four, Him at the three, Fourgnyer at the two, and Luca at the one. That is a tough ass lineup. If anyone says, who's Fourgnyer, fourgner, He's got no hair, but a lot of game, a whole lot of game. And then I don't like the the the I think we can make a little better uh American player roster. So he put Bam at the five, KD at the four, Lebron at the three, Clay at the two, and Steph at the one. So, with all due respect, I replaced Clay and Bam with Jason Tatum and Anthony Davis. So we got Steph and Luca at the points. We got Jason, Tatum and Fournier at the two, we got Lebron and Greek Freak at the three, we got k D and Joker at the four, and we got a D and Embid at the five. That's the hell of a game, man. I mean, yeah, he hearing, he hearing. Picked a lineup that you know that, But what happens when that game goes up and down is that the game we're gonna be played half court? You know, No, you gotta run, you gotta run. So what I'm saying like, these boys gotta run with Braun and they gotta run with k D on the flip side. So there's definitely mismatches to me on both sides. Um. But like I said, the shot shout out to Hoop, Shout out to Hoop. That's how far you know we need, That's how far I love it. The game is coming that the Johnnie should be comfortable and saying because while we got guys playing a youth basketball, they got dudes overseas and hold basketball academies, you know what I mean, where they just sit there all day, eat, learn a little bit, and play basketball, you know what I mean, two or three times a day. And they're running regiment and programs over there, so they're playing real basketball. But at the end of the day, I don't see that at some point in time, NBA talent, as we see in the Olympics, has when they catch up with the European thing and the rules of like what what rules are we using? Are we using FEVER rules? Are we using NBA rules? They're gonna do the funny traveling ship, you know, both as soon as NBA players figure out that, you know, the funny little thing to the traveling ship is a wrap. And we see the international play a lot, you know, with the USA team. So I love a Janice, but I had anybody trying to hear that I love you know, I'm not mad, but Yanna said, I mean these international players if you look at the team he mentioned, Uh, you know, two of those guys have been dominating the m v P the last handful of years, and Bead is yet to get one but has deserved it. You know, you Luca hasn't got one yet, but you know he's got a handful of him coming. But on the flip side, I'm taking Steph Tatum, braun k D and a d adverse anyone in the world. So very interesting conversation. Man shout out to uh Janice and search for the combo. Uh, y'all, let us know what you think in the comments. I think that would be a hell of a game. But Lan. That's a rap man. I appreciate your time. You can catch what's burning available every week on Showtime Basketball YouTube and on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok at show Basketball. Sending love to you, Jack. Hopefully we're talking and see see you soon. Bro. We'll see you guys next week