Can Mazzulla Lead C's in the Playoffs? + Doc & the Bucks Struggle | Bob Ryan & Jeff Goodman Podcast - video Dailymotion

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Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman, alongside Gary Tanguay, break down all the biggest headlines around the NBA this week including Jayson Tatum and the Celtics' efforts to keep their foot on the gas while staying healthy for the playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks struggling under new head coach Doc Rivers, the Charlotte Hornets' GM Mitch Kupchak stepping down, and much more!  00:55 - Jayson Tatum off the court 06:56 - FANDUEL 07:31 - Celtics/Knicks Lookahead 13:15 - Mazzulla’s leadership 17:33 - LinkedIn 19:23 - Bucks and Nuggets 22:50 - Wemby’s Triple Double 28:25 - Doc Rivers using ’08 as inspiration 29:40 - Charlotte GM Kupchak Steps Down 33:05 - Super Bowl      Fanduel Sportsbook is the exclusive wagering parter of the CLNS Media Network! Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY in BONUS BETS – GUARANTEED when you place a FIVE DOLLAR BET. That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS in BONUS BETS – WIN OR LOSE! Go to https://FanDuel.com/BOSTON! The app is so easy to use and there are so many different ways to bet like:    ● Live Same Game Parlays    ● Find Bets in the NEW Explore Tab    ● Make a parlay in the Parlay Hub – the best way to find popular parlays    ● And more!      DISCLAIMER: Must be 21+ and present in select states. FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. First online real money wager only. $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG in Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee, and Virginia. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 in Arizona, 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, 1-800-9-WITH-IT in Indiana, 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com in Kansas, 1-877-770-STOP in Louisiana, visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland, visit 1800gambler.net in West Virginia, or call 1-800-522-4700 in Wyoming. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York.

Transcript

00:00 [MUSIC]

00:10 With over 70 years combined experience, this is the Bob Ryan and

00:15 Jeff Goodman podcast.

00:17 >> MBA, some college, a little bit of everything.

00:20 >> You know what can I say?

00:21 When it wasn't gonna happen here with him, I was okay with it,

00:24 because it wasn't about talent.

00:26 >> Hey everybody, Bob Ryan, Jeff Goodman, Gary Tang, we're along for

00:29 the ride, Zoom and Pod right here, CNS Media Networks.

00:32 What a great Super Bowl, so exciting.

00:35 And we wanna tell you that FanDuel is America's number one sports book.

00:39 So whether it's the Super Bowl, whether it's the NBA playoffs,

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00:53 All right, so here we go, guys, let's get to it.

00:56 I wanna talk about Jason Tatum off the court.

00:58 I saw on the CBS Morning News or CBS Morning Show, whatever they call it,

01:03 he joined the crew there.

01:05 And he has started, Jeff, I'll start with you.

01:07 He has started a lot of off the floor activity now.

01:11 We look at Jalen Brown and we should for his social activism.

01:15 But now Jason Tatum is really stepping up and is very impressive in partnering

01:21 with SoFi in helping out economically challenged families

01:26 from areas that he grew up in.

01:28 Talked about his mom, living paycheck to paycheck.

01:30 And now he is putting his money where his mouth is and

01:35 going out there to help people develop generational wealth.

01:39 As he continues to mature, and

01:43 actually as he just allows us to know him a little bit more.

01:48 As he lets us in, boy, Jason Tatum is really an impressive young man.

01:52 >> Yeah, I mean, again, listen, I think I've known him for

01:57 ten years now, since he was 15 years old.

02:00 First time I met him, actually I met his mother Brandy at the Hall of Fame

02:05 tournament, high school tournament out in Springfield, Massachusetts.

02:10 And his mom and him are so different.

02:14 She doesn't stop talking and Jason doesn't say much.

02:18 And he'll say that all the time, he is quiet, that's not his personality.

02:23 But I think two things have changed him.

02:26 Well, one, just age and maturity, but two things, one, being a father.

02:31 Obviously that changes anybody, right?

02:34 It gives you a kind of a different outlook on life.

02:37 And two, obviously, some of the criticism and

02:44 the organization kind of handing the keys over to him.

02:47 A couple years ago where it was really apparent, right?

02:50 And they started to win, but fall short of winning an NBA title.

02:55 He's just grown and mature, but I would say this,

03:00 Jason Tatum, every time I've talked to him, been around him,

03:06 he's just a good kid, he's a good kid.

03:10 And he's not a guy who's gonna be like, look at me, I gotta yell and

03:15 scream and I want attention, he does not.

03:18 He doesn't really want the attention.

03:20 He just wants to play ball, go home, hang with his family.

03:24 And he's pretty simple, right?

03:27 And play golf, he loves golf now.

03:29 But that's about it for him.

03:32 He's just kind of a simple kid in a way, and I love that he's-

03:39 >> Well, I think, Jeff,

03:41 let me say he's low maintenance.

03:43 >> So low maintenance other than with the officials.

03:46 >> I mean, welcome to the NBA.

03:49 >> You're right, I mean, but as an NBA superstar,

03:53 this guy is low maintenance, he's chill.

03:56 And really what he's doing now charity wise in this endeavor is very impressive.

04:04 And you're right, I mean, now he wants to win championships and just help people.

04:09 >> You can't- >> He's got confidence.

04:12 >> As an outsider who has never met him, I studied him from afar.

04:19 And I don't think I'm alone in saying that the intriguing thing about him

04:24 off the court is this fatherhood, because it isn't a normal fatherhood.

04:30 It is an utterly, completely aberrational fatherhood in the circumstance that

04:36 any of us know, young men, 20, 21 years of age,

04:42 do not ordinarily become single parents, period.

04:47 >> He, in that circumstance- >> He's not, I mean, single in that,

04:53 yes, he and Deuce's mother are not together anymore,

04:58 but she is very much in Deuce's life, they co-parent.

05:02 >> Okay.

05:03 >> Thank you for pointing it out, Jeff, because we don't know that.

05:07 >> We've always been impressed with the relationship with Ian Deuce.

05:10 Obviously, Deuce is a precocious child too, no question.

05:13 He's obviously a very bright, inquisitive, intriguing young man.

05:18 But that's always distinguished him, that idea of him having that responsibility.

05:24 And having that association, a public association with this child,

05:28 it's really heartwarming and impressive.

05:33 So he's always set himself a bit apart in that regard.

05:38 But one thing I'm wondering is, he's looked around himself,

05:42 he's in the company of a much more different dynamic personality out

05:47 to the world in Brown.

05:49 And you wonder how much he's played off of Jalen in terms of off the court desires.

05:58 >> Well- >> I'm not saying he's in competition,

05:59 I'm not saying that.

06:01 But I'm saying he's inspired, that's possible.

06:04 >> Sure, which is impressive, which is, it's a great take, Bob,

06:09 because both are very smart young men, and both are now active off the floor.

06:14 So all the way around, it's a great thing.

06:17 And the thing I want to add that in this interview he talked about,

06:21 with his son Deuce, he and his mom, they pay check to pay check, like you said.

06:26 So he's all about teaching financial responsibility,

06:28 developing generational wealth, so he's making a lot of money.

06:31 So obviously for his son and his ancestors,

06:34 he wants to make sure they understand how money works.

06:37 And that's one of the points he made with his son,

06:40 that he wants his son to understand how good he has it.

06:42 That he's very fortunate, and

06:44 you need to be respectful of the situation they're in.

06:48 So if you have a chance, I'm sure it's on the web, on CBS, it's really impressive.

06:54 >> I'm gonna check it out.

06:55 >> You should definitely check it out.

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07:32 So let's get to the team right now.

07:36 Coming up, Bob, they got a couple games with Brooklyn, they got Chicago.

07:40 And then I'm circling that MSG game in New York on February 24th.

07:46 >> I'm worried about it already because it's gonna be one of those circumstances.

07:52 They won't have Randall.

07:53 They probably won't have Hartenstein.

07:56 They're gonna go in with this couple men down thing.

08:00 We saw the last time they encountered that circumstance.

08:03 They laid up on a sword shake last week.

08:06 So again, against the Lakers.

08:10 So that's all.

08:11 I mean, yeah, in paper, when they regain their health,

08:16 are gonna be a team to pay attention to.

08:20 There is no question.

08:22 No question.

08:23 But so yeah, and it's gonna be an atmosphere, but

08:26 they just better be ready to play.

08:27 I'm gonna be paid close attention to that game to see how they play.

08:32 Assuming that there is no Randall and Hartenstein.

08:34 I won't worry about it if those guys are playing.

08:36 I'm serious.

08:37 They'll do what they have to do.

08:38 So that's all.

08:40 But the next, they're down big man.

08:42 They're down big man jerk Sims is out to where they had to play.

08:49 And now the nobody's down.

08:53 They said they're really hurting in the front court right now.

08:58 So just remember that.

09:01 >> My biggest thing is now just looking at the jockeying that's

09:06 gonna go on within the Eastern Conference now to see who

09:11 the Celtics are gonna be matched up against in potential of the second round.

09:18 I don't think the first round is gonna give much issue.

09:20 But in the second round, who are they gonna play?

09:23 Is MB gonna be healthy?

09:24 Are they gonna draw Philly potentially in the second round with a healthy Joel Embiid?

09:30 I don't know if he's gonna be healthy.

09:31 I don't know if he's gonna play again.

09:32 I'm not so worried about a road next game coming out of the all star break.

09:39 I'm really not.

09:40 Like I'm just, I'm more worried about their health than anything else.

09:45 Like I know everybody's gonna put all this stock in.

09:47 Well, they shouldn't have won this.

09:50 And I get it.

09:51 People are worried that like they're not gonna have that killer instinct

09:55 when it matters most.

09:57 Either they are, they're not.

09:58 Like I don't know if you develop that guys.

10:01 I just don't know if you develop that.

10:02 I think either have it or you don't.

10:04 This team is kind of chill, but you added again a professional,

10:09 a guy who's won a title and through holiday.

10:11 Hopefully that helps with these guys a little bit.

10:15 And he can talk to him about it and get on him when he needs to.

10:20 But again, for me, it's more about the postseason.

10:24 I hate to say that because again, then it's like, all right,

10:27 you're just pushing forward and these games don't matter.

10:31 They matter.

10:32 Don't get me wrong, they matter.

10:34 But I just think ultimately again, as a fan,

10:39 you just wanna see them kind of get better and stay healthy.

10:42 Stay healthy.

10:43 >> Especially, he's in that regard now by the way Porzingis is playing.

10:52 He has been tremendous.

10:54 He should have been one of the two additions to the all star team

10:58 when the other two went down.

11:00 Sorry, he should be and they need a big man.

11:02 Look at the roster.

11:03 If anybody cares about the game, so

11:06 about their chances of actually winning the game these.

11:08 But I just don't you think the Porzingis is just getting better and better?

11:13 >> Yeah, he's vital.

11:14 >> Getting more and more?

11:15 >> He's vital to the mix.

11:16 I think he has to be healthy for them to win.

11:20 >> Well, but they have to have a number of guys.

11:23 The point is though, we worry about him because of his history,

11:27 his injury history.

11:28 And it's fair to say and to pose the question or

11:32 the idea that you gotta worry until it happens that he's gonna be available and

11:37 ready to go in April and May because his history isn't good in that regard.

11:42 And what I'm saying is he's making us more, it's more cute now.

11:46 He just seems to me, fitting in more and more.

11:49 He's having a great run right now.

11:51 And I couldn't have been more wrong about the guy and I'm so pleased.

11:55 I hadn't seen him play enough in the last couple of years to know what he was really,

11:59 really fully capable of.

12:01 And now I'm really impressed.

12:03 >> Bob, I think that he's the difference maker in that if he's not healthy in

12:08 the finals, if the Celtics play Denver or the Eastern Conference finals,

12:12 if they play the Bucks, it could go either way.

12:15 But if you have a healthy Porzingis in those two matchups,

12:20 the Celtics have a distinct advantage.

12:22 >> They have, I think they got the premier roster in the league right now,

12:26 one to eight for sure.

12:28 And he gives them both the modern and old school dimension.

12:37 You can't throw the ball into him if you need it to,

12:39 if they have to recognize that at key moments.

12:42 And he doesn't have to stand out in the corner and shoot those threes.

12:47 >> But he shot him pretty well lately.

12:50 >> He has.

12:51 >> [INAUDIBLE] >> And in big moments too at games,

12:54 in the fourth quarter, last two minutes.

12:57 Absolutely, no, he's been impressive.

12:59 He can pass the ball too.

13:01 I mean, man, he's, so I mean, what a mood.

13:05 I mean, just give Brad the executive of the year now and

13:08 stop worrying about the- >> Yeah, I think that,

13:13 Jeff, I wanna talk about, do they have the killer instinct?

13:19 Do they have it or not?

13:20 And I have this gut feeling that Missoula,

13:24 it's just a feeling that he's gotta figure it out.

13:29 In hindsight, after the Laker game, the way he's handled the regular season,

13:34 I think he's handled it appropriately.

13:36 We've seen this guy mature.

13:38 He's talked about the things that he's learned.

13:41 And I think, I have a feeling he's gonna be the right guy for

13:46 this team in the postseason.

13:48 I think that they're listening to him.

13:50 And I don't know if it's a killer instinct, but it may be a desperation that,

13:56 guys, this doesn't happen all the time.

13:59 You have to make the most of what's going on now.

14:02 And I think that falls on the coach.

14:04 I think it's gonna have to come down to Missoula to deliver that message and

14:07 have it hit.

14:08 >> Well, we've all three of us agreed from the beginning that the time is now.

14:13 This is a now team.

14:14 There's no more excuses.

14:16 They have everything they need.

14:18 And remember, nobody under 25 plays on this rotation.

14:24 And not many teams can say that, but are really seriously contending.

14:31 They're in the prime of their lives in a sense.

14:34 They've entered into it or they're smack in the middle of it or what.

14:37 And then at the other end, we've got Al, who some nights you go, my God.

14:44 You forget how many things Al Horford brings to the table.

14:49 >> Right.

14:49 >> In certain nights, there are stretches of games.

14:52 You guys agree?

14:53 Five days when he's the best player on the floor.

14:56 And you forget how good he can be.

14:59 And to have that kind of an insurance policy and

15:03 your midst with all the other stuff they have is pretty good.

15:06 >> Jeff, do you see something in Missoula in the playoffs?

15:09 Do you hear what I'm saying?

15:10 You buy what I'm selling?

15:11 >> I hope you're right.

15:13 I don't know.

15:14 I mean, until the playoffs, we don't know.

15:16 And Joe Missoula, he's gonna be judged squarely on what they do in the playoffs.

15:22 I mean, period.

15:23 Like you can win a million games in a regular season.

15:26 I compare it a little bit to again, John Calipari.

15:31 We're talking before this thing started.

15:34 And I said to Bob, I said, Kentucky can win every single regular season game.

15:39 But if they lose in the NCAA tournament in the first round,

15:42 maybe even the second round again, the fans at Kentucky are gonna be

15:48 asking for him to be out in Lexington.

15:51 Cuz again, there's just one goal for Kentucky fans, and

15:56 that's to get to the final four.

15:57 Now it's even just get past the first weekend of the NCAA tournament.

16:01 Well, there's one goal for Boston.

16:02 And it's even increased now because of what they've done in the regular season.

16:07 The dominance they've had in this regular season.

16:11 Everybody kind of being on the same page of like looking at this roster and

16:16 saying, yeah, Brad's giving you everything you need

16:19 if you're healthy to win this whole thing.

16:21 So again, I think Joe has a better grasp.

16:26 I know he does on this team and they trust him more because they're winning at

16:30 a high level, so they should trust them.

16:33 But ultimately, and I don't think you have people that are gonna

16:37 outwardly question him like Marcus Smart did.

16:40 I don't think that helped Joe a year ago.

16:43 >> Right.

16:44 >> That is not the way to go about it with a first year head coach.

16:47 That to me, I thought was the worst thing Marcus Smart ever did in his

16:53 career in Boston was publicly go after- >> Right.

16:56 >> Missoula.

16:57 It was immature.

16:59 It was an immature- >> And that's what Brad's probably

17:02 starting to think, okay, he's gotta go.

17:04 >> Yeah, I think him and Grant, we've already seen Grant get shipped out of

17:08 Dallas, right?

17:09 And now he's in Charlotte.

17:12 And he didn't fit what Brad wanted.

17:15 I think Brad and Missoula are on the same page.

17:19 That's the beauty.

17:20 Sometimes the GM and the coach aren't on the same page.

17:24 I think Brad listens to Joe and is trying to give Joe a team that

17:30 honestly he can coach and that respects Joe.

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19:23 >> Let's get to the, I wanna get to the bucks and the nuggets.

19:28 And Bob's buddy, Doc, so

19:33 he doesn't have to talk about the disclaimer.

19:37 Every time Bob mentions, he says, I'm good friends with Doc.

19:40 So we know that, we got it.

19:41 But I'm rooting like hell for Doc.

19:44 I like Doc too.

19:46 And they're playing defense now, Bob.

19:47 So do you have a feeling?

19:49 They beat the nuggets, they sent a message.

19:51 Do you have a feeling that Doc is gonna reach these guys?

19:54 >> Well, there were a few reasons why the Milwaukee wanted to make the change.

19:58 And one of them was they needed a defense.

20:01 Obviously Giannis had disapproved of Adrian Griffin.

20:07 And you have to wonder how that's gonna play out.

20:11 Obviously, it was a rocky start, one in five,

20:16 they won the last couple impressively.

20:19 They're gonna straighten out, I think, they're gonna straighten out.

20:24 Every night when we talk about great players, it's almost to the point with

20:28 Giannis now that he's almost at the take for granted stage.

20:32 That you need certain games with extraordinary numbers for

20:36 you to remind you how good he is night in and night out.

20:39 He's an all time phenomenon player.

20:42 And then last night he came up big again.

20:44 They're gonna be hurt, they're gonna be hurt.

20:49 I'm curious about this whole thing, for Doc personally, why he's doing it and

20:53 what he's getting out of it.

20:55 And also for them in context of what we were just talking about,

21:00 what the expectations and the demands are for that team to win.

21:05 To fulfill the destiny of this group, which is Giannis, Middleton and

21:11 Brooke Lopez.

21:12 I guess, am I forgetting somebody as the core?

21:16 I think I would be the trio there that would be their equivalent,

21:20 their core trio that's had success.

21:23 >> Giannis, Dame, Dame Lillard, Giannis.

21:27 >> Dame Lillard, of course, well, right, he's the new addition to it.

21:31 Right, yeah, extraordinary, very, very important one.

21:35 But we'll see if they regret that as great as he is,

21:39 he's never defended well.

21:43 And see how he fits into this, and what a glue guy that holiday was for them.

21:49 So we'll see, there'll be pressure on Lillard in that regard.

21:53 But you never go into a game against the Bucks thinking it's gonna be easy,

21:58 you shouldn't, I don't think.

22:00 And I think Doc will get the job done.

22:04 I mean, we'll get them straightened out to what they should be.

22:07 >> They needed this one.

22:10 I mean, they just needed it.

22:12 >> Yeah. >> Yeah,

22:12 there was such a bad start under Doc that they needed a-

22:17 >> I'm wondering, I'm just thinking on

22:19 the fly here because of the fact that they beat Denver.

22:22 And Giannis had a big, big night.

22:25 And we know that Embiid, there's suspicions that there's kind of

22:29 an individual rivalry with Embiid and Djokic.

22:33 I'm wondering if Giannis looks at some of these guys,

22:37 if there's rivalries in their heads with these upper echelon stars

22:42 that we have in this league right now with all those big men.

22:47 >> Yeah, I mean- >> Those three in particular, and

22:49 now of course, they have a youngster coming along.

22:52 They're all going to have to pay increasing attention to, don't we,

22:56 in San Antonio?

22:57 [LAUGH] >> I wanted to bring that up,

22:59 ten blocks, a triple double with ten blocks.

23:02 >> Ten blocks.

23:04 Of course, keep in mind, gentlemen, and you guys know, but so

23:07 some of our people newer to this earth that are happy listeners

23:12 should know that they didn't always count blocks as a stat.

23:16 And we'll never know about Russell and Chamberlain.

23:21 We can be, as one who lived through it all, I will give you anecdotal

23:26 evidence that there were plenty of nights when both of them had double figured blocks.

23:32 And then of course, when you talk about blocks, that you record the stats,

23:38 and we also know that intimidation of discouraging people from even

23:44 taking shots or missing shots badly because of the intimidation

23:49 of the block is part of the deal too.

23:52 So that intimidation doesn't stop with the block.

23:57 There are plenty of other shots that are affected by people who can block shots at

24:02 that degree.

24:02 But this kid is gonna be an all time, there's no question with that ability.

24:08 He's seven four, he's incredibly agile, and he's got instinct on top of it.

24:14 He's got every package you need to be a great shot blocker.

24:17 >> Well, if you watch the game or even the highlights, guys are frustrated.

24:22 There's nothing they get, they gotta pass the ball.

24:24 You can't host him up.

24:26 >> No, no, I mean, and not just these big, there's been other big guys.

24:30 People forget the guys, they don't even know they're in it, it was seven four.

24:34 But seven four with this agility, we have not seen.

24:38 >> It's amazing how far he can get with.

24:45 It's amazing to watch and guys are helpless.

24:49 Because what do you do?

24:51 I mean, you can follow them and try to make him a little bit scared of coming

24:56 through the lane again, but there just aren't that many guys out there that

25:01 are gonna do that anymore.

25:03 >> Yeah, like Rick Mahorn would have put him on his ass.

25:06 >> [LAUGH] >> There just aren't a lot of guys that

25:09 are even gonna try that anymore.

25:10 So, when he's coming, the question is, can RC Buford and

25:15 Greg Popovich surround him with enough talent that his games matter

25:20 every single night.

25:22 >> Let me throw two names out to the committee here.

25:26 Randy Brewer and Chuck Nevid.

25:31 >> John, what do they have in common?

25:32 They were both seven four.

25:34 >> I actually remember Chuck Nevid.

25:36 I remember Chuck Nevid.

25:38 I remember- >> It was a big standing joke during

25:41 the 1988 finals between the Lakers and the Pistons,

25:46 that a local radio station in LA started making fun of Chuck Nevid.

25:50 And it was one of the themes of the playoffs and the finals.

25:56 We were all hopping to listen to the local station.

25:59 It may have been KHJ, I don't know.

26:00 But anyway, Chuck Nevid got a lot of notoriety in LA during those finals,

26:05 just for being Chuck Nevid.

26:08 >> Just for being seven four.

26:09 >> We've had, now we had great seven six player in Yow, and he was great in his way.

26:16 But he obviously didn't have the agility that went beyond.

26:20 >> Right. >> Now we wondered,

26:21 of course, don't forget we got Chet Holgren too, who's put up, don't forget him.

26:26 So we got two of them at the same time, and with bodies that we worry about still,

26:32 well, those bodies hold up.

26:34 Those extraordinary skinny bodies, but they bring something that is very

26:38 useful in playing to give a basketball to the table, that's for sure.

26:43 And when we added that last night, that won't be the last one.

26:46 That'll be the first, that's not the first statement.

26:48 But it's just a warning to the world about what it can be.

26:53 And they're playing better too, by the way.

26:56 They're up to 12 wins now.

26:57 [LAUGH] Seriously, so they're playing better.

27:02 >> Well, it also underscores how great Russell was, because Russell was 6'9",

27:05 right, at best?

27:07 >> Well, that's why you have to remind people that he was an athlete ahead of

27:10 his time.

27:12 As he once said to me, I could kick the rim.

27:14 Think about that one for a minute.

27:16 >> [LAUGH] >> And really, and

27:18 he was an athlete ahead of his time.

27:20 I mean, he was extraordinary.

27:22 He was a 6'9" high jumper with no technique.

27:25 If he trained to be a high jumper, God knows.

27:28 He might have been, he not Charlie Dumas might have been the first 7'4"

27:31 high jumper, who knows?

27:32 And so anyway, yeah, he was an extraordinary athlete,

27:36 extraordinary reflexes, speed.

27:40 He was the fastest guy in the team.

27:42 If they lined up for a sprint, he was the fastest guy in the team.

27:48 And how many centers can make that statement historically?

27:52 Not too damn many.

27:53 >> No, yeah, he was- >> [LAUGH]

27:55 >> Incredible.

27:55 >> The other guy, Will, ran to 440.

28:00 And he had the cathalon components.

28:07 I don't think he would have been a pole vaulter, but

28:10 anything else in that he could have done at some reasonable level.

28:14 Plus he loved boxing.

28:16 And of course, may have been his favorite sport was volleyball.

28:20 >> Right. >> Over basketball.

28:21 [LAUGH] So anyway, those are the guys who are extraordinary athletes of the past.

28:26 >> Jeff, I'm curious to get back to the Doc thing.

28:30 Do you think even though it's 16 years later, which I can't believe,

28:34 does Doc show any 08 highlights to this Bucks team?

28:38 >> Yeah, I don't know.

28:41 I think he waits for the right time for it, right?

28:43 I mean, you're gonna try to get these guys motivated in any way you can.

28:49 I think that's one of Doc's biggest strengths, right?

28:52 Is dealing with people and players and knowing how to get them going.

28:58 But again, like Bob said, I mean, I know why he did it.

29:03 Obviously, if you get an opportunity to coach a team now that you know is one of

29:08 the top four teams in the NBA, you have a chance.

29:12 So you're not gonna turn that down, that and the money.

29:15 But it does put Doc in a position where again, he can get vilified and

29:20 crucified if something goes wrong in the playoffs and they have a lead and

29:24 they blow a lead again.

29:25 And but you gotta take a shot.

29:29 >> You gotta do it.

29:30 Come on.

29:31 >> Right.

29:32 >> I mean, that's coach is coach.

29:35 >> Well, >> No rights, writers, right.

29:38 >> Crappy team.

29:39 We're not talking about the Charlotte Hornets here.

29:42 We're talking about a really good team with a chance to win the whole thing.

29:45 >> Well, there's a segue.

29:46 >> Speaking of Charlotte.

29:48 >> Speaking of Charlotte, so Cupcheck steps down.

29:51 And Jeff, you wanted to make a point.

29:55 Do they build around Lomelo ball?

29:56 >> Yeah, I think they've got a real legitimate

30:01 quandary here in Charlotte with whoever takes over.

30:06 And I don't know that I saw a couple of the names that I think,

30:10 woes throughout their trade and Langdon, Elton Brand, Mike Gansi,

30:14 who I've known forever, who's the assistant GM of the Cavs.

30:18 I would hire him in a heartbeat.

30:21 Not saying those other guys aren't good too.

30:24 Michael Jordan, I guess, has far less involvement now with the Hornets

30:28 than he ever has.

30:30 He's really not there.

30:32 And I don't think he's involved in the decision making.

30:34 So maybe they would hire a Duke guy like Elton Brand or

30:37 Trajan Langdon to run the Hornets.

30:39 I thought that would be taboo for Jordan.

30:43 But I would say this, to me, you gotta be very careful,

30:49 kind of what Atlanta is dealing with with Trey Young.

30:52 I think Trey Young and Lomelo are similar in a lot of ways.

30:56 Neither one guards at all, right?

30:58 They're one way players.

31:01 Now they are special offensive talents.

31:03 But I think if you look at both their track record,

31:09 they haven't won nearly as much as you thought.

31:13 And I'll put Lomelo even worse.

31:17 Trey at least won enough in college and he's had the Hawks competitive.

31:23 For, I think it was in the bubble year, they went fairly deep in the playoffs.

31:29 Lomelo hasn't done anything.

31:30 He's still young, I get it.

31:32 But I would just be careful, cuz the habits are tough to break.

31:37 It's tough to get a kid to guard when you paid him this contract already.

31:45 >> Yeah. >> And he's never guarded.

31:47 I said that about Andrew Wiggins years ago.

31:49 They gave him a $30 million a year contract.

31:52 So you're basically rewarding a kid and saying like, hey,

31:55 we're giving you 30 million, you never had to guard.

31:58 Now Wiggins started to guard a little bit in Golden State just because again,

32:02 it's Golden State, right?

32:04 They had a culture there.

32:06 Charlotte doesn't have a culture.

32:08 That's my worry with Lomelo Ball is, who is this guy gonna learn from?

32:13 Now they just got Grant Williams.

32:15 Maybe Grant will get up in him a little bit, which is Grant.

32:18 That's his personality.

32:20 But I just don't know if Lomelo Ball is gonna respect Grant Williams enough

32:24 to listen to him.

32:25 I don't know who he's gonna respect enough to change his ways,

32:29 which are honestly, they're not winning ways in a lot of ways.

32:35 >> Well, I had honestly lost track of Mitch Kupchak to the point where I was

32:40 like, really, I didn't realize he was running.

32:44 >> [LAUGH] >> So it's really become a forlorn

32:48 franchise, there's no doubt.

32:50 They're just not on the consciousness of the average fan at all.

32:55 And they have a blah persona right now as a franchise.

33:00 So they need to get some injection of interest there somehow, yeah.

33:07 >> Before we go, I have to get some comments on the Super Bowl.

33:11 I thought it was fantastic.

33:13 People don't wanna hear it, but Brady has competition.

33:17 Mahomes was right now at this point in time, and I'll start with you, Bob.

33:23 You have to say that Mahomes is on course to at least equal Brady.

33:30 >> Well, the thing is, if you're gonna go discounting rings,

33:34 it's always gonna be the Brady edge until it isn't.

33:38 >> Sure, the longevity, yes.

33:40 >> It's like in all sports, well,

33:45 typically basketball and basketball teams,

33:50 the leader whether they're baseball or even hockey, so football, yeah.

33:57 I liked it, I thought the drama built as the game went on naturally.

34:02 And we could see what could happen.

34:06 Let me just say, here's one definitive statement.

34:08 That missed extra point is the most significant miss,

34:13 as a point not scored in the entire history of the Super Bowl since 1967.

34:19 Cuz if he makes that extra point, it's a 98% chance they're gonna win,

34:23 because that would have forced them to score a touchdown at a point when they

34:28 weren't doing anything.

34:29 So that extra point changed, that's extraordinarily important.

34:35 I hate to put that kind of a lifetime burden.

34:37 >> No, I mean, it's true though.

34:38 >> But- >> Spencer just made two huge field

34:40 goals, other than that, right?

34:42 Didn't he?

34:43 >> Yeah, so the game's over, they can't find a field goal.

34:48 >> Yeah.

34:49 >> I thought the game, yeah, so the suspense built and the suspense built.

34:53 I'm not ranking it as one of the all time for me.

34:56 >> Wait, wait, wait.

34:57 >> Best Super Bowl I've seen.

34:59 >> Through the first three quarters, the best part was some of the commercials.

35:04 I mean, it was boring for the first three quarters, was it not?

35:08 >> Yeah, I didn't think it was that great, no.

35:11 In fact, the whole thing was, I kept saying, boy,

35:14 the happy people and people in America, those who took the under.

35:18 >> Yes.

35:19 >> Well, here's one thing I'll tell you.

35:23 Defense is not lost in the NFL.

35:25 That's one thing I took from it.

35:27 >> No, no. >> Because I thought defensively,

35:29 both teams stepped up big time.

35:31 Now, yeah, I think that you could say, I understand the frustration

35:36 with the offense, but too many three and outs or whatever.

35:40 But I give credit to the defense.

35:42 I thought both the coordinators did a great job.

35:44 I thought both defensive units did a phenomenal job.

35:47 >> They did.

35:48 >> But I understand that's not- >> You can make a case for

35:51 Chris Young, Chris Jones is the MVP of the game.

35:55 >> Right, yeah, defensively, both teams, my God.

35:59 >> But I don't just rush to judgment here on calling this one of the great,

36:06 as great as, you know what's the great Super Bowl?

36:09 The Charlotte, the Patriots victory over the-

36:13 >> The Carolina Panthers.

36:15 >> At halftime, they were on their way to a total utter blowout.

36:20 The Panthers were impotent.

36:22 Second half, did they come roaring back?

36:24 Boy, and I was there for that one.

36:27 That to me, that's my favorite one as a football game.

36:30 >> Yeah, you can go all the way.

36:31 >> 28 to 3, we're always living in the hearts of the Patriot fans for

36:35 that reason, of course.

36:36 But I'm just saying that Carolina, don't ever forget how great a game that was.

36:41 And but back to the original point about Brady and Mahomes.

36:45 To me, I always separate these things in the obvious historical

36:50 accumulation of discussion versus how good are they in the context

36:55 of their moment in time's discussion, okay?

36:58 And so Mahomes can do more things than Brady.

37:04 He extended, he made plays with his legs.

37:06 I've always said this, if we're having that mythical game, you're waiting for

37:10 your life tonight.

37:11 The winner of this game determines your life.

37:15 And what quarterback do you want?

37:17 15 years ago, to me, the easy answer was Elway, why?

37:21 Because he could beat you both with his arm and his legs.

37:24 Neither Brady nor Manny are in this discussion in that regard.

37:28 In that regard, if you care that much about it, if you wanna say,

37:31 it's not that important, you go for Brady or Manny if you want.

37:34 Now we got a kid that can win it, can beat you with both his arm and his legs.

37:39 And if I had to go for my life tonight,

37:41 being what I've seen with this kid now, this kid, this man, 28 years old.

37:46 I wouldn't have any hesitation to take him at all.

37:51 >> I love the guy, I'm a Mahome, I love the guy.

37:56 I mean, I love him.

37:57 But you gotta give it up for the Dunkin' commercial, right, Jeff?

38:02 The Dunkin' commercial was good.

38:04 >> We love it here, that's our- >> You're gonna buy the outfit, right?

38:08 Gary, you're gonna go buy it?

38:09 >> Yeah, yeah, all three of us.

38:10 >> Yeah. >> Yeah, all three of us.

38:12 >> Next week.

38:12 >> Yeah, yeah.

38:13 >> I'm sure- >> Brady's glasses, yeah.

38:15 >> I'm sure in New England, it's by far the favorite commercial.

38:18 I don't know whether it went over that big in Peoria or Fargo.

38:21 >> It didn't, nationally it didn't do well, but in New England, it was great.

38:25 >> Yeah.

38:26 >> All right, guys, always a pleasure.

38:27 We'll talk again next week.

38:29 Bob Ryan, Jeff Goodman, Tangway Along for the Ride, brought to you by Fanduel,

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38:50 Till next time, gents.

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Can Mazzulla Lead C's in the Playoffs? + Doc & the Bucks Struggle | Bob Ryan & Jeff Goodman Podcast

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