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00:00:00.
00:00:30What's good, everybody?
00:00:37Welcome back to another edition of New York Got Game.
00:00:40Knicks Weekly Live.
00:00:42Got my guy Brian Fonseca here with me.
00:00:45Going to talk some Knicks basketball.
00:00:46It's been an interesting week for the New York Knicks.
00:00:48They've lost two games in a row after they won their first two games of the season,
00:00:52which have caused some of y'all to jump out the window.
00:00:55We will not be doing that here, but I'm sure some of you will be in the chat.
00:00:58If you're in the chat rocking with us, we appreciate you.
00:01:02We will get to our comments.
00:01:03We have a fantastic show today.
00:01:04We're going to talk about the Knicks.
00:01:06Their first NBA Cup game of the season is coming up tomorrow night against Chicago Bulls.
00:01:11We will have Cam Smith joining us of the Chicago Sports Network.
00:01:17He is the pre- and post-game show host for the Chicago Bulls on the Chicago Sports Network.
00:01:23He'll be joining us to talk.
00:01:24Excited to talk to him at the bottom of the hour.
00:01:27Brian, how are you doing?
00:01:30Have you jumped out the window on the Knicks yet?
00:01:33Feeling better about Real Betis.
00:01:34I don't know if you saw that 7-1 win in Copa del Rey today.
00:01:38I did not see that.
00:01:39I got the hat on.
00:01:41Some people might recognize.
00:01:43I should have because it matches my shirt.
00:01:45Got a little red and black.
00:01:46My both teams played hard shirt.
00:01:48I am not rocking any Liverpool gear because they have not been playing well lately,
00:01:51and I'm not going to talk about that because it's not making me feel good.
00:01:54But we still are the champs, you know?
00:01:57This is true.
00:01:57Some people want to tweet at me on Twitter and stuff when they see Liverpool going through
00:02:02a struggling moment like we aren't the champs.
00:02:05Their team hasn't won anything.
00:02:06So, Brian, enjoy your shine.
00:02:08I'm not mad at you.
00:02:09You're not a hater, so I'm not mad at you.
00:02:11Yeah, and I got no smoke with the EPL except Chelsea for last year.
00:02:16You should.
00:02:17The person who tweets at me is a Chelsea fan.
00:02:19That's how they get down.
00:02:20That's all I'm going to say.
00:02:22They know what they are.
00:02:23It's not Brandon London, by the way, in case anybody's wondering.
00:02:26It's not Brandon London.
00:02:26Okay, okay, okay.
00:02:27I was wondering that, actually.
00:02:28But as far as the Knicks go, there are things to nitpick.
00:02:33I think it's also 5% of the way through the year, I think.
00:02:40If that, I don't even know what the percentage is.
00:02:42I know we're not anywhere near 10% of the way yet.
00:02:44That'll be for another two weeks or so, or a week, because we have a couple more games
00:02:49this week.
00:02:50The Bulls matchups are interesting, though.
00:02:51We talked a little bit about this when we did the post-game live show.
00:02:56Well, we did the live show in general, what post-game we specifically talk about this.
00:02:59And this is, I want to say, a big home-and-home, but not from the standpoint of, hey, if you
00:03:07lose two, your season's over.
00:03:08It's not that dramatic.
00:03:09But big in terms of, a lot of things will be tested here.
00:03:14The Bulls' legitimacy, we will talk to Cam about that, because they're 4-0, one of the
00:03:19only teams in the NBA who is undefeated to this point.
00:03:22There's only four of them, two in the East, and the Bulls are one of them, the Sixers are
00:03:27the other.
00:03:27And then in the West, it's OKC and San Antonio.
00:03:31And with the Knicks, it's about, okay, is this a skid, or is this the bounce-back spot?
00:03:37And then on top of that, you have to try to beat the Bulls again.
00:03:39So these are two games that matter.
00:03:41And given the way both teams are playing, I find it hard to believe that either side
00:03:46is going to win both.
00:03:47I suppose Chicago can, because of how well they've been playing.
00:03:50But I do have questions about how sustainable this is.
00:03:54And I do have some theories as to perhaps why they're playing so well.
00:03:58It's not shade at all, by the way.
00:04:00Maybe shade to one player in particular.
00:04:02But that's neither here nor there.
00:04:04So I've gone back and watched some of the Bulls games.
00:04:06I did watch your game last night against Sacramento and did see some good things in execution.
00:04:11I will save more of that for when we talk to Cam and he joins us.
00:04:15But I do think it'll be good.
00:04:15Once again, Cam Smith of Chicago Sports Network, the Chicago Bulls pre- and post-game show host,
00:04:22will be joining us in about seven minutes or so.
00:04:24He will be with us here.
00:04:27I think the big question coming out of the live watch-along we did the other night,
00:04:31and I've already had some people.
00:04:33I was just recording a podcast.
00:04:35Shout-out to my guy, Bob Walters, Unlocked Up Sports Podcast.
00:04:39He was like, yo, man, I loved your – he said he loved your takes, our takes,
00:04:44both about people jumping out the window.
00:04:46And I like to take time away from things.
00:04:50Shout-out to you, Dorkasaurus Rex.
00:04:52We see you in the chat.
00:04:53I like to take time away from things sometimes and be like, okay, am I tripping on this?
00:04:56Am I not tripping on this?
00:04:58Am I doing too much here?
00:05:00And I've been thinking a lot about the Knicks fans who we saw,
00:05:05and it's a segment of the Knicks fans, not all of you,
00:05:08who are not patient with Mike Brown.
00:05:10Some of you guys, you know, saying that you're out here,
00:05:13you want a refund on the coaching change.
00:05:15All sales are final, though.
00:05:17That was great.
00:05:20All sales are final.
00:05:21That's all I'm saying.
00:05:23Should fans be more patient with Mike Brown?
00:05:25Like, have we lost something in tandem?
00:05:28Have we lost patience?
00:05:30I feel like it's lost.
00:05:31Honestly, if you look at the last, I don't know, 10 years or so,
00:05:36we've lost a lot, especially in the realm of media.
00:05:41But I do think that as it pertains to this, yeah, we've definitely lost.
00:05:46Because everything is just 24-7.
00:05:51There's something happening all the time.
00:05:53And I think collectively, we're just a lot more anxious about things, period.
00:05:58So this gets taken into our personal lives.
00:06:01This gets taken into sports and the things we care about
00:06:04and the things we consume.
00:06:05So I think people just look at the Knicks
00:06:06and they want to see the Knicks win so badly
00:06:10because of how much pressure this team is under.
00:06:13From the fan base to the league itself,
00:06:17to maybe even league partners, to their own organization,
00:06:19who again said,
00:06:21we believe this is a championship roster.
00:06:24When firing the guy who brought you closer to a championship
00:06:27than you've been in a very, very long time,
00:06:3025 years approximately.
00:06:32So I do think that it's just a collective angst.
00:06:37And this is the cycle we're in.
00:06:39If this was happening a few generations ago,
00:06:42like 20 years ago or so,
00:06:44we'd be on sports radio right now.
00:06:46Well, maybe.
00:06:46I don't know.
00:06:46I don't know if they'd hire us.
00:06:48But we'd be on sports radio right now.
00:06:51Oh, man.
00:06:53And the callers would be probably similar.
00:06:58But I think it's even more heightened now
00:07:00because everything just feels like it has so much more stakes to it
00:07:03for whatever the reason is.
00:07:04Well, listen, the thing about sports radio too,
00:07:08sports radio plays a factor in this.
00:07:10I'm not going to mention the person's name,
00:07:11but we had somebody the other day out here
00:07:13disrespecting Mike Brown's last name.
00:07:15I know what you're talking about.
00:07:17And that's ridiculous.
00:07:20You can just say it's ridiculous because it's four games.
00:07:22It's ridiculous.
00:07:24I'm just keeping it clean because I'm not messing up my money.
00:07:27That's all I'm saying.
00:07:29I'm going to leave it at that.
00:07:31Dorkasaurus Rex, I see you in the chat.
00:07:32I would like to make note that you're making up some good points.
00:07:35And I think that you're also bringing some statistics
00:07:37that we are going to talk about with Cam.
00:07:40Dorkasaurus Rex says,
00:07:41a lot of reasons to be concerned about this matchup.
00:07:43They're great defensively talking about the Bulls.
00:07:45They're shockingly good rebounders also.
00:07:47I will get into that with some of the stats
00:07:49and how that compares with the Knicks.
00:07:52To his point about defense, the Bulls,
00:07:54they're fourth in defensive rating.
00:07:56107 points per 100 possessions in defensive rating.
00:08:00This is according to Cleaning the Glass,
00:08:01which takes out garbage time.
00:08:02You guys know I love Cleaning the Glass and their statistics.
00:08:05That's according to them.
00:08:05So they're fourth in defensive rating.
00:08:08Dorkasaurus Rex actually also brings up some stuff
00:08:10that we talked about the other night.
00:08:13He talked about the Knicks.
00:08:14They're averaging just 100 possessions per game,
00:08:16which is slow in pace.
00:08:18That is 22nd in pace.
00:08:19He's right about that.
00:08:20But he also says the Bulls,
00:08:21they're one of the fastest teams in the league,
00:08:22something I've noticed from watching their games.
00:08:24They are playing with very, very good pace
00:08:26in terms of pushing the ball.
00:08:27They're averaging 104.9 possessions per game.
00:08:30That ranks 17th.
00:08:31So again, it's five spots between 22nd and 17th.
00:08:34This is also out of a four-game sample size.
00:08:36A lot can change with these numbers in a couple of games.
00:08:39So it's something to keep your eye on with these teams.
00:08:42I'm not saying that what Dorkasaurus Rex is bringing up isn't worth it
00:08:44because I think it is.
00:08:45The bigger thing that he brings up here is something that Brian
00:08:48and Anthony Galler, our guest on The Watch Party,
00:08:51brought up a ton the other night.
00:08:52Said the Knicks are one of the worst third quarter teams.
00:08:54Absolutely correct.
00:08:55Scoring as low as 20 points in that quarter.
00:08:58That's 29th in the league.
00:09:00Bulls, one of the best in third quarter, 34 points, right?
00:09:04That's something to definitely watch, you know what I mean,
00:09:07in terms of how those teams are in the third quarter we talked about
00:09:10the other night.
00:09:11So, you know, those are all good things to look at,
00:09:15things you want to keep an eye on with this Knicks-Bulls matchup.
00:09:19I think the thing for me, though, personally,
00:09:22and I'm excited to talk to Cam about this, who's going to join us shortly,
00:09:25is this is going back to if you're a Knicks fan of a certain age
00:09:29and you're a Bulls fan of a certain age, you don't like each other.
00:09:34You know what I'm saying?
00:09:36You hated the Bulls.
00:09:37The Bulls hated the Knicks.
00:09:39There's a great rivalry in the 90s.
00:09:41If you're from Chicago or New York, you loved it.
00:09:43This was a great time, you know, to watch.
00:09:48When was the last time you actually hated the Bulls?
00:09:53As somebody who's been a Knicks fan for your entire life.
00:09:56I mean, for me, it's like, has it ever stopped?
00:10:00Even now?
00:10:01Yeah, it's different because the Bulls haven't been
00:10:04a strong contending team or them and the Knicks haven't been really good
00:10:09at the same time again.
00:10:10But it's like Anthony Gallo asked a question the other day.
00:10:13He said, what's one of these franchises
00:10:15that you just still always feel some kind of way about?
00:10:21And I mentioned the Braves and the Bulls kind of,
00:10:24and if you're a Knicks fan, I think the Bulls, the Heat, the Pacers,
00:10:27they are always your rivals.
00:10:29You always look at them.
00:10:30The Heat and Pacers are at least, or have been at least,
00:10:33consistently good.
00:10:34The Bulls, the only stretch where I feel like in recent memory
00:10:39where they were both legitimately good was when Melo and Derrick Rose
00:10:44were basically rising to like the top of the Eastern Conference
00:10:47and two of the best players in the Eastern Conference,
00:10:49which feels like a short amount of time because it was
00:10:51because of Derrick Rose's injuries, unfortunately.
00:10:52That's where it felt like it could be a thing.
00:10:58But since then, I haven't really thought of this in that way,
00:11:00and the Bulls have kind of been middling for a long time.
00:11:03Now they're 4-0.
00:11:05They haven't been 4-0 in a while.
00:11:07Their defense looks shockingly good.
00:11:11You mentioned the pace that they're playing at,
00:11:13and this is what the Bulls and the Heat are doing
00:11:16that Orlando's not doing.
00:11:17They're playing with pace while their offense is still
00:11:22a highly rated offense, while their defense is still
00:11:25a highly rated offense because they're actually getting stops.
00:11:28And they're doing this without Kobe White, which is fascinating.
00:11:32And I would want to ask Cam about this because some of these scorers
00:11:35who are one-way scorers around the league,
00:11:38their value is in a very interesting place
00:11:41because you question how much the impact is going to be there.
00:11:44And I do wonder if Kobe White coming back,
00:11:47to what degree is it going to help?
00:11:49Because historically, his on-off numbers, they could be better.
00:11:52Now, he's been on bad teams, but they could be better.
00:11:54Or mid-teams, I should say, because they haven't all been terrible.
00:11:58Low-key Nick Killer, Kobe White, too.
00:12:02I don't know.
00:12:02Low-key might be actually a little ridiculous for me to say.
00:12:05It might be high-key.
00:12:06He can play.
00:12:07He can play.
00:12:07Kobe can ball, man.
00:12:09And just going up and down the roster this year,
00:12:12they're also shooting 39% from three.
00:12:14I don't know if that's going to sustain itself.
00:12:16But look, if it's a two-game sample, yeah, it can happen.
00:12:20Nikola Vucevic has been very impactful talking about the glass
00:12:23and Dorcasaurus in the comments has mentioned this.
00:12:26And if you have comments, let us know.
00:12:27We will get to them.
00:12:29But Nikola Vucevic has been just a very –
00:12:31it feels more impactful this year in terms of the numbers he gets
00:12:36and in terms of his on-off percentage, his on-off metrics rather being good.
00:12:40I think he's 11.3 per 100 possessions, which isn't even the best on the team.
00:12:44The best on the team is like Trey Jones and Isaac Okoro.
00:12:46Trey Jones has kind of been a revelation.
00:12:48So it's just going to be a lot of interesting things that they can do.
00:12:54And even last year, there was like a worrisome game against the Bulls
00:12:58early on in the year that we had talked about because people were freaking out.
00:13:01And it may have been Kobe White related, as a matter of fact,
00:13:04now that I think about it.
00:13:05I do want to bring up some notes that just came through about tomorrow's game.
00:13:10Mitchell Robinson is questionable.
00:13:13He was a full participant in practice today.
00:13:15Then it came.
00:13:16Gershon Yabaselli is probable for tomorrow's game.
00:13:19This is according to our Stefan Bondi.
00:13:22Two and two.
00:13:22Break glass in case of emergency.
00:13:25Look at that.
00:13:26See, you can't be doing that for the people.
00:13:28The people already think it's an emergency.
00:13:29And now you're saying that it's an emergency.
00:13:32You know what I mean?
00:13:33Has Mitchell Robinson been questionable all year?
00:13:37No.
00:13:38No, right?
00:13:38He's just been out.
00:13:39This is a huge upgrade.
00:13:41Okay.
00:13:41This is usually, people, a precursor to you're going to play.
00:13:46Now, it may not be the next game, but he's on the way.
00:13:50Questionable at least can lead to a possibility of a game time decision tomorrow
00:13:53is what I will say at the most.
00:13:55The fact that he's probable is good.
00:13:57But we've got our guest here with us.
00:13:59We're going to bring him in.
00:14:02He is the pre- and post-game show host for the Chicago Bulls,
00:14:07for the Chicago Sports Network.
00:14:09Watched this guy's work for quite some time.
00:14:11We didn't really finally connect until this week,
00:14:13but it is Cam Smith who is joining us now.
00:14:16Cam, what's going on, brother?
00:14:17How you doing?
00:14:20Cam, we can't hear you now.
00:14:22You can hear us, though, correct?
00:14:25That's it.
00:14:26Cam couldn't hear us at first.
00:14:27Now we can't hear Cam.
00:14:29We got to figure out what's going on.
00:14:31Hang tight, Cam.
00:14:32We'll figure it out.
00:14:32We'll bring you back in in a second.
00:14:33We'll get it.
00:14:34Modern technology today happens.
00:14:36It happens sometimes.
00:14:37It happens sometimes.
00:14:38Cam's a pro, though.
00:14:38He's done a lot of live shows in the studio.
00:14:40He knows.
00:14:41He knows how this is going.
00:14:43He's going to fix his mic and stuff.
00:14:44We'll get it back.
00:14:46Cam will join us in one second.
00:14:48We're going to talk to him about the Bulls at 4-0 start,
00:14:51the Knicks 2-2 start, this matchup, the whole rivalry.
00:14:54We will talk about everything here.
00:14:57I think we have some interesting stuff for later with our Real or Not segment
00:15:00that should be fun.
00:15:02That some of you guys, it's a little centered around potentially jumping out
00:15:06the window is what I will say there.
00:15:10Dorcasaurus Rex, shout out to you.
00:15:11I like that you look at stats and see what's going on with these teams.
00:15:16You called Dorcasaurus Rex.
00:15:18I want to use your words here.
00:15:19You said this is a problem matchup for the Knicks.
00:15:24Could be.
00:15:24And the Bulls, you can say what you can say,
00:15:26but the Bulls still have traditionally played the Knicks tough over the last
00:15:31couple of years.
00:15:31Even though they've been a team that's been around in the play-in range,
00:15:34there has been matchups where they played them really tough last year.
00:15:39You remember the game last year where Josh Hart fouled?
00:15:41That was Kobe White, I believe it was.
00:15:43There's more injury updates, by the way.
00:15:45You have more injury updates?
00:15:46Please let me know.
00:15:47These are a little more obvious, but Carlton Towns listed probable.
00:15:51So he, I mean, he's been questionable, probable, even doubtful,
00:15:56and he's played every game so far.
00:15:57Deuce McBride, personal reasons, not listed on the injury report.
00:16:01No, and he did, he was back with the team today and is expected to play.
00:16:04Stephen Bondy reported that early.
00:16:06So we got confirmation on those things as well.
00:16:09So a possibly, possibly fully healthy Knicks team for this game.
00:16:15Possibly.
00:16:16Sounds like they're treating it like they don't want to lose three straight.
00:16:21Well, nobody wants to lose three straight.
00:16:24That's not the point.
00:16:25The point is, even if they do lose three straight,
00:16:28and we're saying things are getting scary on Halloween for the Knicks,
00:16:31that doesn't mean, even if they lose three straight,
00:16:34it doesn't mean some of y'all should jump out the window.
00:16:36Not this early.
00:16:37Some of y'all want an excuse to jump out the window, right?
00:16:41I'm with Dorky Shores Rex.
00:16:43I'm not sleeping.
00:16:44I've liked what I've seen from the Bulls and how they've been playing.
00:16:47And I do like your question, Brian, about whether or not how things fit for them
00:16:53when Kobe White comes back with the way that they are working together now,
00:16:58sort of as a collective.
00:17:00When you look at this Bulls team,
00:17:01there's some things that I think are working for them.
00:17:03You also wonder sometimes early in the season, you know, is this sustainable?
00:17:08I'll tell you what.
00:17:09I was watching a game against the Kings last night.
00:17:11I definitely want to hear what Cam and say about this.
00:17:13I watched that game last night, and I'm like,
00:17:14how does DeMar DeRozan and Zach Levine feel?
00:17:17Because they're like, hey, we're better off without you.
00:17:23Nikola Vucevic was smiling out there.
00:17:25You know what I mean?
00:17:26I mean, those two dudes aren't, to me at least,
00:17:30the winningest players in the NBA is what I'll call them.
00:17:33So Zach Levine especially, don't be unfair.
00:17:36Like DeMar DeRozan has at least –
00:17:38Zach Levine has, what, four career playoff games, I think?
00:17:41Something low like that?
00:17:42I think so.
00:17:43Not that it's all his own doing.
00:17:45DeMar DeRozan has had mid, you know, second-round runs or whatever.
00:17:50He's just been bad in the playoffs.
00:17:52Yeah, that is also true.
00:17:53Four career playoff games for Zach Levine, by the way.
00:17:56Four career playoff games that he's had.
00:17:58Okay.
00:17:58Shout out to East Blue Drew, Coney Island's finest out there.
00:18:04He says salute, salute.
00:18:05He has a good comment.
00:18:05Deuce is back.
00:18:07I do agree with East Blue Drew's point here.
00:18:09I do agree.
00:18:11I'm going to put a sum in front of that, East Blue.
00:18:13I'm going to put a sum.
00:18:15People want us to lose so they can keep on saying how much they miss
00:18:17Tibbs and his ISO.
00:18:22I hear you.
00:18:23That was the game, Dorkasaurus.
00:18:24That's the one I'm thinking of.
00:18:25Bulls 139, Knicks 126, January 4th, 2025.
00:18:29Was that the one at the Garden that they lost?
00:18:32Yeah.
00:18:33I think that was the one where Mikel Bridges had the block.
00:18:36Is that that one?
00:18:37On Vucevic?
00:18:38I want to say Kobe White.
00:18:39I went to overtime, so no.
00:18:41That's not that one.
00:18:42I want to say Kobe White had a good game when this happened.
00:18:44All right.
00:18:45Our guest is ready.
00:18:46I'm going to introduce him again with the proper introduction that he did.
00:18:49Kobe White had 33.
00:18:50I was right.
00:18:51Kobe White had 33 in that game.
00:18:53He is the pre- and post-game show host for the Chicago Bulls.
00:18:58If you watch the Chicago Sports Network out in the shy, Cameron Smith joins us now.
00:19:04Cam, what's going on, brother?
00:19:06How you doing?
00:19:08What's up, fellas?
00:19:08Hopefully, second time is the charm.
00:19:10Are we good?
00:19:11Second time is the charm.
00:19:12We can hear you.
00:19:13Second time is the charm.
00:19:13Okay, baby.
00:19:14There we go.
00:19:14There we go.
00:19:15There we go.
00:19:15How you doing, brother?
00:19:16You good?
00:19:17I'm good, man.
00:19:18It's great to be on the show with you guys.
00:19:19I appreciate you opening up the door to New York Got Game, man.
00:19:23So I'm excited to have this conversation, especially when we talk this rivalry.
00:19:26There's still a rivalry to us in Chicago.
00:19:28I'm not sure how you guys feel in New York, but it's always going to be business when the
00:19:34Knicks and the Bulls get on the court against each other, no matter what the records
00:19:38are, who's playing, who's not playing.
00:19:40We got too much history against each other.
00:19:42You guys know that.
00:19:43I agree.
00:19:44Cam, you're a Chicago guy.
00:19:46I'm a New York guy, as is Brian here.
00:19:50I agree with you.
00:19:51I still feel that.
00:19:52There was a way I felt about the Knicks-Bulls matchup when I was young, and I'm going to
00:19:55be this.
00:19:55I was a hater.
00:19:56I was hating the Bulls.
00:19:57I was a hater.
00:19:58I was a straight hater.
00:19:59How could you not?
00:19:59There's no doubt about it.
00:20:01But listen, you know what annoyed me the most, Cam?
00:20:04Growing up, there used to be Chicago Bulls fans in my middle school walking around with
00:20:09you.
00:20:10Yeah, you'd be surprised.
00:20:11There's some Bulls fans out here in New York, brother.
00:20:13There were some Bulls fans.
00:20:14Okay.
00:20:15And I didn't like it.
00:20:17That's what I'm saying.
00:20:19I didn't like it either.
00:20:20Hey, you know what, man?
00:20:21I got to commend those brave souls because they were in the lion's den and really in the
00:20:25belly of the beast promoting that fandom for the Bulls.
00:20:27So, like, again, for me, like, as a kid in the 90s, like, I'm an 80s baby, man.
00:20:32So I just, you know, praise it to the most high.
00:20:34I just turned 40 this past summer.
00:20:36But I vividly remember those games between the Knicks and the Bulls, NBA playoffs, even
00:20:41regular season, too.
00:20:42But I always remember, especially when the Bulls played at the Garden, of that organ playing
00:20:47and that defense.
00:20:49And, again, I'm dating myself here, but listening to the games in the car and hearing that organ
00:20:55was like, you know, Empire Strikes Back, the Death Star, the Knicks, Patrick Ewing.
00:21:01It was a lot going into that.
00:21:03So, but just some classic memories.
00:21:06We are a little older.
00:21:07Cam, you and I are close in age.
00:21:09I'm two years older than you.
00:21:10And so, yes, I have those same, those same memories.
00:21:14And I have learned that Bulls fans of that, around that era, like you, yeah, they had
00:21:21to hate that.
00:21:22The beef was still there.
00:21:23Somebody just said in the chat, the beef is forever.
00:21:25East Blue Drew just said that in the chat, the beef is forever.
00:21:27I agree with that.
00:21:28But, Cam, we appreciate you coming through and rocking with us here.
00:21:31I got to ask you this.
00:21:32The Bulls, they're off to a 4-0 start.
00:21:34I want you to be honest with me.
00:21:36Don't, don't, don't be honest.
00:21:37Are you surprised and what do you make of this 4-0 start and what have you seen that
00:21:43is going right for the Bulls here thus far?
00:21:45Listen, fellas, you guys have graciously led me on to your show.
00:21:49So, if I say that I'm not surprised and ban me forever from coming on this show.
00:21:55No, everybody in Chicago is surprised about this team.
00:21:59Let's just be real about this thing.
00:22:01Nobody had the Bulls being 4-0 at this point in the season.
00:22:04If they said that they were going to be 4-0 at this point in the season, they're lying
00:22:07through their teeth and lightning is going to strike them down.
00:22:10So, we don't play those games.
00:22:11So, this team, we knew coming into the season, though, had some chemistry from last year.
00:22:17I mean, when you look at the moves that they made in the offseason, it wasn't significant
00:22:22compared to moves like, of course, that your Knicks made with adding Jordan Clarkson and
00:22:28some other pieces as well.
00:22:30I mean, you think about, obviously, the changes in Indiana and Boston, of course, with the
00:22:35Pistons, the Orlando Magic.
00:22:37Everyone in the East, for the most part, that you either saw in the playoffs or the play-in
00:22:41made at least additions, two to three guys, maybe even four guys to the team.
00:22:47So, the chemistry is still being worked on for those teams early on, and you see it.
00:22:51But for this Bulls group, they finished the year last year 15-5.
00:22:55And people can say, all right, well, Cam, they were playing against teams that were mailing
00:22:58it in, people trying to tank and all of that.
00:23:01Yeah, miss me with that.
00:23:02At the end of the day, you've got to play the games.
00:23:03And so, we know these guys are competitors.
00:23:05And so, I took stock in what they were able to do towards the end of the season.
00:23:09And then coming into this year, I said to myself, they could really hit the ground running
00:23:12with how their schedule sets up.
00:23:15Against the Detroit Pistons, that's how we opened up the home opener against Detroit.
00:23:18Got them out of the way really quickly.
00:23:20And it was impressive of how they limited Cade Cunningham.
00:23:23And when you look at the final stat lines, people say, okay, well, Cam, limited.
00:23:26He had 23 points.
00:23:27Look at his field goal percentage.
00:23:29Look at the shot attempts.
00:23:30And that's the defense that the Bulls are bringing into this season that's been consistent
00:23:33with them.
00:23:34So, again, to go back to answer your question, yes, hell yes, I'm surprised that this team
00:23:39is 4-0 at the start of the season.
00:23:41But look, it's great vibes in Chicago.
00:23:43We know it's a long 82-game season.
00:23:45They're going to have their valleys, their peaks and valleys.
00:23:49They're going to the peaks right now.
00:23:50But the valleys will come because it's the NBA.
00:23:52But right now, it's just a great feeling to have this team playing great basketball.
00:23:56Before I let Brian say something, because you said you were shocked.
00:23:59I'm just curious about this, too, Cam.
00:24:01I don't know if you made predictions.
00:24:03I'm assuming you might have before the season.
00:24:04Where did you see this Bulls team before this first four games?
00:24:08When you looked at this at, okay, the end of 2026 and April 19th, where did you see
00:24:12this team being?
00:24:13You know what?
00:24:13I see this team being either play in.
00:24:16I'm not going to rule out the playoffs.
00:24:17And when I say playoffs, that sixth seed, I'm not going to push it even further than that.
00:24:20But I would say we gave a prediction.
00:24:23Myself, my running mate, Kendall Gill, that does pre-impulse with me, along with our guy,
00:24:27Casey Johnson, our Bulls insider, gave a range of what we thought this team would win a certain
00:24:32amount of games.
00:24:33So we gave it between 37 and 42.
00:24:35And when you look at the past couple of seasons, they finished at 39 wins.
00:24:38Even a few seasons ago, finished at 40.
00:24:41But with this team and this makeup, this is where they're going to live.
00:24:44And I mentioned they're going to have their valleys that they're going to go through.
00:24:47And it's going to happen, right?
00:24:48So right now, you try and stack up as many wins as you can.
00:24:52But at the end of the day, we know that the East and some of these teams that we expect
00:24:55to be in the upper echelon, like the Knicks, like the Magic, like the Cleveland Cavaliers,
00:25:02I'll throw the Pistons in there as well.
00:25:03They're going to hit their stride, right?
00:25:05Because they're too talented and they have multiple all-stars on their team.
00:25:09And when you have that type of power on your group and in your group, then the ship will
00:25:14be right up for that.
00:25:15So I think the Bulls will be, again, a team that will beat playoffs.
00:25:18I know Bulls fans don't want to hear this.
00:25:20Playoffs a little bit, maybe 6-C, but this is where Bulls fans don't want to hear this,
00:25:24is play in once again.
00:25:26But it's just the reality of where things are right now.
00:25:28And trust me, fellas, I want to be wrong.
00:25:31I want to be wrong.
00:25:32I want them to be in the playoffs.
00:25:34I want them to be a fifth, fourth seed.
00:25:36But I'm also realistic about things.
00:25:39So I think that they live, again, between 37 to maybe 42 wins.
00:25:43Okay.
00:25:44Okay.
00:25:44Fair.
00:25:45Fair.
00:25:46But, I mean, they have legitimately, hold on, Cam.
00:25:52They have legitimately three wins as just straight-up underdogs.
00:25:56Like, going into it, the books are like, they're not going to beat Detroit.
00:26:00They're not going to beat Atlanta.
00:26:01They're not going to beat this team.
00:26:02They have these real wins.
00:26:04You have six guys in your rotation shooting at least 50% from the field.
00:26:07They actually have a great balance in terms of offense and defense and playing with pace.
00:26:12Like, unlike Orlando, they're able to play with pace and get stops.
00:26:16For whatever reason, Orlando hasn't been able to do that right now.
00:26:19And with the polls, I mean, like, Trey Jones has been kind of a revelation,
00:26:24who I think is very interesting in terms of how he's fitting into this roster as a starter now.
00:26:28Boozelis hasn't even popped yet, but you're sort of seeing the flashes of what he can do.
00:26:33And a lot of people are excited about his potential.
00:26:35Josh Giddey is earning his money, so to speak.
00:26:38Nikola Vucevic, too, as a matter of fact.
00:26:40So, I mean, I do have just one real question off of this.
00:26:45And since we were talking about the 90s, I figured I'd quote Jay-Z to ask this.
00:26:48But, Cam, how real is this start for the Bulls this season?
00:26:54Like, is this actually sustainable to where they can be a top six seed?
00:26:58Look, everything that you laid out individually with players on this roster,
00:27:01like Trey Jones and Josh Giddey, Madis Boozelis, Nikola Vucevic.
00:27:05I'll even throw Ildo Sumu's name in there.
00:27:08He's shooting the leather off the basketball in his small sample size of the season.
00:27:11I mean, the man is shooting 60% last time I checked from three.
00:27:15And so, that's a big upgrade from what he saw shot last year at 33%.
00:27:20So, again, I put stock into it.
00:27:22I think it is real because here's the thing about this Bulls team.
00:27:25They have their identity early.
00:27:27They know who they are.
00:27:28A lot of teams, especially in the East, don't know who they are.
00:27:30And I go back to the lack of chemistry, and they're still trying to work on that.
00:27:34And you've got to give credit to a New Yorker and Billy Donovan
00:27:37and what he's been able to do with this team and really getting them to buy in as a unit.
00:27:41They don't have a Carl Anthony Towns.
00:27:43They don't have a Jalen Brunson.
00:27:45They don't have a Kay Cunningham or Donovan Mitchell.
00:27:47They don't have these all-stars, these upper echelon players, to say,
00:27:51look, look, here's the rock.
00:27:53We need a bucket.
00:27:54Go carry us to this win in the last three or four minutes.
00:27:56They don't do it.
00:27:57They do it by committee, and so that's why I say it's real because you're basically facing off
00:28:02against a team that's going to beat you by death by 1,000 cuts.
00:28:06And this is what they are and who they are.
00:28:08If you look at their defensive rating, they're top three in the NBA right now in defensive rating.
00:28:12When you go to their bench, it doesn't drop off outside the top 10.
00:28:15I believe they're ninth in defensive rating when you look at just their bench unit.
00:28:19So Billy Donovan is employing a 10-man to sometimes 11-man rotation.
00:28:23And so when you can bring that type of pressure, similar to what we saw a little bit with Indiana last year
00:28:27of how they were able to hit a stride in the playoffs, make a run to the NBA Finals.
00:28:32Not saying that that's going to be the Bulls' destination, but again, I want to be wrong on this,
00:28:36and that'll be great.
00:28:37But also, it wears on teams when you have that type of depth.
00:28:42And last night was a great example against the Sacramento Kings,
00:28:45where Zach Levine back in the building, you know he was playing with a different type of battery in his back
00:28:49because he wanted to show Chicago fans, hey, this is what you've been missing out on.
00:28:53DeMondis Sabonis was getting his in the first half.
00:28:55But what changed was, second half, especially third quarter,
00:28:58you saw the team defensively start to really wear on Sacramento.
00:29:02And they were going to tell him back-to-back, so you give them a little grace on that.
00:29:06But again, it's the Bulls' ability to really just throw out these platoons
00:29:09and these waves that you defensively and get up and down the run.
00:29:12It's not sustainable for opponents to try and keep up with that,
00:29:16but it is sustainable for this Bulls team
00:29:17because it's something that they've really worked on going back to last year.
00:29:21So the system is set, the identity is set,
00:29:24and they're just really believing in each other and who they are.
00:29:27You said something interesting about teams trying to figure out who they are.
00:29:32Like Atlanta, for example, they have an infusion of talent.
00:29:34They don't really know what they're going to be yet.
00:29:37And now Trae Young is out, at least tomorrow.
00:29:40We don't know for how long.
00:29:42Detroit's trying to, you know, they have a lot of the same guys coming back,
00:29:45but they were expecting Jaden Ivey again.
00:29:47All of a sudden, he's out.
00:29:48They're working in some new pieces, Karis LeVert, Duncan Robinson, so on and so forth.
00:29:52And then with Orlando, with Desmond Bain, and trying to get Paolo to be efficient.
00:29:56Like, they haven't figured out who they are.
00:29:58Is there something to be said for, even though I feel like in the Chicago area,
00:30:02this roster was probably met with apathy going into the season,
00:30:05but is there something to be said for continuity
00:30:07and running it back with a lot of the same guys, slight moves around the margins?
00:30:11We talk about this a lot as it pertains to the Knicks, because they didn't have a crazy overhaul
00:30:16of their roster this past year, like they did the year before where they made the talent stream.
00:30:20But a lot of the same guys are back for the Bulls.
00:30:23You add in some moves around the margins.
00:30:25Isaac Okoro's new, Trey Jones' new, so on and so forth.
00:30:27Do you think they're also benefiting from that?
00:30:30Yeah, no doubt.
00:30:31No doubt.
00:30:31I was literally having this conversation with my older brother, as we talked about, like,
00:30:35just, again, the Bulls being 4-0 and beating Sacramento.
00:30:38And getting back to the point of continuity, Isaac Okoro was the only true piece that the Bulls added
00:30:44in the offseason.
00:30:45I mean, Trey Jones came over in that three-team deal with Zach Collins, with the Kings,
00:30:49and with the Sacramento, excuse me, the San Antonio Spurs.
00:30:52So, again, he's a guy that was able to find his role with Billy Donovan,
00:30:56and Billy Donovan loves Trey Jones.
00:30:58Like, if you watch him play, and I'm sure you guys have watched and seen what his impact is,
00:31:02even your viewers as well, because they know ball,
00:31:04he's a guy that's one of the best on-ball defenders, and just really defenders at his size in the NBA.
00:31:10I mean, I believe he's still at the top or near the top when it comes to steals per game.
00:31:14But, again, it's the continuity that you have on that defensive end, which helps.
00:31:18And so, when you add a guy like Isaac Okoro, who is known for his defensive ability,
00:31:23you're not asking him offensively to come in and mesh with this group,
00:31:26because that necessarily isn't his strong suit now.
00:31:29He's working on that and trying to be better at that, because he's labeled as a 3-and-D guy.
00:31:34But the Bulls are relying on him as a defender.
00:31:36I mean, you go back to the season opener for the team against the Detroit Pistons
00:31:40in that final defensive trip that the Bulls had.
00:31:42He made the decision to switch on to Kay Cunningham,
00:31:45because there was a couple of switches going on, if you go back to that last play,
00:31:48where Okoro basically played free safety,
00:31:51had his back turned toward the basketball on the sideline.
00:31:54And as Trey Jones came out, as he was checking Kay Cunningham,
00:31:57because Cunningham was coming out to the three-point area
00:32:00because the Pistons were down three with about 13 seconds left,
00:32:03Okoro told Trey Jones to go back and switch on to Isaiah Stewart.
00:32:07And no disrespect to Isaiah Stewart, but nobody's checking him for three.
00:32:10Nobody's checking him to catch and score at the rim, because they're down three.
00:32:13They don't need two points. They need three.
00:32:16So, Okoro switches on to Cunningham, forces him into a tough three.
00:32:20Ball tips out. Tobias Harris shoots another tough three, and the Bulls get the rebound.
00:32:22So it's those points where defensively you add that piece
00:32:26and it just raises your profile of your team defensively.
00:32:29And that was a big thing that Billy Donovan and the front office talked about
00:32:33during media day, was that they wanted to raise their defensive profile.
00:32:36And we're seeing it so far in the early part of the season.
00:32:38I mean, I talked about this team being top ten or being top three
00:32:41in defensive rating as a unit.
00:32:43But then also when you look at opponents' three-point percentage
00:32:45or really lack thereof, you have to really go into
00:32:48and peel back the layers of how they're doing it.
00:32:50They're doing it with rotations.
00:32:51They're doing it with high contests.
00:32:53And also they're doing a great job on the glass.
00:32:55So, yes, to your point, the continuity, it is a lot to say about that
00:32:59and how they've been able to hit a stride in this early part of the season.
00:33:02Cam, I always feel – I'm glad Brian brought that up
00:33:04because I always feel like continuity is underrated so often in sports, right?
00:33:09I think we do that.
00:33:10And then you mentioned something that when I watched them yesterday
00:33:13and I looked at the game against the Kings, I said to myself, man, this team is really deep.
00:33:21It's deeper than I think I had realized.
00:33:23And there's also a lot of rotation flexibility for Billy Donovan in this one.
00:33:27And until you just started talking about it, I was like – and I thought about this last night too
00:33:32and I was like, huh, this team feels a little bit like the 2020-2021 Knicks.
00:33:37Maybe sand someone like a Julius Randle there, but maybe Kobe White is that guy that emerges them for them.
00:33:44We'll get to Kobe White in a second.
00:33:45I want to ask you about Montez Bozellas because I was high on him last year.
00:33:48And if you watch those last 20 games that you talked about last year, he was balling last year.
00:33:52If you were watching the Bulls last year towards the end of the season,
00:33:55you could see he was starting to come into his own.
00:33:58When you look at how he started off this year, do you look at it as like, is he making a leap?
00:34:02And is he making a leap?
00:34:03And is he a guy we should be talking about to look at, keep an eye on for most improved player right now here in the NBA?
00:34:09Well, when we started this conversation and you asked me, was I surprised about the Bulls' start?
00:34:15And I was like, yes, I was surprised.
00:34:17But when it comes to Montez Bozellas, I'm not surprised that he's having the production that we're seeing so far
00:34:21in the early part of the season because this dude has supreme confidence.
00:34:26I don't want to call it irrational confidence.
00:34:28It's supreme confidence really in his ability to get the job done, but also the work that he puts in on his game.
00:34:34And so for him being from Chicago and understanding, obviously growing up and watching Derrick Rose
00:34:39and he has a relationship with Derrick Rose, but also being challenged by some of the city's best.
00:34:44He's a guy that I go back to and I tweeted this out earlier today because we had this conversation
00:34:49on Bulls pre and post, Kendall Gill and I, about just what Modest was able to do last night
00:34:54and really how he's glowed up the past two games.
00:34:56Because if you go back to last Saturday against Orlando, he got humble.
00:35:00I mean, he fouled out only three points, a few rebounds.
00:35:05He just never got into a flow because he was checking Paolo Vancaro or Franz Wagner.
00:35:09But what he told Billy Donovan was, one, I'm going to be better in the next game.
00:35:14And it's one thing for somebody to say it, right?
00:35:16Because, you know, it's basically almost, in my opinion, when I hear that, it's like words, Sally.
00:35:19They're like, OK, that's cool, but show me.
00:35:21I need some action to that.
00:35:23And we got that action on Monday.
00:35:25And more so to make it specific, the Atlanta Hawks got that action on Monday with Modest.
00:35:29They did.
00:35:30With the points that he dropped.
00:35:31And then also Jalen Johnson put himself on Modest Blue Settles' mixtape when he took a baseline
00:35:35in that reverse dunk.
00:35:37And then you fast forwarded to what we saw last night with him putting up 27,
00:35:41how he shot the ball so efficiently, and really how he attacked DeMar DeRozan.
00:35:45So for this dude at this stage of his career, only season two for Modest,
00:35:50I'm a firm believer that he has all-star written over him.
00:35:54Because he makes the necessary steps to be that guy.
00:35:59And it's not just what he says.
00:36:00It's the work that he puts in.
00:36:01It's the film study.
00:36:02It's how he's really challenging guys.
00:36:05I mean, if you do the knowledge when it comes to Modest, him coming out
00:36:08and going into the NBA draft, he had a sit-down with Sham Sharania.
00:36:12And I've never heard this ever from a draft prospect.
00:36:16He challenged Zachary Richer Shea to a one-on-one.
00:36:21And this is before Richer Shea became the number one overall pick.
00:36:24But obviously, mock drafts, Richer Shea was going to be one.
00:36:27He wanted to play Zachary Richer Shea one-on-one in front of NBA GMs just to prove that he was a better player.
00:36:34Now, thank the basketball guys that he dropped to 11 and the Bulls copped him.
00:36:38And that's been great for the city and for him.
00:36:41But also, he wants the smoke.
00:36:43He doesn't run away from it.
00:36:45He's a dude that is tough-minded physically and also mentally.
00:36:48And so for him and what we see now, I'm not surprised at what he's been able to do.
00:36:52And again, going back to media day, he's a dude that says, I want to win most and prove.
00:36:58You don't hear that from guys in their second year.
00:37:00You don't hear a guy in his second year saying, I want to be coached like an all-defensive player.
00:37:05A lot of dudes shy away from that.
00:37:07Let's be real about it, especially when it comes to media.
00:37:09Maybe they might have side conversations with media members.
00:37:12They're not going to say it publicly.
00:37:14And Modest does that.
00:37:15And so when you do that, I'm like, oh, you're different.
00:37:18Okay, I hear you say it, but let me see some action behind that.
00:37:21And we're seeing it early on.
00:37:23So that sounds to me, and everything with him being from Chi-Town, Cam, and obviously you knowing that too, being from the Chi.
00:37:30Those kind of players in the cities we're from, they'll get behind you if you have that kind of love.
00:37:35And listen, that's a Brian kind of player right here.
00:37:37I'm going to tell you, Brian loves that kind of player like that, wants to smoke.
00:37:40He loves that kind of player.
00:37:43Another player, what's impressive to me too, and Brian and I were talking about this before you came on, the Bulls are doing this without Kobe White.
00:37:49We know Kobe White is cold.
00:37:51We know we can fill it up.
00:37:52We know he can shoot.
00:37:53We understand all that.
00:37:55What's the latest on his injury status?
00:37:57And do you have any concern watching this team that if Kobe comes back and is healthy, that he might mess up the flow of what's going on and the vibe of what's good right now?
00:38:06Do you think he can mess that up at all?
00:38:08Or do you think Kobe kind of seamlessly fits back in?
00:38:10I don't think that Kobe will mess it up, but it will definitely be an adjustment for the rotation for a lot of guys.
00:38:15Obviously, somebody will be on the outside looking in with Kobe White being inserted back into that starting lineup.
00:38:20But what I love from Kobe and what I've heard from him and also this front office is that he and the Bulls are on the same page in terms of his return back to the court.
00:38:28And we know how these calf strains can turn into something more dreadful for NBA players.
00:38:33I mean, we have the examples last year of Halliburton, Damian Lillard, DeJounte Murray, right?
00:38:38I mean, it's numerous guys that suffered those Achilles injuries just because it started off as calf strains and they're going to proceed cautiously.
00:38:46There's no rush to get them out there on the court, but also it's a contract year for Kobe White.
00:38:50He's in no rush to get out there on the court because he wants his money and he earned his money.
00:38:55So with him coming back into the rotation, I think it's an added weapon for this group.
00:39:01But that's why Billy Donovan gets paid, you know, multiple M's because he has to make that decision of how he's going to make this thing work with this rotation in this group.
00:39:08I think with him added two things, of course, there's going to be an adjustment period, as I mentioned, with that.
00:39:13But also for a guy at 6'5", they can shoot the leather off the basketball from range, but also get to the rim and mix things up as well as going at the rim and getting to the block and score.
00:39:24I think people make the misconception of Kobe White when they see him listed at 6'5", but I think he's even said this as well, that his arms are a little shorter.
00:39:32So you don't think that he's 6'5". He's kind of like Desmond Bain a little bit.
00:39:35But until you get up on Kobe White and you realize, oh, yeah, and same thing with Desmond Bain, like these guys are full 6'5", and they're able to use their shoulders to separate from defenders and get buckets.
00:39:45So I look at it as an added bonus, and it's going to be an adjustment period instead of Kobe coming back in and messing things up.
00:39:52Okay. I guess my only question to that would be, what if he returns and they're not as good?
00:40:00Because it does feel like around the NBA, the one-way shooting guards, the teams kind of do benefit when they're not out there.
00:40:08Not lumping Kobe White into this, because I don't feel like he's just a terrible defender.
00:40:13But I do wonder, as somebody who does need some usage and is going to take up more of a share of the offense, to Dex's point, the way that they're flowing,
00:40:22like, is there a world where something has to change dramatically if he comes back and they're not sort of as impactful?
00:40:31Like, one example would be in Miami.
00:40:34They've done a bunch of winning.
00:40:35Dexter knows where I'm going because I pick on this dude a little too much.
00:40:38But all the winning that they've done, Tyler Hero's been hurt or not really that impactful, and he's still their second best player, quote unquote.
00:40:48So, like, is this a situation where Kobe White has to also be impactful?
00:40:53Not just come in and fill it up, but, like, he has to equate to winning because he's playing for that contract, too.
00:40:58Yeah, I'm with you on that, Brian.
00:41:00And that's a great question and a great point, because a lot of Bulls fans have that lurking in the back of their heads.
00:41:05Like, okay, this is great.
00:41:06This team is 4-0.
00:41:08The chemistry is there.
00:41:09It's a fun brand of basketball.
00:41:11We're seeing Trey Jones in that starting group really help this team out.
00:41:14Josh Giddey off the ball is really great.
00:41:16But if you insert Kobe White back into that lineup and now you have more ball handling duties for Josh Giddey, what's the domino effect?
00:41:25How many minutes will Trey Jones get?
00:41:27How will that impact Iago Sumu?
00:41:29How will it help them on the defensive end and really basically keep this team in the top 10 when it comes to defensive ratings and also some other categories?
00:41:38But that's why it's a team concept.
00:41:40And, again, I go back to this group being a unit, and they're going to do it together.
00:41:44And they understand, and Kobe understands this, he's watching.
00:41:47He understands who they are.
00:41:48He saw it last year and was part of the reason why they won 15 of the last 20 games is because they work in tandem with each other.
00:41:56They work as a unit.
00:41:57So, not only for him coming in and knocking down shots and making plays, but he's a guy defensively, when you pair him on the court with a Trey Jones or Iago Sumu, you're able to really, I'm not going to say hide Kobe, but you have the other four guys on that court helping and aiding him in things that he may lack compared to a guy like Trey Jones on the ball that can really be disruptive.
00:42:19And the same thing for Iago Sumu.
00:42:21So, I think that's one of the bigger things that I look at with Kobe is on the defensive end, how he's able to help this team.
00:42:27But, again, going back to Billy Donovan and who he is, I have full faith in him understanding how to make Kobe White work within what the Bulls are now this season.
00:42:38Once again, everybody, we have Cam Smith joining us from Chicago Sports Network.
00:42:41He's a pre- and post-game show host with Chicago Bulls.
00:42:45Check him out there.
00:42:46Cam, a couple more things for you.
00:42:48All right, so this, we talk about the rivalry with the Knicks and Bulls.
00:42:51This is a NBA Cup matchup.
00:42:53I don't know how you feel about the NBA Cup.
00:42:55There's some NBA Cup haters out there.
00:42:56I am not one of those.
00:42:58I like playing for extra things, but I'm a big English Premier League soccer fan, so I'm used to playing for multiple trophies and stuff like that.
00:43:05So, I get that.
00:43:06Wait, wait, wait.
00:43:07Who's your team in the EPL?
00:43:08Who's your team?
00:43:09Oh, this is going to be interesting.
00:43:10What are we doing?
00:43:10You know what?
00:43:11I'm looking at you because I'm like, who do you root for?
00:43:13That's what I'm thinking.
00:43:14Look, because if you say a certain club, I might have to hop off right now.
00:43:19I might just leave for sure right now.
00:43:21I would.
00:43:21My hat was up there.
00:43:22I don't have it.
00:43:23You can't.
00:43:23If you go full, you can see the jersey I have back here, but I'm a Liverpool fan.
00:43:27I'm a big Liverpool fan.
00:43:30Oh, man.
00:43:31Where is this going?
00:43:32Where is this going, Cam?
00:43:33He's a Manchester United fan.
00:43:34Oh, Brian, Brian, Brian.
00:43:35Brian, it's about to go somewhere.
00:43:36He's a Manchester United fan.
00:43:38No.
00:43:39Oh, my God.
00:43:39No, no.
00:43:39Don't do that on me.
00:43:40Don't do that on me.
00:43:41No, no, no, no, no.
00:43:42I wouldn't wish that on my own worst enemy.
00:43:47Your Arsenal guy.
00:43:47Hey, man, come on.
00:43:47Look, who's atop the table in the EPL right now?
00:43:52I just, I mean, last time I checked.
00:43:55As soon as he leaned back like that, I was like, oh, I saw the Arsenal in him.
00:43:59And you know why?
00:44:01Because, because I have, so I have family members in England who, my mom's brothers were all Liverpool fans.
00:44:11That's kind of where I got it from.
00:44:13I have a couple of aunts who are Arsenal fans.
00:44:15I don't hate Arsenal, so I want to be very clear about this.
00:44:18I don't have hate for Arsenal.
00:44:19I'm going to say this to you here.
00:44:21And please, Cam, we have some, Cam and I have some mutual connections.
00:44:25Cam, I don't want you to not come back on the show.
00:44:27I don't want that to happen.
00:44:28I'd love to have you on again.
00:44:30You know, I'm a fan of your work.
00:44:31Where are we going?
00:44:32Where are we going right now?
00:44:32It feels like I'm about to set you up for something.
00:44:34I know.
00:44:34It feels like I'm about to set you up for something.
00:44:35You are.
00:44:35I hear it.
00:44:36But if y'all don't do it this year.
00:44:40Hey, you know what?
00:44:41Brother, I see it in your face.
00:44:43Hey, look, I'm 100% with you.
00:44:45I'm 100% with you.
00:44:46And so I have an eight-year-old son, and of course, he's an Arsenal fan as well.
00:44:50So every time when you get up early in the morning to watch the match, nah, man, it sounds
00:44:55like I'm raising them the right way.
00:44:56That's what that sounds like, Dex.
00:44:57But I cannot look my son in the eyes or see him crying and getting emotional if Arsenal
00:45:05does not bring trophies, plural, trophies back to the Emirates this season.
00:45:11They have to do it.
00:45:12They have to do it.
00:45:13I understand where you're coming from, but it's funny because Brian and I talked about
00:45:16this at the top of the show before you came in here.
00:45:19But I just, because there's some people who've been hating on Liverpool's recent form, and
00:45:22I haven't liked it.
00:45:23But I just want, I just want you to know, who are the champions of the English Premier
00:45:27League right now?
00:45:29Well, that was last year's English Premier League.
00:45:33That was last year.
00:45:34You know, every year, every year, it's a new season.
00:45:38So right now, technically, there is no champion of the English Premier League.
00:45:43So, I mean, Arsenal's in a position to be that.
00:45:47Now, Cam and I have something, because this is what's going to happen, people.
00:45:50I'm going to let people know.
00:45:50We'll get back to basketball in a second.
00:45:52If Liverpool continues to falter, I'm now going to get texts from Cam.
00:45:56This is guaranteed.
00:45:57Oh, facts.
00:45:57Because the Arsenal fan has just been waiting for this.
00:46:00Waiting for this.
00:46:01Look, Max, look, look, we've already, I'm not going to say we've prayed on the downfall
00:46:05of Man City.
00:46:07Not Liverpool, but Man City.
00:46:09Oh, but we can do that together.
00:46:10We can do that together.
00:46:10I used to be, I used to respect Erling Haaland until last year when they faced off against
00:46:16Man City.
00:46:17And they scored, and he threw the ball at the back of my man Gabrielle's head.
00:46:21After that, I'm like, you know what?
00:46:22That's dirty play.
00:46:23You're foul for that.
00:46:24Can't do it.
00:46:25So, no.
00:46:26Damn.
00:46:26Somebody in the chat said Arsenal's the Atlanta Hawks of their league.
00:46:29Hey, man, look, I don't know who that is, but who hurt you today, or how your day's
00:46:34been going, or who messed your day up.
00:46:35But don't do that, man.
00:46:36That's disrespectful, man.
00:46:37Don't do that.
00:46:38Person's a Manchester fan.
00:46:39Didn't clarify if it's a city or a United, though.
00:46:42Oh, you know what?
00:46:43It was probably Dex's burner account, man.
00:46:45No.
00:46:46Brian, did you see how he went right to that comment?
00:46:49I mean, your viewers have always been engaging the entire time in the comments, and now he picks
00:46:54that comment out, Brian.
00:46:56I'm glad my team is in La Liga.
00:46:59Yeah, he's a lot.
00:47:00He's a good team fan.
00:47:01So, he's not fighting this.
00:47:03I will say, I just want people to know, I do not hate Arsenal at all.
00:47:07Liverpool and Arsenal have had really good battles over the last couple of years, but
00:47:10there's not a...
00:47:11I don't feel about you guys the way I feel about Man City or Man...
00:47:14You're rooting for Manchester.
00:47:16Who said they're rooting for Manchester in here?
00:47:17I don't even know.
00:47:18Is East Blue Drew?
00:47:18East Blue Drew, yeah.
00:47:20Which Manchester, East Blue Drew?
00:47:21Didn't say.
00:47:22Yeah, yeah.
00:47:22That's what I want to know.
00:47:23East Blue Drew's a fellow Brooklynites, so I want to show them love.
00:47:25Especially if you're talking about Arsenal as the Atlanta Hawks of their division, East
00:47:29Blue Drew.
00:47:30Like, I mean, and you're talking about Manchester.
00:47:31Yeah, I root for Manchester.
00:47:34Which Manchester?
00:47:35See, like, don't try and throw rocks and hide your hands.
00:47:37Don't do that.
00:47:39Don't do that.
00:47:39East Blue, East Blue, you're a fellow Brooklynite, you know, you know, I was Brooklyn all day,
00:47:43but come on, man.
00:47:44Come on.
00:47:45Come on.
00:47:45I can't, Cam, before we let you go, I appreciate getting some soccer talking here, out here.
00:47:51But, Cam, this is an NBA Cup game.
00:47:54Again, I don't know how you feel about the Cup.
00:47:56People feel different ways.
00:47:57Brian and I, we like the Cup.
00:47:59He is a United fan.
00:48:00He is coming and said that.
00:48:01That felt like United energy.
00:48:03I would just say that.
00:48:06There's stakes in this.
00:48:07You got the next Bulls rivalry, but now you got this NBA Cup game.
00:48:11Some people think certain teams shouldn't care about the NBA Cup.
00:48:15The Bulls feel like a team right now, 4-0, that we should take this seriously.
00:48:19Does this add more to you with the NBA Cup game and tomorrow and seeing the court and all that?
00:48:24Does it add a little bit more to you for the juice between these two teams?
00:48:27You know what?
00:48:27When the league announced the NBA Cup and I saw the court changes and the uniform changes,
00:48:35I'm like, I'm a true.
00:48:37I'm a truest, right, with this because we talked about the history between the Bulls and the Knicks and just that was organic.
00:48:43That was natural.
00:48:44It wasn't these gimmicky, made-up type rivalries that the league is trying to do.
00:48:49But, again, I understand it from a business standpoint.
00:48:51And we just talked about the EPL and with, you know, the different leagues and the different tournaments that go on.
00:48:57So I get it to try and get fans engaged even more.
00:49:01I've come around to the NBA Cup last year as opposed to when it first started because it felt like they threw too much in that first season on it.
00:49:10But the court changes and the uniform changes.
00:49:12I'm like, all right, this is too weak.
00:49:14This is too gimmicky.
00:49:15I don't like it.
00:49:15But when you see some of the games being played and you throw in the incentives of how these guys will make some money off of that,
00:49:21but more importantly of not how some of these stars like we've seen, like a Damian Lillard or LeBron James, pocket all of that cash for themselves.
00:49:28They give it to some of these guys that are the 12th guy on the roster that are on the two-way contract that are not making as much.
00:49:35So you get those good stories from it.
00:49:37Now, to fast forward and to bring it current to what we're getting ready to see tomorrow, knowing the Bulls-Knicks rivalry, because, again, it's still a rivalry to me.
00:49:44But then also knowing the connection that Jalen Brunson has back in the Chicago area.
00:49:49And Jalen is a guy that I covered even going back to his high school days at Stevenson High School.
00:49:55I know him very well.
00:49:56His pops, Rick, his family, his sister, his mother.
00:49:59They're all great people.
00:50:00So he always plays with a little something extra back in Chicago.
00:50:04So that adds to what we'll see tomorrow night in the NBA Cup between the Bulls and the Knicks.
00:50:10Now you have a team that's 4-0.
00:50:11You have a team in the Knicks that took the L against the Milwaukee Bucks.
00:50:15So that energy will clash with each other.
00:50:18And I think it'll make for not only a good game on Friday, but also when they run it back again Sunday in the Garden.
00:50:23That's true.
00:50:24What do you think are the keys to this game, Cam?
00:50:25What are the keys if the Bulls are going to get a win here or the Knicks are going to come out on top?
00:50:29What are the keys in your eyes?
00:50:31Well, I'll say for the Bulls first, of course, since I'm repping Chicago in this Bulls.
00:50:34This team, this franchise, it has to be who you are and do what you've done to be in a position to be undefeated.
00:50:40And that's continuously wear on your opponent.
00:50:43I think they can do that with the Knicks.
00:50:44I understand that Mike Brown has utilized the bench more than Tom Thibodeau has.
00:50:48And I know Knicks fans are just like, yes, it's good to see a lot of that responsibility and burden on the shoulders of Jalen Brunson be distributed out.
00:50:55And also getting more guys out there to get fresher legs.
00:50:58But I think with the Bulls being at home and understanding that with this Knicks group that Jalen Brunson is the guy for this team, he'll see multiple defenders.
00:51:06He's going to see Trey Jones.
00:51:07He'll see Iodo Sumo.
00:51:09He'll see Isaac Okoro of trying to really cut the head off of the snake.
00:51:12But that's a tough one to try and cut the head off of because Jalen Brunson is that dude for sure.
00:51:19But I think with this Bulls team, they have to get out and run, one, but then also, two, challenge these three-point shots that the Knicks are going to take in this matchup.
00:51:28But on the flip side, for this Knicks team, I think if you get out to a strong start and really take control and take yourself in control of the steering wheel and maintain that, that's one of the keys.
00:51:38But I think, one, you have to really try to make sure that Nikola Vucevic is the guy that you target on the defensive end.
00:51:45That's up to Carl Anthony Towns.
00:51:47That's also up to Jalen Brunson if they can put Vuce in some pick-and-roll situations to really eliminate him and really attack him.
00:51:53So those would be the keys that I'll have for both sides.
00:51:56I like those keys.
00:51:56I also just want to point out, suddenly this group got really interesting as far as the NBA Cup goes because before the year, people don't know how to feel about most of this group except for the Knicks.
00:52:08But for people who don't know, it's the Knicks, the Bulls, also the Heat, the Bucs, and the Hornets.
00:52:14Giannis isn't playing tonight, and the Bulls don't have their Cup game, I don't think, Friday.
00:52:20So Giannis is out.
00:52:22But in this group, I do feel like for the Bulls particularly, because I don't know how much the Knicks are going to put stock into this.
00:52:29Although, coincidentally, they are bringing back apparently their entire roster in anticipation of this Bulls game because now Mitchell Robinson might even make a season debut.
00:52:36But anyway, I just think, Cam, this is going to be something that the Bulls could potentially take advantage of.
00:52:43If you get into that final eight, I mean, we all like international soccer here.
00:52:48I also watch a lot of international basketball, so I think this stuff does matter, and I think it could matter for a team that sees themselves as ascending.
00:52:56So I'd be interested to see what the effort level is going to be like in these two games, because there are a lot of Knicks fans here freaking out about the Knicks, and they're 2-2 stars.
00:53:07Not 0-4, not 1-3, 2-2.
00:53:11But if they split these two games, and it's hard to beat an NBA team, especially playing as well as the Bulls twice, or even lose both, then it's going to be an interesting conversation next week.
00:53:20It will be for sure. Cam, one thing you have in common with me and Brian here is that you've had the opportunity to cover sports in your hometown.
00:53:29And I know personally, you know, doing this show and hosting the Knicks and you doing the Bulls, I know that feels good.
00:53:34How good has that felt for you to, you know, be home, being, you know, in the Windy City and covering sports and doing what you do?
00:53:40Because I know it feels great for us, and I'm honored in the position I'm in, but how's it felt for you?
00:53:44Man, it really feels surreal to have this opportunity, right?
00:53:47Because this will be year 16 that I've been in the business, and I've had so many different roles with so many different networks.
00:53:53I mean, I spent time for about three to four years actually out in New York.
00:53:56And MSG with MSG.
00:53:57Yeah, with MSG.
00:53:59I'm not even going to say my friend.
00:54:00She's a sister to me.
00:54:01She's family, Monica McNutt.
00:54:03And I was doing MSG 150 with Bill Pito and Alan Hahn and Wally Zerbiak and my guy John Wallace.
00:54:08So being out there and just really trying to find my way, and I got to really show love to the city of New York and just the fans out there.
00:54:16Because they embraced me, even though they knew I was a Chicago guy and I would wear proud on the show and talk about that.
00:54:24Me and Bill Pito will have our back and forth about who was better in basketball.
00:54:28Is it New York or Chicago?
00:54:29But walking the streets of New York and people stopping me and say, look, I respect who you are.
00:54:34I know who you are.
00:54:35Keep doing your thing, man.
00:54:36We enjoy your takes and love that.
00:54:37So that took me to another level and another plateau.
00:54:40And so, as I mentioned, I had different roles throughout my journey.
00:54:43But to have this role and this spot in my home city with this iconic franchise, and again, I'm an 80s baby.
00:54:51I vividly remember the Jordan years and what Derrick Rose means to this city on and off the court.
00:54:57It's surreal to have this spot.
00:54:59And again, you're talking to a guy that is a former hooper himself.
00:55:04Like, I played Division I basketball at Southern Illinois and won conference championships and made it to the NCAA tournament all four years.
00:55:11So talking basketball, analyzing basketball, making jokes about the game, but having fun and really appreciating and loving the game is something for me that is worthwhile.
00:55:22And again, it's a dream job, and this is what I have for myself, and I'm thankful for the Bulls organization, my network, Chicago Sports Network, and all the support that I have over there for them instilling the trust in me to fulfill this role.
00:55:35And it's been a fun ride so far, again, as the Bulls are 4-0.
00:55:39Listen, you're smiling.
00:55:40I see it.
00:55:41It's a good vibe.
00:55:42Shout out to Chicago Sports Network.
00:55:43Shout out to my mentee, Naomi Gray, who's a—
00:55:46Yes, yes.
00:55:47Shout out Naomi Gray.
00:55:48Shout out Naomi Gray.
00:55:49Now, I know I'm the host of the show, but Naomi is the leader of that show, and she does great work, so it's always fun, man.
00:55:55We go way, we go way back with him.
00:55:58We go way back.
00:55:58That's my mentee.
00:55:58Like, 10 years, legit.
00:56:00Yeah, and then, for people who don't know, Cam and I brought this up to him, Cam's cousin, who I worked with before.
00:56:06Shout out to Alicia Betts.
00:56:07That is his cousin.
00:56:08She is my mentor, so there's a really good connection there.
00:56:12Cam, one last thing I'm going to ask you about how you feel since we talked a little soccer.
00:56:15How did you feel when my man, Dominic Sabaslai, had that goal on you guys earlier this season?
00:56:20How did that feel?
00:56:21Hey, man.
00:56:21I appreciate y'all inviting me.
00:56:23Y'all say, Cam, y'all have a good evening, man.
00:56:25Blessings to y'all.
00:56:26Knicks Bulls tomorrow night, NBA Cup.
00:56:29They match up again on Sunday at the Garden.
00:56:31It's going to be a spicy matchup.
00:56:33Dex, Brian, appreciate y'all, man.
00:56:34Love you, family.
00:56:35God bless.
00:56:36Good night.
00:56:36That is the best out I've ever seen to question you.
00:56:41He was like, and you know what's funny, Cam?
00:56:43Cam, I can't say nothing.
00:56:44No matter what I say to you, you're going to be like, where are you at in the standards right now?
00:56:48And that's fair.
00:56:49And that is fair.
00:56:51I'm trying to hold on to it as long as I can, man.
00:56:53Listen, man.
00:56:53We got to finish it with trophies.
00:56:55We got to win the league, man.
00:56:57That's what it comes down to.
00:56:58That's all fair.
00:57:00Everybody, that is Cameron Smith.
00:57:01Check him out.
00:57:01Chicago Sports Network came with us to break down Knicks Bulls.
00:57:05Cam, we're definitely going to have you back again, even though you root for that team in London.
00:57:09We're still going to have you back again because I love what you do, man.
00:57:12So thank you, brother.
00:57:12Appreciate you.
00:57:13Appreciate you, Dex and Brian, man.
00:57:15Always love, fellas.
00:57:16I'm ready to be back whenever you need me.
00:57:18We will absolutely have you back, Cam.
00:57:19Thank you, brother.
00:57:20Appreciate you.
00:57:20All right, everybody.
00:57:22Cam joined us.
00:57:23He did well.
00:57:24He survived, even though he is an Arsenal fan.
00:57:26We still got love for him there for sure.
00:57:30All right.
00:57:30We're going to run through this really quickly.
00:57:31You know what we do with this time of the show.
00:57:33We do real or not.
00:57:34We go through three things.
00:57:35We decide if it's real or not.
00:57:36We're going to start with the Knicks defense.
00:57:39And my question here for Brian is, will the Knicks defense carry them through rough patches?
00:57:46The Knicks are currently, according to Cleaning the Glass, they are eighth in defensive rating.
00:57:50We talked about the Bulls.
00:57:50You heard Cam talk about the Bulls.
00:57:52Their third in defensive rating is by some standards.
00:57:56Fourth in defensive rating, according to Cleaning the Glass, 107 points per 100 possessions.
00:58:01The Knicks are eighth, 111.9 points per 100 possessions.
00:58:05The defense has been good.
00:58:06I've said they will be a top 8 to 10 defense.
00:58:09They are eight.
00:58:09It is four games, though, so let's not trip four games.
00:58:13But do you think their defense will carry them through rough patches like we've seen in the last couple of games this season?
00:58:19Do you think that'll happen?
00:58:21I don't know.
00:58:24So define rough patches.
00:58:27Like, do you think...
00:58:28Carl Anthony Towns having five fouls and eight points?
00:58:33The team shooting 30% from three?
00:58:37That feels like rough patches.
00:58:39Where the offense isn't there.
00:58:40Because we know, look, some Knights offense is going to be there.
00:58:43And you're going to need your defense to carry you, right?
00:58:46I think it can.
00:58:46Is it good enough to do that?
00:58:47The difficult thing I have is just on a day-to-day NBA basis, who's going to be out there?
00:58:52Like, who won't go be there?
00:58:53You know what I mean?
00:58:54And you look at Cleveland.
00:58:56Cleveland didn't have Darius Garland, Max Drews, or DeAndre Hunter in that first game.
00:59:00Boston obviously didn't have Jason Tatum.
00:59:02Miami doesn't have Tyler Hero.
00:59:03As much as I feel like that may not be the most relevant thing.
00:59:09Milwaukee had...
00:59:10They had their guys, pretty much.
00:59:13The Bulls are going to have everyone but Colby White and Zach Collins.
00:59:17But Zach Collins is perpetually injured, so it is what it is.
00:59:19I think it can, but I think if you're playing an elite team or an elite player that's mostly healthy, that's where I have more questions.
00:59:30So Milwaukee was able to figure out, and we talked about this on a live show, but Milwaukee made the adjustment.
00:59:36Like, they formed a wall, the Knicks.
00:59:38They formed a wall against Giannis.
00:59:40And then they did some problem-solving at halftime, evidently, because they came out and were like, okay, Doc Rivers said, we're going to put shooters on the corners.
00:59:48We're going to spread the Knicks defense out.
00:59:50Giannis found the shooters, and then eventually, once the Knicks defense was spread out, Giannis was able to get to the rack and do what he does.
00:59:56And other guys were able to feed off of that.
00:59:58Like, he led them as a star should.
01:00:00And that's where I have the concern.
01:00:02So I think the defense can carry them against the not-good-slash-middling teams.
01:00:08But if you're facing an elite offensive team or an elite offensive player that's mostly healthy, then I don't know.
01:00:16I think, see, I think that's a fair answer.
01:00:17I think it can carry them to rough patches where they don't shoot the ball well.
01:00:21Or Caronty Towns has the kind of game that he did against weaker teams, and you'd want them to.
01:00:26They should be handling their business in that way.
01:00:28Defense can win you games when you don't shoot well.
01:00:30But you're right.
01:00:30Good offensive teams with great offensive players will figure things out eventually.
01:00:36That's why they're superstars, right?
01:00:37Like, that's why this stuff happens.
01:00:40Or great coaching.
01:00:42You know what I mean?
01:00:43Like, we just talked about how Billy Donovan's doing a good job, really good job with the Bulls so far.
01:00:48Like, the Bulls have a system, and they know who they are.
01:00:51The Heat have a system, and they know who they are.
01:00:53And these are the kind of teams that I think could bother the Knicks, too, even with Mitchell Robinson out there.
01:00:58Because we're not expecting Mitchell Robinson to play big minutes this season, apparently.
01:01:02Right, and I think you will see.
01:01:04I do think this.
01:01:04I still am going to stand on it.
01:01:05I think this Knicks defense will be better.
01:01:07I do think it'll carry them against a rough patch against weaker teams.
01:01:10And the Knicks should be one of the better teams in the league.
01:01:12So I'm going to lean towards yes.
01:01:13This is like a yes.
01:01:14But I love the caveat you brought against elite defenses, elite players.
01:01:18We got to see how that looks there.
01:01:20All right, second reel or not, Cat is uncomfortable in Mike Brown's office because that's been some of the talking points after what we saw on the other night against the Bucs.
01:01:30You know, he had the eight points.
01:01:31He had the five fouls.
01:01:33Some people say he's not comfortable.
01:01:34I had another journalist I talked to yesterday.
01:01:36He told me he doesn't think Cat particularly likes Mike Brown or likes playing this offense.
01:01:41I don't necessarily agree with that.
01:01:43Was it more of a theory or was that kind of a report?
01:01:46It was not reporting to this.
01:01:47I talked on the journalist who had a theory on this.
01:01:49But there was not reporting.
01:01:51By the way, Mo in the chat said, is this game on MSG tonight?
01:01:54No, the game is tomorrow.
01:01:55And it'll be a prime.
01:01:57Actually, it'll be a game on prime if I'm not sure.
01:01:58Is it?
01:01:58I don't know if it's on.
01:02:00I checked.
01:02:01No, no, it's not on prime tomorrow.
01:02:02It's not a prime game tomorrow.
01:02:03It's an MSG game tomorrow.
01:02:04Friday night Knicks.
01:02:05Friday night Knicks, people.
01:02:07So what do you think?
01:02:08Cat uncomfortable in Mike Brown's offense?
01:02:11Yay or nay?
01:02:11So far, yes.
01:02:13I don't think that's a lasting thing.
01:02:14I think he'll figure out the offense.
01:02:16Because the issue that I have is always going to be on the defensive end and always going
01:02:22to be the fouls and the timing and just those type of things.
01:02:25I'm not really worried about Cat offensively.
01:02:27He's going to find his shot.
01:02:29He's shooting 35% from the field.
01:02:30I don't think, regardless of how pessimistic you are about Cat, I don't think you believe
01:02:35that's going to be a lasting thing.
01:02:37You know, any of you watching this, right?
01:02:3933% from three, I don't think that's going to be a lasting thing either.
01:02:43So I think the offense will figure itself out.
01:02:45Yes, he's struggling so far.
01:02:46And there's going to be times where it doesn't look pretty.
01:02:48Because if you're trying to increase movement, you know, he's not the, like, he's a great
01:02:52shooter, but he's not the most fleet of foot.
01:02:54And it looks clunky when he drives.
01:02:56And you have to get him in more pick and pop spots and more catch and shoot opportunities
01:03:00and opportunities at the rim, as a matter of fact, too.
01:03:03So I think that'll figure itself out.
01:03:05The defense is where there's always going to be questions.
01:03:08And can he be just disciplined enough for the Knicks, to your point, to have a top 8
01:03:13to 10 defense?
01:03:14Yeah, he's a huge part of that, him being disciplined enough, right?
01:03:16Like, I do think so.
01:03:17I'm not concerned about him in the offense.
01:03:19I think he's just way too talented of an offensive player.
01:03:21I think if you look at the shot diet Cat has had and look at the shots he's been taking,
01:03:25they've been good shots.
01:03:27He just has not been hitting them.
01:03:28And sometimes that happens in stretches of a season.
01:03:31And it's a little concerning, I think, for people when they see it in the beginning
01:03:34of the season.
01:03:35They're like, ooh, he's only shooting 35% in the field.
01:03:36Right out the gate, new system.
01:03:37Oh, he's only shooting 33, right?
01:03:39But players usually play to the back of their card, baseball card, basketball card, whatever
01:03:43you want to say.
01:03:44I think he will be fine.
01:03:45I'm not worried about him because he's too good of an offense player.
01:03:48We also know he's prone to dumb fouls, as I talked about on the other night.
01:03:53That should be more of the concern.
01:03:55I think he'll be comfortable.
01:03:56So I'm giving a no to this, Cat, as he will be comfortable eventually, Mike Brown's offense.
01:04:00I also think there's going to be ways they're going to be able to utilize his passing out
01:04:03of the high post that we will see more of as this offense just gets more fluid and more
01:04:07comfortable.
01:04:08I think that'll look better.
01:04:09All right.
01:04:10Last thing for me, Mikael Bridges.
01:04:12Some of y'all were on him last year.
01:04:14He's had a good start to the season.
01:04:16Speaking of looking comfortable in the offense, he looks comfortable in Mike Brown's offense.
01:04:20Mikael Bridges will be the most consistent Nick this season, Brian.
01:04:23Yes or no?
01:04:25What do you say?
01:04:25It's still probably going to be Jalen Brunson, but it's going to be from a two-way perspective.
01:04:33It probably will be Mikael Bridges because he looks like he's back closer to where he
01:04:38was before they got him, what they traded for.
01:04:42He's more comfortable on the offense because he's just faster than OG Ananubi.
01:04:46He has more on-ball juice than OG Ananubi from an offensive perspective, from an offensive
01:04:50standpoint.
01:04:51Like OG Ananubi, say what you want, but we're in year, I don't know how many, seven, eight,
01:04:56nine years of this already, and the offense is clunky and it's just going to be clunky.
01:05:00And OG's offense is going to come down to, is he hitting his corner three?
01:05:03Great.
01:05:04Is he not?
01:05:05He'll be great defensively, most likely.
01:05:08Like that's what it is.
01:05:09And Mikael Bridges can just do more than that.
01:05:11Not to say he's better because I think OG Ananubi's defense is better from a high-end
01:05:16perspective.
01:05:16But yeah, I think Mikael is probably going to be the most consistent two-way guy if he
01:05:21could, if he just continues to play like this because of the pops of the pop that he can
01:05:25give you on the ball.
01:05:26He's getting to the rim again, which is a big thing so far this season.
01:05:30He shot 12 free throws.
01:05:31He's made 11 of them.
01:05:32He's 90% from the free throw line.
01:05:34Um, if he's, if he's going to score at all three levels and particularly be accurate
01:05:41from three, he's 47% so far on real volume about five attempts per game and getting to
01:05:47the free throw line.
01:05:47I don't think he's going to shoot 91% from free throw the entire year, but if he's getting
01:05:51there, this is literally the number we said before the season, three times a game.
01:05:55Yes.
01:05:56Then the consistency is going to be there from a two-way perspective.
01:05:59It's, it's hard not to say Jalen Brunson though, just because Brunson, but two way
01:06:03player.
01:06:04Yeah, it could absolutely be the most consistent two-way player, most consistent player.
01:06:08I mean, there's a world and it could happen.
01:06:10I think it's just hard to bet against Jalen Brunson.
01:06:11I will say, I love that you brought up the free throw stuff because we've been talking
01:06:14about that since last year.
01:06:15He's doing it.
01:06:16Talked about in the off season.
01:06:17I did say in the off season, I thought he would have, he's the most impactful Nick.
01:06:22This, I think I had as the most impactful Nick, number one on my list.
01:06:25And I thought he was going to have a good season.
01:06:27You talked about the free throws.
01:06:29That is improved.
01:06:30Nick's free throw rate is also better.
01:06:31Nick's are 12th in the league in free throw rate in terms of how many free throws did the
01:06:36team make per 100 field goal attempts.
01:06:39They're making 24.6 free throws per 100 field goal attempts.
01:06:44So that's really good.
01:06:45They're 12th in the league.
01:06:46That can go up even higher because of a guy we're talking about, who's not even playing
01:06:50that great offensively in County towns.
01:06:52So if Jill, if Mikkel Bridges, we know Jalen Brunson gets a lot, but Mikkel Bridges is getting
01:06:56to the line and cat can start getting to line more.
01:06:59And we've even seen some from OG that's going to bode better for this team's offensive efficiency.
01:07:03And we know offense is still not great right now.
01:07:06The Knicks are 24th, according to cleaning the glass in offensive rating, 111 points, 111.4
01:07:12points per 100 possessions.
01:07:13So we can see that get better.
01:07:15Yeah, I do think I will say this.
01:07:18I think Mikkel Bridges will be one of the most consistent Knicks this year.
01:07:21I think he's one of the most important pieces this year and be one of the most impactful
01:07:26Knicks this year.
01:07:26And he's already shown that early on.
01:07:28He just looks comfortable.
01:07:30And sometimes that happens in year two with the team and it's cool.
01:07:34And sometimes that happens, comes with new coaching for y'all to want to get Mike Brown
01:07:37out of here.
01:07:38And that's also cool, but we'll see.
01:07:41All right, good job, or real or not.
01:07:43We are going to get out of here.
01:07:44We appreciate y'all rocking with us here on this Thursday evening.
01:07:48Special shout out to our guest, Cam Smith.
01:07:50He had the technical issues, but we got it all worked out.
01:07:52So we went a little bit longer today with Cam.
01:07:55Cam gave us a good time, even though he roots for that team in North London.
01:07:59But we still will show him love there.
01:08:01Thank you to everybody in the chat.
01:08:03The regulars in here, East Blue Drew, Dorkasaurus Rex, you were coming through with the stats.
01:08:08We sure saw you.
01:08:09Mo, you said you got to add MSG to your TV lineup.
01:08:12Please do that so you can watch the game tonight.
01:08:14We will be back.
01:08:15Another episode of New York Got Game will drop on Monday.
01:08:20I've got my guy, Benjamin Ritholtz from Knicks Film School.
01:08:23He will be joining me for a breakdown.
01:08:25We're going to look at the Knicks offense.
01:08:26What's going right?
01:08:27What's going wrong?
01:08:28Brian and I should have something fun for you guys next week in terms of the episode.
01:08:33We're going to keep that a surprise.
01:08:34I think that's going to be a fun one that we're going to talk about.
01:08:37We're going to talk about that.
01:08:38We'll have another watch party coming up later in next month.
01:08:41We've got a lot more content coming for you on New York.
01:08:44We'll be doing stuff at games as well that we'll post.
01:08:48Yep.
01:08:49That is true.
01:08:50We'll be doing some stuff at games.
01:08:51Boots on the ground.
01:08:52Also, I want to throw this last thing out there because you mentioned Mikael Bridges and it taking a year.
01:08:56Famously, you know who's another Knick that really struggled in their first year before getting it together and making it to the all-star game multiple times?
01:09:04I don't know if we're just going to do that part, but another Knick that struggled the first year and then turn it around and was part of some really good Knick teams in the late 90s.
01:09:12Oh, in the late 90s.
01:09:14Allen Houston.
01:09:15Allen Houston.
01:09:16Didn't shoot the ball well his first season.
01:09:17Nope.
01:09:18And then he became what he became.
01:09:22I don't know if Bridges is going to do that, but there is precedent for a high-profile wing who was costly, who came in, struggled the first year, turned it around, and had a good Knick career.
01:09:34A nice new contract after that, once he did that.
01:09:37So that's good.
01:09:38All right.
01:09:39Everybody, be well.
01:09:41We'll see if the Knicks can win tomorrow and improve to 3-2.
01:09:43They then play Chicago on Sunday again, as Cam had mentioned.
01:09:47So a little home-and-home series for this team, one being an NBA Cup game, one being a non-NBA Cup game.
01:09:53We'll see.
01:09:54I will also be at the Knicks game against the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
01:09:57Same.
01:09:58Brian will be there as well with me, too, so we'll have something for you guys on that.
01:10:02That should be good.
01:10:04Everybody, be well.
01:10:05Enjoy your Friday night, Knicks.
01:10:07I am Dexter Henry.
01:10:08That is Brian Fonseca.
01:10:10Special thanks to our producer, Tommy Cohen.
01:10:13Did a fantastic job on this.
01:10:14We will see y'all next week for another edition of Knicks Weekly Live and a lot more content.
01:10:20So stay tapped in to New York Cup game.
01:10:22Peace, y'all.
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