Hour 1: No Spoilers, Please

Summary

Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron: Hour 1 - "No Spoilers, Please"

Release Date: April 20, 2025

Hosts: Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf
Platform: ESPN Radio
Description: Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf delve into the latest happenings in the sports world every Sunday morning, providing insightful analysis and engaging discussions for their listeners.

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1. Reunion and Matt's Trip to the Netherlands

The episode kicks off with Matt Jones returning from a three-week trip to the Netherlands. Myron Medcalf warmly welcomes Matt back, sparking a lively conversation about Matt's experiences abroad.

Key Discussions:

• Quality of Life in the Netherlands:
  Matt praises the Netherlands for its high quality of life and relaxed pace, highlighting cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague.

  Matt (00:53): "People have a good quality of life, they move at a more sort of slow pace."

• Tulips and Keukenhof Gardens:
  Matt shares his visit to the Keukenhof Gardens, marveling at the world’s largest collection of tulips. However, he humorously critiques the long duration allocated for tulip viewing.

  Matt (02:03): "They plan two hours for us at the Tulips... 20 minutes of tulips would have been plenty."

• Bicycling Culture:
  The hosts discuss the ubiquitous and sometimes aggressive biking culture in the Netherlands, comparing it to similar behaviors observed in the U.S.

  Matt (03:06): "There are bicycles everywhere. They are some of the nastiest people on earth on their bikes."

Notable Quote:

Matt (02:47): "But it is one of them is a beautiful city."

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2. The Spoiler Dilemma: WrestleMania on Air

Myron brings up a crucial topic: spoiler alerts, specifically concerning the recent events of WrestleMania. He expresses frustration that the hosts discussed key moments of WrestleMania live on air, despite his aversion to spoilers.

Key Discussions:

• Encounter with Cisco:
  Myron recounts a personal encounter with Cisco at a concert, highlighting the challenge of meeting celebrities without prior recognition.

  Myron (06:05): "He turned and gave me the peace sign."

• WrestleMania Spoilers:
  The tension escalates as Matt inadvertently spoils the outcome of WrestleMania for Myron, leading to a light-hearted argument about respecting spoiler preferences.

  Myron (07:31): "That's just not fair, man. You all know how I feel about spoilers."

Notable Quotes:

Myron (07:35): "You can't talk about sports until you find out whether or not you heard who won."

Matt (12:42): "Spoiler alert. Last night the Timberwolves beat the Lakers in game one."

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3. NBA Playoffs Breakdown: Lakers vs. Timberwolves

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to analyzing the first-round NBA playoff matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Matt and Myron delve deep into team dynamics, player performances, and strategic moves.

Key Discussions:

• Impact of the Luka Doncic Trade:
  Both hosts debate whether the Lakers' acquisition of Luka Doncic has strengthened the team for the current season or if it poses long-term benefits over immediate performance.

  Matt (15:07): "I wonder if his amazing one-on-one ability sort of de-neutralizes what's LeBron's magic ability."

• Team Chemistry and Defensive Capabilities:
  Myron emphasizes the importance of team chemistry and questions the Lakers' ability to guard younger, more agile teams.

  Myron (17:06): "The Lakers are not going to be able to guard these quick, young teams like the Timberwolves."

• Performance of Key Players:
  The discussion highlights the standout performances of players like Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Nas Reed for the Timberwolves, contrasting them with Luka's individual brilliance but lack of assists.

Notable Quotes:

Myron (14:17): "He's still 40 and he can't keep up the same way he once could."

Matt (21:45): "Anthony Edwards had the third most points last night. Jaden McDaniels had 25, Nas Reed had 23."

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4. Professional Darts in Rotterdam: A New Sporting Spectacle

Matt shifts the conversation to his unique experience attending a professional darts event in Rotterdam, drawing parallels between darts and more mainstream sports.

Key Discussions:

• Atmosphere and Spectacle:
  Matt describes the vibrant and party-like atmosphere of the darts league, emphasizing the entertainment value that elevates the sport beyond merely throwing darts.

  Matt (40:43): "They dress up in these amazing costumes. They party. It's all British and Dutch people watching it."

• Event Dynamics:
  The intense crowd reactions, entrance music, and the competitive spirit make darts a captivating experience.

  Matt (42:54): "You can make any event fun by adding music and spectacle."

Notable Quotes:

Matt (43:03): "Come on. Sp."

Myron (43:26): "You didn't even talk about this. But you foresaw where I'm going with this."

---

5. Russell Westbrook and the Denver Nuggets: Exceeding Expectations

The hosts transition to discussing Russell Westbrook's performance with the Denver Nuggets, highlighting his resilience and impact on the team.

Key Discussions:

• Westbrook’s Role:
  Myron praises Westbrook's evolution into a team player and his positive influence in the locker room, contrasting it with earlier criticisms of his career choices.

  Myron (29:17): "He is still from sort of that old era... He becomes the likable uncle with those dudes."

• Team Performance:
  Matt commends the Nuggets for their strategic plays and Westbrook's ability to deliver crucial moments that secure victories.

  Matt (30:44): "It was a weird play... They get the win."

Notable Quotes:

Myron (29:38): "He's the top choice for a locker room guy for the next three, four years if he wants."

Matt (28:27): "He's a Hall of Famer. And I think if you're honest... Russell Westbrook has exceeded expectations this year."

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6. Additional Highlights: Knicks' Playoff Performance and Legacy Discussions

Towards the end of the episode, Matt and Myron touch upon the New York Knicks' playoff performance and broader discussions about athlete legacies.

Key Discussions:

• Knicks’ Strong Start:
  The hosts express excitement over the Knicks' successful playoff game, appreciating the performances of key players like Brunson, Towns, and PJ Tucker.

  Matt (32:37): "If you're a Knicks fan, you got to love the performance."

• Legacy and Career Moves:
  A brief debate ensues about John Cena's heel turn in wrestling and its impact on his legacy, reflecting on how career decisions shape public perception.

  Myron (25:18): "How you'll be remembered."

Notable Quotes:

Matt (34:37): "They can probably advance without all these guys playing well. But if they want to have a chance beyond this series, they have to be good every single night."

Myron (25:18): "Think about legacy, how you'll be remembered."

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Conclusion

In "No Spoilers, Please," Matt and Myron deliver a dynamic and multifaceted discussion encompassing international sports experiences, the complexities of NBA playoff matchups, emerging sporting events like professional darts, and the evolving roles of athletes in team dynamics. Their candid conversation, peppered with humorous exchanges and insightful analysis, offers listeners a comprehensive overview of current sports narratives while maintaining an engaging and relatable tone.

Final Notable Quote:

Matt (45:55): "Player from the Netherlands... they're screaming, they're singing, they're dancing."

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Note: The timestamps provided correspond to the approximate moments in the transcript where the quotes occur.

Transcript

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[Myron]

This is Matt and Myron the podcast.

[Matt]

Sunday morning here on ESPN Radio. Return me Matt along with Myron, ready to go after three weeks of being apart. We are presented by Progressive Insurance. If you miss anything on today's show, remember we have the Sunday mornings of Matt Myon podcast. Myron, I've been in the Netherlands for three weeks. Haven't gotten to talk to you since before the final four and yet here we are. And it's good to see you. How you doing, friend? It's been a while.

[Myron]

I'm good, man. Yeah, no, it's been, it's been fun, man. How, how was the Netherlands?

[Matt]

Have you ever been to the Netherlands, by the way? Yeah. In your life?

[Myron]

Let me ask you a question. Do you think I've ever been to the Netherlands?

[Matt]

Well, I mean, that has nothing.

[Myron]

No, no, no. Just answer that question. What do you think?

[Matt]

I could see you, I could see you being. Cause you're a cultured guy and you'd be like, I'd like to go to Amsterdam, experience in different cultures and do all that.

[Myron]

No, I haven't been in the Netherlands. But it sounds like, I mean, just before the show, the way you were talking about it like that, maybe you're on their chamber of commerce.

[Matt]

I like the Netherlands, man. They do a lot of things right. Like people, people have like a good quality of life, you know, they move at a more sort of slow pace. And I'm a big Netherlands guy, went to Amsterdam, went to Rotterdam, went to the Hague, went and saw the tulips. It was, it was a wonderful trip, Myron. Three weeks out in, out and seen another country.

[Myron]

I don't know anything about the tulips. I know you mentioned that before the show. I don't know.

[Matt]

Well, so you know, I mean, you know what a tulip is, right? Like you're aware of tulip.

[Myron]

Are you asking me if I know what a flower is? Is that what you're questioning?

[Matt]

Well, you said that you don't know.

[Myron]

I don't know about the tulips and their connection to. Ask me if I know what flowers. Do you think I don't know what a flower? Is that what you asked me, man.

[Matt]

I'm just saying. Okay, so tulips, like the Netherlands is the place for tulips. You can go read if you ever get. If you ever get bored, you could go read about the tulip bubble. A lot of people compare it to crypto from the 1500s, but forget about that. Tulips are beautiful. In April, which is when I was there, is the main time for tulips. So they're. Because they're blooming. So I went to the Keukenhof Gardens, Myron, and saw it's the world's biggest collection of tulips and it was beautiful. But here's what I have to say to you, my little group. They plan two hours for us at the Tulips. I'm. Once you've seen tulips for 20 minutes, that's plenty. I didn't need the other hour and 40 minutes. That's more tulip than Matt Jones needed. 20 minutes of tulips would have been plenty.

[Myron]

What'd you do for the rest of the time?

[Matt]

Just walked around and hoped that the bus would come back so I could go back to my hotel. It was too. That's too long for tulips.

[Myron]

I mean, in general, I think people do that stuff like, you know, go on trips and they just plan way too much time for the stuff. That should just be kind of a drive by. Right? That's a lot of time with tulips.

[Matt]

But it is one of them is a beautiful city. No, you're not allowed to do that. Well, you can bring the seeds and plant them, but I don't know how to do all those things. Here's the other thing about. About the Netherlands sticks out. You got tulips. Second, the bicycles. There are bicycles, Mirin, everywhere. Like they don't in the cities. They don't drive cars. They ride bikes. And they are some of the nastiest people on earth. On their bikes. They will run you over and then get angry at you about it. They do not care. They have their stupid little bells. Anybody who's been to the Netherlands knows this. They have their stupid little bells and they'll ding them and if you don't get out of the way, they will plow you over. You can't imagine. Imagine a city like New York, but everybody's on a bike and they're all aggressive. That's what it's like.

[Myron]

Well, I mean maybe that. That's universal then because people on bikes are nasty here too. Bike people.

[Matt]

But imagine there were 20 times as many people on the bikes. That's what I'm talking about.

[Myron]

That sound like an army. But I do feel like bike People over the last 20 years have decided that they're in cars, and it's a very interesting culture to bite people, man. I didn't know they were overseas, too. That's scary.

[Matt]

Oh, no. No country on earth has more tulips or bike people than the Netherlands. And I'm gonna say something about bike people. This includes bike people in America. Y'all need to chill. Like, they. There's a sense of entitlement with these bike people. That's crazy. Like, they just think because cars, we understand, we have to yield to pedestrians. Right. Bike people have decided that in the grand scheme of life, they're ahead of pedestrians and they don't care. They are nasty. Bike people are nasty.

[Myron]

Yeah. I want to make sure to all the listeners, he's saying bike people, not black people. Because, I mean, you said it fast. You said it fast. And I can see somebody tuning in and hearing black people, and I just want to. I want to help you out. He's saying bike B I K E.

[Matt]

People use a different bicycle.

[Myron]

I don't want to get those phone calls. I just. You said it fast with that Kentucky sl. It was quick. So I could just. Somebody tuning in, maybe they might have missed it. So I'm just trying to help you out much.

[Matt]

I meant it was bike people, but it was. They are nasty, and it was a great vacation. However, I love the Netherlands. I recommend you go sometimes. Myron, I think you would like it. Now, when we started this morning in the little pre show, you very grandly pronounced that you had an announcement that we needed to hear, and you said it was so important that you wanted to wait to do it on the air. So I have not heard this. What is your announcement?

[Myron]

I thought you all liked me, and then I saw you on the group chat spoiling WrestleMania. Now, everybody in the show knows I get to series TV shows, usually sometimes a day late, sometimes a couple days. Right. I was at the Kendrick Lamar concert here last night with sza, which was great. Bumped into some old friends. I saw Cisco, you know, who was hanging out.

[Matt]

So are you saying Cisco is an old friend? You and the thong song?

[Myron]

No, no, no. I was. I was walking, and I see a dude. I see a dude in a little red hoodie, and it looked like him, but I don't want to make it a scene. So I was like, is that Cisco? Just kind of under my breath. And then he turned and gave me the peace sign. So, yeah.

[Matt]

So he knows you. You're saying Cisco knows you?

[Myron]

Well, we met in that moment. Yeah, we. We had a moment yesterday.

[Matt]

So he didn't know you before that. I don't think that counts. If you met what's. Somebody meets you, that doesn't mean they know you.

[Myron]

Let me tell you something about Cisco, though. And I think that whole generation, like pop, you know, one hit wonders if you want to call them. Yeah, they really love being recognized. Like they go to places and they act like they don't want to be recognized. Like he had a hoodie on, didn't want anyone to see him. But when I said, is that Cisco? He really lightened up. Like he was really excited that.

[Matt]

That's. Anyway, when I run into Shy and I go, hey, didn't you. They're very excited about it. But you're Kendrick Lamar, so you are not like us. You are not like us. You stay home and watch WrestleMania.

[Myron]

No.

[Matt]

What did you.

[Myron]

I was watching the NBA on my phone, but. But I was saving WrestleMania and no one in the group chat thought to say, hey, is Myron watching? And you all know how I am about spoilers. You know what? Mikey C. Didn't surprise me. You even didn't surprise me. But James Steele didn't even ask the question. But Myron, here's that to me. Hurt me a little bit.

[Matt]

Guys, WrestleMania is a sporting event. It's not a TV show.

[ESPN Radio Host]

It's not a TV show.

[Matt]

You can't. It's not like if the Lakers. You wanted us to not say that the Timberwolves won last night, but this is my thing.

[Myron]

You all know how I do with spoilers. You guys know that. So should we talk about sports until.

[Matt]

We find out whether or not you heard who won?

[Myron]

No, I think specifically WrestleMania. Like we've had the wrestling conversation in the past. It takes me a day or two sometimes.

[Matt]

You don't get to do that.

[Myron]

You don't get to do.

[Matt]

Takes me a day or two. This is a sports show. We were going to talk about Seth Rollins winning the title and Paul Heyman double crossing CM Punk and Roman Reigns. We were going to talk about it.

[Myron]

You just did it to me. You don't have to do that, though. You don't. Why would you do that, though? Why not let me in for the.

[Matt]

First time when Paul Heyman snuck up behind CM Punk and hits him in private and then when he comes over to Roman Reigns and he comes up.

[Myron]

And he comes up and hits him.

[Matt]

In the private bouquet of tulips and.

[Myron]

You'Re just crashing the show and not letting me enjoy this. First off, why is WrestleMania eight days like, that's my other question. It's like, it's been on since Tuesday. That's how it feels. That's how it feels. And then you're like, oh, you didn't.

[Matt]

You weren't there on day one.

[Myron]

You didn't say, roman Reigns jump off a building and, you know, kick CM Punk in the face. No, I was at a show and I was hanging out and I was going, you know, you're in the business.

[Matt]

Of talking about sporting events, like, the.

[Myron]

Day after they happen.

[Matt]

Yeah. Did you want us to talk about it today?

[Myron]

I was watching the NBA on my phone during the show, so I was keeping up with, you know, the games, but WrestleMania, I was saving for later, man. You guys are just going.

[Matt]

You don't get to say for later. Here, let me go through Jay USO beats Gunther in the first match. Tiffany surprisingly beat Charlotte.

[Myron]

You don't have to do that. Let me just have it, man. I didn't.

[Matt]

The new day. The New Day actually won the tag team championship. So if you want any other. Jade Cargill got her revenge on Naomi. A lot of good stuff happened last night.

[Myron]

See you all. My. That's just not fair, man. You all know how I feel about spoilers, and you all just went and did it. That's okay. It's not a movie.

[ESPN Radio Host]

It's not a TV show. Like, it's.

[Myron]

It's me, though. I don't care about any of these other.

[Matt]

It's me.

[Myron]

You know how to speak up on.

[ESPN Radio Host]

The group chat, too.

[Myron]

If we're. If we're doing something you don't want to spoil, just tell us this.

[Matt]

Well, just add, here's the bottom line. Here's the bottom line. Just act surprised when you see Paul Heyman walk up behind these guys and hit them in the private area. Then you could. Then it'll be like you didn't even know. Sunday morning is presented by Progressive Insurance. It's easy to bundle your home and car [e-mail]. the Timberwolves beat up on the Lakers last night. No one told Myron yet, so he might be spoiled. Will it be a bump in the road for LeBron and Luca? That's next here on Sunday Morning with Matt Myon on espn.

[Myron]

Matt and Myron, the pod.

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[Myron]

This was what was.

[Matt]

Playing when Myron was talking to Cisco last night Sunday morning on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. I have a text machine 772-7745-2544 One person writes Matt, I appreciate Myron's correction of the way you talked. I have to admit I thought that's what you said too. Myron may have helped you out.

[Myron]

I think I did. I think I did help you out. People have tweeted me too.

[Matt]

One person writes Matt, do not tell Myron that the Rock beat stone Cold at WrestleMania 17.

[Myron]

I don't want to spoil it for you guys.

[Matt]

Can we talk about the old ones.

[Myron]

Back then or no, now you all just poking fun. I'm just. I think it's a simple. I think it's a simple request that that most people my situation would make. All right, here we go.

[Matt]

Spoiler alert. Last night the Timberwolves beat the Lakers in game one.

[Myron]

I watched that.

[Matt]

I was watching my first round of the NBA playoffs. I'm glad you did. Anthony Edwards played well, but it wasn't just him. Jade McDaniels had 25 points. Nas Reed who? Somebody had a poster up at WrestleMania that just said Nas. Read on it. He had 23 points with six three pointers and in the Timberwolves were able to overcome Lucas 37 points to get the win. Alright, so one of the things I do in the NBA playoffs, especially the first round, Myron, you don't overreact on game one. There's always a crazy result. I don't even think this one was that crazy. But you don't over. Yeah, but I will say as I was watching this. You know, everyone has made a huge deal, correctly so about the trade of Luca, etc. But I do wonder if, at least in the short term, long term, that was probably the right deal for the Lakers because you have Luca for the next few years. But short term, is there any way that these deals made both teams worse? Because as I was watching that series last night, I was thinking, the Lakers are not going to be able to guard these teams, these quick, young teams like the Timberwolves, like the Thunder, they're just not going to be able to guard these teams. Is that how you took it? Yeah.

[Myron]

I mean, well, first question. It definitely made them better. I mean, if you, if you look at The Lakers since February 2nd, they're a better team. Better, actually defensively better in a lot of ways. I mean, if you can get Luca, you go get Luca.

[Matt]

But I will note, when that trade was made, the Lakers were in, I think, fifth in the west and now they're in third. And the, the thing that separated third and seventh was one game just for the note. But go ahead.

[Myron]

Yeah, no, I, but I think you make the trade for this moment right here. Like, you make the trade because you think Luca is more equipped to lead this team into the playoffs. But it is ultimately a long term play. I thought Minnesota was the better team, period. Though. Like, if you look at all the metrics, Minnesota's better in every way. And I think you just saw that play out like Minnesota's deeper. I think Minnesota is a bigger headache for, for a team that has two guys that don't really guard and LeBron and Luca, and I'm not surprised.

[Matt]

Or Austin Reeves. They got three guys who can't guard their three best players, can't guard anybody.

[Myron]

It wasn't the, the how lopsided it was was surprising. But in terms of like, this was a really bad matchup from, for the Lakers from day one. I think it's exposing their weaknesses and I don't know how you're going to slow down a team led by a bunch of young guys like Anthony Edwards.

[Matt]

Luka had one assist, so it's hard to criticize a guy who had 37 points, but he had one assist. And part of what I think made LeBron so great in his prime, and he's still great. He's probably going to be second or third team all NBA. But what made him so great is he was amazing and he got everybody else involved. He could not only control a game himself, he made everybody around him the best version of Himself. The knock on Luca, if there is a knock, is yes, what an individual amazing player. But especially in the last year or two, he kind of, it's him, right? It's on him. And I wonder if his amazing one on one ability sort of de neutral or kind of neutralizes what's LeBron's magic ability, which is to make everybody better. And I watched that last night. It felt like the ball stops with Luca and then all of a sudden some of the things LeBron is so magical at, he's just not able to do. And I wonder how that's going to play out over the course of the series.

[Myron]

Yeah, I mean, I think it's a combination and I think that's part of it. I think one regular season and postseason are so different. You know, like teams can be great in regular season now to me is where chemistry matters, coaching matters. Just like the NCAA tournament and the Lakers haven't been here before. I think there is a power struggle that we all kind of anticipated. Who's Batman, who's Robin? Right. I think Batman is Certainly Luca, but LeBron trying to adjust to that other role I think is going to take some time. Also. He's 40. Yes, he may be the greatest 40 year old athlete, human being we have ever seen, but he's still 40 and he can't keep up the same way he once could. I don't think LeBron can win a series for you. I think that's what you saw last night. LeBron right now is an exceptional complimentary player in the postseason. He can't lead you to the promised land. And I think that to me is going to be their biggest challenge is how do you get a guy that age?

[Matt]

I want to go back to why, you know, making the trade. And again, long term, I think it's a great trade for the Lakers. But for this year, you think Minnesota is going to win this series, right?

[Myron]

Yeah, I thought that before all. Yeah, I thought that.

[Matt]

Okay, so if you think Minnesota is going to win the series, wouldn't you agree that if they hadn't made the trade, they probably would have lost in the first round as well with LeBron and AD, like aren't they in the, I mean again, long term in better shape but for this year, are they, Are they significantly better in your mind? Remember when they made the trade, Anthony Davis, you know, LeBron hadn't been playing like it, like they hadn't played together in a few weeks.

[Myron]

Luke is better than Anthony Davis. I mean, if that's what you're Asking.

[Matt]

Like, I totally agree with that. But is Luca a better compliment to LeBron than Anthony Davis?

[Myron]

I think so. I mean, again, they were. They were better since February 2nd. Like all the matches. That was.

[Matt]

A lot of that was health net. I mean like healthness, which is not a word. A lot of that was healthiness. I mean, AD and LeBron were not healthy at the same time a lot of the earlier in the year.

[Myron]

Yeah, listen, if you can get Luke, you go and get Luka, who I think is the top five.

[Matt]

But you're not answering my question. Are they better than this year with Luca?

[Myron]

But I have said they're better. I think they're better. I've said that. I think they've shown that since February 2nd. I think the question you're asking is are they more of a contender than they were at that moment? I don't know the answer to that because again, we're still. I start fresh in the postseason. Like to me, I really don't care what anyone's done in regular season. That's just setting you up for now. Now it comes down to, okay, what are you in this high stakes environment. And the Lakers don't have any chemistry. AD and LeBron had that because they played so many games together. They'd won a championship together. That's the biggest thing I think they lost when they traded Anthony Davis is it looks like the Lakers are still building chemistry in real time, whereas the Timberwolves are like, we've been here before. We've played this guy. We're not afraid of them. And I think that was the difference between those two teams last night.

[Matt]

Well, I don't get me wrong, they should have made the trade. It's better for the team long term. Assuming Luca signs his extension this year, I'm all for it.

[Myron]

Which is an if that's not a guarantee.

[Matt]

That isn't if. And if he doesn't sign, then this trade looks different. But let's just signs because I think he will. I do not necessarily think they are more. They are better this year than they were in terms of the. For the playoffs. You can't tell me the regular season doesn't matter. And then tell me about the metrics during the regular season. You know, I think when you look at, when I look at this game last night, they don't have a big. Maybe if they had made the Mark Williams trade, they would have had it. But they have no way of guarding this Minnesota team. I think Minnesota wins the series, but even if they don't, they're not going to have any way of guarding Houston. They're not going to have any way of guarding Oklahoma City. I don't think they're going to have any way of guarding the Clippers. So I just feel like they have a team that while you go, hey, you got two of the 15 best players of all time, I'm just not sure the team can play in a way that can win a championship. The constructed the way they are. Maybe I'll be wrong, Myron, but I just don't see it like they cannot guard anyone. And of the three best players they have, the best defender of those three is 40 years old.

[Myron]

Yeah, I mean, I think you hit something that's important. The Mark Williams. That botched trade matters now. It may not have mattered as much in regular season. I think this is where you feel it now because this is just a bad matchup. So I think that, to me, is part of what you're seeing. I think the other thing is there was a stretch where we were all saying Anthony Edwards might be the future of this league. I think yesterday you saw that he can play with anybody in this league. Luca is a guy who's been to the finals. His talent is undeniable. I understand why you make this trade and you would make it every single time it presented with the same opportunity. And I do think they're a better team today than they were on February 2nd. But I don't think the weaknesses have changed in a matchup like this against a Timberwolves team that has more depth, more size, and they're just built to handle the Lakers in ways that the Lakers aren't built to handle them.

[Matt]

What would worry me if I was a Lakers fan is if Anthony Edwards had gone off for 45 and you lost, you'd go, well, there it goes. That's one game. But Anthony Edwards had the third most points last night. Jaden McDaniels had 25, Nas Reed had 23. Go Bear wasn't even a factor during a lot of the game, and they still won by 22 points. That, to me, is hard to see Meyer and them being able to flip that around.

[Myron]

Yeah, and Anthony Edwards got hurt in the second half and they kept rolling. I don't think the Lakers can do anything to beat this Timberwolves team. They're not the better team. Minnesota is nothing to do.

[Matt]

So you say it's over. Guaranteed, it's over, Metcalf.

[Myron]

It was over last night.

[Matt]

It's over.

[Myron]

It's over.

[Matt]

Is it over like it was For Roman and cm when Heyman double crossed them and hit right in the crotch and turned heel. Was it over then? I think so.

[Myron]

Sunday Morning Matt and Myron the Podcast.

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[Matt]

Yes it is Sunday morning on ESPN radio presented by Progressive Insurance. If you look in my eyes and tell me what you see, it is Matt and Myron here on Sunday. It's Easter. This is the entrance, by the way for CM Punk who you know. As you know Myron, I'm involved with Ohio Valley Wrestling, one of the owners here of OVW and they showed OVW a lot on his entrance because he got started there. They showed our OVW ring. Made me very happy. I was like a proud papa. Thank you to CM Punk for doing that.

[Myron]

No. Yeah, that's a lot of connections, a lot of old school to the ovw. I didn't realize. I didn't realize how important it was for the WWE today.

[Matt]

Yeah, it's very, very important. John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, Batista, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, all former OVW alumni here in Louisville, Kentucky. Myron, I think that should make you very happy.

[Myron]

Is tonight where John Cena, the heel thing, is he still doing that?

[Matt]

John Cena is tonight against Cody Rhodes. That's right. So that's a bet. So that'll be the main event. They'll probably end the show.

[Myron]

What was a bad career move, John Cena?

[Matt]

Like, what?

[Myron]

You didn't have to do this.

[Matt]

Oh, you mean he'll. That makes you mad? Does it hurt your feelings as a wrestling fan?

[Myron]

He shouldn't have done that. Like, I get that. That, that. That's not the way to go. Like, I think that was. That was the wrong move to make him turn heel at the end of his career like that.

[Matt]

Nah, they'll. They'll bring. It'll be fine. It'll turn itself out now. Yet yesterday, in addition to wrestling, to.

[Myron]

The kids who love him. I don't think they. I don't think it's going to be fine. Those kids who believe in him. But go ahead.

[Matt]

This is hurting your feelings. Are you mad that turned to be back.

[Myron]

I don't like the forced heel turn. Fine. Hogan did whatever. But, like, Cena's different to me, and I thought that was a bad move.

[Matt]

You just thought he's always a good guy.

[Myron]

Well, that's this whole thing. I mean, that's the whole mantra, which.

[Matt]

Is why it's such a good heel turn, because, like, you're used to him being a good guy and now he's a bad guy. Like, that's why it's so powerful.

[Myron]

Think about legacy. I think you got to consider legacy, how you'll be remembered.

[Matt]

Stephen A. Metcalf over here talking about legacy.

[Myron]

He's not considering that part. I think he should be trying to.

[Matt]

Fight LeBron here soon yesterday. Speaking of legacy, we got the full Russell Westbrook experience yesterday as the Nuggets beat the Clippers in overtime. You got. I mean, it was everything that makes Russ great, right? So you got the three to take the lead in regulation, then the ball ends up in his hands with a chance to win, and he jumps up for a shot accident. Well, I guess he thinks he can't shoot it, so he tries to throw it off a Clippers guy's leg and it. Game ends. And then in overtime, he makes maybe the biggest play, throwing the ball off of James Harden, what he was trying to do in regulation. It was a great Russell Westbrook game. But unlike a lot of Russell Westbrook games, it ended in a victory as the Nuggets win one. I thought that was not only a game of the day, one of the best games of the season. What did you think about the Nuggets winning there yesterday?

[Myron]

I mean, that was fun down the stretch, you know, the Kawhi Leonard Steel. Like it was, it was dramatic. Like this could be the, I think maybe one of the best opening round series we have between these two teams. You know what it reminded me of with Westbrook? He is still from sort of that old era where you could be this really athletic, bouncy guard and that's kind of how you were judged. But he was in the middle of like the three point revolution with Steph Curry and those guys. So he's always judged that way.

[Matt]

But I mean, he was almost, you're right, he's a, he's a player that's kind of from the generation before this one, but that is still in this generation. And he gets kind of punished for that, sort of.

[Myron]

Yeah, yeah. He's sort of like the BlackBerry of the NBA a little bit. Like, you know, like people are like, what do you mean? You don't have FaceTime. So I think he gets judged that way. But I also think to me last night was just a reminder that's he's not going to be remembered in the first tier of all time greats, but.

[Matt]

That next tier, he's right there at the top.

[Myron]

You know what I mean?

[Matt]

He's a Hall of Famer. And I think if you're honest, when Denver got Russell Westbrook, I think most people thought that was either a terrible decision or he'd be off the team before the end of the year. And he's ended up being a big pickup for them. I mean, especially because Jamal Murray's been in and out, Michael Porter in and out, Aaron Gordon, you know, because of all that and because the rest of the supporting cast has been so bad at times for Denver. Outside of Christian Brown, he's ended up being a big player for them. And I think if everyone's honest, you have to say that Russell Westbrook has exceeded expectations this year. I mean, this is a guy's career who most of the places he's been after he leaves, people go, well, that was kind of a disappointment. I don't think people would say that in Denver, Myron, do you?

[Myron]

No. And I think the Disappointment stuff has really been in the second half of his career where, again, we just expect guards to be able to make a bunch of threes. And that's just not his game. It's not what he excels at. I think the thing about Denver, you know what else he's done? He's become the likable uncle with those dudes. Like, you see the way, like, Christian Brown talks about him and Jokic, fellow teammates.

[Matt]

You mean with his teammates? With his teammates.

[Myron]

I mean, Jokic loves him. I mean, part of the reason they made the move was because of Jokic and his relationship with him. But I think he is, to me, at this stage of his career, can't do all the things he could do when he was a young guy. But it's still a very good player. And I think you saw that last night.

[Matt]

Well, I will say I'm glad they won the game because if they had lost the game, it wouldn't have been good for him. Right. It wouldn't have been good if our final image was him not taking that shot at the play. Yeah, it was a weird play. And, you know, they made the smart decision of doubling Jokic and they gave him the ball, but they get the win. And the Clippers was a little surprising. Byron, honestly, to see Kawhi struggle in the fourth quarter of that game. You know, Harden made a couple big plays, but it wasn't quite the smooth efficiency that we used to from Kawhi. I mean, the question has been, will Kawhi stay healthy? Will he stay healthy? Well, he was healthy, and it just didn't work out. I mean, if you had told me that Russell Westbrook would look better at the end of the game than Kawhi Leonard, I don't know that I would have believed that, but it did kind of happen last night.

[Myron]

Yeah, I mean, this is a really good team and probably a champion in 2021. Right. But I mean, Kawhi at this stage of his career, you know, he's lost a step or two, still a very, very good player. And the Clippers, I mean, the last couple of months of the season were one of the best teams in the entire.

[Matt]

Oh, no doubt. I think they were stacking in efficiency in the last 25 games.

[Myron]

But I think to your point, this could be one of those series that just comes down to a couple of plays. Like, I don't know that Denver was that much better than the Clippers. Just at the end, there were a couple of plays that went.

[Matt]

A couple plays here and there. Westbrook Misses that three. It's a Clipper story, probably.

[Myron]

Yeah, it's a different story. So, I mean, I don't think if you're the Clippers, you leave that game going, oh, man, we don't know how to beat these guys. I think you feel like you can win game two and when the series switches to la, you have an advantage.

[Matt]

No, no, there's this. I'd be surprised if this series doesn't go 7. I think it'll at least go 6. I mean, these are two really good teams. This is the only series in the entire thing where I think you could say either of these teams could end up in the NBA Finals. Do you agree with that?

[Myron]

Yes, I agree.

[Matt]

So. Because either of them could. This is the. This is the best first round matchup. I love watching it. I thought it was excellent. I think you're going to see seven games like this, so I don't consider it a massive shocker. Now let's go for a second to the Knicks. They win against Detroit in a game that was a tough, physical game throughout. I love Detroit's mentality. You know, Myron, again, we were talking about this with Oklahoma City. I think there's a lot of people, there's a lot of fans of basketball who probably haven't seen Detroit play one game this year would.

[Myron]

You know, they don't even know they're in the playoffs. Yeah, they turned on the playoffs and they're like, is it 1994? They didn't realize, like, no.

[Matt]

I mean, they're looking around, wondering when Chauncey Billups is checking it. Right. Like there's.

[Myron]

I mean, maybe even Rick Mahorn, like, who knows?

[Matt]

There have been. There have been six or seven years where there was not a reason to watch Detroit do anything unless you just wanted to see Isaiah Stewart, like, foul somebody. Now this Detroit team kind of on a national stage. Even though they lost, I don't you think there was a little bit like, hey, we're out here, we are the. This is a different era. And I thought they actually played and it was an excellent performance. Even though they took the loss.

[Myron]

Yeah, I mean, it was, it was a good win. I mean, a good effort on the road, but I still think they look like they're a year away. They look like one of those young teams that will get there, but they're not there. I mean, the 21 run in the fourth quarter, you can't let that happen if you expect to win. But I do think this is one of those series where, you know, like, Those young Golden State teams that didn't win like other teams we've had in this league where they were in a series but couldn't quite win because of the youth. I think that's what the Pistons are showing right now.

[Matt]

But you got, you got. If you're a Knicks fan, you get Brunson with 34, towns 23. A NoBe23 campaign comes in and has moments. Campaign. Every single season they should play a game of what team is campaign on because no one knows the answer. But then when it comes time for the playoffs, he makes plays. He did it again last night. You know, if you're a Knicks fan, you got to love the performance. The scene outside of Madison Square Garden was great. Knicks, Knicks in the playoffs with a contending team is awesome for the sport. So I thought, I thought that was a great start for the New York Knicks.

[Myron]

No, it is. I mean, and you know, the thing about it is if they want to advance, I mean, they can probably advance without all these guys playing well. But if they want to have a chance beyond this series, all of those guys you just mentioned have to be good every single night. And I think that's the challenge is can you promise that Anobe, Towns, Brunson, are all going to be good every night for this team? Because I think that's the only way you go beyond the next round.

[Matt]

Can I tell you my favorite part of last night? Now, I freely acknowledge I am an NBA, as the kids would say, a casual. I'm a playoff junkie. A regular season casual. All right, Byron. I don't, I'm not turning on league pass to watch Kings versus, you know, Portland at 10:00 at night. I'm not one of those people. So the playoffs, they give me moments where I go, wow, one of those moments I had last night to find out that A, P.J. tucker was on the Knicks and B, that he was still in the league. That was a really exciting moment for me last night. If you had told me, is P.J. tucker in the league? I would have thought he retired five years ago, Myron. And seeing him on the bench for the Knicks last night actually excited me a little bit.

[Myron]

P.J. tucker is the guy when front offices are like, all right, we need a locker room guy. Like P.J. tucker is the top choice. He can be a locker room guy for the next three, four years if he wants. I think people, people forget how many locker room guys have been collecting checks for like five to seven years.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Myron]

Even when the skill isn't there. And I think PJ Tucker is a good example of that.

[Matt]

He's got to pay for those shoes. Like he's got so many shoes. Have you seen his collection? Oh, yeah, like his vault. Oh, I'm envious of PJ Tucker. And good for you, man. I honestly thought PJ Tucker was like 53 and to see him on the bench last night was pretty impressive to me. Now, when I was in the Netherlands, I went to a pro sports event that was pretty amazing and that I need to tell Myron about. He's been mocking me off the show, but I went to an event that I'm going to insist is a lot more fun than you would ever imagine. We'll do that. And some more NBA next here on.

[Myron]

Sunday, Matt and Myron the Podcast.

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[Matt]

Sunday morning here on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. This is the David Bowie Amsterdam song. Okay. I was like, what are you playing?

[Myron]

David Bowie did this.

[Matt]

Yeah, you like David Bowie clowning?

[Myron]

Yeah, I was gonna clown it until you said David Bowie.

[Matt]

Yeah, he gets away with doing stuff like this. Yeah, you're a David Bowie guy, if I remember correctly. I don't know how I remember that, Myron, but you like David Bowie.

[Myron]

I love all. I love Elton John. I love all those guys. You know why?

[Matt]

Why?

[Myron]

So in the 60s and 70s, those British stars are trying to break through into American mainstream music and they couldn't do it. Meanwhile, black music was trying to do the same thing. So a lot of those British stars went on Soul Train. So there are a whole lot of people who didn't know David Bowie was white up to Soldier. That's like that connection.

[Matt]

There's a lot of black people that like David Bowie. And I didn't. I wondered why that was. And that's, I guess, it same with Elton John. Those two dudes both have. Yeah. Big play.

[Myron]

Soul Train.

[Matt]

There you go. See, I didn't know that. All right, so I was in the Netherlands. Myron, a quick story. I was in Rotterdam. Now, Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands. It's the home to a famous soccer club, psv or excuse me, Feyenoord. Okay. Do you know the soccer team Feyenoord?

[Myron]

I don't. But are all those cities something? Damn.

[Matt]

Well, because they have a lot of dams because they're below sea level, so they have to have these dams.

[Myron]

Oh, that's what it's about. I didn't know that's what it was about.

[Matt]

Amsterdam, the Amstel river. They had to dam it up for the city and they called it Amsterdam. Right.

[Myron]

That's simple enough.

[Matt]

Okay, so there you go. So Rotterdam. I guess there might have been a rotter river or something, but it's rotter Rotterdam. So while I was there, I looked and I saw. Did you know. You know there's a premier league, right, in England for soccer. There's also a premier league of darts. Okay. They take the best darts players in the world and they travel around Europe and they have a darts league in arenas. Now when I saw that, I thought, well, I gotta go to that. That seems crazy, right? Seems crazy. Well, I went to Was. I'm not kidding you, Myron, Electric. It was in the Rotterdam arena with like 16,000 people there. Mikey, I want you to find a video, I'm sure you can of the announcer for. For pro darts. Who's. He's like a British guy. And when they throw three triple 20s, he'll go 180. You need to hear, like. I just want you to hear the guy's voice. This arena had triple 20, 16,000 people, Myron. They're screaming, they're singing, they're dancing. They dress up in costumes. They wear costumes like it's Halloween. They dress up as, like, art party.

[Myron]

Well, you have somewhere else.

[Matt]

Let me finish my story. Okay. They dress up in these amazing, like, costumes. They party. I mean, you talk about a group of people getting hammered. It's all British and Dutch people watching it. And of course, the dart players are these slob. Like, they're not like, they're not athletes, right? They're just dudes who, like, go to the pub and play darts. But they come out to entrance music. It's like wrestling. They'll put. One guy comes out to Mr. Brightside from the Killers. Another guy comes out to. Oh, oh, oh. What's that song called? What is that?

[Myron]

All I know it is. Oh, oh, I don't know.

[Matt]

That's all I know it is. It has a name, but whatever it is. So, yeah, it is like a spectacle. And then they throw the darts, and it's just dudes throwing at darts, but people are screaming and yelling. And here's what I learned. It's the biggest party in sports. This professional darts thing is crazy. And here's how I saw it in its. In its manifestation. There's a guy who's from the Netherlands, Byron. His name's Michael Van Uren. So of course, the crowds for him, right, because he's from the Netherlands.

[Myron]

Yeah.

[Matt]

You know, they're cheering for it. So he's in this match and he's like, it's tight. It's close. They're cheering for him. They get to the final little round, and they're screaming, come on, come on. And they're yelling. And then he loses. And the crowd is devastated. But as soon as the other guy who won's music came on, they all started partying and singing his music, because ultimately all they cared about was getting to party and drink. And I have to say, professional darts, amazing. They've sold out Madison Square Garden in June. Myron, I bet you didn't even know this was a thing. And it sells out arenas all over Europe and in America.

[Myron]

I didn't know it was. It was a thing. I haven't heard you that passionate, though, about something outside of, like, Kentucky basketball. Like, you. You came into the show being like, you gotta know about darts. And I was like, all right. Have you ever seen a deep breath?

[Matt]

Have you ever watched it?

[Myron]

Like, here's my thing. Is it is this way.

[Matt]

Play it, Mikey. Play the. Play the announcement.

[Myron]

12 over to you, Michael Smith.

[Matt]

One man misses. Does the other man get. I have never seen the like.

[Myron]

Come on. Sp.

[ESPN Radio Host]

Yes.

[Myron]

Double 12.

[ESPN Radio Host]

That is the most amazing leg of.

[Myron]

You will ever see in your life.

[Matt]

See, listen to that. Can you hear how electric that atmosphere is, Myron?

[Myron]

That's. That's a lot for Darth. My thing is, like, could it be anything because they're partying so much? Like, would it even matter?

[Matt]

You. You. You know, we didn't even talk about this. But you foresaw where I'm going with this. In. In theory, there is nothing more boring than a man throwing a dart.

[Myron]

Yes.

[Matt]

Right. Like, what could be more boring than that?

[Myron]

Not impressive.

[Matt]

But here's what I've learned. If you get a crowd and you add music and you add spectacle, and they have cheerleaders and they have fireworks shooting from the. From the sky, and then everybody parties and you come and they don't just have seats, Myron. They put the floor, they put beer tables for you to sit with your friends. Right? And you do that. You can make any event fun. They have taken a pub game and made it into a spectacle. And I think we need to learn that for our sports in America that are struggling. Like maybe baseball, like, turn it into a party and people will enjoy it a lot more.

[Myron]

So basically, like, just, you know, make sure people have a place to dance in the stand. And I tell everybody to dress up and hey, yes.

[Matt]

I mean, these people. The entrance music, the pageantry. I think what I liked about it, it's the exact same thing I liked last summer when I went to the European soccer championships. You remember, when I came back, I talked about how fun it was. Europeans understand pageantry. We do that with college sports here. Right? College game day is, in many ways pageantry. College basketball with Cameron, Indoor, et cetera. Pageantry. I think we need more of that in American sports.

[Myron]

It sounds like a lot of alcohol is bigger maybe, than the pageantry that you're describing. You know, I also think, like, just dart throwing in general, this may sound arrogant. You give me three months of practice with, like, a professional, and I'm. I'm.

[Matt]

Didn't you say that about fencing, too? You've said that about every sport.

[Myron]

You're one of those dudes who's like, three months.

[Matt]

Let me train, I'll be good at anything.

[Myron]

Three months and I'm competitive. I'm not saying I win.

[Matt]

You're not?

[Myron]

I'm saying three months and I'm. I'm in the mix.

[Matt]

No, you're not, Myron. You're not going to be. You think three months, one of the eight best players in the world in three.

[Myron]

First off, I'm going to win the black division because ain't nobody black. It's all white people playing that. We know that. Give me three months. I'm competitive. I'm just saying.

[Matt]

The premier league of Black Darts, that's what you want to play. That would be. There'd be some pageantry. I could tell you that.

[Myron]

Marble lights Matt and Myron. The podcast.

[Matt]

Rapper Sean Diddy Combs was a kingmaker. He had wealth, fame, and power. What's up?

[Myron]

Welcome to New York.

[Matt]

Until it all came crashing down.

[Myron]

Federal investigators raiding two homes owned by.

[ESPN Radio Host]

Hip hop mogul Sean Diddy Combs.

[Matt]

I'm Brian Buckmire, an ABC News legal contributor. As Diddy heads to trial, we trace his remarkable rise and fall. And what could be next? Listen to Bad Rap the Case Against Diddy, a new series from ABC Audio. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.