The Big Suey: Top 5 Naps You Can Take (feat. Brian Scalabrine)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: The Big Suey: Top 5 Naps You Can Take (feat. Brian Scalabrine)
Release Date: February 28, 2025

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Introduction

In this lively episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, hosts Dan Le Batard and Stugotz delve into a unique and relatable topic: the top five best naps one can take. Adding depth to the conversation, their guest—Brian Scalabrine, affectionately known as "The White Mamba"—joins to provide his insights on both the art of napping and the current state of the NBA.

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The Big Suey: Top 5 Naps You Can Take

**1. On a Flight While Watching an Exclusive Movie [04:35]

Chris Cote kicks off the list with the quintessential airplane nap. He describes the scenario: "When you're on a flight and there's a movie that isn't available anywhere else, you're intent on watching it—but inevitably, you end up dozing off, making it the best nap ever." However, Izzy Gutierrez counters, highlighting the anxiety of potentially oversleeping and missing stops: "Can it ever really be the best nap? If you have that fear, oh, I'm flying through the air in a seated position. This could end up terribly."

**2. Intermission Nap at Work After Lunch [05:11]

Highlighting workplace naps, Chris emphasizes the quiet post-lunch hours as the perfect opportunity: "It's like 1:32 o'clock and it's that quiet time. It's not busy like the morning." Although Izzy points out the humorous aftermath—waking up with drool and lines on your face—the consensus is that this nap can boost productivity: "That sleep is going to feel so good, you never want it to end."

**3. Nap in an Uber After a Night Out [06:10]

A relatable scenario for many, Chris describes the bliss of resting after a night out: "Rest your head against the window and like, oh, that was a good night out." Dan remains skeptical, expressing his fear of falling asleep in transit: "I could never fall asleep in an Uber. I would be terrified of traffic."

**4. Nap with a Sleeping Baby [06:37]

Sharing the pure comfort of napping alongside a peacefully sleeping baby, Chris notes, "You're 100% maximum comfort." Izzy humorously adds the challenge of accepting praise without waking up: "I love a good nap where you got a little bit of drool because you're just like, was a good one."

**5. Nap in a Movie Theater [08:05]

Championing the cinema as the ultimate napping spot, Chris recounts the experience: "I paid $20 to sit in that chair and pretend to want to watch this movie. Then, my eyes start feeling heavier and I'm out." Despite the risk of missing plot points, the satisfaction of a deep, uninterrupted nap in a comfortable setting wins the top spot.

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Sports Analysis with Brian Scalabrine

Brian Scalabrine brings his extensive NBA experience to the table, discussing the Cleveland Cavaliers' impressive regular-season performance and their playoff prospects.

Cavaliers’ Regular Season Dominance [34:22]

Scalabrine praises the Cavs' consistent performance: "They have a super high floor. If they have an off night, they could still beat you." He draws parallels to the Boston Celtics, highlighting similarities in play style and team dynamics: "Their two ball handlers are Tatum and Brown... a smaller version of the Boston Celtics."

Impact of DeAndre Hunter’s Addition [36:12]

Analyzing recent team changes, Scalabrine underscores the significance of DeAndre Hunter: "DeAndre Hunter is great. He's a well-coached player who moves the offense well. His addition will be really interesting to see tonight."

Jason Tatum and Player Respect [40:04]

A pivotal discussion centers on Jayson Tatum's reputation:
Mike Ryan Ruiz: "Why do people look at Jason Tatum and maybe don't give him the respect that another player with his resume would get?"
Billy Gil: "The NBA has done an interesting job of marketing players. Some players resonate more with the audience because of their personalities, not just their performance."
Izzy Gutierrez: "Early in his career, Tatum had nothing to say. He's grown but doesn't have a bombastic personality, which might contribute to the disrespect despite his stellar performance."

Face of the League Debate [44:58]

The conversation shifts to the notion of the "face of the league," sparked by comments from LeBron James and Anthony Edwards:
LeBron James: "Why do you want to be the face of the league when all the people that cover our game... shit on everybody?"
Chris Cote: Discusses the enduring nature of criticism in the NBA, comparing current players to legends like Michael Jordan.

Scalabrine reflects on the impact of social media and negativity: "Because of social media and everything, we're in an environment of negativity. The negative is what gets exacerbated."

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Notable Quotes

• Chris Cote on Airplane Naps:
  "When you're on a flight and there's a movie that isn't available anywhere else, you're intent on watching it—but inevitably, you end up dozing off, making it the best nap ever." [04:35]

• Izzy Gutierrez on Workplace Naps:
  "I love a good nap where you got a little bit of drool because you're just like, was a good one." [05:56]

• Brian Scalabrine on Cavs’ High Floor:
  "They have a super high floor. If they have an off night, they could still beat you." [34:22]

• Billy Gil on Jason Tatum:
  "If you take away the name and the face, people will respect you a lot more." [42:32]

• Dan Le Batard on Practical Effects in Movies:
  "Ideally, the studios would take the lesson that I'd hope that they take, which is build more practical sets. Truly immerse your audience in this world." [14:36]

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Conclusions

This episode masterfully intertwines the universal appeal of napping with in-depth sports analysis, offering listeners both entertainment and thoughtful commentary. The hosts and their guest provide diverse perspectives on everyday relaxation techniques and complex sports dynamics, making it a well-rounded and engaging listen for fans of both casual relaxation tips and serious sports discussions.

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Note: Timestamps correspond to the moments when the quotes were made in the transcript, ensuring accurate attribution and context.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

You're listening to Giraffe Kings Network.

[Stugotz]

Okay, check this. Deli Boyz on Hulu. Two brothers, Raj and Mir, are living the high life, not a care in the world. When their old man dies, it all vanishes.

[Chris Cote]

Poof.

[Stugotz]

And they find out he didn't just own a deli, but he was a drug kingpin. And they're like, what the Throw in their ruthless aunt, some guys who want to kill them. And keeping dad's drug business going sounds amazing, right? Deli Boyz premieres March 6th. Streaming on Hulu. You know that sound? It's the sound of money hitting your Venmo account. A friend paying you back. Or maybe it's getting cash back from your favorite business when you pay with the Venmo debit card. Or it's realizing you can pay with Venmo at checkout at thousands of brands. Now there are so many more ways to answer the question. What's your Venmo? Download Venmo. Today the Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A. pursuant to license by MasterCard International Incorporated. DOSH cashback terms apply.

[Chris Cote]

Welcome to the Big Sui presented by DraftKings. Why are you listening to this show? The podcast that seems very similar to the other Dan LeBatard podcast? I'm sorry. I'm not going to apologize for that. In fact, the only difference seems to be this imaging. I have been tempted in restaurants just walking, walking past tables to grab somebody's.

[Billy Gil]

Fries if they're just there. That hasn't happened to you guys.

[Chris Cote]

I've done it. And now here's the marching man to Nowhere Fat Face and the habitual liar. This episode of the Dan Lobatar show with Stugat is sponsored by DraftKings. DraftKings.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

The crown is yours, Izzy.

[Chris Cote]

The yesterday was the nine year anniversary of Steph Curry pulling up. Oh, what'd you do to celebrate from half court? Well, I popped some champagne and then I said bang bang. The half court shot against Oklahoma. And the backstory to that was called.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

A half court shot.

[Chris Cote]

What do you want to call it?

[Izzy Gutierrez]

About 35 footer.

[Chris Cote]

It was more than 35ft.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Let's look up the state.

[Chris Cote]

It was.

[Jeremy Tache]

You said the half court shot and I knew what he was talking about.

[Chris Cote]

Exactly.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Yesterday I thought he was about the.

[Chris Cote]

One well past the logo. I mean, if it's a logo, three is half court.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Look it up again.

[Jeremy Tache]

I think the rare regular season moment that transcends not rare.

[Chris Cote]

I'm not going to let you really. It was a double bang. I'm not. I'm not going to let you do that. Not rare, but in terms of, like.

[Jeremy Tache]

An appointment, like, single, like a regular season game in its own TV window.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Like, that's a huge er than any regular season game.

[Chris Cote]

It was a Saturday night ABC game. Right.

[Jeremy Tache]

Certainly magnified for a regular season.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah. I mean, and this was in the middle of the warriors having their historic season and Curry having a historic season of his own. But I remember in that year, again, this is the second Ethan Strauss drop in one episode. But Ethan. I said to Ethan, like, what. What happens in practice that, like, doesn't happen in the game? And he said, well, they talk about Steph shoots from half court routinely. And, like. What do you mean shoots? Like, he just, like, takes, you know, the. You know, the little throw. He's like, no, like, he's shooting jump shots from half court in rhythm jump shots in rhythm jump shots. And Ethan said. I asked him, why don't you ever do it in a game? And Steph was like. Because he was worried that it would literally break people's minds. Like, the idea of, like, basketball has been played a certain way for 70 years. Right. And then all of a sudden, a guy walks past half court, takes a shot. It will shatter everyone's vision of what basketball is. And then he did that, like, two weeks later, I think, after I had that conversation with Ethan. And now I think about how many people shoot from deep. And it all started from that moment there nine years ago.

[Jeremy Tache]

May I issue you a challenge?

[Billy Gil]

Yes.

[Jeremy Tache]

Because you said that big regular season moments are not that rare. This happened nine years ago.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah.

[Jeremy Tache]

Can I challenge you to give me a top five regular season moments of the last 10 years?

[Chris Cote]

I absolutely will do that.

[Jeremy Tache]

You can have Kobe's last game. You can have Kobe's final game.

[Chris Cote]

Absolutely. Well, okay. Thank you.

[Jeremy Tache]

You're going to have that one.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

You want, like, more recent than nine years? Because that was within the last.

[Jeremy Tache]

Yeah. Like, do the 2000s regular season moments.

[Chris Cote]

I'll do that. But first. But first, I have a top five list that I promised the crowd, which is top five best naps you'll ever take. Right.

[Jeremy Tache]

Any Olis?

[Chris Cote]

I have one. Oli Roy. Okay. When you're on a flight and there's a movie on there that isn't available anywhere else yet other than in the theaters, and you really want to watch that movie, like, oh, great, I get to watch it. You're gonna fall asleep, and it's gonna be the best nap ever.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Can it ever really be the best nap? If you have that back of your mind, fear, oh, I'm flying through the air in a seated position. This could end up terribly.

[Chris Cote]

Your intention is not to take a nap in this scenario. Your intention is to watch this movie. Like, great. They have the brutalist on and I don't want to pay 20 bucks to go watch it on stream.

[Dan LeBatard]

Better be a flight to Tokyo. Take you a while to get through it.

[Chris Cote]

Intermission number five at work after lunch.

[Jeremy Tache]

Never. Never had the opportunity.

[Chris Cote]

I'm telling you, you're at your desk, you just had lunch. It's like 1:32 o'clock and it's that quiet time. It's not. You know, the morning is very, very busy.

[Dan LeBatard]

Everyone's digested. Everyone kind of just put your head down.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Yeah, but you wake like, you put your head down, you wake up with a little drool on the. You wake up with lines on your face and you got to be like, hey, boss, how's it going? Was I sleeping? No.

[Chris Cote]

Look, I'm not telling you what the aftermath is like. I'm telling you you're going to love that. That sleep is going to feel so good, you never want it to end.

[Dan LeBatard]

So productive afterwards.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

I love a good nap where you got a little bit of drool because you're just like, was a good one. I would never do that if I was.

[Jeremy Tache]

Oh, that's rem. That's REM sleep right there.

[Chris Cote]

Number four in an Uber on the way back from a night out.

[Jeremy Tache]

Good answer.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

You got to fight that one. You are about to knock out, you.

[Chris Cote]

Rest your head against the window and like, oh, that was a good night out. And next thing you know, your Uber driver's like, hey, we're here. I'm like, oh, sorry.

[Dan LeBatard]

This may be like a difference between you and I thing. I could never fall asleep in an Uber. I would be terrified of traffic.

[Jeremy Tache]

You could.

[Chris Cote]

No, you're right, you couldn't. But if you did, that sleep would be amazing. You'd wake up terrified.

[Jeremy Tache]

But that sleep, it's a good one.

[Chris Cote]

Number three, with a baby resting on you after the baby's been crying the whole time and finally the baby fell asleep.

[Jeremy Tache]

Good hands.

[Chris Cote]

Now, mind you, it's not gonna last long because the baby's gonna wake up and start crying again. But in those moments where the baby's asleep and you're asleep and you don't want to move, you're 100 maximum comfort.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Those are the moments. I just accept praise for putting the baby to sleep and then give it back to its proper owner.

[Chris Cote]

No you're asleep, too. You're asleep, too. Number two, on the couch watching NFL late games.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

I thought you were gonna say golf. No, that is the deepest sleep.

[Dan LeBatard]

Or baseball.

[Chris Cote]

Golf would never be on my tv.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Baseball would never be on my tv.

[Chris Cote]

But football, again, you want to watch them. You want to watch those 4pm games.

[Jeremy Tache]

You need to watch golf. Just for the golf nap. I'm telling you, it hits different.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Although I will be watching more baseball now because of Jeremy and my buddy Ryan Bass out in Tampa. You guys.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Yeah, thanks. We. We will have also the Pitch Clock coming back here.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Which was the week before the season.

[Dan LeBatard]

And answer in the New York Times Friday cross.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Yeah. They were celebrating our show, the Pitch Clock.

[Chris Cote]

That's what we're doing here. We're doing plugs in the middle of my top five list.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

What's Cinephobe?

[Dan LeBatard]

You've been doing a plug for Oddball this whole morning. I have, and it's going great Monday.

[Chris Cote]

Through Thursday, every day. But Friday, same thing. Number one at the movies. Let me tell you something. 20 bucks. I paid 20 bucks to sit in that chair and pretend to want to watch this movie. And then at some point, my eyes start feeling heavier and heavier, and then I'm out. And I wake up, and I'm trying to piece together how much of the plot I've missed, but all I can remember is, man, that sleep felt so good. I'm like, I can't believe I spent $20 to go take a nap. But God damn it, if it ain't the best nap I've ever had.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

I think that's the problem that I would have is I don't think I could fall asleep knowing how much money I just spent to be at that movie. I think I'd be so stressed out.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Sudden explosion that's gonna wake me up and sit in.

[Dan LeBatard]

What movie are we watching?

[Chris Cote]

Any movie. Any movie I've sleep in. So that's my big problem about going to the theaters. I'm terrified that I'm going to fall asleep. Like, I'm going to cozy Roy.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

I want to add two more. You got the sounder ready on the bright line.

[Jeremy Tache]

Oh, solid one.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

I nearly woke up in Orlando.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

That's the problem.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

I was the issue. Closing at Fort Lauderdale. I'm like, wait, wait, I got to get off here.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

That's the exact fear. That's the fear is that I'm going to sleep through the couple of stops. Because I'll sleep through anything, right? I'll sleep through a couple stops and all of A sudden we'll be in Port St. Lucie and I've got an hour and a half until I'm getting to Orlando. And now what? Now I've got to pay $100 to come back.

[Jeremy Tache]

You might as well just go to Orlando.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Yeah, let's have a weekend.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

And the last one is watching an episode of Severance. Not because it's a bad show. I absolutely love the show. I've just had to watch episodes over and over again so soothing that it just puts me to sleep.

[Chris Cote]

I found that that probably is an all life for me. Watching a dramatic show where you have to pay attention. Like Shogun. I love Shogun. Great show. But there were so many times, especially because it's so much subtitle I get droopy eyed and the next thing I know is like, wait. I've been listening to them talk and my sleep brain is talking to me saying, you understand? You hear them, you know what's happening. They're like, no, you don't speak Japanese, dumbass. Like you have to rewind and watch it all again to read the subtitles.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Have you ever fallen asleep while getting a massage? This is a very tricky one.

[Chris Cote]

Absolutely.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. It's very relaxing.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

You don't worry about accidentally farting?

[Chris Cote]

No, no.

[Dan LeBatard]

But now I think I might.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

I've never fallen asleep during a massage in large part because I've gotten a couple's massage before in the same room and Anthony has fallen asleep and starts, you're gay. And I'm just.

[Dan LeBatard]

Maybe before that massage I won't have oranges, garlic, gluten, dairy. What else does Dan?

[Jeremy Tache]

They advise. But I've done like two massages in my life and like in the two. Yeah. They tell you to avoid eating.

[Chris Cote]

What? You've had two massages I don't like?

[Jeremy Tache]

Yeah. I've never made it.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Why do you hate massage?

[Dan LeBatard]

I've never heard that before.

[Jeremy Tache]

I feel like my body's fighting it the entire time. I don't. I. I get like the feeling afterwards, but I think my body's just relieved that it's over. As opposed to like the runner side. I don't like.

[Chris Cote]

Is it? Is it? Does it? What about when Genesis comes?

[Jeremy Tache]

Oh, I don't like that.

[Chris Cote]

Really?

[Dan LeBatard]

He doesn't get mashed?

[Jeremy Tache]

Yeah, really, dude.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Is it just like that? You're tight, like you're jumpy? Because I am like a bag of popcorn where I'm like, oh, just don't worry about.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm ticklish. My calves very ticklish.

[Jeremy Tache]

I can't really explain It. I don't find it. I do my best to relax my body. It's not like I'm tense the entire time. I just don't enjoy it.

[Dan LeBatard]

I have another nap nominee. What's that on a. Like a recliner? Shay. Lounge outside at a pool under an umbrella.

[Jeremy Tache]

Good one.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's warm, but you're in the shade.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

This is great.

[Dan LeBatard]

Maybe you're reading a book, listening to a podcast, and you kind of just doze off.

[Chris Cote]

A little white lotus action. Right? I call that the white lot. I'm just gonna be out by.

[Dan LeBatard]

Someone gets murdered.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

You know what wakes me up in those scenarios? A tiny drop of sweat, like rolling down your body and pooling in any place absolutely will wake me up. I think there's a bug on me. That's not a good one.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, yeah.

[Jeremy Tache]

Oh, I got a good one at the rnc. When your son is speaking.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

That goes at the top of the list.

[Jeremy Tache]

It's a quality one. I want to ask you, I want to circle back to the Oscars because I'm doing what a lot of people are doing, which is trying to cram before. Before the Oscar day. Are you a hardliner about your favorite movie should win Best Picture out of, like, the nominees, or do you understand that? Look, I understand that I probably don't have the prevailing opinion here. This film probably deserves it, even though it wasn't my favorite because that's where I am with Wicked. I actually think it's a good thing for the box office and a good thing for studios for Wicked to win because I think we should be encouraging that type of movie making.

[Chris Cote]

No, the opposite. You have to root against Wicked. Not cause it's not good, but because it's more of IP and churning out franchises and all that. And anytime we don't reward Hollywood for those kind of movies, I think is a good thing.

[Jeremy Tache]

But it's a. But it's a musical, so I think you have to credit them. There is some ambition here when it comes to Wicked. It's not an easy movie to make. They were talking about making it for a very long time.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's not a new genre, though. Like, we have a new movie musical all the time. I agree with you. It's better. I mean, way better than Cats. It's a lot better than a lot of.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Well, that's part of it, right?

[Jeremy Tache]

I think what I like so much about. I'm a stickler. My favorite movie of the year was Alien Romulus.

[Chris Cote]

Truly.

[Jeremy Tache]

And what I love so much about Alien Romulus is Also, what I liked a lot about Wicked is I watched this movie. I'm a big Robbie Williams fan. I watched this movie Better man the other day. And the entire movie looks cgi.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah.

[Jeremy Tache]

And it's not just like the main character. Everything looks washed out, like a marvel.

[Dan LeBatard]

I totally agree with you on Wicked getting credit for building an actual set.

[Jeremy Tache]

Yeah, Romulus and Wicked had these practical set designs and it took me back to a time and it makes me feel really truly immersed in this world. Same thing with Nosferatu. These movies actually transported me to this time and era in a more believable way.

[Chris Cote]

Well, practical effects is making a huge comeback all over in for Disney plus and or season two is coming in about a month. And the big thing about Andor was it was all practical effects, real sets, as opposed to the volume, which is this thing that was literally created to do the Mandalorian when it's like almost instead of a green screen, it's a dome so that the actors, rather than responding to like a tennis ball, like, okay, and that's a monster, they can actually project it on the screen. And so it's more realistic as far as the acting experience. But again, you get that washed out look that you're talking about. And the practical effects on Andor of like real sets, real on location, just gives it a level of, you know, polish that you don't get with cgi.

[Jeremy Tache]

Ideally, the studios would take the lesson that I'd hope that they take, which is build more practical sets. Truly immerse your audience in this world. But I think you're right in that all Hollywood and the studios are going to take from that if Wicked wins is more ip. Yeah, more franchises, more bankable franchises that we can invest in.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

I do think that this actually might just have a greater effect on how we produce musicals though. Right. Because the whole issue with Cats was that it was just this weird CGI world where they were like forgetting to do CGI on certain hands. And it was this kind of cheapened.

[Dan LeBatard]

Version of what Also not the best ip.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Well, it's not a great that in itself as well, but what I would imagine this will do is have more studios investing in musicals the way that Wicked was invested in, rather than trying to do that on the cheap and making a product that feels like that. Or even the Mean Girls musical that was like not quite up to snuff. So it's. It's about investing in the property where Wicked's not like Wicked is an IP beyond what it is now. They can't extend that story beyond what it is.

[Dan LeBatard]

They totally can.

[Chris Cote]

Jessica, what was. What was Rebel Wilson's character name in Cats? You remember?

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, I can't remember who she played.

[Chris Cote]

I know Cats in a really long. Jenny, Annie Dippin, Dots or some like that. I was like, I watched Cats, and I have no idea what it's about.

[Dan LeBatard]

Like, Jenny, any Dots?

[Chris Cote]

Yeah. What. What is it about? What? What's a Jellicoe Cat? They like, I hated. I really. And I understand this is really pretentious coming from someone who loves Star wars, but I hate movies that expect you to do homework to understand what the hell is going on. Like, I had to go do homework, figure out, like, what. What's a Jellicle Cat? And what is that?

[Dan LeBatard]

Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats.

[Chris Cote]

What the hell does that mean?

[Dan LeBatard]

I have no idea.

[Jeremy Tache]

I don't know what you're talking about.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's a wacky, wacky scene.

[Jeremy Tache]

I saw Cats for five minutes, and I was like, we deserve to die. And then I think the pandemic happened.

[Chris Cote]

Shortly after it happened. During the pandemic.

[Dan LeBatard]

It was like, a month later, I think.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

But you lost me on the premise. I hate Cats. I'm not gonna watch it.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, that's nice.

[Chris Cote]

That's like. My dad had a friend who wouldn't watch any movie if there was a horse in it. It, like, if a horse showed up midway through the movie, the dude would get up and leave the theater.

[Jeremy Tache]

So he hated Animal House.

[Chris Cote]

And my dad's like, he never explained why. Just like, I don't like horses.

[Jeremy Tache]

I mean, I get where you're coming from. If Wicked wins, studios will take the wrong lesson for this. So you're actively rooting against Wicked? Dwin, what film out of the nominated pictures would Hollywood take the best lessons from? Like, what do you think should win? What are you hoping wins for the whole movie industry?

[Chris Cote]

All right, so definitely not Emilia Perez.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, no.

[Jeremy Tache]

I think we're all in agreement there.

[Chris Cote]

You know what I'm gonna go with. I mean, the funny thing is, they're all adapted. They're all.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't think.

[Chris Cote]

No, it's not.

[Dan LeBatard]

And Anora is one of the favorites to win right now. I thought Anora was. Was actually really good. I think the best, like, capital M movie was Conclave, so I slept on it. Which is adapted from a book.

[Jeremy Tache]

Yeah, I slept on. Took me two days to get through Conclave. I really enjoyed Conclave. One of my friends told me that he's never gasped so much at a film about Old men voting. And I think there were a lot of shocking twists and turns that happened in this movie. And I really liked it, but I slept on it. And I think out of the nominated pictures, my favorite one is Enora.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, I liked Enora. I felt like it could have been a little better.

[Chris Cote]

Synopsis.

[Dan LeBatard]

Synopsis is it's a young woman in Brooklyn who's a stripper, and she and this son of a Russian oligarch become, like, married, but you're not really sure if they're actually. If she's in love with him or not. Which is where I sort of was confused. But then it's sort of a dark comedy because these henchmen come and his family wants them to annul the marriage because they're, you know, very dismissive of her and it's very. They're very dehumanizing towards her. And so then it kind of is just a weird, wacky sort of like, follow along the henchmen in a Nora.

[Jeremy Tache]

Film for a while with romance.

[Chris Cote]

When you said it's a hoardy movie, I said you had my curiosity.

[Jeremy Tache]

No, I've never seen so much sex in a film.

[Chris Cote]

Movie movies. To root against a complete unknown. Again, everyone tells me that he did an amazing job.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's great. I really liked it.

[Chris Cote]

I don't need any more bio about.

[Jeremy Tache]

I'm about 25 minutes in. I. I'm never going to say a bad thing about a James Mangold biopic. I'm not a big Bob Dylan guy, but I'm appreciating the performance so far.

[Chris Cote]

Sure. I just don't need any more biopics. It's.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Well, you're about to get one with Jeremy Allen White.

[Chris Cote]

So what's he. What's he playing?

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

He's doing Springsteen biopic that is just based off of one album that he recorded. So it's based off the recording of Nebraska. You're going to love it.

[Dan LeBatard]

That was why A Complete unknown was worked for me, I think, because it only was like four years. Bob Dylan. It wasn't like he was born in Minnesota. He's such a mystery. And now he's 87 years old.

[Chris Cote]

Another movie to root against. And this one I did see Dune Part 2. Boring.

[Dan LeBatard]

I like the Dune movie.

[Chris Cote]

Part 1 was good.

[Jeremy Tache]

I'm with you. But I do think that we should be encouraging films like Dune.

[Chris Cote]

No, it's IP and franchise.

[Jeremy Tache]

And I mean, famously like an impossible movie to adapt, though. And he found a way to do it.

[Chris Cote]

But also we got that. That boring ass hbo, which Even though HBO does great content, I love White Lotus and I'm really excited for Righteous Gemstones. But the Dune show, I was like, this is not.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

I don't know.

[Dan LeBatard]

I liked Austin Butler though. He was so creepy.

[Jeremy Tache]

He was solid. It was pretty to look at.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. I think that's the best thing you can say.

[Jeremy Tache]

Yeah, I like, I like movies that are nice to look at. That good looking film that, that encourage you to go to the movie theaters and see it on a big screen. I did not have that experience with either of the Dune films. I probably would have appreciated it more.

[Chris Cote]

Mike, I had this conversation with your buddy Mo yesterday. Space. Yeah, most species. Exactly.

[Jeremy Tache]

Buckets.

[Chris Cote]

The last Mission Impossible, Dead Reckoning, that came out. Yeah, well, and then they changed.

[Jeremy Tache]

And then they changed it.

[Chris Cote]

Now it's like, which. That Live Diary. I will never call it that. It the Day after or the. The. What's it called? Not the Day After Tomorrow. It's called the. What was the original name?

[Jeremy Tache]

It's called Live Die Repeat, isn't it?

[Chris Cote]

No, it's called Live Die.

[Billy Gil]

No, no, no, no.

[Jeremy Tache]

You're proven why it should be called Live Die Repeat.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, I'm just having a brave part. But anyway, Dead Reckoning, I seem to remember you were like, ah, it's okay. And so I didn't watch it in the theater. I watched it on a flight and this is how good it was. Didn't fall asleep. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. And by the end of it, the seething rage, I had him. You weren't the only one. But you and a couple other people were like. I was like, this movie was amazing. I should have seen it in a theater. It's legit. Why then when Final Reckoning comes out, I'm going opening night.

[Jeremy Tache]

Oh, for sure.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

You have to be in a. In an airplane like this. Where do your knees go?

[Chris Cote]

Inside the. The person in front of me. Edge of Tomorrow, by the way, Edge of Tomorrow, that's it.

[Jeremy Tache]

I watched it again and upon Rewatch I liked it more. But I think there was a couple issues with Dead Reckoning part one and I think chief among them, even though they were, they had incredible foresight on the villain, but they needed to put a face to that villain. And I thought they missed the mark so bad on the baddie in the film that it kind of ruined it for me because this franchise has had some really good villains attached to it and this was one of the worst.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

What level of depressed am I when I have zero interest in watching Movies, like, I don't feel like I don't get the joy in them anymore. I'm getting boxed out from you guys. And it's just. I have this feeling like, wow, I'm just missing an entire part of my life that.

[Jeremy Tache]

I'm sorry, I don't mean to make you.

[Chris Cote]

No, no, no.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

It's just coming out.

[Jeremy Tache]

Did you watch Euler's Cats?

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Some of it. I was kind of working, so I didn't really. I had it on the background a little bit.

[Jeremy Tache]

Oh, man, what a moment. What a time. And we're going to. It's our third annual Kitty Caravan where I take a group of like 30 plus people to. To a Florida Panther game.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

He said he takes a group, but we all pay for it.

[Jeremy Tache]

Yeah, we all go. But, you know, I organize a thing unconditional. I mean, half of y'all don't understand interest payments. I mean, there's just quite the sacrifice here. But Ryan Lomberg returns to Florida a beloved Florida Panther legend. I love Ryan Lomberg. We had a great time with him at 11. Like, he was, you know, your feisty, your feisty enforcer type that had a penchant for some big moments and just a vibes guy, just an iconic vibes guy.

[Chris Cote]

I always think about TPS reports with him. You ain't gonna need those. TPS reports.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Same name.

[Chris Cote]

No. Okay, reference. Blew everybody else.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

No, I get the reference. I'm just trying to. Lomberg. Is that his name?

[Jeremy Tache]

Okay, but Ryan. Bill Lombard. Yeah, but Ryan Lomberg is matriculating his way down the. Down the east coast. And he was in Tampa yesterday and he was caught on a live mic about. He was asked. He had a pretty iconic goal in a playoff series against Tampa, an overtime winner, and he was asked about playing the Tampa Bay Lightning again. And he's like, I love the palm trees. I love the sunshine. And on a live mic for his RSN interview, he goes, but I hate these guys. Yeah, charged me up. Welcome back, Loms, you absolute ledge. He is going to get such an outsized reaction compared to what his actual contributions were for this team, because he's beloved. You go to a game, you still see number 94 jerseys out there. And I'm really hoping the fans bring it. They've been so good as all these former champions have come back and been honored. The Lomborg one, that's the one that I circled my calendar for. That's the guy that was everybody's like, low key favorite. You loved his tenacity, you loved his story. You Loved his vibe and I'm so happy he's coming back tomorrow. And I hope that it is a nuclear pop.

[Chris Cote]

You've got a lot of history in this building. Some good, some bad. Do you like coming here or do you hate it?

[Billy Gil]

I like the palm trees and the.

[Jeremy Tache]

Sunshine, but I hate these guys.

[Chris Cote]

Wow.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

The best.

[Chris Cote]

That's a great. The delivery is great there. The little pause and laugh because that indicates I know what I'm about to do right now.

[Dan LeBatard]

Ameen to answer your question about movies that I think would be good to win best picture for the movies. Two nominations for that category. One, the substance. Because horror film doesn't normally get a lot of love. Sure, I didn't love it. I thought it was a little too long also. But it was very interesting, very gross. Good acting. Second one, nickel boys. Really good movie based on a book and incredible acting, incredible storytelling. It's obviously about a very difficult subject matter. It's about these children being abused at a reformatory school in Tallahassee. But really, really well done. And I think it should be getting some more love.

[Chris Cote]

It's nominated for best picture and best adapted screenplay. The guy who's nominated for best adapted screenplay is Romel Ross, who is the Georgetown player who played in a pickup game against Michael Jordan.

[Dan LeBatard]

Bringing it full circle.

[Chris Cote]

Randy Moss and Phil Collins.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

What do you think Phil Collins basketball game is like?

[Dan LeBatard]

He's only like 5, 6. Probably a good passer.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

He's taller than Prince though, right?

[Chris Cote]

Yeah. Scott Skiles is what I think of when I think of Phil Collins game.

[Jeremy Tache]

Is it because of the hairline?

[Chris Cote]

A little bit.

[Jeremy Tache]

He's feisty, you know, point of attack, defender.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah. Getting in the paint. I have him putting his arm around Michael Jordan and telling him like when they double me, you gotta go that way.

[Jeremy Tache]

I have him calling for screens.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, Randy Moss.

[Jeremy Tache]

No, no, mj, you set the screen.

[Chris Cote]

Oh. One of the fun things that happens when we're filling in for Dan is that Dan will send us notes. Oh, no. He sent a note about this comment by LeBron James. Do you want to send it? Okay. A comment by LeBron James about Anthony Edwards statement at All Star that he isn't striving to become the face of the NBA. Quote from LeBron. Channing Fry said it. Why do you want to be the face of the league when all the people that cover our game and talk about our game on a day to day basis shit on everybody?

[Izzy Gutierrez]

I do not want to start any sort of comment that we have supposed to have a discussion on with Channing Frye was right. No offense to Channing Fry. It just makes me feel like, wait a second. Why are we. Why are we saying this? First of all, Face of the League stuff is a madeup, fake title. Right. I've never grew up thinking to myself, before I was a journalist, hey, who's the face of the NBA? And I probably.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, that would be Jordan, by the way.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Well, of course. But I never would.

[Chris Cote]

Have you never had to ask the.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Question if I wasn't a journalist. Right. And so the idea. But he goes, oh, everybody's going to nitpick your game, etc.

[Chris Cote]

Well.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Well, it doesn't matter if you're the face of the NBA. If you are a player that everybody wants to watch because you have an incredible game, people are going to dissect it anyway.

[Chris Cote]

That was my takeaway. I'm like, why are we acting like if I'm not the face of the NBA, get away with everything, then I get to skate? No one will give a shit. We've done, by the way, this is how this game has been done forever. I told the story before about I love NBA on NBC intros. I'm really excited for the return of NBA on NBC because I want them to do those intros where they build this huge thing for so and so. It's the time of a lifetime. Like that whole kind of little monologue before the da, da, da, da, da.

[Jeremy Tache]

You think they're gonna replicate that?

[Chris Cote]

They have to.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Why not?

[Chris Cote]

They have to. I've already told Noah Eagle he's gotta do it.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Create stakes for every single game, every game. People who maybe aren't as big NBA fans listen to that and be like, hey, I know what's happening now. Let me watch this.

[Chris Cote]

One of my favorite ones was, it was game seven, Rockets versus Suns. And they were like, for the three.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

You don't need it for a Game seven.

[Chris Cote]

But still, it's awesome. Charles Barkley has been searching for, like, the promised land. Winning a title for a Hall of Fame career for Hakeem Olajuwon, that dream was achieved last season. But the banner in the Summit does not hang for Clyde Drexler. And I'm like, oh, shit. Clyde Drexler needs this. Clyde Drexler needs this. But I bring it up because one of my favorite ones of all time was like, O.J. simpson rushed for 2,000 yards but never played in the Super Bowl. Andre Dawson never played in the. You know, the MVP never went to the World Series, so and so. And it's like naming all These great athletes who had hall of Fame careers but never won the big one, never even played for the big one. Michael Jordan has. And I was like, shit, we're doing this. We're asking if Michael Jordan is ever going to get to the finals. That was a time it happened. The most hallowed, the most celebrated man in the history of our sport. They were asking the same damn questions. So what makes you so goddamn special? They say mean things about me.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

My favorite point that somebody tried to make on Face of the League, the contrived conversation that I've never heard more than this year, was, you can't be a foreigner. You can't be an international player to be the face of the league. Why not? Who's ever said that? Whoever said, like, oh, I'm dissecting Victor Wembanyama. I'm watching him all the time. He is the guy that's on my TV all the time. Not the face of the league, though.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Yeah, it's Dan. Dan's the one who said it.

[Chris Cote]

When people. That's people.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Yeah, yeah. When you hear people, it's Dan. Dan is the one who's insinuated.

[Chris Cote]

Dan does that all the time.

[Jeremy Tache]

He just.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

He just says, like, oh, you know, people are talking about it and saying that Nikola Jokic and Luka Donkic can't be the face of the league because they're not Americans. Even Shea, he's a Canadian. Can't be the face of the league.

[Chris Cote]

He likes voice.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Who said it?

[Chris Cote]

He voiced his opinions on people.

[Jeremy Tache]

Uster.

[Stugotz]

Okay, check this. Deli boys. On Hulu, two brothers, Raj and Mir, are living the high life, not a care in the world. When their old man dies, it all vanishes.

[Chris Cote]

Poof.

[Stugotz]

And they find out he didn't just own a deli, but he was a drug kingpin. And they're like, what the. Throw in their ruthless aunt, some guys who want to kill them. And keeping Dad's drug business going. Sounds amazing, right? Deli Boys premieres March 6th. Streaming on Hulu.

[Jessica Smetana]

Alright, I know I gotta do this ad read, but hold on, let me reapply. Did you hear that? Yep. That's my new favorite lip gloss from Nyx Cosmetics. Now I'm ready to talk to ya. I've been a huge fan of NYX Cosmetics for many years now. In fact, I use their thick it stick it brow gel every single day. So you can imagine my excitement when we recently received a special delivery to the Lebatard Studios from our friends over at NYX Cosmetics. And there it was when I opened the box glowing. I heard the angels sing. It's their latest lip gloss Fat Oil Lip Drip. It's Nyx Cosmetics first lip oil of its kind. This creamy lip oil will have your lips dripping with fat perks. You get all the shine of a lip gloss and none of the stickiness while experiencing 12 hour hydration. I'm usually a matte lip gloss kind of gal. My normal go to is NYX Cosmetics Lip Gloss the Lingerie xxl. But after applying the status update shade, I have found my new go to lip gloss. Fat Oil Lip Drip has high shine finish with comfortable wear and none of the sticky texture. A lip product that's hydrating, non sticky and only $9. Now that's a win. Try Fat Oil Lip Drip from Nyx Professional makeup. Available in 14 universally flattering shades. Find your perfect fat oil lip drip. Shop [e-mail] or a retailer near you.

[Jeremy Tache]

Hey folks, happy wintertime. You know, wintertime is a great time to hang out with friends. Maybe take a hockey trip. It's what I did with my friends. Hockey time quickly became Miller Time responsibly, of course, because Miller Lite was made for me and my crew of friends. A bunch of guys that love the taste of beer and don't want to feel guilty about the beer that they're having. Miller Lite delivers across almost every note. Because Miller Lite is brewed for taste, it hits different than other light beers. The taste you know you can depend on with no games and no gimmicks. Just a great beer. For people who like beer, like you, like my friends and like me. Miller Lite great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer tastes like Miller Time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Don LeBatard Sugar Daddies these things I'm.

[Chris Cote]

Telling you, I love sugar daddies.

[Dan LeBatard]

I like stuck in your teeth.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Like you can't chew them. They're like impossible to chew. They are impossible.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

That is every day stuff.

[Billy Gil]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

[Chris Cote]

Our next guest has been affectionately nicknamed the White Mamba. You can hear him every single morning weekdays with Frank Eishold on Sirius XM NBA Radio.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Except the days that he's off. And that's when I fill in.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, there you go.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Scal and I have never actually placed.

[Chris Cote]

At the Same time, he's also a Celtics analyst on NBC Sports Boston. And of course bringing him in because the Cavs and the Celtics do battle tonight in Boston. Scal, welcome to the show and I guess we'll start right there. We have this weird tendency, people covering basketball to say, oh well, I don't believe in them until they show me they can do it in the playoffs. Right? And even a team like the Celtics who have been to the finals, have been to the conference finals a bunch of times. It wasn't until them winning it last year do people now say, oh yeah, of course, of course they're going to win it. And so the Cavs find themselves in that position now where they've been the best team in the conference clearly all season long, wire to wire. And yet a lot of people are doubting because we haven't seen them do it in the playoffs. From your perspective, how. How does a team show you that they're ready to do it without doing it in the playoffs?

[Billy Gil]

I mean that's, I think that's like low hanging fruit when people just check out of that. I think that they're good, really good. I think the reason they're winning regular season games is because they have a super high floor. If you like, they can have an off night and they could. They still beat you, right? And so, you know, they're, they're a version of what the Celtics do. They move it extremely well offensively. They have guys that can play make, you know, staying away from Mobley right now because I want to get into him later. They're just a, they're just a smaller version of the Boston Celtics. Like our two ball handlers are Tatum and Brown. 6 9, 66 7. And you know, their guys are Mitchell and garland. You know, 616 foot. And you know, as, you know, like in the playoffs, that stuff does kind of add up. But I think the Cavs are bonafide. I think they're great. They're well coached. They. They move it well. Their benches has won them games and they've added DeAndre Hunter, which I think this is like part of the NBA right now. People are looking, defying guys to stop Tatum and Brown and you know, like the Knicks did it with Mikel Bridges, now the Cavs are doing it. I love Carol. Great offensive player, just not the caliber defensive player that DeAndre Hunt. DeAndre Hunter is. So I think that addition will be really interesting to see tonight.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

We'll decide if you get to talk about Darius Garland or not.

[Chris Cote]

What happened the other it was Evan Moby.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Was it Evan Mobley? Sorry, what happened the other night again, the Pistons. And this isn't so much a, a what's wrong with the Celtics question because obviously it's the regular season, but what do you like about the Pistons?

[Billy Gil]

Love. I've been. I've been pumping the pom poms for Kade Cunningham for like three years. And I was wondering last year if I just got him wrong. Like me, a guy that can. So I'm big on owning your space in the league. Right. I think it's underrated. I think the guys that own their space, all the all time great players, they all own their space. Even in a weird way like Iverson, as small as he was, he owned his space. But K operates with a little Luka Doncic, you know, offensively, where he could go where he wants to go. He's not affected by contact. He gets to spaces on the floor. He keeps his composure even as he's hitting guys and dislodging them. And that's really hard to do. So I'm high on Cade Cunningham. And what they've done is, you know, last year they weren't that bad. They shouldn't have been. What do they win, 14 games, 17 games last year. They shouldn't have won that many games last year. But what we're seeing though is they weren't where they're at this year. They've improved, no doubt. They've added some professionals in the room and Tobias Harris gets a lot of heat from Philly fans for whatever reason. But in this league right now, a guy that consistently plays hard brings it and plays a lot like he's relatively healthy a lot of the times, it shows a professionalism kind of starts, sets the tone. And Malik Beasley entering into a contract year, I'm gonna tell you right now, the way he's playing, you want Malik Beasley to be in a contract year every year because he is lights out. But by the way, like I kind of hated on his defense last year with the Bucs, unwarranted for sure, because if you look at the net rating, he was. That starting five group with the Bucs last year was really good. Doc Rivers decided to bench him for Patrick Beverley. What a gift to Detroit. Malik Beasley's having another impactful season and we just start. We got to just start looking at him as a different player. Whatever he was three or four years ago, he is not that same guy anymore.

[Chris Cote]

Is it as simple as that? Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr. And Tobias Harris and this team goes from the team that lost a record number of games in a row.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

And no Monte because Monty was starting Killian Hayes for.

[Chris Cote]

Wow.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Jason.

[Billy Gil]

Yeah, man. Heat right there. Nice job, Israel. You know, I'll tell you guys. So there's been five all time great turnarounds for the Celtics. They had, you know, Garnett and Ray Allen. Then you add, I think it was two spurs.

[Chris Cote]

Tim Duncan. Yep, yep.

[Billy Gil]

And then David Robinson. You know, the year that they got David Robinson, another one was Phoenix and Steve Nash and the other one with the Celtics and Larry Bird. And now it's Malik Beasley. Tobias Harris, baby. Those guys are next up. Chuck them in as hall of Fame players.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Brian, I wonder your perspective from Boston nationally. Jayson Tatum obviously gets a lot of hate and kind of disrespect. I think considering the amount of winning he's done in his young career. We have led the charge on that. We have been some of the biggest Tatum haters that there have been. But my theory is it's almost just because he makes things look so easy. And in a sense, it's almost boring watching him play because everything looks like it was made in a lab. His personality is not bombastic. He's not in your face. And in turn, there ends up being more disrespect levied at him than he should. Just because he's not a polarizing player, almost being unpolarizing makes him polarizing. What's your view of why people look at Jason Tatum and maybe don't give him the respect that another player with his resume would get?

[Billy Gil]

All right, the only way for me to answer that question is to ask you a question. So, Jeremy, give me your three favorite players in the NBA right now.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Oh, that's a really tough question, man. I'm around the Heat. So Tyler hero.

[Chris Cote]

Bam.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Out of bio.

[Billy Gil]

Oh, my God.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

No, I know what you're saying. I love what I mean. I've always loved watching Steph Curry. I love watching Anthony Edwards. I love watching Shay.

[Billy Gil]

Okay, there you go. So, like, and she doesn't have a bubbling personality, but no, he's a.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

He's a similar to Tatum in that respect.

[Billy Gil]

Yeah. But the NBA has done a really interesting job of, like, marketing players. Right. And the best part about today's NBA is like, I was going to say something like, I blank with that guy. Oh, yeah, I blank with him. I like him. Right. I like John Moran. I don't care about what he did a year ago with the guns and stuff. I watch. I love watching John Moran play. What do you want me to say? Right. I'm a white kid from the middle of nowhere. I love watching John Moran play. I like watching Anthony Edwards. I liked him more last year than this year. There was a time, I know it sounds crazy. I liked watching Ben Simmons play. Right.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Yeah.

[Billy Gil]

It's just everybody has what they like. And I think, think. I think if you ask a lot of people, I'm not sure a lot of people outside of Boston say, man, I just love watching Jason Tatum play. I don't. I don't think they. They resonate with him for whatever reason. You know, it could be the. He's on every commercial, but you don't really know anything about Tatum. You know, you don't. You don't see him on certain podcasts or anything like that. Maybe that's by design. You know, did he ever answer a question besides this thing right now saying, if you take away the name and the face, like, I get disrespected. But I just think we're in a generation now where people like different things. Like, there was a time, I'm sure, where all you guys love Jimmy Butler in the way that he played, and then now Jimmy Butler did what he did with Miami and you don't like him.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Yeah, I don't know what you're talking about. We never like that.

[Chris Cote]

It's just.

[Billy Gil]

No, but it's just like we live in right now. But I think that any analyst and any fan can all admit that he's a top five to 10 player in the NBA.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

That's exactly it. He's so spectacular in terms of production, in terms of efficiency, and all of the things that he does on the court. It's surprising. But I think your explanation makes a lot of sense. It's just that, that people don't gravitate to him as like, I'm. I f. With that.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Well, a couple things, though, scout. See if you agree with me here. Like, early on in his career, like, I interviewed him a bunch of pregame, he had nothing to say. Like, he was not really that exciting of a personality. He has definitely grown in that respect. Has more to say, but not really a whole lot.

[Chris Cote]

Right.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

And then when he does say stuff after winning, he's just basically parroting other people who have already won and then part of the game. And this is not really an insult to him. He just does what he needs to do. He doesn't over dribble. He doesn't have to. He doesn't do all this fancy stuff, like maybe he did when he was younger. He just does the one or two moves, a side step, maybe a little bit of push off, and then that's it. That's all he needs to do to be at this level and win. And so maybe that just doesn't draw the that many eyes.

[Billy Gil]

Yeah, I, I, I don't know. Listen, I've covered Tatum for whatever amount of years. I don't, I don't know what he likes. I mean, I know he likes Deuce. Yeah, I know that. I mean, I'm just being honest. I was like, like, I don't know. Does Tatum go on a show and, like, you get a personality of Jason Tatum? I don't know. I don't know. I know. I, I know that his brand is spotless. The guy had the new outfit, and he does the whole thing every single day. I know the stuff he says after the game. I listen to all the press conferences. It's just like, you know, I got it. I understand the whole thing, but, but I'm just, I'm just not. This is not a message to Tatum or anything like that, but it's like, listen up. I think don't be surprised when people don't like you as much as they like somebody else, because people just gravitate towards certain people for whatever reason. I think, like, if you look at LeBron the last four years, maybe three years, I think everyone just totally respects what LeBron is doing. Like, like the whole polarizing figure. He's no longer a polarizing figure. The guy is 40 years old and dominating, right? So I think, like, even us in Boston are like, yo, man, this dude is, he's incredible. I don't care that he left Miami, left Cleveland, went to la. I don't care that he chases championship. I don't care about any of that. Like, like, he's still doing his thing at 40. Like, man, I give you all the credit, all the love in the world. Steph Curry as well, like those guys. I've always liked Steph, but it's like, you know, there's a certain point when Tatum is stacking championships or whatever, it may be that people are just gonna be like, you know what? Say whatever you want. The dude is plays all the time. He defends, he, he scores, he does everything he's supposed to do. You're just going to end up saying, yeah, I'm cool with Tatum.

[Chris Cote]

Scal, let me ask you a question, because you brought up Tatum kind of saying, like, oh, if you take my name and my face away from. And Just blind resume. People will respect me a lot more. You've got LeBron James basically bigging up what Anthony Edwards said during the All Star breaks. I don't want to be a face of the league because why would I want to be a face when all people talk shit about me all the time? And you, me, Izzy, we're all roughly the same age, so we remember that this isn't a new phenomenon. Like when you were at the top, people talk shit and ask questions until you win, and then you haven't won enough and all that stuff. It's happened for the entirety of our league. And I told the story of an NBA on NBC intro where they were asking, is Michael Jordan ever going to go to the Finals? Like, they question Michael Jordan. So when you hear current players and especially an older guy like LeBron whine about the criticism that they receive, are we. Is it. Am I reading this wrong? It's like, hey, this has always been. Or has it gotten it worse for these guys?

[Billy Gil]

I mean, this is. If you say, like, let's say I do this show, right? I don't know if I've said anything. Any hot takes on this show, but let's just say I did say a hot take. That would be. That would go viral. So, like, there are people out there that are trying to do that. Say hot takes, get people go viral and then be crate. Like, it's a. It's a topic of conversation that can lead into tonight's PTI or around the horn. Right? It's just. That's just how our business works. But if we all just came up here and. And gassed up everybody and how good everybody is in the league is amazing and all that stuff, like, that's not going to do anything. So I kind of feel like we're in the. Because of social media and everything like, that we're in the environment of the negativity. The negativity is just what's going to spread to, you know, like, even the com. The conversation of LeBron and Michael Jordan. Somehow that's a slight on LeBron to say he's not as good as Jordan. It's not a slight, dude. Jordan was a. Whatever, a beast of like Greek God. And LeBron is right there next to him. But that's a polarizing topic that people think you're hating. You know, like, that's just a world that we live in. So the things that gets back to Tatum are going to be the negativity. Like, is this going to get back to Tatum? The dude plays all the time. He rebounds, he defends. He makes the right play. He's passing the ball. That's not getting back to anybody. That's not going viral, you know, like anything else would go viral. So that's. That's why people think you catch shit, as you said, or grief or whatever, because it's the negative is what kind of gets exacerbated.

[Chris Cote]

All right, Scal, before we let you go in under 30 seconds, if Nico Harrison had called Brad Stevens and said, Luka Doncic for Jayson Tatum, nah, you wouldn't do it.

[Billy Gil]

Nah.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Okay, 15 seconds or more.

[Billy Gil]

But Wemby.

[Chris Cote]

And now we're talking Scout.

[Billy Gil]

Come on, guys. He's the most untradable guy in the history of the league at this point. No one. Everyone wants Wemby, so whatever.

[Chris Cote]

All right, Scout. Thanks for joining us.

[Izzy Gutierrez]

Thank you, Scout.

[Billy Gil]

Got it, guys. See ya.

[Jeremy Tache]

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[Izzy Gutierrez]

Angel Reese and McDonald's.

[Chris Cote]

Una QPC con.

[Jessica Smetana]

Salsa barbecue Itosino Papitas Yun Refresco Rose Le Jam and El Angel Reese Special Cubot. El Angel Reese Special Solo and McDonald's El McDonald's Participantes.