What's Wright - Lakers DEMAND respect, World Baseball Classic PREDICTIONS, NFL free agency REACTION | Nick Wright

Summary

THE HERD WITH COLIN COWHERD
Episode: What's Wright - Lakers DEMAND respect, World Baseball Classic PREDICTIONS, NFL Free Agency REACTION | Nick Wright
Date: March 17, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this lively episode of "What's Wright," Nick Wright and team return post-vacation, energized (and slightly jet-lagged) to react to headline sports developments. Covering a dramatic Lakers victory, Bam Adebayo’s historic scoring night, NFL free agency moves, NCAA Tournament picks, and the deepening impact of the World Baseball Classic, Nick brings his signature blend of passionate opinion, storytelling, and humor.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jet Lag and Broadcast Realities

Timestamps: 02:50–05:07

• Nick shares tales of combating extreme jet lag after a Japan trip, describing how he’s “been up since one in the morning” (04:10) and is “on like 30 straight hours” awake.
• Humorous acknowledgment: “I have no idea how many cups of coffee I’ve had...I’m a little discombobulated.” (04:17)
• Sets the tone for why his takes might get even spicier than usual.

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2. Bam Adebayo’s 83-Point Game & The Culture of Sports Debate

Timestamps: 08:32–20:33

• Nick recounts witnessing Bam's explosion from Japan, reflecting on how immediate debates about the “validity” of the performance exemplify a problematic, joyless sports discourse.
• Quote: “Somebody scored 83 points in a basketball game…shut up. Somebody scored 83 points in an NBA game!” (11:28)
• Argues that comparisons and tear-downs (especially vs Kobe’s 81) miss the thrill of such a rare feat.
• Anecdote about a fan approaching him in Osaka: “Bam’s game—ethical or unethical?” (13:02)
• Historical context: NBA’s history of single-game scoring records, emphasizing that records “are targets.” (18:54)
• Memorable: “We just can't enjoy things anymore. We can't just flatly enjoy it.” (20:23)
• Conclusion: It’s okay to be discerning and compare, but don’t rob the moment of its awe.

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3. NFL Free Agency Drama: Ravens, Chiefs, Broncos

Timestamps: 22:31–46:31

Baltimore Ravens:

• Discusses Ravens backing out of a Max Crosby trade, opting for Trey Hendrickson.
• Evaluates the rationale—was it a calculated negotiation or cold feet?
• Quote: “That's a wildly risky move…and one I wouldn't have made.” (24:10)
• Cautions: This kind of reversal could hurt Baltimore’s reputation with other teams.

Kansas City Chiefs:

• Reactions to the Chiefs clearing cap space for Kenneth Walker, and trading for Justin Fields.
• Quote: “Now you have a legitimate…running back…the best back Mahomes has had since his first year with Kareem Hunt.” (28:50)
• Excitement for potential Justin Fields wildcat/option packages.
• “If Fields has to start because Mahomes is not ready…that’s a disaster.” (29:59)

Quarterback Moves & Team Building:

• Analyzes choices by Vikings (Kyler Murray) and Falcons (Tua Tagovailoa).
• Critique: “If you're going to make the investment to take JJ McCarthy in round one…to give up on him 10 starts into his career is just an awful process.” (33:09)

Breaking News: Jalen Waddle Trade

• LIVE reaction to the Broncos trading for Jalen Waddle from the Dolphins.
• “That's a good trade for Denver. I like that for Bo Nix, and I like Miami just being like, we're going to try to be the worst team in the league this year.” (43:54)
• Miami’s roster teardown and implications for Malik Willis’ prospects.

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4. The Lakers—A Legitimate Threat or Mirage?

Timestamps: 50:12–59:59

• Post-victory, are the Lakers real contenders? Nick’s nuanced take—no, except if you’re considering other teams with obvious flaws.
• “If you think the Nuggets can win the title, then the Lakers can.” (52:31)
• Details upcoming schedule, playoff tiebreakers, and seeding odds.
• “I don't think the Lakers can win the title, but I really only think two teams, I guess three, can win the title.” (55:48)

LeBron’s New Role

• LeBron transitioning to a "third guy" role helps the team. “LeBron being able…to deploy his energy instead of getting shots up, on defense and doing other things…” (56:43)
• Praise for Luke (Doncic) and Austin (Reaves) stepping up, relaxing pressure on LeBron.
• LeBron's future: “I don't think LeBron's going to be on the Lakers next year...He'll remind people he can still do it.” (58:28)

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5. NBA Commentary & Barkley Critique

Timestamps: 59:33–62:35

• Nick gently criticizes the “Inside the NBA” team, especially Barkley, for a negative tone about the Lakers and high-level NBA play.
• “I wish this year it felt like they enjoyed basketball more than it feels like.” (60:43)
• Compares to other sports broadcasts, praising the enthusiasm around the World Baseball Classic.

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6. Durant & The Rockets—Is It Working?

Timestamps: 63:23–67:52

• Reacts to Kevin Durant’s anxious, ambiguous post-game comments.
• Concerns: Rockets are “too dependent on KD for offense” and worry about a potential first-round exit.
• Nick rehashes Durant’s career—early sustained playoff greatness vs. present struggles:
  • “23 to 30, every year that he's not injured, basically, they're in the conference finals or further...This entire decade, plays 13 total playoff games post round one. That's rough, man.” (66:02–67:21)
• Reflections on the impact of Durant’s burner account and team chemistry distractions.

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7. NCAA Tournament Picks & Survivor Pools

Timestamps: 35:49–40:55

• Nick's two picks:
  • Houston to win the championship at 9 to 1 odds.
  • Arizona to win the West at -155.
• Insights into bracket math, overlays, and survivor pools—plugging contests for listeners.

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8. The World Baseball Classic & The Value of Tradition

Timestamps: 68:42–74:40

• The WBC as a metaphor for the value of starting and persisting with new traditions, even if the payoff is long-delayed.
• “The best time to plant a tree is last year. The second best time is now.” (70:18)
• Comparison to NBA In-Season Tournament—great things take root with patience.
• Reflection: “I think the World Baseball Classic has been awesome...and I don’t know when or why or how that happened, but credit to baseball for wanting to do something like that and not caring that it maybe has taken 20 years.” (74:15)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Somebody scored 83 points in a basketball game…shut up. Somebody scored 83 points in an NBA game!” (11:28, Nick Wright)
• “Records are targets, and somebody went and shot for it.” (18:54, Nick Wright)
• On Inside the NBA: “I wish this year it felt like they enjoyed basketball more than it feels like.” (60:43, Nick Wright)
• “23 to 30, every year [Durant's] not injured…they’re in the conference finals or further. This entire decade, plays 13 total playoff games post round one. That’s rough, man.” (66:02–67:21, Nick Wright)
• “The best time to plant a tree is last year… second best time is today. That’s the story of the World Baseball Classic.” (70:18, Nick Wright)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Time | |-----------------------------------|:--------------:| | Jet Lag & Show Opening | 02:50–05:07 | | Bam Adebayo’s 83-Point Game | 08:32–20:33 | | NFL Free Agency & QB Carousel | 22:31–46:31 | | Jalen Waddle Trade LIVE Reaction | 41:27–45:50 | | Lakers Are They Real? | 50:12–59:59 | | LeBron’s Role on Lakers | 56:16–58:45 | | Barkley & NBA Critique | 59:33–62:35 | | Durant and the Rockets | 63:23–67:52 | | NCAA Picks & Survivor Pools | 35:49–40:55 | | World Baseball Classic & Tradition| 68:42–74:40 |

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Tone & Style

Nick Wright is analytical, emotional, and often introspective. He uses personal anecdotes, blends humor with pointed critique, and isn’t afraid to go on passionate tangents, all while staying informed and engaging. The discussions are opinionated but evidence-based, often challenging popular media and fan narratives.

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Useful For

Whether you’re drawn to NBA hot takes, fascinated by the NFL’s wild offseason, love bracketology, or just care about the culture of sports debates, this episode offers rich analysis and memorable commentary. Nick’s reflections on tradition and sports joy are especially resonant for longtime fans.

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End of Summary

Transcript

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Except Discover in a little place like this? I don't think so, Jennifer.

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[Guest Analyst]

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So we shouldn't get the parachute pants?

[Jennifer]

These are making a comeback, I think.

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[Co-host]

Why?

[Daniel Cormier]

What's wrong?

[Julian Edelman]

Nothing's wrong. You look like a guy running on three hours of sleep and vibes.

[Damanze]

Okay, yeah, I'm tired, kind of cranky, and very thirsty.

[Julian Edelman]

Congrats. Those are some of the potential signs of mild dehydration. And I bet your last bathroom break showed you another sign Your body might be throwing you a penalty flag.

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So what's the play?

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Call Liquid IV hydration multiplier. One stick in water helps hydrate faster than water alone. Okay, but where's the proof? Liquid IVs. Clinical studies, not just a guy. I know real science. Results you can trust.

[Daniel Cormier]

Well, take a look at me now. Liquid IV is officially part of my daily hydration routine.

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[Co-host]

Popsicle flavor.

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Stay hydrated like a pro, not like Jack. Before this. Stock up on Liquid IV Hyper Hydration Multiplier@liquidd I.com and use the promo code nuthouse for 20% off your first purchase.

[Co-host]

Welcome in welcome Back to Me, episode

[Damanze]

433 of what's Right with the Great presented to you by Boost Mobile Damanz.

[Co-host]

So I have a bit, I don't

[Damanze]

know if it's an embarrassing confession, but it's a confession.

[Co-host]

I thought that I had solved jet lag and I heard, I was like,

[Damanze]

man, I flew to, I flew 15 hours straight to Japan, right?

[Co-host]

And landed at 5am Like Sunday morning, Japan time. First day started my day went out, went, you know, went to bed at

[Damanze]

a reasonable time that night. I guess it was Saturday morning, whatever, doesn't matter.

[Co-host]

And then just had had eight straight

[Damanze]

normal days in Japan. Wasn't napping during the day. I was like, man, I just slept

[Co-host]

well enough on the plane, I'm fine. Came back, got back Sunday night, 13

[Damanze]

hour flight back, slept like 10 hours

[Co-host]

on that flight, then went to bed Sunday night in New York like 1am

[Damanze]

because it got in the house about

[Co-host]

midnight, slept till like 5.

[Damanze]

But I had slept 10 hours on flight. I'm like, man, I'm fine. It's coming, it's like, oh man, all

[Co-host]

this, these folks talking about jet lag,

[Damanze]

going New York to la. We went halfway around the world. I said all that to say this. I've been up since one in the morning.

[Co-host]

I, I, I am right now just a little, I have no idea how many cups of coffee I've had. I, I don't know if I'm tired or not. I, I'm a little discombobulated.

[Guest Analyst]

And you feel how I felt when I had Myla, like those two or

[Co-host]

three different type of feeling. That's just stone sleep deprivation.

[Damanze]

That's what you were going through.

[Co-host]

This is different.

[Damanze]

And so nothing really challenges you as a professional broadcaster than basically being on,

[Co-host]

going on like a 30 hour, been up since 1. I was watching the Laker game, so I fell asleep for like an hour. So I'm on like, I don't know,

[Damanze]

I'm something around like 30 straight hours.

[Co-host]

I'm about to do in the next five hours, three hours of just live talking. So we're really going to see, you know, how sharp I really am.

[Damanze]

And then after the show tonight, your

[Co-host]

baby sister has the school musical. So then I have to, you know, so I got a lot going on

[Guest Analyst]

dark in there, man.

[Damanze]

Why if I fell asleep during her

[Co-host]

musical, man, I, I, she would never speak to me again. All right, so let's get right to

[Damanze]

it though, because we have a ton

[Co-host]

to get to we have the Laker

[Damanze]

game from last night.

[Co-host]

Durant's kind of odd commentary after last night's game, NCAA tournament stuff, world baseball classic stuff and a bunch of topics that happened while I was in Japan

[Damanze]

that I want to get to here.

[Co-host]

So before we do any of that, straight to voicemail.

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Brought to you by our friends at Boost Mobile.

[Co-host]

USA Hockey completes the hockey Triple Crown, which means Olympic men, Olympic women and

[Damanze]

the Paralympic sled hockey.

[Co-host]

So that's pretty sweet. Jason Tatum came back while I was

[Damanze]

gone and now the minutes restriction is lessened while since I've been gone and

[Co-host]

I think yeah, my last day before I left on tv, I picked your

[Damanze]

Celtics to Maze to win the whole damn thing.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah, I think that's very fair at this point. He came back at the perfect time. If everything goes smoothly from here on out, we should win the title. What? Yeah.

[Damanze]

Well you certainly listen I just said I picked so I'm not going to now nag it but you certainly should be in the finals.

[Co-host]

Exactly. At this point it's now if OKC

[Damanze]

is, you know, has really just been hanging out in third gear and it's just a great team with great title defense.

[Co-host]

There's no shame in that. If Wimby keeps elevating. There's no but at this point, if

[Damanze]

you're a Celtic fan, it will feel

[Co-host]

really disappointing if you don't make the

[Damanze]

finals and you can win a championship. And that'd be so great for Tatum. I'd be so happy for him. And also the Hawks have now won 10 in a row.

[Co-host]

Somehow I think they started this winning streak in ninth place and I think 10 wins later they're still in ninth

[Damanze]

place but and a lot of those wins came against Tankers.

[Co-host]

Oh no. They moved up to they're now tied

[Damanze]

for eighth with with Philadelphia and so they're moving up a little bit. Try this get to the 78 line is valuable. All right, reminder to everybody like Rate subscribe review. We're done with, you know our post super bowl vacations kind of we might in a couple weeks have one other we might switch a Tuesday show to a Wednesday show here in a few weeks because but we'll deal with that down the road. But we're we're here for the duration and so subscribing to the POD lets you know when we go live when we post an episode. All of that. It helps us out a ton. Also, feel free to submit questions to the live show. If we don't get to them, we're going to start doing, like bi weekly mailbag episodes.

[Co-host]

Oh, and that's the other thing.

[Damanze]

Back to three shows a week starting this week. So we, you know, we went two shows a week post super bowl. And. And with the time off, we're going to be back to three shows a week. All right, Damanze, let's catch us up on some things.

[Guest Analyst]

All right, so a lot has transpired since your Japan trip. First off, we got Bam scoring 83 against the Wizards and how the media and everybody reacted to that.

[Co-host]

So believe it or not, I saw

[Damanze]

the fourth quarter of this live. It was. I don't know what day it was. It was the morning in Tokyo and your mom was getting dressed. And I was on Twitter and I saw people say Bam had, you know, 50 at halftime or whatever it was. I'm monitoring it. And then I figured out how to basically stream from Japan the last 7 minutes or whatever of the fourth quarter.

[Co-host]

And I almost tweeted about what I anticipated the reaction was going to be, but I was also on vacation and

[Damanze]

I was like, I'm not going to do it.

[Co-host]

And this is going to be one

[Damanze]

of those things that

[Co-host]

some people may

[Damanze]

feel like I am trying to make a sports story a bigger story than it actually is, but this is just how my brain works.

[Co-host]

I thought the.

[Damanze]

The general reaction to a player with as cool of a story and as likable and as uncontroversial and unpolarizing as

[Co-host]

bam Adebayo scoring 83 God Dog points in an NBA game instantly being debate about its validity. Just a massive indictment for how we consume, discuss, and enjoy sports and really almost all things entertainment related. Like if I. If I was maybe on a little

[Damanze]

more sleep and had a little more time. There is.

[Co-host]

There is an interesting essay to be written about the folks trying to tear down either one battle after another, winning the Oscar or sinners and Michael B.

[Damanze]

Jordan's performance comparing it to other performances or other best picture winners in the

[Co-host]

moment of its ultimate glory. And folks being like, yeah, it's 83,

[Damanze]

but when you really think about it,

[Co-host]

only 76 of those points were ethical by my standards. And everybody knows he's not Kobe Bryant. And I mean, even though nobody's ever

[Damanze]

seen the, you know, Wilt scoring 100,

[Co-host]

obviously that was the more everybody shut up. Somebody scored 83 points in a basketball game. Yeah, regulation NBA game. If somebody scored 83 points in a junior college game, it would make sports center. This guy did it in the NBA. And the. And the reason I know the conversation that the tail starts wagging the dog on this shit. I.

[Damanze]

Someone's going to clip this and say, I'm making it up.

[Co-host]

Hand to God. The next day after this, I'm walking

[Damanze]

around one of the fish markets.

[Co-host]

Not one.

[Damanze]

The fish market in Osaka. Because I was in Osaka the next day. Very tourist, you know, kind of location in Osaka.

[Daniel Cormier]

And

[Co-host]

a kid with either a British or Australian accent.

[Damanze]

I'm not good at determining.

[Co-host]

Knew me, didn't know my name, but knew he had seen me on, I'm

[Damanze]

sure, you know, on his phone talking

[Co-host]

about the NBA and says to me, sorry, I just have to ask Bam's game ethical or unethical? And I'm like, man, sports debate kind of sucks right now. Oh, this guy scored 83 points. And. And it. What it was. The immediate conversation was, was that actually good or not? Guys scored 83 points in an NBA game? And the immediate. Not like, all right, we're four days into the. Bam. Adebayo just had just the most points anyone has scored, you know, since Vietnam. And. And it's like, all right, we're out of things. So now should we peel back a sixth layer? The first topic. Should he have tried. This was a topic. Should he have done the NBA version of that old commercial where the kid tells the ref, it's out, I touched it. Should Bam have subbed himself out at 80? Yeah, they said a prayer for Kobe and walked off the. What are we doing?

[Guest Analyst]

Oh, I think I was. I think I saw Bam telling the team to foul. Like, I mean, I went in the complete other direction.

[Co-host]

I will say the record, I'm not

[Guest Analyst]

on the unethical side, but I do think. And you're like a big basketball historian. When you go back in the future, when you go to the future and you look back at this game, it's like, wait, this guy dropped 83 points. What the hell happened? I mean, they play the Wizards. Well.

[Co-host]

Yes, but that's.

[Guest Analyst]

Guess what?

[Damanze]

There.

[Co-host]

There's. There was a famous David Thompson final day of the season. I think it was David Thompson, George Gervin, final day of the season, both

[Damanze]

going for the scoring record. And they both scored in the 70s.

[Co-host]

Like the David Robinson, I think, going

[Damanze]

for a scoring record.

[Co-host]

Game 82 got to 70. Will they, by the way, in the game, when Wilt got a hundred, they were fouling the other team to get more possessions. So Wilt could get to 100. So. And now listen, Kobe got his 81 for the most part, within the flow of the game. I. And it was in a Comeback and

[Damanze]

Kobe a few weeks prior.

[Guest Analyst]

All these names that you're mentioning, these are do like, these are. These are legends.

[Co-host]

Yeah, I understand. But. But Bam scored 31 in the first quarter. Yeah, he had 50 in the first half. He had set. He was at 70 with like nine minutes left. That was all within the flow. Yeah. Was he playing a bad team? Yes. You have to be playing a bad team to score and. Right. And it has to be a blowout because if it's a close game, they're going to force the ball out of your hands. All those things have to happen. And so I. I am not sitting. If someone wants to say I was more impressed by Kobe's 81 than Bam's

[Damanze]

83, sure, that's fair.

[Co-host]

Totally legitimate opinion. But that wasn't the conversation I saw from halfway around the world. It was actually. This was not good, actually, when you really think about it. He shouldn't have tried to do it. Shut up.

[Guest Analyst]

And the announcers have been salty about it ever since too. I hear it on the broadcast at the end of the game. They're like, oh, maybe we should go for 50.

[Co-host]

I mean, I. Bam Adebayo.

[Damanze]

We've been playing the NBA for 80 years. There have been a totally different eras, totally different styles. Rule changes everything. One person has ever scored more points in a game than Bam Adebayo.

[Co-host]

That's cool. And I. Maybe if he was like a guy

[Damanze]

that people really was like a very controversial figure.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

Like the peak.

[Guest Analyst]

Like If Draymond dropped 83 like five, six years ago.

[Co-host]

Yeah. I wasn't even. I was thinking like controversial in that he had Russ Peak triple double hunting. You know, where there is like he has die hard fans and folks that actually think, you know, maybe it would have made more sense. But I just. We just can't flatly enjoy it.

[True Nature Meats Advertiser]

People are pissed.

[Co-host]

They were legit mad. I thought it was so crazy. Like, I don't know, man.

[Guest Analyst]

I mean, it's. A lot of it is probably Kobe because I think when LeBron, when they had passed LeBron, it wasn't like a huge, like there. I think people were actually probably happy about it. But then he passed Kobe and it was like, hey, man, what are you doing out there?

[Damanze]

So that. Right, so that. That is correct. So there is an element of. Kobe already had

[Co-host]

a cult like following

[Damanze]

in a good way. Like Kobe fans are die hards. And that was before he tragically passed suddenly without warning.

[Co-host]

And so that really did elevate him

[Damanze]

into almost like the emotional factor.

[Guest Analyst]

And like.

[Damanze]

Yes.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

So I understand that, but records are

[Damanze]

not

[Co-host]

meant to be untouchable. Records are there.

[Damanze]

They are targets. Records are targets,

[Co-host]

and somebody went and shot for it. And by the way, man, and the other thing that annoys me is I

[Damanze]

am old enough to remember the reaction

[Co-host]

when coaches have not allowed guys to go for it. Yeah, Mello had 62 or 63 and

[Damanze]

got subbed out early in the fourth clay.

[Co-host]

Clay had, what, 61 through 3. It's something insane.

[Damanze]

And Cur didn't play him in the fourth.

[Co-host]

People were pissed.

[Damanze]

Go for it.

[Co-host]

And so I. I just. I wish there were things that were just allowed to be awesome now. It doesn't mean everything has to be

[Damanze]

the greatest thing ever. Like, I'm not saying that you're not allowed to have a discerning eye and

[Co-host]

say, actually, I thought Luca, when he

[Damanze]

scored 72 a couple years ago. And by the way, Luca scored 72,

[Co-host]

no one remembers it like it happened, and nobody cared. And actually, when that happened, I remember.

[Damanze]

And this was canary in the coal mine on this. When Lucas scored 72, the conversation was, what's wrong with the NBA?

[Co-host]

Like, scoring's become too easy.

[Damanze]

We just can't enjoy things anymore. There's just.

[Co-host]

We can't just flatly enjoy it.

[Damanze]

And so that part just sucked to me. All right, there's my bam. Rant. 15 minutes on a topic from eight days ago. It's what people are here for.

[Guest Analyst]

Hey, man.

[Daniel Cormier]

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[Vintage Store Shopper]

Oh, could this vintage store be Any cuter?

Right?

[Jennifer]

And the best part? They accept Discover.

[Vintage Store Shopper]

Accept Discover in a little place like this? I don't think so. Jennifer.

[Jennifer]

Oh, yeah, huh? Discover's accepted where I like to shop. Come on, baby. Get with the times.

[Vintage Store Shopper]

Right. So we shouldn't get the parachute pants.

[Jennifer]

These are making a comeback, I think.

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Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. Based on the February 2025 Nielsen report.

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[Guest Analyst]

got my Ravens backing out of the Max Crosby trade and then picking up Trey Hendrickson. We talked about that a little bit before you left.

[Damanze]

So what did we talk about?

[Guest Analyst]

We just talked about, we just talked about Hendrickson potentially going to the Ravens to stick it.

[Damanze]

Oh, that's right. Oh yeah, yeah, you're right. But the Crosby thing hadn't not crossed. All right, so here's where I've got to be fair on all sides Now.

[Co-host]

I do think, I do think it's

[Damanze]

possible demanz that the Ravens it was part Max Crosby's physical and part cold feet slash. Oh wait, we can get Hendrickson.

[Co-host]

I'm not certain but I, I that

[Damanze]

to me isn't like a wild conspiracy theory. That to me is at least seeming

[Guest Analyst]

like a tactic a little bit.

[Damanze]

It's at least something my I'm open to the that possibility that that's what happened. Here's what I will say about your Ravens had I been on the air the day the Max Crosby trade. The trade, not the going back on

[Co-host]

it but the the day Max Crosby

[Guest Analyst]

he was on the team.

[Damanze]

Yeah, I would have said I thought that was an overpay that I thought giving up two ones and the contract for a 29 year old coming off knee surgery with that much who has played more snaps over the last six years than any other defensive linemen by a mile.

[Co-host]

That that is a wildly risky move

[Damanze]

and one I wouldn't have made.

[Co-host]

Therefore I have to say I think it's good that they got it for cheaper. You know that they got I think

[Damanze]

Trey Hendrickson is not Nearly as good as Max CROSBY and he's 85% of them.

[Daniel Cormier]

WALL.

[Damanze]

I would rather have Trey Hendrickson on what would, would end up being a cheaper contract and two first round picks than Max Crosby. Yeah, like to me that's a no brainer.

[Co-host]

So I think that is a net win.

[Damanze]

Here is the only addendum I'll throw on that. I do think there is a potential cost for Baltimore. If the league believes they just got cold feet. I think it then becomes harder for them to do business in the future.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah, it was a bad look.

[Damanze]

Right.

[Co-host]

And so I do think it really matters. What.

[Damanze]

Because I, I think Crosby's eventually getting traded.

[Co-host]

I think it's going to really matter

[Damanze]

what he gets traded for.

[Co-host]

So if somebody in, like if Dallas

[Damanze]

ends up trading a first and a second for Crosby,

[Co-host]

then I think this

[Damanze]

is a tough look on Baltimore. Yeah, it's like, okay, the, if he, if Max Crosby ends up getting traded for just a second round pick, then I think Baltimore is fully exonerated.

[Co-host]

Does that make sense? You know, and so that's where I've

[Damanze]

got to wait and see. The other thing I will say about Baltimore's off season,

[Co-host]

I would have liked to see them get Lamar another weapon. Like, I'm not like Isaiah likely left,

[Damanze]

their third string tight end left. It's still just Zay Flowers and friends.

[Guest Analyst]

You know, we got the draft.

[Damanze]

Derrick Henry's. Derrick Henry's an all time legend, but at some, you know, I, I'm, I'm done betting against him. But at some point he's going to stop being, you know, the dominant Derek Henry. I thought Mark Andrews was going to be done a year ago.

[Co-host]

Yeah, it just.

[Damanze]

And so that part concerns me a bit. All right, we can keep going to my team now.

[Guest Analyst]

So your Chiefs cleared up that space for Kenneth Walker and they just traded for Justin Fields. But nothing, but nothing outside of that.

[Damanze]

Yeah. So listen, they have to remake their secondary in the draft. So let's, you know, they traded away Trent McDuffie, right. He's an excellent player. That's a tough decision, but I supported it. We talked about that on the show. On this show we do Jalen Watson left as well. Both go to the Rams.

[Co-host]

Brian Cook, who I like, left, he

[Damanze]

goes to the Bengals. So that's your three of your starting secondary guys gone. They signed Cater Kohu, they sign a Lowy Gilman from your Raven. So those guys step in, you know, they believe they can just draft and develop corners. Fine. I love the Kenneth Walker signing for two reasons. First One is I'm not even certain Jarrah at this point. It doesn't look like Jeremiah Love is going to be there at nine. But also it gives you flexibility to take a higher value position at 9. You don't have this glaring gaping hole on the roster.

[Co-host]

And when you pair that with

[Damanze]

the Justin Field signing or trade they traded a sixth for Fields that pay him 3 million bucks. Here's what I like about it. Last year to Monze, if you were playing the Chiefs in your game plan the week leading in defensively, basically 100% of your prep was about stopping Mahomes in the passing game.

[Co-host]

Oh yeah, it was 100%.

[Damanze]

Your prep was how do we slow down the passing game because they can't run.

[Guest Analyst]

Yep.

[Co-host]

Now you have a legitimate not top

[Damanze]

flight but good running back. The best back Homes has had since his first year with Kareem Hunt, you know is his first year as a starter for Kareem Hunt got kicked off

[Co-host]

the team and I think they will have just enough once maybe just once a game Wildcat Justin Fields packages that

[Damanze]

you have to prepare for it. Yeah. And now you are spending time in your prep week. How are we going to defend their rushing attack? How are we going to fin when Fields is on the field and that will make things easier for Patrick. I also if you remember me saying 4 years ago I wanted them to sign Cam Newton to be the backup quarterback so we could run quarterback sneaks on inches again.

[Co-host]

They can now do that with Justin Fields instead of handing it off to Travis Kelsey or Noah Gray or whomever

[Damanze]

and then doing this tight end tosh push. Now if Fields is has to start because Mahomes is not ready at the beginning of the year.

[Guest Analyst]

Right.

[Damanze]

That's a disaster.

[Co-host]

But that would be a disaster. Well, it's not great.

[Guest Analyst]

No. You obviously want Patrick Mahomes playing instead of Justin Fields. I think that the Kansas City might be able to get a little something out of Justin Fields.

[Co-host]

Well that's the other thing.

[Damanze]

Ford Fields this is the best possible if he can remake his career a bit.

[Co-host]

But if you if we were to

[Damanze]

know right now like Mahomes was going to miss the first month I would have rather them sign Kirk Cousins.

[Co-host]

Like I so if the yeah, I mean once I Fields is an above average back.

[Guest Analyst]

I was about to say like more escapability than Kirk Cousins especially with the O line being a problem last year.

[Co-host]

So I but I here's where I

[Damanze]

if Kirk Cousins is your backup quarterback, he has zero utility at all once Patrick's healthy If Justin Fields your backup quarterback, he can actually be helpful even once Patrick's health is back.

[Co-host]

Yeah, so I, you know, so that

[Damanze]

part, that part I like. All right, let's go to some of the quarterback signings for. We get to the NCAA tournament and basketball from last night.

[Guest Analyst]

So the Vikings signed Kyler Murray and the Falcons now have TUA where. What do you think on those?

[Damanze]

Listen, I don't believe in Kyler or TUA as starting quarterbacks in this league. People know I should. Listen, Tyler is a starter. I, I should say, like, I don't

[Co-host]

think he's a backup, but I just

[Damanze]

don't think either one of those guys are, you know, real viable long term starting options. But that's independent of what I'm about to say here. I do not understand teams.

[Co-host]

And maybe with the Falcons, it's like

[Damanze]

we have a new regime in place. It doesn't matter that draft these

[Co-host]

potentially

[Damanze]

raw quarterbacks in the first round

[Co-host]

and

[Damanze]

then less than a dozen starts into their career, they're like, yeah, we're done with this guy. I don't get it. Like, if you're going to make the investment to take JJ McCarthy in round

[Co-host]

one, 10 starts in, you're like, yeah,

[Damanze]

that's not going to work.

[Co-host]

You take Michael Pinnicks when you already have Kirk Cousins.

[Damanze]

He starts three games as a rookie, nine games last year, blows out his

[Co-host]

knee and now you want to just

[Damanze]

be like, all right, two is going to be our guy. That can't be the right answer.

[Co-host]

So now maybe. And listen, maybe they signed two to be the backup.

[Damanze]

So be it. The Vikings signed Kyler to be the starter.

[Co-host]

And even though I don't. Here's the thing, I don't believe in Kyler, but I have so little belief in McCarthy.

[Damanze]

I think Kyler's obviously the better option.

[Co-host]

I just think the process sucks. I think that if you're going to

[Damanze]

say we're going to take a shot on raw JJ McCarthy in the top half of round one, to give up on him 10 starts into his career is just an awful process. Awful. All right, we're going to get to the NCAA tournament in just a second. But first, let me remind you guys, today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock BET Florida Sportsbook. It's tourney time. Everyone's favorite thing to do this time of year is fill out a bracket. So join me in the volume bracket contest presented by Hard Rock bet. Grand prize winner scores a two night stay at the guitar hotel.

[Co-host]

I've stayed at that hotel.

[Damanze]

That place is awesome. At Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Plus a thousand dollars in bonus bets to use on the Hard Rock Bet app. All you have to do is head to the is head to bracket.thevolume.com and fill out your bracket. That's bracket.the volume.com to make your picks and once your brackets locked in, it's time to hit the hardwood on the Hard Rock Bet app. All tournament long, Hard Hard Rock Bet is rolling out daily dancing boosts featuring a live profit boost and a parlay profit boost every single day. That's more ways to shoot your shot and cash in with boosted odds. And you know those heart stopping zero on the clock moments. Now they pay. Hard Rock Bet has given out $25 bonus bets throughout the tournament. If a team you bet on bet to win or cover hits a buzzer beater. If you haven't joined Hard Rock Bet yet, now's the time. Check in, check in the game. New signups can double their winnings on their first 10 bets. Max $50. That means if you would have won a hundred bucks on your bet, now it's 200. That's how you start mo march hot. So don't sit on the bench. Download the Hard Rock Bet app today and let's get the party started. Payable and bonus bets. Not a cash offer offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida. Offered by Seminole hard Rock Digital LLC in all other states. Must be 21 plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida? Call 1833 play wise in Indiana. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem wants help, call 1-800-9 with it. Gambling problem, call 1-800- gambler Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia. All right. Damanze special Knicks picks edition.

[Guest Analyst]

It's time for a special edition of Knicks picks brought to you by Hard Rock Bet.

[Damanze]

So two tournament picks for you guys. First, we've got Houston.

[Co-host]

No, I. I got it all. Oh, you're fine.

[Damanze]

I was just. It was Dr. Dramatic pause because I went down this road last year and they lost. I picked Houston to get to the Final Four. I don't believe I picked them to win the championship. But Houston with Kelvin Sampson, got all the way to the final against Florida, had the ball, chance to win. It didn't get a shot up. Kind of tragic loss.

[Co-host]

It's a different type of gut punch.

[Damanze]

But it reminded me of Virginia when As a one seed, one of the favorites to win the tournament became the first one seed ever to lose to a 16. And then the very next year they responded to that stomach punch by winning the championship. I think Houston and Kelvin Sampson finally break through. They're nine to one to win it all. They have the huge bonus of first of all, they in my opinion pretty clearly have the easiest 1 seed to deal with in their region. It would be Florida. It'd be a rematch in the title

[Co-host]

game and

[Damanze]

they'll make the Sweet 16. Their Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games are in Houston. So they would have home games to make the final four. Houston at 9 to 1 to win it all. And the other pick that I'm going to give out is I think, the best all around team in the country and certainly the healthiest of the there's three big favorites, Arizona, Duke and Michigan. And Arizona's the healthiest. Arizona to win its region, to make the final four at minus 155. So those two Knicks picks brought to you by our friends at Hard Rock bet, Houston to win the whole thing at 9 to 1. Arizona to win the west at minus 155. Those two picks brought to you by Hard Rock Bet. And by the way, speaking of the tournament, so I've, I've now got to hold on. I've got to check the latest, gosh darn it, I've got to check the latest details on this. And so I've talked to you guys about this contest before.

[Guest Analyst]

Oh yeah, my pals is 3 million.

[Damanze]

Yeah, my pals at Splash Sports, the college basketball tournament, survivor contest, it's 3 million guaranteed and it's 150 bucks to enter. Now, contrary to what my friend Brent Hanks at Poker Go would tell you,

[Co-host]

I am not on the hook for

[Damanze]

the guarantee Splash Sports is. But still the math on that is pretty simple to Monze. If it's 150 to enter and they're guaranteeing 3 million to the winner, they need 20,000 entries. We are the Tuesday before the tournament and we are, that's what I was just checking, sitting right now at 5,240 entries. So that means right now, this moment there is a, you know, call it $2.2 million overlay.

[Co-host]

There is right now there is about $780,000 worth of entries and there's going

[Damanze]

to be 3 million dollar price.

[Co-host]

So at this very moment it's the single best value you could ever do

[Damanze]

in a Survivor contest. And even, by the way, even if there's no overlay. It's still. It's 150 bucks. Somebody's gonna win 3 million and if there's multiple winners then they just chop it. Like if there's three winners, you know they each get a million bucks, whatever it is. But it's a 3 million guarantee.

[Co-host]

I don't know if we're.

[Damanze]

They're gonna hit the guarantee which is. It's weird. It's good for the user. The if you know if there's an overlay. But it either way. But if it gets. But 3 million is just the minimum. So if they get more than 20,000 entries and the prize pool grows, whatever it is, it's 150 bucks.

[Co-host]

I'm gonna.

[Damanze]

I will sponsor Daniel, Paul and your entry. So you three all can have an entry. Not. Can you not. Not to share. But like one.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Damanze]

One each. But it's going to be a group project so to speak. Everyone's got and all, you know the, everybody's got a piece of each other's

[Co-host]

and the, you know.

[Damanze]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

I mean the again I did this Survivor last year.

[Damanze]

It was a different. It was the Hellmuths one which last last year was five grand. This year's ten grand.

[Co-host]

Oh,

[Damanze]

we have some breaking news.

[Co-host]

How about this?

[Damanze]

No, this is real breaking news. The Denver Broncos are trading for Jalen Waddle.

[Co-host]

Wow.

[Damanze]

Wow.

[Co-host]

Denver gets by the way, shout out a Keeb Taliban didn't Akeem to leave say a couple days ago.

[Damanze]

Like Denver was going to sign or get a big receiver. So Denver is getting Jalen Waddle and the Dolphins fourth round pick for the Broncos first round pick. Third and fourth round pick. So it's basically they're both. They're swapping fourth round picks. So the simple version of it is Miami is trade. Miami is getting the 30th pick and the a third round pick for Jalen Waddle. So Miami's getting a, you know, a little less for Waddle than the Chiefs got for McDuffie. Denver's giving up the 30th pick in a third rounder and they're swapping fourths

[Co-host]

and Denver now has a number one

[Damanze]

receiver and Miami is just ripping it down and starting fresh, which is what they're supposed to do.

[Co-host]

I like that for Denver. I like Jalen.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Damanze]

Now we've never, we've never really seen Waddle as you know we saw him

[Co-host]

as a number one early at.

[Damanze]

Early in his career is I think his first year before they got Tyreek and he had a hundred catches for a thousand yards. Is really interesting because his rookie year he had a, you know, he had a bunch of catches but was very low yards per catch. And then his second year year with Tyreek, he had 30 fewer catches and 350 more yards and his yards per catch went from 9.8 to 18.1. He's a really good player and he's still young. He's 27 years old. He's on a reasonable contract like that. Fair is fair. That's a good trade for Denver. I like that.

[Co-host]

And this is when you go for it, right?

[Damanze]

B Knicks makes no money. You, you brought back everyone.

[Co-host]

You hadn't added anyone of note.

[Damanze]

So this is what you do. So listen, Denver trades the 30th pick of the draft and a third rounder for Jalen Waddle and they swap fourth. So that's the simplest way to look at it. I like that for Bonix and I like Miami just being like we're going to try to go ahead and be the worst team in the league this year. You know who doesn't like that?

[Guest Analyst]

Start somewhere.

[Damanze]

Yeah, but you know what I just realized? I keep forgetting they signed this guy. You know who doesn't like what Miami's doing? Malik Willis.

[Guest Analyst]

Oh yeah, Yeah.

[Co-host]

I keep, I keep forgetting that they signed Malik Willis.

[Guest Analyst]

That's awful. I just, I Lowkey just forget. That's crazy. Trade away is number one.

[Damanze]

So they're going to, they're going to run into next year with a wide receiving core of Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell and Malik Washington. That's not great for Malik Willis but at least he got paid and you know, you'll see. And they're starting fresh, cleaning up their books, taking their cat medicine this year. The cat medicine kind of. They're going to be taking it next year as well if we're being totally honest because Tua's deal is such a disaster. But. Okay, so the Dolphins, Dolphins now.

[Co-host]

So who is left on the Dolphins?

[Guest Analyst]

Like I'm just got a Chan and Darren Waller.

[Damanze]

I. No, I don't know. I think he, I don't think they had to cut him. I think he was on a one, you know, like a one year deal. But Bradley, I mean they've got nobody left, man.

[Guest Analyst]

Bradley Chubb. Me.

[Damanze]

No they don't. Bradley Chubb signed with. Bradley Chubb signed with the Bills. No, I mean that's the, with respect, deserved respect to the New York jets and the Tennessee Titans. That's the worst team in football next year. Like that's, that's just going to be a really bad, bad team. Who's there and who they. Oh, is it Jeff Halfley is their coach now? Yeah. I mean, good luck, Jeff. Yikes. A tough spot.

[Co-host]

Tough spot. And the.

[Damanze]

And the Broncos go. Go add a real weapon. I like that for them. Credit to the Broncos. I like that for them. All right, guys, before we get to the Lakers game from last night, here's the thing. Most men start losing testosterone around age 30, about 1% every year. After that. Same workout, same diet, but it feels like you're moving through mud. Well, that has to change. And no one wants to deal with expensive TRT treatments where you need weekly shots for the rest of your life. So keep it simple and do something natural that supports your body. With Mars men, it helps your body unlock usable testosterone so you can feel like yourself again. Mars man gives you the same benefits of optimized testosterone. Energy, strength, focus without shutting your body down. No synthetics, no needles, no dependency. 90 day money back guarantee, so there's no risk. Worst case, you don't absolutely love it. Get your money back. But over 91% of users report higher energy levels. Thousands of guys are feeling incredible results. Just check out the reviews on the website to see for yourself. For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off for life, plus free shipping and three free gifts@ Mengotomars.com that's Mengotomars.com for 50% off and three free gifts when you check out. After you purchase, they're going to ask where you heard about them. It helps us out a bunch if you tell them our show sent you. So again, for a limited time, our listeners get 50% off for life, plus free shipping and three free gifts@ Mengotomars.com that's Mengotomars.com for 50% off and three free gifts when you check out. And please tell them we sent you.

[Daniel Cormier]

This is Daniel Cormier from the Daniel Cormier Show. This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. All UFC fighters know power doesn't wait in the octagon or outside of it. You either make the move or you miss the moment. That's why you need a network that's as powerful as you are. With Total Wireless, you get unlimited 5G data keeping you in on all the action, from the walkouts to the knockouts. You, you'll never miss a moment. That's coverage that you can count on for every single round. So when the moment happens, you're not catching up. You're already there. Now that That's a total power move in the ufc. Power isn't given, it's taken. So make your total power move today. Visit totalwireless.com or stop by your neighborhood Total Wireless store. 5G access requires a 5G capable device in a 5G service area. Monthly rates on the Total Base 5G Unlimited plan for new subscribers applies only to the monthly rate for your plan. Additional terms apply. See website for details.

[Vintage Store Shopper]

Oh, could this vintage store be any cuter?

Right?

[Jennifer]

And the best part? They accept Discover.

[Vintage Store Shopper]

Except Discover in a little place like this? I don't think so. Jennifer.

[Jennifer]

Oh yeah, huh? Discover's accepted where I like to shop. Come on baby, get with the times.

[Vintage Store Shopper]

Right. So we shouldn't get the parachute pants.

[Jennifer]

These are making a comeback, I think.

[Discover Advertiser]

Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide, based on the February 2025 Nielsen report.

[Podcast Host]

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[Damanze]

let's talk Lakers and Rockets from last night.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah. So the Lakers pulled away from the Rockets last night in a close one. It wasn't too long ago that you gave up on Los Angeles as a contender. They now sit in the three seed. Have you changed your tune on that at all?

[Co-host]

Well,

[Damanze]

yes and no. So here's, here's what I think. I think that it is unrealistic to think this Lakers team with its pretty obvious roster construction flaws and limitations defensively is going to win four consecutive rounds in the playoffs. And that's how you win a championship. But I also think demands a right now it's pretty unrealistic to think anyone other than three teams max can win four straight rounds. And it's really two teams. Right. Because Oklahoma City can win four straight rounds. Boston can win four straight rounds

[Co-host]

and I guess San Antonio can. But they would.

[Damanze]

They are bucking all of NBA history.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Damanze]

That they can have no playoff experience at all.

[Co-host]

None at all.

[Damanze]

And then win the title their first year playing. But so here is, here is where I am at on the Lakers as contenders go. If you believe there are only three contenders, Thunder, Celtic, spurs, then by the that metric then The Lakers are not a contender. Totally fair. But if you are including literally any other team in the league, you must include the Lakers.

[Co-host]

If you think that if you think

[Damanze]

the Knicks can win the title, then the Lakers can.

[Co-host]

If you think the Nuggets can win

[Damanze]

the title, then the Lakers can. If you think the Timberwolves can win the title than the Lakers can.

[Co-host]

And here is the other interesting thing. And tomorrow night's Lakers game, sneaky, is just a massive game because they have

[Damanze]

the tiebreaker with the Nuggets already. They finish same record as the Nuggets, they get the higher seed. They have the tiebreaker with the Timberwolves already. They finish with the same record as the Timberwolves, they get the higher seed. They have played the Rockets twice. They beat them last night. They are one and one against the Rockets. They play them for the final time of the year tomorrow.

[Co-host]

So if they win tomorrow, they then

[Damanze]

have the tiebreaker with every team that is fighting for the three seed. Right.

[Co-host]

You then add this to the math a bit. The Lakers have five games left against

[Damanze]

Tankers, Pacers, Wizards, Nets, Jazz, Mavs.

[Co-host]

That's five wins.

[Damanze]

You can't lose those games.

[Co-host]

It's not like, oh, they might sneak up and beat you. If those teams are like sneaking up and beating you, their coaches just bench their good players.

[Damanze]

They want to lose.

[Co-host]

So the Lakers are not actually sitting

[Damanze]

at right now at 43 and 25. In my head they're 40 or I'm sorry, 40. Yeah, 43 and 25. They're 48 and 25. So in their other, their other nine games, their games against non tankers, here's what they've got the Rockets tomorrow, as I said, then in Miami on a back to back, that's probably a loss in Orlando, in Detroit, and then just this, what a great three game set. Indiana, Brooklyn, Washington, good shape there.

[Co-host]

Home for Cleveland at OKC at Dallas.

[Damanze]

That was one of the games I said home.

[Co-host]

OKC at Golden State, which without Steph,

[Damanze]

they might as well be a tanker now. He could be back by then. Home for Phoenix, home for Utah at the end of the year. So if we're giving them the five wins against the tankers,

[Co-host]

if they can

[Damanze]

just go four and five against those other teams, that would put them at 52 wins, which should be enough for the three seed. And the three seed's interesting because

[Co-host]

it

[Damanze]

sets up potentially around two against the Spurs. And it's all the playoff experience in the world against none of the playoff experience in the world.

[Co-host]

It's Luka And Wimby, that is a fun one. And so again, I don't think the

[Damanze]

Lakers can win the title, but I really only think two teams, I guess three can win the title.

[Co-host]

But I.

[Damanze]

If we're going to act like the Nuggets are real contenders or the Timberwolves or the Knicks, the Cavs, and I'm not trying to disrespect the Pistons, they've had a hell of a year. I don't think they can win four rounds. But those teams, then the Lakers have to be included in that. All right, what else do you have here?

[Guest Analyst]

How do you feel about LeBron selling and settling into his role as like kind of the third guy at this point?

[Damanze]

Well, it's what's right now. It's what's best for the Lakers. If Austin Reeves is not your either primary or secondary ball handler, scorer, he doesn't have that much utility.

[Co-host]

Yeah, if.

[Damanze]

But LeBron being able all of a sudden to deploy his energy instead of

[Co-host]

getting shots up on defense and doing

[Damanze]

other things because Luke, I mean, the story really, I don't want to miss the forest for the trees here. Luke is playing out of his gosh darn mind. And you know everybody. Luca was kind of the league's whipping boy for a few weeks there. And then he reminded everyone, hey, guys, how about this? Demonze?

[Co-host]

The last three, three full seasons that

[Damanze]

Lucas played where he was not traded in the middle. So three years ago, two years ago in this year, his averages over those three years averages 33 points, nine rebounds, nine assists. It's what he averages pretty solid. He's going to win the scoring title this year. Is scoring 33 a game and people just beating him up for weeks. He's been playing great. Austin's been playing really well. And LeBron is getting in where he fits in. And that plus Marcus Smart giving him a defensive stability has made him an interesting team.

[Guest Analyst]

And Luca Redick sideline debacles, things have been pretty smooth.

[Damanze]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

And I also think LeBron missing those

[Damanze]

couple games with injury.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Damanze]

And Luke and Austin really getting it going and then LeBron coming in and kind of playing a different role role has. Has been good for them.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

And I think he.

[Damanze]

Listen, I.

[Co-host]

I don't think LeBron's going

[Damanze]

to be on the Lakers next year. And I think whatever team he's on, he's going to have more of a scoring role again. And he'll remind people that he can still do it.

[Co-host]

But it's just such an advantage if

[Damanze]

LeBron scoring 25 is a bonus rather than a necessity.

[Guest Analyst]

Yep.

[Damanze]

And, you know, and I think he's. He's into it, man.

[Co-host]

He's.

[Guest Analyst]

You think he's got another run?

[Co-host]

I. I mean, not a LeBron run.

[Damanze]

I mean, people, the LeBron playoff runs were.

[Co-host]

It was just.

[Damanze]

He would go through, literally, he would have one bad playoff game every three years. Like, that's not gonna. Like that's not there. But I, I do think he can caused problems.

[Co-host]

And I think that.

[Damanze]

I'm just very curious how all those guys on the spurs, if that's around two matchup, handle LeBron James standing across the court from him. Plus Luca. All right, all right. I know you got more here.

[Guest Analyst]

Any thoughts on Barkley's latest comments on the Lakers?

[Co-host]

I want to be

[Damanze]

careful with what I say here, because the single best compliment that First Things first ever gets is when people say the show reminds them of inside the NBA. And I'm not going to act like we get that compliment a lot, but we've gotten it. And the reason that is such a great compliment is because

[Co-host]

that's one of.

[Damanze]

If not the. It might be the greatest sports TV show ever inside the NBA. It really might be. With that said, I wish this year it felt like they enjoyed basketball more than it feels like.

[Co-host]

And

[Damanze]

I mean, they.

[Co-host]

That the, that Lakers Nuggets before the game, Chuck sang like, I hope the

[Damanze]

Lakers lose because I can't. You know, because he was preemptively angry at talk shows that we're going to take the Lakers seriously. Like, well, if they're the three seed and what's considered the tougher content conference, are people allowed to take them a little seriously?

[Co-host]

And then after the game when they

[Damanze]

win with Austin making that unbelievable play and then Luca hitting the game winner and Shaq saying, good teams don't need that.

[Co-host]

Like, what are we doing?

[Damanze]

Like, that was one of the best

[Co-host]

games of the year.

[Damanze]

Everybody was playing, nobody was sitting it went to.

[Guest Analyst]

Overturned himself and tied the game.

[Co-host]

Tied the game. And then Luka hit a buzzer beater.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

And like, I just. You.

[Damanze]

You watch the World Baseball Classic, and

[Co-host]

that's, you know, it's not an exhibition,

[Damanze]

but it's not the Olympics. Like, it's a, you know, a created thing. And I'm going to talk more about that in a second.

[Co-host]

And everyone involved in the broadcast is

[Damanze]

so excited about it and so happy about it. And I just wish there was more of that from my favorite sports show ever.

[Co-host]

And so I'm not, I'm not talking

[Damanze]

and I don't Want this. Like, we won't clip this and send this out, but, you know, it could be. I'm saying it. I will stand by what I'm saying. I would like it to be put in full context.

[Co-host]

But it's just a bummer when it

[Damanze]

seems like some of your favorite people

[Co-host]

to watch don't like what they're watching.

[Damanze]

And do you think, I don't know,

[Guest Analyst]

I saw Jokic talking about jealousy and stuff with like the ex NBA players. Do you think that, like with social media and stuff, stuff is so televised that like, maybe people are. I don't know, certain era.

[Co-host]

Yeah, it is.

[Damanze]

You do see more from the NBA than any other sport of the guys ripping the. Just talking about how their era was, the better era.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Damanze]

Like, you don't see Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long on the Fox NFL pregame

[Co-host]

being like, none of these guys could cut it in the 70s or 80s.

[Damanze]

It's not what it is. It's not. It's a celebration of the games. All right, let's talk Rockets just for a second.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah. What did you think of Durant's comments after the game?

[Damanze]

Do you think Durant's comments.

[Co-host]

If we didn't. So listen, he.

[Damanze]

If we had more time, we could probably do an hour on this. It's really so at the beginning he's like, yeah, maybe I just need to stand in the corner and, you know, do. And that that would be better for the offense. And then he was like, no, it's all on me. I am the offense.

[Guest Analyst]

That's the problem.

[Damanze]

They're too dependent. Press conference worth.

[Co-host]

Say it again, demase.

[Guest Analyst]

That's. I mean, I feel like that's the problem. They're a little bit too dependent on Katie for offense.

[Co-host]

And Shingoon wasn't playing last year, wasn't in the game.

[Guest Analyst]

That's fair.

[Co-host]

But he is.

[Damanze]

They are still very dependent on Kevin Durant counterpoint. That's why they traded for him. Yes. One of the greatest scorers ever. Katie needs this to work, man. I don't. I'm not saying he needs to win a title there.

[Co-host]

Even though going into the year I

[Damanze]

thought I might pick them to win the title. Now the Van Vliet injury hurt them, and then the Steven Adams injury might have killed them, but

[Co-host]

Katie can't go

[Damanze]

out in round one again.

[Co-host]

And that's what they're staring at like such a. I've talked about this before,

[Damanze]

so I don't want to belabor it, but it does look like we're looking

[Co-host]

at another year of you know, Kevin Durant, not wasted.

[Damanze]

He's great player, great player. One of the greatest scorers ever, one of the 20 greatest players of all time. But this is where I just remind people. Kevin Durant, age 22, in the conference finals. Kevin Durant, age 23 in the NBA Finals. Kevin Durant, age 25 in the conference finals. Kevin Durant DURANT, age 27, in the conference finals, Kevin Durant, age 28 in the NBA Finals. Champion. Kevin Durant, age 29 in the NBA Finals. CHAMPION. Kevin Durant, age 30, in the NBA Finals, gets hurt, leaves golden state. So age 23 to 30, he's.

[Co-host]

He plays in four NBA finals and

[Damanze]

six conference finals, right? 23 to 30, every year that he's not injured. Basically, they're in the conference finals or further. Kevin Durant, age 31, misses the season with injury. Kevin Durant, age 32. The Foot on the Line series, round two against Milwaukee. Kevin Durant, age 33, swept in round one. Kevin Durant, age 34, loses in round two. Kevin Durant, age 35, swept in round one. Kevin Durham, age 36, misses the playoffs. Kevin Durant, age 37 right now,

[Co-host]

man, to live in the.

[Damanze]

In late May and early June for your whole twenties,

[Co-host]

and then to be the entire. This entire decade, play seven, 13 total

[Damanze]

playoff games post round one.

[Co-host]

That's rough, man. And like, last night was a tough

[Damanze]

game for him, and he didn't look good. And it just doesn't seem like it's going to work this year. And then he's 38.

[Guest Analyst]

You think all that burner stuff, all that stuff that came out, maybe mess some stuff up.

[Co-host]

It certainly didn't help team chemistry.

[Damanze]

Yeah, I mean, that's obviously true.

[Co-host]

It's just. I don't know.

[Damanze]

And I like kd. Just a weird. One of the weirdest careers ever. All right, I want to talk a little World Baseball Classic before we go, but real quick. You ever notice how everything keeps going up? Right. Going up. Streaming services going up, Even your favorite burrito spots charging you extra for Salza. Not with Boost Mobile. With Boost Mobile, you and your phone bill don't have to play the Will this go up soon? Game. Why? Because Boost Mobile has unlimited talk, text and data at a price that'll never go up. In fact, it's the same price you'll pay for Life. So switch now for unlimited wireless at a price that'll never go up. Only at boost mobile. After 30 gigs, customers may experience slower speeds. Customers will pay 25 per month as long as they remain active on the Boost Unlimited plan.

[Co-host]

All right.

[Damanze]

I just want to say one thing about the World Baseball Classic, which is really just a life lesson. Started the show with kind of something, you know, not necessarily profound, but profound to Jason. I'll try to end it with it as well

[Co-host]

because I did go to

[Damanze]

a World Baseball Classic game in Tokyo. It's unbelievable to Tokyo Dome. I've also been super invested because I am like legit friends with Vinnie Pasquino and he was like one of these stories of the tournament. I really thought Italy was going to set up an unbelievable championship game against the U.S. they lost to Venezuela last night. But there's also been royals all over the tournament. Bobby Whit might be tournament mvp. I the Mikel Garcia and Salvi Perez play for the championship tonight. Pasquintino and Jack Caglion was. Were playing for Italy. Like, it's awesome for my team. But the World Baseball Classic has been around since 2006. Is that right? I. I think that's right. I'm going to check to make sure. 2005 is when it started

[Guest Analyst]

and

[Co-host]

demons

[Damanze]

have you ever heard. I'm.

[Co-host]

This is.

[Damanze]

I'm not quizzing you. This is kind of. And I might even be getting this wrong. Do you know the answer to this question? When is the best time to plant a tree? It's like a.

[Guest Analyst]

It's like a. I. I do think that I've heard that the best time to plant a tree is.

[Damanze]

Yeah, the best time to plant a tree is last year. Do you know the second best meaning the best time to plant a tree is in the past because it takes so long to, you know, for you to. For it to pay dividends.

[Co-host]

Do you know the second best time

[Damanze]

to plant a tree today?

[Guest Analyst]

Okay. Me right now.

[Damanze]

Yeah, right now.

[Co-host]

Exactly.

[Damanze]

That's correct.

[Guest Analyst]

All right.

[Damanze]

That's the story of the World Baseball Classic, which is creating. Trying to create a tradition pays no dividends immediately.

[Co-host]

And in fact you might take. Get mocked for it is a little

[Damanze]

first cousin of the NBA in season tournament. Why are we doing it? Who cares?

[Co-host]

I don't know.

[Damanze]

In 20 years it might matter.

[Co-host]

And it is. It is hard like. And the reason the tree thing is

[Damanze]

so relevant to this is there is. And I think I've actually told. Talked about this. I read. I read a book once that had a whole long part of the book

[Co-host]

that

[Damanze]

not a study but talked about this phenomenon if you will. And it really resonated with me which is there is almost no better indicate how this is. Now all of a sudden you guys can see I've been up for 30 hours.

[Guest Analyst]

The deprivation. Yes.

[Damanze]

Yeah. There is no better return on taxpayer money than trees. Like cities and towns with trees, there is literally less pollution, the air is cleaner, property values go up, crime goes down. There's like, they're incredibly inexpensive to, you know, to create all of these things. So why aren't there trees everywhere? And the answer is because, again, short version,

[Co-host]

no politician wants to.

[Damanze]

Like, it's hard to run on or get put real energy behind something.

[Guest Analyst]

It's like, oh, this is what?

[Co-host]

By the time it pays.

[Damanze]

No, by the time it pays dividends, you're out of.

[Guest Analyst]

You're gone. Yeah, exactly.

[Damanze]

Right.

[Guest Analyst]

I'm gonna do this by the time.

[Co-host]

This is gonna be awesome. Right?

[Damanze]

This is gonna be awesome ten years from now. Like, well, that doesn't help me at all.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

And that is a huge problem across

[Damanze]

in everything and damanze is you start a family and have a, like, you know, your beautiful baby girl. Like, the reminder of, like, create. It is the first time you create a tradition.

[Co-host]

It's just something you did. And then it's just like, no, this

[Damanze]

is, you know, the.

[Co-host]

No, this is what we do.

[Damanze]

I don't even remember when our family. When I decided on New Year's on.

[Co-host]

Look, the.

[Damanze]

The picture on New Year's is a good one. I was going to say Christmas dinner, going out to eat as a group when we're all together, we just did it one year. And then I think your sister, your younger sister, not your youngest sister, the next year said, are we doing it again?

[Co-host]

And now it's just a thing we do.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

And now I. I do think that,

[Damanze]

like, that'll be something that, you know, the generations that follow, like, oh, that's. That's something our family does. And so I am rambling a bit here, but the reason I say all this is I think the World Baseball Classic has been awesome.

[Co-host]

And I now, like, look forward to the next one. And I don't know when or why

[Damanze]

or how that happened, but credit to baseball for. Do you know, wanting to do something

[Co-host]

like that and not caring that it Maybe has taken 20 years for it

[Damanze]

to really catch on, but it has caught on, and I think it's been awesome.

[Co-host]

And I've been. And it is.

[Damanze]

It's going to be a great launching pad for this upcoming baseball season because I think people are, you know, now all of a sudden excited for the start of the season. All right, with that said, I probably should try to, you know, catch 20 minutes of sleep before I go do three hours of TV. We will get we will save some of the listener questions for Thursday show in for our mailbag episode. Apologies if we didn't get for the that we didn't get to them today. Great to be back. I will see you guys on TV in a few hours. Thank you to Marsman Boost and of course Hard Rock. Our friends at Hard Rock bet. A reminder for Hard Rock BET to go to for our bracket contest. The website is I have it right in front of me. Bracket the volume.com and if you want to do my Survivor contest, It's just splash sports.com Nick. It's easy to find if you guys want to do that. Thank you to Blue Duck. Thank you to Volume. Talk to you guys on Thursday and see on TV in a few hours what's right. Hear that?

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[Podcast Host]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.