← The Stephen A. Smith Show
The Stephen A. Smith Show
Stephen A's Take: Steph Curry is hurt | Bronny shines on the court | Playoff seeding matters
00:09:07
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- [00:00]
AT&T Representative
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- [00:37]
Ryan Seacrest
Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's stock up savings time now through March 25th. Spring in for storewide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible beverage items from Tropicana Lemonade or breakfast favorites like General Mills Cereal, coffee made creamer, Quaker Cereal plus many more. Then clip the offer in our app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more restrictions. Apply. Visit Albertsons or Safeway.com for more details.
- [01:09]
Sports Analyst
Let's get into some NBA and some injury news that could affect the Western Conference playoff race. That's because Steph Curry went down with a pelvic contusion in Golden State's 117114 victory over the Toronto Raptors last night. It's unclear how long Steph will be out, as the warriors are currently holding on to the sixth seed in the west with 12 games remaining in their regular season schedule. Okay, look at it right there. The Golden State warriors, sixth seed 4129, got a game and a half lead over the Los Angeles Clippers, who they're 0 and 3 against this year, by the way. And they're two games behind the Memphis Grizzlies, who they've beaten a couple of times. All right, if the playoffs were to begin today, the Denver Nuggets would play the Golden State warriors, okay? But they're only a half game ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers. Why does that matter? Do y'all know this year, the Golden State warriors, for all their success, particularly since Jimmy Butler's arrived, they only lost one game since he's arrived. I think they're 19 and three since the trading deadline. They've only lost one game with him in the lineup. Do y'all realize that the Golden State warriors are 0 and 3 against the Clippers, 0 and 3 against the Lakers, and 02 against the Denver Nuggets? Now, for some inexplicable reason, they've beaten Oklahoma City a couple of times. They've beaten the Houston Rockets, okay? They've beaten the Memphis Grizzlies. So I'm looking at that and I'm saying, damn, this is kind of strange, but just some numbers that I wanted to make sure that I threw out because I want everybody to be aware of what's going on. Okay? If you look at Steph Curry, Golden State is 73 this season in games without Steph Curry. They won last night without him in the fourth quarter, basically the last 15 minutes of the game. They've got about a six game road trip coming up. Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, San Antonio, Memphis and Los Angeles. I've got them beating Miami and New Orleans, which are both a mess right now. Golden State could lose to Atlanta, but they could beat them. They could lose to San Antonio. They could beat them, Memphis and la. I don't know about that. Not without Steph Curry. I don't know about that. Okay, Jimmy Butler, he had a triple double against Toronto last night. All right? Listen to this quote that he said because he's absolutely right. We can't afford to turn the ball over. Butler said, we can't afford to foul because we don't have the one individual who can automatically get us back into the game. He's absolutely right. Since the trading deadline, I said 19 and 3 to actually 16 and 3 since the trade deadline. With the second best record in the NBA behind OKC since Jimmy Butler made his debut, warriors ranked fifth in the league in offensive efficiency and second in defense in defensive efficiency. I'm just looking at them right now and this is their record. They're 2 and 1 against the Thunder this year, 3 and 1 against the Rockets, 02 against the Nuggets. Oh, and 3 against the Lakers. Oh, and 3 against the Clippers. 2 and 1 versus the Grizzlies. 3 and 1 versus the Timberwolves. So they've got victories over the Thunder, the Rockets, the Grizzlies and the Timberwolves. But for some reason, both LA teams and the Dublin Nuggets have been their kryptonite this year. You need Steph Curry because the reality is the way Luka Doncic is looking right now, who's gonna pick Golden State to beat the Lakers? Chances are you ain't gonna pick Golden State to be the Lakers. Once LeBron comes back, you're gonna be, you're gonna, you're gonna look at them, especially the way he's looked when he's been out on the court. LeBron James is going to be ready. So you look at LeBron James, you look at the Los Angeles Lakers, you look at LeBron with Luka Doncic and the way he's been balling, albeit last night wasn't the greatest night for them against the Milwaukee Bucks, who ran rotted them in the end. I'm just looking at this right now, and I'm saying the Golden State warriors, if you fall out of the top six seed, you're destined to play one of the top two seeds. Iron. The irony is, again, they've beaten the Thunder and the Rockets this year. So, ladies and gentlemen, a simple question. If you're the. If you're the Golden State warriors as presently constructed, who do you want to play in the first round? The Thunder, the Rockets or the Lakers? I know Denver's still in the mix, is a third seed at the moment, but let's hyper. Hypothetically, let's say the Lakers secured the third seed. Who you want, the Thunder, the Rockets or the Lakers? If you're Golden State. I'm telling you right now, if I'm them, I want the Rockets. I want a young team devoid of a bona fide surefire number one option. I mean, these brothers are special. Amin Thompson is going to be special. I'm telling y'all that right now. The brother's a rough rider. He's special. And I. I love this kid, you know, I mean, I just look at him right now. He's just special. Shagun can't be ignored. I get Green ain't no joke. I get it. And IME u DOK is one of the best coaches in basketball. I love what's happening for him. But Houston's a piece of weighted too young. I know you got Dylan Brooks, Fred Van Vliet, I get that. But you're still too young. They're just a piece away. It's just a piece away. I'd want to face Houston. I don't want to face the Lakers with LeBron and Lucha and Luca. If I'm the Golden State warriors, and I don't care how successful they were in the regular season against okc. I can't see that translating to the postseason the way Oklahoma City is capable of playing defense. Now, let me get to Bronnie James, because y'all know this was a subject I was gonna have to tackle in light of all the news I've been in involving him over the last couple of weeks. But did y'all see what he did last night for the Lakers? Bronnie scored A career high 17 points in the Lakers 11889 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. To be fair, the Lakers were shorthanded with LeBron Luca and Austin Reeves out of the lineup, not to mention Rui Hachimura. But Bronnie stepped up, putting up those 17 points of seven to 10 shooting from the field, including two or four from deep. Ladies and gentlemen, same energy, same energy. This young brother right here, I might have been wrong. I thought that he should have been in the G League for the year. I still. I still say he had potential, but I thought he might have been in the G League for the year. But if the brother gonna look this way, I got to give love where it's due and say that Bronny James showed some promise. Looked composed out there, completely unfazed. Had some nice ball handling skills. Pulled up jump shot, hit a three pointer, got to the basket, hit a floater, the whole nine. Let me tell y'all something. Nice pass there, too. Bronnie James in the G League. Coming up, practicing with the Lakers. Being around his dad, who's a basketball savant, I'm not gonna hate. I'm gonna call her. Like I see it, LeBron is a basketball savant. He has forgotten more basketball than most people know. We ain't got to like each other or ever talk to each other in life for me to admit that. Gotta give respect where it's due. But I want to use it as a reminder that the same dude that his daddy approached courtside is the same dude that said, I thought that he had this potential. I just didn't think it would be this season. See, I was never of the mindset that Bronny James would never make the NBA. Go back and look at the clips. I said, he got a chance. He just needs the right tutelage or whatever. Evidently, he's getting it. JJ Redick can teach his coaching staff. Nate McMillan, Scott Brooks and others can teach being in the G League. Whatever staff the Lakers got out there in a G League, they can teach. And LeBron James certainly can teach Bronnie James. I watched him last night. One bad, one better. Look like he belonged. Look like he belonged. We gonna keep the same energy when he plays well. We gonna give it to him when he does it. We're not. You see how that works? That's what covering the league is. It's merit. What you see is what you see. Brownie James looked good last night, can't deny it. Gotta get a brother love. Wish him nothing but the best. Ain't nobody rooting against him. Can't. Kid got potential. By the way, there's some article on him and the Athletic the Athletic interviewed them. Go check it out, y'all. I haven't read it yet, but go check it out. Kid look like he got potential. Now at this point, don't matter how you got there, it's what you do with the opportunity. Last night I was impressed. I was impressed. Foreign.
- [10:13]
AT&T Representative
Has a new guarantee because most things in life are not guaranteed. Like getting through self checkout by yourself. Not guaranteed. In a world where nothing is guaranteed, AT T is bringing something new to the table. AT T is introducing a guarantee with connectivity you depend on, deals you want and service you deserve or they make it right. Learn more@att.com guarantee@&t connecting changes everything. Terms and conditions apply. Visit att.comguarantee for details.
- [10:48]
Ryan Seacrest
Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's stock up savings time now through March 25th. Spring in for storewide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tax to earn on eligible household items like Ziploc freezer bags and dinner essentials like Hunt's Diced Tomatoes and Tillamook Shredded cheese, plus many more. Then clip the offer in our app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more restrictions apply. Visit Albertsons or Safeway.com for more details.