Greetings my peeps and welcome to the All Things Basketball Podcast with your boy GD.
In this episode I'm calling it the Tale of Two Villains where we talk about Dreymon Green
and Dylan Brooks.
Also we'll talk about Nick Nurse, him getting fired, also talk about Phil Jackson, he has
some things to say about the NBA and some injury news as well.
So just sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
Ok guys so we are back with All Things Basketball Podcast with your boy GD of course.
Let's get back into the swing of things.
So this episode I'm titling the Tale of Two Villains.
I'll explain more about that in a minute.
But I did want to cover some news items in terms of the NBA so I wanted to cover those
right quick.
So let's get into it shall we?
So let's start off with some coaching news.
Nick Nurse is out as the Toronto head coach, the general manager and president of operations,
Masai Ajiri announced that Nick Nurse will no longer be there coach.
So let's talk a little bit about Nick Nurse's history there.
He was an assistant coach under Dwayne Casey for five years before he took over as the
head coach of the team.
So he comes in as a head coach.
He coached there for five years.
He comes in and in his first year he wins a championship as a rookie head coach.
His overall record in those five years, 227 against 163 so he had a 58.2% win percentage
and during that time he finished as high as second in the Eastern Conference twice.
He had a fifth place finish as well and then this year he finished ninth.
So and see the thing I take out of this is Nick Nurse, he was given an impossible situation
with this current roster because there's too many similar players man.
You got a Pascal Siakam who's of course they're all world power forward.
Then you have a Chris Boucher.
He's also a big who also plays similar to Siakam and you got Precious Hachua.
That's who they got back in the Cal Lowry deal in fact.
But you know all these guys play the same positions so you know it's only 48 minutes
you could dole out to these guys if you want to swing them to center then that's another
story but then you have the Jocked Polter that you brought in from the San Antonio Spurs
so you kind of have a dilemma at that position and then you had something similar at the
small forward with Scotty Barnes and OG Ananobi.
Both guys are pretty much similar.
Both guys are pretty much two way I say Barnes is more offensive than Ananobi but Ananobi
is more defensive than Barnes.
But there's similar players and then you are playing with a undersized shooting guard and
Fred Van Vleet who you were forced to put at the point guard position and he played
it well.
I think you need a kind of a oversize point guard to play with him in order for him to
flourish.
You definitely need kind of a floor general type next to him.
So I think the roster itself especially this year was kind of clunky so and then you have
to lay that at the feet of Messiah Jerry.
The fact that you heard during the trade deadline all the rumors of him wanting to make trades
but what happened was his accent price was too high for these guys.
He was wanting a couple of first round draft choices for OG Ananobi.
He's a good player I grant you that but I don't think you're going to get a couple of
first round picks and he wanted it unprotected.
You're not going to get that for him so I think his accent price was too high for his
players.
But again Nick Nurse did the best he could with what he had and that's the way it goes
sometime.
But Nick Nurse I assure you guys he will not be unemployed very long.
During this off season you already got a couple of jobs that's out there the Houston job also
the Detroit job and mind you judging on what happens with these first round playoffs here
you're probably going to have some openings once that's done.
So he's going to have his pick of the litter so if I were Nick Nurse I just sit back and
wait for the right opening.
I don't think he's a guy who wants to go to a Houston or Detroit type situation.
I think he wants a team that's kind of an underachiever he could come in there and employ
his system so yeah so I think he's going to have his pick of the litter so I think he'll
lay back he'll see what opens up.
I don't think he'll leap at the first job that opens up so we'll see what happens there.
And then you have Phil Jackson Phil Jackson who we last saw was executive of the New York
Knicks he was given a five year contract at $60 million he was pretty much stealing money
basically at that time James Dolan was kind of desperate the situation with the Knicks
he was in a desperate situation to kind of because you know he was getting raked over
the coals in terms of the media and the fan base over his hands always constantly being
in the business of the team so in comes Phil Jackson with his coaching resume not so much
the executive but it is what it is with that so he came here he didn't live out his contract
by the way guys they pretty much departed services with him anyhow so Phil Jackson he
makes an appearance on a Rick Rubin podcast and he reveals to Rick Rubin in this podcast
that he hasn't watched the NBA since 2019 2020 season which was the actual bubble season
where you know the pandemic hit in 2020 and then the NBA had to regroup and for safety
reason they put everybody in the bubble in Orlando so basically he said that he hasn't
enjoyed or watched basketball since the 2020 bubble in Orlando Florida that was during the
height of the covid pandemic the reasons why is because of the league's embrace of the
black lives matter movement and other social justice initiatives that kind of turned him
off from the game here's what he was quoted as saying it had to do with the politics more
than anything else I think the politically correct thing happened with the NBA in terms
of this whole BLM movement and he went as far as to say you know the names on the jerseys
all the different names on the jerseys even his grandkids joked about it and so forth
of course Phil didn't correct his grandkids he just let them go on with that last time
I checked you know caring for the lives of black folks isn't a laugh matter but what do
I know anyhow so he went on to say it's not about the game anymore it's about the message
and that's not the way I believe the game should be played or presented so that's what
he had to say in that regard so he had a problem with the politics of the matter and called
it wonky and it was trying to cater to our audience or trying to bring in a certain audience
to the game they didn't know that it was turning other people off people want to see sports
as non-political politics stays out of the game it doesn't need to be there let me stop
you there Phil Phil Jackson you played in the 60 and the 70s lot was happening in the country
lot of civil rights and things of that nature in fact you had Bill Russell there strong
social justice advocate there who we all know stood beside Muhammad Ali when he boycotted
the Olympics so you had that also you had a Karim Abdul Jabbar who also stood beside
him and he had his own social justice initiatives that he was dealing with at that time as well
so you had that not to mention yourself Phil Phil from what I understand you had a problem
with the Vietnam War so you were out there protesting so that was political was it not
I'm just saying and then now the more that I think about it the more I realize that yeah
you you carry that thing into coaching too because I'm old enough to remember when Michael
Jordan or his representative whoever made the statement Republicans by sneakers to when
he was asked to endorse a candidate I think a Democratic candidate at the time so and
that's when he made that statement and also to remember when they won the championship
and went to the White House when George Bush was president one of his players Craig Hodges
came there in a dice cheeky and he pretty much was axing the president at the time about
you know concerns of the black community for that you guys didn't bring Craig Hodges back
in fact you had him black ball from the entire NBA so this all this was under Phil's watch
and then oh by the way I'll bring this up because Scotty did the fact that in that 1994
series against the Knicks where he pulled Scotty and put in Tony Kukos ran a play for
him instead of Scotty by the way Scotty was like third I believe in the MVP voting so
think about this your MVP candidate you kind of diss him to run a play for Tony Kukos
at the time so so there's all of that to add to the mix and then you know later on he says
things about guys dressing in prison garb and how hip hop has had a bad influence on
the players that play in the league and then later he comes and he makes a statement about
LeBron James of all people LeBron James who and he talked about you know the guys he
grew up with Maverick Carter and those guys and he called them a posse which is a derogatory
term pretty much so Phil Jackson it seems like you got a history of these sort of undertones
of the old man yelling at the kids on his lawn so yeah so we're not feeling that Jelene
Rose he went IG live to highlight the fact that Phil Jackson's coaching career was built
on the backs of black athletes who won him championships so for him to disregard the
bringing attention to because at the time there was the George Floyd killing in Minnesota
as well as Breonna Taylor as well so yeah Phil you're not looking good right now so
and you know people say oh he's kind of in that generation I'll give you a guy who you
don't hear any kind of foolishness like that come out of his mouth and that's Bill Walton
Bill Walton is a 60 70s kid and you don't hear him talking that upside the wall talk
and oh by the way he like Phil Jackson was a deadhead still is kind of one but you don't
hear Bill Walton talking that off the wall nonsense like that so to say it's generational
yeah I'm not gonna give him that pass so so Phil Jackson we ain't trying to hear your nonsense
so so I'm just gonna leave it at that guy so alright let's get to the crux of what
I wanted to talk about in this episode and that's the tale of two villains who are the
two villains let's talk about the first one Dremon Green Dremon Green and game two of
his series with the Sacramento Kings his Golden State Warriors in that game like during the
fourth quarter he stomped on the chest of Demontus Sabonis in that game too Dremon says that
Sabonis grabbed his leg for the second time in two nights so and then actually in the video you
see him kind of grab his foot to kind of prevent him from hitting on a fast break so he basically
said that I guess he kind of complained to the referees whether they heard him or not who knows
so I guess he took it upon himself to make a statement I guess and along with that that
Sabonis grabbed his leg he also said that well he had to land his foot somewhere and that he
wasn't going to stretch out to avoid stepping on the man's chest here's the problem you stomped on
the man's chest stepping on the man's chest is one thing but deliberately stomped the man's chest
is a whole different deals so Sabonis was given a tech for grabbing Dremon's leg on the play when
they reviewed it and then Dremon was giving a flagrant two foul and he was ejected from the
game so that's how the referees called it at that time so of course the big question is
wow are they gonna suspend him for a playoff game so as the play was being reviewed oh let me go back
as the play was being reviewed by the referees in the game uh the Sacramento Kings fans kind of
jeered at Dremon Green and you know fans are gonna do that because hey they just saw Dremon
stomp their star player in the chest to which Dremon he waves at them like to bring it on
and he cups his ear to like you know louder I can't hear you basically so oh by the way Adam Silver
the NBA commissioner he was at the game so he got to see all of this gone so the league
office takes a look at it and decides Dremon Green is suspended for that game game three in that
series oh by the way in Dremon's history he got suspended for a finals game versus Cleveland where
he missed game five and which pretty much turned around that series by the way because Cleveland
ended up winning that series so so like I said the league office reviewed it and indeed they
suspended Dremon for the game here is what NBA executive vice president Joe Dumas in charge
of these sort of things this is what he told the Associated Press about it this was not some snap of
the finger decision to do there was much discussion and back and forth looking at the play itself
over and over and then ultimately we came to the decision that the act itself and repeat
offenses that's the key phrase in this actually did warrant a suspension and in terms of Demontus
Sabonis it wasn't like it went completely unpunished we didn't think it rose to the level of
Dremon's play excessive over the top dangerous repeat offender there's that phrase again that's
the separation between what he did and what Dremon did I do think because it kind of comes off as
heavy handed towards Golden State and Sacramento kind of gets off the hook being that Demontus
just grabbed the foot so if I were Joe Dumas I would levy to find towards Sabonis this way
you have somewhat equity it's not total equity of Demontus missing the game as well but at least
you have some sort of justice in that regard so with that said now there was some that was
disappointed that he got suspended I know Stephen A Smith mentioned you know he's disappointed in
the NBA for suspended someone for a playoff game but I circle back to the fact that Dremon has to be
more conscious he has to be more not in the moment where he realized hey what I'm going to do here
could affect my team it definitely affect the person I'm doing it to so he's got to have that
mindset so that's where I disagree about the suspension I think it had to happen and again
the key phrase is repeat offender the fact that he has history is why this was leveled upon him
so think about it Dremon Green putting his 230 pounds putting his weight on the chest of Sabonis
not a good look not a good look guys so with that said so what's in the future for Dremon
I will talk about this series once it's done but right now he has a player option for next season
at 27.5 million so he can opt out guys will he do it we'll see but if he does I tell you this right
now I don't see him coming back to Golden State if he were to opt out I think his only chance will
be to opt in and I think even with that Golden State may want to say look because remember you
got to weigh everything into account and this is something I kind of predicted when I did my season
preview that with the incident that happened with him and Jordan pool I think that still lingers
like in the minds of those in the front office so I wouldn't be surprised if they moved on from
Dremon I wouldn't be surprised guys so with that said since I strongly doubt him being back with the
Golden State Warriors next season where could I see him ending up I know a lot of people talk
about the Lakers I don't know if that happens especially if the Lakers were to advance in the
next round and what they do beyond that so here's a deal I would consider I'll put it out there
there you can send Dremon Green Patrick Baldwin Junior Ryan Rollins send all those guys to the
Brooklyn Nets along with a protected first round pick in exchange for Ben Simmons I know people
are going to say what hear me out guys so you're parting with Dremon granted your history together
and so forth you're giving the Nets a player who has you know championship pedigree he'll have a
locker room that he can mold into his image per se where he can talk and the young players there
will follow so they have promising young players there guys you still have a mckell bridges there
you have a nick clackstain or I think he can definitely play off of as he's at these powerful
position you have a cam johnson how he works with Spencer Denwood he'd out be interesting to see
but you know you have some young talent there that did make the playoffs and then you have a
Ben Simmons who Brooklyn doesn't want him back in a Nets uniform it's been too much drama too much
with his injury history and so forth so is it injuries I don't even know at this point it could
be from the neck up so Ben Simmons goes to a situation in golden state where he gets a clean
slate where he can go there improve himself and what better kind of player to fill Dremon's ability
as a basketball player than Ben Simmons who's very talented guys you'll miss that leadership
component but he gives you everything that Dremon does but not the heart of Dremon that would be
your issue right there so hey how so that's your villain number one let's go to villain number two
Dylan Brooks Dylan Brooks here's how it all started guys he said in a pregame interview
prior to game three he said that basically LeBron he's old this is what he said in its full context
I don't care he's old he only said something when I got my fourth foul sure didn't say nothing early on
but I poke bears I don't respect no one until they come and give me 40 I pride myself on what I do
defense and taking any challenge that's on the board if it's LeBron if it's AD if it's whoever
I play my heart out he knows that the rest of league knows that I know my guys know that so
this is from Dylan Brooks ha so he's gonna play the head game with a 20-year veteran in LeBron James
and think it's gonna play out well for him I don't think so LeBron being the season vet that he is
refused to take the bait he was asked about Dylan's comments to which he ignored and didn't answer so
he kind of sidestepped the issue so enter game three which happened on Saturday night LeBron
confronts Dylan during pregame warm-ups a lot of people wondering what do you say what do you say
what do you say I heard Shannon shop say basically I'm gonna cook you well he said I'm not I don't know
so I'm pretty sure he made reference to his comments I'm sure that if we know anything about LeBron
I'm sure he brought that to Dylan's mind so with that said the Lakers crushing the Grizzlies at that
time and at the half and with the score about 53 to 37 early in the third quarter Dylan Brooks hits
LeBron in the man region in a I'm using air quotes here an effort of reaching for the ball
I saw the replay I saw the game live by the way and then I saw the replay a few times and I'm like
yeah this is not gonna work out for you so after the refs reviewed the play Dylan was given a flagrant
to foul for the contact that they deemed unnecessary and excessive so he was ejected from the game
his stat line before he left 19 minutes seven points he shot it three for 13 one for five from
three to rebounding a steal that was it for him and LeBron he had a great game of course so
and the Lakers ended up winning that game at the post game interview LeBron his part of what he said
because you know reporters of course are gonna ask him well were you trying to make a statement in
this game again this is a 20-year vet we're talking about LeBron his part of his response
nah I've been doing this for too long I'm making no statements I don't need to make statements
that's what LeBron said so and also they asked him about Dylan Brooks being suspended he didn't
say one way or the other whether he should be suspended so we'll see what happens in that regard
and then this way it gets really funny guys Dylan's response to his ejection the media
making me a villain the fans making me a villain and then that just creates a whole different
persona on me so Dylan may I lay out your resume and that's just for this year thus far 18 technical
fouls two games you missed because of suspensions because of said technical fouls oh by the way
you did shove a cameraman this year you were suspended last year in a playoff game due to a
flagrant two foul that you had on Gary Payton II which caused him to break his hand by the way
and then you were ejected from a game this season for striking Donovan Mitchell take a guess where
he hit Donovan Mitchell at guys yeah the same area as LeBron in the man region yes correct
so Dylan Dylan buddy yeah you brought this on yourself man so whether they suspend you or not
I don't know we'll see but yeah yeah you can't cry wolf now your resume speaks for itself so
and like I said with Draymon repeat offender and that's in your record repeat offender and
that's the problem so with that said let's talk about his future Dylan Brooks is actually going
to be an unrestricted free agent I would be stunned if he returns to the Memphis Grizzly I'd be stunned
I think they're done with his antics the fact that yeah sure he could defend but he shoots you
out of ball games he's a horrendous shooter from the field he's decent from the free throw line
and that's problematic guys that that's problematic so here's what I will say though you know he's
talks this lofty stuff about himself and talk about you know him being the villain so here's
what I want to say the difference between a Dylan Brooks a Draymon Green a Dennis Rodman in his day
a Bill Lane Bear during his time and met a world peace aka Ron Artes all these guys
play villain roles in their careers you know what the difference between all of those guys
and Dylan Brooks all star appearances in championships you have Draymon all star appearances
championships Dennis Rodman multiple all star game appearances championships Bill Lane Bear
multiple all star appearances championships met a world peace even got him a chip and he went to
one all star games so Dylan yeah you you're not in that class yet so yeah you got a lot to put on
on your resume man you are not those guys that's for sure so you know what you're the villain now
embrace it own it and here's what I'll say in terms of the free agency who is that team that's
gonna find him that's gonna be willing to sign this guy I'm sure there will be one will there be a
playoff caliber team I doubt that I really do right now Draymon Green at his age he's the more
attractive free agent than Dylan Brooks who's much younger so I struggle to see where he's
gonna go next year so I will leave it at that so that is it for me oh a couple more items just
injury related Giannis onto to Kumpo seems like he'll be back for game four so he entered this
back in game one missed a couple of games but he'll be back for game four bad news with Miami
first you lose Tyler hero with a broken hand he's out for four to six weeks and then in game three
you lose a Victor Ola depot oh I feel for the young man towards me again so he's out for the
foreseeable future definitely prayers up in all that towards his way he's been through so much
and then bad news out of Sacramento Dearon Fox has a fractured finger so his status for game five
is up in the air right now in that series so yeah so a few injury items there and also
Jolyne B who missed game four in the Sixers net series he's having a injury issue as well and we'll
see whether he's available for the next round I'll just leave it at that I won't give away too much
because again I'll talk about this when I recap the first round so all right guys so I'm going to
cut it off there as always I thank you for listening guys and you know what to do all things
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all right guys so that's it for me and thanks once again for listening always appreciate it
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