Inside the Intensity: Dissecting NBA Clashes, Team Dynamics, and the Road to the All-Star Break

Imagine pulling up a courtside seat as the NBA season's intensity hits fever pitch—Coach Murph and I, Podcast Paul, are here to transport you right into the action. This week we dissect the monumental clash between the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics, a tussle that could be a crystal ball into the NBA Finals.  We are also joined by our friend of the program,  Caden Neves out of Grandville High School who provides us an update on his basketball journey and highlights from the season so far. 

Step into the locker room where we crack the code on what it takes for a team to truly click. It's not just about the splashy numbers on the stat sheet—it's the unspoken bond between players, the bench depth, and those moments when the stars aren't shining that tell the full story. We also dissect a contentious technical foul that had everyone talking, before launching into a foul quiz that might just stump the most seasoned of fans. Our commitment to the game is as tenacious as a Tony Allen defensive stand, speaking of whom, we reminisce about "The Grindfather's" impact.

As we approach the All-Star break, the NBA's heartbeat, we reflect on the journeys that define this sport.  It's not just about chasing the championship; it's about the connections forged along the way, the stories of perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of greatness on and off the court. So, join us as we lace up our sneakers and gear up for a podcast episode that's as dynamic as a buzzer-beater three-pointer to clinch the game.

Check out Caden Neves Basketball Highlights in the YouTube link below...

https://www.youtube.com/@grandvilleathletics6232

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Transcript

Podcast Paul 0:17

Just two Murph's talking hoops. The journey to June. It is at the mid-season, great folks. But hey, we're 42 games in. Can you believe it? 42 games into the NBA season? Already Halfway to our well not to June, but to the end of the regular season into the playoffs. But, man, there's so much to talk about now that we're at the mid-season. Coach, so happy to see you again, let's go, baby.

Coach Murph 0:48

And I'm happy to see you. I love this man. I'm pumped, as you know. So many good things happening with Murph Ball, with just Murph's talking talking hoops. It's January 20th, it's the 2024. It's a new year, new us. I hope everybody's doing great with their new resolutions and the energy is just everywhere I'm going right now is on point People. I don't know if it's like that out there, Because this is, by the way. Hey, I'm Coach Murph. This is podcast Paul. This is Just 2 Murph's talkin hoops and we're on a Zoom right now. This is one of my favorite things to do just have my brother time and we just talk hoops and just have a good time. But he's out in Ballard, Seattle, near Seattle Washington, and I'm here in South of Boston in good old Duxbury Mass, and we just this is what we're doing.

Podcast Paul 1:38

Chop it up, baby, let's go, Chop it up man there's so much to talk about since the last time we were on, but really what I wanted to do today, if you're cool with this Coach again. I kicked it off saying it's a mid-season, we're 42 games in. I want to go high level man. Let's look at the NBA. We love NBA. It's why we're here. Let's look at the teams that are out there. Remember we're on this journey to June. I love the NBA.

Coach Murph 2:02

I say that loud, I know recently I'm like people like ugh three. It's so easy to hate in the NBA because of numerous things we'll talk about today, but I don't care, I love it. It's so entertaining and I'm talking to really people that like it doesn't matter, let that all go, all this stuff. That's what I've been doing recently, enjoying just this game. We'll get into all of just like the entertainment value, but all the rivalry is going on. It's some new, fresh stuff coming into the league. It's all so much positive focus on it.

Podcast Paul 2:35

That's what I'm doing. I like how you said rivals, and we're going to do that. That was a little teaser. That's what we call here a pod a teaser Because this is NBA Rivals Week. We'll get into that. We'll get into that, but let's go.

Coach Murph 2:48

Paul Casper, I get prediction P, all the predictions, paul. Oh my gosh, the Timberwolves on top. Let's go, man, we're on fire. J2m's is inflamed and let's go.

Podcast Paul 3:00

So it's also the journey to June, right Journey, and sitting here at the midseason. It's cool Because now you can really get a good look of those teams that have a shot. And we got to start right from the top. It's like you said, it's January 20. We're coming fresh off in the garden. Denver versus Boston. They even said to start the game. It's a little cold outside, but in here it feels a little warm. It feels a little bit like June, if you know what I mean, and I got to tell you that was before the game. Then I watched the game. Man, if this is June, if this is the NBA Finals, wow, what a matchup that was a cool matchup Now it's fun.

Coach Murph 3:45

I think you type those later on, so maybe you respect me why I didn't text them because it's so late. I was surprised I didn't get any text during because of that loss. The Nuggets beat the Celtics yesterday 102 to 100. And those are two great teams. Nuggets are 29 to 14. Celtics are 32 and 10 on top of the East. Three and a half games. When is that ever happening? We're usually like seconds. We've never had three and a half on that.

Podcast Paul 4:10

No, no, I think it's going to be three after today, because the Bucks, as we're talking, I think they're playing the Pistons, they're playing the.

Coach Murph 4:16

Pistons Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. You don't know that?

Podcast Paul 4:18

You don't know.

Coach Murph 4:19

He's going to come with it. Some miracle in Detroit. They need that Well. I just the NFL popped him ahead, but I'm not going there. No, no, no, no, no. So five, five, five. Can we just say one thing Will?

Podcast Paul 4:31

you have to oh, oh, oh. Real-time update.

Coach Murph 4:34

That's it. That's all I'm going to say. Thank you, coach, and goodbye. Thank you for the dynasty Peace.

Podcast Paul 4:40

We love real-time updates on the pod.

Speaker 3 4:42

Real-time here we go.

Podcast Paul 4:44

Pistons 44, Bucks 38. So there you go. There's a shot. Maybe it does go to four games again.

Podcast Paul 4:51

But, either way, your points well taken, no matter what happened last night us losing to Denver. We are 30, we are at 42 games, we are 32 and 10. Not just the best record in the East, best record in the league, and that was a huge test because guess what? They played the NBA champs. Yeah, we talk about Minnesota. I love my Minnesota Timberwolves. We talk about OKC. They're up and coming but, like we always talk about Denver, quietly doing their thing, I haven't watched a full Denver game until they played us last night. Oh, my goodness.

Coach Murph 5:28

The Joker is a scary, scary game. Joker and who are the best duo in the?

Podcast Paul 5:34

NBA. Oh, Murray was June-style last night.

Coach Murph 5:36

That is the best duo in the NBA. They proved it during that game. Wow, you know duos and Jaylin and Jason the Jays. When they rise up they can be, but you know what.

Podcast Paul 5:52

That's the problem with this game, and it's OK. Here's where I want to go with this. My takeaway is positive because remember no. Zing no ring. This is a new team with poor Zingus and if you start at the beginning of that game, zingus overtook that game. He was playing great. At the end of the game they forgot he existed and it was the Jays doing their thing.

Coach Murph 6:16

I wanted, I was guarding, I was guarding, I was like get Zingus on him, get.

Podcast Paul 6:21

Zingus, this is what I'm saying, but you're having trouble with him, the Joker, no matter what.

Coach Murph 6:25

Why? What's the main? The main reason why we have trouble against him Down low, why?

Podcast Paul 6:31

I think everybody has trouble against him. Down low Everybody.

Coach Murph 6:34

But the main reason, if I had to choose one out of the many for a shooter and passer and all that. Yes, yes, doesn't miss cake. He is a beefcake, he's a body. Yes, is it?

Podcast Paul 6:44

Yeah, but but of course I mean, this is playing him well though.

Coach Murph 6:49

So this is the they all did. But when it comes down to Chet, it comes down to Victor, and it comes down to poor Zingus, and it comes down to Al, he is going to out body. You, this game is a physical man time game and that's why they want, and that's that's for me. Now, for Zingus is got to go outside, and he can. So can jokers can shoot to. But for Zingus got a better shot for sure. But he, you saw that there was one play, you remember he's like he got him in the stomach with a little secret bow, do you see that? And then he bent over Zingus. That's not why they bought, is?

Podcast Paul 7:19

you, he'll body you up, he'll get. That's fine, he's going to. I mean, he's the best player in the league we can get hands down. You can't stop Joker, that's not.

Coach Murph 7:27

OK.

Podcast Paul 7:27

Let Joker do his thing, let Murray even do exactly that's not why we lost.

Coach Murph 7:32

That is not why we lost. I'll tell you why we remain, the reason why. I will tell you why we lost, if you want to hear it, and then you can come in, let's go.

Podcast Paul 7:39

There is one issue with this team right now, but, as I say this, I'm OK with it because, remember, this is a brand new team. Marcus is gone. Our guy Marcus Time Lord is gone. Poor Zingus, yeah, we're like no Zing, no ring. This is only 42 games. These guys are still growing, they're still learning.

Podcast Paul 7:58

It's the journey to June and they haven't really been tested yet. They beat teams by 30 points on average for crying out loud, that was a great game, but when they're matched up against the best, this is why they're going to grow, because Denver those two teams they were playing on a different level dude, offense and defense different. But here's the issue.

Podcast Paul 8:20

And it was the issue last year in the playoffs and it was why you were so frustrated, coach, late game execution period and a story, and they are going to start figuring out. You got to use Zingus and you got to use Derek White when it matters most, not Jason Tatum trying to take the winning shot every time. Yes, it's OK, though 100%.

Coach Murph 8:44

It's OK, this is how they learn. That doesn't overrule what I say, but I'm going to add something to that, please. That's 100% offensive and defensive. No, this is beautiful. You like that coach? This is your coach. Pete dude, now you got another nickname.

Podcast Paul 8:57

No, coach, no coach here. Yeah, podcast Paul man. Yeah, you're the coach.

Coach Murph 9:02

Yeah, I know, but you can coach me, it's OK. So the late game execution at the end of the year, absolutely offensively and defensively, for sure. Now, he had that layup and he bobbled it. It was, it wasn't forced. You saw the bobble, he bobbled. He's only humans. And he missed the layup. Put a different story after that.

Coach Murph 9:22

And then all the greats take the last shot. So he had the OK to get two shots shot too. So he's only human. Jordan's done it a million times. They'll be doing it a miss on a miss, so, but what's? It would always stay statistically that. Now I'm going to bring my statistics in. What was it? This, this guess what? The stat is that I, that is, turnovers and rebounds, thank you, you know those are my favorite stats, but not turnovers this game, because how many do they have the Jays had zero turnovers.

Podcast Paul 9:52

It was a miracle.

Coach Murph 9:53

That's all I care about, paul. This is no. This is huge for me. So forget about the win. That's a big W for me to see. There's never seen this in Celtics history. I don't think in the last seven years with the Jays. The Jays to did who turnovers, that's it. But what was it? What was it? Where did we get out? Okay, banana shop now face below, let's wait a second and it was 47 total rebounds to R38. They had 10 offensive rebounds, we had 12. We beat them on the O boards.

Coach Murph 10:27

Yes, we did, but guess what we lost this is how we lost the game 37 defensive rebounds to R26. 11 more rebounds, and that matters Everything. All the other numbers are whatever. They shot better than us 51, almost 52%, and there's like it's all the same stuff the three free throws. They missed a few, but that's it, dudes, and dudes, oh yeah.

Coach Murph 10:51

And folks in Kaden drop 23 on Friday. Kaden, let's go. But I always say what are you floating for? Every time a shot goes up, you crash. You have to learn, like Rodman, to be the worm. You gotta learn how to get in there and crash Like Derek does when he's a little guy compared to these big guys. Nuff said so you're right, add it to that. Look at this last one.

Podcast Paul 11:12

You hear Derek white out to the game. He kissed me on the head. It felt so good, so that's so good Everybody can do it. It's no joke.

Team Stats and Foul Quiz

Coach Murph 11:18

I just go on to go on online. I found team stats. You know you go to search engine bang Now player stats. You know what the player stats were fantastic. They're fantastic all around. We have the best team and know what else we have. Well, that's the key.

Podcast Paul 11:32

That's the key Like we started this saying how great the Joker in Marriar and absolutely they were dogs last night. But that's just two players. Two of their players scored a goal. That's just two players. Two of their players scored 65 of those points of the 102 points last night.

Coach Murph 11:48

We're not built that way, as much as we talk about the J's, they scored 69 points. The Joker in Marriar bro.

Podcast Paul 13:25

I would much rather the J score a little bit less and aren't the top two and we have everybody else in those 20s, have, zingas have, and I think they did, I think Zingas had in the 20s last night, right. Zingas was 21 points two assists eight rebounds. You know what, though? He needed to be more the man last night. He needed like 30, 35 points. If everybody else says the same, I like that.

Coach Murph 13:48

I like that, but I don't care, because it was D. White had 24. He was fire with five assists.

Podcast Paul 13:54

But then, dude, they didn't score in the last four minutes of the game except, like, from free throws, exactly when it goes back to the meat of what you're saying and I'm with you is the execution.

Coach Murph 14:05

Yes, that's right. Jason had 22. Jaylin had 13. We could have got more from him for some juice. Prisha, come off the bench, but this is the thing To see them go toe to toe with the champs and to lose only by a buck. We can beat them all days.

Podcast Paul 14:19

We can even play great.

Coach Murph 14:21

Here's the biggest hopper in all sports and life and everything in business. It's all chemistry and energy and who brings it? I hope you saw this, because I was laughing when, luke, they gave Luke the post game interview.

Speaker 3 14:37

Yeah, I saw that.

Coach Murph 14:39

We can be a rap group. He's one of my favorite players, if not my favorite, because it's his comedic value and what he brings.

Podcast Paul 14:47

He's playing better too.

Coach Murph 14:48

They're smiling, they're having fun. They have the best chemistry in the league.

Podcast Paul 14:55

Don't forget about positive P.

Coach Murph 14:57

Positive P.

Podcast Paul 14:58

I think it would come. Richard, he's playing great.

Coach Murph 15:00

Yeah, new nickname. Hey, I've hit him up. He's liked one of my stores on Instagram P. I hope you listen to him.

Podcast Paul 15:08

He's on the show, let's go. I sent him a message P.

Coach Murph 15:10

So I don't want to hound the guys Everybody and everybody. Everything's coming out these guys, but one day we'll get somebody on the show.

Podcast Paul 15:16

We'll talk about that later too, Remember he got the big contract 30 million, but he deserves it. He got his 30 million. Sorry, not the big contract 30 million dollars is incredible yeah. But he started the season a little slow, we're all like oh, exactly, but not anymore.

Coach Murph 15:32

No, he's been a glue to that bench.

Podcast Paul 15:34

That's it, man. Here's the other thing that's great about our team right now where I'm excited and this has never been the case since we've had Jason Tatum, usually until this year when Jason Tatum leaves the court and goes on the bench, it's not like the plus minus they talk about, it's not good Like we don't do well when he's not in the game. Not the case this year, and that has a lot to do with Peyton Pritchard when he's in there in the bench, the bench puts up she's dropped some 20 point games this year.

Coach Murph 16:02

Yeah, so yeah, yeah.

Podcast Paul 16:04

We're playing well without Tatum being in there.

Coach Murph 16:06

Second unit.

Podcast Paul 16:07

By the way, what happened with that Luke did?

Coach Murph 16:09

good Luke Hadagun's a couple good plays.

Podcast Paul 16:11

Did you see that? Dunk Jason Tatum dunk. He went full court, slams it gardens going crazy. Then they give him a tech. What's that all about?

Coach Murph 16:20

Boom, we're going right into it. Now what?

Podcast Paul 16:23

is this.

Coach Murph 16:26

It's the fouls. The technicals Welcome. People Cue the music. It's the foul quiz. Oh Boom, I'm flipping the negative into a positive.

Podcast Paul 16:38

What a surprise today, big surprise.

Coach Murph 16:42

You nailed it Perfect segue Mid -season the controversy to. People are losing their minds over the fouls. This year, last year it rolled into this year.

Podcast Paul 16:51

So guess what the fouls? The coaches.

Coach Murph 16:54

We're flipping it. We're going to flip it into a positive. Are you ready?

Podcast Paul 16:59

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. It's called the white weight, Just so I can. It's the J2M's foul quiz History stats. You name it, we're flipping it. We're having fun with it because it's too much bad.

Coach Murph 17:10

juice you out there, let's do it.

Podcast Paul 17:13

It's that everybody's like oh my god.

NBA Fouls and Technicals Conversation

Coach Murph 17:14

Everybody's losing their mind. So guess what? I'm bracing it all. It's all part of the game. I'm ready for this. You control the. We have no control over this, so we might as well have fun with it. Let's do it. Let's go here we go.

Coach Murph 17:27

Cue the bongos. Whatever you want to do podcast ball, cue them. Use the box. Here we go. The foul quiz. We'll start with the act. You know we'll start with some stats to get a little warm into it. But who has the most fouls personal fouls of all time? Who holds the record Number one? Who could guess? I know it's like. I wish I could give you some like.

Podcast Paul 18:00

What's the most personal Like in the history of the game NBA career leaders in personal fouls, who has the most? Oh, this is easy Number one Rashid. Wallace.

Coach Murph 18:11

Oh no, that was text. That was text. We're going to go into that.

Podcast Paul 18:15

Oh, I'm jumping, we're going to this is personal fouls.

Coach Murph 18:18

This is the foul, all right, all right, all right. So we're going personal right now. This is the crazy thing so many different fouls and flagrant one, and two, all right.

Podcast Paul 18:27

Well, I'm going to go with, like longevity right, the person who's played the longest I can give you a four. Ron James.

Coach Murph 18:34

No, he's not even on the top 20.

Podcast Paul 18:36

Wow, I can give you Karim Al-Jabbar.

Speaker 3 18:39

Holy, ding, ding, ding, ding ding ding ding, ding, ding ding.

Coach Murph 18:42

Game over, I'm out of here, I'm done, but leave, leave.

Podcast Paul 18:47

Podcast.

Coach Murph 18:48

I'm hitting the right, the bottom right red button. Leave me Guess how many. Number one Paul just named. I wouldn't have ever guessed that. Number one of all time. That's wicked good. You're great at these quizzes. Karim Abdul-Jabbar, I was just telling you had 4,657 personal fouls. Would you like to try for two? Well, do this at the top for four, because the fourth one is special Green law.

Podcast Paul 19:14

Number two.

Coach Murph 19:16

If you know, guys, I'll know what the green law is. It's the six degrees of separation. Like Kevin Bacon, it's the green law Number two is Jerry West. Wrong, it's not even the top 20.

Speaker 3 19:30

Oscar Robertson.

Coach Murph 19:32

Oh boy, you, just Now, you, I shouldn't have gave you that compliment. Three, okay, hold on, here we go, you're done, you're out, it's over One more.

Podcast Paul 19:42

Three strikes, so number two, that's all that matters.

Coach Murph 19:46

That was that you won the quiz. So number two is Karim Malone, right behind Karim Artis Gilmore. Am I an artist, old school?

Podcast Paul 19:55

player. Well, yeah, I'm an artist Number three and number four, ours truly, are missed double zero.

Coach Murph 20:02

The chief, the top repairer.

Podcast Paul 20:05

The top repairer for me.

Coach Murph 20:07

We'll leave it at that. We'll leave it at that. We're gonna cap it at Peyton. That's the personal fouls quiz.

Podcast Paul 20:14

I should have known after Karim that it was all gonna be big men and forwards and I went guards. What was I thinking?

Coach Murph 20:19

So now we get fun. Now we just what you said who has the most NBA technical fouls?

Podcast Paul 20:25

in the last 50 years. Number one let's go number five, let's go number.

Coach Murph 20:30

Oh, let's go number, let's go to number five, five like five, four, three, two, one. Who is number five? There's five, four, three, two Number five most techs of all time.

Podcast Paul 20:39

Yeah, I'm gonna go with let's think about this the X-Man, xavier McDaniel.

Coach Murph 20:47

Oh, throwing it out there. The X Celtic. This is great. I always think about him when he was talking.

Podcast Paul 20:53

He'll be playing like 20 years.

Coach Murph 20:55

Larry talking trash to him. His story is the best when you hear the Larry legend stories. Dennis Rodman at number five All right With 212. Okay, the Mr Rebound himself. He was one of the best hustle players in the NBA history. He died for loose balls.

Podcast Paul 21:12

He might have a loss. This might be a team. This might be a bad boy team.

Coach Murph 21:17

Yeah buddy, that's what I'm getting. You're getting to where I'm going with this stuff, man.

Podcast Paul 21:23

So number four has got to be Bill Lambert. What?

Speaker 3 21:27

What.

Coach Murph 21:27

What? That's one strike, you have two more strikes, so always three strikes with coach. So number four. You can try again if you want, I guess.

Podcast Paul 21:37

John Sally.

Coach Murph 21:38

What.

Podcast Paul 21:39

What, what Enough for the bad boys. Yeah, I tricked you. Well, I know that number two is Dramond Green.

Coach Murph 21:48

There's no. No, what Boom? That's three in a row. You struck out again. That's OK, you got to hear.

Podcast Paul 21:54

You get to get to know how Well I know who number one is. I just said it three times.

Coach Murph 21:57

Where she'd wall us Number one we're going to get to. I'm going to number four now, gary Payton.

Podcast Paul 22:04

Oh, right Miss.

Coach Murph 22:05

All Time Great Defender, you know. Yeah, in his style right 17 year MBA career. We love the glove. Yeah, all right, so he went from the worm to the glove. Great nicknames, great players. Number three you already said his name Rashid Wallace.

Podcast Paul 22:22

He's great.

Coach Murph 22:23

He said Rashid didn't you oh, I thought he was number one. No, he's number three with 317.

Podcast Paul 22:28

Oh, Traymon's number one.

Coach Murph 22:30

So Dennis had 212. He's not on the list 212. Gary with 250. Rashid with 317. We know all about Shied man. I loved him. He was aggressive, he was a great player. Yeah, he was fiery, fiery passion. That's what it says NBA champion, you know. So next Number two. Number two Give a shot, bill Lambier, I'll let you come back at that Wra-wra-wra.

Podcast Paul 22:59

No, no, no, no, that didn't count, I already said it.

Coach Murph 23:02

Yeah, come on, let's go. Where's your T? Are you having a T-Cosy P? Do you have some?

Podcast Paul 23:06

caffeine. Hold on, hold on man. I thought Rashid was number one. Now he was known for his texts.

Coach Murph 23:15

Two more left Big boys, old school, 90s, 80s and 90s and yeah, shaq on the list 80s and 90s, kakeel O'Neal 80s into 90s for one and one's 90. Yeah, they're both around 90s.

Podcast Paul 23:29

Michael Jordan.

Coach Murph 23:31

Sorry, no, but that's cool. I like that. Guess You're done, yeah.

Podcast Paul 23:34

Yeah, I'm, hollow Sorry.

Coach Murph 23:36

That's OK. The folks still love you, we still love you.

Podcast Paul 23:39

I got Kareem in the end. You're still batting.

Coach Murph 23:41

You're batting high buddy, you're batting average, All right. So number two is Mr Sir Charles Barkley. Oh Barkley, remember him With his fiery stuff 329. 329 texts, mr TV analyst. Now Him and Shaq. Round mound of rebounds, yeah there, it is Number one player. Yeah, he's an NBA record for averaging the most techno fowls per game. Blah blah. But like you said, though, like on here it says the wrong TNT.

Podcast Paul 24:14

It's one of the bad boys in NBA.

Coach Murph 24:15

It says on here altercations, heckler, blah blah, you know. And number one, Mr Pick and Roll with himself, with Stockton and oh, malone, again Carl Malone, that was just taking all of his personal antics. Number one 332. Wow.

Podcast Paul 24:37

That was. I didn't think that either. He was annoying.

Coach Murph 24:41

Yep, he was a physical player and he had a nasty streak and sharp elbows. But there's a whole reason why I did this too, because I miss it. Oh, do I miss the physicality of the NBA in the less flag. Do you know what a flag would you like to tell the kids and folks and people out there what a flagrant one and two is Like? Do they know?

Podcast Paul 25:01

Would you know. A flagrant one would be If you have a clear path to the bat. That's different. That's a clear path for foul. Never mind, that's a separate thing, it's a Flagrant one would be like you touch someone's arm a little too hard.

Coach Murph 25:16

I was giving all you would be.

Podcast Paul 25:18

You touch it really hard.

Coach Murph 25:20

They're just being funny with it, but it's true it's. It's ridiculous. The foul is not a legitimate attempt to directly play the ball within the spirit and turn of the rules. Blah, blah, blah. The thing is about the flagrant one. It's unnecessary contact committed by player against an opponent. Flagrant foul, penitentiary to unnecessary excessive contact committed by player against an opponent. It's like come on, man, we only want man. It's like.

Podcast Paul 25:44

it's like oh, dude, but what about the one that last night?

Coach Murph 25:48

with, like I said, I'm embracing it.

Podcast Paul 25:50

What about that one, the hanging on the rim thing? That, that's a new one. They, they, that's ridiculous.

Coach Murph 25:56

That was ridiculous. It's like I love the taunted. Do you remember when Sean Kemp dunked on everybody and he would go? He was fun. He would go like this, into the stands, into the. He go into a low athletic stance and did the guns on time onto the duty, just dunked on.

Podcast Paul 26:12

I would also argue it affects home court. Like that was a momentum killer. The garden was going crazy.

Coach Murph 26:20

That's the main thing. I'm talking to these, these, these super geeks when it comes to the sports and stuff. It the momentum shift. It's changed the flow of the game. It's affecting the game Right like I've like gotten through it recently where I'm like I'm not.

Podcast Paul 26:35

Don't get me wrong. I feel like Tatum did it, really showed them up and was doing something.

Speaker 3 26:40

I kind of do that.

Coach Murph 26:41

It's.

Podcast Paul 26:41

The whole idea is to do a second, to bring down the tenor of the game, like if it's getting real chippy, I get it. Like if you don't call somebody.

Coach Murph 26:49

You should be able to give them a facial sun. This is what it is, man. They have to bring some of that street flavor back.

Podcast Paul 26:57

Let it be the skim.

Coach Murph 27:00

You know, dude. Remember, kevin, do the YouTube video to the guns of this one guy.

Podcast Paul 27:05

Yeah, guys on the ground, it's like you got post on.

Coach Murph 27:08

You got post rise. It is what it is. Oh, by the way, lebron still post rising people at 39 unbelievable.

Podcast Paul 27:17

So let it out, we, let it out, we. This is therapy two for the brothers. Good quiz man. I'm out. I guess I like that quiz. I was a good one.

Coach Murph 27:24

Yeah, there you go, little flag, just to flip and have fun with it.

Podcast Paul 27:27

I need just a little foul and flagrant. Yeah little two M's quiz.

Coach Murph 27:33

It's just a little. Just, there's just a firm.

Podcast Paul 27:34

Throw some fun into it, because it is a problem, you know so hey but before we move on to the rest of the teams that are Looking really good in the midseason because we have a few other people besides Denver and Boston we're gonna talk about why don't we hit on Caden? You just mentioned his name. Yeah, the update man. Right, we've been waiting for our Caden update.

Coach Murph 27:53

For those that haven't listened, Go you ready, he's coming on, man, all right.

Podcast Paul 28:01

Well, hey, but just to set it up, so for those that haven't listened, a couple pods ago, back in the fall, we had our good friend Caden on and he just transferred what's the name of the high school? He's going to Grandville high school.

Coach Murph 28:14

He's at Grandville.

Podcast Paul 28:16

So we thought I'm on my tallest team in West Michigan.

Coach Murph 28:19

It's my god.

Podcast Paul 28:20

I'm on. He had just started with the team. We were on there talking about the upcoming season.

Coach Murph 28:25

He's in baby. We're gonna see you. We are check it out.

Podcast Paul 28:28

We are. Let's bring it on. Here we go. Look at this. Hey, let's go back. Got it a real hooper. Folks Just jumping on to the pod as me and the coach. You just ranting about the NBA, forget that. Let's take a pause. Bring in Caden Grandville high school. Last time you're on here, man, you were just getting ready for the season. Now it's in full force. You got to give us our update, man. We've been waiting. How are you?

Checking in with Caden Neves

Speaker 3 28:56

I'm doing good. Yeah, this is going great. Um, we were on a win like a sixth game win streak, but just we lost the pass to and then we won one yesterday, so we're not.

Coach Murph 29:11

Yesterday was it the big. Yeah. Yesterday was a breakout, tom. Why did you score it, baby?

Speaker 3 29:16

Yeah, I had 23 yesterday I Don't know how many boards and how many of the stars by you think you had coach loves boards.

Coach Murph 29:26

You didn't have 10, but you had, you know, double, double, but they wouldn't probably like five plus.

Speaker 3 29:32

All right cool.

Coach Murph 29:33

That. This is what I told you. Everything that we said was gonna happens happening. Breakout game it was a career high for him in high school.

Speaker 3 29:41

I know it's by the school Congratulations man yeah man huge Appreciate it Is this on there yeah definitely a few. Yeah, definitely a few. I just, I'm driving cake, driving cakes.

Podcast Paul 29:53

Cool. So talk to me about those, those 23 points of those all dunks.

Speaker 3 29:59

I had like four, threes, 33 throws and less relate layups.

Coach Murph 30:06

Inside, outside game man this guy's getting ready to watch the game. Dude Is, it was a home. Oh yeah, I'll send you a sweet on watch on the on the YouTube Well tell for everybody listening, cuz you know we're out there and podcast world. You see us. Sorry, paul, you can you see us?

Podcast Paul 30:24

Yeah, I can see you guys, All right we don't need to see you, we hear you. It's all good. This is a podcast. But for everybody listening right now that might want to check you out is there. They're a way for them to go online to watch the game.

Speaker 3 30:39

Yeah, there's this. I forget what it's called. I have to find it coach.

Podcast Paul 30:45

Can you find that for us?

Speaker 3 30:47

It's a lot of gold.

Coach Murph 30:48

I go to YouTube.

Podcast Paul 30:50

I.

Coach Murph 30:50

Has a. The Granville basketball has YouTube channel.

Podcast Paul 30:54

Do. Here's a thought is we can actually put that link in the show note for those people that are listening boy Don't want to actually watch, and because we're talking about it, they're hearing about it.

Coach Murph 31:06

They want to see it. When Caden's journey do, this is his journey. In Granville's journey they were squad. You guys can win it all for sure yeah and maybe maybe let Coach know offline.

Podcast Paul 31:20

Once we're done like what that app is, we can put that in there too, but we'll definitely put a link again in the show.

Coach Murph 31:26

He's so savvy with everything he's gonna send it to me like awesome the phone he's teaches me. Well, what else?

Speaker 3 31:32

Caden talked to us man so Really, at the beginning of the season it was kind of a slow start. I mean I wasn't playing terrible, but I mean I wasn't playing how I know I could play. I mean, first game I had eight points, I didn't make any threes and that was kind of getting to me. I was like you know, I really I'm in the gym all the time shooting and my shots aren't falling. That's really how it was for like the next few games. But I mean I Know when I'm not score and I can do other things like play hard, rebound Assists, do like all the little things to just help us win. And that's what I was doing for for a few games and we were winning. So you know I wasn't stressing about my offense. I know it'll come. Had conversations with Murph and my coaches at school. They're like, don't worry about it, all fall, just keep doing what you're doing and we'll be good.

Coach Murph 32:27

And it did see. Perseverance, dude, it's, it's proved. You should have more faith now in your journey. Right, and the stuff we were sending you, like I was sending you, like these guys and the highest level going through their droughts or going through they're, they're those spells and right, even Steph and everybody right.

Speaker 3 32:45

Yeah, exactly, and I kind of really took it until, like alright, it said I'm gonna draw right now, so there's nothing to stress about, just keep doing you, just keep playing hard, carefree, and you'll be fine, like I tell myself every game before every game to play hard, smile and just have fun. Yeah, I do.

Coach Murph 33:04

Today says basketball, oh, doesn't matter though, from Kate and a 17 year old. You know, let's go, young man, dropping this awesome man.

Podcast Paul 33:16

So you went on a six game win streak. You said you lost one and you won the last one. What's next? You have? How many more games you have before you get into the Like? These are a playoffs, I'm assuming, coming up Uh this.

Speaker 3 33:31

I think this was our 12th game, so we have Uh 10 more. Yeah, they have a lot of games. They played 22. Awesome, wow, it's not like a 12 game season.

Coach Murph 33:39

Yeah, they're just Warming. Like I said, they're not done, they're not ready to go to the championship.

Podcast Paul 33:43

Yet I'm not, I'm just. What I'm saying is just the way.

Coach Murph 33:48

It is, it's like I'm not, I'm not. It's not easy to predict you either, jolly, you don't. You grow like you said, paul. You grow it within that season, each game. You grow like they're growing. You right, kate, and you guys are. You are personally in your team.

Speaker 3 34:01

Yeah, I mean we, we still got some things to work on, but Absolutely always I want it always and forever, but sounds familiar.

Coach Murph 34:12

This is their first year playing together. Kate's brand new for this team and we have there's only three returning players too.

Speaker 3 34:18

So it's yeah. So it's kind of, I want to say, started from the bottom, but kind of near. Yeah, I know it is dude, a learning curve.

Coach Murph 34:26

How to learn what, how to learn each other's game, how to play with each other, and then you start clicking. You know having fun. This is awesome, man. I'm so true. You, how long does the season go? I know you said 12 games.

Podcast Paul 34:36

But is that through April? May? That'd be really cool, but it's also June. I don't think it goes that far, but it definitely is through.

Speaker 3 34:43

February, I'm not sure. In India, I think it was different.

Podcast Paul 34:48

So then, after the the regular season, it's winter ball, Paul, you know right, but is there like a champion like if you get to a certain record and and what's next? I guess, is there like a Championship game, like I guess where I'm going with this. I'd love to get you back on towards the end, depending on where you guys finish, and kind of the next game, depending on where you guys finish, and kind of the next piece of it.

Speaker 3 35:12

I think it's just playoffs and conference play, because we we playing the okay at red conference, so we have to play all those teams and I think that.

Coach Murph 35:22

And I think win the conference.

Speaker 3 35:24

Yeah, I'm doing like that go to states? I'm not sure.

Coach Murph 35:28

Yeah, it's the same same deal as any other state.

Speaker 3 35:32

Awesome dude.

Podcast Paul 35:33

Yep, well, congrats, man 23. How many boards again?

Speaker 3 35:38

Uh, I'm I'm not sure, but A handful of but he's gonna throw down eight for you.

Podcast Paul 35:45

But but he's gonna be dropped, he's got.

Coach Murph 35:46

He got big. I got cam there. They got big guys ripping boards, but he's gonna. Yeah, he just you know he's doing he's. Caden's game is growing out. That's a huge confidence builders, all that man. Oh he had a nice dunk. I sent it to Paul sideline.

Podcast Paul 36:02

Well, I liked how you got the scoring, how you said it wasn't just dunks, it was a combination. You had some inside game and then you knocked down a bunch of threes too. That's really cool, man.

Coach Murph 36:11

Paul, that rider out too. It was like wait until next year for him to dunk on somebody, like get contact. Yeah, okay, look at you, you're gonna break out. He's gonna break out more and more. Caden's gonna grow so much this season it's journey, man I love it Awesome dude. Well man, so if you want to talk about anything else, what else is going on? Man like anything else.

Speaker 3 36:33

I'm not really, I just really really read my bible that a boy.

Speaker 3 36:38

Fates. First let's go, because there was. There was kind of like first streak where I wasn't really like confident, but I think it was either during Christmas, like one of the games during Christmas break. I just like my confidence just came back and I've been playing a while ever since, like I don't think there's probably I don't think there's been a game where I've had under 10 which is Kind of like I shouldn't have another 10. I should have over 10 because how much work I put in. But I've just been on a roll and I hope to continue it and just keep playing it hard and Keep doing whatever it takes to win.

Coach Murph 37:17

Yep, I'll replay baby.

Podcast Paul 37:19

Let's do it. It's so cool to be on this journey with you, man. I'm glad you're able to come on and I can't wait to hear your next. I think what? When should we get Kaden back on After the like February, and maybe we bring him on next pond? Dude, you're coming on next.

Coach Murph 37:35

He's gonna have. Yeah, he can come on whenever he wants, but like it was especially if, like I wanted him have, I wanted to celebrate this little breakout game for him. Like I said is like once you break out, get 20, he's like he hit me with the text. I was it last night. Yeah, I was like in the gym just leaving. I'm like, yes, and it's just like once you, you have to Hit these levels to get like it's all about you know it's those levels to everything you know, and so he's just gonna continue.

Coach Murph 38:02

It's not about Sometimes it's not even a bout score like drew drew holiday. He's so effective. You don't see his 25 points game. We wish we'd have a little few more points, but he's such a Defend it, like his defense, in the way he runs the point the floor man and Derek white, I mean. Obviously points matter, dude, but you can. You can grow like I want to see you get comfortable, like what we're talking about. Before, like Dennis Robin, he was a called the worm, learning how to position yourself for rebounds, the timing of it, all that good stuff. You know working on that part of your game. You know All that. You know the deal, dude. So that's it, man.

Podcast Paul 38:40

Hey, I got a quick question before you go, because we were just talking about this before you jumped on. I don't know if you watch the Celtics Denver game.

Speaker 3 38:48

Uh, I watched the last few minutes of the quarter. I don't watch the whole thing.

Podcast Paul 38:52

So there was, there was a game. There was a play earlier in the game where Jason Tatum goes full court and dunks it. It was a sick play and he hung on the rim just for a little bit.

Coach Murph 39:02

Just gave it a little sauce, you know, just a little bit.

Podcast Paul 39:05

He did a rim raise dude and they gave him a tack. They gave him a tack, it was a momentum killer.

Coach Murph 39:11

Do they do that in?

Podcast Paul 39:12

high school, when you guys, when you dunk it, if you hang on the rim too much, will they give you a technical Uh that wouldn't have been a tack out of there.

Speaker 3 39:19

They definitely were in high school. I've seen her before, but not this year.

Coach Murph 39:24

That play shouldn't have been, because it was such a play that they're just like let it go, man, yeah, it's like that would. Oh, and this is a good thing that we can leave with for you, kid, he's, he got, he had a game where he was Getting irritated to take up the fouls, right, like, like, just that's the problem of the game. Sometimes we don't get these calls or we're just getting oh, my gosh, we're getting it's. It's a whole thing. The NBA with with the, the fouls. Sometimes they're bad calls, sometimes they're missed calls, and sometimes you feel like you picked on, like what is going on here right now. You know it's that's roll with the punches, adversity.

Speaker 3 40:01

Right, exactly.

Coach Murph 40:03

I was pumped because that was just like the game before, and then you came back With this big game, you know. So I think it was just the game before. We were like you were. You were just. You know. You have every right to be that way, man you know something?

NBA Rivals and Potential Guests Discussion

Speaker 3 40:17

That's just, I think, what I've heard and learn. I think that's just how rest are the two at that place that play where we lost? Yeah, because I mean there's such a big crowd, so it's they're playing to that.

Coach Murph 40:31

They're playing it to the town politics could be right.

Podcast Paul 40:35

Yeah it is what it is. Yeah, it's territorial.

Coach Murph 40:39

Personally, you know they guys, they take it personal. It's all the way up to the NBA.

Speaker 3 40:45

You know, though, you know, I mean, I personally feel like we should have won that game, but I mean, next time we see them, we'll just see what happens.

Coach Murph 40:54

It's on. So that's a cool little ride. So it's a big ride. Really got sparked then, so that's good. Yeah, I gotta see that game too. I'm behind. I've been busy with mirf ball, kaden all these good stuff happening, brother. All our dreams are coming true. Living this journey with you guys, just to merge with Kaden Super star.

Podcast Paul 41:12

No plan.

Coach Murph 41:13

B Kaden, nba baby, raising up, steps, steps to everything, man, one step at a time, one day at a time. Right, yes, sir, keep it as simple brother.

Podcast Paul 41:24

It's awesome to be on this journey with you, man. Thanks for jumping on and again we're getting you on next ball. Dude, jump on just like this, get out and updates.

Coach Murph 41:33

Everybody knows what's?

Podcast Paul 41:34

hey, you know me downloads. We've gotten that on that pod that you're on. The people want to know what's going on with Kaden. So here we go we appreciate it, man the big cat dude, We'll see you next month bro.

Speaker 3 41:45

Yes, sir.

Coach Murph 41:46

I'll see you sooner. We'll talk sooner, my friend.

Speaker 3 41:49

All right, I'll call you later.

Coach Murph 41:51

All right brother.

Speaker 3 41:51

Okay, all right, see you.

Coach Murph 41:54

Awesome. Oh, just like that. That was our first fun real time I'm flying. Come on in from right.

Podcast Paul 42:01

I mean we we've had people on the pod numerous times, but not this way, not just jumping on.

Coach Murph 42:07

We're gonna have to get ready for the big time. Anybody can come.

Podcast Paul 42:10

Well, he's part of this journey, man. He's part of this whole thing right now.

Coach Murph 42:14

Go back and check out. He was the K-star pod. Good for him, but again.

Podcast Paul 42:19

I know I we've already said it two or three times. We'll bring it up again. Check out the show notes, everybody. Right, because you're hearing about it now you can go see it. So you're gonna have a little link on there. Um, I will well people be able to go back and see the game where he got the 23 points. I'm watching the game yes it's.

Coach Murph 42:37

You can see the highlights then you can just watch the game, you can fast forward, you can do whatever you want on youtube. Oh, yeah, the dog. I sent you that one. That was the other game, but I haven't seen this game yet, so I'm out when we get off this show just two murfs. I'm going on youtube to watch it and I'll just so I get to see him too and I get to critique and we talk, we don't just talk hoops, we bring in hoops.

Podcast Paul 43:00

And we watch film.

Coach Murph 43:02

But we're supporting you guys. Grandville out here up here. We got out in the northwest with podcast p, you know, and and boston area that's where kaden's from originally way with. But go check out the show that we had with him. And in our, in our library, you know, we got kaden the rising star pod.

Podcast Paul 43:18

Yeah so, hey, man, let's finish it off with one more little segment and then get out of here. Yeah, um, what I wanted to do, I know we were hitting on midseason. This will just kind of tie into the other teams. Yeah, it's another key date with the nba right. First we had the in season tournament.

Podcast Paul 43:34

We had all that going on Well, the next key date, believe it or not, is this week. I didn't even know till I looked at it. Coach, it's nba Rivals week. I don't know who came up with this, but some of these rivals they're kind of weird, right, but for us they're not. It's not weird at all. We're playing miami, that's our rival. We're playing them on thursday, so that's going to be exciting to look forward to. That's thursday, um, but yeah, let's just talk with some of it. So one of them Denver, indiana. We talked about the Pacers in the in season tournament getting to the final. We all talked about Halliburton. I didn't realize they were a rival with Denver. But let's just talk Pacers in general right now. Like, are they still a threat? Let's go on. They just had a big trade. Coach.

Coach Murph 44:19

They got Seattle from.

Podcast Paul 44:20

Toronto Like. Are they someone we need to worry about on our way to?

Trending NBA Teams

Coach Murph 44:24

June. I'm sorry, I'm not gonna worry about you Pacers, I think they fizzled out. It was the in season tournament shoots. They just had so much fire. No, you can't count them out. This is I will see how this trade works out. You know, and that way being said, I'm just gonna bring up the assistant coach. Sorry if I pronounced your name wrong, but I think it's Giannaro. Giannaro Pargo, mr Pargo from Indiana. He's an assistant coach. Okay, he's, he's a player with the guys. He's a great, he was a great player. He scored 22. He dropped 22 against the Suns as a Hornet back in 0-8. But he is connected to my guy, my new business associate, franco. A little shot off of Franco there Franco Lane from Lane printing and advertising. We had an awesome meeting yesterday and he's a stellar golfer and he has these connections with Mr Tony.

Podcast Paul 45:23

Allen himself.

Coach Murph 45:24

Yeah, Franco and Pargo, coach Pargo, and hopefully we'll get them on the show, all of them, sometime soon. He has connections with Al Jefferson, with Tony Allen and I'm. I'm meeting him at his shot out to Lane. It's a family owned business in Holbrook Mass. We're gonna meet on Monday for Murphball, so he's buddies with this guy. This guy is his buddies hanging out with Tony.

Podcast Paul 45:49

Allen With an assistant coach.

Coach Murph 45:52

Giannaro.

Podcast Paul 45:52

Giannaro. There, I got it. Pargo Giannaro, Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait wait.

Coach Murph 45:56

Look at back up, coach Franco. You're on the show. You have no choice.

Podcast Paul 45:59

Let me back up here for a second. Yeah, what you're telling me. Here is we just had a real NBA Hooper on right. We just had a real NBA Hooper Caden right.

Coach Murph 46:09

Oh yeah, future NBA player.

Podcast Paul 46:10

And now you're saying we're gonna have a real NBA coach. I mean, you're the coach.

Coach Murph 46:14

Hopefully we're getting coach Pargo on with. They're invited with Mr Franco Lane who's gonna help Murphball go to the next level?

Podcast Paul 46:23

Man this journey's getting weird.

Coach Murph 46:24

It's getting crazy. I mean I love to have Tony on or Al, whatever. Tony Allen and the real quick Tony Allen story a lot of people know if you're a true Hoop fan is the show with the big ticket. The big ticket and the truth. I mean I don't know if they have that show if you're a Hoop fan, right, and Doc Rivers was on the show and it was awesome If everybody saw it. You were getting so much inside information about 08, the season 08. Well, danny Ainge, who was all running the whole.

Coach Murph 46:55

That's the championship by the way, that's right. Where was Doc before that? He was a 76er, right, he was with Philly. Well, he called up Doc. You remember that. Yeah, you're like see he's thinking right now.

Podcast Paul 47:08

Paul, you remember, no Are you shaking your head like that? No, no, he was just with Philly. He was with the Hawks, I think, or something.

Coach Murph 47:15

Oh, it was the Hawks. No, no, no, he was with.

Podcast Paul 47:17

Philly, no Orlando, orlando, orlando, ding, ding, ding. Coaches corrections.

Coach Murph 47:24

We're going right into the corner. That's the correctional. That's what I was thinking. That's why we have podcast Paul at the helm here. That's why it's podcast speed. Thank you for the correction. Anyway, danny calls Doc and goes want to have a meeting but, like you know, he's like yeah, I'll have a meeting, we'll meet. He was. He was like how about right now? He was outside his office with the owners, he not just we're there. And he was just showed up and Doc's like all right, and they had a meeting. That's how aggressive that move was. And he wasn't even going to take the coaching job for the 08SW championship. He wasn't going to. But the Tony Allen connection Angel also loved Tony and so did Doc, the gritty man from Chicago. You know about his story, he's got. You know. We're just going to do it, man.

Coach Murph 48:18

We're just going to do a quick Tony Allen quiz Because I hope, yeah, I hope he's going to come on the show and give him a little love right now. Man, he's a guy, but they, they, they like vibed over Tony Boom. Doc's like, all right, I'm in. And you know cause? Doc's shy, the shy town connection Chicago. So Tony Allen quiz, quick quiz, last quiz All right, we're podcast P. What is Tony Allen's nickname?

Podcast Paul 48:43

And I'm going to mention them on Instagram. I know this, so just let me. Let me think I'm going to give Franco a mention. He was a defensive wizard.

Coach Murph 48:53

He was a defensive wizard.

Podcast Paul 48:55

Well, it's nice to be dropped out, he was he was, it was his nickname has something to do with defense and I can't the grind father. Oh, I was not going to get the grind father is American.

Coach Murph 49:06

I know that he's American professional basketball player. Played 14 seasons in the NBA, you know, primarily for us in the Grizzlies, Remember. So no, it's. I always think I'm like interesting Him and Marcus smart.

Podcast Paul 49:19

Yes, yes, oh yeah yes.

Coach Murph 49:22

Yeah, well, no, he played a Memphis.

Podcast Paul 49:24

That's right. That's why it's like.

Coach Murph 49:26

But Tony was a baller. He was gritty. You know six, four to listen six fourth to 13. But I love the fact where he came from. Can you name the? You know the college we came from. If you nail this, I'm going to be pumped. What was the college he played for?

Podcast Paul 49:42

The last college, the last college he played for, was Kansas. I have no idea Kansas.

Coach Murph 49:50

He was OK, he was Oklahoma State.

Podcast Paul 49:52

OK, all right.

Coach Murph 49:53

All right, he came out of there like he was a ball to come ball out of that and we drafted him right.

Podcast Paul 49:58

He was drafted by the Celtics.

Coach Murph 50:00

Yes, we had him. For what can you name the years? There is a professional Celtic Went home.

Podcast Paul 50:06

Oh gosh, I mean, if it was, if he was there for a week, I'm going to go 2006.

Coach Murph 50:14

Nice try, though. Oh, four to two, 10.

Podcast Paul 50:17

Oh right 2004, 2010.

Coach Murph 50:19

Ok, of course he was with us on oh wait, huge factor why? But I like the fact that he started Butler County Community College. All right, I won't get into the whole details, but that's what it's all about. So I told Caden said that even if, like, something doesn't go the way it should, this year and the next year is it over after high school. It's never over. You're so young and then he go. And then he went to Wabash Valley for a year, so 2000, 2001,. He was at the Butler Community. Could the cute Bouter, butler County's our Community College for that one year. Then the next year is at Wabash Valley. Then he transferred over to OK, ok, oklahoma State and the rest of his history Just keep leveling up and never give up his dream. And look where he went all the way to the top. So, franco Lane, ever something to Lane family Shout out, hopefully we'll see you guys, you boys on the show.

Podcast Paul 51:14

Whoever wants to be on the show would be great to have a professional. It would be great for the show Great for all of us.

Speaker 3 51:19

Who put up?

Coach Murph 51:21

They go Tony.

Podcast Paul 51:22

So staying on that. I know that's the end of the quiz, but saying on that, memphis, this is the last Memphis Grizzly mention because they stink, but we have to at least get another correction going here, goach.

Coach Murph 51:34

Oh, hold on. Well, for the correction, he also was. Tony was also a big 12 tournament MVP. He was like legit. He was legit in the 04. So what's the correction?

Podcast Paul 51:43

Bring back to the bottom. The coach made a big prediction.

Coach Murph 51:47

Big boo with the.

Podcast Paul 51:48

Memphis Grizzlies.

Coach Murph 51:50

Oh, what, what, what, but that's not your fault.

Podcast Paul 51:54

That's not your fault.

Coach Murph 51:55

Do? I hope I didn't juju bad, juju him, but that's it. But you know what? Sorry.

Podcast Paul 52:01

John John Moran, I'm not, it's kind of what you do Flash and guns though, so like you know what that? That's the whole deal here. Oh, nothing as much fun as we're having and we'll continue to have, and it's a journey and we love the NBA For every single one of these teams. It all comes down to health. Yeah right, you lose that team, they lose that superstar. It's over.

Coach Murph 52:26

It was so fun having him back in the NBA, so fun to watch. She's incredible. So I don't care about all that personal stuff, but, as mentioned, it's gun flashing. We're all we're doing that. It was stupid, we all make mistakes, but like OK, so that's it.

Podcast Paul 52:40

Just to finish it up here. Getting back to the rivals, week and midseason and all this stuff, you said the Pacers. They're not there anymore. There were seven seed, so who? Are right now, as we're at the midseason point, who are the teams that are trending up? Who are the teams that you think?

Coach Murph 52:56

of a real shot. I already predicted that we're going to trend up. They already happened, Well we know the sell. We just talked, I told you though I would go with the East. We'll start with East. We already know this. The Cavs like you said, you want to talk about the Cavs. There are six game win streak. It's the next I predicted. The next is you're like the next, I told you, and then what about?

Podcast Paul 53:16

what about the Miami Heat?

Coach Murph 53:18

Yep, they're always going to be an ish, like our Golden State little six seed.

Podcast Paul 53:22

They're in it. Hey, last year they were at eight seed and they went all the way to the end finals there are six, so anything that happened there with the.

Coach Murph 53:30

Cavs, the next the heat.

Podcast Paul 53:32

What about the sixers man?

Coach Murph 53:33

Well, you said it's a big three dude, it doesn't matter, that's right. So you still feel that?

Podcast Paul 53:37

way. Everybody does I mean did you see him beat? I mean, we talked about the Joker at nauseam.

Coach Murph 53:43

Celtics box sixers.

Podcast Paul 53:45

Did you see the Sixers Denver matchup earlier in the week before they came in here in bead outplayed the Joker in that game.

Coach Murph 53:54

No, he's talking about in bead man.

Podcast Paul 53:55

It's like it's like the whole thing.

Coach Murph 53:56

Quiet, all that quiet stuff. Same with Joker and Denver. They quietly, but we just hit on it.

Podcast Paul 54:01

Health. That's the thing with him. He always breaks down in the playoffs.

Coach Murph 54:07

So if he doesn't break down this year, that's going to be tough, so what? About the West man In the West. I said this as well, I said the next in the East, which I was right about. And then what else was right about the?

Podcast Paul 54:19

Clippers, oh, your Clippers, they're fourth.

Coach Murph 54:22

You are so on point with that Coach you had to be because it's like you two, it's really simple, are they a real threat?

Podcast Paul 54:29

It's a flip of a coin.

Coach Murph 54:31

So it's not like this magic, like this magical guess or something, it's a simple. You flip the coin. You either get it together because you have James Harden, paul Gaspi, the second Paul George, kwy Leonard and Russell Westbrook on the same team. Yeah, those four get your, get your ish together in your gold, and they did Harden's playing a little bit better.

Podcast Paul 54:55

We might be on the same page here. So again, midseason. This is all we're doing right now. We'll see what happens in the next 40 to 100. Did you see the?

Coach Murph 55:03

Anthony, others move, he threw a ball at the back and man off the backboard moved. You saw it. Yeah, it's my. I love my hand. Man Dude, what was?

Podcast Paul 55:13

that that play was crazy. We're on the same page here, Boston, Milwaukee, although man they are obviously we got to put them in there. Boston, milwaukee, 76ers, those three teams. One of those teams is going to make it, but in the West I say it's four teams Minnesota, okc. We haven't even talked about OKC 13, denver, denver. Obviously we just talked again about the war and the Clippers.

Coach Murph 55:41

That's it and everybody else I know.

Journey to the NBA All-Star Break

Podcast Paul 55:43

The Pelicans are at five and they still have what it takes to have OKC, though, is kind of going the other direction all of a sudden but we'll see.

Coach Murph 55:49

And the Mavs don't have what it takes. No, it's going to happen with the Mavs. No, it's going to happen with the Kyrie. You saw that right. Where's Kyrie going? Lebron's not done Well big week.

Podcast Paul 55:59

big week for the Kyrie is going back to. La. Ooh, big week for the green. We got tomorrow, E-May 2, E-May again in Houston.

Speaker 3 56:09

Then Monday we're playing the Mavs.

Podcast Paul 56:11

We're in Dallas, dude Monday night, Then we're flying to Miami. We already hit on it NBA rivals week in Miami. And then Saturday, one week from today, Coach, we're back in the garden going for 21 and one against you or Clippers.

Coach Murph 56:31

It was actually 27 in a row this week. We had a streak. Your Clippers next Saturday.

Podcast Paul 56:36

I know that's what I'm pumped about. That's going to be fun.

Coach Murph 56:39

Because there could be a dark horse. There's always like these dark horses, but it's only going to happen if there's injury issues with those teams. There's like there's no getting around those top teams unless they're injured. That's it, Simple as that.

Podcast Paul 56:53

Well, Coach, this has been a fun pod, as always. Before you take us out, just some other key dates coming up just to get you thinking about the next pod, get you excited. So February 8th NBA trade deadline Could be some moves. We already talked Siakam from Toronto to Indiana. That was a big one. There'll be more.

Coach Murph 57:14

Yeah, and then that will break dude.

Podcast Paul 57:18

February 16th through the 21st, it's already almost the NBA All-Star break, which that's what we think midseason no, that's right now All-Star break. Then it's only the stretch run from there. So I'm thinking what are you thinking, dude? Like probably get on at the All-Star break, like we always do? Right, Probably a good time to get back on. Yeah, all-star break, yep, that's it baby. And then Kaden will be close to the end of his season. Mm-hmm, and him back on Dude.

Coach Murph 57:45

That's not perfect. What a journey man. The journey to June.

Podcast Paul 57:49

Just two Murph talk Take us out, man.

Coach Murph 57:52

J2M's Well, things are going well in my life with Murph Ball. I've had some dreams come true, some. I have a great new CEO. We planted in Mr Paul Kearney, pk. He was some name dropping today, franco, and hopefully we'll have some one of those pros on. I can't wait to play. You play golf. We got some, he's really good. So we get some golf playing going on. But the whole thing is, it's daily, it's one day at a time. I didn't know that this board meeting was going to happen yesterday. It's going to have this amazing experience. You don't know what tomorrow is going to bring. This is 12 years in the making for me and Murph Ball. This is three, four years in the making with J2M, and Kobe would always say he's at the, he was at the summit. So you look up, you're like, oh, look at Kobe, it's not about the summit, it's. What is it about, paul?

Coach Murph 58:43

It's about it's all about the journey, baby. That's it, man. Keep it simple. Keep it in the day, one day at a time. It's the journey, not the destination. 2024, baby, we're coming, we're coming to get you. It's the green machine, baby, just to.

Podcast Paul 59:00

Murph, we'll see you at the All-Star break. Be happy, peace.