NBA Finals Preview Between The Bucks And The Suns, Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor ESPN Controversy
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On this episode, we preview the NBA Finals Matchup between the Eastern Conference Champion Milwaukie Bucks and the Western Conference Champion Pheonix Suns.
We'll also be discussing the controversy and inner turmoil at ESPN between NBA Reporters Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor.
Hosts: Rayshawn Buchanan, Michael Marcangelo, Joe Malkin, Bob Kelly
Producer: Craig D'Alessandro
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On this episode of missing the point, we're previewing the NBA Finals matchup between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks. Also, we'll be discussing the controversy that erupted this week from ESPN between Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor. This is missing the point, Episode 71. But it's all relative.
Rayshawn Buchanan:That's right is the new voice tonight. No, I'm kidding. Just some guy you've heard before. I'm bearish on be candid with my guys. Joe melka. And Ruby. Kay, Bob Kelly. Money, Mike. And I was taking a producer Craig D'Alessandro, and Yo, this is exciting, man. We're it's NBA Finals time, one of my favorite times of the year. And yeah, so I mean, we definitely had to get this down and get this done. So let's just, I'll be doing tonight, fellas.
Michael Marcangelo:Do you really care, dude, like, do you really care?
Rayshawn Buchanan:How are you? I'm not tooting my house. Yeah,
Michael Marcangelo:I'm great, dude. Happy to be on the show that you're hosting. This is a it's a welcome change of Joe and I just get take a backseat to this.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, it's cool to get a white guy on the show.
Rob Kelly:Yeah, I'm pumped for this one. I'm just I'm pumped. I'm excited about is that we're gonna have a new champion, and that it's someone that has never won a championship no matter what. That's what really gets me going. Because like, I even when I play like video games, like when I think of my perfect championships, it's always teams that have never won one before. I don't know if it's just like that cowboy deep down inside of me that just wants those fans to get it. But like, bro, I'm so pumped for this finals. I don't know about you.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, I mean, well, I mean, we definitely have two franchises that have not been there in a long time. Right. So you know, I guess you know, it doesn't give that Dallas Cowboys haberfield, so to speak. You know, so we're definitely going to get into that. But yeah, what will give a quick rundown before we get into the question. So as we said so to the finals is going to be between the walking and Phoenix the walk. He has not mentioned finals in 1974. where, you know, our Boston Celtics defeated the Milwaukee Bucks or seven games, you know, that now led by sad being loved by criminal Jabbar that now led by him and the crew. And then Phoenix has now there for the first time since 93. When they were led by the MVP at the time, Salas Barkley, Danny Ames, Denmark, their Marley's, now they're led by our CP three, Devin Booker. So I know, Joe, I'll start with you. But you know, so what player, you know, would you say is under the most pressure, and he's NBA Finals, Chris Paul,
Joe Malkin:Chris Paul. I mean, he's bounced around the league. He's been on with seven teams in his career, he finds a home in Phoenix. He's finally healthy. And he figures it out. And Bobby, you and I talked about it during the Western Conference. I mean, it really during the entire NBA playoffs, because we all know that the Nets loss carry the Nets last harden for a game and a half. Basically, Paul, George somehow stayed healthy, for the most part in LA. But you look at Chris Paul, and he's the elder statesman on both of these teams. And what's really interesting about this series is the Phoenix Suns are so much fun to watch and the Milwaukee Bucks, it's like, it's like watching. It's like listening to a lecture in high school that you just didn't want to listen to. They're actually very undisciplined. They're not a very good team. But they're a great team. If that makes sense. they've figured it out. But to answer your question, plain and simple. It's Chris Paul. And I think that the early prediction here, because I know you're gonna ask this question, I think Phoenix wins the series on the back of Chris Paul, and I love this series for that reason. And what you just said, Ray, is that, you know, we haven't seen the suns get there since 93. The bucks haven't been there in even longer. So it's just, it's exciting. It's exciting to watch. But Chris Paul, for sure.
Rob Kelly:I completely agree with that dude, because his legacy is on the line here. Like he's never been this close. He's never gotten this close. And you could see that on his face when they won that a Western Conference championship game like coach Gentry just been like, let it out, man. Let it out. Like it's time, you know what I mean? And honestly, his legacy as the point God to me, so it's Isaiah, and Chris Paul, that's the epsilon of like, that top point guard. But you can never take Chris Paul and put them with Isaiah, because he doesn't have that ship. If he gets his championship, and you're 16 bringing the Phoenix Suns to a championship, man, he's got to be considered one of the top point guards ever, in my opinion. So it's definitely crystal
Joe Malkin:to go off of that real quick. And just looking at Chris pie. I was close. He's played for five teams, New Orleans, LA, the Clippers, Houston, Oklahoma City, and now Phoenix. And he's been to 10 all star games. And he has played 109 games in the playoffs, and has never been to the NBA Finals until now. So he put 102 playoff games. I'm sorry, yeah, no 109 playoff games in his career and he had never been to the NBA Finals. It's wild. But to go off what Mike said which was going to be my original point when I stole it back from Bobby. You're not going to win a championship at the point guard, but it's going to be Chris Paul, who lifts this team to that level.
Michael Marcangelo:Chris Paul is a great answer. I also, I think, for all the scrutiny that Giannis Antetokounmpohas been under over the last couple of years, where it's time to make a bit, you know, this league his and takeover, if he can't win a finals, and it can't win the championship, when in reality, the road will never be easier for him than it was this year, especially all the things that happened with Brooklyn, you know, you get LeBron out, you get kawhi out. And now, yeah, you do have a formidable team in the Phoenix Suns who I also believe are gonna win, but I think there's, I think the most pressure is on Giannis Antetokounmpo. Because he's gonna he's gonna reserve NB MVPs he is the next guy in this league. And, you know, they've had the Bucs have the best record in the in the last what the last two years in a row have done nothing. And now they finally get there. And again, with the road pretty much cleared out for him. He's got to do something. So I think, because I do think it's real. And we talked about this with the Celtics a lot and other NBA teams. You know, not getting there, like does it actually start getting into your head? Well, if the road is clear for you, and you get there, and you still can't do it, when literally the odds are in your favor. I wonder like what does that do to his psyche moving forward?
Rob Kelly:Oh, Hunger Games references, man. They're like, Yeah,
Rayshawn Buchanan:well, yeah. I mean, that's the issue. So yeah, well, the odds have been in his favor, you know, but we're going to go there right now. It's definitely been in his favor. And you know, so yeah, so Katniss, Amanda Kupo. It's time, brother. It's time to stretch that arrow into the heart of the Phoenix Suns and get the job done. Yeah, I got to stick with you on this as well. Um, you know, I think it's, it makes sense that, you know, for anyone to pick Chris ball, so I'm not knocking that. But I think we honestly say you can't beat it back to back MVP. Well, I mean, he wasn't back to the I know Yoga is one but to win to VPS already. Few All Star games. You know, you I say you are becoming official League, and support for him, I think to put the stamp his stamp on the league, right? And you know, the way great Kobe Bryant talked about when he won a few years ago, you know, on Twitter was okay, yeah, you won the MVP. Now, the next challenge is to win the championship. Right? So and this series is going to feature two players that, you know, he's instilled confidence in, right? He talked about that. But Giannis Antetokounmpo he instilled confidence in Devin Booker, as well. But yeah, God is to me, for sure, definitely has the most pressure. Um, you know, even though there might be another chance for him to get there. But once again, we're near 60. year seven, you don't know how many times the Chris Paul is a perfect example of that, right? You don't know how many times you're going to get there, or you don't know how many times the road is going to be this, you know, this paved out. So I would say Jada definitely has to get get the job done in this case. So but Mike, I'll come back to you. So another question I was thinking about too, and that you know, what will go around around the horn here, so to speak my What do you think was served as the s factor because there's always someone else that we don't expect to come all but they will be that guy. And this
Michael Marcangelo:is okay. If I just add, if I just add one more point on before I answer that. I think that if you are the coordinated person, right, like we've all been told and believe that it's Yana Sisley moving forward or like, this is his time, right? You can't have your first six to 10 years in the league and not make a good show in the finals. Now, I'm just saying they don't have to win. If you look at LeBron, look what he did when he brought that garbage to the Cavaliers, to the NBA Finals. And that was all him right? So that's perfect. And yet you never really doubted like that was the year that you were like, Okay, well, this guy's he's for real. Right? He brought a garbage team. So all I'm saying is I think Giannis Antetokounmpo has to show but my X Factor. For what it's worth. It's not like a hot take. It's I think it's I think it is going to be Devin Booker, I think that there's going to be so much pressure on Chris Paul from the outside. And I think that he needs to, he's gonna have to do a lot. He's gonna have to go above and beyond probably his abilities, especially in year 16. I think Devin Booker will be the perfect complimentary superstar to him. Right. I think he's gonna make what Chris Paul does on the court look easy. And for that reason, I that's why I think sons are gonna win, but it's not a hot take. I think it's his first time in the finals. And he wants it man. You saw what he did in the bubble. Last year, they didn't lose a single game in the bubble. And they still didn't make the playoffs. So you see, like a hungry Devin Booker. And now you have that added incentive of my teammate, who's been in the league for 16 years who has this thing on his back that he can't shake. Well, now he's here like, Let's win it for him. I think that mentality is real. So yeah, Devin Booker is my guy.
Rayshawn Buchanan:So Joe, I'll go to you next Oh, do you think will serve as an extractor
Joe Malkin:as I go down the two rosters and I look at like Chris Middleton, who obviously it was gonna play well, and Brook Lopez has been a big part of that team in Milwaukee. I think he's added a lot to a fairly young team. I mean, sure. You have drew Holliday, who's mentally for 11 years and Jeff t who's been leave for 11 years living in caves had run free. But I got to go with Devin Booker. For the same reasons that Mike said I'm not stealing plagiarizing, but as he was talking, it's like yeah, you know what? That makes sense because Devin Booker is kind of like If Chris Paul wasn't there, Devin Booker's the guy in Phoenix, right? So why not have his number two, if we're not gonna win because of a point guard? Why not The X Factor be the shooting guard who's been in the league for five years. I mean, good pedigree out of Kentucky? Sure. I think Devin Booker and you're right, Mike, he wants to be there. He has shown that all throughout the playoffs. He showed it all throughout the regular season. They had an incredible time in the bubble and he was pissed. He was ready to get back on the court. And now I think that's why Phoenix is where they are is because the guys like Chris Paul Devin Booker Jae Crowder, they're so fired up to have something going well in Phoenix that I think Devin Booker is gonna hop on Chris Paul's back and they're gonna they can do that together.
Michael Marcangelo:And it's like, before we go to Bobby, because I know Bobby has a counterpoint for Giannis Antetokounmpo. I'm sorry, Bobby. No, I just think that Booker is the perfect complement to what we have been told about Chris Paul, right. We've been told over the last 16 years that he's a choker that he doesn't need always that he always folds in pressure situations. And now you have this young kid five years, five years in the league, that literally if you give him a game where he has to win it, he doesn't lose. So I think that entire storyline, I think how that unfolds on the biggest stage in the NBA, I think that's perfect. And I think that this is going to be like a Denver Broncos type of thing. Right? Like, let's win it for Chris. I can really see that happening. So again, I just think that for ever if there was ever a time for for a final to not have LeBron James, or Steph Curry or anything, you know, since 2010. This is the matchup because there's so many intriguing storylines, in in two cities that are pretty unknown or not talked about that much across across the national spotlight. So the more Yeah, I think it's gonna be a great series. Sorry about me. So
Rob Kelly:I'm actually going to take that point and turn it right into my ex after anyway. So honestly, to me, the biggest X Factor and the reason why I don't know if Giannis Antetokounmpo has that much pressure on him is that name man. That means maxed out. I think that they're downplaying that a lot. And I would be surprised if you're honest, is even close to 100% in this series, so that's what's gonna make or break the series to me if Giannis Antetokounmpo is not at least 70% I don't think the Bucs have a chance. Because when Chris Middleton is your best player, that's a tough game to beat. Chris ball, Devin Booker Jae Crowder, DeAndre eight and like it's just not gonna happen if we're gonna talk about Phoenix real quick, X Factor name we all know and love. Jae Crowder, he's the only one on that team that has serious finals experience. He's been there multiple times now and he is actually he's hit some big shots for them and he is a voice for them. So as much as it may hate DK may hate it. Jae Crowder is going to play a big role in this series.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, I mean, it does. It does a few South eggs on both rosters that
Rob Kelly:have Nadir How about Nate? I'm
Rayshawn Buchanan:like are you kidding me? I'll do Neda is one more. Talk about casual names. And when I say each or more it's still in the league. I was like as someone who knows most rosters I was I was shocked I was blown away I said Wow. I said if you stay in the league and my dad is unreal and and Jeff Teague like I'm gonna be sad that for that alone I'm gonna we're gonna get to this at the end. I'm gonna be sick and then walking wins to the fact that Jeff t cost five games and he may have a fucking ring like it makes me sick. I am sick to my stomach that Jeff Teague has a chance even a chance to win a rainbow shout out shout out to Santa said Mr. Craig nothing got to produce the show but sorry Craig. So Craig gets a ring regardless. He gets a ring regardless. Well, I guess I guess it goes hand in hand because Craig wins regardless Craig wins every week on the show but I'm so sorry Craig gets a ring so he played with but walking you play with Phoenix to share so whoever either way he walks away with something what I gotta say I was surprised Joe I was surprised. I thought I'd do to LSU to Joe to pick this guy. I'm going with Pat conditon I think
Joe Malkin:Yeah, glad you dropped his name
Rayshawn Buchanan:to me man. He gets all he gets all the hustle plays you know he's a good shooter from outside like i think you know in this type of series where you know the 5050 bolts are going to matter I think he's someone that's going to be huge right for for Milwaukee Same thing with PJ Tucker right those two guys are going to be huge in the series how they guard Booker. You know how to guard Chris Paul how to switch out you know Brook Lopez to bad things like that common sense. The first guy that comes to mind that I think he's going to be the guy that gets the most minutes off the bench because that's what's been happening naturally. Hey, man, Bobby portis as well, Bobby. portis has been really good as well. And then for Phoenix I mean, I think yeah Jae Crowder for sure but he he's the only one on both teams has meant to the foreigners but I got to go in McHale bridges the car bridges is someone who even cam Johnson right shot us in a Toyota is a little bias with that but yeah, he is the Cobra has really grown in the last few years and says it says getting over there and Phoenix and I think that, you know, he's someone that's going to get a lot of opportunity to, you know, to show what you can do, because someone's attentions gonna be on a and, you know, and Paul, and you know, and the rest of the crew that he's going to be someone that when he has another shot, he's got to knock that down. So if he's someone that's getting three or four threes in the game, you know, that's going to be scary. So, you know, I think he's someone that could serve as x factor. So Bobby, I know you had a point
Rob Kelly:campaign to campaign Yeah. Man, him stepping up in that Western Conference Finals when Paul was out was huge. And it showed that he really has some Carnage not even to mention, the story of campaign coming from the G league coming up through the bubble last year, I think is when he started for the first time and he's been awesome all year campaign will cover in this series too.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Right. But I'll but I'll ask that this wasn't on my thing to ask. But I just come to Tim, it's on my head now. But isn't isn't a serious refreshing point, a point that we're still seeing two teams that have a big man that's going to be effective. And I felt like you know, we're getting away from the error.
Joe Malkin:You're taking a shot at the Celtics right
Rayshawn Buchanan:now. Celtics, whoever, whoever, a small ball, an agent and just Celtics the Warriors, you know, yeah, it's just, it's crazy. So you know, so I'm like, you know, Joe, what are you? What are your thoughts about that? Like, is it cool? Is it cool to see two teams actually have a guy that can go to down low, or a guy that can actually make a 15 foot jumper when they need it? Oh,
Joe Malkin:it was really great to see is the fact that we have two teams that are put together by sure we have superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo right. But then we we have guys that have been role players for most of their career that are now starting and playing in this game. And how many superstars do we have in this game? Right? Like, we can talk about these teams from top to bottom. And we know who these guys are. That's how well these rosters are constructed. I mean, maybe we may not know who Giannis Antetokounmpo his brother is because I don't know if he's played a minute all season. But we we got right but but, but we do know who these guys are. Like we talked about Pat Connaughton, who's had a very good career, the Massachusetts kid Notre Dame product to sport athletes could have gotten to the Major Leagues ended up going to the NBA, and was drafted by Portland originally kind of bounced around and now ended up Milwaukee we're talking about a lot of guys that have bounced around, but have so much experience. And that's what's so exciting to me. And, you know, I mean, but I feel like that's our tone as a group of sports fans is that we almost love that more. But what's really refreshing too, is that not only do I not have to sit here and root for the Celtics, because they're not there. I don't have to sit here and root against somebody like Kyrie Irving, you know, we don't like we don't have to root against or we're having great both teams. We really did.
Rob Kelly:The only basketball player that ever copies well, who's that guy, Kyrie Irving
Rayshawn Buchanan:Weidman.
Joe Malkin:You know what, he makes millions and he's living here rent free. No wonder he's making millions. But you really you can look at these teams up and down and say, this is gonna be a fun series to watch. This is going to be exciting. I have nothing invested. Whichever team wins, Bobby said it in the open, whichever team wins. It's exciting because neither one of these teams have won. And that's what makes it most exciting. So yes, to answer your question, it's great to see two teams that are going to play a little bit of old school basketball, but having big guys that not only big guys that that can play, but big guys that can shoot and especially like a brooklet like Brook Lopez, I keep coming back to it like Brook Lopez is probably going to be pretty big in this series. Like he I think he really is, and especially if Giannis Antetokounmpo is down like so. So we'll see. I'm excited to watch this.
Rob Kelly:He's their only chance to stop it at they literally have no one else downloaded stuff. And I just want
Michael Marcangelo:to ask you a question, right? Because I know that you are the host, but I'm really intrigued by your answer here. Because Joe just said he's not really invested. And I know what he means. Like he's not there's no hometown investment. But as a basketball guy, right? Don't you want Phoenix to win more than you want Milwaukee to? Isn't that the better story? Or is I would ask you like who are you more invested in in this series? Yeah, I
Rayshawn Buchanan:mean, as someone who supported Chris Paul, I think Yeah, no, so Bobby just mentioned Jonas from the back. Yeah, guys. Nothing was gonna play game one. There was no way he was gonna miss game one you ever remember he's a 611 Russell Westbrook like those guys played? They're not gonna they're not gonna shy away of that. At least 80% healthy. No. But that back to your question, Mike. So yeah, I think that, you know, yeah, the better stories haven't been there in 28 years. Obviously. Chris Paul being a year 16 is so sentimental pick, obviously. And you know, I say I mean, overall, I mean, a year Chris Paul has done some stuff that, you know, some players don't like us. To me as the mark is kind of saying no, that's why nobody you know, you know, mess with, shall we guys, like, you know, he said a little more than that, but I'm not gonna say exactly what he said on here. But yeah, he went out his rack. But you know, Chris Paul, why is widely loved by fans and players alike in the NBA. So yeah, it's definitely a better story. I'm Devin Booker. is getting pushed in today young Coby conversation as well. He also was number 13 pick as well, back in 2015. So, you know, that also is something that drives that comparison. And, you know, he plays hard every night as well. And he's not a defender. No, Colby was obviously not too many people work or are I should say, but yeah, so yeah finish for sure who better story but if but if they're looking to say okay the future is now that it makes sense that in the walkie man of getting that championship and then kind of propelling them from there either way is to markets that aren't usually in the championship picture or they're like finished hasn't been to the playoffs since 2010. And they lost in the conference finals to LA who ended up being the eventual champion. So
Rob Kelly:Stottlemyre Nash, right. Yeah.
Rayshawn Buchanan:So yeah, Nash Stottlemyre, you know, and then So, and that's like, you know, Bobby had a Freudian slip earlier. You know, Evans actually was actually the coach on the 2010 team. Right now. It was Monty Williams. But yeah, but yeah, so yeah,
Joe Malkin:so it's all it's all good. Just like Steve Nash to to not get into the finals.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah. Yeah. But at least those teams got to the conference finals. He got he went there three or four times a Phoenix. Oh, no, no, I
Joe Malkin:mean, I mean, the NBA Finals.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Oh, gotcha. Gotcha. Yeah. So I'm just like, man, like, that's, that's crazy. But yeah, but yeah, that's, that's my so on. I mean, I just think that, you know, it's the capote story that way, but I think I'm leaning towards Phoenix, mainly because of where Chris Paul has, you know, what, he's endured what he has to endure. And I'll keep it there, Chris, Paul, and Mike, I'll come right to you. So you know, we had an argument about this a while ago, I think it was me you DK I think Joe might have been on the show. So I'm not sure Right, exactly. Right. You know, but the point guard being the best player on a championship team. I think Robbie kind of touches on already but Mike I can come back to you right now. But you know, what does this do for his legacy? Like what where would you rank him as all time point guard if he's able to, you know, get the job done and winning championship this year? It would
Michael Marcangelo:be hard for me to name three better point guards than him if they win the championship this year. Right? I think Isaiah is a standard and it's I want to say magic but like I just don't think of Magic Johnson as a point guard.
Rayshawn Buchanan:What was he though?
Michael Marcangelo:Everything is everything. Everything he said he was drafted as a point guard sure. But he was the only I think he's only point guard in NBA history that you could put in as five
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, well members besides about besides the bronze but yeah, sure. Right. The bronze a point yeah. Liberals up here. Yeah. Let's say liberals a point though. He's a point guard. They say he's a small four. He's a point guard. But good continue.
Michael Marcangelo:So I think it's I think it's magic. It's Isaiah. And then it's really hard for me to name one other like in the modern era, one point guard that's better than him. I also think though, this finals if they win, it doesn't hurt my argument. The best player on that team is Devin Booker, who lets him be the best or who gives him the best opportunities to be the best. It's Chris Paul. Right? He makes Devin Booker better, you know it. And I think this is exactly what he needs. I actually to Joe's point, like, I'm invested in this. I've always I was always that guy. That was Yeah, Chris Paul, like, right on paper, man, but he just can't win it. And now when you get to this point where that's become the narrative nationally, and you see how like what he's doing on the court and his game Really? People want to see that maybe it's diminished. Not this postseason. Not at all he looks damn good. If he can bring it like he has an Devin Booker stays the same. They are a hard train to stop and a train that out I don't want to be in front of and again. It feels I said this on the show before it's almost like the cagey thing right? But you've been in the league so long you never make the finals then you finally align yourself with a player and with and with a team that rallies behind you to say we're not going to allow him to not get there and to lose and that's
Rayshawn Buchanan:what I think's happened he was the best he was the best player though. He was the best player Paul's my guy right I love kg was our best player. He sacrifices numbers, but kg was our best player that we'll get into that won't be doing away so at some point, but you know, stay tuned for that but yeah, kg was our best player and then you know, so I'm so I get it to
Michael Marcangelo:that point, though. Who's the culture driver and Phoenix? Is it Booker is a Chris Paul, first of all, as well,
Rayshawn Buchanan:my father, Chris Paul, as well. And that's what that's what they were missing last year. Like my job. Ricky Rubio was on the team bro. Ricky Rubio is a hell of a playmaker and Chris Paul, No, he's not. He's not even in the same stratosphere as him. So it matters to have that talent. And when Devin Booker got compromised because he broke his nose last series, Chris Paul was busted, Pat Beverley is asked, which is why he puts them in the back like let you know and made a big move. He was making that man bowed down to him. Like it was terrible. It was terrible. So Chris Paul, to me is the guy you know, so I'll leave it that way to me. He's the reason he is. He's another reason why they got there. And I don't think they get there without me. Ricky Rubio is like getting the scene to the finals. Yeah, this is not happening.
Joe Malkin:Oh, I think that goes well. The overall questions that we started with was you can't win with a point guard. Right? Like, well, I've
Rayshawn Buchanan:been a baby best player. Yeah.
Joe Malkin:Yeah. Is the point guard? Well, I think you know, Mike has said this before regarding other sports too. And I've agreed with him in other places for the most part, like football and Tennessee Titans aren't going to win when Derrick Henry is the best player on the field. But that doesn't mean they can't get on there. So that's where that X factor of Devin Booker plays in and you have these young hungry kids. Sure, you got the Jae Crowder and the Chris Paul's of the world that are on that team that are talented, and you know, Jae Crowder, has finals experience, but then you leave it off to the other guys that are going to score the points. Chris Paul needs to do exactly what you guys just said. And that's drive the culture, be the stingy veteran who's going to get the job done and command the floor and let everybody else do the rest of the work. He's he basically has to delegate and be the manager and be a game manager. And he's gonna be so much more than that. But that's what he has to do. And I think they can win it. The more we talk about this, the more I'm like, Alright, Phoenix, and five, you know, go six or seven. But the more I talk about it, and talk about the suns team, I mean, maybe it would be the same way if we did this about about Milwaukee, but I look at this roster for Phoenix. And I'm like, Nope, that's what Chris Paul needs to do. And they can win when their best player is the point guard. Now, he is their best player. But that doesn't mean he won't he doesn't have to be in the series for them to win, if that makes sense.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, I mean, hopefully that's the case. I mean, we'll see what happened was, we'll get to the prediction soon. But Bobby closes out for this segment.
Rob Kelly:So you know what it really is. It's not the point guard can't be your best player is that your point guard can't be the guy you rely on for your points in your offense every single night. I completely agree with that point that you're not going to win a finals. With your point guard scoring the most of your points, let's match. Well, that's right, completely different. But you can win a finals. With your best Paul fits with your best Paul tuck portfolio with your best player facilitating your offense. And like Chris Paul did in game six to close out the Clippers, go off 42 points. You know what I mean? The fact that he was able to not have a game like that all season, comes down to the Western Conference Finals, game seven, and this dude just goes off. He went ham in that game. Like there was no stopping Chris Paul in that game. So I feel like that's where the borderline is. I love that when Iverson you probably couldn't win a championship with Allen Iverson as your only guy you can was proven right. It's a different it's a different point guard. You know what I mean? It's a whole different mindset to the game is really what it is.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Chris Paul is Isaiah Thomas. He is that that that is he is Isaiah Thomas 2.0 if you want highlights as to what Isaiah Thomas did, and he was a score first guy, but could also get you in analysis. That's Chris Paul. there you're in there in the same competitor, same type of defender like he is Isaiah Thomas 2.0. He just had one you know up to this date so and I think that's what people were so enamored with him when he came out in oh five right came out and wait for anything him anyone know, Jared jack went to Georgia Tech, anyone in the forest. But yeah, he was just someone that, you know, people were going back and forth him to do well, and him and Deron Williams like who would better and I was a DSL guy. First I thought I knew why he was bigger. He was stronger. You know, he was someone that could score a little bit better than Chris Paul at that time. But then, over time, you know, Chris Paul became the guy that was consistently getting there. And now granted, neither one of them you know, won't do well got to the final was really late in his career early on. I don't count that shit with Phoenix. I'll maybe we'll finish up with Cleveland. He was he was a benchwarmer by then. But you know, yeah. So I mean, what we'll see. I mean, I think that it can be someone like you can't win with john Stockton type guy anymore. You know. I'm saying like that's I'm saying but john Stockton coaches or whatever Ricky Rubio was, and that's I mean, that's so disrespectful because he's a Hall of Famer. But it's just like, I mean, like in today's game, he would be more what Rubio was than what Chris Paul was, so to speak. So
Rob Kelly:you're like Stockton was more Rondo, right? stock
Rayshawn Buchanan:jump shot, Rosana, whatever, it's not so good. Yeah. Yeah. So we're gonna shoot, but I want to switch gears a little bit. I think you guys may know where I'm going with this because this wasn't on the script. But I just thought about what has happened the last couple of days with ESPN is relevant because they're there. They're there. They're in the final they're covering the finals. So you know, we you know, we all run away from stuff here. I'm missing a point. And so you know, Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor have had you know, a bit of an issue because Rachel Nichols came out and when I became out, it was a recording kind of like Donald Sterling was back in the day with the Clippers back in 2014. Russia knickers just you know, alluded to how you know, and showed order. Hey, you know, I'm cool. We're getting, you know, encore Maria Taylor getting signed up with Sony's just as long as you don't take away from me and it's caused an outrage almost to the point that you know, ESPN has removed Rachel Nichols from covering the finals and Melissa Angeles has taken over for so you know, Mike, I'll start with you. But what are your thoughts about this situation? And the question I want to ask is the other question I want to ask is, was Rachel Nichols justified in that statement that she made and Maria Taylor.
Michael Marcangelo:Okay, so this is really tough, right? Because this is kind of walking the line of everything. I do think that I'm a very, very big proponent of your right to privacy, and the things that you say, at your in your own house. That's like, whatever, like you, I don't have to agree with them. But that doesn't, that shouldn't be the thing that gets you fired. This wasn't at our house, right? This was at a place of work. So you have to be you have to be respectful of those around you. I do think the difference though, is Donald Sterling and every other white man that has said these things hasn't had to fight the way that rate than any woman, any woman, regardless of their race has had to fight. Right. So I think that if I have to dissect the psychology behind this, which I'm not a psychology major Oh, and I'm a guy so I'm the least qualified person to do this. I think like yeah, I think all but I think all the females that have worked their ass off that have worked their asses off and have been told that every single turn that they're not good at that they're not good enough at any guy can walk in and do better. They should have that chip on their shoulder, right? Like Yeah, like you can get yours but don't take mine. I think that's a natural sentiment. However you just you just can't say that. You can't You can't and you can't say it now
Rob Kelly:you can't on company dime to like you said
Rayshawn Buchanan:again. Again,
Michael Marcangelo:I think my tune be a little bit different if this is a conversation between her and someone that she you know, that she was that she was romantically involved with and that was a scorned lover or whatever and then released this shit that's different than you just at work at your profession, you need to be professional. The things that she said were not professional and they weren't really I really want to know your opinion on this too. But when I was reading it I my initial sentiment was like you can't say that it's gonna go really bad but on a on an emotional level of for settling again for for for women, because women in the workplace don't get treated the way that they should. I get it now, but you can't say that about a woman in the workplace. It's also minority because they're working just as hard if not harder than you have the new fad to.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Craig you know, we you know, we have heard much or anything from you so far. But my thing just isn't the point in time, but you know, bring you in on this, too, as well. Fellas, big fellas are going to chime in and say please.
Michael Marcangelo:Well, I just like to bring clarity to situations I like to make sure that everyone knows the whole background situation. So this is happened. This happened last year during the during the beginning of the pandemic where everyone's starting to do their own remote broadcasts. And they get ESPN gave Rachel Nichols some broadcasting equipment and she set it up in a hotel room or something, or something like that, wherever she was, she was broadcasting from remote remote location as we've all done for the last year. So she didn't know how to turn the equipment off properly. And she called the Bron James his agent to try and set up an interview between her and LeBron and Anthony Davis. And so she didn't know that she didn't turn the equipment off. And she was asking the agent for career advice. And all this stuff. Just basically got hot might. That's what it was.
Joe Malkin:So for that reason. That's why a lot of times that's why we were taught as communications majors, right to be sure of a microphone. And the story I always like to tell is with as Mike mutes his microphone, good job, Mike probably had to fart as correct, as Craig and I have talked about before is a person who will remain unnamed dropped an F bomb on the radio in the middle of a postgame interview during a basketball game at our college. And I texted Craig immediately and said, Did you catch that? I don't think Craig caught it. And I don't think anyone else caught it. And it was because it was in the heat of the moment after a game winning shot. It happens it happens. This is how I'm going to preface this. It happens and people say things. I'm going to also say what Mike said is you can't say that. Now if the mic wasn't hot, and she did say that this is the part to me to get sticky re not that it was okay that it was said. But was she wrong? like to just kind of take Mike's part and go forward? is why she wrong? And then there's so much to unpack here. Because as much as I would love to work for an organization like ESPN, so I don't want to say something that would ever diminish that like Rachel Nichols here, right. But ESPN has had a history of having issues with female broadcasters and with race issues it whether it's male or female, and that's kind of public that's kind of new So, to me a lot of what ESPN is doing, they're taking Rachel Nichols out of this, regardless of who it was, whether it was Mike, the white male, or whether it's Rachel Nichols, the white female or rayshawn. Buchanan, the black male. The fact is, is that it was said, an ESPN has to do something to save face. And that's what they're doing. They're doing something to save face. Now, what she said is very interesting, because when she talked about it, she was like, well, she doesn't have as much as experiences means basically, what the premise of the whole thing was, is that she doesn't have as much experience as me. She was talking about a black female coworker. But she said that she doesn't have as much experience as me, which is not false. That is a true statement. However, however, Rachel Nichols does have to understand, like Mike said that this woman has pushed hard to get where she is, she has worked her butt off, and she's very good at what she does, females in sports broadcasting have come so far. The point is here is that there's so much to unpack, right, because Rachel Nichols said something that was caught on a hot mic that came out a year ago, or that was recorded a year ago, and now has come up. And now ESPN is doing exactly what she didn't want them to do, which was take her off the NBA Finals. But now it's because of something she said about them possibly taking her off of the NBA Finals. It just is speaking of a psychology major Michael, that was my bachelor's degree. And there's just so this whole story is just so interesting, because you do have to walk around and we know that Ray won't walk around it, he won't dance when we get there after Bobby. But, Ray, I'm going to be honest with you, I really don't have a problem with what Rachel Nichols said, I do have a problem with how ESPN is handling the issue. I don't think that either I think that both of these women are qualified and good at their job enough to say enough loosely, like they're good enough at their job to both be in that spot. I don't blame Rachel Nichols for being like, Hey, I don't want it to be taken away. She was emotional at the time. She was clearly emotional, not like crying, emotional, but she was upset. She was frustrated that they were going to take something away from her. And she had that conversation with somebody and like, yeah, you're right. But you know, when are we allowed to say how we feel and say what we want in our lives.
Michael Marcangelo:While you're showering do when there's no microphone around you. That's
Joe Malkin:well, while I'm showering. And there's nobody in there, you know, like, I mean, you got to talk to people. I mean, that's the whole premise of this mental health thing now is that you got to talk to somebody. And I'm not saying that that's what the issue was with her. But she's talking to somebody she's having a conversation, hot mic or not. She's saying how she feels. And I think it's less, I think, because of the time that it's come out with everything going on in the world. Which that's what, that's what is amplifying the sound of her voice for better or worse. I don't want to say justified in her words, but she believed her words, and I don't think it was. I personally don't think it was racially charged, says the white guy. The hot
Rob Kelly:mic part is I feel like that is one of the most deadening things to it is the fact that Listen, this is work setup equipment, you were near it. And you must have recently been on some sort of work call or something like that. That's something you need to make sure especially in that profession. Listen, you guys know if we ever say something, we're like, Alright, let's make sure that doesn't make the light of day. You know what I mean? So like, I know, she may not have known, but I feel like that's one of the biggest, I don't think it's the fact that she was upset. That is the problem. It's the way that when she went about it, you know what I mean? Like, it wasn't just like, oh, they're taking this with me, I work so hard. How could they do this? To me? It was it went into that racial category. She brought us there is the problem. It's not that she was upset about her work. She brought it to that place saying like, Listen, ESPN already has a history of this they're trying to do. It is true. But she brought the conversation there. If she kept it toward her career, and what she was doing, none of this would be an issue.
Joe Malkin:But the robot that to robot that she works for a company who historically has those issues is that rhetorical question in a few ways, because none of us work for ESPN, and we don't know the minds of everyone else. But is that not necessarily what happened is what she said not necessarily what happened?
Michael Marcangelo:I think her direct quote was, you know, quite a few need to give her more things to do because you are feeling bad. You're feeling pressure about your crappy long term record on diversity, which by the way, I know personally from the female side of it, go for it. Well,
Rob Kelly:the thing is when you start putting other people down, that's when people will have an issue for about it. You know what I mean? Like you can bitch about yourself and your current position on what you're doing all damn day. But when you start being like, you know what they don't do deserve this.
Joe Malkin:She didn't say she didn't deserve
Rob Kelly:it or lose. She kind of did. She said that they're forcing the issue.
Joe Malkin:Hey, Mike, finish that quote.
Michael Marcangelo:Yeah, she said, just find it somewhere else. You're not gonna find it from me or taking my thing away.
Joe Malkin:Don't take my shit away when I worked hard to get there. What you're only hang on, you're taking it away. Now. Now this is where I'm gonna I'm gonna step that boundary. So don't hate me. Because I'm just assisting the conversation here. Your mics on dude, just remember that Oh, shoot, let
Rob Kelly:me turn it down. hotline member hotline is not
Joe Malkin:wrong. Don't take it away from me. Just because you feel pressure to right your wrongs doesn't mean that it needs to be taken away from me. It doesn't mean it needs to be taken away from anybody. Imagine, imagine if the script was flipped. And this was and it was the other way around? What conversation will we be having? Probably not at all, honestly. But the fact is here is that Rachel Nichols says, I mean, she's a household name. Everyone that knows anything about NBA TV coverage knows who Rachel Nichols is. She has busted her ass to get to where she is. And I don't think it mattered who the person was. This is another thing we're not taking into consideration here is that it didn't matter who it was. It's the fact that the situation is happening. So it could have been it could have been Aaron Andrews, I mean, not a great example, because Erin Andrews is also phenomenal at what she does on the baseball side of things. But if she had said that about Erin Andrews, now, we're still not having a conversation because this video never would have been released. Because we're not, that's not the times we're in. Right now. We're in a time where black people are fighting for more of a voice because they deserve it. Because they're human beings. But if she had said it about Aaron Andrews, we're not even having this conversation. But then would we be having the conversation of Whoa, she's saying this about another woman? You can't say that? No, because at the same time, like, if I'm doing a job, and then all of a sudden, my boss goes and says, Well, I'm going to have them do this job. And it doesn't matter what the reason is, I can take it anywhere I want. Because they may have hit my company, which is company XYZ, no, no, no names dropped here. But they may have a history and then I see a pattern as to why they're putting this person in that position. So if she i don't i really i don't think she's, I really don't think she should be she should be held accountable. I don't think she should be punished as harshly.
Rob Kelly:One last point, before we let the person go whose opinion actually matters on all this, I really feel like the person that is who the blame can fall on and who should have handled it so much better. And no matter what the blank can be pointed towards is ESPN, the way they handle this was just absolutely,
Joe Malkin:they have a history of handling these situations. But what like, Listen,
Rob Kelly:you guys, they had, to me a homerun on a tee in this situation set out for their PR department, like all they do is be like, Listen, guys, it doesn't matter. Both these girls have struggled through this, both these girls have done this. They're both, you know what I mean? Like they could have push these two to the top. Instead, they push Rachel Nichols down, and like, suspend her and make it like a thing and an issue. Rather than being like, no, this isn't an issue. These are both two great broadcasters who are also females, you know, like they could have push that to the front and made that the story instead. It was just it's a nightmare,
Michael Marcangelo:the thing to do. And I have the honor that I bestowed upon myself to kick this to write, but in my opinion, the thing to do for ESPN, where it would have been the comments made by Rachel Nichols, no way do we support her endorse, but she made them because of the culture that we created. So what we're going to do is put them both on it, they're both going to be on this and then we're also going to make sure that they have they have an interview that they that they talk to each other they need to if they want to if they don't want to whatever, but you to your point, Bobby, you had a chance to take the situation. And instead of putting it all on Rachel, but she deserves some blame for it. Right? I'm not saying she doesn't. You say she made those comments because of the culture that she was that she came up in. Oh, and by the way, that's the culture that we created. And we're going to change that. And the way that you change it is you elevate both. You don't pit one against the other regardless of anything, because that's all we're gonna keep doing in society. But right, so what were your thoughts on this? Oh, thanks. Thanks for asking,
Rayshawn Buchanan:buddy. So I think Joe's gonna be I don't know Joe's gonna be happy about my answer, or Joe's gonna be pissed off. But you know, it may not be why we're here having
Joe Malkin:the conversation.
Rayshawn Buchanan:It may not be the first time it won't. Last time, right. Let me go to my actual experience. So obviously, everyone knows I've listened to the show that you know, I'm a teacher, you know, one of one of my famous quotes from the show when I say classes in session like that's, you know, I'm an educator, I'm going in and say you're a tennis educator. And my principal I know it's crazy. Right, if my principal has said, Hey, you know, we're giving some, like, okay, I teach algebra right? and comfortable with algebra. But you say I have a new teacher came in and they were like, Well, hey, you know, we're going to give the sections to this teacher in the morning. And we're going to, we're going to load your classes up in the afternoon. And, you know, gave you less planning time. Once I've been here for 10 years, you know, you're going to acquiesce to someone that's new. Oh, yeah, I'm going off. So that should go off. It sounds something like Well, let me just let me see if I can be politically correct. When you did not know something was being taped. And I heard I thought was a production assistant. That's what I thought it was. I was a production assistant that that got dumb. It was like, wow, I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna say somebody. It's like, really? Why was it released?
Joe Malkin:That's what I want to know. Oh, you
Rayshawn Buchanan:know why it was released? That's right. That's a good story, but you don't really good. Listen, Maria. Maria Taylor is currently in a contract dispute. So it makes her look good, too. It makes it look good. Sorry. Yes. I'm the black guy on the show. Oh, besides maybe baby and make you look good. That's the gadget that
Joe Malkin:I was for. Is that right?
Rayshawn Buchanan:And that that's the possible. But once again, also Maria and once again that this is just a song talking, baby, they give you $5 million. Let's say $5 million, baby, I leave everything I do for $5 million. So I don't understand it. But once again, that's just something I had to get out. I listen to you feel like you're worth more than that. I get that sweetheart, but maybe $5 million that we could bring out the rest afterwards. But that's just how I see it anyways, ratio, they proved Rachel Nichols. Right. By doing this. They proved the right that's that's exactly what happened to say, Hey, you know, we can't look bad in a public record opinion, according to you know, so we have to do this. We have to do we have to do this in order to say fix it as Joe mentioned. So that's exactly what happened. And I said, Listen, Maria, tell is awesome. She's on college football. She's on NBA countdown. She's great. She's awesome. She's
Rob Kelly:not even just the females. They have a history of doing this. They're all they're famous personalities when it comes to their brand or how their public perception looks versus Damn it. They're gonna they're gonna go against that person every time.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Robin Roberts, Robin Roberts is one of the if not the, their best hurt. hanstone by far their best. Well, I will say by far, but two of the best female anchors of all time, right
Joe Malkin:on two of their best anchors of all time.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, she was anchors, period, regardless of gender. Right? So I mean, listen, they went through this stuff with Jamil Hill, they went to suffer carry champion like this. This is not just with Maria Taylor, right. And so Jamil Hill and Carrie champion moved on, stage still stood up and say still, as I met her personally, I know some other people, she may be on our way out, too. It's not just the Maria Taylor thing. It's the ESPN thing, as we all have mentioned, and regardless of what the what Hi, my mic was on, she didn't know that material. Honestly, That, to me, that part's irrelevant, because to me, it should have been leaked. Like, you have to know you have to I mean, you have to know, I mean, somebody should have said or should have been with her say, Hey, you know this part, you need to turn this off or whatever. But that that doesn't even mean it shouldn't have been leaked at all. This is not something that she said the N word. She caught her badge. She said she was a monkey. She said none of that. She just say Yo, I'm on sorry. Hey, you know, you're not gonna run from this. I'm sorry. But I'm I hate to say any of that. And I'm the only one I can say that. She didn't she didn't say any of that. So it's like, yo, like, if that was not what was said, What is the issue? What is the issue with her saying that Yo, I put into work? I put it away once again, as a teacher, I'm going to hear it and I'd be damned. They say something to me next year is horrible. Well, hey, I know you did X, Y and Z but you want me to shake but maybe I was wrong. I want now focus. I focus on NTP and the other show I do I focus on that shit. I don't that's not working. I'm sorry. So listen, Maria telega coins. Do keep doing your job. You're doing great. Rachel Nicole, you're doing awesome as well. You're doing what you do. But ESPN once again, but Bobby's hit the nail on the head. You had you had a home run. You had a home one set, so keep them both on a pedestal so to speak. You know, I can't think of a better word. We had to choose to put them on a pedestal. And once again, you chose to perpetuate the same thing that Rachel will say Rachel Taylor. Yeah, that mixed together. Right. Well, that'll do it for this show. Right? Sorry. Sorry, y'all love y'all. But no, um, yeah, this this look, man, look, listen, for those that Gosh, that's it about what Rachel said, Listen, get out your feelings. What she said was wrong. Once again. If someone came to your job and say, yo, we're gonna do XYZ, do you ever know you've been there? Yo. So being your felons to get over it. It's okay. She called out her name. She didn't say that. She just said it's a derogatory, it's okay. We can hug it out. We could talk it out. We can go see a psychologist about the shape. It is Oh, Kay. I'm telling Mr. B's telling you that it's okay.
Joe Malkin:We should be able to talk about people as equals regardless of their gender. Or their race like that. That's the point we have to get to like Rachel Nichols didn't say anything wrong. Like what you said she didn't say anything wrong. Everything she said was a fact that ESPN has a problem. And they have a history of this problem. And like you just said, and we're gonna go around in circles here, but we have to drive this home, that you just said it right? They proved it once again, that they're going to drag the name of somebody through the mud. And who knows what's gonna happen to Rachel Nichols? Because, but this isn't even that big of a deal. Like this really is not that big of a deal. because
Rayshawn Buchanan:like you said, right, and cancer, culture, society, it is.
Joe Malkin:Right, you posted earlier today, on Facebook, that we need to stop using the word normalize. We need to stop guessing political correctness and canceled culture and all this bullshit, and we need to just talk. And we need to have conversations with people, because we preach because what I'm hearing is that Rachel Nichols got pissed about a decision that her company was making behind her back. She had a conversation with somebody she confided in, not knowing the microphone was on somebody came across that the week before the week of the NBA Finals that she was supposed to cover so that they could put this other person against CLM. taking everything out of it, just taking everything out of it doesn't matter. We
Rayshawn Buchanan:hold on. Before you ask the question. I got one more thing to add. Right. So on Twitter, there's a new thing called spaces. Right. So spaces basically, it's like another thing called like clubhouse, but it's for Twitter, right? And Sinatra, Kendrick Perkins because sir, Kenji Perkins, you are better than me. And you are better than me, sir. Because so last night, they get on this thing called spaces, some loud mouth girl. Sorry, once again, I know that you could cut out we cut that part out. But she was loud. She was being ridiculous. I'm noxious was going at Kendrick Perkins rock. And I'm like, yo, sweetheart, he got he got I was playing with it. See what was going on? Because she felt well, oh, you was a girl. And I wanted to get I have to be careful because I'm gonna say some things I shouldn't be saying. It's all I'm gonna show. But basically, she was getting on catching Perkins for basically for co signing but that's the best I could say what I was saying and something I'm not supposed to say she was co signing. Sorry, political correctness. Oh, sorry. But I have to put I want to say on the show, but she actually she was she got not a pen. Just kidding Fergus for co signing. And Richard Jefferson for co signing the apology that I put in quotations that she gave because once again, that was company lines. She was she she said what she said, ratio. Ridiculous, baby. You said what you said is okay. We know what you really feel. Okay. We know they cost you what? They said they talked to you. I said, Hey, by public relations, hey, you know, we got to save pace. You know, can I might listen you ain't you ain't Sorry about that. You know, sorry, but that's okay. But I just had to make I had to get it on wax. I had to get it on air because I didn't know how to grow. That girl came back Catherine Parker and last night, one of my coaching programs and I have to be up at night talking to you on live about that. Because girl You ain't you ain't nobody because you got a basketball podcast. Okay, that's sweet. Girl. We got one too. And it's better to show that doesn't make any any sense. I thought about that.
Joe Malkin:One other thing real quick, Mike, is that we need to get away from that to where everybody feels entitled about getting an explanation from everybody about everything, they fucking creed. And so God does all this stuff that we do in our lives, like, yeah, we get it. There are things we shouldn't say. There are things we shouldn't do. We shouldn't murder somebody just as much as we shouldn't say the N word. Like it's very, there's very clear lines. But when people start interpreting things, and this goes beyond sports, but it's so prevalent in sports, and what we do and what I do for a living what all of us do for a living, really, I mean, Mike's on calls all the time Bobby's on calls all the time Ray works with the public. I work with the public and sodas Craig and we Dave is out in LA being a movie star. So he does as well. But the point is that like we see this, but all of these things need to just stop. We need to be able to talk to people without everybody getting offended or hurt every five seconds and needing to run to Twitter or Facebook to drag somebody through the mud. We need to stop calling for people's jobs because of things that they say that they think is private, like Rachel Nichols didn't know that was recorded. That's half the problem I have here is admit that go to Mike. And what he said at the beginning of people are entitled to their privacy, but now ESPN is gonna come out and do this. Like ESPN should be held accountable for everything. They just did that anything that happens to Rachel Nichols, ESPN should be held personally accountable.
Michael Marcangelo:So like my one disclaimer is like you have the right to your privacy as long as you are trying to hurt incite. Absolutely.
Joe Malkin:That's fine. As long as you're not trying to incite insurrections, you can do whatever the hell you
Rob Kelly:want if you're trying to incite directions.
Unknown:Well, that's
Michael Marcangelo:one question though. I think it's pretty cool that we talked about it, but my fear here is that there's no winner, right is that let's say that it's always about there being a winner. Yeah, no, no, but I i do think that we have a real chance of both of these individuals careers being ruined. Cuz What if it comes out that someone from retailers can't leak this? without her knowledge, so it doesn't like what I'm sharing scandal, baby, I like shit. What if she had nothing to do with it but someone who knows that she's in a contract negotiation, several of this will help that ruins So Rachel Nichols career might be ruined. Maria Taylor's career might be ruined because someone did something that they thought was going
Joe Malkin:to help. Mike that tells me even more than it was the four letter network because then they can just wipe their hands and they lose two salaries.
Rayshawn Buchanan:That's the case sign off. sign off for the money, Maria.
Joe Malkin:If you know Maria, talk to her, we want her Oh, and Rachel. Hey, listen,
Rayshawn Buchanan:let's say coming together.
Joe Malkin:Bobby, we could do that. Because this was nothing personal between Taylor and Rachel Nichols. Yes, this is an ESPN problem. This is an ESPN problem. Rachel that is had no problem has no problem with Maria Taylor. And she said it because one thing that I passed over before. And I have to kind of go back to this real quick, because along with this, and Mike started reading the quote, The don't take it away from me part which is very true. But then she says she doesn't have as much experience as me which is is a valid point by Rachel Nichols. But she goes on to give Maria Taylor's resume. She goes on to give Maria Taylor's resume, which is an impressive resume and she says she does a good job. She says it right there. Like she is nothing but nice and cordial.
Rayshawn Buchanan:But it wasn't needed, though. It wasn't needed. I agree with you like she did that. But she did it cuz she felt she felt bad. And once again, Rachel but she didn't
Joe Malkin:know she was being recorded. So what did she have bad? Well,
Rayshawn Buchanan:no, it all I'm saying but she said what she said though, like stand your ground like it's cool. I guess. That's all I'm saying.
Joe Malkin:Like he was in his room. But her Brown was it. She was standing her apologize. But But she was never standing her ground against Maria Taylor. That's my point. She had to stand she was standing her ground against ESPN, because that's who she needs to stand her ground against. Because her and Maria Taylor. This is like the cold war where the US has this conflict with Russia. But in a lot of ways the conflict is actually in Cuba, which Cuba is ESPN and Russia and the United States is Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor, the real problem is Cuba, not the other. Because Yeah, Castro Yes. The Enya Castro. Castro,
Michael Marcangelo:I will read before you go, because this is going to add to your point. I just know it. Because your original point was like you can't say that. And I think the damning part of the recording that again, that was leaked. That is it is really damning. Right? Like she's talking to someone who said, You know, I don't know, I'm exhausted between me too. And Black Lives Matter. I got nothing left. And Rachel Nichols laughed. Like, that's why this is all being tied together, which right or wrong, you can't have that happen. You just you can't laugh number one. Number two, it's just a really, it's just a really shitty situation.
Rob Kelly:Once it goes down that path, it's really hard to dig it back out. Before it before that goes before that goes before that goes. So what I think would be the some, like you said, there could there might come a situation we're not aware, the best boss move, I don't know if it'll happen. But it would be such boss status to see Rachel Nichols and Ray Taylor, Maria Taylor come out together with a joint statement just being like, Listen, we support each other. We support everything that women have got had to go through, we support African American rights, we support equal rights for everybody, regardless of race, gender, and you know what we're gonna do, we're gonna start our own fucking podcast and our own network, and we're gonna go ahead and do our own thing. And I was like, it'll ever happen. But like, that would just be such a boss move and something that a lot of people have done at ESPN before because people I trust says ESPN has put people in this situation so many times. And you know what, most of those people have gone and done, become, I don't wanna say as successful as ESPN, but have become bigger voices than ESPN could ever dream of.
Rayshawn Buchanan:So So no, but so your mental health got a question for Bobby? Yeah, I'm asked this question and then we're gonna we're gonna close with the finance predictions and be done. So remember, at Graham we none of us were alive in this happen. And we were we were we were all babies. But remember, during the 80s semifinals and showing the show they showed us on the 30 foot 30 for the Lakers and Celtics and, you know, basically as Thomas had a recording saying, Hey, you know if you know Rodman said either one of them who said it was like, oh, if someone's soul was black, he would just be another player. And yeah, like yeah, labor right. So yeah, so make basically making that statement. And then they had Isaiah Thomas and Les Brown make a joint statement in the finals. where you're supposed to worry about who's playing game four was gonna win the game for and they made him do a joint statement like was that was that considered powerful in your mind? Do you think that was powerful, or that was just like, this is a joke that we shouldn't be talking about this shit during a time where we're focusing on basketball, and Larry Bird was already home. I mean, I just I was already hold my
Rob Kelly:breath. That's exactly what I mean. That's the NBA showing that they were ahead of the times ahead of the time. Yeah, absolutely. To show to people who are supposed to be on opposing sides come together in unify for the public and actually mean it. And to show that they mean it is very powerful thing. You know what I mean? It can bring so many people base their opinions off the talking heads opinions, and what people say that when you bring those two opposing sides, you automatically unite a lot of people, I would just say that unify unification doesn't draw money, though. In this day and age, we need to pit ourselves against each other,
Joe Malkin:which is another reason why I'm so convinced this as ESPN is doing, because why not make themselves look like Switzerland here and pit to other countries against each other. You know, like, it just it's just such a, it's such an interesting thing. And so much can be taken out of context. We see it in our discord chat, we see it on Twitter, we see it in text messages every day, whether it's with our family or friends, things are taken out of context, and you don't get the full snippet. And it's interesting, because during that time, right, was magic wrong. You know, I like it. I really have to, I really feel like I need to say those things.
Rob Kelly:Whoever said that about larry bird was
Rayshawn Buchanan:it wasn't magic. It was. It was Isaiah Thomas. Magic guy.
Rob Kelly:Whoever said that. Magic. Yeah, sorry. Yeah.
Joe Malkin:But what you know, and it's like, what is taken out of context, we know what is right and what is wrong, there is a gray area, and it but we need to be able to have the public, the court of public opinion, but not have to explain ourselves every single time we say something. And if it's wrong, and blatantly wrong, we all know that we're adults, my three year old knows the difference between right and wrong. And he knows when to toe the line as well. But he knows the difference between right and wrong. He knows what he is and isn't supposed to do. And then and it is hot. But sometimes people are taught to do wrong. And I don't think that was Rachel Nichols. I really don't I don't think there was a lot of I don't think there was ill intent towards Maria Taylor,
Rayshawn Buchanan:or, or anybody else. So no, that's a good way to close it. So let's get to something that we can get either right or wrong. And that that's we're going to close it out with a prediction. So Mike, I'll come to you who do you have in this in your series? And why was the Finals MVP as well.
Michael Marcangelo:So I have I had the sun's winning the series. Now if the sun's win game one, I think that I think this is over in five. I'll hedge my bets and say suns in six. And I think that the Finals MVP is gonna be Chris Paul. Bobby,
Rob Kelly:I'm gonna go suns in five. I don't think the Bucs have enough firepower. Especially with a beat up Giannis Antetokounmpo already eaten Paul Booker. And the role players are already it's too much for Milwaukee to handle. He took a beat up nets team for them to get here. I just don't think they can do it unless injuries happen sons of five,
Rayshawn Buchanan:and then a Joe
Joe Malkin:sons in six. And unless Devin Booker goes off in this series, it's gonna be Chris Paul is MVP. I think that they're gonna, everyone's gonna kind of see that. And you know, Devin Booker, if they can keep this team together for the most part, which Chris Paul is the oldest guy on this team and by experience by six years, because the second highest experience guy on the team is Jae Crowder with nine years of experience. So just six to seven years of experience there, Chris Paul has, so I think it's gonna be sons and six. And again, if Devin Booker goes off, it's Devin Booker. But if Chris Paul just plays his game, it's Chris Paul.
Michael Marcangelo:Two questions, obviously, the one that you posed to us, I want you to answer that. But also, if Chris Paul wins the championship and wins MVP, does he hang up?
Rayshawn Buchanan:No, no, you know what? We're for 40 million. So no, no, you guys 936. Nobody wanted Craig's prediction. So So Craig, what do you have? Oh, frickin No. So
Michael Marcangelo:I muted himself to say that Yeah, no, I
Rayshawn Buchanan:love it. That's why you're I don't know. No, he
Joe Malkin:has the Canadian seven.
Rayshawn Buchanan:That's a perfect answer that that should be the quote in the video. But no, I got finished something as well. So what that really means is that Milwaukee is going to be the rock champions, because we're all in Phoenix. Oh, so you know, so congratulations, Milwaukee. You want to be the world champion? Because we're all gonna one of us is gonna be we're all gonna be wrong. You know, hold on, mate. Maybe Dave would have been walking.
Rob Kelly:downtown Milwaukee a one by tomorrow.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Right? Exactly. Right.
Joe Malkin:Greg can fix it in post. So in in a week and a half. When Whichever team wins. He can go I don't freak him out. The sun's in. Right. Exactly. Right.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Exactly. Exactly. So yeah, so no, that's good. Alex, I got up I got Chris Paul winning the MVP for the finals as well. So that will end it on that. So for the Row became Bob Kelly. Money Mike Martin Angelo, Broadway Joe and ep Craig D'Alessandro. I'm your host, Sean Buchanan. This has been another episode of missing the point and we'll see you next time. Peace.