Rich Paul: But it was clear right away that that was the worst matchup for them for a number of reasons: size, athleticism, youth, just depth. And you know, it’s tough to beat a team like that where, outside of Mike Conley, they’re athletic, they’re long in terms of wingspan, they’re fast—quick dog, you know? And then having someone like Ant who can give you 40. And I also think Ant had a great showing of leadership, just in terms of not really having the best night last night but didn’t necessarily get out of character—made the right pass when necessary. And so, that Minnesota team was in the Western Conference Finals last year. I think people put so much into the regular season and how that goes. But that was no surprise to me.

Rich Paul: And so, it’s no surprise to me. I really didn’t—and I said this on the show as well—I just really didn’t think that the roster for the Lakers was anywhere close to a championship-type roster, you know? And that’s not making excuses. It’s just a fact. And it’s very hard to build a team for today and tomorrow. You know, it’s like anything else—you know, you’ve got to have—the cupboard can’t be bare. You’ve got to have assets. You’ve got to have cap flexibility. You’ve got to have draft capital.

Rich Paul: But I say all that to say—it’s not on the players. Those guys can go out and score 30 and 40 and 50—they can do all that. But it’s going to—it’s a race of the front offices, right? Who’s going to make the proper moves to put the proper talent around for each one of those guys to be successful? You can say what you want about anybody. When it was the Detroit Pistons and they were winning back when Isaiah was playing—they drafted Dumars. They went and got Aguirre. They had got Rodman and Rick Mahorn. You know, like when it was the Lakers—they got Worthy and Magic and Kareem, you know, and winning Michael Cooper and Byron Scott. It’s—as much as you want to lean on how great an individual was and/or is—you also have to factor in the decision makers to help place the proper pieces around them that allows them to be great in those moments as well. And we get confused. Take Tim Duncan—attempt. No offense to any franchise—but he was drafted to the Spurs. David Robinson was already there. When they took Tony Parker, people didn’t know who Tony Parker was. When they took Manu in the second round, people looking around like, ‘What’s…?’ But again, Tim Duncan wasn’t making those picks or those decisions at all.

Byron Scott, Draft, Michael Cooper, Rich Paul, Rick Mahorn, Uncategorized

Byron Scott, Draft, Michael Cooper, Rich Paul, Rick Mahorn, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs

Doug Christie: I’ve never tried to get a job since I’ve been in Sacramento. It’s just kind of been the path that has been laid before me. And I try—whatever is put in front of me, I try to do it with a passion and a love and a respect for whatever that discipline is, whether it was radio, whether it was TV, whatever it was. And for me, I—you know, there were 51 games. I put my heart and soul into it. And then, at that point, you let it be what it’s going to be. And like—did I want the job? Yeah, of course. There’s only 30 of them. And this one is a beautiful jewel. And I love the people. I love the organization. So for me, it was—you just kind of do your work, and then from there, it’s out of your hands. Control what you can control.”

NBA legend Paul Pierce echoed that sentiment, saying Antetokounmpo should start looking for his next chapter, especially with Damian Lillard’s Achilles injury likely sidelining him for much of next season, and the Bucks lacking the assets to improve the roster. “He needs some fresh air, for sure,” Pierce said on the latest Ticket & The Truth podcast. “It’s gotta be a conversation like, ‘Look, I gave my all to the Milwaukee organization. I appreciate what you have done to grow my career, but I think we have to have a mutual agreement to let me see what else is out there for me.’ “Even though he got like 2 years left on his deal, I think it should be a mutual thing to honor him and allow him to seek a place where he can go, elevate back his status of being the best player in the world or challenging for a chip because he’s too good to ride away over there at this point in his career,” Pierce continued. “He’s still in his prime. Giannis is 30, so he’s got 6-7 more good years,” he went on to say. “It’s gotta be some difficult conversations between him and the owner. This marriage is over.”