Latest / Altitude Problems / 2026 Episode #9: Recap on USA win, NBA Blockbuster Trades and more!
Transcript
- Altitude Problems: Welcome in guys, this is Altitude Problems episode nine. We've got a very special guest today, Ian. How we doing tonight, man? Doing good, dude. How you doing good? Yeah, I just Yeah, that's our first in real in real life podcast, guys. So a little different than what you normally see. But you know, you're probably gonna see a little bit more of this. We've taken a lot of steps to make this happen and I'm excited for what the pop shut the fuck up. but yeah, let's get right into it. partner PB, let me let me know what you got for some racing. Yeah, you know, we have another big week of racing with F1 this week. we saw George Russell take the Austrian Grand Prix. it was kind of Kind a letdown if you're a Ferrari fan. you know, obviously Lewis Hamilton coming off a big win the race prior, we were we had high hopes, but Ferrari seemed to kind of blow the race with the strategy that they had, you know, my dad and I were watching and at some point Lewis was on the podium, he was in top three places, and then they had him switch to soft tires to supposedly gain some places, and then ended up kind of just losing his position, falling behind, and eventually didn't even get a podium and so We did end up seeing Verstappen get his best finish of the year. He got second place with Kimmy literally finishing point like two seconds behind him right at the end of the race. Pretty crazy finish to the race. It was a pretty exciting one to watch. but now we'll just go ahead and move into some World Cup. especially since we just saw USA win their first elimination round since two thousand two. Knocked down Bosnia. What did you guys think about our game? Yeah, I'll let I'll let Ian take this one 'cause it's more you know, football or soccer. Football. Fuck I I thought I thought it was pretty good, man. I I was I was really excited how the guys came out bro. They came out quick and but they they that off sides by Balogun bro that fucking kinda blue ball me had that first goal and or I had it for two goals so that would have been nice if I could have got that one up early. And then but then he did end up going in the score, and so I thought that was pretty cool. Yeah. But a lot of adversity we faced in the second half too, you know, with him going getting the red card kind of early in the second half. They played essentially thirty-five minutes with without him. Yeah. And they and they scored without him as well. So, you know, you some positive things to see with the US. Not gonna go up against Belgium on Monday next week. But at the same time, you know, they're gonna be without one of their best strikers or the best striker that they have. But, you know, we'll see. I mean, anything past this is a probably an absolute win for the US for World Cup standards. I mean, I know they always wanna win, but Also pace ourselves a little bit. It's the US. They're probably not going to win, you know, either. Against Belgium? No, they could definitely beat J Belgium, I think. Like but like, you know, you gotta go past some absolute gauntlets of teams, you know, France, possibly Argentina if they make it to the final. You know, that and even before France, you maybe have to face Portugal or Spain. So it's it's gonna be a real gauntlet if they end up doing making a run. Do you guys already see this World Cup as like as a six a success? I think if they beat Belgium I think it's an absolute success. Right now you could probably say it's, you know, what you expected no matter what. but anything past Belgium is an absolute win. What'd think? Yeah, I agree. I mean, I think I think there were a few things that we still could do better. you know, I mean, I didn't feel as much so that our ball control was as bad as it was in game three. Obviously, we didn't have as many of our starters out there, but there were still a lot of ball control issues, I felt like, and it is something that we need to be able to lock down. And obviously with Balogun getting that red card, it's gonna be kind of difficult not having him at forward next game, especially s since when we saw Pepe out there, it kinda felt like that was one of the more one of those positions that we were lacking control on the front side of the field, until Polishik finally came in in that game later in game three. So obviously we're hoping for a little bit more control in this next game, especially with Belgium, you know, they they come they're coming off kind of a huge win. Obviously it was a little tough for them early going until the very end of the game. But You know, they still pulled out the win. They're still a really tough team to beat. we definitely have our work cut out for us. I just I'm re I am really excited for how this World Cup has gone though. It's been it's been a lot of fun to watch as a USA fan for sure. The the back line's gonna have to step up next game against the cocktoon, he's the fuck's a fucking stud. he came in, he he sparked him up today, got that first goal for them in like the eighty fifth minute, and right after that it just flipped the script for So I was Especially since they were down two pretty much all game. I mean What was the name? Who'd they play? Senegal. Senegal, yeah. They had control almost all game until those last like a few minutes, and that's what it's kind of felt all World Cup is like these teams that give these late sparks. I mean, you saw it with England today, too. yeah, they're coming back late. Brazil, yeah, exactly. I mean, it's been a common theme so far. Really exciting to watch. You know, it feels like every like team that we've been betting on too has not took the early lead in almost every single game. So it's been we've been on the edge of our sea, it feels like it seems like they've like they've alternated. Like Germany Germany ended up losing but they went down one nothing as well. Yeah. And they England looked a little scary today. Yeah, no, that bet wasn't as wasn't as nice and safe as we thought was gonna be. Yeah, I think I think it's kind of becoming apparent England relies a little too much on Harry Kane. I feel like every time they need scoring they have to look to him. So if you have a good setup and a good defense, kind of good defensive plan for him, I feel like that's what we saw in the majority of England's in that England game, but Obviously they managed to figure it out near the end. So we'll see if that's something that they can keep doing. How are you feeling about L3 Mexico? Woo, I was gonna bring that up. Feeling good about Mexico. Mexico finally wins in elimination game. maybe the round of thirty-two, but it still feels like they broke the curse of the round sixteen. So it obviously feels really good to see that win go through. seeing all the Mexico fans be really excited, winning in the home turf and everything. It was it was it was really awesome. So I hope that we can keep going and obviously the next one's gonna be tough. Mexico's got England in the next game. We were just talking about them, but I think that England still has their work cut out for you know. Mexico's not not to mention Mexico's going to be at home. Yep. And Mexico Mexico has been phenomenal. Yep. Yeah, that's that place is different. Yeah. That place is different for sure. You know, people talk about it. That's like the holy grail of soccer. Yeah. You know, if you're able to play there, man, that's that's insane. That's nuts like you're you're you're having the utmost at home field advantage. You know, they're They're looking great, they're performing great on the defensive side. you know, their attack is is good. It looked a lot better last night with Mora in there. Yeah. I thought Gil like added a extra spark to them. Raul and Kinones, you they're great, they're great strikers. They both fucking came up clutch yesterday. but just back that defense, man, like all clean sheets throughout four games, that's nuts. You know, like granted, you know, you you kinda take it for granted, you know, who do they play, but The other day, man, clean cheat's clean cheat. Clean cheat exactly. They've been playing exception exceptional defense and I think it's gonna be really tough for the England to come into their house in the big their house as well. Yeah, dude. They they England can't come in and play like they did today. They can't they can't start slow. They can start slow, dude. Yeah, especially if the crowd's rockin', the crowd's into it, man, it's gonna be really hard to to follow through. And that's what Mike Cob did yesterday is they started fast. Yeah. That was one of the first games, like they they started really quick. Like the first thirty minutes they're already up to nothing. Yeah, and then they just relied on their defense the whole entire second half. Which is which is fine, you perfect for them. That's their game plan right there. Yeah. So that was an exciting thing too. Yeah, we got some exciting matchups tomorrow. I believe Portugal gets to go. Tomorrow Friday's gonna be Argentina. I'm excited for those. did you expect this whole World Cup thing to take over as much as I no, no, I d no I really didn't. You know, as a person that's kinda hated on soccer my whole entire life. And maybe it's the fact that I have nothing to bet on. Yeah. That has that hell that's gotta help it a little bit. I really really enjoyed it, you know, I feel like I'm getting more into it. I know it's just a temporary thing probably, 'cause the minute, you know, football comes back or you know, the World Cup just ends, I'm gonna fully focus on something else. But it's been a nice change of pace, honestly. You don't wanna become a manu fan. Not not even slightly. Manu day, total. Manu. The only thing I'll do is play FIFA, man. But you think you guys got else to add for like the World Cup, honestly? No, yeah. So I've actually you guys like having like Dark Horse teams you guys been liking lately? You guys been watching polling for Norway, but they're not gonna do shit. But kinda like the US, honestly, there's not they're probably not gonna do much. You know they play they play who? next they play Brazil Sunday. Yeah, that's gonna be a big matchup, yeah. Huge Holland's just gotta show up. Like big rest too. Like Brazil hasn't played since when? When do they They're like Monday. They played I believe. Yeah, they played Monday. They played it was the day before. Yeah. They played on Monday. Yeah. So 'cause Norway was yesterday, right? Yeah. Yeah. the same but Columbia, man. I really like Columbia. Yeah. Yeah. Who you think it's gonna get the golden boot? It could be it's like anyone right now. Mbappe, yeah, I agree. Actually, Mbappe's been unbelievable so far. Mbappe's nuts. I think it's I think France is one of the few actually one of the things I was gonna mention is I think w some of the teams that have been excelling a lot this year, for for example, Mexico, have been the teams that have really good defense, not necessarily the teams that have those lead strikers. but then obviously there's the exception of France, because then you see what Mbappe can do for that team and it's unbelievable. I mean, the boot that that guy has, the rockets that he shoots, the The setup the sets the ways he gets set up and can set up his teammates and has Dembele across from him. It's they're gonna be a hard team to beat, obviously. you're gonna have to have a phenomenal or perfect defense to be able to beat France. That that that France attack is like insane. Like on paper and on the field, they're nuts. Like Dembele, you know, he's won a Bellandor, what last year? Yep. And you know, you have arguably the best soccer player in the world now, Bope, and then you have Olice too. I really honestly didn't even know who Elise was. Yeah, and Elise's been phenomenal this year. my goodness. His nuts in all facets. We almost saw him pull off an unbelievable bicycle kick last game that just barely went off the post. Yeah. No, overall dude, it's been a great World Cup. I think you guys are kinda forgetting about Harry Kane, man. That dude's been on a tear. Harry Kane's been really good. He scored in another two. Yeah, he only had the one game that he got cursed by the witch doctor. So the only reason he couldn't score that game, but other than that he scored two in every game. Yeah, it's it's really just how far that on It's the only, you know it's it's just how far each team goes really, you know. 'Cause if France goes all the way, they're gonna probably it's probably gonna go to boat. Yeah. If Argentina goes, it's gonna be Messi probably 'cause Messi's scoring in every game. Yeah, Messi's been even clutched up when he came off the bench. That shit was sick, but like that free kick was tight. Yeah, it's just like speaking of free kicks, what a unbelievable free kick by Malik Tillman today. I'm also we should have did like three backwards right. That was awesome. Yeah. You know, obviously with our backs against the wall, only one zero, Balogun getting a red card. But like things might were getting a little scary there, and then Malik Tillman pulls through with just a perfect free kick and yeah puts us up to zero, makes us in a comfortable lead. I was low-key like talking shit before the free kick too. Yeah, I was like, We don't got a good guy for this. Like we got a good name brand guy? Come on. And he proved us all wrong. Yeah, he did. He did right past him. That was awesome to see. It looked like it was like in slow motion, you know. It kinda was like the the the game ender too. yeah Yeah, 'cause we it was kinda scary. We we only had ten players on the pitch and then when you go two ten minutes left, man, it was it was over. Yeah, he he should have hit one of these, though. Him with a nine night curry style? Yeah. Speaking of NBA. What an NBA week well few days we've had. We decided to take a week off at a crazy time. Yeah. I mean, dude, the recap on the NBA is it's Feel like it's just gonna be never ending if we if we keep talking about it. But like the big one was the first one, the first domino to fall was Giannis to the heat. I you know, the amount of stuff they gave up for him, I mean I think big move. It is a big move. I think it's hard to gauge. you know, I talked to Ian about this the day of the trade. It is it it it's Giannis. You know, to me it did seem like a lot in the moment, but it is Giannis. The only thing to me in this situation is it does feel really weird to have kind of almost identical play types on both sides of the block. I mean, obviously you're gonna be able to dominate the paint both on defense and on offense. but the question is are you gonna have the shooting outside? I think they have phenomenal defense because they have Davi and Mitchell at point guard. They have Giannis, they have Bam. They have so many defensive players, but I just feel like they're missing that one shooter, you know. Like they have a lot of ways that they can score, but they got they got rid of their best shooter in Tyler in Tyler Girl. You're right. Actually that was one of the things I was gonna mention and we lost Tim Hardaway, so they do have a shooter in Tim Hardaway. I do think that that was a huge, huge signing for them 'cause that was what I felt like they were lacking after that trade. I I just like the trade to me felt so weird. It just like it was big, yeah. But like it just didn't feel like huge. I don't know if that makes sense. Like it just like they didn't shake up the sports role like I thought it would be. It was just a couple. It doesn't feel like it made the heat instant contenders. No, no, not at all. No. I I totally agree. Giannis can definitely take you to that level, especially in the East. But it's just you know, like you kinda like what you're saying, their guards need to be able to shoot, their wings need to be able to shoot, and I don't know if they have that, especially when you got rid of your worst shooter, your best shooter, the Tyler Hero. Yeah. and well, I mean, only time will tell. but I mean the heat are so I I guarantee you the heat are be overhyped and they're gonna be they're gonna be in the mix of things in the East, regardless. I guarantee it. I think they're gonna be hard to score on though. And I think that's the I think that's the thing that they were chasing. You know, obviously they're still gonna be able to get some buckets. you still have two really big players down low. Davi and Mitchell still had a lot of flashes last year where he was scoring a lot, and you picked up Tim Hardaway for the three. So I think Primarily what they're gonna be focusing on this year is not necessarily outscoring the other team by scoring a lot of buckets, but just keeping their total low. And I think that is something that that team's gonna be able to pull off. You got Bambro, eighty three. Yeah, it's player of all time, bro. I mean, getting rid of Harrow, Hawkes, and we're I feel like is plus multiple firsts, it's just that's just insane to me. Well, I think you didn't lose any value in getting rid of Kel O'Ware because you're getting Giannis anyways, so you can shift Giannis and Bam within those positions. I don't think that's a big deal. I think losing Tyler Hero sucks, but I think signing I think signing Tim Hardaway was what made that trade really big for their. Is Tyler Hero gonna transcend you? No, not in I think there was a change I think there was a time where maybe we he we thought he might become that player, but I feel like he kinda leveled out at around like You know, if he's gonna pop off, it's gonna be like twenty, maybe twenty five points. Yeah, and then average he's gonna give you between fifteen to twenty. Yeah, I I Yeah you know, he was a score. Yeah, he's always hurt. Yeah, he was hurt a lot last year too. I don't think he played much of the play in, did he? From what I remember. He didn't play much. Or if at all. I don't even recall to be honest. Yeah. And we're I'm also forgetting about Bobby Portis. He was part of that trade. He's a good shooter. I think Bobby Portis is a big body. Shooting shooting wise he's all right. I think he's a I think he's a big body. I thought Bobby Portis is gonna walk around the corner and sack as well. I think I think he's got a good mid range game, and I think that's that's obviously something that would be nice. It's not it's still it's not something that's gonna keep them in the low block. They can spread it out a little bit more, so it was beneficial, but you know. I still think that the biggest part of that trade was them later signing Tim Hardaway because that was what they were missing was a big shooter. Yeah. And who's to say, you know? free agency and everything off season still done. Yeah. Do they still have Norman Powell? No, they Norman Powell signed somewhere did he yesterday. okay. he signed a decent contract somewhere. I mean he was looking like a all star. Was it wasn't he an all star? I think he signed with the Pistons, I believe. fits. Might be completely wrong. I mean regardless, I mean it's just a big it's it's it it's a big trade in respect Bulls the East. He signed with the Bulls Chasing just a fucking one scoring roll, it looks like. I mean I mean let's talk I mean we have let's just like rapid fire roll quick lamo lamello to the timberwolves, jaw to the trailblazers, quai back to the raptors, which made no sense. Jalen Brown to the seventy sixers again didn't make any fucking sense today. And then LeBron telling the Lakers he's not gonna play from I actually disagree with the Jalen Brown thing. I think the Jalen Brown to the seventy sixers was a really big move for the seventy sixers. 100%. It made no sense for the Celtics though. yeah. Like they got a horrible deal. They got some picks and fucking PG. I love PG. He's one of my favorite players of all time watching with besides Curry. But at the same time, he's no Jalen Brown. He doesn't do really anything for the Celtics except add a fucking guy to the injury list. And then you gave up two firsts for him too. How old is Paul George? He's gotta be like thirty eight, huh? Yeah, he's old. He was a year after Curry came in. I mean, what are you really getting with that? I think if you're the Celtics I think that the Celtics are more so starting to move into a rebuild mode. I think that you know, they had l a long stint with their whole team. They had Jalen Brown, Jason Tatum, and their whole off their whole team. And I feel like the more pieces they tried to add to their core. the less it was working. So I feel like they've more so just started moving into a rebuild mode in my opinion. I don't think that they thought they were gonna really get anywhere further with Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum. I think after that championship we've only seen more injuries and more regression out of that team. And so I think that they're trying to bail out as soon as they can and get as much value out of Jalen Brown as possible. They won in twenty four and then in twenty twenty five they lost to the Knicks, right? And that's when Jason Tatum tore Yeah, you no did they win did they lose to the Pacers? No, they lost to the Knicks. Was it the Knicks? Yeah, yeah I mean like but you like but Tatum did tear his Ace his Achilles in that series. Yeah, yeah, you know, big thing. But Jalen Brown was looked like an MVP for most of the season. Yeah. I think a lot of people were forgetting that. And this move to the seventy sixers easily puts them in title contention in the East. That team is nasty. Yeah, that team is unbelievable now. Like I think I don't think you're getting much money out of it. I don't think you're getting much out of Jason Tatum, though. That's that's that's the thing, is I think that Jason Tatum has been so injured and has been the one to regress the most, while Jalen Brown is, like Noah said, kinda starting to peek in at the top of his prime. So you're getting way more out of Jalen Brown if you're trading him, versus if you get rid of Jason Tatum. I feel like even I feel like even if they kept him, you're not getting as much out of him as if you You can at least get some capital now. They got some capital now. They got Paul George isn't, you know, a great player, but he's a stable player that you can have in your offense for now, and you get some picks in addition to that. So they're not like completely No, no, I'm not like fully down and out on the Celtics or anything until It's just you know, they do away they always do some questionable moves, but I where you're just like, hmm, okay. You know. I mean, they shed a couple contracts a few years ago when they got rid of Christophs and Derek White. You know, not terrible Drew Holliday. Yeah. You know, just shed some money and now they're shedding even more money. Adding some like kind of role players like you. That was their biggest mistake, I think, was letting go of Drew Holliday. I think Drew Holliday was that was a really good central force in that he was a veteran. He really paced the game well for them and he was a good defensive guard. And I think when they lost him, I think the Jason Tatum, Jalen Brown duo just felt like it was messy. Either one guy was scoring and the other guy had a terrible night or Neither of one of them got injured and then the other ends up having to carry the team. It just felt like it was only one or the other, not there were working together as a duo, in my opinion. And honestly, like to new fault of the like the Celtics own, they kind of had to get rid of Drew and Kristoffs. It was just because the cap, the financial burden that it was putting on the roster, you couldn't really keep So it's just like, I mean, they got a they got a ring. Yeah. They did get the ring out of it. It was good. You're right. They got a ring. They did not, like, they had some weird conflicts. Like Sam Houser and fucking you know what's crazy is like if this is all it took to get Jalen Brown, what the fuck in the Nuggets do? Dude, I Yeah, it would have been the Nuggets. and yeah, like I was discussing with you guys earlier, I think it's less so the fact that we didn't want him, more so the fact that the Celtics probably got a better package from the seventy sixers than they could have gotten from us. I don't think that they were that interested in the players we have to offer. I don't think Christian Brown is an appealing contract if we were to move him other than christian brown we would have to sign and trade Peyton Watson might be an interesting one for them. I but like you mentioned they could have possibly been interested in Jamal. Yeah. Get rid of fucking Jamal bro. But that I'm down for that. But that's a big that's a big contract. That's a big contract for the Celtics to eat too taken on taking to Paul George. Yeah, but Paul George's contract is expiring soon you have to eat a full contract with Jamal. He is one year, yes but like Jamal well you you get a great guard. You probably get a first out of it as well. Cause he's no Jalen Brown by any means. No, yeah, no. I I he was a first time all-star in his like tenth year. I think I think it would be pretty nice, but I thought I think that that was a move the Nuggets could have made that could have easily made them a little bit like it's a lot better. Not that Jamal's like terrible, but like Jalen's a little like another level. He truly is. If you want to make moves, do you have to sacrifice something? Yeah, and if the Nuggets aren't gonna sacrifice anything, we're gonna have the same conversation next week off season. I y I was talking to my friend at work, yeah, I was just like, dude, I'm not even really like that bumped up for the second season. No, we we haven't done shit. I swear to god, if we sign LeBron, I'm not even gonna be that happy. Be cool 'cause it's LeBron, yeah, but like wha what what are we doing at that point? Wow. Like feeding his ego? They just lost me right after that first round, man. Like obviously I'm still a fan, but like I had such high expectations for the team coming into last year. I was like, dude, we made all these moves in the off season, we got back we got Bruce Brown back, we've got the depth, we got Alan Junis, Tim Hardaway, bro, they just fucking they're soft as fun. I feel like we're like one of the only teams that's just not doing shit either this offseason. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's kind of annoying. Yeah, it does it does kind of seem like that. Yeah. It's like that's like that's why I felt the Broncos in the offseason too. Remember we're the only team that didn't send a free agent? Yeah, we got Jalen Waddle. No, yeah, no, until we did get Jalen Wall. But the first like the first like month of free agency everyone's clowning on us, bro. Yeah, my team didn't do much either, so sign Javon Hardgrave and we call it a move. Yeah, I mean I think a big part of what's holding the nuggets back is just the situation we're in, you know, we have terrible salaries and we have terrible contracts. we don't have valuable trade assets outside of Jamal and Jamal would have to go to a really specific team that's willing to eat that contract. because it's it is a big contract. You have to have room on your team for the contract. So But it's not like you're eating like a shitty player. No, no, that's that's not the problem. That's why I don't understand why we we That's not the problem. It's the fact that you have to be able to afford it still. But I feel like the trade between the Celtics and the Nuggets, the the Salaries would have aligned almost. Like I think the Nuggets would have been taking on a little bit more. Who could be a suitor for Jamal? Like hypothetically, theoretically. Kings. The Kings? I think I think a lot of I think a lot of the suitors. I think a lot of the suitors have already been taking. I I think that Lamello going to the Timberwolves took up one of those series. Ja going to the Trailblazers took up one of those series. I think that there were a lot of guards out there that other teams were would rather pay for than Jamal at this point. Which is I think I mean he's getting lucky. Jamal's better than both those guys. I don't know. His ceiling? No. He's not better than right now, maybe he's might be better. I wouldn't say but Jaw's ceiling is far more than Jamal's Jamal's. You damn well Jamaica. I think recently Ja Jamal has been better, but I think that Shaw. Jaw for one Jaw is is still younger and still has more time in his career. And two and two yeah, he's he is more injured, but that's but that he it's still he still has a higher ceiling though. He's more potential too, Ja. I mean honestly, Jaw had OKC figured out before he got hurt. So I'll forget that. They could have flipped that series, you never know. I think there were a lot of I think there were a lot of games in the playoff series that Jamal didn't step up, and I think that really turned off a lot of teams for traits. I think that that's that goes for a lot of players in the Nuggets, too. That's that's how the NBA is. Well, no, like in general, even what we're just talking about, Jamal, like right. Jamal had great year. Like Jamal ball had He had an all star year. But it's i w s teams look at the ma the moments that mattered and the moments that mattered were the playoff games. No. I think Lamelo's a full. I think is Lamelo's he's an idiot, yeah, but he's much more talented. Lamelo's also a six foot seven guard in comparison to Jamal Murray, who's a six foot two guard. Yeah, and they're both cones. They don't play defense. Yeah, but one at least has size. I I just I Ja can play defense too. He's back in that Chino Hills area, bro. I guess, bro. I and I I guess it's like kind of the assistant he was into with the Hornets now. No. Yeah, he was the only scorer it felt like with the Hornets. So it felt like they were always forcing the ball to him. You know, another trick they really didn't I didn't think made sense was Kawhi back to the Raptors. yeah. No, that one really didn't make any sense to me. I mean like I I think we're like trying to get back old times for the Raptors 'cause you gave up a lot of youth. Wise old. he had a he had a great year. No doubt about that. He was carrying that Clippers team for a very long time. But at the same time, like, what the fuck are the Raptors even trying to do at this point? You won the ring with him. Yeah, the Raptors just get rid of all their youth and all their capital. And then for a player that you never know is probably gonna end up maybe even being out half the year, it feels like Yeah, especially the past five, ten years of his career, you never know. So I don't know. It just doesn't feel like it he may he would make a big enough impact on the team for to justify the the package that they sent over for Kawhi. I mean, look at this package. Brandon Ingram He's a forward. Very he's he's actually good. He's young and he he had a good year last year, especially remember when they were I think he has as like him? There was there was some time Yeah, they did from a few years ago. He there there was a time where he was a lot more highly touted, but I think he's still pretty good. I mean but like if you're LA like what are you really getting out of this trade? Brennan, yeah, like who do they have now? They got rid of everyone. Like that's kind of the point. If you're LA. If you're LA, like w I mean, I I guess the unprotected first you get two of and the pick swap and then some seconds. Yeah, those are great, but Grady Dick has no fucking future. Brandon Ingram will probably re sign to another different to a different team once his contract's up, which is in a f probably a year or two. Like they signed him to a contract when they But like the Clippers, you like you've got it all be said they are doing the reset. I feel like the Clippers got away with the steel here. They got tons of capital out of just Kawaii. I so I'm gonna disagree with you. I I I got a disagree too. I mean they did hit a fuel reset, and I do like what they're doing because you got rid of, you know, and you're getting younger, like you you said, but Darius Garland. Shut the fuck. What? Yeah, they just went. I don't think Darius Gary. Yeah, he can put up some points. He's a PRA market. He is a PRE merchant, but like look at this team. Do you really like think they're gonna do anything? Yeah, but again, they're that's not a superstar. You need stars to win. Bob on Miller. You know, like I this is a team that's gonna miss the playoffs. Well, yeah. No doubt. Yeah, probably, but you know they said that they said the same thing about OKC when they were trading for first round picks years ago and look at them now. No, I think that's the way that they need to think right now. Where were they gonna get with Kawhi? What were they gonna do with Kawhi? They weren't gonna do anything with Kawhi anyways. I'm not saying like they can't do anything, but you still have big contracts on this roster and they're all for like You only have two big contracts. That's three. If that's not ten million. Ten ten million is not that big of a contract. No, ten million's not nothing, though. You only have two big contracts, you have a lot of youth on your team, you have tons of salary room and tons of picks. I like what the Clippers are doing. The Clippers know they're not gonna go far this year, so why not start investing in capital? I I yeah. Exactly. And they're only paying him eight point seven million. Man, honestly, bro, looking at this roster, they're not that bad. It's a solid roster, it's not gonna get anywhere. But I mean it it but I mean it's cheap. I mean you got Ingram, you Derek Jones. And it's a cheap roster. It's not like you're you're it's not like you're totally screwing your salary cap for the future. Brooke Lopez isn't great, but he he'll he's he's serviceable. And but thirty-eight. So is he no LeBron thirty-eight, all right? He's he he became a pretty decent shooter. they're gonna be the lafty top of the west. I I there's there's there's a worse they're gonna be they might be worse than the Kings. That's saying something that's saying something. Look at the Kings roster compared to that. The Kings roster's not that bad. They got a great young talent, a guard now. But I truly think that like these are very comparable teams. Honestly, I really do. I mean Yeah, except this except the Kings are not sitting with a couple first round picks that they just picked up for trading their star player, are they? Exactly. That isn't that that is a much more expensive roster. Yeah, but they're all expiring. Well those other guys were not expiring. Yeah, th they're cheap contracts. And you're telling me the kings are not better? They're older. They're older and better. This bone is hurt. Yeah, I'll bet I do think that the Kings are better, but that's not the point here. The point was that the Clippers traded their start player for a for a good future. I mean, where are the Kings gonna get with this team? The Kings aren't getting much further with this team and they don't have to shit and they and they have capital. I know, I I totally Yeah, but they don't have capital for the future. I don't see this team getting too far. This team's gonna make miss the playoffs too, but they're not gonna be much different than the Clippers. Yeah, but the Clippers actually picked up some first round picks. I just don't see much direction with the Clippers though. That's why you trade Kawaii. But there's no what are you gonna get out of Raptors picks now? Probably like mid o middle of the draft. You're not gonna get lottery picks probably. It's for another few years. Maybe go flip their picks for someone pick up. Yeah, you could either flip their picks or maybe maybe you get lucky and then you do end up getting a lottery pick. We've seen some insane lottery picks over the years. A NB's fucking rigged. Yeah. Anyways. we think LeBron's gonna go the Warriors though? Probably. Nah. I mean I don't know. I don't really care. This is soft, bro. He's forty-two. I don't really care. I don't really give a fuck either. I honestly think like nobody had that. I think it's kinda lame that he wants to just go to a contender. He's like, Yeah, I'll take minimum payment. When he when like you s like like you're mentioning, probably now, he was wanting to build a championship team himself. I don't know. It just and then and then he leaves his son too. Nah, he got him not guaranteed and then he said This is just me from my Standpoint like remember remember sick ass rivalry with fucking Gold State back in the day? That's kinda fucking late, bro. Like when does that ever happen? Dude, they're all boys. Like if he's old, I feel like he sh he might as well just go back to Cleveland. I don't know. Going to a contender for another ring just feels like a I don't know. Is he for one he's not gonna I don't think I feel like it's it that's what he said he would take a minimum payment for a ring. For one, I feel like it's it may just disrupt a team's game plan, if anything, unless he goes to the right. I guarantee this game. Yeah. I I am no They have literally a team of old fucks. Yeah. And adding LeBron is gonna help them. I mean, I'm not saying that old fuck team can't be good because it can be. You know, they're gonna be much smarter than any younger team, but athleticism will lack, you know, and injuries will come up. And if they trade Franthely Davis, that is just the dumbest thing you could probably do. I saw the Wizards weren't open to trading them. And why would they? They have a great core right now. Yeah, I think the Wizards look really like their young guys that have been drafting the past few years are finally kind of developing. Got Trey Young, Anthony Davis, and then now DeBonsa. That dude's a stud. We saw him in the tournament, dude. That dude was dropping 30-40 a game. Yeah, I think we'll see the biggest step up out of any team from the Wizards. You know, like you said, they have had actually quite a young core for a few years now that they've been developing. Keontae George and a few other players that have been kind of you know, not really major starters but kind of role play starters and now you throw in stars like Trey Young, Anthony Davis to kind of help guide these young studs and I think it's gonna be a really and then obviously AJ yeah, Keontae George is on the wrong person. He's on the jazz. Yeah. Keyshawn George, sorry. not not Keontae George, Keyshawn George. but yeah, either way, young studs being led by some not the Trey Young's not too old to be called You know, I I I would maybe call him a vet, at this point because he has been in the league for a few years now. And so I think obviously in comparison to the young stars that he has with him, he's gonna be the vet on that team. And then obviously Anthony Davis is the biggest vet. but we'll see how much he actually plays this year. Yeah, Anthony Davis is pretty old, bro. Like he's like thirty three. Yeah, it's I mean he's like thirty. He's old 'cause he came into the league when we were like fucking fifteen or less. Well way less than fifteen, actually. I remember him getting a game winner his rookie year actually. So yeah, he got draft like 2011 now. I he's on his third team now. I don't know, let me see. I mean the rat. You know, kind of like going on your point, like your biggest step up. You can also I could see Jazz doing some of them as well. You know, didn't they just didn't they just trade Walker Kessler? Walker Kessler, but yeah, but he was injured most of the year. Walker Kessler to the Lakers. How big is that? I honestly the Lakers are kind of interesting right now. I think they're kind of panicking after the news that they lost LeBron. you don't think they're like I think I think they're gonna get equal or better production than what they got a lot of. I think th I think they'll get equal production. I should do agree with you there. And I think it's it's kind of a panic button move in that they're really just signing a whole lot of people and seeing if it'll work. But there's some pretty solid signings. Like it's not like they're bad signings. It's just will it work is the question, obviously. Because now you're getting a whole bunch of different players from a whole bunch of different places and putting them together and so obviously you're just gonna have to figure out how to make it work, but if you can make it work, they were definitely some good signings. And I love the trade for Walker Kessler. I mean Walker Kessler put up a lot of really big rebounds last year. He's a big body, he's a young guy. So I think that that was a really good move for them. So we'll see what the Lakers can do. It was fucking A Ayton or it was Jackson Hayes, bro. Yeah, it was DeAndre A. You and those are fucking really problems, bro. Yeah. No effort type of players. Walker Kessler's the kind of guy who always off season every year, you know. They have the same off season every year. It's really gonna come down to how well like you know Luca can match with them 'cause it's gonna run through Luca and if he can stay healthy that would be great, but if he can't he can't. they're staring at us all sexy, you know. but at at the end the day with you know Lakers I I truthfully I don't think Austin Reeves will fit. I don't think he really ever did. Truthfully. Fit with the like what fit with I don't think him and Luca are like the the greatest duo, man. Like Luca's so ball dominant. You almost need your two to like a s just like a straight pop and like catch and shoot shooter, it feels like. You know, not this guy that can dribble and drive. I don't know. Luca could does everything by himself. He can run that whole entire offense. What did who did Luca have a at his second in command when they went to the championship? was that J. Nope. Kyrie, yeah, yeah. Well, I think I think I think actually Kyrie is Austin Reeves either. Actually, I think you're close. I think you're cl I think he's close. I think you do need to have a catch and shoot kind of a guy, but I think the more important part is you need to have a facilitator, and that's what made Kyrie and Luca so good together. I think Kyrie was a phenomenal facilitator and he could get Luca those open shots. And so even if Luca's ball dominant, if he starts getting double teamed, you can dump it off to Kyrie and he can either make you make a shot happen or he can get a bucket shot. Austin Reeves, I don't think he's that guy. I think Austin Reeves lacks like lacks the ability to create plays for other players. And I think that's what Kyrie did so well that next with Luca. I like that also. Yeah. We'll see what we'll see what the Mavs do too. I mean, with the new coach from Michigan, you still got Cooper. You're gonna have Kyrie back this year. Clay Thompson. but laughed at his own reality. fuck fuck you guys. Let's talk about some Rockies. Anyways. my team, our team. I would are they winning? Probably not. Yeah, they're winning right before I right before we started this. Against the Marlins. Bro, you know, I'll give them a little slap. we we won six to three tonight. Awesome. You know, snapped a little little bit of a losing streak, you know, after coming back from Minnesota and losing two in a row at home. But as you kinda noted, our bullpen has been struggling, but our offense has been Very, very good this season. Yeah. You know, if we've had fun to watch. Yeah, like except for when we blow the leads. Like texted my buddy, I was like, the twins twinned. Let's see if the Rockies Rocky. What happened? The Rockies rock. The twins give up a seven run lead in two innings. Rockies take an eight to seven lead. And you know who gives it up? The Rockies, of course. Because why wouldn't they? Yeah, and I remember on Father's Day I went to the game and you know, it was it was just a one run game. We were still in a pretty close game and then we put in Mejia. I looked at my dad, I was like, I'm sorry, Dad, this game's about to get blown wide open. And of course we end up going down eight to three. But you know, we almost made the comeback later that night, which you know, goes back to our offense still being on that tear, but regardless the bullpen just they made it too hard for the offense to win and that just seems to keep being the theme. Yeah, and also like I think you know, obviously this is a very developmental year as seems like every year for the Rockets past, you know, 10 years almost now. But you know, I I do see the light around the corner. You know, I I see where this team could be in a few years. I like the moves that have been they made in the offseason. I like the young guys that they're bringing up, especially Cole Carrick. And we got some more on the way. Yeah. You know, we got Charlie Condon coming. Zach Veen, Zach Veen. They have been tearing the cover off the baseball. The future is coming. I'm excited. It's just, you know, this next month's gonna be really intriguing with how what we do with our current roster, what what do we trade, what we get assets from, you know, for future, you know, prospects. So I'm excited. But we also ran into a buzz off. The Marlins have been the best team of the past month. Yeah. There were twenty and six in June. I mean Sandy Sandy was six and in June. And we almost took him down on Monday. Yeah, we brought him down today, so Yeah, we we gave Max Meyer his first loss. Yeah. Of the year. Think about that. So there's a lot of positives with this team, this offense, and 100 Goodman, dude. Can't say another. It's been unbelievable. We reached 30 wins a while ago. Only one's it. Thirty four. A while ago's only. We want to go out there four wins ago, all right? But like last year, what were we at? No, that's what That's what I'm saying. We are doing so much better, man. You know, there's no chance for breaking a record this year. My goal right now is if we can get hot and somehow get to like seventy wins. It's it's a s it's a stretch. We're just past the midway point of the season. We're at thirty four to thirty five, I think. I can't remember the exact number. But should have put money on it. Thirty four and fifty three. I'm gonna start betting on baseball just to spite you. Fuck you. Thirty four and fifty three, you're not on track, but y all you gotta do is get a little hot. You know? Yeah. Maybe you get some young young movement, young energy. Yeah, we just brought up Gabe Hughes. Dude, how many games out of the wild card army? At least twenty. Hey, wal watch me have some Rocktober magic like some magic like we did in O seven. Holy shit. Dude, that would be electric. Mark it now, bro. We're calling altitude problems, calling the function. We're gonna finish eighty three and seventy nine. We're going to the playoffs. We're gonna have to We're gonna get bounced in the first round, but it don't matter. It's collab with Rockies now, bro. Yeah. but I'm I'm liking what I'm I'm seeing on the team still. I'm still very, very hopeful. I think you guys are too. You know, you guys are probably not as involved with the like Rockies as I am, obviously. But I I feel like I talk to you guys about it like almost daily now. I I I'm pretty I'd I would say I actually have been keeping up the lots more. so so let's move on to our idiot of the week. Yeah. Tarion fucking Arnold of the Detroit Lions. Ian, you know anything about this? Dude, I was with him, bro. you were in Tampa? You were in Tampa, huh? Yeah. Crazy, right? No, no, it's crazy, bro. That's like I don't bro, I kinda feel bad. I don't no, I don't I don't feel bad. I think he deserves it. I think I think there was no reason for him to get involved with doing that. I think it was kind of just a petty move on his part. And y he knew it would ruin his life if he ever got caught. So I think it was really stupid of him to do so. You have the golden tick and you got a hundred K taken from you. No, yeah, I'm not gonna say obviously that it doesn't suck that he got the money taken from him, but you know, there's other ways to handle it now. Rather than just lose two hundred and fifty K, he lost his whole life and his whole career because he decided to do what he did. So, you know, I don't feel bad for him deciding to to decide to I don't feel bad for him. He decided to throw his own life away. he's gonna have to deal with that. and so, you know, we'll just see. how Terry and Arnold's career ends up playing out. it's over. Yeah. He's never he's never gonna play another down Yeah, probably not. Maybe in the He almost he I mean he's still at risk for being locked up for life. I mean he did get bail for now but A million dollars. Yeah, I think when you kidnap someone there's a lot of there's a lot of underlying charges that can stack up. There I think there were a lot of underlying stacking of charges that definitely led to him deserving fight. yeah, yeah. We'll see how the court case plays out. yeah. But anyways, let's get into our Denver sports fun fact of the week and wrap up this week's recording really quick. do you guys have any sports facts that you know of off the top of your head that you want to share? Off the top of my head? Yeah, maybe you have some of the General knowledge. The Mexico broke the curse of sixteen, even though it was the first round of thirty two that we've seen. It was them winning their first Elem game in the World Cup. Didn't I say Denver? shit, I forgot you said Denver. Don't worry, I got some locked in boys. Don't don't you worry. You know, but you guys can keep rattling off some non Denver ones, you know. Yeah, just be like slow. we don't have any Denver soccer based things again. Yeah, nothing. All right, well that's gonna wrap it up for this week's episode, fellas. thank you for joining us. you know, this is our first live video, our live first live podcast. So we'll see how we'll see how many more times we do this, maybe have a bitter bit of a better setup next time. But yeah, maybe my mom won't ruin things. Yeah. But what unless you guys have anything else to say. did you know what the Nuggets reached the conference finals for the first time in nineteen eighty five? Yeah. First time since 1985, it says it wasn't off the top of your head, clearly. What the fuck you anyways, guys? That is Big Country and PV with our guest, the native, and this is altitude problems, and that's your week nine episode. So you guys have a great night, and see you on the sticks. Peace.