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>> THIS IS "THE STARTERS" 72
BURNING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
UPCOMING NBA SEASON, PART NINE
OF NINE STARTS NOW!
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NBA DIGITAL]
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>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO
PART NINE OF THE "THE STARTERS"
NBA SEASON PREVIEW.
IF YOU'RE LISTENING TO THE
PODCAST OR CATCHING US ON NBA
TV.
WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU.
I'M J.E. SKEETS AND BESIDES ME
IS TAS MELAS.
>> ONE MORE DAY.
>> TO MY RIGHT, NEW DAD BACK
WITH THE SHOW, TREY KERBY.
>> HEY.
>> THERE SHE IS, THE SIZE OF A
SHOE.
THAT'S WHERE SHE SLEEPS.
CONGRATULATIONS, AGAIN TO YOU
AND LAURA.
>> THANKS, MAN.
>> PERFECT TIMING I WOULD LIKE
TO POINT OUT.
HAVING A BABY A WEEK BEFORE THE
SEASON STARTS.
>> SHE IS HAS EXCITED AS WE
ARE, HAD TO COME OUT AND SEE
IT.
>> THE INTERNATIONAL MAN OF
MYSTERY, IT'S LEE LEE.
WE ARE DOWN TO OUR FINAL EIGHT
QUESTIONS OF OUR 72 BURNING
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UPCOMING
NBA SEASON ON TONIGHT'S SHOW,
MILESTONES, SIXTH MAN OF THE
YEAR PREDICTIONS AND A SPECIAL
GUEST ON THE HOT SEAT.
FIRST SEEING AS NBA TV HAS BEEN
CELEBRATING THE 2014 NBA
CHAMPION SPURS ALL DAY LONG,
IT'S ONLY FITTING THAT OUR
FIRST QUESTION TONIGHT HAS TO
DO WITH THOSE SPURS.
IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS, GUYS, WILL
THE SPURS REPEAT AS CHAMPIONS?
CAN THEY FINAL GET THE
BACK-TO-BACK DONE?
>> EVERYONE IS PICKING THE
SPURS.
>> BESIDES TAS MELAS
APPARENTLY.
>> I GOT TO GO AGAINST IT.
JUST TO FLIP THE SCRIPT A
LITTLE BIT.
I THINK WE FORGET HOW GOOD THE
O.K.C. THUNDER ARE.
I'M TAKING O.K.C.
YOU GUYS ARE ALL IN THE SPURS'
CORNER.
O.K.C. HAD THEIR NUMBER PRIOR
TO THE WESTERN CONFERENCE
FINALS AND THE THUNDER DID HAVE
AN INJURY DURING THAT SERIES.
WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A LITTLE
BIT.
PRIOR TO, THAT THE SPURS WERE
10-2 IN THEIR PREVIOUS 12
AGAINST SAN ANTONIO AND THE
PLAYERS ARE ENTERING THEIR
PRIME, WE FORGET HOW GOOD RUSS
AND K.D. ARE IN THEIR 20'S.
THEY HAVE THE CHEMISTRY.
THEY HAVE PLAYED TOGETHER FOR
500 GAMES.
THEY HAVE BEEN AT IT A LONG
TIME.
WHY PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT
THE CLIPPERS IN FRONT OF THEM
MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.
>> IF YOU'RE SAYING THE THUNDER
HAVE PLAYED TOGETHER FOR A LONG
TIME IS THE REASON THEY'RE
KNOCKING OFF THE SPURS, YOU'RE
COMPARING THEM TO THE SPURS.
THAT'S CRAZY MAN.
>> THE SPURS ARE ONE YEAR
OLDER, YOU CAN'T DENY THAT.
>> THAT'S TRUE.
>> YOU CAN'T DENY THAT TIM
DUNCAN IS 37 YEARS OLD, GOING
TO BE 38 IN THE PLAYOFFS NEXT
YEAR.
YOU CAN'T DENY THAT MANU
GINOBILI IS THAT OLD.
AT SOME POINT THE SPURS JUST
AREN'T GOING WIN.
THEY GOT TO THEIR SECOND FINAL
IN A ROW FOR THE FIRST TIME
LAST YEAR.
AS YOU SEE, THE THUNDER'S
PLAYOFF RUN WHEN THEY STARTED
TO GET IT GOING IN 2011, THEY
LOST TO THE EVENTUALLY CHAMPION
MAVERICKS.
THEY LOST TO THE HEAT IN THE
FINALS AND A COUPLE OF
INJURIES, RUSSELL WESTBROOK WAS
OUT FOR THE PLAYOFFS WHEN THEY
LOST TO THE GRIZZLIES AND SERGE
IBAKA WAS OUT FOR THE FIRST
COUPLE GAMES AGAINST THE SAN
ANTONIO SPURS.
THEY WERE 2-2 WITH SERGE IBAKA
IN THE LINEUP.
SO I JUST FEEL LIKE THE THUNDER
ARE KNOCKING ON THE DOOR.
IT'S POSSIBLE TO CALL WHO IS
GOING TO WIN AND THE SPURS ARE
GOING TO BE THERE, YEAH,
OBVIOUSLY IF THE THUNDER ARE
HEALTHY BECAUSE, YEAH, THEY
HAVE SOME INJURY PROBLEMS RIGHT
NOW GOING INTO THE SEASON.
>> THAT'S WHY, AT LEAST FOR
MYSELF, CAN YOU CHIME IN,
THAT'S WHY YOU LEAN TOWARD THE
SPURS AGAIN BECAUSE WITH A TEAM
LIKE THE THUNDER WITH THEIR
STARS, THEY HAVE TO DO ALL OF
THE HEAVY LIFTING.
THEY PLAY ALL OF THE CRAZY
MINUTES, MAYBE HAVE AN IMPACT
WITH DURANT'S INJURY, YOU CAN
GET INTO THAT.
THE SPURS WITH POPOVICH, THEY
JUST KNOW HOW TO REDUCE THOSE
MINUTES, TAKE CARE OF THE GUYS,
DON'T WORRY ABOUT MARCH.
LET'S JUST WORRY ABOUT THE
PLAYOFFS.
EVEN IF THERE IS AN INJURY,
HEY, WHO IS UP NEXT.
THEY GOT GUYS ONE THROUGH 10,
ONE THROUGH 12, YOU REALLY JUST
PLUG THEM INTO THAT SYSTEM AND
THEY'RE GOING TO CARRY THEM.
THAT'S WHY I DO THINK THIS IS A
VERY REALISTIC CHANCE OF THEM
FINAL REPEATING.
IT'S ONE THING THEY HAVEN'T
DONE.
>> THAT'S COMPLETELY RIGHT.
WITH GREGG POPOVICH, HE DOESN'T
NEED TO COACH THE TEAM, HE
NEEDS TO MANAGER THE TEAM.
THE PLAYERS, EVERYONE KNOWS
WHAT THEIR ROLE IS AND WHAT IS
EXPECTED OF THEM.
IF THEY HAVE A BAD NIGHT, ONE
SITS ON THE BENCH.
THEY KNOW THAT WON'T CARRY OVER
FOR THE NEXT GAME OR POP WON'T
SIT A GUY AND LET HIM ROT ON
THE BENCH.
AND WHEN THEY HAVE WON THE
CHAMPIONSHIP AND BOUNCING BACK
THE NEXT SEASON AND NEVER WENT
BACK TO BACK, THAT SAYS MORE
THAN A TEAM WINNING TWO OR
THREE IN A ROW.
THE SPURS HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR 15
YEARS.
BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T WON A
CHAMPIONSHIP EVERY YEAR DOESN'T
MEAN ANYTHING TO ME.
>> EVERYTHING HAPPENS IN THE
PLAYOFFS.
DEREK FISHER CAN HIT A SHOT
WITH .4 LEFT.
GETTING TO THREE STRAIGHT NBA
FINALS IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.
THEY HADN'T GOT TO TWO BEFORE
LAST SEASON.
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
>> YOU HAVE TO LIKE THAT THE
SPURS ARE BRINGING BACK EVERY
SINGLE PIECE OF THEIR TITLE
TEAM.
>> THEY'RE THE ONLY REAL TITLE
CONTENDER.
YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT -- THEY'RE BRINGING BACK
EVERYBODY, A WHOLE ANOTHER YEAR
OF PLAYING TOGETHER.
THEY'RE OLDER, BUT HAVE MORE
TIME TO BUILD THAT CONTINUITY.
IF YOU'RE GIVING THE SPURS A
CHANCE TO BUILD CONTINUITY,
THEY WILL BE BETTER THIS YEAR.
THEY ADDED A FIRST-ROUND PICK
WHO WILL PLAY MINIMALLY THIS
YEAR.
IF HE ADDS ANYTHING, THEY'RE
THAT MUCH BETTER.
EVERY OTHER TEAM, A TITLE
CONTENDER, THE THUNDER, BULLS,
CAVS, HUGE QUESTIONS.
SPURS, RUN IT BACK, THIS IS A
GREAT TEAM.
>> THE THUNDER ARE BASICALLY
THE EXACT SAME TEAM AS WELL.
THEY ADDED ANTHONY MORROW WHO
CAN SHOOT THREES AND WHO IS A
WEAPON IN THE PLAYOFFS.
K.D. AND RUSSELL WESTBROOK ON
THE BENCH IN THE PRESEASON AND
THEY SEE ANTHONY MORROW, THE
THIRD BEST ACTIVE SHOOTER IN
THE LEAGUE HIT A THREE-POINTER,
THEY ARE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER,
THEY'RE LICKING THEIR CHOPS.
THIS GUY IN THE PLAYOFFS
BESIDES US HITTING SHOTS IS ALL
WE NEED.
THOSE TWO GUYS --
>> THEY GOT TO GUARD SPN,
THOUGH, TO STAY ON THE COURT.
>> THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN DEFEND
WELL ENOUGH.
THE WAY THAT SAN ANTONIO SPURS
MOVE THE BALL AROUND, YOU DON'T
KNOW HOW TO STOP ONE GUY
NECESSARILY.
EVEN GETS INVOLVED.
A TURNOVER, THEY FLY DOWN THE
OTHER END AND SCORE RIGHT AWAY.
>> SAN ANTONIO IS THE FAVORITE.
>> THE EXCUSE ON BOTH ENDS OF
THE FLOOR, THAT IS THE STANDARD
FOR EVERYONE ELSE TO FOLLOW.
>> BEFORE THOSE WESTERN
CONFERENCE FINALS, THE THUNDER
PLAYED THEM EXTREMELY WELL.
>> THEY DID.
>> 10-2 AGAINST THE SPURS IN
THE 12 GAMES.
IT'S HARD TO GUARD THOSE GUYS
AS WELL.
>> ABSOLUTELY, DURING THE
REGULAR SEASON THEY SWEPT THEM.
THE SERGE IBAKA INJURY HAD AN
IMPACT THE FIRST TWO GAMES.
WHEN HE CAME BACK, THEY WERE
2-2.
SAN ANTONIO FIGURED OUT A WAY
TO NOT BE EXPOSED BY SERGE
IBAKA.
>> DO YOU THINK THE SPURS NEED
TO REPEAT TO BE CONSIDERED A
DYNASTY?
>> NO.
>> NOT AT ALL?
>> NO.
>> DOESN'T MATTER, THEY HAVE
BEEN SO GREAT FOR SO LONG,
THAT'S A DYNASTY TO YOU?
>> YOU CAN PICK ON A TEAM, THEY
DIDN'T REPEAT, THAT DOESN'T
MEAN THEY'RE ANY GOOD.
THEY HAVE BEEN AT THE SAME
LEVEL FOR 15 SEASONS AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER.
THE REPEAT THING IS A NICE
BONUS THING TO HAVE.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY DEFINE
YOU THAT MAKES YOU A BAD TEAM
BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T REPEAT.
>> THEY'RE KIND OF AS CLOSE TO
REPEATING AS YOU CAN WITHOUT
ACTUALLY WINNING TWO TITLES.
THEY MADE TWO FINALS LIKE YOU
SAID IN A ROW.
I WAS THINKING COMING INTO A
SEASON, TEAMS DON'T MAKE THREE
FINALS IN A ROW MORE OFTEN, THE
HEAT DID, WHY COULDN'T THE
SPURS DID?
>> IF RAY ALLEN ISN'T A MACHINE
AND BACKPEDALING ON THOSE
ELEPHANT SIZED CALFS TO SHOOT
THE THREE BALLS FROM THE
OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS, THEY ARE
BACK TO BACK CHAMPS.
>> THE SPURS AND THUNDER, WE'RE
PICKING WESTERN CONFERENCE
TEAMS.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER TEAMS?
YOU THREW THEM OUT THERE, THE
CLIPPERS, THE CAVALIERS OF
COURSE WITH LEBRON TEAMING UP
WITH IRVING AND LOVE.
THE BULLS WITH ROSE, HOPEFULLY
A HEALTHY ROSE BACK, MAYBE
THOSE THREE OTHER TEAMS, WHO
WOULD YOU SORT OF RANK IN THIRD
AFTER A SPURS, THUNDER?
>> ALL OF THOSE TEAMS ARE IN
THE CONVERSATION.
I THINK THE STAR POWER OF BLAKE
AND CHRIS PAUL WITH THE LOS
ANGELES CLIPPERS PUTS THEM INTO
THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE THEY
HAVE THAT SORT OF TALENT THAT
CAN JUST TAKE OVER GAMES.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW GOOD BLAKE
GRIFFIN IS GOING TO BE.
I THINK HE IS GOING TO TAKE A
TINY STEP THIS SEASON AS A
BETTER PLAYER WHICH IS SCARY.
I THINK THOSE TWO GUYS CAN TAKE
OVER GAMES AND PUTS THEM RIGHT
UP WITH SAN ANTONIO.
>> YOU HAVE LEBRON, YOU'RE IN
THE RUNNING TO BE THE BEST TEAM
IN THE LEAGUE, YOU WONDER WITH
THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE OF
VIKING AND LOVE WHO HAVEN'T
PLAYED IN THE PLAYOFFS, IF IT
WILL HAVE ANY SORT OF EFFECT.
IF YOU BELIEVE THE LIGHTS GET
GREATER IN THE PLAYOFFS, THE
PRESSURE IS THERE.
>> YEAH.
>> YOU DO?
>> I DO.
>> YOU SEE A GUY LIKE KEVIN
LOVE AND KYRIE IRVING REALLY
STRUGGLING?
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM KYRIE
IRVING ESPECIALLY AS HE PLAYS
GREATER WHEN THE LIGHT IS
BRIGHTER?
>> THAT IS TRUE.
YOU NEED ONE MINUTE TO MESS UP
IN THE PLAYOFFS AND HAVE IT
MATTER.
THOSE GUYS HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH
THAT MESS.
>> LET'S HEAR WHAT PEOPLE
THINK.
DO THE SPURS REPEAT AS
CHAMPIONS, IF NOT, DO YOU LIKE?
THE THUNDER, THE CLIPS, THE
BULLS, LET US KNOW.
WHEN WE RETURN, WE WILL DISCUSS
A FEW OF THE MILESTONES WE'RE
MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING
BROKEN.
A SPECIAL GUEST ON THE HOT SEAT
SO DON'T GO ANYWHERE, YOU'RE
WATCHING "THE STARTERS."
>> WELCOME BACK TO "THE
STARTERS."
WE'RE AT QUESTION 66 OF OUR 72
BURNING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
UPCOMING NBA SEASON.
WE'RE ALMOST DONE, GUYS.
WHICH MILESTONE ARE YOU MOST
LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING BROKEN
THIS SEASON?
>> I LOOK AT THE ALL-TIME
SCORING LEADER LIST, I CAN'T
BELIEVE THAT DIRK NOWITZKI IS
CURRENTLY IN 10TH PLACE.
I JUST CAN'T FATHOM HOW HE GOT
UP THAT HIGH.
OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE BEST
SCORERS IN OUR GAME.
WHEN HE CAME OVER FROM GERMANY,
HE LOOKED LIKE A SKINNY AWKWARD
KID WHO COULDN'T SCORE AS WELL.
HE MAY MOVE INTO SEVENTH
ALL-TIME SCORING.
>> LIKELY.
>> NEXT YEAR HE WILL PASS
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL.
I JUST CAN'T FATHOM A WORLD
WHERE DIRK IS THAT HIGH.
HE IS THE BEST SEVEN-FOOT
SHOOTER IN HISTORY.
IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE
REALITY.
>> OK, I LIKE THAT ONE.
WHICH MILESTONE ARE YOU LOOKING
FORWARD TO BEING BROKEN?
>> THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS WIN 50
GAMES OR MORE IN THE REGULAR
SEASON FOR THE 16TH STRAIGHT
YEAR, THAT INCLUDES THE
2011-2012 SEASON THAT WAS
SHORTENED.
BACK IN THE LOCKOUT SEASON OF
1998-1999, THEY WENT 37-13 WHEN
THEY PLAYED 50 GAMES.
IT'S ABOUT 60 WINS OR SO.
WHAT MAKES IT MORE REMARKABLE,
THEY HAVE DONE IT ALL WITH ONE
COACH.
YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER RECORDS,
THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS WON 12
STRAIGHT FROM 1979 TO 1991 WITH
FOUR COACHES AND THE DALLAS
MAVERICKS RECENTLY FROM
2000-2011, THREE COACHES.
GREGG POPOVICH HAS BEEN THERE
THE WHOLE TIME.
HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE
RECORD, DON'T ASK HIM ABOUT IT,
BUT I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLE.
>> YOU CAN FIND ARTICLES BACK
IN THE DAY, GREGG POPOVICH IS
THE COACH, WHAT IN THE WORLD,
THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU PICKING THE
SPURS ON CHAMPIONS DAY.
THE "50 SHADES OF GREY," THERE
IT IS IN GRAPHIC FORM, THE
SPURS.
>> UNBELIEVABLE.
>> I THINK THAT IS SAFE TO SAY
THAT'S A DYNASTY.
THAT IS REALLY REMARKABLE.
WHAT ABOUT YOU, TREY, WHAT
MILESTONE ARE YOU LOOKING
FORWARD TO BEING BROKEN?
>> STEPHEN CURRY TO LEAD THE
LEAGUE IN THREE MADE IN THREE
CONSECUTIVE SEASONS.
HE IS ONE OF SEVEN LEADING IN
BACK TO BACK SEASONS.
MICHAEL ADAMS, VERNON MAXWELL,
DAN MAJERLE AND RAY ALLEN.
RAY HAS DONE IT THREE TIMES,
THERE IS A GAP THERE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT STEPHEN
CURRY HAS DONE IN HIS CAREER SO
FAR, THROUGH HIS FIRST FIVE
SEASONS, HE HAS THE MOST THREES
IN NBA HISTORY, 905.
THAT'S INCLUDING A SEASON WHERE
HE PLAYED 25 GAMES.
TO ME, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR, WE'RE
SEEING THE BEST THREE-POINT
SHOOTER IN HISTORY IN THE
LEAGUE'S HISTORY AND THIS IS
JUST HIS SECOND RECORD.
HE HAS ALREADY GOT THE RECORD
FOR MOST IN A SEASON.
HE HAS THREE STRAIGHT NOW.
WHO IS GOING TO BEAT HIM ON THE
HORIZON?
>> NOBODY.
>> I WANT TO KNOW IF STEPH
CURRY WILL HIT MORE THREES THAN
THE ENTIRE LAKERS TEAM.
IT'S IN PLACE FOR LIKE 82
MAYBE?
>> IT'S IN PLAY.
>> MORE ATTEMPTS THAN THE
ENTIRE LAKERS TEAM.
>> I'M GOING BACK TO THE
ALL-TIME SCORING LIST, YOU WERE
PICKING DIRK THERE, TAS, I'M
EXCITED FOR KOBE BRYANT
EVENTUALLY PASSING IN ORDER ON
THE NBA'S ALL-TIME SCORING
LIST.
THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, GUYS,
AND IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FAIRLY
SOON IN THE SEASON, AGAIN, IF
KOBE STAYS HEALTHY OF COURSE.
LET'S SAY HE GETS 24 OR 25
POINTS A GAME, SOMEWHERE IN
THAT BALLPARK, ONLY GOING TO
TAKE HIM ABOUT 24 OR 25 GAMES
TO DO IT BECAUSE HE IS NOT FAR
BEHIND JORDAN ON THE ALL-TIME
POINTS LEADERS LIST.
HE IS ONLY 593 POINTS BEHIND
M.J.
THE REASON I PICKED THIS
MILESTONE IS BECAUSE IT DRUMS
UP A WHOLE OTHER ROUND OF WHO
IS BETTER, MAMBA OR M.J.
I AM TEAM JORDAN, I'M IN THAT
CAMP.
IT IS A FUN ARGUMENT.
YOU KNOW TWITTER IS GOING TO
EXPLODE WHEN HE DOES PASS HIM.
JUST HOW CLOSE KOBE IS AT BEING
BETTER THAN JORDAN AND EVERYONE
WILL BE DEBATING THAT.
THAT IS WHY THAT ONE IS FROM.
>> IT'S A MATTER OF TIME THAT
HE BREAKS IT, HE IS 52 YEARS
OLD AND COME OUT THERE AND HAVE
A FEW GAMES FOR THE HORNETS.
>> JUST TO TRY TO GET IT BACK
THERE?
LET'S HEAR WHAT PEOPLE THINK.
WHAT MILESTONE ARE YOU LOOKING
FORWARD TO BEING BROKEN, LET US
KNOW ON TWITTER.
67, WHO WILL WIN THE SIXTH MAN
OF THE YEAR?
HAD IS OUR FINAL AWARDS
PREDICTION OR SHOULD BE.
TAKE A LOOK AT OUR PICKS.
TAS GOING WITH TAJ GIBSON, IN
THE RUNNING LAST YEAR FOR THE
BULLS.
LEE, ISIAH THOMAS ON THE SUNS,
WITH THE KINGS LAST YEAR.
TREY WENT WITH ANDRE IGUODALA
WHO RUMORS ARE HE IS GOING TO
COME OFF THE BENCH FOR THAT
SQUAD.
I'M STICKING WITH JAMAL
CRAWFORD TO PICK UP HIS THIRD
ONE.
WHY ARE YOU GOING TAJ?
>> TAJ GIBSON IS PROBABLY AN
UNPOPULAR PICK RIGHT NOW.
WE KNOW PAU GASOL IS THEIR
STARTER AND GOING TO PLAY A LOT
OF MINUTES.
PAU IS TALKING ABOUT WANTING TO
PLAY IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.
THAT'S TAJ GIBSON'S TIME
STEPPING IN FOR CARLOS ***
WHO PLAYED 28 MINUTES A GAME
LAST YEAR.
PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND THIS
SEASON, THE VALUE OF TAJ
GIBSON.
THERE IS JUST NOT GOING TO BE A
WAY THAT TOM THIBODEAU CAN KEEP
THIS GUY OFF THE FLOOR.
HE IS THAT GOOD.
HE HAD 13 POINTS AND SEVEN
REBOUNDS LAST YEAR, WAS VOTED
SECOND IN THE SIXTH MAN OF THE
YEAR VOTING LAST SEASON.
HOW CAN HE POSSIBLY WIN THIS
AWARD?
WELL, HE IS GOING TO SHOW YOU.
THEY'RE GOING TO SPLIT THOSE
MINUTES BETWEEN TAJ GIBSON, PAU
GASOL AND JOAKIM NOAH UP FRONT.
I DON'T THINK NICHOLAS IS GOING
TO PLAY THAT MUCH.
HE IS GOING TO PLAY HIS 30, 32
MINUTES, THEY'RE GOING TO SPLIT
IS PRETTY EVENLY AND SHOW HOW
GOOD HE IS ALTHOUGH THIS IS A
PRETTY UNPOPULAR PICK.
>> LEE, ISIAH THOMAS?
>> HE EMBRACES THE ROLE OF
COMING OFF THE BENCH.
HE IS COMING OFF THE BENCH FOR
THE PHOENIX SUNS.
THEY GOT HIM AS AN INSURANCE
POLICY IN CASE ERIC BLEDSOE DID
LEAVE.
HE DIDN'T, HE IS STAYING.
THOMAS KNOWS HE CAN GET HIS
SHOTS AND GET OFFENSE GOING.
THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT FROM A
GUY.
IF HE IS GOING TO START AND NOT
GOING TO GET HIS LOOKS, HE
DOESN'T WANT TO PLAY THAT ROLE.
ISIAH THOMAS UNDERSTANDS HIS
ROLE IN THIS LEAGUE IS BEST
GOING TO BE SUITED COMING OFF
THE BENCH FOR HIS ENTIRE
CAREER.
HE CAN GET 25 POINTS, HE IS A
SAFE PICK.
>> IGUODALA?
>> IF HE STAYS ON THE BENCH,
AND HARRISON BARNES REMAINS AS
A STARTER FOR THE WARRIORS, I
CAN SEE A WORLD WHERE ANDRE
IGUODALA RETAINS THAT ALL-STAR
CREDIBILITY AND DOMINATING
SECOND UNITS.
HE WILL PLAY AGAINST OTHER
TEAM'S BENCHES AND HE IS STILL
A REALLY, REALLY GOOD PLAYER.
I THINK THAT HE IS GOING TO BE
ONE OF THE BETTER DEFENDERS OFF
THE BENCH JUST LIKE TAJ GIBSON
PLAYS BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL.
IT'S JUST NOT SCORING FOR HIM.
THAT IS WHAT IGUODALA DOES.
HE DOES EVERYTHING.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HOW GOOD HE
CAN BE PLAYING AGAINST LESSER
OPPONENTS.
HE'LL STILL PROBABLY FINISH THE
GAME.
>> IGUODALA CAN BE THE DE FACTO
POINT GUARD.
>> HE CAN DO A LOT.
>> HE CAN DO EVERYTHING ON THE
BASKETBALL COURT.
I'M STICKING WITH JAMAL
CRAWFORD.
THIS GUYS COME IN, JUST SCORES
THE BASKETBALL.
THAT'S ALL HE DOES.
HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT DEFENSE.
HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT ANY OF
THAT.
HE IS AMAZING AT IT.
WE HAD AN EMAIL RECENTLY FROM
AARON DUNN SAYING HAS THERE
EVER BEEN A GUY WHO HAS
MAINTAINED HIS ELITE QUICKNESS
FOR MANY YEARS AS JAMAL
CRAWFORD?
THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
HE IS 34 YEARS OLD.
HE MAKES GUYS 10 YEARS YOUNGER
THAN HIM LOOK LIKE FOOLS.
>> CRAZY HANDLES.
>> IF HE DOES PICK UP HIS
THIRD, THAT IS MY PREDICTION,
THE FIRST TO DO THAT.
FOUR GUYS INCLUDING HIMSELF, OF
COURSE, ARE TWO TIME SIX MAN OF
THE YEAR WINNERS, MCHALE,
PIERCE, DETLEF SHRIMP, LET'S
HEAR WHAT PEOPLE THINK.
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR
PREDICTION.
WE'RE TAKING A BREAK.
WHEN WE RETURN, WE'RE THROWING
DENNIS SCOTT IN THE HOT SEAT.
OUR SPECIAL GUEST RIVALRIES,
FINAL PREDICTIONS, DON'T GO
ANYWHERE.
YOU'RE WATCHING "THE STARTERS."
>> WELCOME BACK TO "THE
STARTERS."
THERE HE IS, TAKING THE HOT
SEAT, FORMER NBA SHARPSHOOTER
DENNIS SCOTT IN THE HOTTEST
PANTS YET ON HOT SEAT.
LOOK AT THOSE.
>> JUST FOR YOU GUYS.
>> VERY, VERY NICE.
APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US HERE.
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
FIRST, LET'S CRANK UP THE HEAT
IN HERE.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>> YOU ALL TRYING TO PUT ME
ASLEEP?
>> HERE WE GO.
FIVE QUESTIONS, FIRST ONE, WHAT
IS THE NBA'S BEST RIVALRY?
>> BEST RIVALRY, I DON'T KNOW
IF WE REALLY HAVE A RIVALRY TO
THIS DAY.
BECAUSE I'M OLD SCHOOL, STILL
BOSTON VERSUS THE LAKERS.
>> STILL?
>> TO THINK DA.
THINK OF IT, KOBE AND K.G.
REKINDLED THIS RIVALRY.
SO MUCH MOVEMENT IN THE NBA, I
WAS MAYBE GOING TO SAY
HEAT-SPURS, BUT LEBRON IS GONE
NOW.
HE HAS GONE BACK TO CLEVELAND,
THERE IS NO WAY I DON'T SEE
MIAMI AND SPURS FACING EACH
OTHER IN THE FINALS AGAIN.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M OLD SCHOOL
AND STILL SAY LAKERS-CELTICS,
KOBE-K.G. NOT TOO LONG AGO.
>> STICKS WITH BOSTON.
NEXT QUESTION, TRUE OR FALSE,
DERRICK ROSE WILL RETURN TO
ALL-STAR FORM?
>> TRUE.
HE IS ON A MISSION.
>> I LIKE IT.
>> I THINK THE LAST GOING BACK
WITH THE INJURY, TAKING A YEAR
OFF, COMING BACK, GETTING HURT
AGAIN, I THINK U.S.A.
BASKETBALL, BEING A PART OF THE
FIBA BASKETBALL TEAM REALLY
HELPED HIM FROM A STANDPOINT,
HE DIDN'T SHOOT THE BALL REALLY
WELL, BUT PHYSICALLY HE WAS
ABLE TO BE EXPLOSIVE AND SHOWED
THE SIGNS.
YOU GET BACK IN TRAINING CAMP,
GET YOUR NBA LEGS UNDER YOUR, A
PHENOMENAL YEAR.
>> THIRD QUESTION HERE ON THE
HOT SEAT, WHO WOULD YOU RATHER
HAVE, THIS IS A TOUGH ONE,
KEVIN LOVE OR BLAKE GRIFFIN?
YOU GOT TO PICK ONE, 3-D.
>> THE HOT SEAT.
>> I THINK AT THE END OF THE
DAY FOR ME, I LOVE KEVIN LOVE
BEING ABLE TO BE A STRETCH FOUR
AND KNOCK DOWN A THREE, BUT IT
MUST BE B.G.
I NEED BLAKE GRIFFIN.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, I NEED
TO PUT SOME REAR ENDS IN SEATS.
I NEED TO MAKE SURE MY
CUSTOMERS ARE HAPPY.
I GOT TO NEED TO MAKE SURE I'M
SELLING BOBBLEHEADS AND JERSEY.
I GOT TO MAKE SURE I'M SELLING
EXCITEMENT, MUST SEE B.G.
>> THEY SAY HE HAS ADDED A
THREE-POINT SHOT.
>> NOT YET, MUST SEE B.G., SLOW
DOWN.
STAY IN YOUR LANE.
>> FOURTH YES, WHICH TWO TEAMS
WILL MEET IN THE FINALS THIS
SEASON?
>> OH, MAN, I GO BACK AND FORTH
WITH THE WHOLE CLEVELAND AND
LEBRON GOING BACK HOME.
I'M NOT SURE THAT KYRIE IRVING
AND KEVIN LOVE CAN CHANGE THEIR
STRIPES OVERNIGHT.
SO I THINK DERRICK ROSE, SO
ANSWER YOUR EARLIER QUESTION IS
HUNGRIER, BRINGING IN PAU
GASOL, SO I HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE
BULLS COMING OUT OF THE EAST,
THAT'S A LOT.
IN THE WEST, RIGHT NOW TODAY, I
LIKE THE CLIPPERS AND I THINK
KEVIN DURANT BEING HURT EARLY
IS GOING TO BE A GOOD THING FOR
O.K.C., IT'S GOING TO MAKE
OTHER GUYS AROUND HIM STEP UP.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE I'M KIND OF
ON THE FENCE.
>> IT'S NOT SO EASY, IS IT?
>> OH, IT'S TOUGH.
VERY TOUGH.
>> FINAL ONE, WHICH CURRENT
PLAYER'S GAME REMINDS YOU MOST
OF YOURS?
>> THIS IS PROBABLY THE HARDEST
QUESTION OF ALL OF THEM.
>> I'M EXCITED TO HEAR YOUR
ANSWER FOR THIS.
>> PEOPLE THAT WATCH MY GAME
THROUGHOUT MY WHOLE CAREER KNOW
I DID HAVE A POST-UP GAME.
OBVIOUSLY THROUGH THESE CLIPS
RIGHT HERE, WHEN SHAQ AND PENNY
CAME ALONG, GET YOURSELF OUT
AND SHOOT THE THREE, THAT'S WHY
THEY CALL ME 3-D.
THE CLOSEST ONE THAT COMES IS
KYLE KORVER.
>> KORVER?
>> BECAUSE IN THIS ERA OF MY
GAME, I USED TO CHASE THE
THREE, TRANSITION THREE,
HALF-COURT THREE, THAT'S WHAT
KYLE KORVER DOES.
WHEN HE IS ON THE FLOOR, IF HE
IS NOT MAKING THE THREE-POINT
SHOT, JEFF TEAGUE CAN'T DRIVE.
MILL SAPP HAS ROOM TO WORK.
THAT WAS MY JOB WHEN SHAQ AND
PENNY CAME TO ORLANDO, I HAD TO
MAKE SHOTS.
I THINK KYLE KORVER IS THE
CLOSEST, OBVIOUSLY KYLE KORVER
DOESN'T HAVE A POST-UP GAME OR
REMIND YOU, I HAD A POST-UP
GAME.
>> THE GUY SHOOTING A THREE,
MAYBE A KLAY?
>> ONE OF THE SPLASH BROTHERS,
HE HAS A LITTLE MORE OFF THE
DRIBBLE, I DIDN'T HAVE ALL
THAT.
>> I LIKE THE KORVER.
>> CLOSE.
>> 3-D, THANK YOU, SIR, FOR
DROPPING BY "THE STARTERS" HERE
JUMPING IN THE HOT SEAT.
TENSE, ARE YOU SWEATING?
>> I'M SWEATING.
>> TAKE ONE MORE BREAK, BUT
WHEN WE RETURN, YOU, THE FANS
DECIDE WHETHER THE SPURS WILL
FINAL ACCOMPLISH THE BACK TO
BACK, DON'T GO ANYWHERE.
YOU'RE WATCHING "THE STARTERS."
>> BACK WITH THE "THE
STARTERS," WE DEBATED IT
EARLIER IN THE SHOW, WE ASKED
YOU ON THE "THE STARTERS" FABE
PAGE, WHO WILL WIN THE
2014-2015 CHAMPIONSHIP AND 32%
OF YOU AGREE WITH US IN
THINKING THAT THE SPURS WILL
REPEAT AND THEY'LL FINAL DO A
BACK TO BACK.
THE BULLS GETTING 17% OF THE
VOTE, CAVS 16%, CLIPPERS 11%
AND THE THUNDER COMING IN A
DISTANT FIFTH AT 7%.
>> EVERYONE THOUGHT THE HEAT
WOULD WIN IT LAST YEAR.
YOU WERE WRONG.
>> THAT IS IT FOR THE 72
BURNING QUESTIONS.
HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE NBA SEASON
PREVIEW THERE FROM US.
LET'S GET TO THE ACTUAL SEASON,
THE SEASON OPENER FOR "THE
STARTERS" TOMORROW, 5:00 P.M.
EASTERN ON NBA TV.
WE'LL GET IT UP IN PODCAST
FORM.
HAVING A LOT OF FUN, WE'RE
GOING TO LOOK AHEAD TO THIS
UPCOMING SEASON A LITTLE BIT
MORE AND TALK A LITTLE STEVE
NASH.
LET'S GET TO REAL BASKETBALL
HERE.
>> CAN'T WAIT.
>> IT'S TIME.
>> THANKS FOR JOINING US,
FOLKS, REMEMBER, NEVER JUDGE A
PERSON BY THEIR LICENSE OR
PASSPORT PHOTOS.
>> EMBRACE THE NIGHT, PEOPLE.
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