Can the Knicks catch Boston? | Big 3 NBA Podcast - video Dailymotion

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A. Sherrod Blakely sat down with James Edwards III, who covers the Knicks for The Athletic, to break down all things New York basketball. They talked about the Knicks’ two All-Stars, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, and how big of a deal their success is in New York.  They also dove into the playoff picture, discussing whether the Knicks are a real threat to the Boston Celtics.   CLNS Media is Powered by:  💰 Prize Picks - https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS Download the app today and use Code CLNS when you sign up & Get $50 instantly when you play $5!  🎫 Gametime - https://gametime.co Take the guesswork out of buying NBA tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CLNS for $20 off your first purchase. Download Gametime today. Terms apply. What time is it? Gametime!  💳Start earning points on rent you’re already paying by going to joinbilt.com/GARDEN. Make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you: joinbilt.com/GARDEN, to start earning points on your rent payments today!  Elevate your style game on and off the course with the PXG Spring Summer 2024 collection. Head over to https://PXG.com/GARDENREPORT and save 10% on all apparel.  Nutrafol! Take the first step to visibly thicker, healthier hair. For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners ten dollars off any purchase and free shipping when you go to https://Nutrafol.com and enter the promo code GARDENGIFT!   #celtics #NBA #BostonCeltics The CLNS Media Network is the leading provider for video/audio content. CLNS is a fully credentialed member of the media with access to all NFL/NBA/NHL/MLB teams & venues. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------  CLNS' rebuilt their YouTube community in less than 12 months, during a pandemic that attacked sports. Wondering how? Find out here (and support our channel) - https://www.tubebuddy.com/clnsmedia  Visit the Official Home of CLNS Sports Coverage -  https://clnsmedia.com  Twitter - https://twitter.com/CLNSMedia Celtics - https://twitter.com/celticsclns Patriots - https://twitter.com/patriotsclns Bruins - https://twitter.com/bruinsclns Red Sox - https://twitter.com/redsoxclns Non-Sports - https://twitter.com/northstation Facebook - http://facebook.com/clnsmedia INSTA - http://Instagram.com/clnsmedia INSTA Celtics - http://Instagram.com/celticsclns INSTA History - http://Instagram.com/nbahistoryclns

Transcript

00:00The Big 3 NBA Podcast is powered by PrizePix and the Game Time app.

00:25Hello people, welcome to another edition of the Big 3 NBA Podcast, I'm Ashara Blakely

00:30and I'm joined by the man, the myth, the legend, James Edwards of The Athletic, covering the

00:36now kind of mighty New York Knicks.

00:38James, how you doing brother?

00:41I'm doing all right, Ashara.

00:42I appreciate you having me on, man.

00:43I noticed the last few times I've done this, your co-hosts haven't been around.

00:47I think I'm going to have to have a talk with Quanie, because I see her.

00:51I see her out and about, but I haven't been on the pod with her in a minute.

00:55You know what, Quanie kind of big time now.

00:58I'm just glad I can get her for like 25, 30 minutes on a podcast now, because to me, Quanie

01:04is like the female equivalent of what me and some of the fellas used to call going from

01:08ashy to classy, because right now, Quanie is very classy, but there was a time when

01:13she wasn't quite as classy as she is now.

01:16Lots of opportunities coming her way, and she is making the most of them, no doubt.

01:22When you talk about making the most of opportunities, what about those New York Knicks?

01:26I will not be as braggadocious as my brethren, Stephen A. Smith, in talking about the New

01:33York Knicks, but there's no doubt about it.

01:35They are playing some really good basketball after a not so great start, and highlighted

01:39by the fact that you've got Carl Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson, both all-stars starters.

01:46Depending on how they're doing, a weird all-star set up this year, but they were among the

01:50top bowl getters at their respective positions.

01:53What is it about those two guys that has allowed them to not only put up big numbers, obviously,

01:59but also have those numbers lead to success in terms of wins and losses, from your perspective?

02:04Yeah, I mean, those two have been the driving force of this.

02:07The Knicks themselves have been a weird team this year, and we'll get into that, I'm sure,

02:11but I mean, those two are great complements to one another.

02:14You got Jalen Brunson, who's one of the best pick-and-roll guards in basketball, and was

02:18pre-Carl Anthony Towns, and then the addition of Carl Anthony Towns, one of the best spacing

02:23big men, not only just in basketball, but make the case all time, and you put them together

02:28and they join forces, and you're seeing the Knicks reap the benefits offensively.

02:33Certainly, those two have had a great chemistry.

02:36I think it's even flourished sooner than most people thought.

02:41I think they're among, if not the top, they're among the best pick-and-roll duos in basketball.

02:46They're both just very talented players who can make shots from all over the floor, and

02:50then you couple that with the Josh Hartz of the world, who's finishing at an elite level,

02:55is a great passer, great connector of this team, Mikkel Bridges, who has had a up-and-down

03:01start to his Knicks tenure, but has carved out his role and settled into his role, and

03:05is another guy that can space the floor, and same with O.G.

03:08So, they have the pieces around those two that complement them well, but they're both

03:13just two very talented basketball players who can put the ball in the hoop from anywhere.

03:16Yeah, and again, as you pointed out, playing exceptionally well basketball, a big reason,

03:21a big driving force behind the Knicks' success, and the fact that they're both all-stars,

03:26something that has, it's been a long time coming, to say the least, when the Knicks

03:30have had, you know, two players as prominent in the all-star ecosystem as those two are.

03:37How big a deal is them being all-stars in that New York City market, where everything

03:42seems to be amplified, but it seems like there's more talk about how special this is with those

03:47two being all-stars?

03:48Yeah, I think it's more, it's something that the fans can celebrate, right?

03:53It's the fans who have been through this the most.

03:56Obviously, Jalen Brunson is connected to the organization.

04:00Both him and Cat are, I think, well, Cat was born in New Jersey, I think Jalen was born

04:03in New Jersey as well, but obviously, they just got here, Jalen a few years ago, Cat

04:08earlier this year, so a lot of their gratitude has gone toward the fans, who have obviously

04:16been through a lot.

04:18I've covered a team in Detroit that won 17 games, it wasn't that long ago the Knicks

04:22won 17 games.

04:23This was not a team that has had perennial all-stars often, it's not a team that has

04:28had success often, so I think for the fans, it's a big deal, because they've watched some

04:32bad basketball over the last 20 years, and obviously, for those two guys, two guys with

04:38different stories, right?

04:39Jalen Brunson, a second-round pick, and has found his way to the NBA mountaintop in terms

04:44of individuality, and then Karl-Anthony Towns has lived up to the hype of being a number

04:48one pick, so those two guys don't take this for granted, but it's certainly something

04:53that I think it's a bigger deal amongst the fans, because they've gone through a lot.

04:58I think it's been 50 years since the Knicks had two starters in the same all-star game,

05:04so that stat alone says how rare of a feat it's been around these parts.

05:11Yeah, absolutely, and the thing about those guys is that you look at what Jalen's doing,

05:18and obviously he's playing well, and you look at what Cat's doing, and the numbers speak

05:22for themselves, and the wins and losses speak for themselves, and you and I, we've been

05:25around the game long enough to know that no two or three guys are going to carry your

05:31team, particularly when you're one of the better teams in the league.

05:36When you look at some of the other players that have played a role in this team's success,

05:41who's that one player that you would point to as someone who is a big part of this team's

05:47success, but maybe doesn't get enough shine for that, get enough attention?

05:51Yeah, I think the answer is Josh Hart.

05:55He's 6'4", and is leading the NBA in rebounds in 2025.

05:59On the season, he's averaging 14 points a game, 9.6 rebounds, and 5.6 assists while

06:05shooting 56% from the field and 36% from three.

06:09He's consistent on both ends of the floor.

06:11You know what you're getting from him.

06:13He's a connector.

06:14He understands what his role is within this team, and he does it to the best of his abilities

06:19every single night.

06:21I thought there was a world where Josh Hart, not where he makes the all-star team, but

06:26I think there should have been more consideration for that, just given the numbers that he has

06:30and the success the Knicks have in terms of record.

06:34He's been phenomenal for them in terms of just steadiness and knowing what you're going

06:39to get when you have Cat and Brunson teams are going to look to take those guys away

06:44every single night.

06:45More often than not, they're going to do what they do, but they're going to be the game

06:49plan every single night, and then OG and Mikhail have both gone through their ups

06:53and downs this year.

06:54Josh has kind of been the steady presence, so I think he's had a tremendous season, maybe

06:58the best of his career, and another guy that I thought that wouldn't make the all-star

07:03team but definitely considered more shine in that regard than I think the national narrative

07:07was around him.

07:08Yeah, I kind of look at him as kind of like this year's Derek White, a guy that his numbers

07:13may not necessarily be all-star-esque, but when you look at his impact on winning, you

07:18look at the success that his team has with him and the potential lack of success they

07:23would have without him, you definitely would like to see his name in that conversation.

07:30To your point, at his size, doing what he does is incredible.

07:37The question that, when I talk to different folks in the NBA community about Josh, the

07:42one thing that they're all kind of looking at is, when is the floor going to come from

07:47underneath him?

07:48When is he going to basically struggle a little bit and not be as impactful and a difference-maker?

07:53And I think he is slowly but surely making a lot of believers out of a lot of people

07:58based on the consistency that he's been able to bring to the table night in and night out

08:04for the Knicks.

08:05Certainly, yeah.

08:06No, he's just a steady presence, steady voice.

08:10I always kind of talk about just covering this league, one thing you don't really...

08:15One thing you take for granted when you're just a fan as opposed to being in it and around

08:18it every day is the guys that, I guess the general term is X-Factors, but the low-maintenance

08:25players who impact the game on both sides of the ball and do a little bit of everything.

08:29Those are the guys that help win championships.

08:31You look at Kentavious, Caldwell Pope in both LA and Denver.

08:35You look at Bruce Brown in Denver.

08:39You look at...

08:40I mean, the list goes on, Andre Iguodala in Golden State, Draymond Green in Golden State.

08:45Those are the guys that really take teams to different levels, and Josh Hart, to me,

08:49is part of that ilk.

08:50Yeah, absolutely.

08:51And when you talk about just the factors that go into winning at a high level, X-Factors

08:57obviously are part of that conversation, that equation, but so is the head coach.

09:02And Tom Thibodeau has, and again, having worked with him as an assistant here in Boston and

09:07just kind of seeing his growth and elevation and improvement as a head coach, no one will

09:12ever question whether Tom works his guys hard enough.

09:15That's never going to happen.

09:16Never be questioned.

09:18But one of the knocks against him has been that maybe he works his guys a little too

09:21hard and leans a little bit too much on his core guy.

09:24I don't think that's been the case, but have you noticed any kind of modifications or changes

09:29in just how he goes about getting the most out of his guys?

09:34Because once upon a time, the narrative was that he plays his guys damn near every minute.

09:38But when you start looking at the minutes that his core guys play, it really ain't that

09:42different than most teams when you talk about their top three, top four players.

09:45Have you noticed a, I would say, softening with just a modification of how much he leans

09:51on his core guys?

09:53I would say a lot of Knicks fans probably share that sentiment in terms of they believe

10:00he plays them too much.

10:01I think if you look at the total minutes played, every single starter is in the top 10, top

10:0612 this year with Josh Hart, Mikhail Bridges and OGN and OB, I think one, two and three

10:13in minutes played.

10:14However, but when you look at minutes per game, Jalen Brunson and Kat are both outside

10:18of the top 20 in minutes per game played.

10:20Now with that said, the other three are in the top 10.

10:23But listen, players like to play and they, that's what they're paid to do.

10:28Literally.

10:29That's what they're paid to do.

10:30Yeah.

10:31They're paid to do that.

10:32They like to play.

10:33They like being relied upon.

10:35And I think Tibbs over the last few games has leaned on his bench a little bit more

10:39too.

10:40Um, so to give credit there, but yeah, I think it's just like people know what they sign

10:44up for when tip, when they're with tips, like he, he plays his best players.

10:48And if you ask any kind of starter level star level player that he's ever had, you never

10:53hear a bad word about him.

10:55Um, he gives those guys the freedom and he gives those guys the keys.

10:59And uh, that's why you always hear players say good things.

11:03One narrative that I had is before I got here was that they practiced a lot too, but they

11:07don't really even practice.

11:09Like I just got back from practice, but this is like maybe the second time they've practiced

11:13in the last four or five weeks.

11:14If they're not playing, he gives a starter's time off.

11:17Um, so while most teams, maybe they play their guys five, six less minutes a game, they're

11:22also probably practicing once or twice a week.

11:25Um, I wouldn't say that is the case here in New York.

11:27So, uh, listen, the player is always at the end of the day, how do the players feel about

11:32it?

11:33You never hear a player say a bad thing.

11:34Yeah.

11:35And I can tell you right now, having covered the league for a really long time, if you

11:38give players the option of either having days off from practice or, you know, playing, uh,

11:43you know, a few, you know, having their minutes per game modified, they're going to take them

11:48days off the damn days off from practice as, as much as because players, again, there's

11:54a reason why they call it playing the game versus practicing.

11:58They want to play.

11:59They don't want to get paid.

12:00They get paid to play, not pay their game checks, not practice checks.

12:04It's just exactly, exactly, uh, and, and before we go any further, I want to just give a quick

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14:07After you play your first $5 lineup prize picks, run your game and James, we are going

14:13to run ahead and talk about that team.

14:17That's a couple games ahead of the Knicks in the standing.

14:20That would be the Boston Celtics.

14:24It's what we'll talk more about this later, but what do you, how do you see that matchup

14:28looking as we get deep into the season?

14:31Because I mean, there's no question about it that both of these teams are very different

14:35now than they were in that season opener, which again, I don't think the Celtics put

14:39a whole lot of stock into what happened then.

14:42And I certainly don't believe the Knicks do either.

14:45What are some of the differences that you've seen from like, you see the Knicks up close,

14:48but when you watch the Celtics, how do they look different, if at all, from what you saw

14:52at the start of the season?

14:53Yeah.

14:54I mean, obviously they, they came out of the gates with a ridiculous shooting variance.

14:58Um, that's, that's dropped a little bit, but my, my view of the Celtics is this is a team

15:03that has done it all.

15:05They've gotten to the mountaintop.

15:06They're usually in that conversation every single year, but now they finally did it.

15:10And the first season after doing it, they don't necessarily look to have that same hunger

15:14and same urgency in the regular season.

15:16And that's okay.

15:17I don't feel any different about the Celtics chances to win a championship after this bit

15:22of a rough patch.

15:23And I did before it.

15:24Um, this is a team that's ready, looks ready to get to the playoffs that I believe will

15:27turn it on when they get to the playoffs.

15:29Um, and their continuity is what sets them apart.

15:32Them and Cleveland is what sets them apart from New York guys that have played together

15:37and have, and have kind of been through things with one another.

15:40So, um, yeah, I mean, Boston, obviously they're going through a rough patch.

15:43They're not shooting it as well consistently as they were at the beginning of the year.

15:47Um, defensive, they've had some defensive stuff here and there, but it's certainly a

15:51team that I don't worry about.

15:53Um, as for New York, they're a weird team.

15:56I know you, people look at the record and they think this is like, they're, they've

16:00been just killing everybody.

16:01It's not necessarily the case.

16:03Um, they're nine and 10 versus seeds one through 10 in the East.

16:07They're three and five versus one through 10 in the West.

16:10Um, they have 29 wins on the season and they're 13 and oh, versus the 10 through 15 seeds

16:16in the East and four and one versus 10 through 15 in the West.

16:18So, um, they are beating the bad teams and they are, they have a losing record against

16:24the good teams.

16:25Uh, so I'm, I, what do I think we're, the Knicks are a second round playoff team.

16:30I do.

16:31I think they have the talent to get there.

16:32I don't feel comfortable putting money on it.

16:34I don't.

16:35Um, but until, until proven otherwise, they have, um, some depth issues.

16:40They got to get a lot better defensively.

16:42Um, they, they obviously have, have improved in areas.

16:45I think that their, their, their shot making has been a bit more consistent at times.

16:50Their defense has shown, um, some improvements here and there, but it's not consistent.

16:55Um, they got to figure some stuff out cause as of right now, the playoffs ended today.

17:01I'm at the three seed.

17:02It looks like they could play one of Indiana, Detroit, or Orlando or Atlanta.

17:08Um, they have a, they tie, they split the season so far with the Pacers.

17:13They're one and two against the Pistons.

17:14They're three and one against the magic, but the magic didn't have Paolo and France for

17:18most of those.

17:19And they have a losing record against Atlanta.

17:21So their team has a lot to prove, um, but they have the talent to do it.

17:26So we'll see.

17:27That's interesting.

17:28Uh, and you're right.

17:29I mean, this is a time of year where a lot of teams are just kind of assessing not only,

17:34you know, what they're doing record wise and, and, and who they beat and who they've not

17:37beating, but also what do they need to do to achieve whatever their ultimate goal is

17:41for some teams, obviously it's just getting to the playoffs, other teams winning a championship.

17:45And then for most teams, it's somewhere in the middle there.

17:48Uh, the trade deadline is going to be here before you know it.

17:51How active do you think the Knicks will be not just in talking, but actually getting

17:54a deal done?

17:56Uh, I think they want to be more active than they will be.

17:59Um, nobody is going to get traded in the starting lineup.

18:02Uh, they're up against a second apron and they don't really have the contracts to make

18:07a massive move.

18:09Uh, Mitchell Robinson is the big contract that they have.

18:11That's technically on the bench, but he hasn't played since, I mean, he's got foot surgery

18:15last May and hasn't played since, um, there's no update on when he'll be back.

18:21So I mean, listen, getting him back healthy is one thing.

18:25Um, if that happens, maybe New York's better off keeping him and, and, and, and adding

18:30depth and, and some rim protection that way.

18:33But they also, this is the guy that's always hurt and if they can get off of them, I'm

18:37sure they would like to, but I'm not sure that a team is going to be chomping at the

18:40bit without New York giving up other stuff in return.

18:43So after that, you're looking at guys that make precious issue, I make 6 million a year

18:48deuce McBride, I think four, and I don't see them moving McBride, but they just don't have

18:52the contracts to make like substantial moves.

18:54So it'll be interesting.

18:56Um, I wouldn't be surprised if they made some very marginal moves just to like kind of reshuffle

19:01the chairs and maybe add a wing.

19:03Um, but this is not a team that without moving one of their starters, which I don't think

19:08happens unless they can find a way to move Mitch.

19:11I just don't think how they can, I don't see how they can do anything significant.

19:14Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

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20:43What time is it game time?

20:46And it is getting close to game time for when we were going to, to the games that really

20:50matter, which is the playoffs.

20:51Uh, as we've talked about with, with the Knicks, uh, just the way that they're positioned in

20:56the Eastern conference and where the Celtics are, it really does feel like if things play

21:00out the way they are likely to play out, these two will be seeing each other in the second

21:05round of the playoffs, uh, with a chance to go on to the conference finals.

21:10Now you've done a really good job with James, but just giving us a sense of kind of how

21:15did the Knicks have gotten here, but if they're going to get past Boston, which obviously

21:19is part of their goal, uh, one of their goals this year, what's it going to look like from

21:24the Knicks perspective?

21:25Like if the Knicks play the Celtics and they win that best of seven series, these are the

21:29things that will likely happen for that to occur.

21:32What are those things?

21:33Yeah.

21:34I mean, obviously you've got to be able to make shots against a team that can make shots

21:37first and foremost, and that didn't happen in game one.

21:39Again, that's game one.

21:40Nobody's holding onto that, but the Celtics have the ability to get hot.

21:44They're one of the few teams in basketball that have a, a roster that has the level of

21:49shot making that the Knicks does, um, and you can make a case it's surpasses the Knicks

21:54cause they have a little, they have more depth there, uh, but for the Knicks, it's all comes

21:57down to defense.

21:58Can they consistently be on a string?

22:00Can they consistently, um, communicate well, their scramble defense has not been great

22:05at times this year.

22:07Um, their, their drop defense hasn't always been great at times this year.

22:11Um, they got to figure it out defensively.

22:13I'm not sure that they have the horses to, to do it without making a move or without

22:17maybe the possibility of Mitchell Robinson come back.

22:20Um, but they're going to have to find that consistency somehow.

22:23Um, the trade for Carl Anthony towns was a good trade and they won that trade, but I

22:29kind of looked at it when it happened.

22:31I was like, I'm not sure if it makes the Knicks better.

22:32I think it just makes them different.

22:34And they're an elite offensive team that has efficiency, uh, going up across the board,

22:40but they're 16th and defense, um, and they need to really figure out the best way to

22:46play, um, with the kind of guys like Brunson and cat who, who cat's not known to be a elite

22:52rim protector.

22:53Brunson is of the guys around him is obviously the, the, the least defensive of those guys.

22:59Um, so teams are going to hunt that and, uh, they have to find ways to cover that up.

23:04Yeah.

23:05I mean, I've been pleasantly surprised at how well the Knicks have played for, and for

23:09you.

23:10I mean, the point that you bring up was my initial, uh, reaction to the trade was that

23:15menace that Minnesota wanted to trade because Minnesota, to me, got, they got dogs in, in

23:20defense, Enzo and Randall.

23:22And typically when you go and make a deep playoff runs, you're going to win with guys

23:26who have that kind of a legitimate, uh, rugged toughness, defensive type of game, uh, and

23:32who can also score a little bit because defense Enzo obviously can, can get you some buckets

23:35and same thing with you is obviously, um, but I I'm curious like you as well to see

23:41how, how is this going to manifest itself in playoff time?

23:44Because that's typically when defenses ratchet their games up.

23:49And the one thing I did want to ask you about, uh, I did want to talk to you about defense.

23:53And one of the things I'm sure you've probably noticed it, and certainly others have noticed

23:56is that the way games are being officiated now, they're allowing guys to play a little

24:01bit more than they used to be a little bit more physical.

24:04How much do you think that little tweak in terms of officiating could benefit a team

24:09like New York who maybe doesn't have the more traditional stout defenders, particularly

24:14when you talk about Carl and Jalen?

24:16Yeah.

24:17I mean, I think it's definitely beneficial to somebody like OGN and Obi, who's just a,

24:21uh, somebody who pounces on offensive players, Mikkel Bridges, who's going to be utilized

24:26as the point of attack defender on most nights and Josh Hart, who's aggressive, right?

24:30Like they can maybe get away with a little bit more and, and even in Jalen's case, right?

24:33Like he's going to be able to, to, to use his arms a little bit more, use his hands

24:37a little bit more.

24:38So, um, I think it's a team that defensively, like they have some guys, right?

24:45But they need to, to me, the big thing is like communication and, and being on the same

24:49page and being on a string.

24:51You just don't see that enough with this group.

24:53Um, they, they can surrender.

24:55There's nights where they surrender a lot of open threes and, um, whether that's in

24:59transition or in the half court, but it's certainly to me, the biggest thing is them

25:03finding a way to kind of get in unison on that end and, and, and being able to, to,

25:08to have one another's back and being able to trust that the other one's going to rotate

25:12or this, that, and the third.

25:13So, uh, the physicality, the increased physicality is great.

25:17Um, it certainly helps somebody like Jalen Brunson, but at the end of the day, if you're

25:21not doing, if you're not on your P's and Q's in terms of your coverages, it doesn't, it's

25:26all nil.

25:27Yeah.

25:28Yeah.

25:30You know, when I, when I think about the Celtics and I think about the Knicks, the one area

25:33that I think, uh, doesn't necessarily get as much, uh, I think credence for why the

25:38Celtics would be favorite is Boston's defensive versatility.

25:42Um, I think about their ability to, to switch one through five in many respects, and obviously

25:48you're, they're not going to have the advantage at all five positions, but you're not nearly

25:52as concerned when Chris Stapps for Zing is, is matched up against another team's point

25:59guard versus Carl Anthony Towns when he's matched up against another team's point guard.

26:04Now, one team that you made reference to, and I wanted to just kind of end it on, on

26:08this note, just because, uh, for those who don't know, I've known James for a long time,

26:13uh, and James was in Detroit for a long time.

26:16Uh, and they lost a hell of a lot of games in Detroit, which was so unusual because having

26:22myself been there for a decade, that just wasn't how it was.

26:25And so for you, James, I was so happy for you when I found out that you were leaving

26:31because I knew that you would be going into a better situation.

26:34You'd have more, uh, you know, just a better team to cover in terms of wins and loss and

26:37all that kind of stuff.

26:38And so lo and behold, we look up and here comes the Detroit Pistons, Ashley balling

26:44out a little bit.

26:45How was that for you to see that team that you covered for so many years?

26:49And now all of a sudden you, you leave, you, I mean, you, you leave the, you know, the

26:52two, four, eight, and now all of a sudden they balling in a three, one, three.

26:57Right.

26:58Yeah.

26:59I mean, it's been, it's definitely, first and foremost, you're happy for the people

27:01over there that you have relationships with.

27:04Um, that's the big thing for me.

27:06Those I've was, how do I say this?

27:09I, a lot of those guys over there I covered from the first moment they stepped foot in

27:13the NBA.

27:14Um, the moment that their name was called by, and they shook Adam Silver's hand.

27:19One of the next people they saw was me.

27:20Um, cause I've covered all, uh, they're all young.

27:23The majority of them, I covered them as soon as they stepped in the league, covered a lot

27:26of drafts.

27:27Um, so you get to know these guys, you get to know them on a personal level.

27:31And, uh, there's a lot of good people over there, not even just the players, but you

27:34know, the Cletus is in kgs of the world, the quarries, uh, the Kongs, the equipment, like

27:39it goes, the list goes on and on.

27:41They have good people over there.

27:42So first and foremost, you're happy for them on a human level.

27:45Um, you're happy for the fans cause that's one of the best basketball, not even just

27:48best basketball.

27:49That's one of the best sports towns in America, if not the best.

27:52Um, and yeah, it's, it's, it's, it's some days I'm like, man, just knowing all I know

28:00about a lot of those players, like, man, I'd be writing so many good stories and I wrote

28:04a, I wrote an amazing amount of stories while I was there, but now the, all the eyes are

28:08on the pistons cause they're good.

28:09So it's like, man, I know this about this guy.

28:11Like I'd be writing this, I'd be writing that.

28:13Um, so sometimes you, it's like from a creative standpoint, I think about it, but I'm happy

28:20where I'm at.

28:21Um, the Knicks organization, um, the players have been great to me.

28:26Um, it's obviously still don't have the type of relationships I had with, with players

28:31in Detroit that comes with time only been here a few months.

28:34Um, but overall they're, they're nice guys.

28:37Um, and it's, yeah, it's different life experience for me.

28:40I wanted to try something new born and raised in Flint, Michigan.

28:44I went to Michigan state, covered the pistons for eight, for seven years.

28:48So, uh, I definitely wanted to like try something new and, and do something

28:52different.

28:53And, uh, yeah, it's, it's, it's funny how that works.

28:56It's almost like the basketball gods are laughing at me, but, uh, I'm in a great

29:01place and I'm happy for those people to, uh, over in Detroit because, um, like I

29:06said, first and foremost are good people over there.

29:08So, uh, it's, it's, I think it's a win-win for everybody.

29:12Absolutely.

29:13Absolutely.

29:13And certainly a win-win for the Knicks to have you covering them.

29:16One, one of the best sports writers in the game, James, uh, did a tremendous job

29:21in Detroit, uh, and the not less, I think it's fair to say very less than ideal

29:26circumstances when your team was winning or excuse me, losing at the level in which

29:30they were.

29:31And James was able to consistently deliver engaging, interesting, readable

29:35content that people were gobbling up.

29:37That afforded him the opportunity and flexibility to go somewhere like New York

29:41where he could continue to expand upon and, uh, and truly, truly, uh, impressive,

29:48uh, ability to, to just tell stories that need to be told, uh, in the NBA.

29:53I appreciate you OG.

29:54Thank you, man.

29:56This is, and again, this is, this, I love having these conversations, uh, with, with

30:00folks like you, James, who are going to just carry the torch, uh, of, of NBA

30:05coverage for OGs like myself, uh, who are more than happy to sit, stand on the

30:09sidelines and watch our run this race that we've already ran.

30:12So

30:12no, you're still running.

30:13You're still running and running fast.

30:15My man,

30:15I still, I still got, I got a little bit of kick.

30:17Not much.

30:18Just a little bit, man.

30:19You're doing well.

30:20Appreciate it.

30:21And James, I appreciate you coming on the podcast and we'll, we'll get on, on, on

30:25big time, Quanie, uh, at some point, we got to figure out a way to get her on.

30:29I don't know what's going on.

30:30I see her, I see her court side.

30:32I see her all this, but I can't see her on the pod.

30:35We got to talk exactly.

30:36And if we certainly, if the Knicks and Celtics are, uh, in playoff mode against

30:41one another, we definitely have to have a great conversation and quantity.

30:45We'll have no choice, but to be there.

30:47We've got, that becomes a mandatory meeting, uh, dinner on her.

30:51Exactly.

30:52Exactly.

30:52There you go.

30:53There you go.

30:54Absolutely.

30:55James Edwards of the athletic James.

30:58Thank you so much for your time, brother.

30:59I appreciate you.

31:00I appreciate you having me, man.

31:02Anytime.

31:03No problem.

31:04And again, just before we break out of here again, one more shout out to our

31:06good friends at prize picks, exclusive daily fancy partner, all CLNS media

31:11network, also our good friends at game time, which takes the guesswork out of

31:15buying last minute tickets to your favorite sporting events and concerts.

31:18Just download the game time app, create an account and use code CLNS for $20

31:22off your first purchase terms apply.

31:24Uh, this is HR Blakely signing off from the big three NBA podcast.

31:30Take care folks and have a wonderful day.

Can the Knicks catch Boston? | Big 3 NBA Podcast

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