Reggie Miller: Detroit Pistons are best team in Eastern Conference | Dan Patrick Show | NBC Sports

It’s the Coast to Coast Emirates NBA Cup double header tonight. LeBron, Luca, Lakers hosting James Harden and the Clippers. It’s the Battle of LA at 11 Eastern on NBC and Peacock. Reggie Miller, the Hall of Famer joining us on the program. So, LeBron’s back, Lucas back. Are the Lakers back? Looking at their record, it seems that they’re back. Yes. I think now JJ Reic has his full compleiment of players. The question I think going forward is how is he going to navigate? You’ve got Luca averaging 34 and a half. You’ve got Austin Reeves the second leading scoreer at around 28. I had to go back and look at this and maybe you can answer this. When was the last time? It’s never. When was the last time LeBron James was the fifth leading scorer? Wow. On his team. He’s averaging 14 points. Um, so how does JJ navigate that having an allNBA player just a year ago, second team in LeBron, and now you incorporate him within the Lakers structures who’ve gotten off to a great start, winners of four straight. But this could be a good thing, Re. It’s a great thing. It’s it’s a great problem to have and we saw a little bit I I just recently watched the back-toback series they had with Utah and that second game in Utah. The last two minutes were a little kind of wild because they didn’t know they were it was between Austin Reeves and Luca and LeBron and all they kept running was high screen and roll with LeBron being the screener. At some point when LeBron has his legs, he has his his wind and he’s back in full shape, no back issues, you you assume at some point LeBron’s going to have the ball with some of these high screening roles. So once they figure out that dynamic of crunch time, they still won the game, don’t get me wrong, but they they’ve got to figure out their closing mo moment and action between those three players. Okay, give me the hierarchy in in the West. Best teams in the West right now, who’d be number one aside from OKC. Okay. No question OKC. Yeah. Then Joic and Denver. Okay. And then right right after them is the Houston Rockets. I think Houston is playing off the charts right now at both ends of the floor. And I think they figured out um you know, we were wondering like how would LeBron fit in with Luca and Austin Reeves. We were kind of wondering an older Kevin Durant, how is he going to fit in with this young team? And it’s been perfect. Him and Shane Goon, uh I’m in Thompson. Um to me, I think come playoff times, I still have questions about that point guard situation. Yeah. But they figured it out so far and they’re winning ball games. So to me, those are the the top three teams. Can the Thunder win 70 games? They could if they wanted to. I don’t think that’s a priority for them. Um, again, and they’re doing this without JDub, by the way, guys. I know. Just like last year, they did that hot start without Cadet. Chad played the first game, got hurt, and missed, you know, like 50 games after that or something. Uh, and they continue to win. So, they’re only going to get better once Jaylen Williams gets back. Could they win 50 or 70 and maybe go for the Golden State Warriors record? Perhaps, but I don’t think that’s a priority. Being healthy, playing well going into the playoffs is probably and getting overall number one seed because as we saw last year, you want a game seven in your building and having the overall best record allows you to do that. Are you on the Pistons bandwagon? I am. I am. The Pistons are Where are they where do they rank in the East then? Who’s the best team in the East? No question, it’s Detroit. And what I love about them defensively, they bring back that same identity from the Isaiah Thomas and Bill Lambir bad boys to the Johny Bilips, Rip Hamilton, Taan Prince. They have a defensive identity, but more importantly, they have a go-to guy in Cade Cunningham. I loved the Duncan Robinson pickup. Um, a guy that is a catch and shoot type guy, but he’s added to his game. He doesn’t hurt you defensively. And Jaylen Durham is an all-star in my opinion this year. He’s made the biggest leap in terms of his development controlling the paint and being able to score as well. To me, they are no question right now the best team in the Eastern Conference. How did the Nets get this bad, Reggie? I think it all went to when they had KD, Kyrie, James Harden, and a lot of trades, bad trades, and it is what it is. it it’s it it’s just bad trades, bad management, bad scouting, but they’re they’re one of the most irrelevant teams in all of pro sports, right? You Yes. I mean, they’re terrible. There’s they got Michael Porter Jr. and that’s it. But I will say this, there was a time if Kevin Durant’s foot or feet are not on a line, they could have an NBA championship. Yeah, but that’s such a long time ago. It is, but it’s es and flows with some of these organizations. I feel like I could have done a better job running the Nets. I I do. I’m barely kidding. No, you’re it. To me, bad management, bad scouting. It’s it’s it’s just right now it’s a it’s a bad organization. What do you make of the Kenyon Martin Draymond Green back and forth where Okay, let me see if I got this right. Set it up. Okay. Kenyon Martin, former number one overall pick, said Draymond isn’t tough, he’s calculated. Draymond responds by calling Kenyon Martin an underachiever for only making one all-star team. Kenyon Martin responded by naming 200 power forwards better than Draymond Green. How did we get here? Right. Look, both of these guys from Michigan, right? And I posted a comment after I saw the response from from Kenyan Martin about the 200 power forwards that were better than Draymond saying, and I’m quoting Rodney King, can we all just get along? Right? Because both of these guys, I played against Kmart in his era. very tough dude, overall number one pick, brought it every night. And I’ve covered Draymond Green throughout his whole illustrious career. And to me, it I mean, it’s popcorn worthy, don’t get me wrong. It’s it’s fun to watch the back and forth, but I just wish these two either Kmart needs to go on Draymond’s podcast or Draymond needs to go on Kenyan’s podcast. They need to air this out because it’s getting a little ridiculous now. Personally, if I was Draymond, I never would have responded because you got the rings. And right now, it looks like this is almost like the Drake Kendall Lamar beef, right? And right now it kind of looks like Kmart is winning. I don’t like the the Bo Outlaw better than Draymond Green. Come on. Reggie Ev. Reggie Evans better than Draymond Green. Now, some of the names he has outlaw. I mean that. Come on, man. Okay. Is Draymond a fake tough guy? Is he calculated? Meaning, what does that mean? That means that he is very good at engaging. Maybe he just hasn’t. I think what Kmart is saying is that he hasn’t started something with the with the wrong person. Like for like for instance, for instance, do you remember when Boogie Cousins, Demarcus Cousins went against Zack Randolph and was trying that with Zack Randolph and Zack Randolph said, “I put fear in the bullies.” He He picked on the wrong one. Because Demarcus used to go after just about everyone, but he wouldn’t go after Zack Randolph, right? And I think that’s what Kmart is saying. Like, you’re not going after the real tough. You’re not going after all the enforcers. And I just wish these two would get the room, hug it out, talk it out, podcast it out. Whatever these kids do today, figure it out. Talking to Reggie Miller will be on the call tonight. It’s a double header. Coast to Coast, LeBron Luca, Lakers against James Harden and the Clippers. Battle of LA at 11 PM Eastern on NBC and Peacock. How do you think we’re going to look back on Nicole Joic? Like historically, where does he rank? Where will he rank, do you think, when it’s all said and done? Only thing missing from his resume is Chips. He’s done everything personally. He’s got all the MVPs. He’s has all the numbers and will have all the numbers to back him. The only thing that will solidify him amongst the greats are championships. I think we the knock on Will Chamberlain is that he only got one or two, right? And you look at Kareem who has six. Uh you’ve got Bill Russell who has what, eight or nine. Hakee has two. So, I think the only knock with the Joker are chips. So, if he wins chips, he’s in he will be in a separate wing of the Hall of Fame because his accolades and his resume will be ridiculous at the end of the day. Yeah, but I’m wondering about this. We do this with NFL quarterbacks. Yeah, you got one, but then if you get to two, like you really separate yourself. Whereas Joker is not going to win four or five championships. But if he wins, I think he’s got to get the three. If he gets the three, if you give him three and you give him, he might end up with five MVPs. So, three titles, five MVPs. Now all you can make a case for him to be the greatest center of all time if he gets three rings. Wow. If he wins three rings, he is the greatest center of all time over in today’s climate. Yes. Okay. So, we’re taking Will and Bill Russell out of this. I’m certainly taking Bill Russell out. Remember, we talked about this. It’s hard to put players from the 60s. It’s 75 on. Okay. So to me it’s Kareem as the greatest and then Shaq those he he’s competing against those two guys in terms of who is the greatest center. If he wins three, you can make a case he’s the greatest because his numbers will back that up. Because I’m trying to think any other center like he’s almost the first guy on the moon with big men who’s getting averaging a triple double. To me, his passing is is what’s separating him. His rebounding is there, his scoring is there. It’s the passing, right? And for a big man to average a triple double, and it looks like he’s going to do it in back-to-back years, it looks like he’s going to pick up another MVP if the Nuggets, which it looks like there’ll be a top four seed. Right now, I believe they’re two, but it’s almost like he’s created a system like Pton Manning did. Pton Manning redefined the quarterback play by going to the line of scrimmage and he created his own system. It Joker’s created his own system, his own ecosystem there that you got a point center who also shoots great from three, you know, rebounds, steals, all of those different things. Well, we we talked about the Nets bad management not surrounding and incorporating great The Nuggets have gotten it right. They revamped their whole team. They got rid of Michael Porter Jr. who we mentioned going to the Nets. And now you’ve got you’ve got players around him that complement the two best players, Jamal Murray and Joic. And you know, bringing back uh Bruce Brown, fantastic. I just think the only thing missing from the big fella is chips. But here’s the problem. In a loaded Western Conference, the team that’s ahead of you, they’ve they have figured out how to win just like you did a couple years ago. They want to chip just like you did a few years ago. And they will be a hard out. They’re just as big. And yes, you took them to seven games last year, but again, they won. So that’s the problem. you have that team in your conference now that you’ve got to go through. If you were getting traded and you had to pick between Brooklyn or Washington, the Wizards, or or is there a worse one than that? Is is New Orleans in there? If I had to pick a team right now that I would want to play for in today’s game today, they least want to play for I would probably say I mean Brooklyn you’re in New York so that’s kind of cool. Washington I would throw Washington, New Orleans in there. It those aren’t two of my favorite but if I had to. Sacramento, Utah. Sacramento. At least you’re in California. Utah. Yeah, that would be very tough. That would be very difficult. I could go skiing. Look, I could do, you know, Sundance. Can you ski? No, I can’t. Sorry. I said I could go. Maybe the family would go, but hey, um I the John Morant Klay Thompson thing once another How can you call Klay Thompson a bum if you’re in street clothes and you are bordering on being a bust? Thank you. Thank you. Here’s my thing. Why are they going after guy? Draymond Green, four rings. Klay Thompson for I mean, how are you going to talk about guys and they’ve been to the top of the mountaintop and you’re in street clothes? I mean, I love John Mor, but get back before you start talking. Get healthy and get on the court. Please. Please. That’s all we’re asking. You can’t be talking in cities. All right? You just can’t. But to call Klay Thompson a bum, I wonder. You got four. You scored 61 points and eight dribbles. He’s He’s one of the five greatest shooters of all time. I mean, come on. It’s getting ridiculous. It is getting ridiculous. We got to get these kids a history lesson here, too. Like, what’s going on here? I I don’t understand it. And again, Clay, he he shouldn’t respond. He should be looking down like, please. Uh, how are the Mavericks looking? Uh, I guess it ain’t all Nico’s fault, right? But again, they’ve been riddled with injury. I can’t I cannot really judge the Mavericks until AD and Kyrie is back and then I can get a full assessment of them. So, I’m not going to I can’t dog Cooper and the rest of these guys out until I get those two guys back. Could Khan Caniple be the best rookie this year? He’s winning rookie of the year. He’s He’s averaging 19 a game. He’s winning rookie of the year. And dare I say this? Uh oh. Dare I say this? Is he Is Stephen Curry going to be a little nervous? Whoa. In about 15 years. Oh, with the three-point totals. Yes. Think just go back and look at Steph’s first two or three years in terms of three pointers made, okay? And what Khan has done this year. Just look at their first years. I’m just saying if you stay. But here’s the problem. You got to stay healthy. Longevity. 17 years, 18 years for for Stephen Curry. Can Khan Caniple do that over a long period of time? I want to see it. And Khan’s doing it in Charlotte. I know. Charlotte. Oh, yeah. That might be a place, too. You don’t want to go to Charlotte? That might be a place, too. Uh, yeah. Paulie Steph Curry’s first three years in the NBA with the ankle injury, he averaged 2.1 threes made per game. Khan Canipple, our guy, he’s averaging 3.7 threes made per game. In year one, yeah, he’s pretty good. Good. Yeah, he can get to the rim, too. So, shooter shoot. Shooter shoot. Yep. Shooters make. You know all about that. I do. You know all about that. Shooters make. That’s the difference. Uh, have fun tonight. Happy Thanksgiving to the family and thanks. Thank you. Happy turkey day to you and my lovely Danets. Gobble, gobble, gobble. That is Reggie Miller. He’ll be on the call tonight. It’s LeBron, Luca, Lakers hosting James Harden and the Clippers. It’s the Battle of LA at 11 Eastern on NBC and Peacock.

Reggie Miller joins Dan Patrick to share if the Lakers are back, why the Rockets are a top team, how many games the Thunder can win, what the Pistons are doing right this season, who the greatest center ever is and more. #NBCSports #ReggieMiller #DanPatrick
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Reggie Miller: Detroit Pistons are best team in Eastern Conference | Dan Patrick Show | NBC Sports
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