Podcast 309: Godspeed, You Clutch Emperor
2025-01-10After a way too long hiatus, Nate Smith and Chris Francis made a pilgrimage to the CtB broadcast booth to bend the knee to North America’s incoming emperor, Darius Garland. The slicer of defenses, the scimitar of the pick and roll, conqueror of crunch time, the fracture jaw gladiator, facial contusion magnet, driller of stepbacks, lob wizard, vibes king, humble all-star, first of his name: Darius Garland. Darius Garland as Chris noted in Thursday Night’s recap/lt is the best clutch player in the NBA right now, posting an astounding 1.68 points per possession in crunch time (before his commanding clutch performance against GarlandTo!)
The gents gushed more than a little over the last couple games, the season so far, how well Kenny Atkinson is coaching, how the Cavs have Donovan Mitchell and the three most underrated players in the association, and how well the desk of Koby Altman has architected a teambuilding template. The emperor’s subjects marveled at the beauty and lack of BS in the Oklahoma City matchup, stood in awe one of the best regular season games you’ll ever see, and looked forward to the next meeting with OKC.
After breaking down the wins, amazing at the depth, and laughing at the haters, Chris and Nate went around the NBA and pondered the fate of Jimmy Butler. They got into a little slop-talk about who would be sellers, and what the Cavs need to be complete. Nate got nostalgic about the beers he won’t drink and why and regaled Chris about going to college in Alaska. Finally, the guys had pitches that were a little foggy at 1:30 in the morning. It was a much welcome return the podcast booth for both, even if it did get a little long in the tooth.
As always, catch us below, download the full audio file, or listen on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, or Spotify.
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👍🙏GUYS——- PURCHASED MY 1st 6 PACK OF “ GARAGE “ 🍺 BEER —- WILL GIVE U GUYS THE 👍👎—— GO CAVS ——SHOULD BE A GOOD GAME
great name for a beer. “Garage Beer” would be a good name for a punk band
CHECKING CHARGE BOX SCORE —— SAW PNANCE / DID WE GET HIM BACK—— TYSON — HUGE GAME 24/17 ——- CPJ 21/ 8 ———- NO BATES OR TAVERES ?? ——- “ MORE THOR “. WELL ROUNDED GAME—- ONLY 7 SHOTS. 8 / 9 /7 ——- 7 ASSISTS IS IMPRESSIVE!!
here is a quote: “while Pete Nance scored 12 and grabbed seven boards in his return to the Charge“, so me must have come back in an under the radar move.
Philly released him, so, yes.
PACERS HAVE STARTED TO REGAIN THEIR LAST SEASON FORM —- HAVE WON 5 / ROW —AM SURE THE PACERS SEE THAT “ TARGET “ ON THE CAVS JERSEY AND TAKING AIM AT IT ——- CAVS MIGHT AS WELL GET USED TO TAKING OPPONENT s BEST SHOT WIlL MAKE THEM PLAYOFF TESTED 👍👍
yup, the next 45 games will be tougher. but the Cavs are getting better, so there’s that.
I’d love to grab Valanciunus if it’s possible. No thanks to Drummond.
I don’t know how much it would take but this feels like a move that actually moves the needle. Isn’t his contract pretty rough though? At least in terms of us matching? Will check in the morning. He seems like he’d fit seemlessly
the thing is that the Cavs don’t have any bad players with big contracts to use in a trade. the trades that “analysts” dream up all give up a bunch of depth + picks for an over the hill player. and guys that used to be good expect to continue to be paid like they are still good (see Butler), so there are multiple chemistry issues.
a key to Koby’s building the best team in the NBA has been not doing dumb stuff, and I don’t expect him to start now.
JV makes $9.9 mil.
I think we just stand pat and have close to the pick of the litter on the buyout market if things keep rolling along.
I think the Bucks are also a flop team.
I think Phoenix wants Butler but Miami doesn’t want Beal and his contract. Agreed Butler is a toxic douche. And EAT THE RICH 🤘
A toxic douche who got the Heat to the Finals twice and probably beats LeBron if the reat ofcthe team was healthy. He certainly outplayed him.
And wanting out of Minny/Philly isn’t toxicity, it is just good sense. This time? That’s toxic. Butche also realizes they have no shot.
O-H-I -O GO BUCKS !!!!! ———- WOW A WHAT A NIGHT…….. A WHOLE LOT OF BOTH………… “ MORE BEER 🍺 PLEASE AND “ THE “ MRS NOMAD “ 👍🍺😈👺———- STILL RECOVERING FROM BOTH 👍🤪
ride em cowboy..
Awesome pod. Absolutely fun and some great googling action.
The comments on JB tho…let’s just stop. He isn’t the main reason Detroit is doing anything except trying. They have continuity and development outside of JB arriving. I assume JB learned at least one thing from his tenure here…to not stifle your best players with unnecessary arbitrary rules.
But JB still sucks. Actually. Not kind of. He held this team back and I was saying it two years ago and I’ll never stop. He was…oh just heard Chris finally let loose. Nvm. Keep going. Love CTB.
JB is just fine as a HC to instill a cukture and some accountability. I think he is doing a fine job in Detroit. And is exactly what they needed.
But as a guy to take a team to the top of the mountain? No.
same
totally disagree. team chemistry and playing right actually matter, and matter a lot.
Anybody else getting “blips” at least once a minute where the audio cuts out for a second or so?
Yes. Has happened before, but not this season from what I recall.
Thanks for making us aware, will text Nate about it now.
Yes,,,blipping occasionally.
I had the same when I listened.
Think I know the issue. Think I n ed to re-mix.
I had some reverb cause of vibrations in my Mic boom that I used a deverberator to try to take out, but it just ended up doing that clippy thing. Reversed it.
WOW BANCHERO IN HIS 1st GAME BACK 34pts / 27 mins 5/8 FROM 3’s ———— DASILVA ( MY DRAFT HOPEFUl ). 16 /10 — 3/7 FROM 3’s ———-/ SOMEONE POSTED THE OTHER NIGHT—- WITH THEIR SIZE/ STYLE—- WOULD BE A DOGFIGHT SERIES
Banchero is intimidating.
yeah. I can see a few seasons of the Cavs, Magic, and possibly the Celts, fighting it out in the EC, and OKC with a cake walk in the WC.
A healthy Memphis is a problem. Joker is still there. And the Spurs are coming.
That said, I am kind of sick of hearing how awesome the west is. Two of the top 3 teams are in the East, and I don’t think I’d take anyone save OKC out west over the Knicks or a healthy Magic.
East top 5: Cava, Celtics, Knicks, Magic, Bucks
West top 5: OKC, Houston, Grizz, Den, Dallas.
The Cavs are 27-1 when Dean Wade plays this year LMFAOOO
Cavs EC lead is growing
Knicks getting spanked by OKC in the first Q
Yeah, just casually sitting here watching a team the Cavs beat completely dismantle the Knicks. Life is good.
SAC tied with BOS after 3
And a big return for Banchero. Lot happening tonight!
Celtics and Knicks (and Sixers and Magic) lose!
I only watched the BBC version of The Office.
never saw that, but I understand the guy from “The Detectorists” is a major part. He it too funny!
Not sure if you’re referring to Ricky Gervais or not. But Ricky is awesome!
Mackenzie Crook.
The Detectorists is from 2014 + a couple subsequent seasons, and keeps getting more popular as people discover it. the first season develops the characters, and is nonstop laugh out loud funny. later seasons are more plot driven.
quick comment on JB:
it is clear that JB had taken the Cavs as far as he could, and it was time for KA.
on the other hand, he did a great job on instilling the right attitude, and got them up to first round playoff level. and he is doing it now with the Pistons, so good for him.
Second Round level, actually.
WILL LISTEN TO POD WHILE WATCHING THE BUCKEYES ( HOPEFULLY) MOVE ONTO THE TITLE GAME FOR A MEDIA MARQUEE MATCH UP AGAINST NOTRE DAME 👍👍
Nice… will have to take a listen. Here’s a Windy pod I’m listening to right now breaking down the Cavs-Thunder: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brian-windhorst-the-hoop-collective/id293376147?i=1000683440238
Notable for Bontemps changing his tune on the Cavs.