I Fixed The NBA's MVP Voting Problem In This Special Interview With @LakersFastBreak

The NBA MVP race is supposed to reward the most valuable player, but the closer you look, the more it starts to feel like a narrative contest. I’m joined again by Gerald Glasford, founder and creator of Lakers Fast Break, to get brutally honest about what’s driving the vote down the stretch and why late-season dominance doesn’t always change minds. If you’ve been watching Luka Doncic put up historic numbers and wondering how he’s still not the clear favorite, we walk through the uncomfortable answer: the media often picks the story first, then spends the rest of the season defending it.

We dig into the real MVP cases for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka, Victor Wembanyama, and Nikola Jokic and why each one exposes a different set of “rules” voters claim to care about. We talk consistency, team record, expectations, defense, free throws, and why the standards seem to shift depending on the candidate. And yes, we get into the foul-drawing discourse, because you can’t talk modern NBA scoring without talking about how points are actually generated.

Then we bring it home to the Lakers playoff outlook: which first-round matchup we want, which one we’d rather avoid, and what has to hold up when postseason defenses take away easy offense. Gerald breaks down the bench concerns, the adjustments that matter, and the one version of this team that can make a real run if it shows up at the right time. If you enjoyed the conversation, subscribe, share it with a Lakers fan who loves arguing MVP, and leave a review with your pick: who’s your MVP and why?

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Transcript

Welcome Back Gerald Glasford

SPEAKER_01 0:00

All right, guys, thank you so much and welcome. This is Stefan Piscano with the Stefan Piscano podcast. And I'm grateful to be joined by the great Gerald Glasford, who is the founder and content creator for Lakers Fast Break. We had him on the show a couple months back, right around the NBA trade deadline, and really enjoyed that discussion. Being kind enough to join me again here to talk a little bit about the NBA MVP race that we've got shaping up and see what we think between the two of us that our Lakers can do in the playoff. For those of you that are not familiar with his channel, again, I couldn't recommend if you're a Lakers fan or if you're a fan of sports in general, Lakers Fast Break to me is the uh the best platform to get smart Lakers content and evaluations. And then Gerald does a lot of other things through YouTube and other podcast platforms with pop culture cosmos. So uh highly recommend you checking that out as well. But Gerald, thank you for joining me again, my friend.

SPEAKER_00 0:57

Uh it's great to be back. Thank you for allowing me to come back on.

Luka’s MVP Case And The Data

Media Narratives Decide The Award

SPEAKER_01 0:59

Well, good deal. Well, so last time you were here, we were arguing about Rob Palenka, and I just before we got on here, I just decided and we we kind of mutually agreed to just let that go. So today it's all gonna be sunshine and rainbows and hugs. And uh I really wanted to get your take. I mean, I've heard on your show uh a little bit of your your thoughts on this MVP race that we've got shaping up here. And you know, from some of the content that I've posted on my platform and and just in the chat on your streams, I've become of the mindset that it's it's just bizarre that Luka Doncic is not not only the MVP favorite, but to me, when I really look at the data and the history, I think he should be a prohibited favorite, similar to how SGA has been all season long. But what's your thoughts on how the race is shaping up as we come down the home stretch here of the season? We've got about seven, eight games left. Do you see it as a four-player race? Do you think it's locked up for SGA?

SPEAKER_00 1:53

Yeah, studying the the national reporters, the national media out there for quite some time, as I do, I know that that virtually all of them base their votes on narratives. What is the best narrative for the entire season? And for the Lakers, it hasn't always been a good narrative because you know, you and I were talking around the time you and I were talking, the Lakers were not in the same uh elevated position that they are now. They were actually at one point in time only a game in front of the Phoenix Suns. Now, they as we talk now, several weeks later, it's a completely different story. Uh Luca has been on the rise, he had one of the best scoring months in NBA history in the month of March, 600 points. You know, absolutely fantastic performance from him. And you know, if I would agree with JJ, he's had probably the best first and the best third acts of the season. But what has taken place over the second act of the season, I think that's where people go ahead and maybe distance themselves or choose in another direction per se. I know that with SGA, it's his consistency and his consistency as far as continual 20-point games. Obviously, he has that record now. He passed Will Chamberlain, uh record, one of those almost untouchable records that you didn't think was gonna be. Yeah, it is. So he deserves credit for that. How he gets those points, you and I could go ahead and talk about that all day long as far as the foul merchant part of it. Does he push off? Does he not? Uh gives you know, he lives off the free throw line. We can't go too far on that because Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves. Yeah, Luca leads the league in free throw attempts. Yes, exactly, and still argues and gets a lot of technicals because he doesn't get all the calls he wants. And same thing for Austin Reeves. Why is Austin Reeves being even considered for a max contract this summer? It's because he too has a style of play where he goes hunting for fouls. And and I so I can't uh argue too much against SGI. I'm just my uh when when I was approached by one of our followers, one of my followers from Germany that you know constantly asks questions and comments and things like that.

SPEAKER_01 4:17

Not Nick T, does it?

SGA’s Consistency And Free Throws

SPEAKER_00 4:19

No, it's uh Pinty. Pinty big shout out to Pinty. I haven't seen Nick T actually in about a week or so.

SPEAKER_01 4:24

He's ashamed because Luca's playing so well.

Wemby’s Minutes And Impact Argument

SPEAKER_00 4:26

He can't yeah, I think that's the case. So watch him come out of the woodworks if Luca starts to go awry. But uh that that usually happens for our channel. But uh Pinty was was saying as far as uh for the narrative for for SGA and and all that is again they're quite like you. He he has Luca as his MVP. But if I have to take a step back, I understand how this league votes and and this how this league votes on uh constantly is on a narrative with with the fact that again they have been out in front all season long, they have not had many dips. Their dip was like just for a short period of time, and they were still the number two team in the league behind uh, you know, at that time a rising Detroit Pistons team with a much easier schedule in the east. So they have been virtually out in front with the best record virtually in the entire season, followed closely behind by Victor Wembyamo, who uh in some cases has a just as good argument, and some cases has a worse argument because he hasn't played the minutes. I know the uh great um meme that has been passed around in the past few days is that he has several hundred uh minutes less than 41-year-old LeBron James in playing out there. So I mean, but what he does in his time there as far as how he changes the numbers, I mean, the plus minus, if you're a big believer in that, he is second in the league to SGA and he has you know, again, hundreds of less minutes than SGA does. So uh I mean the narrative and and the fact that they've been also playing and exceeding everyone's expectations. I mean, uh I interviewed uh one of the media members for San Antonio leading into the season, and not even she she had it above us, but not even she had that this level is where San Antonio's at. So the narrative for him is strong. Uh, I think that it will come down to the final games. I think it will come down to whether or not OKC clinches the West. I think for some people, I think for even if they don't win the West, I still think a lot of people are going to uh, you know, as far as the media will pick SGA. Uh so it's an exercise, I think, in futility. No matter I've seen your voting, I've seen your your top five, uh, and I've seen you know other people's top five as far as Laker related, and and we think with our hearts sometimes, and I understand that, but there was that dip where you know he got injured. There was also the fact that it's just the team itself wasn't performing at a level, it just seemed like he was going out there and getting his, and uh the other rest of the team just wasn't supporting him to that level. It was when everybody bought in, LeBron bought in, Austin brought in, and the rest of the team was able to be utilized a little bit better. And also JJ finally figured out ways and schemes to go ahead and implement defensively to get this team on by that really changed the outlook for this team. And once it started rise, people started taking notice of Lucas game once again. So, again, I just think at this point in time the narratives they always base on narratives, and the narrative I think is just too strong for SGA at this point. I don't like it personally, but I guess we got to deal with it. And even if Wemby's team passes SGA's team, I really think that's still people, those national media members are going to be stubborn in their way.

How The Lakers’ Rise Changed Perception

SPEAKER_01 8:01

I think you're yeah, I mean, sadly, I think you're right. I I think it's a uh I think you said it perfectly. I think it's an exercise in futility, which is really sad to me. And just to kind of I guess slightly counter a little bit of what you said there, but it's really in the same vein because I agree with uh the ultimate outcome for the reasons you just said 100.

SPEAKER_00 8:23

I'm in Vegas, Stefan. Uh yeah, I mean, we already know that the odds are like huge already into SGA, and those guys usually know something, yeah, and or have a great feeling about it, and they're not budging right now. And and even as close as the race is between first and second, the West, it's still not changing.

SPEAKER_01 8:43

Yeah, well, and that's kind of my problem, though. I mean, I know that's all true, it's all factual, but my two, I guess, counterpoints to the whole situation, not really to you, but to the whole situation is number one, I didn't think Luca was the MVP a month and a half ago or a month ago either. But to your point, it was that dark stretch, which was I don't even know if it was a full month ago, it was just really the end of February, beginning of March, when, like you said, it was a completely different narrative.

SPEAKER_00 9:11

And they were fading, they were they were down to sixth place, and they were only a game in front of the Phoenix Suns in the Pacific Division.

SPEAKER_01 9:18

Yeah, I mean, and and just the media jumped on that. There was that one week, and I've put it in some of my little videos and my shorts and all that, but there was that one week and a half where everybody just hammered Luca. Um and they were talking about him not even being first team All-NBA, and you know, should the Lakers trade him and all this nonsense. And what really made me wake up myself and be like, wow, this guy is the MVP if it was a fair-driven world, is how he responded to that. You know, I like the narrative of when everybody turns their back on you and it looks like it's done, and he responds to that with now 12 and one record in the last 13 games, 40 points a game. Like you said, him and Michael Jordan are now the only two players in NBA history to score 600 or more points in the month of March in a season, which that was wild that Wilt Chamberlain ever did that, right?

SPEAKER_00 10:11

But anyway, um again, and and the thing is with the 600 points, and the the highest, by the way, was Michael Jordan. Uh, when he was averaging 50 points a game, you know, how many games were they playing in a month? When when so that I mean makes you wonder. Makes you, but that was for the month of March. So maybe again, maybe Wilt never had a month of March like this, but I I I don't know. I again when were their seasons played and how many game, how many games were played within a month within those seasons? I'd love to find that out.

Why MVP Feels Preselected

SPEAKER_01 10:39

And it's wild too, because Luca got suspended for that one game, too. So he could have had another 40 points in the month of March, but this is true. Um, well, and then the second thing, kind of along those same lines to to your point about the narrative and the season long. My problem with SGA, and I feel bad saying this, the media to me, a lot of the times decides at the beginning of the year, this is our guy, and then they build that narrative in the first month of the season, like this year when the Thunder were 24 and 2 or whatever it was, and then the remainder of the year, the 70, 60, 80 percent remainder of the season just becomes about them backing up the narrative they set back in November and December. And I don't think that's right. Because the expectations, if you look back at uh around Christmas time, the expectations for the Thunder were they were for sure gonna break the 73 win record. A lot of people were saying 75-76 wins was realistic, and they're gonna end up a great team, but they're gonna end up in the mid-60s. So I see that as a colossal underachievement based on what their expectations were.

Jokic’s Numbers And Westbrook Comparison

SPEAKER_00 11:43

Absolutely, and again, the narratives they've spoken out because, like you said, it seemed like it was almost preordained as long as uh OKC kept themselves at a high level, and they got up to such a great start, as you remember, and uh you know, SGA was a great part of that. And uh, like I said, their their dip in their schedule prompted Detroit to move ahead of them briefly, but even then, people still were not swaying their vote away from SGA. And again, uh, you know, we don't have to like it as Lakers fans. Uh, I'm just telling you at this point, it just looks more and more like that the narrative is being written for someone else, even though we we feel that Luca should be given every opportunity to go ahead and be thought of in that realm as a MVP candidate, as an MVP top three candidate. And even that is in question because you know there are also some die hard Nicola Jokic fans as well. Well, it's so hard though when you have a season like um why was Russell Westbrook uh for a sixth-place team given, you know, he was given the MVP for a sixth-place team because he was uh what one of the first in a while to get a triple double, and then you see Nicola Jokic do this like it's nothing, and then right now, even with the injury, even though he has not played as well since coming back from the injury, you look at his video game like numbers, and they're better than Russell Westbrooks ever was. Oh, yeah, yeah, that's the problem. Leading the league and rebounding and assist at the same time, and he shoots much more efficiently than than Russell Westbrooks, so it's even crazier than that.

SPEAKER_01 13:18

Yeah, no, you're right. It's just it's really, I guess it's sad to me because I feel like we could be having, and we still are, I guess we're doing it right now, but we could be having his fans uh and people that really care about the league, the just the most fun four-horse, legitimate four-horse race. Because, like you said, I could see the case for SGA, I could definitely see the case for Wimby. I think if you did it the way they used to vote for the narrative in the 90s, where you really how much value do you add to your team and how much did you exceed expectations all season long? And then all the people like uh Michael Wilbon that want to say, well, don't talk to me about you know players that don't play defense, even though he voted for James Harden for MVP.

Defense Standards And Media Hypocrisy

SPEAKER_00 13:58

But anyway, same thing with Rachel Nichols as well. Oh, I haven't heard that okay, yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah. Just look that up because uh she in recent days uh on her podcast for Sports Illustrated made the that same uh paraphrasing almost word for word as what Michael Wilbon said. And people all they have to do is they just in fact, it is on Twitter. You can actually see where she had stated previously back during the James Harden for MVP that she voted for James Harden as well, even though she indicated now that she doesn't uh she wouldn't consider Luka Doncic because he doesn't play or hasn't committed to defense the entire year. Yeah, in her opinion.

Gerald’s Current MVP Top Five

SPEAKER_01 14:39

Yeah, well, and meanwhile, Lucas, uh I mean, I actually haven't checked in a couple games, but he was and he probably still is leading the NBA in Steels since the all-star break. Uh, I think, you know, as far as his physical capabilities, I think he's exceeded expectations on defense, too. But if defense is so important, then Wimby is the MVP. I mean, if that's really half of the importance, there he's historically impactful on defense in a way that none of these other three player or four players are. So it's either they care about it or they don't. But it's just that's what I don't like about it. They create the narrative to back up whatever their ultimate outcome is gonna be. Give me, if you can, if if Gerald Glassford was the one voter that decided all this, can I get your top five from him as of right now?

SPEAKER_00 15:26

Again, for me, I think it uh it it comes down to how they line up in the Western Conference. If the Lakers fade to a fourth place finish, uh that might change some things. If if OKC changes to a second place finish, that would change for me. But I think I'm just gonna go the easy route right now and go SGA, uh, Wemby, Luca, and Nikola Jokic, uh, right there, based on where they are at in the Western Conference. I'm I know that's that may be a cop-out to some, but uh again, it's it it's something where if you can uh look at it from that perspective and just base it off of not only how well they're playing, because all four, like you said, it's a very close race, and each of them has statistically or analytically you know an advantage on the other three. So, where does it come down to team winning? So, what what could be the tiebreaker between those four, Stefan? Team winning. So, if you base it off a team winning, I'm just gonna choose that route right now because those four I think are so evenly matched right now. I think it's much closer than what the national reporters are indicating to their consumers at this point.

SPEAKER_01 16:41

Yeah, and I agree. I mean, and and I think even though I'm uh to me it's Luca, I really believe that, not just because I wouldn't I wouldn't argue a bit with you on that if that's the case.

SPEAKER_00 16:51

Yeah, well, but but that and I there's there's every you have every right to go ahead and think someone needs every bit deserving as well.

SPEAKER_01 16:58

Yeah, well, and and I feel the same way about the other three candidates, too. You know, like if somebody wanted to make the case for me for SGA or Jokic or or uh Wimby, you've got an argument. That's why it should be so fun. It's kind of in a way, too. In part, it has to at least be to some extent because the numbers in this era where defense is kind of an afterthought for the whole league and the rules have been changed and the pace is so fast and all that, the numbers are so dramatic compared to what they would have been 10, 20, 30 years ago that you have four players with historic seasons like this. Even somebody like Jalen Brown, and we haven't even talked about. I heard a stat the other day, he's averaging you know 28, 7, and five. And uh the list of players that have had a season in NBA history averaging 28, 7, and 5. It's like 16 guys.

Lakers Bench And Playoff Readiness

SPEAKER_00 17:46

Uh I think he's a clear number five at this point, uh, in my opinion. But uh again, I think even in the smallest amount, having Jason Tatum back uh detracts a little bit from what he's done, but uh he still managed to go ahead and uh obviously achieve some great things, and credit to him because Boston again, a great narrative because they have exceeded tremendously the what you know a lot of people, including myself, as far as expected. I expected to be a 500 team and nothing more, and they have certainly exceeded those expectations. Uh, San Antonio, the same thing. The Lakers to an extent as well. I mean, uh, most of our our crew, our panelists had the Lakers fourth, fifth, or sixth in the Western or third, fourth, or fifth in the Western Conference. And for many of us, this is a a step up from what they were doing.

SPEAKER_01 18:40

Well, when you were on my show in uh January, February, I think we were talking about our expectations at the beginning of the season, and at that time we're about a 50-win pace, and it looks like we're gonna be in that 54 to 56 range if we stay hot.

SPEAKER_00 18:54

Yeah, so yeah, I agree. But it is much improved. The team looks healthier going into the postseason. Hopefully, they can get some rest for the big three as far as in the last couple games. Uh, again, they look a little bit uh better shape. There's they can utilize, even though the bench is not reliable offensively as far as scoring, as the fact that they are one of the worst scoring benches in the entire NBA. I still think uh they at least have you're just dying to mention Rob.

SPEAKER_01 19:25

I can see it. You you're just no you're I wasn't actually gonna mention Rob.

SPEAKER_00 19:28

I just said I I was gonna mention only the fact that that JJ does have uh some resources, whereas last year they were still one of the worst benches in the in the NBA. In fact, I think they were the worst bench in the NBA, and he JJ, as we know, hated the bench so much he didn't even utilize them in a second half of a game. So I I think now with Rui off the bench, uh Luke Connard, if you get him involved, don't have him doing cardio because either get him involved or he's doing cardio. You gotta have you gotta get him involved and get him shots. Uh Jake La Ravia, at least his activity level, uh you know, his we he had a great performance last night, but that's the first time this calendar year that we could really say he had a standout performance this calendar year. So if he can continue to build confidence from that, and of course Jackson Hayes, who has played exceptionally, he's been fun to watch, he's one of the bright spots for me. Um yes, and I and there's not a pressure for him to start like there was at the end of last season. Now, if they if the defenses in the playoffs as they did last year in the playoffs, tighten up because teams just were gonna go ahead and say, Okay, shoot from three, shoot from distance. We're gonna dare you to do so because we're gonna tighten up and not give you those lobs, that's gonna be a problem for the Lakers. That's gonna take away a little bit of their arsenal, but uh I feel they're a little bit more equipped this year to handle certain situations than they were last season.

SPEAKER_01 21:07

Well, in transitioning into that, so right now, obviously, we're the three seed. It's known the little box of teams that are all gonna play each other between us, the Rockets, the Wolves, and the Nuggets. What team would you like to see us face in the first round? Who do you think we match up with best?

SPEAKER_00 21:26

You know, it's interesting because you know, everybody has said, let's go ahead and and uh feast on Houston. Let's hope we get Houston in the matchup because we played so well against them in Houston, took two from from from them. They've struggled uh a little bit since uh I guess since when the Lakers rose. Guess who was the one that took a fall? It was the Houston Rockets. Um, and they still have glaring issues as far as a ball handler, and also the loss of Steven Adams should not be underestimated as well because he does so. Much for them on the offensive rebounding edge, which is still a problem for the Lakers, is uh other teams offensive rebounding on them. And I think right now you would probably say Houston, but Minnesota just incurred a big problem because if Jaden McDaniel's uh knee still does not get right, then in a first-round matchup with the Lakers, the key defender on Luca, you've just taken out, although Iodusumu has done a great job for them, and I really wish Rob would have looked his way as well during the trade set because he's he's really killed it for Minnesota, and uh you know he is a good defender, but he just doesn't have the size that a Jaden McDaniels does. And if Jaden McDaniels can't can't go out there, it might make it a little bit easier for the Lakers as well. But I'm gonna say of the two, Houston, from what we've obviously seen, has been the better matchup. And I think Edwards versus Durant, I would probably be more scared of Edwards because of what he can do still to this day on the defensive end if he decides to lock in.

How Far Can The Lakers Go

SPEAKER_01 23:11

Yeah, I I agree. I I tend to um I guess I still have PTSD from last year, too, because they just dismantled us so badly. And I this this is a very different team, and even Lucas mindset's totally different, and physically, I think he's in a different place, but still uh the remnants of last year's destruction haunts me. So I'd like to stay away from the wolves, too. Um, how far do you think that we can go in the playoffs? Do you have any expectation beyond that?

SPEAKER_00 23:45

Seems to be the million-dollar question, Stefan, for us Lakers fans. And if it depends what Lakers team we get, if we get the team that we saw in that nine-game win streak, this team can go a long way. This team can go to a Western Conference Finals and give either San Antonio. Well, actually, it would be OKC, give or give OKC a run for their money. Uh I don't know what the outcome would be a hundred percent, but I definitely would tell you that they would not roll over if they are playing like they are playing right now. And that is the key as we head into these key OKC matchups coming up here at the end of the season here tomorrow, uh, tomorrow and next week. It is very interesting to see. Although I don't expect either team to show all their cards, it will still be nice to see what they can do. And without Marcus Smart in the mix, he is going to be a key when they go at it. Uh, if they go at it in a second round of the playoffs, uh, they're in. So again, they could go all the way, they could go all the way to a final. You really think so?

SPEAKER_01 24:51

Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:51

That's a possibility. I know that uh I have not said that at all this season, but if they play like they played in that nine-game winning streak, there is a possibility. If everything goes right, they could get to the finals. Because again, if they go by OKC in the second round, uh no, actually, no, they would play San Antonio. If they get by San Antonio in the second round, OKC gets uh roughed up by Denver per se for in a seven-game series, and they get off a split the first two games in OKC, it could be anyone's guess. But again, they have to play at a level that they've been playing in that and that during that nine-game win streak, which they're still playing at this time.

SPEAKER_01 25:32

Yeah, I mean, and like we talked about, Luca averaging 40 points a game over his last 13 games. If it was any other player currently playing, I would say it's likely he's gonna slow down. But historically, he performs better in the playoffs than he does in the regular season. So I could see it being possible to where he he does continue at that elite pace.

Can OKC Games Shift MVP Voting

SPEAKER_00 25:53

Well, he's he's gonna have to because he's got to shed the critics because the critics that say, okay, what is he gonna do when it comes down to the money time? And they often lead to his performance in the finals, especially on the defensive end, uh, quite constantly. And again, he's not gonna shut up the critics until he gets it done. And while this team isn't the most ideal team that you fit around Luca, it's still a team, again, that we've seen that can win a lot of games. And again, if everything goes right, who knows what will happen?

SPEAKER_01 26:25

Yeah, I'll tell you this: you just made me think, too, with those two games we've got against the Thunder, those two games could be the only thing that might actually give a realistic shot at reshaping the MVP race, too. I don't think this is gonna happen, but if it did happen to where we came in and destroyed them in those two games, which again I highly doubt that's gonna happen. But if it did, that could be the only thing that would actually shift the MVP either to Wimby or to Luca, because that those two games could be enough to push the Spurs into the one seed for Wimby to have a better shot, or if Luca, I think he would have to get 50 plus in both games, and SGA would have to have 18, which again, like you said, hasn't happened in like two years. But if that happened, our guy might have a shot.

SPEAKER_00 27:12

I a lot of things would have to go right, even if even if Luca dominated SGA, there's so many. I mean, you just go and listen to uh the hoop collective, uh you know, uh, and those three guys are voters there. And I just don't hear, even with Tim McMahon, who is the the biggest of the Luca supporters, because you know you would be too if you wrote a book on him, yeah. Um, but even he I don't see would would clear his way through, and he has been the highest on Luca in the MVP voting. I just see them and the other national shows, I just don't see them clearing the way for a Luca over SGA, even if he dominates the next two games. I see that you know that would probably benefit Wemby just as much as well. That's that's what it would do. That's what it would do. Because then you're talking about San Antonio as number one in the West, and Wemby still getting his video game numbers while Luca and SGA are beating itself up. Now, would it solidify Luca above Jokic at three? I think that's what it would do. I think that's what it would do more instead of vaulting him into number one status as much as we would like to say. And that might actually, though, give him some number one votes. I just don't think, you know, when you're talking about 200, 300 voters, uh, or however many voters that that it that there are for for the MVP, I just don't see you know even that overcoming all those biases that that those voters would have.

SPEAKER_01 28:44

Well, I'll tell you this. I'll just last thing I'll say on that. If the narrative I've heard the whole season and last season is the reason he's such a prohibitive favorite, SDA, is it's the best player on the best team. If he's not on the best team anymore, then that narrative doesn't you can't say, well, he's getting it because he's the best player on the best team, and then they're the number two seed and giving the award. So I think if they somehow slip that far, which again to me would be a historic collapse from where they were in December, I think it's gotta be somebody else. Whether that's Luca or not, I I don't know, but it's gotta be somebody other than him.

SPEAKER_00 29:21

They they won't do it. They uh I don't want to get fans hope, you know, I don't want to get their hopes up too high. Uh, because again, I think that if anybody has a shot to pass them, it's Wemby. But that that would be again, Luca would have to dominate SGA in both those games, and then Wemby would just have to go, you know, or get injured or just throw out some duds, and it's really hard for a guy seven six to throw out more than one dud in a row.

SPEAKER_01 29:52

He is amazing, he's my favorite non-Laker player to watch. I mean, like a lot of millions of others, but he's something else.

SPEAKER_00 30:00

He is something else. Uh, again, I saw him when he first came here to Henderson, a suburb of Las Vegas, and played with his French team against the G-League Ignite, and that was just great to see. Uh, and you could see what the brilliance of what he would become. And yeah, you can't argue with that.

A New MVP Voting System

SPEAKER_01 30:18

A final comment and then a final question for you, my friends, since I guess we've got three minutes here. My idea to fix the MVP so that this narrative stuff that we're talking about doesn't continue to happen with traditional media, is that we give a percentage of the votes. We have a third of the votes come from the traditional media sources, like it has, a third come from the players, which I understand the problems historically that came with that back in the day in the 70s, but and then a third come from YouTubers like yourself, like my guy Scap. I think if we did that, because I think you guys who are really, you know, mainstream YouTubers with this, you care enough to be knowledgeable, but you also represent the voice of the knowledgeable fan. You can't give the votes to the fans because then you have idiots, you know, voting for Yao Ming every year for the All-Star game like that. But if you guys did it and you represented us, I think that that makes sense. Your thoughts.

SPEAKER_00 31:11

I I would I would welcome it. I would treat it with respect because again, you know, it's like all things in human, uh, you know, as far as you know, human decision making. Once you've done so many years, you'd kind of take it for granted. I mean, look what Dan Lebutar did with this Hall of Fame ballot at one point in time, and that's that's infamous there. But um, I would treat it with the respect it deserves and try to look at it in as unbiased a fashion as I possibly could to try and pick the what I believe would be the best winner wherever they come from the Lakers or someone else. But I would treat it with the respect it deserves, and I that would be I would welcome it. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 31:48

Good deal, my friend. Well, I would ramble at you more, you know I would, but uh any closing thoughts for our Lakers as we come down the home stretch.

SPEAKER_00 31:55

Uh, I didn't believe at all this season that they would be getting to the point where to see a pathway. Uh, but if everything goes right, yeah, I'm just gonna say the Lakers have a fighting chance, and that's something that I didn't think that they would have at any time this year.

SPEAKER_01 32:12

May it be so, brother. I hope so as well. Uh, he is Gerald Glasford with Lakers Fast Break. Check it out, guys, wherever you get your podcast, YouTube, and and all other fun things. And my friend, thank you for hopping on with me and doing this.

SPEAKER_00 32:25

Oh, my pleasure, my pleasure. I look forward to hopefully hopping on again if you'll allow me to.

SPEAKER_01 32:30

Yeah, you gotta have me on an observe. I want to do an observations. Absolutely, but you got to get that camera on going. I know, I know. I I can't even figure out. I keep hitting the upgrade on my zoom. I can't even figure that out. So I don't I can't observe the V now, can we? That's true. All right, buddy. Have a good night.

SPEAKER_00 32:49

To you as well. Thank you.