Heat vs Lakers and 90+ Days in the Bubble | Dunk Bait
Chris Haynes joins Dunk Bait to give his insights into 3 months in the bubble, who might be hired as the next head coach of the Clippers, and how Lakers vs. Heat could play out.
Video Transcript
LAJETHRO JENKINS: Welcome to a special edition of "Dunk Bait." We're gonna be talking to Chris Haynes. He's spent over 90 days in the bubble. We'll talk about Doc Rivers as well and the NBA finals.
We're here with the god himself, Chris Haynes. How you feeling, G?
CHRIS HAYNES: I've had better days.
[LAUGHTER]
LAJETHRO JENKINS: How is it in the bubble, man? You've been there a few months. You've been holding down too.
CHRIS HAYNES: I've sat in here since June 28. So as of today right now, that's 92 days. So I've been without my wife for 92 days. So that should ask your question in regards to how do I feel.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: We talked a little bit off the show. But how's the food there? I mean, at a certain point, I couldn't imagine eating the same meals, even if there's a variety of them?
CHRIS HAYNES: Well that's been rough-- the home-cooked meals, not getting that. The NBA provides us daily meals-- breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I don't eat any of that.
I tried the pizza yesterday. They only serve large pizzas. Pizzas were just added to the menu last week. This large pizza gets here. And I'm looking at no slices.
They don't got no real knives or pizza-cutters around here. We got some fake plastic knives. So the only kinds of meals that are provided to the media here, it's not on point.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: So the Doc news just came out. How are you feeling about that? Did you see that coming? I think we all thought initially. And then when Ballmer said that he was sticking with him, it seemed like he was gonna be there next year.
CHRIS HAYNES: No. I didn't see that at all. Because the Clippers' brass told me that he was safe. There were players who weren't thrilled about their assignments and their roles. And those things are gonna come out later.
But I definitely think something happened. I was informed by the Clippers brass that he was safe, the day after, and now this happened. The wording of the press release was it was a mutual agreement to part ways.
When you're dealing with the owner-- when the owner makes the decision, 9 times out of 10, it's not mutual. It makes somewhat sense. This was a team that was expecting to compete for a championship. We thought for sure that we were gonna at least get a Lakers-Clippers playoff.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: Anything less was unacceptable, than the playoffs.
CHRIS HAYNES: Yeah, anything less than that. I don't know if the Clippers are gonna get to the finals. But we at least expected for those two teams to meet. And they didn't even get to that point.
And then to blow a 3-1 lead against this Denver Nuggets squad-- come on. It was unacceptable. So I get it. But I was surprised just based off of what I was told.
JOSIAH JOHNSON: With Paul George and some of the guys not seeing eye eye, do we think that this firing was player-motivated?
CHRIS HAYNES: I don't-- when I'm reporting, I like to report in print first. 'Cause that's when I'm for sure on my intel on what I got. But I wouldn't be surprised if it was player-motivated.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: Where do you think he may land next?
CHRIS HAYNES: It's definitely some good options out there. Look, I think if you're looking at Philly, you're looking at Indiana, you're looking at New Orleans-- I see him as a better fit over there in Philly. And I know as of right now, it was supposed to be D'Antoni's job to lose over there in Philly. I just don't know how D'Antoni's system is gonna work with a Ben Simmons.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: Heat versus Lakers, the Lakers are obviously the favorite. But the Heat got some dogs. What do you think? And how many games?
CHRIS HAYNES: I don't want to disrespect the Heat, man. I don't want to disrespect the Heat. So I'm not gonna disrespect them. I don't think is disrespecting them.
I got Lakers in 6. I love what the Heat have been able to do. I like their grit. If the Heat did win, I wouldn't necessarily be surprised. I think they have the better team from top to bottom.
JOSIAH JOHNSON: Oh, OK.
CHRIS HAYNES: I do, from top to bottom.
JOSIAH JOHNSON: Top heavy Lakers?
CHRIS HAYNES: Yeah. That's what I'm saying. That's how much confidence I have in the top-heavy Lakers. Meaning, the top-heavy-- those two guys. I just think they can pull games out by themselves.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: All right, Chris. It's been great talking to you. Best of luck for the rest of your time there in the bubble. Hopefully you get home to your wife sooner than later, you feel me? Be cool, man. Appreciate your time for real, for real for a.
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