THIS SERIES IS OVER 🗣️ Stephen A. on the Lakers after Ja Morant's injury in Game 1 | First Take

Good morning, Kendrick Perkins. Hi guys. What's going on? What's going on? How y'all doing? Good morning. Good. Good. Good. What's up? I'm still I'm still a little drugged but slightly now finally. I feel a little bit better. So I'm good. That's what we like to hear. You know who's not so good right now? That's John Morant. Let's go guys Morant shouted in pain as he ran off the court holding his right hand midway through the fourth quarter of Sunday's game one against Los Angeles Lakers. X-rays were negative but Morant described his status for Wednesday's game two as in jeopardy. Meanwhile on the Lakers side playing in his first career playoff game starting guard Austin Rivers had himself a day 23 points. A for 13 shooting Austin Reeves, excuse me shooting and was pivotal down the stretch and number seven Los Angeles 128 112 victory over number two Memphis. Here's LeBron on Reeves. It's not surprising to me. I knew from the first practice that we had when we grabbed him that it wasn't going to be long. He wasn't going to be a two-way player for long. Especially, you know with everything I've been through pretty much, you know this season, you know, my main focus was to you know, be out there for my guys. Another, you know incident where you know, that's pretty much and you know jeopardy coach said that the x-rays were negative. So that's some good news any doubt in your mind. After the win Magic Johnson tweeted this at the Lakers continue to play like this. They can beat Memphis and anybody else in the West words of encouragement right now. They're from the great Magic Stephen a are the Lakers advancing regardless of jaw status. I'm not going to say regardless of jaw status. I'm going to say because of jaw status. This series is over as far as I'm concerned. The Lakers are winning this series. I think it's done. I'm looking at Memphis yesterday and give Frank Kendrick Perkins credit because he called the like he saw it and pick the Lakers to win this series. I'm certainly not trying to take any shine away from you big perk. But the bottom line is I thought that Memphis had a chance will probably win this series in seven games. It was going to take John Morant being the star to pull it off, but I believe he's that kind of star that could have done it. They have no chance as far as I'm concerned. Now with Stephen Adams out with a Brandon Clark out and then the lose John Morant to that is just entirely entirely too much to overcome Anthony Davis. Obviously was playing big boy basketball. I was petrified that the brother what he could feel when he was saying I can't feel something in my arm because of the stinger and had to go to the locker room. I almost lost it. I was like this cannot be happening. This just cannot be happening. This is not two years ago all over again with a dude gets hurt in the first round after being up to one on Phoenix and he gets hurt. This cannot be happening. So I almost lost it. But then ultimately he ended up coming back start in the second half and doing what he's doing. He's too big for them. They have no answer for him outside of Jaron Jackson who played a pretty damn good game. But in the end Jaron Jackson has no help on that front line whatsoever. And then you just look at the rest of the dudes Dylan Brooks can ball Desmond Bain can ball Tyrus Jones. We know what they bring to the table. But John Moran is just that dude without him. I'm giving the Memphis Grizzlies zero chance of winning this series. And to me the reason why I say it's over is because there's no way in hell that you're coming back from an old to deficit against these Lakers. And I don't see them winning Game 2 if John Moran can't play and listen to him. I mean did you see. Have you ever seen John Moran like that. Even last year when he got hurt against Golden State. I've never seen him like that. They say yet or x-rays tech came back negative and stuff like that. But do you still see doubt or whatever you like. Yeah. You know he knows. And it's a it's a damn shame because with Adams with Clark with John Moran obviously you got a hell of a series ahead of you. I think there's a foregone conclusion. Big Perk. I can't see any way that the Memphis Grizzlies could beat the Los Angeles Lakers in this series. No I'm right there with you. And I was there at the start of the season. But but here's why. I think you know when we look at guys like Austin Reeves we continue to say oh you know he's not like that or you continue to disrespect him in a way that you feel like he's not capable of having the moments that he had last night. And he has shown us time and time again throughout the course of the season that he's capable of taking over games. And he did that last night. See when you have to me an average LeBron James and an average Anthony Davis is what you got. And others rise to the occasion. You know that you are in trouble. And the Memphis Grizzlies are in trouble. See the reason that one of the main reasons that I picked the Los Angeles Lakers was because of the absence of Stephen Adams and Brandon Clark. But now I'm starting to look at Dylan Brooks and I'm starting to wonder are you that dude. Are you that guy that you could actually put in an elite conversation not in the same tier with the likes of a Donovan Mitchell or Devin Booker or Jalen Brown. But are you in a tier where you actually could start mentioning your name in a Jalen Bronson conversation from last year. Can we mention your name in a Jordan pool conversation. Like I'm starting to ask those questions. And as I'm looking the answer is no. The answer is no. So magic hit it right on the head when he's talking about the Los Angeles Lakers. Because if you look at their path on the way to getting to the finals they're going to get through this series and win this series. Next up they got the winner out of Golden State and the Sacramento Kings which is no will be no cakewalk. But when I look at the depth of this ballclub when I look at really hot tomorrow elevating his game and just being able to knock down shots. Nothing more nothing less. Either knocking down shots or keeping it simple driving straight to the basket. That's the great. That's the pleasure you have of actually playing with LeBron James. And so when I see the D'Angelo Russell I believe have acquired 18 or 19 points. We know what Dennis Schulte is capable of doing off the bench. Here Malik Beasley didn't even have a good night off the bench last night. But the Lakers just have so much stealth. And when you have two superstars that have been there took you there. I don't know why we don't know many ways. I don't know why you don't know from the job. You wondered about you know you. Let's call it what it is. Every single time Anthony Davis goes to the floor you pray and he gets up. And Anthony Davis and those close to him walk around with a heightened level of sensitivity these days. I don't give a damn because to me they're missing the narrative. There is no one who knows the game of basketball that has ever questioned the greatness of Anthony Davis. We know that when he's on the court he is big time. The only question that has ever existed about Anthony Davis was his toughness as it pertained to his durability. When is the next injury going to take place. That's all. That is not something to get upset at the world about when they're questioning you. Because there's nothing else they've ever said about you other than your durability. That's number one. Number two. I love the fact that you brought up Irvin Magic Johnson to Irvin Magic Johnson. I'm hoping that everything gets finalized in this official and he's going to be a part of this NFL group that purchases the Washington Commanders led by Josh Harris. But at the end of the day Irvin Magic Johnson you're the greatest point guard in the history of basketball in most people's eyes for a reason. As much as we want to see you as an ownership as a part of ownership in the NFL. You know what you come talk about some basketball Irvin Magic Johnson. We heard from you in a while. A tweet doesn't cut it. OK Irvin. I know you're in the gym working out right now getting all buff and all of that stuff. But damn it a tweet isn't good enough. Irvin Magic Johnson. Remember that the playoffs are here. We expect to hear more from you. Last but not least Big Bird. Let's not talk about the Los Angeles Lakers in such glowing fashion that we forget to hold the Memphis Grizzlies accountable. You see Dylan Brooks. This is why you don't chirp. When you haven't done it yet. This is why Klay Thompson got annoyed at y'all because of the chirping. When he talked about four championships and y'all winning regular season games and you blow you going off. This is why Draymond Green clapped back at you because it's not just about skill. It's about luck and it's about timeliness and it's about opportunity. See while Dylan Brooks was chirping. John Moran was on the court. Steven Adams was on the court. You had your crew. But anything can happen. And look at what we're talking about the Memphis Grizzlies right now. The second seed back to back 50 plus win seasons. Your behinds are about to go home in the first round. We know it's because of injury. We know that if Steven Adams and Brandon Clark and John Moran was there. There would be more credence to your bloviating and your chirping. But at the end of the day anything can happen. And until you get it done you're supposed to shut the hell up. And Dylan Brooks didn't do that. And now that John Moran is out. And Steven Adams is out. And Brandon Clark is out. And LeBron James who you said you wanted. Because you wanted to send the legend home. Okay, well now you're going to get your chance Dylan Brooks. Because there ain't no John Moran to lean on. Now you got to step up. See now we step back Big Perk. And forget about John. We wish him well. We hope that he comes back because he's such a treasure to the game. We want him back. Okay. But we know he ain't going to be 100%. But for game two specifically. On your home turf. In Memphis, Tennessee. Where there should be billboards of John instead of Elvis. Because he's dead. The fact of the matter is this. Dylan Brooks. What you going to do now? This is the kind of stuff that Klay and Dre were talking about. And LeBron remembered what you said coming into this series. So now that you don't have John Moran to lean on. What you going to do? Now that's what we watch in game two. Is Dylan Brooks going to back up all the stuff that he was talking? We know he can play. We know he ain't no scrub. But as you said. See are you that dude? Well the ball is yours. It's in your court now. It's in yours now. Well let me add a little bit more to this. It's not just Dylan Brooks. Desmond Baines. Last night. You know. Trying to act like. You know. He said something along the lines to Rui Hachimar about. Oh yeah he did it for one game. But let's see if he can do it throughout a seven game series. He don't have to. That's all he needed to do. Was help his team win one game. What are you going to do? You went six for 18 last night. That's the problem that I have with the Grizzlies. Like it's not the noise talking. It's accountability. How about stepping up and saying you know what? I got to be better. I didn't shoot the ball well. I got to play better. I got to elevate my game. Not try to downplay or try to say. Oh well let me see if he can do it for a seven game series. He don't have to. He won one game. The rest is on LeBron and AD to take them home.