Cam Johnson’s FINAL STRETCH Mailbag! | Jokic vs. Wemby, the 65-Game Rule & More!
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In this final stretch mailbag episode of 'The Old Man and the Three,' Cam Johnson and co-hosts Tommy Alter and Jason Gallagher dive into fan questions covering a wide range of topics. The conversation kicks off with praise for Nikola Jokic’s historic consistency, highlighting his dominance in assists and impact across every game. The hosts reflect on a recent high-intensity win over the Spurs, emphasizing the playoff-like atmosphere and the strategic chess match between teams, particularly the matchup between Jokic and Victor Wembanyama. They discuss the controversial 65-game requirement for All-NBA consideration, criticizing the rule as outdated and arbitrary, especially when it penalizes players with legitimate injuries. The episode also touches on Mike Malone’s move to UNC, with Cam expressing optimism about his transition, citing NBA-level systems and player management skills. Lighter topics include Denver brunch spots, team-building activities like paint and sip and chess, and Cam’s understated approach to celebrations. The hosts also weigh in on the Rookie of the Year race, favoring Cooper for his scoring and impact, and express confidence in the Nuggets’ rhythm and depth, especially with players like Julian leading in limited minutes.
Jokic’s nightly consistency in scoring, rebounding, and assisting is unprecedented and underappreciated.
The 65-game rule for All-NBA is outdated and unfairly penalizes players with injuries.
NBA coaches transitioning to college (like Mike Malone to UNC) have a strong advantage due to modern basketball trends and player management skills.
Team chemistry and depth are critical—players like Julian are making huge impacts in limited minutes.
Celebrations are personal; Cam’s understated style reflects his 'lunch pail' mentality and focus on performance over showmanship.
…and 1 more takeaway available in PodZeus
Opening Mailbag & Jokic’s Dominance
“He does that every night. And it's actually tiring. People kind of forget. When you watch basketball, it's easy to assume unlimited energy. But everything he does requires effort and energy.”
The 65-Game Rule Controversy
“It's like every time you're on, every time we get to a Sunday highlight game, they're not there. You know, I feel like the voters can tell who those people are versus the person who has an actual injury.”
Mike Malone to UNC & Coaching Transitions
Cam shares insights on Mike Malone’s move to UNC, highlighting his NBA experience, system familiarity, and player management skills as major assets. The hosts discuss how modern college basketball now mirrors NBA trends, making the transition easier for NBA coaches.
Team Building, Celebrations & Culture
The crew discusses off-court team bonding, from paint and sip nights to chess games and even paintball. Cam explains his no-celebration style, rooted in humility and professionalism, while acknowledging the entertainment value of others’ gestures.
Rookie of the Year Race & Player Impact
The hosts analyze the Rookie of the Year race, favoring Cooper for his scoring, consistency, and team impact. They also highlight the importance of role players like Julian, whose limited minutes have had a massive effect on the team’s success.
“He does that every night. And it's actually tiring. People kind of forget. When you watch basketball, it's easy to assume unlimited energy. But everything he does requires effort and energy.”
“The whole point, the NBA should want all your stars playing in the playoffs, period. Absolutely. That's best case scenario.”
“The best players are trying to play every night. But the trade-off is not even close. I get what they're saying, but like, okay, so-and-so doesn't play in game 81, but they're healthy for the playoffs. Like, I don't know. I feel like the alternative is so much worse.”
Hosts
Nikola Jokic
person
Denver Nuggets
organization
Cam Johnson
person
Mike Malone
person
Tommy Alter
person
Jason Gallagher
person
Victor Wembanyama
person
San Antonio Spurs
organization
Cooper
person
University of North Carolina
organization
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