Isiah Thomas 👀 TELLS-ALL 👀 Interview with Cedric Maxwell

[@123slasher.16]

In 1977 Cornbread Maxwell broke my heart when he dominated my No.1 ranked Michigan team in the Elite 8. One week later, my boy Alfred Butch Lee and Marquette made me happy when they got Cornbread and UNCC in the Final Four.

[@itsmeitstrue]

Cmon man. How yall gon na make this a dam 2 parter?!?!!!? Zekes stories are the best, I could listen him talk about hoop all day long

[@djlukacs]

Isaiah Thomas exudes real humility which I really appreciate.

[@runninglow9SS]

I'm from the Chi and we still rock with Zeke. His sister was one of my teachers back in the 80s and they are a good Family

[@rickkeith1]

Longtime Celtics fan and Larry Bird fan, from Michigan. Every time I see replay of Isaiah Thomas passing the ball, stolen by bird, every time I hear Johnny most say “bird stole the ball” he should’ve said “stole the ball from lambeer” because any junior high kid is taught to go meet the ball. Laimbeer stood flat-footed as only Bill can do, and I never heard anybody ever say it was Bill‘s fault. I liked Isiah, great ball player and now turning out to be a great storyteller. Great interview as usual, Cedric, but it’s time to put the blame on lambeer.

[@walterbeasley11]

Love these insights

[@chriscorsi622]

Great show I really like your content God bless

[@DrSkull1939]

Being a Bulls fan, it's hard to like any Pistons Bad boy from that team because of the rivalry but he was a Chicago kid. Obtw, that was exciting basketball back then in terms of defense and hard play. Can't fault them for their defense. When I think of that era I envision the Celtics, Lakers, Pistons and Bulls. To a lesser extent the 76'ers( 444). I met Maurice Cheeks at a grocery store while I was working with the Cubs in 2008. He shook my hand when I said Mo. He didn't have too. He now works as a Bulls assistant. I added that because previous generation basketball players SEEMED more humble. Today's 3 PT guys seem more arrogant because of social media. That was a great era for basketball

[@plainsimple244]

1991: If you look at how hard Detroit played vs. Boston in that series, they ran their offense through, they took their time, they executed, and played hard...even with Dee Brown stepping down on Thomas' ankle in game 1 at Boston Garden, Thomas missed games 2 and 4 coming off the bench the rest of the way... even with all of that, Detroit won 4-2 in a great series BUT 2 days later vs. Chicago in game 1 on Sunday and game 2 on Tuesday, Thomas took just 9 shots in game 1 and 9 shots in game 2...so if you want to know why the Pistons didn't get back to the Finals in '91, there you go.

[@elwin38]

That was one of my favorite series of all time(been watching b'ball since 1977). A very underrated, hard fought, physical series. Detroit might have won that series, but they had little left against the Bulls.

[@plainsimple244]

@@elwin38 See, what told me Detroit gave Chicago the 1991 ECF was how they played vs. Boston in 1991 in the ECSF. Just go back and watch: Game 1, Rodman was the player of the game, Detroit and Boston just came off 5 games series and Bird didn't play game 1, Thomas' wrist was okay and he wore the blue pad for protection; he played a great game, his speed, shot, and timing was there 100% with the club; even Hubie Brown pointed out how once Thomas got physically fit the team was ready to take off.... Then late in the game Boston got a steal and Dee Brown had a 3-1 fast break, only Thomas was back, and he didn't pass the ball; Hubie Brown was like, 'Pass the basketball...!' Brown came down on Thomas' ankle he had to be rushed to the hospital, Detroit finished the game and won. Game 2: Isiah didn't play, Gerald Henderson started, it was an afternoon game and Aguirre started, Daly was changing the line-up to see what would happen and the team played solid but lost because they missed that extra push. Bird came back, they had an actual bird that flew on the floor and Rodman fouled out of that game, Boston won. Game 3: Thomas started but he could barely move at either end and he noted that Bird's presence in the game made him start but he wasn't ready at all. Boston came ready to win; Detroit just ran through the motions and got blown out. The Palace crowd booed the Pistons due to their lack of effort -- a bad game is one thing but that type of performance was not the Detroit Pistons; now if you look at how Detroit played in game 3 of this series -- that's exactly how they played versus Chicago in the 1991 ECF -- they didn't run their offense, didn't take good shots, didn't attack the rim consistently, rushed their offense, didn't move the ball. Game 4: Thomas didn't play; Aguirre had a huge game; everyone on Boston played and Joe/Vinnie did a great job controlling the pace and it's 2-2. Detroit had to win that game or else it was over. Game 5: This was the chess-match game; everyone was there; this game was filled with great half court execution by both teams; Detroit ran their offense through; Vinnie got hot, Dumars ran the point well making open shots; Rodman crashed the boards, Laimbeer was the player of the game and everyone was on point defensively as one and Thomas came off the bench with Aguirre and Salley and settled the game down in key points; Detroit got up big, Boston came back and the Pistons' defense got stops when it mattered as Dumars took that charge on Reggie Lewis while Detroit knocked down clutch free throws with Aguirre and Dumars at the end while Detroit won going up 3-2. Game 6: The Pistons came out ready to win from the get. Parish didn't play, he got hurt in game 5 with his ankle; Boston came ready to win too and played a 48 minute game; once again, Dumars was hot early and Edwards was hitting at all angles while Rodman was everywhere; the entire game was filled with half court execution by both teams; Bird was solid and quiet until they needed him with McHale, Lewis, and Gamble carrying the team; Dee Brown had his best game and Detroit was up and Boston came back and it went into OT. In overtime Thomas took over in crunch time, I remember it was Friday and the ECF was no Sunday; Thomas had one of his great performances schooling rookie Dee Brown forcing him into bad decisions in how Thomas played the passing lane off the ball and just out-executed the entire situation with ball movement and the Pistons were all over the floor defensively in the last two minutes of that game -- they wanted that game badly. Post Game: I remember Thomas did the post game interview with Hubie Brown and Pete Van Weiren(sp?) and Thomas was looking forward to going to Chicago for the ECF; two days later in the pregame interview when they showed it during the telecast in Chicago, Marv Albert talked about how he interviewed Thomas asking him how it would be for him to win a third straight title and Thomas has a scared look on his face with a black background stating it would probably cost him his health. WHAT???!!!??!! What happened to looking forward to playing and winning? Why would that cost him his health? You see? ... Also you have to ask why Thomas would insert himself into the starting lineup after Joe/Vinnie had such a great series vs. Boston. Look at how the Pistons played in games 1-3 vs. Chicago -- they were passive offensively, never ran their offense through, never consistently going down inside to Edwards/Aguirre, stayed perimeter, and didn't attack the rim at all much -- just go watch; they played the ECF like a pick-up game. It shows why Thomas went back into the line up -- to control the pace of the team to make sure his team lost -- that's what he was doing; even in a playboy magazine article Jordan noted how Thomas was not aggressive until it was too late. So Zeke helped Jordan, Chicago, and the NBA during that time by handing it over to #23 so the league could benefit financially and ultimately the players could as well, and did, thanks to Isiah Thomas, the President of the Player's Association. HAHAHA!

[@eddieG667]

Thanks for that insight. It’s rare I’ll see comments from some around my age who saw the games vs some Jordan worshiper that simply watched the Last Dance and KZbin highlights. Detroit also lost other things including their depth. Nobody really replaced Mahorn and the usually clutch VJ and Aguirre weren’t the same

[@plainsimple244]

@@eddieG667 Right... the main thing with that Pistons team is depth.... This is why it was baffling to get rid of Edwards/Johnson in 1991 -- you can still compete for titles even after you lost.... So what was the purpose?...Think about it. Why do that if you are literally trying to win? Okay, you lost, you know you were injured, right?... So get back up (just like they did from 1987-1988) and compete because you know how to win. Now they did trade Scott Hastings and a pick for Orlando Woolridge and they did pick up Daryl Walker but those guys were to add depth alongside Vinnie Johnson and James Edwards, not to replace them.... See, this is why I note that Pistons GM, Jack McCloskey did this on purpose or was MADE to do this -- meaning he didn't have a choice....OR, Isiah Thomas KNEW the Pistons were going to break up this team after the 1990-91 season and thus the 'walk-off' and 'sweep' instead of fighting to make it a grueling 7 game series in 1991.... I think more, based upon what took place, Thomas wanted that team to go out on THEIR TERMS, not the NBA's terms, so he's going to come back, make sure the team is good enough to make it to the ECF, and then just play the ECF like a pick-up game to let the world know, 'We could have won but we aren't allowed to win due to the NBA pushing #23.... So they want Jordan, we'll give them Jordan and here's your sweep instead of allowing it to be 7 games and we'll just leave and let you guys have it to go out on our terms, not yours....' That's more the theme of HOW the Pistons lost because logically, if you are seriously trying to win, it makes no sense to lose to a team that you've dominated 3 straight years throughout the regular season and playoffs and lose to them in a sweep -- that doesn't happen in real life and if he did why didn't Jordan win from 1988-1990 or the Pistons/Bulls go back-and-forth where Detroit wins one year and then Chicago wins? -- See that would make more sense like Boston/Philly from 1980-1985 where they'd go back-and-forth when it comes to winning/losing ECFinals. Detroit dominated Chicago with a 26-9 regular season/playoff record from 1988-1990 so losing in a sweep when you have injuries and can still win makes no sense and it makes even less sense to break up that championship-roster if you are seriously trying to compete -- unless you are trying to let Jordan win.

[@conniemacklill7302]

Good interview Max!!! Rodman was just after the publicity. That’s all. It brought money!!!!!

[@heavybrandpodcast]

Good to see 2 OG’s together 🎉

[@family26ful]

Great content fam

[@stevebusch-h8h]

"I was thinking about that... and nobody came"...buhahahaha

[@jdkwww]

I would love to see these kids today play the teams from the 80's. Even with today's rules I believe the 80's players who understood how to play the game ( they knew fundamentals & didn't carry the ball, etc.) Regardless of what Redick thinks Bird would feast on this 3 point emphasis. Can you imagine a team like the mid 80's Hawks not getting to an eastern conference finals. Well, I would take that team today against just about any team today. I understand the argument about not comparing eras, but these teams, forgetting Warriors of a few years ago, would get destroyed by the Celtics, Lakers & Bulls.

[@DrSkull1939]

Especially with the rules back then. Today's player shoots 3's. Back then their were more players in the paint. Today you can see Centers and Power Forwards shooting 3's

[@leftlovers9137]

paying rent shouldn't be anyones goal! abolishing rent and landlords is the icing on the cake.

[@hipowa909]

Why?this is the system and what are you doing to back what you say?until you do which nobody has yet a few have tried and paid the price.

[@leftlovers9137]

@@hipowa909 "this is the sysem" congrats. I'm sure nobody has ever changed a system before. it sounds like rationalizing. Ask yourself why a tenant should be leached off of by a landlord, why are they entitled to a tenants income? simply for holding housing ransom. i will never spend my time defending that type of system. I support tenant unions, where everyone collectively decides to withhold rent, and then take landlords to court, to actually win the property in some cases. so in some situations that has resulted in slumlords losing their leaching ability, and more people becoming home owners. Renters pay the price of being someone else's sole source of income. landlords are leaches.

[@leftlovers9137]

also, realize there are more empty houses than there are homeless people in this country. this is a choice made by banks, and selfish people who want to squeeze money from poor people monthly.

[@stevebusch-h8h]

have you grown up yet or are you still living in fantasyland?

[@AvaRose00]

I see what they are saying about having mentors and older player to help guide but damn, use some common sense. That’s the problem when people can’t think for themselves. You don’t need a mentor to not do stupid ass shit 😳