Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre

Latest Episodes:

Giannis Can't Save the Bucks, Is CP3 Plotting a Move to LA? & Author Jim Miller Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off by sharing his thoughts on Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks. The Suns were the better team coming in so it wasn't all that surprising to see them flex their muscle in Game 1. Even with Giannis Antetokounmpo making a miraculous return to the floor following his gruesome knee injury last week, the Bucks looked outmatched; Almost everything went right for Milwaukee and they still got their doors blown off. Chris Paul and Devin Booker feasted on the Bucks' defense, and it feels almost inevitable at this point that the Suns will be hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy in about a week. Perhaps the biggest question to come out of this series then is what CP3 might do once he finally gets his ring. Would he re-sign with Phoenix and run it back next year? Or, would he look to move back to Los Angeles (where his family still lives) to play out the rest of his career with LeBron James and the Lakers? Only time will tell. Later, author Jim Miller swings by to share his thoughts on the Rachel Nichols-Maria Taylor kerfuffle and the overall disfunction at ESPN, discuss why he believes the New York Times piece was clearly a case of ‘agenda journalism’, why there seems to be so much talent-driven agendas and an overall lack of trust amongst colleagues at the Worldwide Leader, why he believes a culture of selfishness and disloyalty has led to something of a civil war inside ESPN, why the suits over at the NBA can’t be happy about what’s going on, how much of an impact social media had on the whole situation, and much more!

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No Winners in Rachel Nichols vs. Maria Taylor & The Suns-Bucks NBA Finals Preview Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick explanation as to why he was physically incapable of dropping a post-4th of July pod on Monday. Sorry, America, but not even the great J-Mac is immune to the aftereffects of a good holiday cocktail. Next, Producer Rob G joins the show to help discuss the bombshell story over the weekend centered around ESPN personalities Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor. A private conversation between Nichols and an associate was secretly recorded and leaked to other media outlets. In the audio, Nichols basically suggested that the biggest reason Taylor was advancing within the company so quickly is because she's black. Big Yikes. It's hard to say exactly what's going to happen moving forward, but one thing is certain: There are no winners in this. Say what you want about Nichols and Taylor individually, but ESPN comes out as a big loser in this. As Jay-Z says, "Nobody wins when The Family feuds". Later, the guys bring you a full Phoenix Suns-Milwaukee NBA Finals preview. Both Jason and Rob G have the Suns winning the series. Devin Booker and Chris Paul should be able to feast against Milwaukee's defensive coverage, and with Giannis Antetokounmpo's availability in question it's hard to envision the Bucks mustering enough offense to keep up. Unless Khris Middleton is suddenly available to develop any level of consistency, 'Suns in 4 Guy' may be back on your television relatively soon.

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The Jason McIntyre Show explains why the NBA postseason is dead and Name, Image, and Likeness is a huge win for college athletes Jul 03, 2021

Show notes

Jason McIntyre sounds off on the NBA postseason and explains why the NBA offseason has already taken the headlines away from the coming Finals. Name, Image, and Likeness has already opened more doors for college athletes than we anticipated. Jason shares his excitement and thoughts on the latest EURO and Copa action! Plus, Chris Paul still can't get the respect he deserves.

Guests include: Vik Chokshi - Sports Betting Expert, Scott Miller - Longtime National Baseball Writer contributing for the New York Times, Rob Stone - FOX Sports Host for FOX Soccer coverage, Gina Mizell - Covering the Suns for NBA.com

Catch all of FOX Sports Radio's weekend coverage by subscribing to FOX Sports Weekends here!

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A Bad Omen for the NBA & Why Female Athletes will Clean Up on NIL Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G share their thoughts on the Milwaukee Bucks' blowout victory over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final. Unfortunately, without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Trae Young on the floor, the game looked more like a preseason game than a playoff game. Nobody is tuning in to watch Khris Middleton and John Collins; The NBA is a star-driven league and this series is devoid of stars at the moment. If neither guy comes back by the NBA Finals, the League could be in a big trouble on the ratings front. Later, the guys do a deep dive on the new Name Image and Likeness guidelines that are sweeping through the NCAA. When the idea was first presented years ago, many expected that it would be the high-profile basketball and football players raking in the dough, but after Day 1, we're seeing that even kickers can cash in. Moreover, with social media being such a driving force in all of this, it's clear that female athletes could end up making more money than the males. In fact, LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne could end making over $1 million off of her NIL. Good luck finding any college football or college basketball player beating that.

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Suns Had Easiest Path to the Finals in NBA History + Hall of Fame soccer player Eric Wynalda Jul 01, 2021

Show notes

In a postseason riddled with injuries, no team benefitted more than the Finals-bound Suns. Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton all had their moments, for sure, but let’s not pretend like the Suns’ path to the Finals was all that treacherous. Los Angeles Lakers superstar Anthony Davis missed time in round 1, Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray missed all of round 2, Utah Jazz all-star Mike Conley missed most of round 3 and Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard missed all of the Western Conference Finals. And you know what the funny part of all it is? Nobody will care if the Suns go on to win the championship. History only remembers who won and lost, not how things went down in the process. On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the Phoenix Suns' series-clinching victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Later, Hall of Fame soccer player and former U.S. Men's National's Team member Eric Wynalda swings by to discuss the buzz around the UEFA Euro 2020 and 2021 Copa America tournaments during what Jason has called the 'Summer of Soccer' in the United States, how he became one of the pioneers of American-born soccer players playing overseas in Europe, why he blames Major League Soccer organizers for putting financial gain over player development, why he believes this current USMNT squad could make a run to the semi-finals of the World Cup this year, why the key to growing the sport in America is to improve the quality of play here in the States, why he expects we'll see high-level play from Lionel Messi even as he ages, and much more!

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The Injury Bug has Hit Giannis Antetokounmpo + #NBATwitter icon Cuffs The Legend Jun 30, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on Giannis Antetokounmpo's unfortunate knee injury. If he's limited for the rest of the series - or out altogether - then we should be probably expect to see the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Finals. Then again, the way the NBA playoffs have shaken out thus far, would anyone be all that shocked to see the shorthanded Milwaukee Bucks close things out without the Greek Freak? The Los Angeles Clippers actually have a winning record in the postseason against the two teams in the Western Conference without Kawhi Leonard. Either way, let's just hope Giannis' MRI comes back clean. The last thing the NBA needs right now is another superstar missing time due to injury. Later, #NBATwitter icon Cuffs The Legend swings by to discuss why he's rooting for Paul George during these playoffs and is hopeful that he'll be able to live up to the 'Playoff P' nickname, why he's been so impressed by the job Los Angeles Clippers head coach Ty Lue during this postseason, why he'd be willing to sacrifice a family member to get Damian Lillard to the Los Angeles Lakers, why he wouldn't be surprised to see big names like CJ McCollum, Russell Westbrook, Bradley Beal and Ben Simmons change teams in the very near future, why he envisions Zion Williamson playing for the New York Knicks at some point during his NBA career, and much more!

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'Playoff P' Paul George is Back, Scottie Pippen Needs Help & How Social Media has Burned the Blazers Jun 29, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into the Los Angeles Clippers' Game 5 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Paul George went full-on ‘Playoff P’ in this one, dropping 30 of his 41 points in the second half. At this point, it’s tough to figure out why so many in the sports media world like to go out of their way to take shots at George, especially since he’s proven time and again during these playoffs that he’s a top-15 player in the League. With Kawhi Leonard out of the lineup, PG has proven that he’s capable of carrying the load, Reggie Jackson has established himself as a $20+ million per year point guard, and Ty Lue has shown that he’s a top-5 NBA head coach. Later, the guys share their thoughts on Scottie Pippen’s recent string of outlandish comments in the media. It started last week with him taking shots at Kevin Durant and it culminated on Monday with him calling Phil Jackson a racist. It’s unclear if he’s seeing stuff like this just to sell more bourbon and copies of his upcoming book, but either way, it’s clear that he’s unwell. The past year has been really rough on him. Let’s just hope he gets the help he needs. Finally, Jason closes the show with a quick discussion on the unrest surrounding the Portland Trail Blazers. Thanks in large part to a small group of very loud people on social media, Chauncey Billups has become persona non grata in the Pacific Northwest and superstar Damian Lillard may be forcing his way out of town.

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Khris Middleton is More Important Than Giannis, Damian Lillard Wants Out & Vacation Highlights Jun 28, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason is back off vacation with a vengeance. He jumped right off a plane to behind a microphone to deliver his takes on all the biggest headlines around the NBA. First, he shares his thoughts on the Milwaukee Bucks' Game 3 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Trae Young's ankle will be the the story moving forward, but the play of Khris Middleton is what stole the show last night. The wildly inconsistent Middleton delivered a gem of a performance and reminded the basketball world why he, not superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, is the Bucks' most important player. When the offense runs through Middleton, they win. Giannis is easily the team's best player, but Middleton has shown throughout these playoffs that he is the key to their success. The problem, though, is that it's almost impossible to count on him to be good on a night-to-night basis. All the same, with Young banged up, all signs point to a Bucks-Suns NBA Finals matchup. Later, Jason shares a quick thought on the report that Damian Lillard is on the verge of formally requesting a trade out of Portland. On one hand, it's exciting to speculate about where Dame Dolla might end up because Super Teams are great for the NBA. On the other, it's hard to blame the Trail Blazers for repeatedly coming up short during the Lillard Era. The Western Conference is - and has been - a juggernaut. Between the Tim Duncan-led Spurs, the Curry-Durant Warriors and the LeBron-led Lakers, when exactly were the Blazers expected to break through? Either way, this summer should be spicy!

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Never Bet Against an 0-2 Clippers Team & A Hypothetical Ben Simmons-for-Kyrie Irving Trade Jun 25, 2021

Show notes

On today’s episode, Producers Rob G and Gavin share their thoughts on the Los Angeles Clippers impressive victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. Apparently, the ‘0-2 Clippers’ are the greatest team in NBA history. For the third consecutive series, the Paper Clips boys fell into an 0-2 hole only to come back and stomp out their competition in Game 3. Patrick Beverley has put Devin Booker in a straitjacket the past two games, Paul George and Reggie Jackson have carried the load offensively, and Ty Lue continues to make great game-to-game adjustments. Later, Rob G does a deep dive into separate reports involving the futures of Ben Simmons in Philadelphia and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn, respectively. Would a Simmons-for-Kyrie actually make sense for all parties involved? At least one person thinks so. Finally, Gavin closes the show with the Friday edition of the Best Bet.

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Trae Young vs Luka Doncic is a Real Debate Now, The Warriors Aren't Dead Yet & the Best Bet Jun 24, 2021

Show notes

On today’s episode, Producers Rob G and Gavin kick things off with a deep dive into Trae Young’s virtuoso performance on the road in Milwaukee to help the Atlanta Hawks take a 1-0 series lead. He dropped 48 points on the Bucks, cementing his status as one of the best young players in the NBA. If it wasn’t obvious before it’s crystal clear today: Trae Young vs. Luka Doncic is a legitimate debate now. Trae’s coming out party this postseason is eerily similar to what we saw from Jimmy Butler in The Bubble where everyone knew he was good, but nobody realized he was that good. Unless Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer can’t make a few adjustments for once, the Hawks may end up in the NBA Finals. Later, Rob G shares his thoughts on the NBA Draft Lottery results and explains why he believes the Golden State Warriors should trade the #7 and #14 picks – and prized center James Wiseman – this offseason for another star. Steph Curry proved last season that he still has a lot left in the tank, and the Warriors owe to him to go all-in while he’s still in his prime Finally, Gavin closes the show with the Thursday edition of the Best Bet.

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