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Rudy Gobert Talks Pick-And-Roll Defense And How This Regular Season Has Prepared The Jazz For The Playoffs

Rudy Gobert saw the court for just 434 minutes on a 25-win team and spent a duration of his time in the G League when he was a rookie with the Utah Jazz. That first season didn’t necessarily indicate what would come in the future: four All-NBA appearances, three All-Star berths, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, and three playoff series victories over a five-season span.

But the summer following his rookie year, Gobert represented France in the FIBA World Cup and helped his country to a third-place finish, a run he pinpoints as the turning point of his career. During the quarterfinals against Spain — which rostered Pau and Marc Gasol, among other luminaries — Gobert came off the bench to notch five points, 13 rebounds, one steal, and one block in a 65-52 win.

Alongside Team USA, Spain was dubbed one of the tournament favorites. Despite star guard Tony Parker not participating that year, France emerged victorious, led in part by Gobert’s efforts crashing the glass and limiting the services of the Gasol brothers’ multi-pronged attack.

I think that’s really when the whole world started to gain respect for what I could do and how I could impact the game,” he tells Dime.

Nearly eight years later, Gobert has solidified himself as a historically great defender, preeminent lob threat, and cornerstone of a playoff linchpin for the past half-decade. Many of the traits he displayed in the surprise win over Spain have helped establish him as one of the league’s best centers.

On behalf of Cognac Frapin, DIME recently caught up with Gobert to discuss his appreciation for brandy, how he approaches defense, what’s different about the Jazz this year and more.

What appeals so much to you about Cognac Frapin?

I didn’t know a lot about Cognac until the last few years, when I really got to learn about the process, thanks to Frapin. They really showed me and told me a lot about it. I knew some brands. Like, I knew of the most mainstream brands. When I got the chance to go to the Cognac region in France and to really see the process, the precision and the quality of the product, and the fact that it was a family business for more than 500 years, it was really fascinating to me. I’m someone who enjoys quality over quantity. The fact that they make it very carefully — which grapes they use and making sure that they did keep a full eye on everything that they do and all the barrels. It was clear to me that this was a brand that really cares about quality and precision.

Are you making a cocktail with it or drinking it straight? How are you drinking it?

I think you can do both, a cocktail or drinking it on the rocks. For myself, obviously, I’m an NBA player, so I don’t drink a lot. But when I do have a drink, I really like to drink it on the rocks because it’s much easier and I don’t add any more sugar or anything else. I’ve tried some of the cocktails and they really taste amazing. It’s just not for me. When I drink, I’d rather have it on the rocks than mix it.

When’s the optimal time of the year that you’re drinking some Frapin? Off-season, off-day, what are we talking?

I don’t drink any liquor during the season. During the season, I just drink a little red wine. In the off-season or when I have a break, I can sometimes enjoy it. The good thing to me is when I have a break, I can sometimes enjoy having a drink. When I really saw the process and all the things I didn’t know, it really made me want to go try it. And then, I tried it. I compared with different brands and I was like, “this is night and day.” You can really feel the flavor. You can really feel the difference. And even for someone like me that didn’t know much about Cognac, like, I could really feel it.

Shifting into some basketball talk, what’s behind the art of pick-and-roll defense and handling all of its nuances?

I think, obviously, it comes with experience, IQ and, obviously, a combination of my length and my athletic ability. So, it’s pretty much a mix of everything. But really, for me, it’s more difficult to understand, like the different personnel. Guys have different strengths and different weaknesses. I try to make them uncomfortable and put them in a position where they’re uncomfortable in basketball. And also, dissuade them and try to put the fear back into them and cause them to either turn passive or hold them to a shot they’re not comfortable making. If they’re gonna try to go at me, just block the shot. So, it’s really about playing that mind game and try to be as disruptive as possible and also about being able to impact multiple players at a time. That’s really something that is rather difficult to realize and understand because you don’t really look at the stat sheet and see, “Oh, Rudy Gobert disrupted three guys.”

Do you feel you all have been more open to experimentation in the regular season this year to possibly better prepare you for the playoffs?

A hundred percent. And also, this year, we’ve had a lot of injuries. Obviously, myself, Donovan (Mitchell). We really got to see different lineups and even my backup, Hassan Whiteside, has missed some games, too. So, yeah, we’ve tried out different lineups and lot of different coverages. … We want to win every night, but at the same time, we realize that when the playoffs come, we want to be the best team we can be and if we build good habits, we’ll be all right.

It feels like maybe there’s been a little more emphasis on your behalf to kind of be able to create with the ball in your hands and stretch your range a little bit outside of maybe the dunks and the finishing around the rim. Is that a fair assessment. If so, where does that emphasis come from for you this season?

Yeah, definitely. I’ve been putting in a lot of work over the years and I really feel like I can create for my team. I can find my teammates when they’re open, and I can also be aggressive and create some problems for the other teams. For me, it’s really about keep building that relationship with my teammates and keep building the trust and then, make sure that I’m being put in position that I can really help my team.

Does expanding your own offensive game somewhat come from an aim to neutralize some of the small-ball defenses that teams have thrown at you during the playoffs over the years?

Yeah, definitely. Once again, I think, for us, it’s really to keep growing as a team and try to have that balance between attacking from the perimeter, but also, putting the ball inside and trust our game to be able to use that size advantage to get something easy, whether it’s kicking out for a three or finishing inside. I think for us to have that balance will be really key for us to take another step. I think this year, we’ve been able to do it very well. We are getting better and better.

When the organization trades a mainstay like Joe Ingles, who was crucial to so much of your team’s success in recent years, what are the challenges from a human perspective you have to navigate after a move like that?

Obviously, it was tough. Someone that’s such a huge part of the team’s foundation, leaving the team. With Joe, for me … we spent eight years together. Joe was a huge part of our progression and our success as a team. When Joe got here, we had won 25 games the year before. It was really cool to be able to share that journey with him and I think he made me better as a player over the years. We got to know each other, obviously, year after year. He’s someone I have a lot of respect for, him and his family. … I really just tried to show my support as much as I could. I hope he is gonna be able to back when he can. But it’s funny. When you get used to playing with someone, you kinda take it for granted and you don’t realize that could end any time. It’s tough, whether it’s injury or trade or someone retiring, it’s always a difficult adjustment.

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Rowdy Rebel Goes To War With Himself On The Conflicted ‘Rowdy Vs. Rebel’

Rowdy Rebel seems to have resolved some of those label issues because he’s back with new music for the first time since last year, not including his “Ah Haaa” freestyle and appearance on Bobby Shmurda’s “Shmoney.” Perhaps Bobby’s departure from Epic freed up some funds or gave him the leverage he needed to secure a release date. Either way, Rowdy goes to war with himself — and the world — on the conflicting, sinister “Rowdy Vs. Rebel.”

Featuring a thundering drill beat — Rowdy’s new preferred mode of communication — “Rowdy Vs. Rebel” finds the Brooklyn native comparing and contrasting his dueling natures. While his “Rowdy” half is characterized as the professional artist who wants nothing more than to pursue success and stay out of trouble, the “Rebel” in him seeks out conflict. “Rowdy just wanna rap, Rebel just wanna trap,” he rhymes. “Rebel wanna slide, Rowdy wanna chat.” I can’t help but picture those old cartoons where Tom the cat or whoever has an angel on one shoulder and a demon on the other trying to convince him what to do next.

For his sake, let’s all hope he listens to his better nature because we’ve had to wait for six years for him to get out of prison and with music this compelling, it’d suck if he went and got himself locked up again before his album comes out.

Listen to Rowdy Rebel’s “Rowdy Vs. Rebel” above.

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Jason Momoa Tipped His Hat To ‘F*cker’ Michael Bay For Making Him Cry Twice While Watching ‘Ambulance’

We live in a time of “takes.” Some are much better and worse than others, but no one has more unrestrained, enthused takes than Jason Momoa. Whether he’s referring to a comic book movie as “Ssssiiicccckkkkkk” or barely unable to contain himself while rocking out to a Metallica album, there’s never a dull moment when Momoa gets to preview things early and express his effusive state.

It’s quite something, then, to hear what Momoa thought about the new Michael Bay actioner, Ambulance, which appears to be as wild a ride as one would expect from the “Boom!” maestro. Well, get ready because Momoa had a reaction that even he didn’t expect: He cried, more than once.

As Momoa wrote on Instagram (while posting a photo of himself alongside See co-star Archie Madekwe), “i cried twice. kid part killed me. i’m a papa bear so u got me michael (fucker).” Well then. It’s worth noting that Momoa raved about Aquaman villain Yahya Abdul-Matteen II, however, and he was overall in love with this movie.

“Papa bear” had a good time, to say the very least:

“I was so honoured to be invited to this amazing movie @ambulancethemovie love u @archmadekwe THEATRES are back you got to watch this on the big screen. MICHAEL BAY. you killed it @yahya i’m so proud of you mahalo for inviting me @eizagonzalez wonderful performance. i cried twice. kid part killed me. i’m a papa bear so u got me michael (fucker). anywho. jake. so funny and crazy and fun. im just happy for everyone to see this u won’t be disappointed also to all my fellow actors there are no small roles. i saw every character in this movie. really amazing work. and @garretdillahunt you are one my loves. always inspiring watching you @universalpictures congratulations. i can’t believe u shot it that fast during the pandemic and for so little. shot on the best @reddigitalcinema aloha j.”

Take it from Momoa and go watch Ambulance, in theaters now.

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Camila Cabello And Willow Get Kinky In The New ‘Psychofreak’ Video

Camila Cabello recently confirmed in an interview that her new collaboration with Willow on the steamy song “Psychofreak” directly confronts her 2016 departure from the girl group Fifth Harmony. “I don’t blame the girls for how it all went down,” she sings against haunting beats. Today, the pair released the music video, which takes it to another level of titillation.

Similar to Willow’s provocative music video with Siiickbrain for “Purge” from a week ago, the “Psychofreak” video features a lot of black clothing, fishnets, leather, and spiky jewelry, along with some erotic dancing. Both singers writhe either on the floor, the wall, or the ceiling as this room that looks like an office space spins disorientingly under fluorescent lights.

Toward the end, the two of them are together with their hands on each other while Cabello’s suit jacket is open and her breasts are censored. This follows her wardrobe malfunction on live television that happened a month ago. Afterwards, she was able to make light of it with a funny TikTok that quickly went viral; this music video watches her use the situation to her advantage again with what is probably a tongue-in-cheek reference to it.

Watch the music video for “Psychofreak” above.

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Jack Harlow Thinks It’s ‘Tragic’ That Rap Fans Say Eminem Makes ‘Circus Music’

When Eminem first appeared on the mainstream radar in 1999, his music seemed groundbreaking and fresh. Unfortunately, over the past two decades, the public perception of the self-proclaimed “Rap God” has changed as tastes in hip-hop have evolved. Now, he’s seen as something of an anachronism, a man out of time like Captain America in the Marvel Comics universe. Well, Jack Harlow, one of Eminem’s biggest fans, won’t stand for it anymore. In a new interview with Rolling Stone, the “Nail Tech” rapper calls it “tragic” that his hero — with whom he collaborated on a remix of “Killer” last year — isn’t appreciated.

However, he remains optimistic that the pendulum will eventually swing the other way. “I think that sh*t is still forever immortal, and we’re gonna get back to it,” he says. “We’re a couple years away from everyone reviving that shit as a culture and being like, ‘Look at this sh*t.’ And everyone’s gonna pay their rightful respects again. No matter how the production ages to people, like, he put so much into his words that it immortalized him, even though that sh*t aged as ‘circus music’ to [some] people.”

The older rapper could probably help things along by, like, picking better beats and changing his flow, but point taken. Meanwhile, Harlow has more or less replaced Eminem as hip-hop’s favorite white boy (unless we’re counting Post Malone, whose status as a hip-hop artist remains a point of contention). He recently released the single “First Class” as the precursor to his upcoming second studio album, Come Home The Kids Miss You, and he’s been cast in a remake of White Men Can’t Jump. He talks about both in the full Rolling Stone interview, which you can read here.

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Elon Musk Threw Himself A Kendall Roy-Style Party To Celebrate The Opening Of Tesla’s ‘Gigafactory’

Elon Musk doesn’t “do” subtle. His cars make fart noises (much to the delight of Ted Cruz), he’s in a dick-shaped measuring contest with fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos, and he challenged Vladimir Putin to a one-on-one fight with the “stakes” being Ukraine, not to mention all the “lit” Twitter memes and 420 jokes. So, naturally, Musk went all out for the opening party of Tesla’s $1 billion Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, on Thursday.

Over 15,000 people were invited to the “Cyber Rodeo,” which featured “a large, open warehouse with a bar and a wide and unusual selection of amusements. There was live music, carnival games, drink and snack stations, and at least half a dozen food trucks and dancers on rollerblades — and even a mechanical bull, a tattoo parlor, and a petting zoo,” the Austin American-Statesman reports. Also, Harrison Ford was there.

Musk, wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses, proclaimed that the Gigafactory is “taller than the Burj Khalifa,” and that 194 billion hamsters could fit inside the building. Meanwhile outside the factory, there was a drone show, complete with a “doge.” The Cyber Rodeo was an undeniable spectacle, but as Jalopnik tells it, it signified nothing:

Yet, for all the screaming fans and callbacks to the early days of the company Elon did not found, the big keynote speech lacked one key component: Any new information.

The keynote began with Elon driving to the stage in an early Tesla Roadster, while “Still D.R.E.” blared through the building’s PA like a moment from Office Space. That led to some history of the Tesla brand, its origins in Menlo Park, and its current lineup of “the most expensive joke in the world.” Cue applause.

The better comparison than Office Space might be Kendall Roy’s vanity project birthday party from the most recent season of Succession. Would it really surprise anyone if Musk demanded a “to the moon” playlist with all bangers all the time?

(Via the Statesman)

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‘Yellowstone’ Superfan Michael Bay Thinks That He Would Sure Have ‘Fun’ Directing An Episode

When people think of Michael Bay, they think of high octane films like The Rock, Transformers, and of course, his magnum space opus, Armageddon. However, while promoting his latest action spectacle, Ambulance (starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), Bay revealed that he’s also a connoisseur of quieter fare. Namely, Yellowstone, the ever-expanding Western series from Taylor Sheridan that’s become a powerhouse for the Paramount Network.

In fact, Bay would much rather direct an episode of Yellowstone than something like Star Wars, which you’d just assume would be up Bay’s alley due to its propensity for massive explosions. Sure, Yellowstone has its share of shootouts (and Season 3 ended with one hell of a bomb going off), but it definitely skews towards more of a soap opera than the action-fests Bay usually delivers.

Via Collider:

“Y’know… I would not want to do [something like] Star Wars 5 because… the greatest, the toughest thing for a director to do is to create the world, and I like creating the world. But [directing Yellowstone] might be fun. The horses, and the Stetson hats, and the beautiful landscape… it’s a fun show.”

Of course, now, we can’t help but think about Michael Bay directing an adventure on the Dutton ranch, and it’s honestly hard not to picture horses exploding left and right. Just hooves and saddles flying everywhere as Kevin Costner stares at gorgeous Montana scenery and wonders if a piece of land is worth all of this fighting.

Also, the horses keep blowing up. That can’t be good.

(Via Collider)

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Taylor Swift Breaks Down What Exactly Makes Phoebe Bridgers’ Music ‘So Deeply Impactful And Moving’

Ahead of her upcoming appearance at this month’s Coachella festival, Phoebe Bridgers is the subject of an expansive new Los Angeles Times profile. As part of the piece, the publication reached out to Taylor Swift, who of course recruited Bridgers to join her on “Nothing New (Taylor’s Version)” from Red (Taylor’s Version). Swift took the time to respond with a quote about what it is about Bridgers’ music that makes it stand out to her.

Swift told the publication via email:

“I think that the specificity of Phoebe’s lyrics and the vulnerability she expresses in her voice when she delivers them is what makes her music so deeply impactful and moving for me as a fan. You feel like she’s reliving a precise memory or delivering a secret message to someone and you get the privilege to read it or hear about it. Her phrasing is very conversational, which turns her storytelling into something tremendously intimate, fragile, and real.”

In the piece, Bridgers also noted of working with Swift, “[The lyrics] hit me more than I thought it would. I was a lot more worried about my youth and getting discarded when I was 21. At that age, everybody writes about you as like a prodigy. To have won [Swift’s] trust was special — I knew there was a reason she thought of me. I was stressed and I wanted to get it right, but she was a great guide to me and approached everything with such care.”

Read the full feature here.

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The Five Best Games To Play In 2022 So Far

We’ve made it through the busiest part of the early video game calendar. While the idea of a “slow season” for gaming is a thing of the past, with must-play titles coming out every month, what really defined the early parts of gaming in 2022 were all of the AAA releases. Among those were a handful of indie darlings that could easily compete for game of the year at the end of 2022, but there will surely be more contenders to come.

We understand that keeping up with every game that comes out is really difficult, so we rounded up the five best games of 2022 so far. These are the can’t miss titles of the year through the first three or so months, and whether you’re the person who plays every game they can or only plays one or two, we think these should be given an honest try — some of them are even available on services like Game Pass.

Elden Ring

Everyone has heard about Elden Ring by now. It was the first smash hit of the year and immediately took the internet by storm with its mix of intensely difficult combat, endless world, and memes. While it was maybe not the most approachable game, despite its reputation, the majority of people who have played Elden Ring have come away elated. There’s something about this world that hooks you in and makes it really difficult to leave.

Elden Ring is the early favorite for game of the year for most people, but that’s not why you should play it. It’s a world with endless potential and those who are willing to dive into it and spend numerous hours bashing their head into its challenges are going to receive a reward that many of us are still seeking. Elden Ring isn’t for everyone, but for that lucky few there are few games they’re going to love more than this one.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby and the Forgotten Land was the promised 3D adventure that many fans of the series have been asking for since the Nintendo 64. While the game is still largely linear, and candidly doesn’t take advantage of its 3D environment enough, it is still a fantastic adventure and one of the best Kirby games to date. What’s wonderful about Kirby and the Forgotten Land is that, despite its change in style, it is still a Kirby game at heart. That means it’s welcoming to newcomers, but has a level of depth that will make Kirby fans want to 100 percent the game.

As a result, while Kirby and the Forgotten Land has a lot of missed potential, it’s also one of the best games of the year simply due to how well it nails the transition to 3D. It has a really fun pick up and play co-op option with Bandana Dee, and the explorers among us aren’t going to rest until we find every secret each level has to unlock. Play this game on your own, with a significant other, family member, sibling, or really anyone. It’s going to be endless fun no matter what and is one of the best games of 2022 so far.

Infernax

Infernax came to us with a simple goal: Take inspiration from games like Zelda II: The Adventure of Link and Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, put a modern spin on them, then watch as it becomes one of the best retro-inspired games in recent memory. Infernax takes everything that was unique or creative about those two games, but does them in a much improved way. The combat is snappier and the movement is better, but it doesn’t lose any of that original challenge that makes retro games feel so memorable. Of course, for anyone that finds it may be a little too hard, there is a less difficult option to give these players an opportunity to experience the entire game.

This is great, because finishing the game is only one part of the journey for Infernax. The game has multiple endings, including a few secret ones, and even cheat codes. One of the best cheat codes involves the Konami Code, and while we won’t spoil it here, we strongly suggest putting it in at the start menu. It’s worth it for any longtime fans of retro gaming, which is what makes Infernax one of the best games of the year so far. It’s a love letter to the NES era in a way that all of us can appreciate. It’s also available on Game Pass for anyone that wants to try it.

Tunic

Tunic is going to make you yell “AH HA OF COURSE” more than any other game on this list. That’s because Tunic is a game where the entirety of the fun comes in exploration and discovery. The player’s main goal, besides completing the main quest, is completing a map that shows shortcuts and alternative routes for the player. The fun of Tunic is that all of these shortcuts are available from the start, but they’re hidden in plain sight. If the player is exploratory, they might even stumble upon a part of the game they’re not supposed to be at yet very early on.

This level of exploration has made Tunic a quick favorite and it’s already receiving comparisons to other huge hits like Dark Souls and Death’s Door. One aspect that separates it from the Souls-inspired games its being compared to, though, is that Tunic has a no-fail mode. Having a hard time with the bosses and combat? Just turn that on and enjoy exploring the game. It’s plenty of fun with that option alone. Tunic is spectacular and a great game to scratch that exploration itch. Try it out on Game Pass!

NORCO

NORCO is the most well-written game of 2022 so far. As a point and click adventure, this is obviously a game that was going to live and die on its writing, but the subtlety of its themes alongside a gripping and emotional story is going to have players hanging on every word. Joining them on the journey is also one of the most beautiful games you’ll ever play. The southern gothic art style of the very real Norco, Louisana fits the game’s themes perfectly.

While NORCO wasn’t completely out of nowhere — it was shown off at a couple of games showcases and was the first game to win an award at the Tribeca Film Festival — it caught a lot of the gaming community by surprise. Even some of its biggest supporters before launch are surprised at how much it is resonating with them. It’s early surprise and it’s available on Game Pass for anyone that wants to play it.

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Latto Plays Her Album Standouts ‘Sunshine’ And ‘Big Energy’ On ‘The Tonight Show’

Latto‘s 777 is absolutely rolling and showing no signs of slowing down. Two weeks after the release of her second studio album, the Atlanta rapper took a break from her Monster Energy Outbreak Tour to perform a pair of songs on The Tonight Show. While her playing “Big Energy” comes as no surprise, considering it’s her biggest single to date at No. 3 on the Hot 100, she also throws in her verse from the 777 standout “Sunshine,” which features Lil Wayne and Childish Gambino on the album.

Opening with “Sunshine,” Latto begins the performance sitting on a stool with a huge, elegant-looking dressing gown on. Backed by a team of backup dancers, she almost looks like the leader of a praise team, which works well with the gospel references throughout the song. As the song picks up, she stands to roam the stage, bopping along with the live band’s rendition of the song’s beat. The stage clears for the second half of the medley, as Latto removes the gown while the band vamps, and when she returns, she is joined by a pair of dancers who perform some vibrant choreography for the Mariah Carey-sampling “Big Energy.”

You can watch Latto’s Tonight Show performance of “Sunshine” and “Big Energy” above.