1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:02,120 Speaker 1: The volume. 2 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 2: The NBA Finals are here. This is your last chance 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 2: to bet on the NBA until next season, and DraftKings 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 2: Sportsbook and official sports betting partner of the NBA is 5 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 2: pulling out all the stops to make this a finals. 6 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 2: To remember, one team will be crown champ and the 7 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:22,240 Speaker 2: other will be lost to history. Who you got winning 8 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 2: at all? Put your hoops expertise to the test. All 9 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 2: season long, DraftKings has been the go to spot for 10 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 2: NBA player props and that doesn't stop now. Who's going 11 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 2: to carry their team to the chip? 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Age and eligibility varies by 31 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 2: jurisdiction void in Ontario. Bet must win to receive reward. 32 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 2: Minimum minus five hundred odds required. Bonus bets expire one 33 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,199 Speaker 2: hundred and sixty eight hours after issuance. For additional terms 34 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 2: and responsible gaming resources, see DKG dot co slash audio. 35 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 2: All right, well, come to hoop tonight here at the 36 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 2: volume heavy Saturday. 37 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 3: Everybody. 38 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 2: Hope all of you are having a good start to 39 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 2: your weekend. Well, we've slept on it. I wanted to 40 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: spend some time getting into some more details from some 41 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 2: of the numbers and some of the stuff I've been 42 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 2: digging into in the NBA Finals I want to kind 43 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 2: of zoom out after the first four games and talk 44 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 2: about some of the big picture dynamics that are taking place. 45 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 2: After that, I want to talk a little bit about 46 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 2: the future of the series, and then we have a 47 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 2: handful of mail bag questions, a couple geared around this 48 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 2: series and then a few geared around some other stuff 49 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 2: around the rest of the league. I also want to 50 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 2: talk a little bit about the refs and make sure 51 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 2: that we separate, you know, some of the discussion around 52 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,119 Speaker 2: the rules of engagement and some of the realities as 53 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 2: to like whether or not Indiana got screwed. There's been 54 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 2: a lot of clips going around this morning with people 55 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 2: complaining about some of the physicality from Oklahoma City throughout 56 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 2: the game. I think the rules of engagement have been 57 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 2: pretty clear throughout this entire postseason, and Indiana is just 58 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: failing the exact same test that everyone else has failed. 59 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 2: And so I want to give okay See some credit 60 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 2: and make sure that we separate, you know, some big 61 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 2: picture discuss about the state of the NBA as it 62 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 2: pertains to officiating from whether or not this series has 63 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 2: been fair, because I do believe it has been fair. 64 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 2: So we'll be digging into some of those dynamics as well. 65 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 2: You guys have the joke before we get started. Subscribe 66 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 2: to Hoops Tonight YouTube channels. You don't miss any more 67 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 2: of our videos. Follow me on Twitter and underscore JCNLT 68 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 2: so you guys don't miss show announcement Soti'll forget. 69 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 3: About o podcast feed where you get your podcast. 70 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 2: On our Hoops Tonight. It's also super helpful if you 71 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 2: leave a rating and a review on that front. Jackson's 72 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 2: doing great work on our social media feeds Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, 73 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:28,639 Speaker 2: and TikTok. Make sure you guys follow us there and 74 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 2: the last but not least, if you guys want to 75 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 2: get mail back questions in once we get out of 76 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 2: the finals, they'll be in the comments underneath the YouTube videos. 77 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 2: But for until the NBA Finals all over are over, 78 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 2: I've been doing them through our chats in our postgame shows. 79 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 2: So whenever we do a postgame show like on Monday, 80 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 2: you can just come to the show and drop your 81 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 2: questions in the chat, or if I tweet out a 82 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 2: question asking for mail back questions like I did last night. 83 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:56,839 Speaker 2: All right, let's talk some basketball. So major checkpoints through 84 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 2: four games of the NBA Finals. I talk a lot 85 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 2: of out the idea of like different units, right, and 86 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 2: whether or not you can shake a unit, meaning like 87 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 2: can your defense rattle the foundation of their offense or 88 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 2: vice versa, And there have been some dynamics in this series, 89 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:17,799 Speaker 2: I think for both teams in terms of defenses rattling 90 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:19,279 Speaker 2: the foundations of offenses. 91 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 3: Both of these teams. 92 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 2: Are scoring at a rate that is far less efficient 93 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 2: than they did during the regular season. But the question 94 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 2: is which defense is doing more damage to the other side, 95 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 2: and I think it's Oklahoma City's defense easily. The Pacers 96 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 2: had a one eighteen offensive rating in the first round 97 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 2: series against the Milwaukee Bucks. They had a one to 98 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 2: seventeen offensive rating in the second round against the Cleveland Cavaliers, 99 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,559 Speaker 2: a one eighteen offensive rating in the Conference finals against 100 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,159 Speaker 2: the New York Knicks, in just a one oh nine 101 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 2: point eight offensive rating versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. I 102 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 2: rewatched the fourth quarter this morning, just trying to familiarize 103 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 2: myself with the way with which Oklahoma City came back 104 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 2: into that game, and a big part of it was 105 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 2: the physicality, which I want to talk about in a 106 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 2: little bit. When we talked about the officiating I'm going 107 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,599 Speaker 2: to I was very critical of the big picture NBA 108 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 2: officiating issue with like foul rifting and how it kind 109 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 2: of messed with the end of a good game last night, 110 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 2: But I want to get into the specific dynamic with 111 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 2: the physicality and how it's been the rules of engagement 112 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 2: for everybody, and how Oklahoma City is just taking advantage 113 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 2: of it. I thought that was a big part of 114 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 2: it in the fourth quarter, and then obviously the second 115 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 2: piece of it. We talked a little bit about this 116 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:35,359 Speaker 2: last night. Chet Holmgren was all over the rewatch for 117 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 2: me last night in the fourth quarter, obviously seeing the 118 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 2: offensive rebounds again, just you know, doing something pretty simple, 119 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:45,919 Speaker 2: just crashing. Like we just was relentless getting to the 120 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:49,039 Speaker 2: front of the rim and just caught pacers in switches 121 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 2: or in help situations. There was a play where nemhard 122 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 2: was matched up with him, but Nemhrd was kind of 123 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 2: digging in and helping elsewhere, and like that's the thing, 124 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 2: Like if you're going to dig in and help and 125 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 2: offer a towards another offensive player, that's attention. You're not 126 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 2: offering towards your specific matchup, which can offer a little 127 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 2: window of distraction, a window of space for you to 128 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,039 Speaker 2: run in behind and try to make something happen, especially 129 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 2: if you're an athlete, and Chet you know, probably is 130 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:22,480 Speaker 2: the best vertical like natural vertical length and athleticism player 131 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 2: on the floor, you know, so like he can actually 132 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 2: high point the ball in those situations and do a 133 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 2: good amount of damage. But the big thing was on defense. 134 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:31,160 Speaker 2: You know, I've been thinking a lot about this defense. 135 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 2: We were talking about it last night on playback. 136 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 3: It's the best. 137 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 2: Defense I've personally ever watched. I think it's what I'll 138 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,919 Speaker 2: remember most about this team. I'll remember them playing nikoley 139 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 2: Jokic into three straight bad games. The types of truly 140 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:48,599 Speaker 2: embarrassing performances they've forced all these other guys into. 141 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 3: Last night in the. 142 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 2: Fourth quarter, Tyrese Halliburton getting stripped at half court, shooting 143 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 2: an air ball on a step back three, getting blocked 144 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:01,480 Speaker 2: on a different step back three, like just these This 145 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 2: defense has taken some really good players and made them 146 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 2: look feeble relative to what their typical production is. And 147 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 2: that's really what is the defining characteristic of this Thunder team. 148 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 2: But you know, I talk a lot about when we're 149 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 2: talking about like the natural team build, like the best 150 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 2: way to build a team. I used to always go 151 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 2: through that like kind of progression where it's like, I 152 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 2: want a skill guard, I want an athletic guard. I 153 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 2: want a slender, perimeter oriented forward. I want a bigger, stronger, 154 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 2: more versatile big forward at the four. 155 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 3: Spot, and then I want a big. 156 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 2: And one of the things that I always talk about 157 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 2: with the big is defensive versatility. That has to be 158 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 2: a big that can defend in varying different kinds of 159 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 2: drop coverages, but also that can defend in switches. And 160 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 2: the reason why is each matchup is going to call 161 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 2: for different types of use from the center position. So 162 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 2: for instance, like let's say you're playing a team that 163 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 2: has like a straight up non shooter on the floor 164 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 2: that you're not particularly worried about behind the three point line. 165 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 2: Imagine like you're playing the Knicks and it's Josh Hart 166 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 2: for example, right, Like having a guy like that is 167 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 2: capable of being rangy around the rim as like a 168 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 2: center fielder helper at the rim is super valuable. Chet 169 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 2: had a huge help side rotation in an off ball 170 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 2: situation in the fourth quarter against Andrew Nemhard at the 171 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 2: basket where you know he got over there. He's a 172 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 2: touch late, but he got over there and he went vertical. 173 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 2: It was a good physical play. I liked the non 174 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 2: call in the moment. It's an example of him being 175 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:36,680 Speaker 2: in a rangey, off ball kind of roaming spot where 176 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 2: he can do some damage as a helper. 177 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 3: Right. 178 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 2: Then in different pick and roll coverages. Right, there are 179 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:43,679 Speaker 2: certain examples of times when you need a big that 180 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 2: can get up to the level. So, for instance, an 181 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 2: elite pull up shooter like is Steph Curry got to 182 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 2: show at the level. An elite driver like Chet would 183 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 2: be a great weapon against the Shay Gilders Alexander because 184 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 2: of his ability to show up at the level and 185 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 2: to keep the ball in front. The big subplots of 186 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 2: this series is the damage that Shay has done to 187 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 2: Miles Turner and ball screens because when he comes up 188 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,560 Speaker 2: to the level he can't keep Shay in front. And 189 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 2: then when you have athletes that are downhill threats but 190 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 2: that are not elite mid range shot makers, then you 191 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 2: can run a deeper drop coverage, and that deeper drop 192 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 2: coverage gives you the flexibility to be able to sag 193 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 2: back into the paint and chase over the top of 194 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 2: screens without conceding any sort of shot that is particularly 195 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 2: efficient or deadly to your defense. And then lastly, if 196 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 2: guys get wiped out by screens, which can happen, especially 197 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 2: in super physical playoff games, you need to have a 198 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 2: big that can switch out onto the perimeter and get 199 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:44,199 Speaker 2: stops the way that Chet Holmgren did against Aaron E. 200 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 2: Smith excuse me, Andrew Nemhard and Tyrese Haliburton multiple times 201 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 2: down the stretch of that game, and that has been 202 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 2: a consistent theme in the Oklahoma City wins in this series. 203 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 3: Looking back at Game two, Chet. 204 00:09:55,280 --> 00:10:01,200 Speaker 2: Holmgren's screaming off the screen, specifically in switching switches like 205 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 2: switching is the ultimate like it's the answer to every 206 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:08,199 Speaker 2: action that any team wants to run, because as long 207 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 2: as you communicate through it, you can shut down the 208 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 2: advantages that come out of that action because you're just 209 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 2: talking to each other instead of fighting through screens. Right, 210 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 2: But the downside with switching is it puts a lot 211 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 2: of pressure on guys defending out of position, right, a 212 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 2: big having to defend a small, a small having to 213 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 2: defend a big, even on the glass for both bigs 214 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 2: and smalls, a quick guy crashing around a big on 215 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 2: the perimeter, or a big guy pinning a little guy 216 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 2: right underneath the basket. There's a lot of those dynamics 217 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 2: that can be solved if you have super versatile players, 218 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 2: guards that play bigger than they are, like a guys 219 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 2: like Alex Caruso, guys like Lou Dord. I think Jalen 220 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 2: Williams plays bigger than even his size would lead you 221 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 2: to believe. And then you have to have big guys 222 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 2: that can play smaller and like I think, a consistent 223 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 2: trend in this entire postseason run has been cheed. Holmgren's 224 00:10:57,440 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 2: ability to switch out onto the perimeter and at the 225 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 2: bare released forced you to take a contested off the 226 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 2: dribble jump shot. He's not getting beat off the dribble 227 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 2: like there was a play or Halliburton missed a step 228 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 2: back three at the top of the key last night 229 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 2: in the fourth quarter and Haliburton hit him with the moves. 230 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 3: And jet buckled and almost fell. 231 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 2: But it doesn't matter because he was overplaying the drive, 232 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 2: which is what you need from him. And when you've 233 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,320 Speaker 2: got super long arms, you can actually be a bigger 234 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,320 Speaker 2: factor in your recovery even when you're out of position 235 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 2: both physically and mentally. The arms obviously cause a problem, 236 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:37,960 Speaker 2: but it gets in the offensive player's head. They changed 237 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:39,959 Speaker 2: their release a little bit because they think they need 238 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 2: to shoot it higher, They think they need to shoot 239 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:45,200 Speaker 2: it quicker, and like I just you know, when I 240 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 2: think about this Oklahoma City defense, the most obvious thing 241 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 2: to grasp two is the depth of perimeter defenders, and 242 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 2: obviously that's a huge part of what they do. Lou 243 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 2: Georg's job on Tyre's Haliburton the fourth quarter last night amazing. 244 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 2: Caruso in various matchups and various contexts throughout the series 245 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 2: has been amazing. The perimeter defense is big, shake yods 246 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 2: Alexander last night, we talked about the damage that he 247 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 2: did off the ball defensively in the second half of 248 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 2: that game. That's all great, but none of it works. 249 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:20,199 Speaker 2: Like look at Houston, where it's like Shane Gun ends 250 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,680 Speaker 2: up being this target that you can go after. If 251 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 2: you don't have a big man that can tie it 252 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 2: all together with the ability to run every single defensive 253 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 2: coverage efficiently and successfully, then you're going to have issues. 254 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 3: Regardless of what. 255 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 2: Type of perimeter defense you have, And I just wanted 256 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 2: to give some love to Chet Holmgren for the job 257 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:43,080 Speaker 2: that he did last night. Which team has the most 258 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 2: reliable half court action? We talked about this last night. 259 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 2: I won't get too much further into it, but this 260 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 2: is the second thing I want to look at, zooming 261 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 2: out from a two to two series. We saw that 262 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:54,839 Speaker 2: bear out last night. Shay's ISOs were super efficient down 263 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:57,200 Speaker 2: the stretch and the Pacers had no idea what to do. 264 00:12:57,760 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 2: So before we get into some of the rest of 265 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 2: my kind of big picture checkpoints, I want to actually 266 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 2: skip ahead to one of our mailbag questions. It was 267 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 2: brought up in the playback tonight that it feels like 268 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 2: Indy doesn't have that guy down the stretch, sort of 269 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 2: lacks aggression, some sort of hierarchy. Who's getting shots in 270 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:14,839 Speaker 2: crunch time? Who would you empower to be that guy 271 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 2: if you're Rick or is it just not the Pacers 272 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 2: team's way. And this was in reference to Dom, one 273 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:22,840 Speaker 2: of our big Pacers fans who's been coming on playback. 274 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 2: And again for those of you guys who haven't had 275 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 2: a chance to hop over there, it's playback dot TV 276 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:29,840 Speaker 2: slash Hoops tonight, we're going live after games and we 277 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:31,840 Speaker 2: take callers and we just have a fun time talking 278 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:35,440 Speaker 2: about hoops and it'd be a fun thing for you 279 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 2: guys to check out if you haven't had a chance 280 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 2: to hop over there yet. But anyway, Don was just 281 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 2: pointing out, like, man, it was just a reminder last 282 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 2: night that we just don't. 283 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 3: Have that guy now. 284 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 2: I would argue that in the future that's something that 285 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 2: the Pacers will have to address, and I think there's 286 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 2: a couple of specific directions they can go there. Like 287 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 2: it's looking to me like Nie Smith is the weakest 288 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 2: point in that starting lineup. At least within this series. 289 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 2: Nie Smith has been brutal been able to guard either 290 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 2: of Shae Kildes, Alexander or Jadab at any point in 291 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 2: the series. He was the target down the stretch. Last night, 292 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 2: he was the culprit for a lot of the foul 293 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 2: calls that were killing the Pacers down the stretch. You 294 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 2: want a guy like Ben Matherin to be able to 295 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 2: slot into that spot and be able to defend and 296 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 2: do all the things that Nie Smith does while bringing 297 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 2: some more of that off the dribble get to his 298 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 2: spots type of pop he's younger, he's a few years away. 299 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 2: That's a more realistic internal option. I don't think the 300 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 2: Pacers can afford to let Ben walk or do anything 301 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 2: that involves him potentially leaving the team, because he is 302 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 2: the one guy that has the upside on the roster 303 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 2: to become that type of shot maker. Now in the 304 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 2: short term, it's got to be Pascal Siakam. When I 305 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 2: rewatched the fourth quarter, there was one play where they 306 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 2: actually went to Siakam to try to initiate offense. It 307 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 2: was an iso, kind of like an attack of ball 308 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 2: pressure off the top of the key. He beat his 309 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 2: man with a move going towards the left, and when 310 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 2: he got into the lane, he kind of got out 311 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 2: of whack and a little out of control, which is 312 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,760 Speaker 2: what happens against good ball pressure. And he tried to 313 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 2: spin over his left shoulder to throw a kickout pass 314 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 2: to an open shooter on the right wing, and Alex 315 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 2: Caruso had left that guy and threw an aggressive double 316 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 2: team and he came in flying with both arms up 317 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 2: and he got a deflection and forced a turnover on 318 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 2: Pascal Siakam. Was an ugly play, but the bigger takeaway 319 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 2: there is that was the only play in the fourth 320 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 2: quarter where they looked to Siakam to initiate offense. Now 321 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 2: where I get frustrated by that is like would it 322 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 2: have mattered. Probably not. Oklahoma City is the better team 323 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 2: in my opinion. I think that will continue to bear 324 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 2: out over the course of the next two or three 325 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 2: games of the series. But you still and he does 326 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 2: have a chance to win the series. Their chance is 327 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 2: in these situations where Oklahoma City really tightens the screws 328 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 2: that we know Indiana's defense can do damaged to Oklahoma City. 329 00:15:57,440 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 2: I think that's something they did a lot of damaged 330 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 2: to Oklahoma City's offense last night. But when Oklahoma City 331 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 2: really tightens the screws the way they do, they have 332 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 2: to find a way for reliable offense. And like, here's 333 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 2: the thing, Tyres is not going to be able to 334 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 2: shake free when Oklahoma City really locks in, Andrew and 335 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 2: Mhart's not going to be able to do much better 336 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 2: than a pretty tough step back mid ranger when everything 337 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 2: gets pretty When everything gets tight for Oklahoma City at 338 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 2: the end of the game, Pascal Siakam is the one 339 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 2: guy who has a true physical advantage to where if 340 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 2: you run action for him to get him the ball 341 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 2: on the block Against a smaller defender, He's going to 342 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 2: be able to get to that right shoulder fade away, 343 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 2: and it's a shot that has a physical reliability to it, 344 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 2: unlike some of these small guards and some of their 345 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 2: attempts to get shots off against these elite perimeter defenders. 346 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 2: So to me, in this series, if they end up 347 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 2: in that situation again, they have to make a more 348 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 2: intentional effort to just run like think of it like this, 349 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 2: run it out of action if you want to, but 350 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 2: just have Tyrese Halliburton run like you know, a pick 351 00:16:57,800 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 2: and pop with Miles Turner at the top of the 352 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 2: key where Miles pops to the left corner and run 353 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 2: basically a cross screen for run a cross screen for 354 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 2: Siakam off of the block towards that same block that 355 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 2: Miles Turner's on that side. Have Miles Turner throw the 356 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 2: post entry that way. You have Miles Turner's man further 357 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 2: away from the basket. You have smaller players and help. 358 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 2: Now Siakam's got the ball on the block. You can 359 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:23,640 Speaker 2: run the same thing on either block, but basically get 360 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 2: Siakam an opportunity to get a deeper post catch. The 361 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 2: idea of running the cross screen is if you run 362 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 2: the cross screen, it gets Siakam's defender into trail position, 363 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 2: which allows you a better chance at a post up. 364 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 2: If they switch it, just have the cross screen or 365 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 2: be one of the smalls like involving Shay Gilders Alexander right, 366 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:45,399 Speaker 2: if Shaye is the guy that's in that cross screen. 367 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:48,719 Speaker 2: If they switch it and Shae tries to front the post, 368 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 2: we saw a couple examples of them try to force 369 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 2: that pass over the top and Shay ended up getting 370 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 2: the deflection. All you have to do is do a 371 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 2: better job of ceiling and then swing the ball back 372 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 2: towards the middle and then Siakam con seal and create 373 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 2: a good angle there for you to throw that pass in. 374 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 2: But there was no intentional effort to get the ball 375 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 2: to Siakam against mismatches, and that is if you have 376 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 2: to come up with a reliable half court action, something 377 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 2: that's going to guaranteed gets you a decent look and 378 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 2: a big spot. In this series, I think they've got 379 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:23,640 Speaker 2: to lean on Siakam the post a little bit more 380 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 2: than they've. 381 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 1: Winked blending Vice's signature dynamic storytelling with the high octane 382 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: world of sports. Vice Sports brings an exciting and diverse 383 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: range of programming that goes beyond the game. From action 384 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 1: pack live events to gripping behind the scenes documentaries to 385 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:44,360 Speaker 1: hard hitting investigative pieces and in depth profiles of athletes, coaches, teams. 386 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 1: Vice Sports captures the raw energy, drama, and passion that 387 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 1: makes sports truly unforgettable. Catch live events and other exclusive 388 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:56,400 Speaker 1: sports programs only on Vice TV. Go to vicetv dot 389 00:18:56,440 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 1: com to find your cable channel. 390 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 2: The other major takeaway that I have as I zoom 391 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,200 Speaker 2: out from a two to two series is that Oklahoma 392 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 2: City has proven to be less dependent on jump shooting. 393 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 2: They're averaging eight more points in the paint per game 394 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:14,120 Speaker 2: last night, a fifty to thirty six. 395 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 3: Advantage, and points in the paint. 396 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:19,400 Speaker 2: Second chance points have been a big swing in big 397 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 2: spots in this series. Last night, the Thunder had twenty 398 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 2: three second chance points, including eight just in the fourth quarter. 399 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 3: Huge difference in that game. 400 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:30,640 Speaker 2: That all comes down to those two things, their ability 401 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 2: to get dribble penetration and their overall athleticism advantage. 402 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:39,680 Speaker 3: We've seen Tyres Andrew Emhart. 403 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 2: These guys when they get head up with Oklahoma City's guards, 404 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:45,399 Speaker 2: they are unable to beat that first guy off the dribble. 405 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 2: We've seen TJ McConnell be able to do it. He's 406 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:50,400 Speaker 2: out on the floor in that big spot. Late we've 407 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:52,640 Speaker 2: seen Ben Matherin be able to come off of ball 408 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 2: screens and get to pull up jump shots, or to 409 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:57,360 Speaker 2: be able to attack a guy's chest and get into 410 00:19:57,359 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 2: the lane. He wasn't on the floor until Nie Smith 411 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:04,400 Speaker 2: fouled out. But in terms of the starting lineup, Tyreese 412 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 2: isn't gonna get dribble penetration, you know, against one against 413 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 2: a really locked in Oklahoma City defense. Very often neither 414 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 2: is Nemhar, neither's Nie Smith. Like that lineup struggles, whereas 415 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:17,880 Speaker 2: on the Oklahoma City side, like J Dub and Shay 416 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 2: at the very least, can probe and get into the 417 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:23,199 Speaker 2: paint basically whenever they want, which causes all sorts of issues. 418 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 2: Even just Shay and the attention that gets thrown his 419 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 2: way on ISOs is part of the reason why we 420 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 2: saw as many offensive rebounds as we did. We talked 421 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 2: about that earlier, with Chet beating them Harden like a nail. 422 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 2: Help situation. But that has been a significant trend in 423 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:38,159 Speaker 2: this series. To me is like the physical advantages for 424 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 2: Oklahoma City has manifested in more reliable scoring that is 425 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:46,040 Speaker 2: less dependent on jump shot result. Last night, they generated 426 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 2: eleven catch and shoot jump shots total in won that game. 427 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:53,359 Speaker 2: Indiana generated substantially more catch and shoot shots and shot 428 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 2: a little better on them, and it just it just 429 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 2: didn't matter because of the fact that Oklahoma City consistently 430 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:01,680 Speaker 2: generates stuff right at the rim. We've seen examples of 431 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 2: teams that have been able to flip that script. I mean, 432 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 2: the most significant ones that I can think of are 433 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 2: the Boston Celtics in twenty twenty four. You know, Golden 434 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 2: State always generated more points in the paint than people 435 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 2: realize that. Steph Curry is a guy that has had 436 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:18,720 Speaker 2: success despite having a bit of variance in his game, 437 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 2: but more than more. 438 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 3: Than the vast majority of the time. 439 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 2: When we get back in NBA history, it's reliable stuff 440 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 2: close to the basket. 441 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:28,480 Speaker 3: That ends up winning championships. 442 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 2: It's Jokichen twenty twenty three, it's Jannis in twenty twenty one, 443 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:35,400 Speaker 2: it's Lebron and ad in twenty twenty Right like even 444 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 2: Kawhi Leonard brings a lot of that, like short range 445 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:42,400 Speaker 2: shot making with physicality that like Shay gild As Alexander does. 446 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,600 Speaker 2: Pascal Siakam obviously was such a big part of that 447 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:48,640 Speaker 2: twenty nineteen playoff runt. Like having that reliable stuff at 448 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,919 Speaker 2: the basket that's less dependent on jump shot resultant variants 449 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:54,679 Speaker 2: is going to go a long way towards helping you 450 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 2: win in the later rounds of the NBA playoffs. All right, 451 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 2: so I have I want to talk about refs for 452 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 2: a minute, and then we have two non finals questions 453 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 2: and then we'll. 454 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 3: Get out of here for the day. 455 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 2: There's this narrative going around that I saw this morning, 456 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:12,440 Speaker 2: and this is you know, this is where I get 457 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:16,959 Speaker 2: separated from the ref discussion. There was a narrative going 458 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 2: around this morning that the Pacers basically got screwed. And 459 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:24,800 Speaker 2: the big clip that's going around is that last little 460 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 2: half court turnover they had where Turner's trying to do 461 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:32,640 Speaker 2: a dribble pitch with Halliburton out around half court and 462 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:36,439 Speaker 2: Dort is like just holding him and grabbing him and 463 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:38,399 Speaker 2: pushing him as he's trying to get to the ball, 464 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 2: and it ends up leading to a turnover. So I 465 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:45,680 Speaker 2: want to set that aside for a second and say, 466 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 2: what I was complaining about last night has to do 467 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 2: is the with the aesthetics of the NBA. I think 468 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 2: it looks ridiculous to let Shay push off and not 469 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 2: go by the letter of the law and be like, 470 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 2: this is just physical basketball. But then every little tiny 471 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 2: bit of contact that involves him with his jump shot, 472 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:14,360 Speaker 2: we're going to send him to the line for right, 473 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:17,480 Speaker 2: including that grift around the foul line and then the 474 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:20,399 Speaker 2: step through where Nie Smith got him on the forearm. Again, 475 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 2: by the book, all of those are fouls, and so 476 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 2: I don't like the missing like the unbalanced appropriation of 477 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 2: that or the application that the unbalanced application of the 478 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 2: rule book where we're allowing Shay to be super physical 479 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 2: against the defender to get separation, but then when the 480 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:47,199 Speaker 2: defender actually stays attached to Shay, they're not allowed to 481 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 2: touch Shay. I think that that makes for a bad 482 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 2: television product. And in general, we had a highly entertaining 483 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 2: finals game last night that ended with a parade to 484 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 2: the foul line. 485 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 3: So I just don't think it's good TV. 486 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 2: I personally would like to see the league take steps 487 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:07,399 Speaker 2: to basically never ever reward a non basketball play with 488 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 2: free throws ever, ever. Ever, Like, even if you're in 489 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:12,399 Speaker 2: the penalty, if the guy's got his hand on his 490 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:15,240 Speaker 2: arm and you do that janky ass pull up great 491 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 2: nice job side out of bounds, you're not getting free 492 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:20,440 Speaker 2: throws for taking a non basketball shot. That is a 493 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 2: big picture take that I have surrounding the idea of 494 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:26,240 Speaker 2: what I would like for officiating to look like in 495 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:29,200 Speaker 2: the NBA, so we can have less of Luca grifting, 496 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 2: less of Brunson grifting, less of Shay Gil just Alexander grifting. 497 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:36,200 Speaker 2: That's what I want, because it's bad for television. I'd 498 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 2: rather have them fix that. I do not think Guineana 499 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 2: got screwed last night, and the reason why is the 500 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 2: rules of engagement have been pretty clear and established by 501 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:48,919 Speaker 2: the NBA throughout this entire postseason, and I will be 502 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:51,960 Speaker 2: able to tie each of these dynamics to specific things 503 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 2: that we have discussed on this show in this postseason run. Okay, 504 00:24:56,720 --> 00:25:00,760 Speaker 2: so for instance, let's talk about the talk about like 505 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 2: the bump foul that Jay dub got out of a 506 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:05,879 Speaker 2: timeout in the second half that was a part of 507 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 2: an initial push by Oklahoma City or Shay's like stepped 508 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 2: through touch foul that kind of stuff. Okay, we talked 509 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:18,640 Speaker 2: about if you guys remember in the Minnesota series. 510 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 3: I tweeted out a clip of Alex. 511 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 2: Crusoe guarding Anthony Edwards and we discussed this clip on 512 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:27,960 Speaker 2: the show, and in it I talked about how Alex 513 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:33,960 Speaker 2: was being super handsy in four physical with Alex out 514 00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:38,120 Speaker 2: or excuse me, with Aunt out on the perimeter, and 515 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 2: he is super handsy. He's like grabbing him, holding him, 516 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 2: doing all that kind of stuff. And then Aunt breaks 517 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 2: Alex off with a pretty nasty move. And when he 518 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:51,240 Speaker 2: breaks him off, he gets an angle. As soon as 519 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 2: he gets an angle, Alex goes hands off, and he's 520 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 2: up high and he's sliding his feet and he's taking 521 00:25:57,840 --> 00:26:01,040 Speaker 2: contact in the chest and ends up getting in the 522 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:03,480 Speaker 2: lane and making like a really nifty reverse layup that 523 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 2: Alex tries to get to in time. He just barely 524 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:08,880 Speaker 2: misses it. Really nice bucket from Ant. But I want 525 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:13,119 Speaker 2: to call attention to Alex Caruso understanding the rules of 526 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:18,440 Speaker 2: engagement the NBA has allowed throughout this entire postseason run 527 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 2: a ton of hands on contact when you are squared 528 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 2: up with the on ball guy. 529 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:26,879 Speaker 3: But when you get an angle. 530 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:31,400 Speaker 2: All postseason, they've been calling a lot more of that 531 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:33,640 Speaker 2: contact In the last two rounds, it's been a little 532 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:35,879 Speaker 2: bit less of like the lane line bump foul, but 533 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:37,920 Speaker 2: we did see that. We've seen it a couple times 534 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:41,040 Speaker 2: in the series. JDub got one last night. There was 535 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 2: one that I think it was Tyrese, I can't remember. 536 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:48,040 Speaker 2: Alex Caruso had one in this series on Obi Toppin. 537 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:50,640 Speaker 2: The lane line bump foul is still something we've seen 538 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:52,800 Speaker 2: a few times in this series, but it's been called. 539 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:53,440 Speaker 3: A little bit less. 540 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:56,200 Speaker 2: But for the most part throughout this postseason run, if 541 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:58,679 Speaker 2: you're squared up, you're allowed to be handsy. If you 542 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:01,359 Speaker 2: give up an angle, get the hands off. That's been 543 00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:03,359 Speaker 2: the way they've called it. I don't like it in 544 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:05,600 Speaker 2: the context of some of the grifty stuff they've allowed, 545 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:09,720 Speaker 2: but they've been somewhat consistent in the way that they've 546 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:13,679 Speaker 2: allowed contact on the perimeter versus contact on drive. 547 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:16,159 Speaker 3: So like, we know what the rules of engagement are. 548 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 2: Similarly, off ball, what if I said NonStop regarding Steph 549 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:23,120 Speaker 2: Curry in the way that the Houston Rockets guarded him 550 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 2: and the way that the Timberwolves were gonna guard him 551 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 2: if he didn't hurt himself. And looking back towards the 552 00:27:28,359 --> 00:27:32,120 Speaker 2: regular season, in every single time that Steph has ended 553 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:35,480 Speaker 2: up in like a high leverage playoff moment, Warriors fans 554 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:38,879 Speaker 2: constantly complain about what the grabbing and holding of Steph 555 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:43,040 Speaker 2: off ball off ball. The NBA has allowed a shit 556 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 2: ton of contact in this entire postseason run. So, for instance, 557 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:51,480 Speaker 2: if Tyrese Halliburton wants to work more out of dribble pitches, 558 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 2: meaning if he doesn't want to dribble the ball into 559 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 2: the screen, but he wants to have come flying off 560 00:27:56,840 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 2: that screen with Turner, he's got to understand there's gonna 561 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:02,840 Speaker 2: be a lot more contact allowed there. Because throughout this 562 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:06,679 Speaker 2: entire postseason run, if you are off the ball, cutting 563 00:28:06,720 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 2: two end from the basketball, they are letting you be handsy. 564 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:14,159 Speaker 2: So what is Lou Dort doing there? Yeah, he's fouling 565 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 2: tyres by the book, But the NBA has established as 566 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:21,639 Speaker 2: part of their rules of engagement in this postseason that 567 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:24,280 Speaker 2: they're allowing a lot of off ball grabbing and holding 568 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:27,920 Speaker 2: and pushing. So like, here's the thing. Did I think 569 00:28:27,960 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 2: it was ugly that they let Shay get away with 570 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:33,360 Speaker 2: a push off while sending him to the freight throw 571 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:36,920 Speaker 2: line on some really ticky tack shot attempts. Yeah, it's 572 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 2: not good television, but it kind of falls in line 573 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:42,480 Speaker 2: with what they've been doing in this entire postseason run. 574 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 2: If you are a well coached team, which I think 575 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:49,880 Speaker 2: the Pacers are, if you are a basketball team going 576 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:52,520 Speaker 2: into any series in this playoff run, should be talking 577 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 2: to their guys and being like, hey, listen, when you're 578 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 2: on the perimeter, you can be physical, but once you 579 00:28:57,600 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 2: give up that angle, get the hands off, that's when 580 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:02,400 Speaker 2: they're getting tight with the whistle. Or Hey, if we're 581 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 2: running off ball action, you guys need to be prepared 582 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:07,440 Speaker 2: for physicality. This is part of the issue that we're 583 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:08,240 Speaker 2: going to run into. 584 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:09,080 Speaker 3: We're gonna have. 585 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:12,720 Speaker 2: To be really careful with our handoffs, with our back 586 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:15,840 Speaker 2: door cut passes in those situations. We saw another one 587 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 2: last night. How many times in this series in the 588 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 2: last two games have we seen Oklahoma City turn the 589 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 2: ball over because Indiana is bear hugging a dude in 590 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 2: a full denial and they try to back cut out 591 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 2: of it, and a Thunder player will throw a back 592 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:35,040 Speaker 2: cut pass and that guy will be being held and 593 00:29:35,080 --> 00:29:37,560 Speaker 2: so he can't get to the ball in time, and 594 00:29:37,600 --> 00:29:39,800 Speaker 2: so the Pacers beat him to the ball, and now 595 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:40,960 Speaker 2: they're running out the other way. 596 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 3: That's the exact same thing hurting the Thunder. 597 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:48,800 Speaker 2: They are being physical in their off ball defense on 598 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 2: both ends of the floor, and so again I have 599 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:56,760 Speaker 2: my frustrations. I hope the league works over the coming 600 00:29:56,840 --> 00:29:59,320 Speaker 2: years to get rid of some of this non basketball junk. 601 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 2: I want to see Shay Gildas Alexander win the title 602 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:05,160 Speaker 2: making shots like the three he hit on the right wing. 603 00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:08,160 Speaker 2: I said this last night. I'm cool with the push off. 604 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:11,520 Speaker 2: Let Shay push off. If defenders are going to be 605 00:30:11,560 --> 00:30:14,080 Speaker 2: handsy on the ball, Shay should be able to be 606 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 2: handsy back like I am. 607 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 3: Like pro push off. 608 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 2: You just can't not call the push off and then 609 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:23,520 Speaker 2: also call the tiki tag stuff. 610 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:27,360 Speaker 3: It's bad television, I agree. But all of it. 611 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:30,840 Speaker 2: Falls in line in general with what the league has 612 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:35,440 Speaker 2: allowed throughout this postseason run. Oklahoma City is taking those 613 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:40,720 Speaker 2: rules of engagement, playing smartly within them, and leveraging that 614 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:43,560 Speaker 2: to win postseason games. And I've seen a lot of 615 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:46,600 Speaker 2: people just complaining about it on the other side instead 616 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:48,600 Speaker 2: of doing the same. And I would argue the Pacers 617 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:50,360 Speaker 2: have benefited from it in their own way, like we 618 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:54,920 Speaker 2: discussed earlier. So again, let's separate conversations about the state 619 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:59,080 Speaker 2: of the NBA and officiating from oh fairness and getting 620 00:30:59,080 --> 00:31:02,080 Speaker 2: screwed or whatever. The Pacers lost to the Thunder last 621 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:04,800 Speaker 2: night because they couldn't score on them, and the same 622 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:07,280 Speaker 2: thing happened to Minnesota and the same thing happened to Denver. 623 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:10,880 Speaker 2: It's ultimately the demon that has to be conquered. If 624 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 2: you're gonna beat the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Thunder 625 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:15,680 Speaker 2: of just maximize what you can do in terms of 626 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 2: defense within the context of what the league is allowing 627 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 2: in this postseason run. All right, two more quick mailbag 628 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:23,280 Speaker 2: questions and then we'll get out of here for the day. 629 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:25,680 Speaker 2: Do you think Dallas is a good destination for Kevin 630 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:29,520 Speaker 2: Durant if they can keep Cooper Flag. So it gets 631 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:33,560 Speaker 2: tricky because you're already super deep at Ford. So like, 632 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:37,640 Speaker 2: if you look at the MAVs current roster, you have Lively, Gafford, 633 00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:39,760 Speaker 2: and Ads. You have three guys that can basically play 634 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:42,480 Speaker 2: the five, and then you have PJ. Washington and you 635 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:47,120 Speaker 2: have Cooper Flag. It's just a glut of front court players. 636 00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:50,160 Speaker 2: It's five guys that all can play like a starting 637 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:54,440 Speaker 2: role on a on any team in the NBA that 638 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:56,960 Speaker 2: play either the four or the five. And so that 639 00:31:57,080 --> 00:32:00,760 Speaker 2: makes it particularly tough in terms of like trying to 640 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:03,680 Speaker 2: balance the roster by bringing in another power forward. Now, 641 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:06,720 Speaker 2: speaking strictly from the basketball, I like kd's fit with 642 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:09,680 Speaker 2: Anthony Davis. Anthony Davis at this phase in his career 643 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:12,800 Speaker 2: is like a pretty big and strong center. So I 644 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:15,680 Speaker 2: like that like physicality fit better than I like KD 645 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:18,320 Speaker 2: with like a Victor women Yama, for example. I love 646 00:32:18,360 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 2: the idea of a KDAD back line in terms of defense, 647 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:24,720 Speaker 2: the ability to have Anthony Davis come up to the 648 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:26,920 Speaker 2: level in ball screens, which has always been one of 649 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:29,720 Speaker 2: his elite traits. He's very good at contesting there, he's 650 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:32,520 Speaker 2: very good at switching there, while KD can be the 651 00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:35,320 Speaker 2: low man that kind of operates on the backside. He's 652 00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:37,479 Speaker 2: the type of offensive player that they need. All that 653 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:40,160 Speaker 2: makes a ton of sense. It's just a simple question 654 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:43,440 Speaker 2: of timeline, right, So, like, are you going to continue 655 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:47,880 Speaker 2: to dive into this older timeline with Anthony Davis and 656 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 2: an injured Kyrie Irving and potentially a Kevin Durant. Are 657 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:55,040 Speaker 2: you going to lean into this younger timeline where you've 658 00:32:55,040 --> 00:32:59,400 Speaker 2: got some guys that are in their twenties like Daniel 659 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:03,360 Speaker 2: Gafford in Washington and super young players that are on 660 00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:08,560 Speaker 2: the rise like Derek Lively and like Derek Lively and 661 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:12,400 Speaker 2: a Cooper Flag and obviously guards like Jayden Hardy, like 662 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:16,840 Speaker 2: there is there is a up and coming generation of 663 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:19,160 Speaker 2: MAVs young players, and you've got to at a certain 664 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 2: point pick a timeline. I mean, we've just seen we 665 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:24,080 Speaker 2: saw Golden State try to do the two timelines thing, 666 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:27,120 Speaker 2: and it just has led to a lot of frustration 667 00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:29,960 Speaker 2: in the last few years as they've watched their young 668 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:33,200 Speaker 2: guys all of a sudden become do a ton of money, 669 00:33:33,280 --> 00:33:36,200 Speaker 2: which has changed their value and trade conversations. 670 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:37,120 Speaker 3: It just gets tough. 671 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 2: And so my thing is like, Okay, if you want 672 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 2: to get get kad and commit to like a Kevin Durant, 673 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:47,480 Speaker 2: Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving Corps, sure go ahead, But like, 674 00:33:47,960 --> 00:33:50,160 Speaker 2: at a certain point, you gotta pick. Are you gonna 675 00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:52,720 Speaker 2: go for the future with Cooper or are you gonna 676 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:54,360 Speaker 2: go for the now and and I think if you 677 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:56,200 Speaker 2: try to split the difference, you're gonna end up with 678 00:33:56,240 --> 00:33:58,920 Speaker 2: a mediocre team now and a mediocre team in the future. 679 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:02,240 Speaker 3: The guys that you have are valuable. 680 00:34:02,600 --> 00:34:04,800 Speaker 2: If you can get Kyrie back out onto the floor 681 00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:07,080 Speaker 2: and get him playing, and get him demonstrating that his 682 00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:09,120 Speaker 2: knee is good and that he's ready to play, you 683 00:34:09,160 --> 00:34:11,680 Speaker 2: can trade him and get value for him. Same thing 684 00:34:11,719 --> 00:34:14,360 Speaker 2: goes for Anthony Davis. Same thing goes for some of 685 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 2: the depth that they have, Guys like PJ. Washington that 686 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:19,080 Speaker 2: don't make a ton of sense on a Cooper Flag team, 687 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:21,520 Speaker 2: Daniel Gafford that doesn't make a ton of sense on 688 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:24,600 Speaker 2: a Derek Lively team. There are guys that Dallas can 689 00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:27,880 Speaker 2: flip to bring in a bunch of draft compensation and 690 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:31,160 Speaker 2: then open things up for Cooper Flag to be able 691 00:34:31,160 --> 00:34:34,200 Speaker 2: to slowly work himself into the NBA player that he 692 00:34:34,239 --> 00:34:36,680 Speaker 2: wants to be. I'm okay with them starting the year 693 00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:39,400 Speaker 2: with this current roster. There's no reason to trade everybody 694 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:42,279 Speaker 2: right now. Anthony Davis's value is lower because he was hurt. 695 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:45,640 Speaker 2: Kyrie's value is lower because he's hurt. Bring everybody back, 696 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:49,680 Speaker 2: go into camp be a funky, weird team that's too 697 00:34:49,719 --> 00:34:51,920 Speaker 2: deep in the front court and has a kind of 698 00:34:52,160 --> 00:34:55,560 Speaker 2: a few redundancies on the roster, But just be the best, 699 00:34:55,640 --> 00:34:58,120 Speaker 2: most fun team you can be until these guys kind 700 00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:00,000 Speaker 2: of get to the point where they rehab their trade value. 701 00:35:00,600 --> 00:35:02,440 Speaker 2: And when they do, then you can make that decision. 702 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:05,719 Speaker 2: And who knows, Like maybe Kyrie and Anthony Davis both 703 00:35:05,719 --> 00:35:10,319 Speaker 2: look amazing, and like Kyrie comes back in less than 704 00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:12,680 Speaker 2: a year and manages to come back, you know, an 705 00:35:12,719 --> 00:35:15,440 Speaker 2: All Star break or something next year, and he looks 706 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:17,640 Speaker 2: like Kyrie and AD looks like Ad and you look 707 00:35:17,719 --> 00:35:20,480 Speaker 2: like the super deep elite defense, and all of a sudden, 708 00:35:20,520 --> 00:35:23,560 Speaker 2: you can, you know, let Cooper flag slowly work his 709 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:25,239 Speaker 2: way into the player he's going to become on a 710 00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:29,040 Speaker 2: competing team. But it's just I just don't think I 711 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:31,640 Speaker 2: would throw all the chips in the bag for Kevin 712 00:35:31,719 --> 00:35:33,480 Speaker 2: Durant at this point. I think that that kind of 713 00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:35,960 Speaker 2: messes with the timeline for Dallas, and I think that's 714 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:37,920 Speaker 2: a big part of why they haven't been a mentioned. 715 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:41,720 Speaker 2: I still I've seen the reporting. It looks like there's 716 00:35:41,760 --> 00:35:44,880 Speaker 2: still several teams involved, but it looks like Minnesota is 717 00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:47,960 Speaker 2: becoming a more realistic destination. Minnesota, to me, is my 718 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:53,240 Speaker 2: favorite Kevin Durant. Minnesota is my favorite Kevin Durant destination 719 00:35:53,360 --> 00:35:56,239 Speaker 2: by far. I just think that he is super fun 720 00:35:56,280 --> 00:35:59,120 Speaker 2: with ant. I think he compliments that team in every way. 721 00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:02,319 Speaker 2: I think they compliment at him in every way. It 722 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:05,600 Speaker 2: would be a worthy match for a team like Oklahoma 723 00:36:05,680 --> 00:36:07,640 Speaker 2: City in a series that I would really like to 724 00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:12,400 Speaker 2: watch next year. I'm hoping for Kadi too Minnesota. Last question, 725 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:14,440 Speaker 2: this isn't related to the NBA Finals, but did you 726 00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:17,080 Speaker 2: watch the Michael Beasley versus Lance Stephen one v one 727 00:36:17,120 --> 00:36:18,400 Speaker 2: would love to hear your thoughts on it. 728 00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:22,320 Speaker 3: I didn't watch the whole video, but I saw highlights. 729 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:26,360 Speaker 2: And it reminded me of if any of you guys 730 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:30,080 Speaker 2: who have ever played like a real one on one 731 00:36:30,120 --> 00:36:34,160 Speaker 2: with some animosity, where like both guys are really trying 732 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:38,040 Speaker 2: to win and there's been some shit talk and it 733 00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:41,319 Speaker 2: kind of feels like pride is on the line. That's 734 00:36:41,320 --> 00:36:43,920 Speaker 2: what it looks like what you saw in that Michael 735 00:36:43,920 --> 00:36:47,840 Speaker 2: Beasley versus Land Stevenson. It gets super physical to the 736 00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:52,799 Speaker 2: point of like being borderline just a rugby match, and 737 00:36:53,200 --> 00:36:56,840 Speaker 2: it gets super intense and it ultimately comes down to 738 00:36:56,920 --> 00:37:00,279 Speaker 2: which guy can through physicality get to spots. So I'm 739 00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:03,160 Speaker 2: not surprised at all that the big, strong forward was 740 00:37:03,200 --> 00:37:05,560 Speaker 2: able to get to his spots more effectively and knockdown 741 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:09,440 Speaker 2: shots over the top. But I remember being in a 742 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:12,359 Speaker 2: couple of examples of like kind of like contentious one 743 00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:14,160 Speaker 2: on ones like that. I had one with a college 744 00:37:14,160 --> 00:37:17,520 Speaker 2: teammate when I was at Arizona Christian That was we 745 00:37:17,520 --> 00:37:20,600 Speaker 2: were actually joking about it with each other over Instagram 746 00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:24,759 Speaker 2: messaging to each other, like a couple months ago, but 747 00:37:24,840 --> 00:37:25,279 Speaker 2: like it. 748 00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:26,080 Speaker 3: Was very similar. 749 00:37:26,120 --> 00:37:28,120 Speaker 2: We got into it a few times of practice and 750 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:29,480 Speaker 2: then we were like, you know, let's play some one 751 00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:31,839 Speaker 2: on one and it was like I remember it being 752 00:37:31,880 --> 00:37:34,279 Speaker 2: like one of us was bleeding too, Like it was 753 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:36,720 Speaker 2: like the most physical game of one on one basketball 754 00:37:36,719 --> 00:37:38,680 Speaker 2: I've ever played in my entire life, because it just 755 00:37:38,719 --> 00:37:42,239 Speaker 2: becomes so intense when pride is on the line like that, 756 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:45,720 Speaker 2: And anybody, anybody who's been in that situation knows exactly 757 00:37:45,719 --> 00:37:47,759 Speaker 2: what I'm talking about. But when I watched the Michael 758 00:37:47,760 --> 00:37:50,960 Speaker 2: Beasley Versus Land Stevenson one on one, I immediately just 759 00:37:51,000 --> 00:37:53,759 Speaker 2: got some like some of that, like just deja vu 760 00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:54,759 Speaker 2: from what that is like. 761 00:37:54,880 --> 00:37:56,399 Speaker 3: And I think it's fun. 762 00:37:56,440 --> 00:37:58,960 Speaker 2: I think it's an example of I don't think it 763 00:37:58,960 --> 00:38:00,600 Speaker 2: always has to be that content just like I think 764 00:38:00,600 --> 00:38:02,440 Speaker 2: if they did it at All Star, for instance, with 765 00:38:02,520 --> 00:38:04,840 Speaker 2: active NBA players, I think it would be less contentious 766 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:07,359 Speaker 2: and a little bit more like, you know, both guys 767 00:38:07,440 --> 00:38:09,759 Speaker 2: kind of easing their way into it. But when you 768 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:12,000 Speaker 2: put real money on the line, when you put real 769 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:14,960 Speaker 2: pride on the line, one on one becomes. 770 00:38:14,480 --> 00:38:16,480 Speaker 3: This blood bath, physical sport. 771 00:38:17,480 --> 00:38:19,799 Speaker 2: And I'm not surprised that Michael Beasley was the guy 772 00:38:19,800 --> 00:38:21,960 Speaker 2: who won there. And obviously Michael's just one of the 773 00:38:21,960 --> 00:38:23,880 Speaker 2: more underrated one on one players in the history of 774 00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:26,880 Speaker 2: the league. He's got stories of him doing damage to 775 00:38:28,520 --> 00:38:31,360 Speaker 2: so many different players in practice over the years and 776 00:38:31,400 --> 00:38:35,120 Speaker 2: games over the years. But yeah, I just couldn't help 777 00:38:35,120 --> 00:38:37,600 Speaker 2: but think back to some of the more contentious one 778 00:38:37,600 --> 00:38:39,200 Speaker 2: on ones that I've been in in my life when 779 00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:41,480 Speaker 2: I was watching that video. All right, guys, that's all 780 00:38:41,480 --> 00:38:43,400 Speaker 2: I have for this morning is always as sincerely appreciate 781 00:38:43,440 --> 00:38:45,560 Speaker 2: you guys for supporting me and supporting the show. We 782 00:38:45,640 --> 00:38:48,080 Speaker 2: will be back on Monday night for Game five of 783 00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:50,800 Speaker 2: the NBA Finals. We'll have a live breakdown on YouTube 784 00:38:50,840 --> 00:38:52,800 Speaker 2: as well as our normal playback stream. 785 00:38:52,800 --> 00:38:53,719 Speaker 3: I will see you guys then. 786 00:38:53,800 --> 00:38:56,160 Speaker 2: What's up guys? As always, I appreciate you for listening 787 00:38:56,160 --> 00:38:59,000 Speaker 2: to and supporting OOPS tonight. They would actually be really 788 00:38:59,040 --> 00:39:01,640 Speaker 2: helpful for us. Would take a second and leave a 789 00:39:01,760 --> 00:39:04,319 Speaker 2: rating and a review. As always, I appreciate you guys 790 00:39:04,320 --> 00:39:05,960 Speaker 2: supporting us, but if you could take a minute to 791 00:39:05,960 --> 00:39:09,719 Speaker 2: do that, I'd really appreciate it. 792 00:39:09,840 --> 00:39:10,520 Speaker 1: The volume