WEBVTT - Celtics Game 7 Reaction, Sixers Next Steps, Conference Finals Previews

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<v Speaker 1>Put tween in the legs side step What's up another

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<v Speaker 1>grade Banks. Welcome into NBA Pulsive production of iHeartRadio in

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<v Speaker 1>the NBA. I'm Sarah Coustack, NBA analyst for the Yes Network,

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<v Speaker 1>and today is Monday, May fifteenth, from our extraordinary core

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<v Speaker 1>group of NBA journalists. We're joined now by NBA dot

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<v Speaker 1>Com senior writer and Sean. We got the conference finals

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<v Speaker 1>set after a Game seven in Boston and a complete

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<v Speaker 1>collapse by the Philadelphia seventy six Ers. First, let's give

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<v Speaker 1>credit to the Celtics forcing a Game seven with their win,

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<v Speaker 1>and Jason Tatum a huge part of that. At the

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<v Speaker 1>end of Game six, hitting four to three pointers and

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<v Speaker 1>he was extraordinary, sets a all time high game seven

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<v Speaker 1>record for points scored with fifty one to go along

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<v Speaker 1>with thirteen rebounds five assists. He had zero turnovers. Tata

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<v Speaker 1>fires a leg and the Boston Celtics win this one

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<v Speaker 1>one twelve to eighty eight. So, before before we get

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<v Speaker 1>into what's next, Sean for the seventy six ers, what

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<v Speaker 1>stood out to you in this game and the complete

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<v Speaker 1>domination by Jason Tatum and the Celtics team, Well, what.

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<v Speaker 2>Makes the Jason Tatum performance. All the more impressive is

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<v Speaker 2>that when you think of the Celtics in Game seven,

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<v Speaker 2>the historical ramifications, all those great players, you know, Halcheck,

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<v Speaker 2>Bill Russell, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garne, you know, you can

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<v Speaker 2>go on and on. For Jason Tatum to put himself

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<v Speaker 2>right at the top, if not over the top, it's

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<v Speaker 2>just tremendous to watch. To be honest with you, Sarah,

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<v Speaker 2>I was more impressive. I was more impressed by the

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<v Speaker 2>way he finished Game six, and and keep in mind,

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<v Speaker 2>at that point him as fourteen to fifteen shots, and Sarah,

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<v Speaker 2>you know you have a basketball history. You know, confidence,

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<v Speaker 2>even with star players, confidence can go. And with him,

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<v Speaker 2>he just had an unshakable belief in himself. The way

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<v Speaker 2>he finished the fourth quarter hitting those three point shots,

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<v Speaker 2>really saving the Celtics season. I thought that was just

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<v Speaker 2>flat out impressive because he had to overcome himself number one,

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<v Speaker 2>he had to overcome the Sixers defense. Number two, and

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<v Speaker 2>you know the Celtics and they were on the clock

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<v Speaker 2>in the fourth quarter. I mean, they lose this game,

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<v Speaker 2>that's it. So to me that was more impressive. But look, Sarah,

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<v Speaker 2>fifty one points in the game seven, fifty one points

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, it's just tremendous. Says a lot about Jason

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<v Speaker 2>Tatum and also says a lot about, you know, players

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<v Speaker 2>in the playoffs. You know, the regular season is and

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<v Speaker 2>you make your fame. The postseason is when you make

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<v Speaker 2>your name. And I think we saw that with a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of players, specifically in this case Jason Tatum.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh you're coming with it this morning.

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<v Speaker 2>Show like that? Oh yeah, I like it.

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<v Speaker 1>I love it. I love it. And making a name

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<v Speaker 1>is something that I think there now has become a

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<v Speaker 1>track record in the direction that some individuals do not

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<v Speaker 1>want to have. And that's on the side of the

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<v Speaker 1>Philadelphia seventy six Ers. We talked about it that game

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<v Speaker 1>six Wells Fargo Center. That crowd was spectacular, it was rocking.

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<v Speaker 1>The seventy six Ers have a lead with just over

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<v Speaker 1>four minutes to go, Jason Tatum taking over. But a

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<v Speaker 1>part of that as well joellenbi not getting touches down

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<v Speaker 1>the stretch. The MVP of the league this season, James Harden,

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<v Speaker 1>had a couple masterpieces in the series, but and the

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<v Speaker 1>same token what we've seen out of him at times

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<v Speaker 1>in the postseason, what we've seen out of Doc Rivers

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<v Speaker 1>at times coaching teams that have a three to two

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<v Speaker 1>series lead and not able to advance. Joel Embiid did

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<v Speaker 1>get his MVP trophy this year, but when it mattered

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<v Speaker 1>most here on this stage. Fifteen points, eight rebounds, he

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<v Speaker 1>was five of eighteen from the field, just six trips

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<v Speaker 1>to the line, and you really look down the line

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<v Speaker 1>for this seventy six Ers team. James Harden nine points,

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<v Speaker 1>six rebounds, seven says he was three of eleven from

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<v Speaker 1>the field. He does have a player option this season.

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<v Speaker 1>By all accounts, it has not been expected that he

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<v Speaker 1>would pick it up. But when you look at the

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<v Speaker 1>seventy six Ers, they've had a lot of these core players,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, back year after year and still unable to

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<v Speaker 1>get to the conference finals. What is your expectations of

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<v Speaker 1>what this organization does moving forward.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that's a pretty complicated answer right there. First of all,

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<v Speaker 2>let's just let me look at the damage here. I

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<v Speaker 2>just think the Sixers they blew their champs in Game six,

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<v Speaker 2>and I wonder how much of that knowledge followed them

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<v Speaker 2>in Game seven. You know, sometimes you're like, you go

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<v Speaker 2>in there, you got to play the game in Boston,

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<v Speaker 2>and in the back of your mind you're like man,

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<v Speaker 2>we blew it. Now we got to play one more game,

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<v Speaker 2>and and all of a sudden, when that game gets

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<v Speaker 2>out of hand, your body, the body language start. You

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<v Speaker 2>saw with Joe mb He wasn't even hustling anymore, wasn't

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<v Speaker 2>even playing hard. James Harden basically just threw up his hands.

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<v Speaker 2>And those are your leaders. And when your leaders start

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<v Speaker 2>acting and behaving like that, everybody else follows. And now

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<v Speaker 2>you're asking role players to take big shots. You know

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<v Speaker 2>they're not built for that.

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<v Speaker 1>You know.

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<v Speaker 2>As far as what the Sixers do from from here,

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<v Speaker 2>and like I said, it's complicated because we're not sure

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<v Speaker 2>what James Harden is going to do with his player option.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't think the Sixers are going to give him

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<v Speaker 2>a contract extension. I would be surprised if they did,

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<v Speaker 2>particularly any kind of big money. He's you know, I

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<v Speaker 2>would think we all agree he's not the Houston James

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<v Speaker 2>Harden anymore. And as you go forward, you know he's

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit past his prime. We all know James

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<v Speaker 2>Harden has battle just standing in the right condition and

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<v Speaker 2>now he's a little bit older. So you know, Darryl Maury,

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<v Speaker 2>if he gives them any kind of like three four

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<v Speaker 2>year extension. He's going to have to answer some questions.

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<v Speaker 2>But the ownership group like, hey, you know, really this

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<v Speaker 2>is this is the way we want to go. But

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<v Speaker 2>also with Harden, does he want to be with the Sixers?

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, here's a guy who basically gets tired. Got

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<v Speaker 2>tired in Brooklyn. I think he might be a little

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<v Speaker 2>bit tired in Philadelphia. He wasn't tired in Houston until

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<v Speaker 2>they couldn't win anymore, and after he made all his

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<v Speaker 2>Max money, then he wanted to move on. So it's

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<v Speaker 2>just a weird situation right there. You know, they also

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<v Speaker 2>have Tyrese Maxey. He's free agent. You got to pay him.

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<v Speaker 2>What are you going to do with him?

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<v Speaker 1>Uh?

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<v Speaker 2>And then finally you know it's the the elephant in

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<v Speaker 2>the room, Joe Embiid. Does he get does he join

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<v Speaker 2>the frustrated superstar club. We've seen this club over the years,

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<v Speaker 2>Sarah grow and grow and grow, where all of a

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<v Speaker 2>sudden they feel that they can't win where they are

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<v Speaker 2>and they knock on the door and say, hey, you

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<v Speaker 2>know what, you should see what you can get from me.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm not saying Joe Embiid has gotten to that point.

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<v Speaker 2>I know for a fact that he loves Philadelphia. It's

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<v Speaker 2>the only place he's played and everything. But just when

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<v Speaker 2>you think a superstar wants to stay in town for

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<v Speaker 2>a long time, Damian Lillard, you know, all of a sudden,

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<v Speaker 2>they start making noise that maybe the grass might be

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<v Speaker 2>greener somewhere else. But you know, you know, let's just

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<v Speaker 2>wait on that for a little bit. And obviously there's

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<v Speaker 2>Doc Rivers. What are they going to do with the coach?

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<v Speaker 2>I actually thought Doc Rivers had a very good year

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<v Speaker 2>as coach this year. He didn't have the better team

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<v Speaker 2>in this series, and he went to seven games and

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<v Speaker 2>he had a chance to win in six. But of

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<v Speaker 2>course Philadelphia is a very tough town, is you know, Sarah,

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<v Speaker 2>And you know the patients were stand there and Doc

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<v Speaker 2>rivers history on winning game sevens is not the most stellar.

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<v Speaker 2>Matter of fact, he has more game seven losses than

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<v Speaker 2>any coach ever. And finally, you know, and this is

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<v Speaker 2>what I really don't like that much. It's the blame game.

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<v Speaker 2>When players lose a series, all of a sudden, you

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<v Speaker 2>know that they start saying, well, you need to look

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<v Speaker 2>at that guy, or you need to look at that

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<v Speaker 2>coach or whatever. Rather than taking some accountability. And I

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<v Speaker 2>think we see it all the time, and OL's I

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<v Speaker 2>think we saw it a little bit after Game seven.

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<v Speaker 2>Suddenly no one wanted to say, hey, it's all on me.

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<v Speaker 2>I know Joelnbee said that a little bit, but no

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<v Speaker 2>one just said, you know what it's you know, the

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<v Speaker 2>change starts with me. This is why we lost the

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<v Speaker 2>series because of me, because I didn't play well. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>usually you don't see that because everyone wants to pass

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<v Speaker 2>the responsibility on someone else.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, the magnitude of the series, certainly we'll have ripple effects.

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<v Speaker 1>And as you mentioned, just with coaching, we saw Torontal

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<v Speaker 1>part ways with mcnurse, Milwaukee part ways with Mike Budenholzer

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<v Speaker 1>also over the weekend announced that Phoenix was parting ways

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<v Speaker 1>with Monty Williams. So we will see how that all

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<v Speaker 1>continues to play out. But what's playing out next is

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<v Speaker 1>we got the conference final, Sean, and we're going to

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<v Speaker 1>take a quick break and preview the Western Conference Final

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<v Speaker 1>coming up between the Lakers and the Nuggets. Welcome back

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<v Speaker 1>to NBA. Paul Sarakustak, joined by Sean Poll and Seawann.

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<v Speaker 1>It's been fun. It's been a fun postseason. I think

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<v Speaker 1>I say this every pod that we do, and it

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<v Speaker 1>continues to get better and better. On Tuesday night, Game

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<v Speaker 1>one of the Western Conference Finals will take place eight

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<v Speaker 1>thirty pm Eastern on ESPN as the Lakers and the

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<v Speaker 1>Nuggets face off. What are your early early predictions, early thoughts,

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<v Speaker 1>early expectations for what this series may entail.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, this is a rematch of the bubble when I

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<v Speaker 2>don't think the Nuggets back then were really ready to

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<v Speaker 2>take the next step. I mean the Lakers, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>they had Anthony Davis and Lebron James, both of them healthy.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, I think they were that was a team

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<v Speaker 2>on a mission. And Denver at that point they were

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<v Speaker 2>just really starting off trying to be a contender, and

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<v Speaker 2>then the bad thing happened to never next few years

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<v Speaker 2>they had injuries, Michael Porter Junior and Jamal Murray missing

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<v Speaker 2>then entire season, and Yokic had to go about it alone.

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<v Speaker 2>Now they're finally healthy, so now they can issue some paybacks.

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<v Speaker 2>If you look at Nikola Yokich right now, he's averaging

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<v Speaker 2>almost a thirty point triple double, which obviously is this tremendous,

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<v Speaker 2>really unheard of for a big man. Because usually big

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<v Speaker 2>man is this double double guys.

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<v Speaker 1>Who's brown in the way. Yokich the live got the

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<v Speaker 1>offensive rebound and the stick back. He is totally controlling

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<v Speaker 1>this game right now.

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<v Speaker 2>But he's somebody who impacts his offense. It's no question,

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<v Speaker 2>more than any player in the NBA, when he's off

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<v Speaker 2>the floor, his team struggles. When he's on the floor,

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<v Speaker 2>his team is efficient and running smoothly. So really, I

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<v Speaker 2>think it really comes down to this, how long can

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<v Speaker 2>he stay on the floor against Anthony Davis. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>this is the first time that Nikola Yokis is going

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<v Speaker 2>to really play a good functional big man, somebody who

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<v Speaker 2>can score in the paint and at the rim and

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<v Speaker 2>also shoot from the outside. So Nikola Yokis is gonna

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<v Speaker 2>have to play some defense. Does that get him in

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<v Speaker 2>a foul trouble? He cannot afford or to get into

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<v Speaker 2>foul trouble at kids Anthony Davis. And if I'm the Lakers,

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<v Speaker 2>I'm going to Davis as often as possible because I

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<v Speaker 2>do need that to happen. We see what happens when

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<v Speaker 2>Nicola Yogis is off the floor. So if you're the Lakers,

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<v Speaker 2>you try to get that guy off the floor. I

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<v Speaker 2>want Anthony Davis taking a lot of shots. I want

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<v Speaker 2>Anthony Davis drawing contact. And I know, you know you

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<v Speaker 2>worry about Anthony Davis when he does draw contact whether

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<v Speaker 2>he's going to get off the floor. But you take

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<v Speaker 2>that risk in this series because if Nicola Yogis is

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<v Speaker 2>in foul trouble or he's off the floor any stretch

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<v Speaker 2>of time, you increase your chances of winning. So I'm

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<v Speaker 2>looking forward to that situation right there. Also, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>Jamal Murray, are we going to see the bubble Murray?

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<v Speaker 2>A guy who was in that shootout with Donovan Mitchell

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<v Speaker 2>and against Utah and then who really played well against

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<v Speaker 2>the Lakers in the in the next round. What kind

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<v Speaker 2>of Jamal Murray were you going to see? Jamal Murray

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<v Speaker 2>is a very streaky player, and you know, in terms

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<v Speaker 2>of his shooting he does he's not a classical point

0:11:59.559 --> 0:12:02.160
<v Speaker 2>guard where he sets up players. That's probably the weakest

0:12:02.160 --> 0:12:03.640
<v Speaker 2>part of the game. But they don't need that because

0:12:03.640 --> 0:12:06.000
<v Speaker 2>they've got your kitchen to do that. So is he

0:12:06.120 --> 0:12:08.600
<v Speaker 2>going to make his shot and really force the lake

0:12:08.679 --> 0:12:11.640
<v Speaker 2>breakdown the Lakers defense and forcing the garden? And then

0:12:11.679 --> 0:12:16.079
<v Speaker 2>finally we're talking about Lebron James, I mean this is

0:12:16.120 --> 0:12:18.720
<v Speaker 2>a guy who does not lose conference finals. I mean

0:12:18.800 --> 0:12:20.760
<v Speaker 2>he punches his ticket. Last time he lost the conference

0:12:20.840 --> 0:12:23.560
<v Speaker 2>finals two thousand and nine when he played for Cleveland

0:12:23.600 --> 0:12:27.000
<v Speaker 2>the first time around against the Celtics. But ever since then,

0:12:27.040 --> 0:12:29.880
<v Speaker 2>he reaches the conference finals, he gets to the NBA Finals,

0:12:29.960 --> 0:12:33.280
<v Speaker 2>He's one step closer playing for a championship. Aged thirty eight,

0:12:33.320 --> 0:12:35.640
<v Speaker 2>twenty years in the NBA. He knows he gets that

0:12:35.720 --> 0:12:38.760
<v Speaker 2>next championship. All of a sudden, that water cool talk

0:12:39.000 --> 0:12:41.520
<v Speaker 2>of the greatest player ever with him and Michael Jordan.

0:12:41.760 --> 0:12:44.360
<v Speaker 2>All of a sudden, that talk gets really really interesting,

0:12:44.640 --> 0:12:46.560
<v Speaker 2>and I think Lebron might be saying, Hey, you know what,

0:12:46.600 --> 0:12:49.160
<v Speaker 2>this is my last best chance or best last chance,

0:12:49.160 --> 0:12:50.880
<v Speaker 2>however which way you want to phrase it, Sarah. The

0:12:50.880 --> 0:12:52.640
<v Speaker 2>bottom line is the man is close, and you know

0:12:52.720 --> 0:12:53.600
<v Speaker 2>he wants to cash in.

0:12:54.080 --> 0:12:56.760
<v Speaker 1>Well, we will see if he does, and we're rewrecking

0:12:56.760 --> 0:12:59.000
<v Speaker 1>all the bubble matchups. As you mentioned on the Eastern

0:12:59.040 --> 0:13:01.400
<v Speaker 1>Conference side of things, say thing as the Miami Heat

0:13:01.920 --> 0:13:04.920
<v Speaker 1>will face the Boston Celtics. That series begins with Game

0:13:04.960 --> 0:13:07.679
<v Speaker 1>one on Wednesday at eight thirty pm Eastern on T

0:13:07.880 --> 0:13:12.400
<v Speaker 1>and t this Heat team, They've been impressive. Jimmy Butler

0:13:12.559 --> 0:13:15.400
<v Speaker 1>has been special. Eric Spolstra does this year after year

0:13:15.440 --> 0:13:18.679
<v Speaker 1>regardless of whatever iteration of a group they have, and

0:13:18.679 --> 0:13:21.640
<v Speaker 1>in Butler has given us team the utmost confidence to

0:13:21.760 --> 0:13:25.040
<v Speaker 1>believe they can win. But Boston looking like probably the

0:13:25.080 --> 0:13:28.360
<v Speaker 1>most complete, deepest team in the play or in the

0:13:28.360 --> 0:13:31.280
<v Speaker 1>postseason on the Eastern Conference side of things, but just

0:13:31.320 --> 0:13:33.600
<v Speaker 1>it feels like they haven't necessarily been able to put

0:13:33.640 --> 0:13:36.000
<v Speaker 1>all the pieces together at certain times throughout the course

0:13:36.040 --> 0:13:41.800
<v Speaker 1>of these series. What about this Heat Celtics matchup intrigues you?

0:13:42.360 --> 0:13:44.600
<v Speaker 1>In what direction do you think it may go?

0:13:46.040 --> 0:13:48.440
<v Speaker 2>No, it's interesting. It wasn't about a year year ago

0:13:49.760 --> 0:13:51.760
<v Speaker 2>right about now that it was a Game seven in

0:13:51.800 --> 0:13:56.360
<v Speaker 2>Miami Celtics Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler had a shot

0:13:56.360 --> 0:13:58.680
<v Speaker 2>to really put Miami in the NBA Finals for what

0:13:58.760 --> 0:14:01.960
<v Speaker 2>the second time in three years, he missed, And it

0:14:02.040 --> 0:14:06.080
<v Speaker 2>just goes to show how tough Miami can play Boston.

0:14:06.600 --> 0:14:08.480
<v Speaker 2>You know, Eric spols Is gonna have something up the

0:14:08.520 --> 0:14:13.080
<v Speaker 2>sleeve for Jason Tatum, Jayden Brown. Basically put those great

0:14:13.080 --> 0:14:15.080
<v Speaker 2>players in position where they have to work extra hard

0:14:15.120 --> 0:14:18.240
<v Speaker 2>for the shots. Let's talk about playoff Jimmy. Come on, Sarah,

0:14:18.240 --> 0:14:20.880
<v Speaker 2>you know, playoff Jimmy. That guy who averaged like twenty

0:14:20.920 --> 0:14:23.240
<v Speaker 2>three points. He averaged twenty three points in regular season.

0:14:23.240 --> 0:14:24.920
<v Speaker 2>All of a sudden, he's averaging thirty two points in

0:14:24.920 --> 0:14:27.640
<v Speaker 2>the playoffs. Man can't be stopped in the fourth quarter

0:14:27.720 --> 0:14:32.240
<v Speaker 2>type game. Just a remarkable, remarkable player this time of year.

0:14:32.640 --> 0:14:35.800
<v Speaker 2>Never been never bet against that guy. I will say this,

0:14:36.240 --> 0:14:38.200
<v Speaker 2>there will not be a player on the floor in

0:14:38.200 --> 0:14:41.520
<v Speaker 2>this series more determined than Jimmy Butler. Okay, maybe they

0:14:41.600 --> 0:14:44.080
<v Speaker 2>might play better than Jimmy Butler. And now I'm going

0:14:44.120 --> 0:14:46.640
<v Speaker 2>to be more determined than Jimmy Butler. And here's the

0:14:46.720 --> 0:14:51.280
<v Speaker 2>other thing. Tyler, he wrote, will he suit up during

0:14:51.320 --> 0:14:55.680
<v Speaker 2>this series? I've heard that it's possible he could probably

0:14:55.720 --> 0:15:00.200
<v Speaker 2>make his playoff appearents. I mean in this series maybe

0:15:00.320 --> 0:15:03.040
<v Speaker 2>game three foursh you know, I don't know. He wasn't

0:15:03.120 --> 0:15:05.120
<v Speaker 2>ruled out of the playoffs when he first got heard,

0:15:05.880 --> 0:15:09.800
<v Speaker 2>So that'll be something worth watching, whether or not. Suddenly

0:15:10.400 --> 0:15:14.000
<v Speaker 2>they have a wildcard, an unexpected wildcard. Tyler, you throw Tyli,

0:15:14.040 --> 0:15:16.200
<v Speaker 2>he wrote the mix. But even aside from Tyler Hill,

0:15:16.240 --> 0:15:21.200
<v Speaker 2>this team has played very well defensively, good coaching, good schemes,

0:15:21.280 --> 0:15:25.120
<v Speaker 2>and Jimmy Butler going against Jason Tatum. That is going

0:15:25.200 --> 0:15:28.080
<v Speaker 2>to be a showdown that I think everyone will enjoy.

0:15:28.400 --> 0:15:30.840
<v Speaker 1>You said it, that three point shot. He has said

0:15:30.880 --> 0:15:33.000
<v Speaker 1>since he would take it again, and next time he

0:15:33.120 --> 0:15:35.080
<v Speaker 1>does have a chance to take it, he will make it.

0:15:35.120 --> 0:15:36.800
<v Speaker 1>So we will see and we will see how this

0:15:36.840 --> 0:15:40.160
<v Speaker 1>all plays out. Sean is always we will continue reading

0:15:40.200 --> 0:15:42.840
<v Speaker 1>all your stuff on NBA dot com and appreciate all

0:15:42.880 --> 0:15:45.120
<v Speaker 1>your time and all your hard work here with us

0:15:45.160 --> 0:15:48.200
<v Speaker 1>this Monday morning as these playoffs continue. NBA pulls but

0:15:48.280 --> 0:15:50.640
<v Speaker 1>Sarahkustak is a production of the NBA and iHeart Radio.

0:15:50.640 --> 0:15:53.200
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0:15:53.240 --> 0:15:54.880
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