WEBVTT - Knicks Hot Start with OG Anunoby, Raptors' Next Move, OKC Decision Time

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<v Speaker 1>And all things first, Shantle, he loves those corners. Welcome

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<v Speaker 1>to New York.

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<v Speaker 2>This is what the people want to see.

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<v Speaker 1>Look man into NBA Pulster production of iHeartRadio and the NBA.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm Sarah Kustack, NBA analyst for the s Networking Today

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<v Speaker 1>is Tuesday, January two. From our extraordinary core group of

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<v Speaker 1>NBA journalists, We're joined now by NBA dot Com senior

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<v Speaker 1>writer Sean Poll. And Sean, we saw the Knicks get

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<v Speaker 1>a win over Minnesota last night, Toronto get a win

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<v Speaker 1>over the Cleveland Cavaliers, but with some new pieces in

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<v Speaker 1>their uniforms. Trade that occurred over the course of the

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<v Speaker 1>weekend the New York Knicks receiving og An Andobi, a

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<v Speaker 1>guy that was talked about in a lot of trade

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<v Speaker 1>rumors for quite some time. Sewan, what were your initial

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<v Speaker 1>reactions of this trade and how you felt like both

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<v Speaker 1>teams fared well.

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<v Speaker 3>I think that there are a lot of teams in

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<v Speaker 3>the NBA that are envious of the Knicks because they

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<v Speaker 3>have been trying to get og Anenobi from the Raptors

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<v Speaker 3>probably for last year. As you mentioned, he's a good

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<v Speaker 3>two way player, obviously, and suddenly if you put him

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<v Speaker 3>in the NXT system. Maybe he's better in that system

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<v Speaker 3>than he was in Toronto system. And I say that

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<v Speaker 3>because he has a top flight point guard. He's playing

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<v Speaker 3>for a coach that emphasizes defense and that's his specialty.

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<v Speaker 3>And he'll get a chance to you know, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, develop offensively. So this could be career change

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<v Speaker 3>for him. And and oh, by the way, his contract

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<v Speaker 3>is up this summer and the NIXT. When you make

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<v Speaker 3>a trade for a player who's in the final year

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<v Speaker 3>is your contract, you're basically found that player. Hey man,

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<v Speaker 3>we're gonna pay you whatever it takes because we're not

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<v Speaker 3>going to give up all these assets for a rental,

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<v Speaker 3>so we're gonna make a commitment to you. And so

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<v Speaker 3>this is if you're og Ananobe, this is just such

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<v Speaker 3>a great situation to be traded in the last of

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<v Speaker 3>your contract. That means a team that just got you's

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<v Speaker 3>gonna pay you. So it's I think it's just good

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<v Speaker 3>all around for the Knicks, uh to get a player

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<v Speaker 3>of his caliber, young player of this caliber, unflappable, professional, hardworking,

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<v Speaker 3>everything that Tom Thibodeau wants in the player og Anenobe provides.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, and couldn't agree more, and you said it with Tibbs.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, what a guy that fits his type of system.

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<v Speaker 1>Defensive minded, this og last year led the league in steals,

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<v Speaker 1>he was second in deflection, second all team defense. But

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<v Speaker 1>also what he can bring and just kind of his

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<v Speaker 1>fluid fit as a three and D player on the

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<v Speaker 1>offensive side. Wants a corner.

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<v Speaker 2>Three with this third three corner of the afternoon. We've

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<v Speaker 2>talked about og Ananoby and all the things he brings,

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<v Speaker 2>will continue to tell you forty three percent from the

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<v Speaker 2>corner three.

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<v Speaker 1>When you look at the Knick and where they're at

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<v Speaker 1>now in this position seeing that move made. They're currently

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<v Speaker 1>sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference eighteen and five record

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<v Speaker 1>that win against Minnesota, the top team in the Western Conference,

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<v Speaker 1>snapping a three game losing streak. What do you see

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<v Speaker 1>for the Knicks moving forward, Well, it's twofold.

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<v Speaker 3>I think the team is going to be very competitive

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<v Speaker 3>this season. I think they're going to flirt around that

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<v Speaker 3>you know, that four or five sixth spot in the East.

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<v Speaker 3>And they have a nice core now with og Ananobi,

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<v Speaker 3>Julius Randall, and Jalen Brunson and a group of about

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<v Speaker 3>three or four very good role players Josh Hart, Dante,

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<v Speaker 3>deep Incenzo. You know, you know now that Emmanuel quickly

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<v Speaker 3>is no longer on a team now his role gets elevated,

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<v Speaker 3>and he really has played well the last couple of games.

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<v Speaker 3>So I think there's a nice core there. Obviously, it's

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<v Speaker 3>it's missing the main dish. And the main dish is

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<v Speaker 3>a superstar player. Obviously, how do you get them that?

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<v Speaker 3>They don't grow on trees, as you know, Sarah, But

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<v Speaker 3>this team is set for that type of player to

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<v Speaker 3>come into the mix next year, the year after next.

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<v Speaker 3>It's not like Brunson is, you know, over the hill.

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<v Speaker 3>You got to win with them right now. Same thing

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<v Speaker 3>with Randall, same thing with Og. You can hang on

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<v Speaker 3>to these players for a few years until you get

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<v Speaker 3>the big fish, you know, for the big fish in here,

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<v Speaker 3>and then all of a sudden, now you can challenge

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<v Speaker 3>a team like Milwaukee that has Gianni's team, like Philadelphia's

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<v Speaker 3>got Joe o Embiid, the Boston Celtics who have Tatum.

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<v Speaker 3>The Knicks don't have a caliber a player like that,

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<v Speaker 3>but they've got everything else, Sarah. So I think that

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<v Speaker 3>it's a good young team, a defensive minded coach, a

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<v Speaker 3>group of players that seem to enjoy playing with each other,

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<v Speaker 3>and a team that's just sitting right there in the mix,

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<v Speaker 3>not in the top shelf of the East, but if

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<v Speaker 3>they were to ever get a a game changer, then

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<v Speaker 3>they're going to be right there.

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<v Speaker 1>And they flirt with it like that's where to your point,

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<v Speaker 1>they've got everything they need and if laid a foundation.

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<v Speaker 1>What I really like is just the patience that they've

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<v Speaker 1>shown with that. I think this is a good trade

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<v Speaker 1>for both sides. You don't always see that in a trade.

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<v Speaker 1>We'll get to the Toronto side of it in just

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<v Speaker 1>a second, but I think to your point, just the

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<v Speaker 1>solid foundation, the core they've laid and the way that

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<v Speaker 1>they've consistently now shown to be a proven playoff team

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<v Speaker 1>and how they want to play under Tom Siboto, And

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<v Speaker 1>I think that is the area we expected them to

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<v Speaker 1>be a much better middle of the pack defense, but

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<v Speaker 1>a much better defensive team, but how can they continue

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<v Speaker 1>to improve on that end with these players but also offensively?

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<v Speaker 1>And I think say what you want, I think we

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<v Speaker 1>all say it. You know, NBA basketball is better when

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<v Speaker 1>the Knicks are good, and I think you will always

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<v Speaker 1>at some point when you continue to show this type

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<v Speaker 1>of consistency, find a star player that wants to come

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<v Speaker 1>play in the garden and wants to come play for

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<v Speaker 1>the Knicks. I think that's the foundation that's been laid

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<v Speaker 1>as of late. So I'll be curious to see if

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<v Speaker 1>any move trade deadline approaching, I'll be curious to see if,

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<v Speaker 1>potentially any moves will be made. But for now, yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>I think the East, you know, other than what you

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<v Speaker 1>see towards the very top with Boston, with Philadelphia obviously

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<v Speaker 1>Milwaukee up there, but just kind of where things are at,

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<v Speaker 1>I think there certainly is opportunity for the Knicks to

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<v Speaker 1>make some moves Toronto making moves and curious to see

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<v Speaker 1>if they will make some more. As I mentioned, last night,

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<v Speaker 1>they got a win over Cleveland. Pascal Siakam thirty six points,

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<v Speaker 1>five rebounds, RJ. Barrett, Emmanuel quickly in the starting lineup,

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<v Speaker 1>Barrett with nineteen to nine, Quickly with fourteen points, six rebounds,

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<v Speaker 1>two steals. They looked really good. But the cornerstone of

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<v Speaker 1>this team now has become and I think that was

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<v Speaker 1>what we saw at the early part of the Raptors.

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<v Speaker 1>Scottie Barnes he is the guy for this Raptors team.

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<v Speaker 1>Twenty two years old. Pascal Siakam continues to put up

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<v Speaker 1>big numbers as a former All Star. But I think

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<v Speaker 1>that's the direction where Massaiyu Jerry will go in terms

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<v Speaker 1>of building around what did you make not just of

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<v Speaker 1>the trade in bringing in Barrett back to his home

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<v Speaker 1>country of Canada Barrett and quickly, but also what this

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<v Speaker 1>means for the Raptors moving forward.

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<v Speaker 3>So here we are, and I think change is inedible

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<v Speaker 3>for the Raptors, and it just was just a matter

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<v Speaker 3>of time before they start parceling off some of these

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<v Speaker 3>pieces and start building on the next days. And so

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<v Speaker 3>the domino to fall obviously was og Ananobi, who normally

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<v Speaker 3>you would want to keep a young player like that,

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<v Speaker 3>but I think the Raptors feel that they can pivot

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<v Speaker 3>and find someone on the roster to sort of take

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<v Speaker 3>his place and put him through player development. And the

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<v Speaker 3>other piece is Pascal Siaki What are they going to

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<v Speaker 3>do with him. I'm ninety six ninety six point five

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<v Speaker 3>percent sure that he is going to be dealt by

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<v Speaker 3>the trade deadline, because number one, he's on the last

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<v Speaker 3>year of his contract, and I'm not so sure he's

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<v Speaker 3>willing to re sign with the Raptors. Look, he already

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<v Speaker 3>has his championship, so it's not like he's desperate to

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<v Speaker 3>go to a championship contender. But I think if given

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<v Speaker 3>a choice, does he want to be part of a

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<v Speaker 3>rebuilding situation in Toronto or does he want to leave?

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<v Speaker 3>And I think he wants to leave. And you're right there.

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<v Speaker 3>I think Scottie Barnes is the future of this team.

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<v Speaker 3>Scotty Barnes rook of the Year the following year, I

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<v Speaker 3>just thought he plateaued a little bit. But this year

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<v Speaker 3>he's posting career highs across the board showing that he

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<v Speaker 3>is indeed that guy.

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<v Speaker 1>Uh.

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<v Speaker 3>And because he has made that leap, now Toronto can

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<v Speaker 3>look and say, Okay, we've got this guy. You know,

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<v Speaker 3>we're going to give him a contract extension. We got

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<v Speaker 3>this guy. Now let's see who else we can get.

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<v Speaker 1>So RJ.

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<v Speaker 3>Barrett, as you mentioned back in Canada, grew up watching

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<v Speaker 3>the Raptors. Uh, he's a guy. You know, Look who's

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<v Speaker 3>a number three pick? High pick? Is he going to

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<v Speaker 3>be a superstar?

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<v Speaker 1>Nup?

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<v Speaker 3>But I think he's a very good player, hardworking professional.

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<v Speaker 2>Schroder finds Gary close out by Streus r Joe Fires

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<v Speaker 2>from Mississauga.

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<v Speaker 1>That is here.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, you can with him and your nucleus, you

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<v Speaker 3>can win games. And the wild card is going to

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<v Speaker 3>be Manuel Quickly.

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<v Speaker 2>Talked to both Barrett and Quickly yesterday and they came

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<v Speaker 2>early today to run through some sets. He knocks it

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<v Speaker 2>down from T o.

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<v Speaker 3>He finally has a team. I mean, all of a sudden,

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<v Speaker 3>he's away from Jalen Brunson. He has a team. He

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<v Speaker 3>can run. How good is this guy going to be?

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<v Speaker 3>He's playing, He's gonna be playing for a big contract.

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<v Speaker 3>He's motivated, you know. But when you move that one

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<v Speaker 3>seed over from being a supporting player to the starting

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<v Speaker 3>player and you're giving the ball, it can get a

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<v Speaker 3>little tricky. The true you will be revealed. So we'll

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<v Speaker 3>learn a lot more about Emmanual Quickly in this situation.

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<v Speaker 3>But the Raptors right now, they're in twelfth in the East.

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<v Speaker 3>Obviously they're not a title contender. They may not even

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<v Speaker 3>make the playoffs, but they have to start building now

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<v Speaker 3>for the future.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, and couldn't agree more. And I think that always

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<v Speaker 1>is the question. When players get elevated roles change roles,

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<v Speaker 1>how they respond and I want to turn it back

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<v Speaker 1>and put you on the spot. Sean. Sorry with Pascal Siakam.

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<v Speaker 1>With that being said, we've seen him in different roles

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<v Speaker 1>obviously with that championship team and Kawhi Leonard part of that,

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<v Speaker 1>but he was brilliant throughout the course of the playoffs,

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<v Speaker 1>a big reason why they did win that championship. You

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<v Speaker 1>talk about a three and D guy, but his role

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<v Speaker 1>has increased what they've expected out of him from the

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<v Speaker 1>offensive side, his three point accuracy has varied, but the

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<v Speaker 1>ability to run create off the dribble obviously, what he

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<v Speaker 1>can do defensively and in transition. Where do you see Siakam?

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<v Speaker 1>Is there any spots or place is that you see

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<v Speaker 1>him being a good fit.

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<v Speaker 3>I think any contender or any semi contender would love

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<v Speaker 3>to have him. But the trick is, you know, signing

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<v Speaker 3>him to a contract extension, you have to believe that

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<v Speaker 3>you can do that. So from that standpoint, the balls

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<v Speaker 3>in Saams court a little bit here. If he gives up,

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<v Speaker 3>if he gives a suitor the wrong vibes, no one's

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<v Speaker 3>going to give Toronto a bunch of assets for Seacam.

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<v Speaker 3>It's just not going to happen. Having said that, I

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<v Speaker 3>think he would be agreeable to any place where he

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<v Speaker 3>feels he has a chance to win and make decent money.

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<v Speaker 3>He's already made a lot of money, so maybe that's

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<v Speaker 3>not you know, the biggest priority for him. Not to

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<v Speaker 3>say he's going to give some team a huge discount,

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<v Speaker 3>but I just think he wants to go to a

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<v Speaker 3>place where he feels he can fit. I mean, what

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<v Speaker 3>place is that. Well, first of all, it's got to

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<v Speaker 3>be a place that can squeeze in. You know, his contract.

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<v Speaker 3>You know, you always hear about the Miamis of the world.

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<v Speaker 3>You know, they were in a running for Damian Lilo

0:12:02.240 --> 0:12:05.040
<v Speaker 3>this summer. All the teams that were in a running

0:12:05.080 --> 0:12:07.400
<v Speaker 3>for players this summer and didn't get him obviously going

0:12:07.480 --> 0:12:09.720
<v Speaker 3>to be on the board. I think a wildcard here

0:12:09.800 --> 0:12:13.080
<v Speaker 3>would be Philadelphia, not necessarily the trade for him now,

0:12:13.640 --> 0:12:15.760
<v Speaker 3>but to maybe hope to get him next summer. The

0:12:15.800 --> 0:12:20.000
<v Speaker 3>Sixers will have forty million dollars to spend next summer.

0:12:20.280 --> 0:12:24.920
<v Speaker 3>Forty That's very rare for a title contender with an

0:12:25.040 --> 0:12:28.760
<v Speaker 3>MVP on board to have that much money to spend,

0:12:29.160 --> 0:12:31.680
<v Speaker 3>so they don't even really need to trade for Siaka.

0:12:32.080 --> 0:12:34.480
<v Speaker 3>They can just wait till the summer and just sign them.

0:12:35.880 --> 0:12:41.000
<v Speaker 3>So I think Philadelphia is a wild card if Siakam

0:12:41.120 --> 0:12:43.720
<v Speaker 3>is not moved, they may be the wildcard even if

0:12:43.760 --> 0:12:46.040
<v Speaker 3>it is moved, because he might want to play there

0:12:46.120 --> 0:12:49.199
<v Speaker 3>because he can go right to Joe and be played

0:12:49.280 --> 0:12:54.000
<v Speaker 3>for next to an MVP winner, play on the Contender,

0:12:54.720 --> 0:12:56.160
<v Speaker 3>and then there you go and.

0:12:56.280 --> 0:12:59.079
<v Speaker 1>Play for his former coach and Nick Nurse, and you

0:12:59.280 --> 0:13:03.080
<v Speaker 1>talk about timelines and Siaka will be thirty in April,

0:13:03.160 --> 0:13:05.640
<v Speaker 1>in his eighth year, so a lot of things with

0:13:05.800 --> 0:13:09.640
<v Speaker 1>that lineup. Sean love it. We are going to talk

0:13:09.840 --> 0:13:14.000
<v Speaker 1>about another team that has title contention on their mind.

0:13:14.040 --> 0:13:17.079
<v Speaker 1>Big matchup here tonight between the Boston Celtics and the

0:13:17.120 --> 0:13:19.320
<v Speaker 1>Oklahoma City Thunder. We'll get to that after the break.

0:13:25.840 --> 0:13:28.360
<v Speaker 1>Welcome back to NBA pul Sarahkustak, joined by the great

0:13:28.400 --> 0:13:30.400
<v Speaker 1>Sean Pile and Sean. We got a good one on

0:13:30.520 --> 0:13:33.599
<v Speaker 1>the slate here tonight. A couple of top teams in

0:13:33.679 --> 0:13:36.800
<v Speaker 1>the East and Western Conference. The Boston Celtics, of course,

0:13:36.960 --> 0:13:38.880
<v Speaker 1>number one in the East. They have been clicking and

0:13:39.040 --> 0:13:41.439
<v Speaker 1>rolling in the number two team in the Western Conference,

0:13:41.760 --> 0:13:44.400
<v Speaker 1>the Oklahoma City Thunder twenty two and nine they have

0:13:44.559 --> 0:13:47.120
<v Speaker 1>won four straight and that's the team I want to

0:13:47.160 --> 0:13:51.280
<v Speaker 1>get into. Continue to impress under Mark Dagnall. You got

0:13:51.400 --> 0:13:55.440
<v Speaker 1>a player in the MVP discussion in Shay Gildas, Alexander

0:13:55.600 --> 0:13:58.520
<v Speaker 1>One in the Rookie of the Year conversation, maybe the

0:13:58.559 --> 0:14:02.400
<v Speaker 1>front runner and Chet Holmes when Jalen Williams continues to

0:14:02.720 --> 0:14:06.880
<v Speaker 1>be part of that trio that creates continuity and has

0:14:06.960 --> 0:14:09.720
<v Speaker 1>this team really cooking. When you look at the Oklahoma

0:14:09.760 --> 0:14:12.559
<v Speaker 1>City Thunder, they've been towards the top of the West

0:14:13.320 --> 0:14:15.679
<v Speaker 1>for quite some time. Now here throughout the course of

0:14:15.760 --> 0:14:18.280
<v Speaker 1>the season, made the playoffs because of the play in

0:14:18.440 --> 0:14:21.120
<v Speaker 1>last year, took a bigger leap, probably than a lot

0:14:21.160 --> 0:14:23.680
<v Speaker 1>of us had expected in how they're playing at the

0:14:23.760 --> 0:14:27.520
<v Speaker 1>early part of the season. What do you see in

0:14:27.680 --> 0:14:30.720
<v Speaker 1>this team through the remainder of the year and do

0:14:30.920 --> 0:14:33.520
<v Speaker 1>they need to make some moves to continue to be

0:14:34.840 --> 0:14:37.400
<v Speaker 1>in those title contention projections.

0:14:38.240 --> 0:14:41.200
<v Speaker 3>Well, the crazy thing about Oklahoma City is that up

0:14:41.280 --> 0:14:46.040
<v Speaker 3>until now, uh, they've always been sellers, you know, just

0:14:46.240 --> 0:14:49.480
<v Speaker 3>trying to acquire ass ats to the you know, the

0:14:49.600 --> 0:14:55.080
<v Speaker 3>draft and really you know, give other players other teams

0:14:55.120 --> 0:14:57.880
<v Speaker 3>their players. But now all of a sudden, they put

0:14:57.920 --> 0:15:02.320
<v Speaker 3>themselves in position to win. Now they've got a certified,

0:15:02.600 --> 0:15:06.120
<v Speaker 3>as you said, an MVP contender in Shakes Alexander averaging

0:15:06.200 --> 0:15:10.800
<v Speaker 3>thirty one a game. He is just tremendous to watch,

0:15:12.000 --> 0:15:16.000
<v Speaker 3>just the way he plays the game. He's not reckless,

0:15:16.560 --> 0:15:19.160
<v Speaker 3>He's got a nice mid range game, gets to the line.

0:15:20.480 --> 0:15:24.520
<v Speaker 3>His teammates seem to enjoy playing next to him, fees

0:15:24.600 --> 0:15:28.080
<v Speaker 3>off them. Well, so he is just he's a type

0:15:28.120 --> 0:15:32.240
<v Speaker 3>of centerpiece you want if you're a franchise under contract,

0:15:32.320 --> 0:15:34.400
<v Speaker 3>so you don't have to worry about anything with Shay.

0:15:35.240 --> 0:15:38.360
<v Speaker 3>And you know, you see Oklahoma City sitting, you know,

0:15:38.640 --> 0:15:40.880
<v Speaker 3>number two in the West, and you're like, okay, so

0:15:41.400 --> 0:15:44.000
<v Speaker 3>when is Denver coming up, when the Clippers coming up,

0:15:44.080 --> 0:15:46.840
<v Speaker 3>when someone's going to overtake them? Well, Sarah, you know

0:15:46.920 --> 0:15:49.640
<v Speaker 3>the scary thing is maybe someone may not overtake them.

0:15:50.160 --> 0:15:54.160
<v Speaker 3>Maybe you know, we're still seeing them sitting there after

0:15:54.280 --> 0:15:57.920
<v Speaker 3>the All Star weekend, and maybe we see them sitting

0:15:58.120 --> 0:16:01.000
<v Speaker 3>at least in the top three when the playoffs began.

0:16:01.200 --> 0:16:04.840
<v Speaker 3>And I think that that would be just a crowning

0:16:04.920 --> 0:16:09.760
<v Speaker 3>achievement for Oklahoma City, a team that's grown organically for

0:16:09.840 --> 0:16:13.040
<v Speaker 3>the most part, brought these young players together really got

0:16:13.080 --> 0:16:17.240
<v Speaker 3>four to five when chet Holmgen joined the team. Obviously

0:16:17.320 --> 0:16:20.200
<v Speaker 3>didn't play last year, was hurt. But this guy has

0:16:20.240 --> 0:16:25.160
<v Speaker 3>coming and matured, averaging seventeen points seven rebounds, really strong

0:16:25.280 --> 0:16:31.560
<v Speaker 3>defensively blocking shots. Jalen Williams loudor. I mean, look, this

0:16:31.800 --> 0:16:36.320
<v Speaker 3>team is young, good, and fairly deep. I would not

0:16:36.440 --> 0:16:38.720
<v Speaker 3>be shocked if they tried to make a movie. The

0:16:38.760 --> 0:16:43.400
<v Speaker 3>trade trade deadline added another piece because they have a

0:16:43.440 --> 0:16:46.840
<v Speaker 3>lot of draft capital that they have acquired, so they

0:16:46.880 --> 0:16:51.080
<v Speaker 3>don't have to parcel out one of their main guys.

0:16:51.520 --> 0:16:54.600
<v Speaker 3>They can just package one of their bench players with

0:16:54.720 --> 0:16:57.800
<v Speaker 3>a number one pick and get a pretty decent player

0:16:58.320 --> 0:17:01.800
<v Speaker 3>and say, you know what, going to wait another year

0:17:01.960 --> 0:17:03.480
<v Speaker 3>to try to be a contender. No, we want to

0:17:03.480 --> 0:17:07.240
<v Speaker 3>be a contender right now. We've got Shay, We've got Chet,

0:17:07.480 --> 0:17:10.000
<v Speaker 3>We've got a good nucleus. We add something to that

0:17:10.160 --> 0:17:13.840
<v Speaker 3>nucleus and let's go. And the West is wide open.

0:17:14.080 --> 0:17:17.359
<v Speaker 3>Look at the teams at the top. Minnesota, Oklahoma City,

0:17:18.119 --> 0:17:21.040
<v Speaker 3>Golden State is down. The Lakers are still for whatever reason,

0:17:21.080 --> 0:17:25.399
<v Speaker 3>they're still struggling. Even though Lebron and Anthony Davis are

0:17:25.440 --> 0:17:29.040
<v Speaker 3>having good years. There's nobody in the West, I think

0:17:29.200 --> 0:17:32.119
<v Speaker 3>is just you know, running away with it. So if

0:17:32.160 --> 0:17:35.320
<v Speaker 3>you're Oklahoma City, why not say why not?

0:17:35.520 --> 0:17:39.679
<v Speaker 1>US could not agree more. I just saw them defeat

0:17:39.720 --> 0:17:43.960
<v Speaker 1>the Nets on New Year's Eve. It was and I

0:17:44.080 --> 0:17:46.400
<v Speaker 1>love the team, love how they play play fast. Obviously,

0:17:46.600 --> 0:17:49.600
<v Speaker 1>the compilation of player Sam Presty did a really beautiful

0:17:49.680 --> 0:17:53.960
<v Speaker 1>job in not only finding these young talents but also

0:17:54.040 --> 0:17:57.000
<v Speaker 1>the way in which they fit. They've been top ten

0:17:57.080 --> 0:18:00.440
<v Speaker 1>in offense and defense. I think there's a real great

0:18:00.480 --> 0:18:04.000
<v Speaker 1>blend the one area though they are vulnerable on the

0:18:04.080 --> 0:18:07.159
<v Speaker 1>glass and they struggle mightily rebounding, and you look at

0:18:07.640 --> 0:18:10.320
<v Speaker 1>just the importance of possessions. A team that does play fast,

0:18:10.400 --> 0:18:14.200
<v Speaker 1>when that translates into the end of the postseason, how

0:18:14.320 --> 0:18:16.720
<v Speaker 1>that changes. So can can you find there's not you know,

0:18:16.760 --> 0:18:19.399
<v Speaker 1>you're not going to get one player that's going to

0:18:19.480 --> 0:18:22.080
<v Speaker 1>solve that. But I think just in terms of they're

0:18:22.640 --> 0:18:25.160
<v Speaker 1>super efficient from three, but don't take a lot of threes.

0:18:25.280 --> 0:18:27.760
<v Speaker 1>So can you fortify and find a player that brings

0:18:27.800 --> 0:18:30.879
<v Speaker 1>you some size, helps you on the glass, continues to

0:18:30.960 --> 0:18:33.800
<v Speaker 1>be a more high volume three point shooter to go

0:18:33.920 --> 0:18:35.760
<v Speaker 1>along with a lot of the mid range game that

0:18:35.840 --> 0:18:38.800
<v Speaker 1>you see. So many of their key players playing. I

0:18:38.960 --> 0:18:42.520
<v Speaker 1>think they're they're a team that should have title contentions,

0:18:42.600 --> 0:18:45.639
<v Speaker 1>but I do think there's a little more room for

0:18:45.800 --> 0:18:49.800
<v Speaker 1>them to potentially grow. And they're fun. They're fun. As

0:18:49.880 --> 0:18:53.040
<v Speaker 1>you mentioned, the West is wide open, so it'll be

0:18:53.119 --> 0:18:56.800
<v Speaker 1>interesting to see how how those things continue to shake out. Sean,

0:18:56.880 --> 0:18:58.960
<v Speaker 1>Happy New Year twenty twenty four.

0:18:59.320 --> 0:19:02.280
<v Speaker 3>How you feel, I'm feeling pretty good, you know, anytime

0:19:02.400 --> 0:19:05.480
<v Speaker 3>you can turn that calendar and you're still upright and

0:19:06.119 --> 0:19:10.240
<v Speaker 3>looking forward to the next twelve months at least, if

0:19:10.320 --> 0:19:13.359
<v Speaker 3>not beyond. I'm just grateful, and Sarah, I'm sure you

0:19:13.440 --> 0:19:15.600
<v Speaker 3>feel the same. Just grateful, Lucky to be doing this

0:19:15.720 --> 0:19:18.960
<v Speaker 3>for a living, yes, Lucky to be around professional people, yes,

0:19:19.480 --> 0:19:25.240
<v Speaker 3>enjoying the game, just watching you know, things develop, you know,

0:19:25.320 --> 0:19:28.040
<v Speaker 3>the great unknown, and then we'll see what happens in June.

0:19:28.080 --> 0:19:29.040
<v Speaker 3>Who's lifting the trophy?

0:19:29.560 --> 0:19:32.560
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, you know what. It's day to day. It's day

0:19:32.640 --> 0:19:34.840
<v Speaker 1>to day. But we made it this far to this day,

0:19:34.920 --> 0:19:37.440
<v Speaker 1>and Sewn, as always, we appreciate you your time. Will

0:19:37.440 --> 0:19:40.360
<v Speaker 1>continue to read all your stuff on NBA dot com,

0:19:40.440 --> 0:19:43.160
<v Speaker 1>watch you on NBA TV, and look forward to talking

0:19:43.200 --> 0:19:43.680
<v Speaker 1>with you again.

0:19:44.400 --> 0:19:45.520
<v Speaker 3>Appreciate you, Sarah.

0:19:45.600 --> 0:19:47.480
<v Speaker 1>NBA Post with Sarah Whoustock is a production of the

0:19:47.600 --> 0:19:50.159
<v Speaker 1>NBA and iHeartRadio. Please rate, review, and subscribe on the

0:19:50.200 --> 0:19:52.800
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