WEBVTT - In-Season Tournament Special - Quarterfinal Matchups Set

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<v Speaker 1>Kay's have a chance to take the lead. Here Wings

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<v Speaker 1>with five fouls. Mok drives on of my.

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<v Speaker 2>Tames scars you want a basket?

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<v Speaker 1>Mom gives the Kings the lead. Welcome into NBA Pulse,

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<v Speaker 1>the production of iHeartRadio in the NBA. I'm Saraphostock, NBA

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<v Speaker 1>analyst for the Yes Network, and today is Wednesday, November

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<v Speaker 1>twenty ninth. From our extraordinary core group of NBA journalists.

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<v Speaker 1>Were joined now by NBA dot Com Senior writer Steve

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<v Speaker 1>Asperner and ask it is great to see you on

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<v Speaker 1>this Wednesday morning because Tuesday night was a fun one,

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<v Speaker 1>the final evening of group play, and it got a

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<v Speaker 1>little wild. I don't know if you were connecting the

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<v Speaker 1>dots for all the numbers of teams, the wins, the

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<v Speaker 1>point differentials, you name it. But eight teams have now

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<v Speaker 1>advanced and I want to start with you with the

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<v Speaker 1>There's a lot of games going on, as I mentioned,

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<v Speaker 1>but one of the ones that was most exciting was

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<v Speaker 1>the Sacramento Kids Golden State Warriors. The Warriors seem to

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<v Speaker 1>have commanded this one for a good portion of the game,

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<v Speaker 1>knew that they needed to win by a certain amount

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<v Speaker 1>in order for them to advance, and the Sacramento Kings

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<v Speaker 1>end up pulling it out one twenty four to one

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<v Speaker 1>twenty three. A thriller as Malik Monk hits a game winner.

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<v Speaker 1>He finished with twenty one points. Steph Curry a chance

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<v Speaker 1>that the buzzer didn't get it to go. Steph had

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<v Speaker 1>twenty nine, ten and six stars. What a basket. Malik

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<v Speaker 1>Monk gives the Kings the lead, Clop ticks, Hurry with

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<v Speaker 1>the ball. That's it. That's it. The Kings win. Andrew

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<v Speaker 1>Wiggins twenty nine and ten, Clay twenty and nine. A

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<v Speaker 1>big game for de Aaron Fox with twenty nine points,

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<v Speaker 1>nine rebounds, seven assists. But take me in to those

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<v Speaker 1>final minutes, those final moments, what you were thinking where

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<v Speaker 1>it felt almost like a playoff game here at the

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<v Speaker 1>end of November.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I mean, you know, if you just go by

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<v Speaker 2>sort of that particular point in that particular game, the

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<v Speaker 2>nd season Tournament, you know, has accomplished what it set

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<v Speaker 2>out to do. It heightened the intensity I think in

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<v Speaker 2>the arena, on the floor, and even for those of

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<v Speaker 2>us who were watching from afar. You know the fact

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<v Speaker 2>that Golden State they were calculating how many points they

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<v Speaker 2>needed to win by in order to get into the quarterfinals,

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<v Speaker 2>and not only did they lose a twenty four point lead,

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<v Speaker 2>they lost the game outright. So you know, the whole

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<v Speaker 2>point differential thing is controversial as it's been. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>added an element to that. They knew because of Minnesota

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<v Speaker 2>against Oklahoma City that they had to win by twelve

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<v Speaker 2>or more. And you know, you know, I hesitate to

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<v Speaker 2>say it's sort of like covering the spread, but this

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<v Speaker 2>is sort of this is a non wagering, sort of

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<v Speaker 2>an honest spread. And yet they couldn't do it. I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>Golden State had done welligan Sacramento in previous meetings of season,

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<v Speaker 2>so you know, they added there was that element too

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<v Speaker 2>that Sacramento wanted to get over the hump, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>just for general eighty two game regular season purposes. But

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<v Speaker 2>I think it added a lot. And and you know,

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<v Speaker 2>if the quarterfinals now onward to the Vegas games, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>can can also dial things up a little bit. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>I think we have to give the NBA some credit.

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<v Speaker 2>I was a skeptic on the whole thing. I thought

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<v Speaker 2>it would be confusing at best and sort of lay

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<v Speaker 2>there and be kind of flat in general. But I

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<v Speaker 2>do think that because of the competition. Never mind the

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<v Speaker 2>uniforms of the floors, you know, those were just sort

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<v Speaker 2>of markers to remind us that, oh, yeah, this is

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<v Speaker 2>a different kind of game. He could have just had

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<v Speaker 2>a big ass risk on the TV screen, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>with every telecast. But I think it did seep in

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<v Speaker 2>and teams actively pursued a final round of eight berth

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<v Speaker 2>in the n season tournament and that had never happened

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<v Speaker 2>before in the NBA. And we'll see whether it builds

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<v Speaker 2>as the years go on. I'm sure they're going to

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<v Speaker 2>give it several years of trial run before they would

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<v Speaker 2>ever consider pulling the plug and going back to just

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<v Speaker 2>straight November and December games.

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<v Speaker 1>Look, you said it all, and I'll double down as well.

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<v Speaker 1>I'll give it credit the fact that this was the

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<v Speaker 1>first year, and I think that there was this much enthusiasm, interest, excitement, anticipation,

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<v Speaker 1>and even the confusion. I think that's a part of

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<v Speaker 1>it anytime there's something new. I think, you know, the

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<v Speaker 1>interest that fully understanding adds an element of needing to

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<v Speaker 1>learn and having interest in people talking about it and

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<v Speaker 1>questions about it. You mentioned, you know, the courts and

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<v Speaker 1>the distinguishing factor that comes with that, given the fact

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<v Speaker 1>that you're you're still looking at you know, a different

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<v Speaker 1>lay and we're talking about competition all that there's prize

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<v Speaker 1>money involved these teams. Now is you go further on,

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<v Speaker 1>are eating for something? I don't care what you say.

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<v Speaker 1>I know a lot of people say, oh, players make

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<v Speaker 1>so much money. Anyway, money is money, money matters. I've

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<v Speaker 1>heard guys in our locker room and players talk about

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<v Speaker 1>what would you buy if we had that that's that's

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<v Speaker 1>enough for this type of car. And you know, for

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<v Speaker 1>some of the players who are on minimum contracts or

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<v Speaker 1>rookie deals, that type of stuff matters. But I think

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<v Speaker 1>overall it was fun to watch and I think fun

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<v Speaker 1>to have that that type of intrigue. You know, as

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<v Speaker 1>you had mentioned the end of November, what I do

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<v Speaker 1>think is there was a lot of dialogue and discussion

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<v Speaker 1>in terms of the understanding about the tiebreaker component and

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<v Speaker 1>the point differential with that. Considering the fact that that

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<v Speaker 1>all teams played four games, there was a lot of

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<v Speaker 1>those three and one records, the wild card aspect of it,

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<v Speaker 1>and who needed to be to and buy how much

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<v Speaker 1>to advance. What did you think of ava part of

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<v Speaker 1>it and component of it with the tiebreakerarner. Is there

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<v Speaker 1>anything you would look forward to? You know, now year

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<v Speaker 1>one not yet thoroughly gone, we would not get gone

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<v Speaker 1>through the whole actual n season tournament. But with the

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<v Speaker 1>group play, is there any tweaks or changes at this

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<v Speaker 1>point that you would suggest to the league about making.

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<v Speaker 2>Well In terms of suggestions, I mean, you know, you're

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<v Speaker 2>stuck with a very limited run up to the quarterfinals,

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<v Speaker 2>the knockout round, I mean four games, so you're going

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<v Speaker 2>and you need a vast network of tiebreakers in essence,

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<v Speaker 2>because once you get past head to head who won

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<v Speaker 2>within the group, you know, it could be a three

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<v Speaker 2>way tie where that cancels itself out within the group,

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<v Speaker 2>it could be across the groups in the conference. I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>I saw something on before the TNT games last night

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<v Speaker 2>that said, if certain seven outcomes happened or something like

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<v Speaker 2>that yesterday or certain now, you would have had a

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<v Speaker 2>seven way tie or something, you know, for you know

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<v Speaker 2>that we would have had to go to a point

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<v Speaker 2>differential point differential. Yeah, you know, it's controversial because that's

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<v Speaker 2>not how NBA teams and professional athletes are expected to play.

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<v Speaker 2>Generally speaking, there's a professional respect where you don't run

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<v Speaker 2>up a score when a game is already in hand.

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<v Speaker 2>But everybody had the same situation to deal with, same rules.

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<v Speaker 2>They knew why it was happening. It wasn't some out

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<v Speaker 2>of control rookie, you know, looking to get an extra

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<v Speaker 2>couple of points on the stats line. It wasn't somebody

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<v Speaker 2>trying to you know, do something in someone else's face

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<v Speaker 2>for a personal grudge. It was, hey, we're going to

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<v Speaker 2>need this. I mean, you know, Phoenix needed a certain

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<v Speaker 2>number of points. Uh, they won by by point differential

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<v Speaker 2>over Minnesota. There were there were five teams that went

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<v Speaker 2>three and one in the Eastern Conference. Two of them

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<v Speaker 2>got in, three of them did not. You have to

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<v Speaker 2>take care of business. So the whole point differential thing,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, I get it. If it's January, February, March,

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<v Speaker 2>when the in season tournament is over, we can go

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<v Speaker 2>back to the professional decorum. But if point differential is

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<v Speaker 2>going to be there, then teams are obliged, frankly and

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<v Speaker 2>certainly motivated to you know, to go after that. And

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<v Speaker 2>I don't blame anybody. I think people that got upset

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<v Speaker 2>about that. I mean you could say, well, I'm a

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<v Speaker 2>traditionalist and I don't like that. That's fine, But if

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<v Speaker 2>anybody thought that was disrespectful, I mean let it go.

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<v Speaker 2>An in season tournament in a sense is disrespectful to traditionalists.

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<v Speaker 2>But times change, things change. I think the league going

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<v Speaker 2>in had earned benefit of the doubt by how well

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<v Speaker 2>the playing tournament seems to have gone over and has

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<v Speaker 2>gained popularity and works well. And you know, we'll see

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<v Speaker 2>in time. It's still early with this. This is the

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<v Speaker 2>first run. We're not even through it, but you know

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<v Speaker 2>that's one. Now. You talked about the money. The winners

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<v Speaker 2>of this whole thing make a half a million dollars apiece.

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<v Speaker 2>Tremendous incentive, obviously certain for guys down the bench and

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<v Speaker 2>on two way deals and everything like that. Should there

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<v Speaker 2>be something else? Should there be a guaranteed playoff berth?

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<v Speaker 2>Should there be you know, the MVP of the nd

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<v Speaker 2>season tournament, should he automatically be assured of an All

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<v Speaker 2>Star selection? You know, there's things like that that they

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<v Speaker 2>can probably consider. I'm not sure how it would work out.

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<v Speaker 2>Most likely, anybody who's the MVP of this tournament is

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<v Speaker 2>going to be a pretty good shape to be an

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<v Speaker 2>All Star anyway, you'll have this as a credit along

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<v Speaker 2>with whatever he's done through through you know, the end

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<v Speaker 2>of January, so you know that, Yeah, you change things up.

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<v Speaker 2>I happen to think that they could benefit from changing

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<v Speaker 2>the floors and taking some of the paint off, but

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<v Speaker 2>nobody listens to me, even at home, so I'm not

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<v Speaker 2>going to expect much there.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't know ask. I think those are all tremendous ideas.

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<v Speaker 1>I really appreciate the thought going into that, and I

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<v Speaker 1>do I'm with you. I think in terms of the

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<v Speaker 1>point differential we even saw. There was a funny I

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<v Speaker 1>found entertaining moment between Joe Missoula and Billy Donovan explaining

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<v Speaker 1>to Billy why when the Celtics were up thirty two

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<v Speaker 1>on the Bulls last night in the fourth quarter they

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<v Speaker 1>were going to a hacka druma to try and extend

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<v Speaker 1>that lead. I think, to me, it's less about the

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<v Speaker 1>professional decorum and just the respect for the game, and

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<v Speaker 1>especially on the last night and the final games, because

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<v Speaker 1>I think there's a level of understanding. But I feel

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<v Speaker 1>like it's tough throughout the course of those first three games,

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<v Speaker 1>the early part of the season, when you don't know

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<v Speaker 1>where things are shaking out, if you're leaving in your

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<v Speaker 1>decisions for a coach to make, Hey, am I leaving

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<v Speaker 1>in my starters in the beginning of November in a

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<v Speaker 1>game where already up by fifteen? You know, I think

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<v Speaker 1>there's some give and take to that of how that

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<v Speaker 1>actually affects the approach and the longevity of a season,

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<v Speaker 1>and how you're playing players, and how you're playing a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of your key players. So that's the only aspect I.

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<v Speaker 2>Would say, Yeah, that's a good point.

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<v Speaker 1>I think eventually guys will will understand that, figure that

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<v Speaker 1>out and have a better feel for that. But that's

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<v Speaker 1>my one one thought in terms of the point differential. Also,

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<v Speaker 1>the final day there were eight games, so sixteen the

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<v Speaker 1>teams were playing. But we saw that, you know, whether

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<v Speaker 1>it was the Kings and Warriors game, whether it was

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<v Speaker 1>the Boston game, these teams that played last night had

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<v Speaker 1>a little bit of advantage of those that had played

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<v Speaker 1>on Monday nights because they knew exactly what they needed

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<v Speaker 1>to do, the point differential they needed to get to.

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<v Speaker 1>So I would be curious if there was a way

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<v Speaker 1>to have all the teams play, you know, can you

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<v Speaker 1>have all the teams play on the final day.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, you know, to build on what you said, I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>I guess one of the fear is, of course, going

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<v Speaker 2>forward in this tournament, is we get to game eighty three,

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<v Speaker 2>which is an additional game never been played, never been

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<v Speaker 2>in eighty three, and somebody suffers a horrible injury in

0:12:13.000 --> 0:12:15.400
<v Speaker 2>a game that they otherwise would not have played. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>it's one of those sliding doors things where oh they

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<v Speaker 2>changed this and that led to that effect when the

0:12:21.240 --> 0:12:23.959
<v Speaker 2>dominoes all fell. You know, you hope something like that

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<v Speaker 2>doesn't happen. That would be regrettable and it would certainly

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<v Speaker 2>be mentioned, you know, next year as the n season

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<v Speaker 2>tournament revved up again.

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<v Speaker 1>Speaking of red up, we are gonna get rebbed up

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<v Speaker 1>for the in season tournament to actually take place, and

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<v Speaker 1>take a look at what these matchups will look like,

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<v Speaker 1>beginning with the quarterfinals right after the brain Welcome Back

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<v Speaker 1>to mby Paul Sarahustak joined by the great Steve Ashburner

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<v Speaker 1>and asked, we had a good slate here of quarterfinal

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<v Speaker 1>games the teams that advanced in shrinking storylines. In the East,

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<v Speaker 1>you have the number one seeded Milwaukee Bucks playing the

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<v Speaker 1>four seed and the New York Knicks. Two and three

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<v Speaker 1>is the Pacers and the Celtics. On the west side

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<v Speaker 1>of things, you got Lebron James and the Lakers playing

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<v Speaker 1>Devin book at Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns, and

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<v Speaker 1>then the Sacramento Kings. As we talked about with that advancement,

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<v Speaker 1>we'll take on the New Orleans Pelicans thanks to a

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<v Speaker 1>Dallas win against Houston last night. The Pels are in

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<v Speaker 1>so Zion, will will be playing And you look at

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<v Speaker 1>these matchups and I'm curious which ones stand out most

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<v Speaker 1>to you, because I think you've got a mix of

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<v Speaker 1>some young and up and coming teams, some that have

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<v Speaker 1>maybe surprised this season. Others you got a lot of big,

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<v Speaker 1>big star names and legends of the game that will

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<v Speaker 1>be playing a potential Eastern Conference finals preview of some

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<v Speaker 1>that we may expect. And both the Bucks and the

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<v Speaker 1>Celtics and they both advance, which matchup are you most

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<v Speaker 1>looking for or two? Here in the quarterfinals?

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<v Speaker 2>I would say at this point I would go with

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<v Speaker 2>the Celtics against the Pacers. First off, you know, the

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<v Speaker 2>Celtics are considered favorites in the Eastern Conference. Indiana is

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<v Speaker 2>sort of a long shot playoff contender, and they only

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<v Speaker 2>thrust that notion on us. You know, since the season began,

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<v Speaker 2>nobody imagined that the Pacers would play and score the

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<v Speaker 2>way that they have. I think that they both have,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, sort of different agendas here. I mean, Boston,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, they want no one to get hurt. I'm

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<v Speaker 2>not sure an nd season tournament is going to mean much.

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<v Speaker 2>They want to get back to the finals and win

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<v Speaker 2>a championship. Indiana, this is an opportunity to make some

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<v Speaker 2>bones and you know, sort of expose some of their

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<v Speaker 2>players to you know a little more, a little bigger stage,

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit of glamour that you know, if they

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<v Speaker 2>can get to Las Vegas, that would be you know,

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<v Speaker 2>a highlight if the season the rest of the way

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<v Speaker 2>doesn't necessarily go their way. So I think that one's intriguing.

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<v Speaker 2>New Orleans is sort of in the same boat as

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<v Speaker 2>team that. Hey, you know, we're in the spotlight now

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<v Speaker 2>and let's take this as far as we can. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>the Lakers, Phoenix and Sacramento out west, they sort of

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<v Speaker 2>have bigger ambitions. But I think this will take on

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<v Speaker 2>a life of its own. Lebron has been enthused about

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<v Speaker 2>the in season tournament and a half million dollars per

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<v Speaker 2>man and what that can mean, you know, generally, not

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<v Speaker 2>to him as much, but you know, to the guys

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<v Speaker 2>farther down the bench. But I think Boston Indiana, and

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<v Speaker 2>you know, if Boston beats the Pacers in Indiana, that'll

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<v Speaker 2>be considered a good victory. It will bring them potentially

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<v Speaker 2>into play in Vegas against Milwaukee. It would be a

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<v Speaker 2>redo of the Damian Lillard Drew Holliday matchup that we

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<v Speaker 2>saw last week in Boston that didn't go very well

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<v Speaker 2>for Milwaukee until the final minutes. So you know, I

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<v Speaker 2>think that's one other corp of this quarterfinals schedule, Sarah,

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<v Speaker 2>is that all these teams are to play each other

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<v Speaker 2>four times. Anyway, this will now be a fifth time

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<v Speaker 2>for each of these matchups during the regular season, So

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<v Speaker 2>it won't just be four times that Milwaukee will have

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<v Speaker 2>played Boston by you know, playoff time, It'll be five.

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<v Speaker 2>Same thing with Sons and Lakers and Kings and Pelicans

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<v Speaker 2>and Nix and Bucks. So, you know, to play a

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<v Speaker 2>team five times in one season, you know, that's something

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<v Speaker 2>that hasn't happened since certainly the pre expansion years, and

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<v Speaker 2>you just wonder whether that will increase rivalry by the

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<v Speaker 2>time we get to March in April.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, and I think all of it is, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>as they said, these matches, but give me more of

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<v Speaker 1>the Sons and Lakers. I'm excited to see these two

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<v Speaker 1>teams go at it. And I had mentioned anytime we

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<v Speaker 1>get to see you know, and hopefully they will be

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<v Speaker 1>healthy and playing. But Kevin Durant and Lebron James facing

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<v Speaker 1>off against one another, you know, to me, the Phoenix

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<v Speaker 1>is they've won seventh straight. Devin Book has been absolutely

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<v Speaker 1>just cooking opponents, and the Lakers have had a you know,

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<v Speaker 1>up and down start to the season. They're ten and eight,

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<v Speaker 1>they're sitting in the seventh seed. They just got whacked

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<v Speaker 1>by forty four points at Philadelphia on Monday night, and

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<v Speaker 1>so but they are. They were perfect four and oh

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<v Speaker 1>in these n season tournament games, and obviously there is

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<v Speaker 1>always the highest of upside about what they can look like.

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<v Speaker 1>So yeah, so I'm very I'm very psyched to get

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<v Speaker 1>another chance to watch Phoenix and La this this early

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<v Speaker 1>point of the season, going get one another. So overall,

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<v Speaker 1>it's gonna be fun. It's gonna be interesting. As we said,

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<v Speaker 1>the quarterfinals begin on December fourth, and then the Semis

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<v Speaker 1>will take place December seventh, the finals December ninth. Those

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<v Speaker 1>Semis and finals will be played in Las Vegas, and

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<v Speaker 1>ask you'll be out there, correct, I.

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<v Speaker 2>Will, yep, I'll be there there to to cover all

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<v Speaker 2>these firsts's. It'll be interesting to see you know. It'll

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<v Speaker 2>be different from our usual trips to Vegas in the

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<v Speaker 2>summertime because a the weather and B We're not going

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<v Speaker 2>to be at the Thomas and Mac will be at

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<v Speaker 2>the T Mobile Arena, which is a you know, NBA

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<v Speaker 2>worthy ready for the league to give a NOD building,

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<v Speaker 2>and so that will change things up a little more,

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<v Speaker 2>a little more sizzle, I think than the college campus

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<v Speaker 2>the low key, which is appropriate for summer league games

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<v Speaker 2>that we usually get in Vegas.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh yeah, another trophy will be raised in Vegas after

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<v Speaker 1>the Las Vegas Aces have done it the last two

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<v Speaker 1>w NBA seasons. But it's certain to be fun. We

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<v Speaker 1>will be reading watching all of all of your stuff

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<v Speaker 1>in not only next week but as always the upcoming week.

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<v Speaker 1>So we can't wait to see you and look forward

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<v Speaker 1>to talking with you again soon.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you Sarah.

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<v Speaker 1>NBA Pulse with Sarahustack is a production of the NBA

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