1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:02,120 Speaker 1: The volume. 2 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 2: The NBA Finals are almost here and every play could 3 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 2: be the one that changes everything. This is the NBA 4 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 2: Playoffs where heroes rise, legacies are built, and the action 5 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:17,120 Speaker 2: never lets up. And with DraftKings Sports Book and official 6 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 2: sports betting partner of the NBA, you don't just watch 7 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 2: the madness, you live it. Back your favorite team, ride 8 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 2: with your clutch, time killer, bet on the buzzer beaters, 9 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 2: the breakout performances, the game winning threes, from player props 10 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 2: to same game parlays. 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Please play responsibly on behalf of 30 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 2: Boothill Casino and Resort. In Kansas twenty one plus age 31 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 2: in eligibility varies by jurisdiction void in Ontario. Bet must 32 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 2: win to receive reward. Bonus bets expire one hundred and 33 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 2: sixty eight hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible 34 00:01:45,640 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 2: gaming resources, see DKG dot co. Slash audio. All right, 35 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 2: welcome to hoops tonight. You're at the volume heavy Tuesday. Everybody. 36 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 2: Hope all of you guys are having a great start 37 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 2: to your week. Well, the Indiana Pacers, as expected, ended 38 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 2: up going up three to one on the Knicks tonight. 39 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,119 Speaker 2: Kind of a wired and wired type of game. There's 40 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:15,119 Speaker 2: a brief mix. 41 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 3: Push early, a little bit of a. 42 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 2: Attempting push from the Knicks late, but the Pacers consistently 43 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 2: demonstrated themselves to be the better team tonight, as they 44 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 2: have for the majority of this series. We're gonna break 45 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 2: that game down from the perspective of both teams. We're 46 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 2: going to talk Jackson has a theory that he's higher 47 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 2: on the Indiana Pacers and their chances against Oklahoma City 48 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 2: than I am. So I thought that would make fun 49 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 2: grounds for a debate, So we'll have a little debate 50 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 2: in the middle section of the show as we talk 51 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 2: about a potential NBA Finals matchup between the Pacers and 52 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 2: the Thunder, and then at the tail end of the show, 53 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 2: we'll take five to ten minutes of questions. Any big 54 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 2: picture questions you guys have regarding either series, we can 55 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: get to them at that point. And then when we 56 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 2: wrap up here tonight, we'll be heading over to playback again. 57 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 2: That's playback dot TV slash oops tonight. Hey, callers, we 58 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 2: watch film. It's informal. We just have fun. We just 59 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,799 Speaker 2: talk hoops. It's a fun little community we're building over there, 60 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 2: so make sure you guys follow us over there when 61 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:09,919 Speaker 2: we finish up tonight. You guys have the job before 62 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 2: we get started. Subscribe to the Hoops Tonight YouTube channels. 63 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 2: You don't miss any more any more of our videos. 64 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 2: Follow me on Twitter, Yeah, Underscore JSNLTC, you guys don't 65 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,119 Speaker 2: miss show announcements. Don't forget about a podcast feed where 66 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 2: you get your podcast on our Hoops Tonight. It's also 67 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 2: super helpful if you leave your rating inter review on 68 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 2: that front. Jackson's doing great work on our social media 69 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 2: feeds on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Make sure you 70 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 2: guys follow us there. In the last but not least, 71 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 2: keep dropping mail back questions in the chat so we 72 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 2: can get to them at the tail end of the 73 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 2: show tonight. All right, let's talk some basketball. So one 74 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 2: of the things to credit the Nicks one of the 75 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 2: things that they did at the end of Game three 76 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 2: which I have not seen often in this postseason run, 77 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 2: aside from Game three, ironically of the Cavs series, where 78 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 2: Max Strews started. You know, he had been the Calves 79 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 2: had been in intentionally denying Tyrese Haliburton throughout the series, 80 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 2: but Strews just did a way better job of it 81 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 2: in Game three, and it kind of just threw the 82 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 2: the Pacers out of whack and they had a really 83 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 2: weird night. But for the most part, there's like a 84 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 2: pace and an energy and a flow to Indiana's offense 85 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 2: that is pretty consistent. Like one of the biggest theories 86 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 2: that I leaned on in terms of me picking Indiana 87 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:18,239 Speaker 2: to beat the Knicks, I wasn't sure necessarily which team 88 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 2: had the higher ceiling, like when things were really going 89 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 2: well for either team. It kind of felt coin flippy 90 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 2: to me. But I just trusted the Pacers to more 91 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 2: frequently be at their best than I trusted the knixt team, 92 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 2: and that made it a relatively easy pick for me 93 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 2: relative to some of the other more, you know, kind 94 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,720 Speaker 2: of confusing series that we've seen in this postseason run. 95 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 2: But to the next credit. In Game three, in that 96 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 2: fourth quarter, we saw a Pacers offense that didn't look 97 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 2: like the Pacers offense, as the ball wasn't moving around there. 98 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 2: They lacked that pace and flow in transition kind of 99 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 2: turned into some iffy isolation possessions and it just kind 100 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 2: of felt like they lost their character a little bit, 101 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 2: and Tyre's Halliburton had zero interest in letting that phenomenon 102 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 2: extend into the start of Game four, immediately coming out 103 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 2: the gates, bringing that energy, bringing that flow. I thought 104 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 2: stan Van Gundy had an interesting point in the broadcast 105 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 2: talking about how the point guard is the guy that 106 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 2: really pushes his team to run, not necessarily the coach. Now, 107 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 2: I don't necessarily agree with that assertion, because we've seen 108 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 2: coaches make teams run more. I mean, frankly this year, 109 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,160 Speaker 2: just Kenny Atkinson and what he did with the Cavs 110 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 2: got them to run more than they did in years past. 111 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 2: But I do think it's a combination of both. And 112 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 2: I think the way I would kind of like tweak 113 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:38,559 Speaker 2: that take from stan Van Gundhy is I would say 114 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 2: your point guard can supersede, or I would even say 115 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:47,919 Speaker 2: your point guard, you're superstar. Your foundational offensive folkrum can 116 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 2: overcome any sort of coaching roster circumstance and get guys 117 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 2: to run, and get guys to take on their identity 118 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 2: as an offensive player. That's why over the years, we 119 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 2: saw so many many different types of players thrive alongside 120 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 2: Steph Curry, so many different types of players like we've 121 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 2: seen now in recent years, guys like guys that weren't 122 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 2: on older versions of the Nuggets. Guys like Peyton Watson, 123 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 2: guys like Christian Brown, guys like Russell Westbrook that have 124 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 2: thrived with him and with Lebron James. Just every single 125 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 2: guy who can knock down to catch and shoot jump 126 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 2: shot and is smart and knows how to be in 127 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 2: the right place. They those guys just seem to fit 128 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 2: with Lebron and do it well. I think that you 129 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 2: can have an offensive folkrum that can kind of inject 130 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 2: life into an offense irrespective of your coach. And I thought, 131 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 2: you know, Tyrs Haliburton in many ways is the identity 132 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 2: of this Pacers team. And even going back to some 133 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 2: of the stretches in last year's postseason when they looked bad, 134 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 2: a lot of it had to center around Halliburton kind 135 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,280 Speaker 2: of just going passive for various reasons, whether it was 136 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 2: you know, obviously he wasn't the same athlete last year 137 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 2: that he was this year because of his hamstring injury. 138 00:06:56,080 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 2: But similarly, the instances of bal denial that we've that 139 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 2: have taken him in his kind of like flow out 140 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 2: of games and how it can impact the Pacers. But 141 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 2: at this phase of his career, he's far more consistently engaged. 142 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 2: He's far more consistently bringing that you know, kind of 143 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 2: like assertion on the offensive end, and those stretches have 144 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 2: been few and far between. Like when we watched the 145 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 2: Pacers at the end of Game three, that was weird. 146 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 2: That was unusual for a team that has consistently been 147 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 2: firing on all cylinders in this postseason run. Similarly, in 148 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 2: that Cavs game, it's like, oh, that's really weird. Well, 149 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 2: they came out in Game four and hung eighty points 150 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 2: in the first half. So there's just like a relentless 151 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 2: kind of identity to this basketball team. And I do 152 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 2: think it stems from Halliburton. I do think he's the 153 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 2: driving force. Generally speaking, these kinds of players. Speaking back 154 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 2: to Tyrese Haliburton and his pushback against him being the 155 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:52,239 Speaker 2: most over overrated player in the league, I generally think 156 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 2: that advantage creators are underrated in the NBA. Yes, I'm 157 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 2: saying even guys like step even guys like Lebron, even 158 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 2: guys like the outside of their fan bases, there's a 159 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 2: reason why those fan bases scream about it all the time. 160 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 2: There's a reason why why Denver fans are constantly trying 161 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 2: to tell you about Jokic and what he does. There's 162 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 2: a reason why Steph fans are doing that with Steph. 163 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 2: There's a reason why Lebron fans are doing that with Lebron. 164 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 2: There's a reason why Luca fans are doing that with Luca. Because, 165 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 2: flat out, when you have an offensive player that can 166 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 2: create advantages, putting your role players in a situation where 167 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 2: instead of facing a set defender, they have someone sprinting 168 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 2: at them, or they're operating in an opening, every player 169 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 2: in the NBA becomes like four times as good as 170 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 2: they are when they don't get to operate within an advantage. 171 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 2: It is arguably the most important trait that any basketball 172 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 2: player can bring to the table. It is why I 173 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:45,439 Speaker 2: have always been drawn to offensive engines more than I've 174 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 2: been drawn to like kind of the stereotypical two way 175 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:50,719 Speaker 2: score type of player. The type of player that can 176 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 2: consistently set his teammates up with advantages is going to 177 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:58,719 Speaker 2: make life easier in every phase of the game. And 178 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 2: Tyres is just one of the best at it. Even 179 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 2: when we looked at the down the stretch part of 180 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 2: this game, like there's a when the Knicks made that 181 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 2: run and they cut it down to I think they 182 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 2: got it down as close as five if I remember correctly. 183 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 2: Before Siakam hits a three in the right corner is 184 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 2: like four or five points something like that. All it 185 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 2: is is like Haliburton brings the ball to the floor 186 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 2: with's pace, Nemhard comes into a guard guard screen, slips 187 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 2: out of it, and two people linger on the ball 188 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 2: on Haliburton for just a split second. Haliburton just pitches 189 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 2: it over the top, and when Nemhard catches it, the 190 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:30,680 Speaker 2: guy closing out on him is closing out behind his 191 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 2: right shoulder, and so he's like, oh shit, I got 192 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 2: a driving lane, and so he just goes down into 193 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 2: the lane. And as he's going down in the lane, oh, 194 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 2: Janodobi has no choice but to step over. He's the 195 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 2: low man. So he's the guy that has to step 196 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 2: over and be in help easy extra pass to Passcalciakam 197 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 2: in the right corner knocks down the three. That ends 198 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 2: up being a monstrously important shot in this game. Zero 199 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 2: mention of that in the box score. That's a Nemhard 200 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 2: assist and a Siakam catches shoot three. There is no 201 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 2: mention of that in the box score or for Tyre's 202 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:06,079 Speaker 2: Halliburton advantage creators are vastly underrated because if you look 203 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 2: at the box score, it's not going to account for 204 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,319 Speaker 2: the simple fact that they lean the defense towards them 205 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 2: and various and each player has done it in a 206 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:15,679 Speaker 2: different way. Haliburton does it different than Yoki jokicch does 207 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 2: it different than step Steph does it different than Luca 208 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 2: or Lebron in the past. These guys all do it 209 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 2: in different ways, but it more or less manifests an 210 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:27,559 Speaker 2: advantage creation. The Tyres Haliburton layup that he had down 211 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:31,079 Speaker 2: the stretch right after the Siakam three, they just ran 212 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:33,959 Speaker 2: a guard guard screen and the guard lingered too long 213 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 2: and it blew the play up and led to a 214 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 2: wide open three for Siakam. So what happens on the 215 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 2: very next guard guard screen. Brunson throws a half hearted 216 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 2: hedge because he's hesitant to leave his shooter, and Haliburton 217 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:47,199 Speaker 2: just turns the corner. What's the advantage there? The advantage 218 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 2: is the guy who's guarding him has to get through 219 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 2: a screen with no help, and he's just he's gonna 220 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 2: have a hard time keeping in front of a fast 221 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 2: guard like Tyres Haliburton like that, but that is a 222 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:01,439 Speaker 2: reward for the fact that Tyres Halliburton's so religiously makes 223 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 2: those reads over and over and over again, and it 224 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 2: kind of manifests the identity of this roster. Even the 225 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 2: Miles Turner foul where he draws the foul late wasn't 226 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 2: even a Haliburton action, it was an Aram Nemhart action. 227 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 2: But they he comes off the screen, Karl Anthony Towns 228 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 2: has to step up to contest. As a result, Miles 229 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 2: Turner is diving to the basket with McHale Bridges trying 230 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 2: to box him out, and so even though Siakam doesn't 231 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 2: get the rebound, he just kind of taps at it. 232 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:30,439 Speaker 2: It leaves a situation where all of a sudden, this 233 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 2: skinny six seven dude is trying to deal with the 234 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 2: starting center for the Indiana Pacers and he's just going 235 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 2: to go get an offensive rebound. Advantage creation is a 236 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:41,960 Speaker 2: thing that doesn't manifest in the box score in that case, 237 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 2: androw Nemhart coming off of a screen that doesn't show 238 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 2: as an assist if it shows as a missed field 239 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 2: goal like is a negative thing on his box score. 240 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 2: But because he came off of that action with pace, 241 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 2: because he set his man up for the screen and 242 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:56,440 Speaker 2: got separation, he was able to force a switch that 243 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 2: led to a different kind of advantage. Miles Turner inside 244 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 2: poss against a skinny small McKale bridges Key playing the game, 245 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 2: he gets to the foul line. Advantage creation is underrated, 246 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 2: and I think we don't talk about it nearly enough. 247 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 2: And there's a reason why. That type of player is 248 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,560 Speaker 2: the type of player that I find myself gravitating towards. 249 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 2: And with Tyris Haliburton, you know, like he's kind of 250 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 2: another one of those guys similar to Jason Tatum, where 251 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 2: like there's kind of two versions of him on any 252 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 2: given night, there's like the star version of him, and 253 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 2: then there's like the superstar version of him. And similarly 254 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 2: with Tatum, the superstar version of Tyres Haliburton comes from 255 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 2: when the jump shot is going in, when he's being 256 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 2: aggressive as a scorer. He impacts the game at a 257 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 2: level as high as the very best players in the NBA. 258 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 2: Now his floor is high. His advantage creation is such 259 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 2: a valuable tool that he can be the eighth or 260 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 2: ninth best player in the league averaging eighteen points and 261 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 2: nine assists. Right, that's a pretty innocuous box score. Now again, 262 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 2: that box score is underrating the impact that he brings. 263 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:02,960 Speaker 2: But that is still a star level player with a 264 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 2: stat line more in line with what you see from 265 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 2: the forty to forty fifth best player in the league. Right, 266 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:12,280 Speaker 2: that's the advantage creation piece. That's the floor for Tyres Haliburton. 267 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 2: When he brings the shooting, when he's knocking down those 268 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:18,560 Speaker 2: threes coming off of ball screens, when he's knocking down 269 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:20,960 Speaker 2: those mid range pull ups coming off of ball screens, 270 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 2: when he's taking Miles Turner er, excuse me, when he's 271 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 2: taking Karl Anthony Towns or Mitchell Robinson out on a 272 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 2: switch and hitting a three in their face, or Jalen 273 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:31,320 Speaker 2: Brunson and hitting a three in his face that switch beating. 274 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 2: That is the top end of him as a score. 275 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 2: And when he does all of that stuff, they react 276 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 2: to his shooting, which gets him the driving lanes. That's 277 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 2: when he starts getting into the basket and he's actually 278 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:44,840 Speaker 2: like a pretty good downhill athlete. Him and TJ. McConnell 279 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 2: kind of remind me of each other in that sense 280 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 2: where they are just constantly playing downhill. And so even 281 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 2: though they may not be the first step athletes that 282 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 2: you see like Anthony Edwards, they are athletes that generate 283 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:03,320 Speaker 2: advantage with pace moving all the time, and they capitalize 284 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 2: on the defense letting go of the rope in that 285 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 2: perpetual motion that they bring to the table. But awesome 286 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 2: night from Tyree Saliburton just just one of those iconic 287 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:15,440 Speaker 2: performances in his career. Thirty two points, twelve rebounds, fifteen assists. 288 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:17,680 Speaker 2: And here's the thing, doesn't turn the dam basketball over. 289 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 2: He's less than two turnovers per game in this entire 290 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 2: postseason run. I think he has twenty seven turnovers in 291 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 2: fourteen games. Like that is not only is that going 292 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 2: to be vitally important for a potential Oklahoma City Thunder series, 293 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 2: which we're about to debate with Jackson here in a 294 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 2: few minutes, that is just preposterous considering the usage, the 295 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 2: types of difficult passes that he's making. There's like these 296 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,480 Speaker 2: jump passes, these double pump passes. He had this pass 297 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 2: where he got caught in between reads and like at 298 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 2: the last second, like he looked at Miles Turner on 299 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 2: a roll, decided not to pass to him, looked over 300 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 2: to the side, then looked back to Turner and like 301 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 2: floated a perfect pass against a three quarter front that 302 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 2: just barely got over the defender's fingertips and just fed 303 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 2: Miles Turner in or a layup, and it was like 304 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 2: all while he was in mid air, it was just 305 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 2: an unbelievable pass. Like the kinds of difficult skip passes, 306 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 2: swing passes, the kinds of off the dribble passes that 307 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 2: he throws to not turn the basketball over is truly remarkable. 308 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 2: And you know, if you if you haven't been exposed 309 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 2: to Tyres Halliburton and what he's capable of, and I 310 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 2: don't know how you wouldn't be. He's hit what two 311 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 2: or three game winners in this postseason or you know 312 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 2: the obviously the Knicks game wasn't a game winner, but 313 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 2: a shot that effectively put them in position to win 314 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 2: the game. He's been between the nd season tournament run 315 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 2: that he had last year, even the conference finals run 316 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 2: last year, which didn't really showcase his high end scoring 317 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 2: as often as it could have been, but it showcase 318 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 2: a lot of what his playmaking talent is. This is 319 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 2: this was a crash course for anybody who hasn't really 320 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 2: been around the pacers to understand just how gifted a 321 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 2: ceiling Tyrese Haliburton has. Aaron Ei Smith, I want to 322 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 2: talk about a couple other pacers and Den we'll talk 323 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 2: a little bit big picture on the series and then 324 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 2: we'll get to Jackson in our NBA Finals preview, so 325 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 2: I thought, aaron Ne Smith, you know, this is the 326 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 2: wear and tear impact that he brings to the table 327 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 2: with his ball pressure. There have been stretches in this 328 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 2: series where Brunson has scored on him and made it 329 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 2: look easy, right. There are even a couple possessions tonight 330 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 2: where he scored on him and made it look easy. 331 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 2: But he's a big, strong, physical point of attack defender 332 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 2: that never stops coming at you, never stops picking me 333 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 2: up full court, never start like you know, we've talked 334 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 2: a lot about body angles with respect to Jada McDaniels 335 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 2: and the Shae Gilds Alexander matchup, and kind of like 336 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 2: opening up his stance and like creating these easy driving lanes. 337 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 2: You watched Nee Smith. He is squared up with punts 338 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 2: in every time. He's like, you're not gonna get an 339 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 2: easy drive. You're going to have to shake me. You're 340 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 2: gonna have to get way off to that. You're gonna 341 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 2: have to go way around me, or you're gonna have 342 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 2: to break me down with the move because I'm squared 343 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 2: up and I'm right in your chest and I'm right 344 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 2: in your face the entire time, flying over screens and 345 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 2: refusing to give up those switches. In that fourth quarter, 346 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:06,679 Speaker 2: Brunson was like a non factor offensively as they leaned 347 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:10,680 Speaker 2: on those crazy running catch and shoot Michale Bridges threes, 348 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:13,479 Speaker 2: which haven't gone in all postseason outside of a handful 349 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 2: of times. I don't understand why that was such a 350 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:20,119 Speaker 2: high volume option for the Nick Slate, Like there was 351 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,880 Speaker 2: a lack of assertion, a lack of aggression from Brunson 352 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 2: that I would credit Aaron Ee Smith with. I think 353 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 2: he worked. I think he's Warren Brunson down over the 354 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 2: course of the series, and for the first time in 355 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 2: this entire postseason, to my recollection, we had a crunch 356 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 2: time period where Jalen Brunson was a non factor or 357 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 2: at least not a factor in a good way, and 358 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 2: so I just wanted to credit Aeronie Smith for his defense. 359 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 2: Ben Matherin. We've talked about Ben Matherin a lot over 360 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 2: the course of this postseason run as being one of 361 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:52,159 Speaker 2: the more high volume scorers for Indiana relative to the 362 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 2: minutes that he plays, and he's had a rough series, 363 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 2: but like one of the things I talked about before 364 00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 2: the series is like he doesn't put up, you know, 365 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 2: massive box score numbers per se, but on a per 366 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:05,360 Speaker 2: minute basis. Coming into the series, he was the highest 367 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:10,120 Speaker 2: score for the Pacers per thirty six coming into the 368 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:13,119 Speaker 2: to the Eastern Conference Finals in just twelve minutes of 369 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:18,400 Speaker 2: play tonight, twenty points. With his downhill athleticism as a slasher, 370 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:21,440 Speaker 2: as a cutter, as a transition threat, as an offensive 371 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 2: rebounder crasher, there were offensive rebounds that he didn't even 372 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 2: get but that he caused just by virtue of being 373 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 2: a wrecking ball flying downhill into the lane. He was 374 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:34,160 Speaker 2: profoundly impactful in this game and probably was a little 375 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 2: bit of a palate cleanser for him after what was 376 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 2: a rough series up to this point. The Knicks have 377 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 2: the ability to play well in this matchup. I was 378 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 2: thinking about it during that first half run when they 379 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 2: rotate and they keep Indiana in front, and they chase 380 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:52,679 Speaker 2: him off the three point line and they force him 381 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:56,200 Speaker 2: to play one on one. More often than not, they 382 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 2: can have moments where they control the series because Brunson 383 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 2: and Kat are like better one on one players. They're 384 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 2: they're they're better at just like breaking down the defense 385 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 2: when the defense is rotated and loaded up right, like 386 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 2: when they when they when there isn't that easy opening, 387 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 2: And so you'll see these stretches where it's like, oh, man, 388 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 2: the Knicks got three four stops in a row, and 389 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:17,400 Speaker 2: it's like two brunts and floaters and a cat driving 390 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:19,919 Speaker 2: and one and or a draws a double team that 391 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:22,439 Speaker 2: gets swung around, and all of a sudden, you're like, man, 392 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:25,640 Speaker 2: the Knicks are moving a little bit. But again, they 393 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:29,360 Speaker 2: just cannot sustain that at any point in this series, 394 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 2: not in any real way. It's like they'll have these 395 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 2: quarters and bursts. And by the way, that's what it 396 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,800 Speaker 2: was like in the Celtics series. It was like short 397 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 2: bursts of greatness that put them over the top. Same 398 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 2: thing in the Pistons series. There were two games in 399 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:45,680 Speaker 2: that series where the Pistons had control in the fourth 400 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 2: quarter and lost it because of a Knicks burst like 401 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 2: they're they're burst their ceiling. As I mentioned at off 402 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:53,679 Speaker 2: the top of the show, you could argue the Knicks 403 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 2: ceiling is every bit as high as the Pacers, maybe 404 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:59,679 Speaker 2: even higher depending on who you ask, right, but like, 405 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 2: it doesn't matter if you can't sustain, and the Indiana 406 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 2: Pacers play like the Pacers far more than the Knicks 407 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 2: play like the best version of themselves way too often tonight, 408 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 2: just not picking up the ball in transition, giving up 409 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:14,640 Speaker 2: an easy swing pass and transition for a three bad 410 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 2: floor balance leading to a leak out one on one 411 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:21,720 Speaker 2: opportunity where Shiacham's just just you know, laying one or 412 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 2: two counter moves against the back pedaling defender and getting 413 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:27,399 Speaker 2: an easy layup or botching coverages. There was like a 414 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 2: stretch at the beginning of the game where the Pacers 415 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 2: just had to run a three man action of any kind, 416 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 2: whether it was like a stack pick and roll or 417 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 2: a wedge pick and roll or something along those lines, 418 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 2: or double drag, and just like whatever they did, it 419 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 2: just there was a dude wide open at the three 420 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:42,680 Speaker 2: point line, whether it was the ball handler because no 421 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 2: one picked him up, or they switched the ball handler 422 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:47,159 Speaker 2: but left one of the screeners slipping, Like the attention 423 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:49,679 Speaker 2: to detail on defense all season long for the Knicks 424 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 2: wasn't there, and when they needed it to be there 425 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 2: for them in this postseason run, it wasn't there. And ultimately, 426 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 2: if you're gonna win in the postseason at the highest level, 427 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,159 Speaker 2: you've got to be more disciplined in detail or and 428 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 2: to defense. The Knicks worn't, and that's gonna be the 429 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:05,359 Speaker 2: thing that stands in the way this year. The series 430 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 2: is over because the Knicks need to win three games 431 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 2: in a row and the Pacers are just flatly a 432 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:15,959 Speaker 2: better basketball team, Like there's no there's no bit of 433 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 2: information we've received at any point this season that would 434 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:20,439 Speaker 2: lead me to believe that the Knicks could sustain the 435 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:22,440 Speaker 2: level they need to sustain to beat the Pacers three 436 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 2: times in a row. I'd only give them about a 437 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:27,679 Speaker 2: thirty percent chance to win Game five. That's a good chance. 438 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:30,159 Speaker 2: I wouldn't be surprised necessarily if the Knicks won in 439 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 2: Game five. But the problem is, historically my experience, teams 440 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 2: that seem to lack belief in their ability to actually win, 441 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 2: like they don't actually think they can go on the 442 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 2: road and win, then they'll end up punting because why 443 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:50,720 Speaker 2: and just emotionally mentally involuntarily punting it, not quitting, but 444 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 2: just there's a natural like do we really want to 445 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 2: like grind out this big game five so that we 446 00:21:57,600 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 2: can go back to India and get or ass kicked. 447 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 2: There's like a little bit of there's a little bit 448 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:04,920 Speaker 2: of that kind of natural oh man, like we can't 449 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 2: actually beat these guys. I've seen it a few times 450 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:09,320 Speaker 2: in this postseason where you just see a team that 451 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:11,680 Speaker 2: just like they feel like they blew their chance to 452 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,360 Speaker 2: win the series. And yeah, they have their home game 453 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 2: with a chance to extend the series, but what's the point, 454 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:18,400 Speaker 2: you know? So again, we're going to find out about 455 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 2: the Knicks and their basketball character if they win in 456 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:22,760 Speaker 2: Game five, and it'll tell us a lot about whether 457 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 2: or not they want to go home or if they 458 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:27,240 Speaker 2: want to, you know, go on vacation, if they want 459 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:28,480 Speaker 2: to go on vacation, or if they want to try 460 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:30,680 Speaker 2: to win this thing. And uh, and I give them 461 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:33,200 Speaker 2: certainly a chance. But I my guess right now is 462 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 2: that the Pacers close this out in five. I think 463 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 2: the Knicks have had their motivations app after what was 464 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:42,399 Speaker 2: a disappointing h end to this particular game. 465 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:47,160 Speaker 1: Blending Vice's signature dynamic storytelling with the high octane world 466 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:50,640 Speaker 1: of sports, Vice Sports brings an exciting and diverse range 467 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:53,360 Speaker 1: of programming that goes beyond the game. From action pack 468 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:56,640 Speaker 1: live events to gripping behind the scenes documentaries to hard 469 00:22:56,720 --> 00:23:01,640 Speaker 1: hitting investigative pieces and in depth profiles of athletes, coaches, teams. 470 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 1: Vice Sports captures the raw energy, drama, and passion that 471 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 1: makes sports truly unforgettable. Catch live events and other exclusive 472 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:13,680 Speaker 1: sports programs only on Vice TV. Go to vicetv dot 473 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:16,119 Speaker 1: com to find your cable channel. 474 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:19,919 Speaker 2: All right, guys, we're gonna bring Jackson on. So what 475 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:24,119 Speaker 2: I would like to do here, because Jackson has put 476 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 2: a great deal of thought into this, I want to 477 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 2: just get Jackson's take. Basically, the idea is to set 478 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:31,479 Speaker 2: the stage. I have said on the show that I 479 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:34,639 Speaker 2: think the Thunder would beat up on the Pacers or 480 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:37,480 Speaker 2: the Knicks if they went to the finals. And we've 481 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:39,800 Speaker 2: had some discussion about it on the show centering around 482 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:42,879 Speaker 2: game plan, which I'm sure Jackson will mention, but I 483 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 2: am like leaning towards OKC and five, maybe even four. 484 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:49,679 Speaker 2: So I want to give. I want to give Jackson 485 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:51,520 Speaker 2: a chance to make the case for why he thinks 486 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:53,880 Speaker 2: at least you're you're I'm guessing you're saying, at least 487 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 2: you expect a longer, more competitive series. 488 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, I do think okay, se should be a substantial favorite, 489 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 4: and I would pick them to win the series. I 490 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,639 Speaker 4: just think that the Patriots have a chance, have a 491 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 4: build of a team and have some key attributes that 492 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 4: make them potentially able to give the Thunder some problems 493 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:14,679 Speaker 4: to win a few games. 494 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:16,479 Speaker 3: And it mainly comes down to three things. 495 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:20,640 Speaker 4: One they They and Haliburton in general, as we've discussed 496 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 4: a lot, do not turn the basketball over. 497 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:24,200 Speaker 3: They are bottom five. 498 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:26,960 Speaker 4: In the league and you know team turnovers on offensive 499 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 4: turnovers and Halle you know fifteen assist no turnovers tonight 500 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:34,080 Speaker 4: is evidence of how lethal that can be, especially against 501 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 4: a team like the Thunder that forces if the most 502 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 4: turnovers in the league, play thrives in transition. 503 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 3: As we've discussed. 504 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:42,159 Speaker 4: Second thing, the Pacers. I haven't seen a team in 505 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 4: a while that are this committed to punishing smalls in 506 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:50,960 Speaker 4: switches with with with player who's not their best their 507 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 4: lead guy. Right, most teams they get a switch. They 508 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 4: want to take Brunston and have him go against whoever 509 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:57,200 Speaker 4: your worst defender is, Tatum, have him. 510 00:24:57,080 --> 00:24:58,600 Speaker 3: Go against where They're like, no, we don't even care. 511 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:02,639 Speaker 4: We don't need Halle to iso kat. If we got Pascal, 512 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 4: if Brunton is guarding passcal and to switch, we're going 513 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:06,359 Speaker 4: to give him. 514 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 3: The ball over and over and over and over and over. 515 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:11,879 Speaker 4: They are so so committed to it, it's it's really 516 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:17,480 Speaker 4: it's really impressive. And the third thing is they this 517 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:20,400 Speaker 4: is sort of more of a game plan potentially specific 518 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:24,640 Speaker 4: things as we've discussed, depending on how Okac guards. The 519 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 4: Pacers move the ball as well as any team this season, 520 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 4: as well as any team I can remember in the 521 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 4: last you know, since maybe the Warriors, they move that frickin' 522 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:38,560 Speaker 4: basketball and the Okac Thunder in their normal defense that 523 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 4: they run that they haven't really changed to this point. 524 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:43,640 Speaker 3: Maybe they'll change against Indiana, but they haven't really changed much. 525 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 4: They that's how you beat them is with is with 526 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:48,960 Speaker 4: a lot of passes, a lot of ball ball movement, 527 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:51,200 Speaker 4: getting your advantage and saying we want to we get 528 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:53,560 Speaker 4: our first advantage, Let's find the best possiblesh out that we. 529 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 3: Can get out of that advantage. 530 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 4: Now, if the Thunder change up their defensive game plan 531 00:25:57,880 --> 00:25:59,679 Speaker 4: and say, just score as many points as you can 532 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:02,879 Speaker 4: Tyree Taliburton, that you know, changes the calculus a little bit. 533 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:07,680 Speaker 4: But it feels like the Pacers have offensively, at least theoretically, 534 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:11,240 Speaker 4: have some of the things that are required to beat 535 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:14,080 Speaker 4: a defense as good as the Thunders great breakdown. 536 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 2: I think the thing that you hit on that is 537 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:20,680 Speaker 2: especially important is the way that the Pacers attack switches. 538 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:23,400 Speaker 2: It's different than what like Tatum and Brown were doing. 539 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:27,359 Speaker 2: They're not like, oh, we have this six foot tall 540 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:30,240 Speaker 2: guy in space, let me face him up from twenty 541 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 2: four feet from the basket. It's like, it's no like 542 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 2: Turner in particular, is like beating switches at the rim. 543 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:40,879 Speaker 2: Like at the rim, He's like, it's whether it's an 544 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:43,160 Speaker 2: offensive rebound or it's put a deep seal, it's at 545 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:46,240 Speaker 2: the rim. And then Siakam will occasionally go to like 546 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:48,240 Speaker 2: a right shoulder fader, a left shoulder fade, but he's 547 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:52,480 Speaker 2: attacking those mismatches very close to the rim, and that 548 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:55,399 Speaker 2: is going to be a key part there. Now, the 549 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:59,800 Speaker 2: let's go through some of the specifics. So the the 550 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:03,600 Speaker 2: passing the ball through Oklahoma City's defense. Part. This is 551 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:06,960 Speaker 2: where it gets fascinating because I actually do think there's 552 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 2: a solid chance that Marked I trust Mark Dagenel as 553 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 2: a very smart basketball coach to know that what Denver did, 554 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 2: what Minnesota has done in terms of sagging and forcing 555 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:22,679 Speaker 2: Shaye to shoot over the top and to make passing 556 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:26,679 Speaker 2: reads is the best way. Uh it excuse me with 557 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 2: the uh, with the with these other teams and how 558 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 2: they have been really aggressive for it, aggressive against like Minnesota, 559 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 2: like picking up ant full court, uh, making them pass 560 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 2: against blitzes in ball pressure and Julius Randall getting double 561 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:45,200 Speaker 2: teamed on every post up like that worked against them. 562 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:48,400 Speaker 2: And I think he knows that Indiana is a better 563 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:51,200 Speaker 2: passing team that doesn't turn the basketball over. But I 564 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:55,840 Speaker 2: trust Dagonall to know that it may not be the 565 00:27:55,880 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 2: best game plan. But I also wouldn't be surprised if 566 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,840 Speaker 2: he tried it anyway. I wouldn't be surprised if he was, like, 567 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:07,119 Speaker 2: let's just see if they shit their pants, you know, like, 568 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:11,120 Speaker 2: let's Halliburton's never played in the finals before. Let's give 569 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:13,960 Speaker 2: him lou Dort physical defense at the point of attack. 570 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:17,679 Speaker 2: Let's just see what happens, right, And I think the 571 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:20,440 Speaker 2: main key there is going to be if Indiana does 572 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:23,560 Speaker 2: have success against it, will he pivot quickly? Now to 573 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:26,520 Speaker 2: your point about having it be a longer series, Let's 574 00:28:26,560 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 2: say that they come out in game one and it's 575 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:33,439 Speaker 2: four aggressive overhelp leaving week side skips open and the 576 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:37,440 Speaker 2: Pacers steel game one. Then there's a really good chance 577 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 2: this goes six because then we're probably getting at least two, 578 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 2: if not three, Indiana home games. And I wouldn't be 579 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 2: shocked if they got one of those games, and now 580 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:48,920 Speaker 2: it's a six game series. So to your point, like 581 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:52,280 Speaker 2: that that I can see absolutely playing a role. My 582 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 2: main contention is that if he does make the game 583 00:28:57,280 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 2: plan change, so again you load up alongside Tyres, Haliburton 584 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 2: is just rifling skip passes over the top. They're playing 585 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 2: with an advantage. I do think with the double two. 586 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 2: I do think with the post ups and the switch 587 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:13,560 Speaker 2: attacking with Turner and Siakam, I think that he'll double. 588 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 2: I think that he'll double immediately, and I think it'll 589 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:19,480 Speaker 2: be a bigger challenge for Siakam and Turner to deal 590 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:21,240 Speaker 2: with those double teams than it is in some of 591 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:24,080 Speaker 2: these other matchups. I mean to put it simply, we've 592 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:27,600 Speaker 2: seen a lot of people, including Jokic kind of like 593 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 2: fall apart. Jogs had a three game stretch where he 594 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 2: was bad against Okay see, so like there's a certain 595 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:36,600 Speaker 2: there's a certain amount of that there too. My main 596 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:40,880 Speaker 2: contention is that inevitably, I think this series devolves down 597 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:44,920 Speaker 2: to we're staying home regarding Haliburton one on one, were 598 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:48,240 Speaker 2: guarding actions two on two, three man actions, three on three, 599 00:29:48,320 --> 00:29:52,240 Speaker 2: we're communicating through switches, We're switching everything. You try scoring 600 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:54,680 Speaker 2: on us one on one over and over again, and 601 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:57,520 Speaker 2: they're just not the team that's gonna make as many 602 00:29:57,560 --> 00:30:01,000 Speaker 2: mistakes as the Knicks made. And that that's where I 603 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,280 Speaker 2: think it gets a little. It gets a little tricky. 604 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 2: But to your point, all it takes is Oklahoma City 605 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 2: bringing their base game plan, Halliburton passing through it, not 606 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:13,080 Speaker 2: turning the ball over uh Siakam, and Turner doing damage 607 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:15,680 Speaker 2: against switches. You steal a game in Oka see early 608 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:18,800 Speaker 2: in the series before the game plan shifts, then all 609 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:20,760 Speaker 2: of a sudden, you win a game in Indiana off 610 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 2: the strength of your home crowd, and to your point, 611 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 2: anything can happen so if it's let's say it's two 612 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:29,280 Speaker 2: to two going back to Oklahoma City, what if Oklahoma 613 00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:31,720 Speaker 2: City shits their pants in a bunch of a bunch 614 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:34,840 Speaker 2: of big ways in the finals. That's a great point. 615 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:38,520 Speaker 2: So so yeah, I mean, so what do you think, 616 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:43,640 Speaker 2: like what, let me just put it to you this way. 617 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:48,000 Speaker 2: If you had to guess how okay See guards and 618 00:30:48,040 --> 00:30:51,240 Speaker 2: how quickly Mark Dagnall pivots, what would you expect to happen? 619 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:57,800 Speaker 4: I expect dort On Hollie to start both because he's 620 00:30:57,840 --> 00:31:00,760 Speaker 4: the best on ball defender option as well as he's 621 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:04,120 Speaker 4: so strong that you think you if you're the thunder, 622 00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 4: you're talking yourself into. We can survive a Pascal switch 623 00:31:07,680 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 4: on blue door if we feel like switching, we can 624 00:31:09,840 --> 00:31:12,000 Speaker 4: survive that. So I think that's sort of like the 625 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:14,400 Speaker 4: big question right away is are they going to switch 626 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 4: any of those pick and rolls with Siakam or anybody? 627 00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:19,560 Speaker 4: And do they feel comfortable with any any of their 628 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:22,520 Speaker 4: sort of wing guard defenders in those switches. 629 00:31:24,160 --> 00:31:26,200 Speaker 3: But it's going to be interesting to see. Okaysee has 630 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:28,560 Speaker 3: so many guys, they got so many defensive bodies. 631 00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:30,040 Speaker 4: They ran a lineup at one point in the second 632 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:32,360 Speaker 4: half yesterday that I don't think they do that often. 633 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:35,520 Speaker 4: They do sometimes where they had Cason Wallace Russo and 634 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 4: Dorton Mfloor at the same time, I'm like, what are 635 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:40,320 Speaker 4: you supposed to do as an offense when those three 636 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:41,240 Speaker 4: dudes are defending? 637 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:43,320 Speaker 3: You're one year two when you're three. It's like that 638 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 3: is that is terrifying. 639 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:49,040 Speaker 4: So that and I do think the doubling is going 640 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:52,800 Speaker 4: to happen for sure once Pascal and Miles inevitably, you know, 641 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:55,040 Speaker 4: punish some of those switches and we will see. It'll 642 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:58,960 Speaker 4: be very interesting to see if Aarony Smith can stay hot, 643 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:02,680 Speaker 4: he's very streaky shooter, and if Andrew Nemahard can can 644 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:06,160 Speaker 4: stay as playoff Klay Thompson because I looked at the 645 00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:08,560 Speaker 4: numbers the other day and he shoots something like thirty 646 00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:10,560 Speaker 4: two percent from three in the regular season and over 647 00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:13,280 Speaker 4: his career in the playoffs he's over fifty percent. So 648 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:15,240 Speaker 4: if he can keep hitting over fifty perent of their threes, 649 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:17,600 Speaker 4: like they got a shot for real or not even 650 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:18,760 Speaker 4: not a shot, but they got a shot to make 651 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:19,480 Speaker 4: it competitive. 652 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:20,920 Speaker 3: I think they got a chot to make competitive. If 653 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:21,840 Speaker 3: those guys. 654 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:25,840 Speaker 4: Can can be can can can be can knock down 655 00:32:25,880 --> 00:32:29,000 Speaker 4: more shots than Cason Wallace lou Dort. 656 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:31,640 Speaker 2: One of the things we haven't even talked about yet 657 00:32:32,040 --> 00:32:34,840 Speaker 2: that I think is worth mentioning. By the way, guys 658 00:32:34,960 --> 00:32:38,280 Speaker 2: like my I have not done any prep yet for 659 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:42,000 Speaker 2: this potential series, so I haven't watched gone back to 660 00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:45,640 Speaker 2: rewatch their regular season matchups. I could very well change 661 00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:48,840 Speaker 2: my mind. My initial gut feeling was that the Timberwolves 662 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:51,000 Speaker 2: had beat Oklahoma City. I gave him a slight edge 663 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:53,560 Speaker 2: in my initial gut feeling. Then I went to watch 664 00:32:53,600 --> 00:32:56,080 Speaker 2: the film and I was like, oh, like, I don't 665 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:57,880 Speaker 2: think they're gonna be able to get Julius Randall the 666 00:32:57,880 --> 00:32:59,640 Speaker 2: ball in places where he can score. And I don't 667 00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 2: think they're going to be able to go to n 668 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:03,880 Speaker 2: Osriy on the block. So you know, maybe I changed 669 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:07,280 Speaker 2: my mind after seeing some stuff the Let's talk through 670 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:09,520 Speaker 2: the Pacers on defense in this matchup for a second. 671 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 2: One of the things that I found interesting in the 672 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:18,320 Speaker 2: film of the Timberwolves Thunder series is Jada McDaniels has 673 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:22,440 Speaker 2: been awful on Shae, like straight up awful, Like this 674 00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:27,600 Speaker 2: the second straight year where he's been like straight up 675 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:32,240 Speaker 2: non effective on ball against a Star in the conference finals. Now, 676 00:33:32,920 --> 00:33:35,320 Speaker 2: my theory is is that it's matchup based in the 677 00:33:35,360 --> 00:33:38,040 Speaker 2: sense that I think Luca is way too big and 678 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:40,640 Speaker 2: strong for him, and I think Shay is too fast 679 00:33:40,720 --> 00:33:43,880 Speaker 2: for him. And so there's this other conversation to have, 680 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:46,880 Speaker 2: which is like our Wyery six to eight defensive wings 681 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:49,760 Speaker 2: just like not versatile enough to succeed in the postseason 682 00:33:50,560 --> 00:33:51,120 Speaker 2: if you're. 683 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:52,680 Speaker 3: Not strong enough for one guy and you're not quick 684 00:33:52,760 --> 00:33:53,360 Speaker 3: enough for another guy. 685 00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:56,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly, And like it's bad because, like I would argue, 686 00:33:56,960 --> 00:34:01,400 Speaker 2: those two series have swung on Jada complete inability to 687 00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:06,840 Speaker 2: make the Stars uncomfortable from the other team. But and 688 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:10,439 Speaker 2: then looking at the Pacers, it's probably gonna be Nie 689 00:34:10,480 --> 00:34:15,040 Speaker 2: Smith and Nie Smith, like we talked about earlier, Jayden 690 00:34:15,160 --> 00:34:16,640 Speaker 2: is we just we were talking about it in the show. 691 00:34:16,680 --> 00:34:19,800 Speaker 2: Like Jayden's stances have been so frustrating for me watching 692 00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:22,600 Speaker 2: on film as he's like conceding driving angles to Shay, 693 00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:25,799 Speaker 2: and I think Nie Smith, if he can square them up, 694 00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:28,800 Speaker 2: navigate screens well, keep him in front, force him to 695 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:31,240 Speaker 2: speed over the top shooter without them having to overdo 696 00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:33,680 Speaker 2: the help. But like there were a lot of stretches 697 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:38,760 Speaker 2: Intonight's game where the rotation, like the defensive backside rotations 698 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:41,680 Speaker 2: for the Pacers are super impressive. Siakim had three or 699 00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:44,200 Speaker 2: four crazy week side closeouts on og And Andobi where 700 00:34:44,239 --> 00:34:46,239 Speaker 2: he chased him off the line like an Og hit 701 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:48,759 Speaker 2: a fucking crazy step back over him on one of them, 702 00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:52,520 Speaker 2: but like his ability to help and then rotate there, 703 00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:56,120 Speaker 2: you could see I could talk myself into the Pacers 704 00:34:56,160 --> 00:34:59,680 Speaker 2: being an interesting defensive matchup for the Thunder because Turner 705 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:03,600 Speaker 2: can p the rim. Siakam's an excellent week sad rotational 706 00:35:03,640 --> 00:35:07,640 Speaker 2: player like even Halliburton I think is underrated as kind 707 00:35:07,640 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 2: of like a dude does his job on defense kind 708 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:12,320 Speaker 2: of guy. And then what if Neie Smith just slides 709 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:17,680 Speaker 2: his feet well and contains against Shay. I'm gonna go 710 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:22,280 Speaker 2: ahead and say, Jackson, that you've convinced me I think 711 00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:24,719 Speaker 2: that I think that the Pacers have a better chance 712 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:26,840 Speaker 2: to make it competitive against the Thunder. 713 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:29,000 Speaker 1: Uh. 714 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:31,960 Speaker 2: Then I was giving them credit for that, said, I 715 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:36,520 Speaker 2: would still be really surprised if they won the series. Uh. 716 00:35:36,719 --> 00:35:38,640 Speaker 2: But yeah, I think you're right about the fact that 717 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:41,160 Speaker 2: the Pacers are just a really good team that you 718 00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:44,279 Speaker 2: could argue just Indiana being in the right place all 719 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:46,920 Speaker 2: the time, as like a help and recover rotation team 720 00:35:47,239 --> 00:35:50,200 Speaker 2: will inherently cause a bunch of twenty two year olds 721 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:51,759 Speaker 2: to suck in the finals one night. 722 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:54,480 Speaker 4: So this is the other thing I was gonna say 723 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:56,799 Speaker 4: that I forgot. It does feel like because OKAC is 724 00:35:56,800 --> 00:35:59,319 Speaker 4: so smart and so fast, and they're so connected on 725 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:01,960 Speaker 4: both ends, and you really have to be well connected 726 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:05,239 Speaker 4: as a unit to beat them, which the Timberwolves are not. 727 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:08,440 Speaker 4: The Timberwolves are the farthest thing from well connected. They're 728 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:11,120 Speaker 4: very talented, but they got Julius Randa and Rudy Gobert. 729 00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:13,520 Speaker 4: They're not gonna be well connected, right And so I 730 00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:19,040 Speaker 4: think the Pacers are superly synergistically in flow right now, 731 00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:21,239 Speaker 4: and that is gonna go a long way against a 732 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:21,920 Speaker 4: team as smart. 733 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:24,719 Speaker 2: That's a good point. I think that. I think that 734 00:36:24,719 --> 00:36:27,680 Speaker 2: that is the key there is like they're older, they're 735 00:36:27,719 --> 00:36:32,359 Speaker 2: more experienced. They there's a version of this where they 736 00:36:32,480 --> 00:36:36,040 Speaker 2: just do all the right things in two NBA Finals 737 00:36:36,080 --> 00:36:38,239 Speaker 2: games and the twenty two year olds just kind of 738 00:36:38,280 --> 00:36:40,920 Speaker 2: struggle in the moment. So there's a version of that too. 739 00:36:40,960 --> 00:36:42,759 Speaker 2: And and to your point, like if they run and 740 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:44,520 Speaker 2: they move the ball, well, they're gonna get open threes, 741 00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:47,440 Speaker 2: especially against Oklahoma City's based game plan. It's gonna be interesting. 742 00:36:47,440 --> 00:36:49,600 Speaker 2: I'm excited to dive into the film. Obviously, we'll wait 743 00:36:49,680 --> 00:36:54,239 Speaker 2: until both series actually finish before we do that, but 744 00:36:54,280 --> 00:36:56,600 Speaker 2: that's gonna be. That's gonna be a really fascinating series. 745 00:36:56,640 --> 00:36:59,359 Speaker 2: I'm super interested in it. But Jackson, thanks for taking 746 00:36:59,360 --> 00:37:02,239 Speaker 2: the time to prep all of that. What do you 747 00:37:02,280 --> 00:37:04,120 Speaker 2: say we just head over the game to a playback? 748 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:06,480 Speaker 2: Sound good to you? Cool? All right, guys, That's all 749 00:37:06,520 --> 00:37:08,400 Speaker 2: we have for tonight is always been. Sincerely appreciate you 750 00:37:08,480 --> 00:37:10,680 Speaker 2: guys for supporting us and supporting the show. I'm headed 751 00:37:10,719 --> 00:37:14,160 Speaker 2: over to playback again. That's playback dot tv slash OOPS 752 00:37:14,160 --> 00:37:16,600 Speaker 2: tonight will be taking callers, taking questions, stuff like that. 753 00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:18,840 Speaker 2: As always, we appreciate you guys for supporting us and 754 00:37:18,880 --> 00:37:22,440 Speaker 2: supporting the show. We will see you tomorrow night for 755 00:37:22,680 --> 00:37:26,040 Speaker 2: Game five of the Thunder and the Timberwolves. What's up, guys? 756 00:37:26,080 --> 00:37:28,880 Speaker 2: As always, I appreciate you for listening to and supporting 757 00:37:28,880 --> 00:37:31,520 Speaker 2: OOPS tonight. They would actually be really helpful for us 758 00:37:31,520 --> 00:37:33,400 Speaker 2: if you guys would take a second and leave a 759 00:37:33,560 --> 00:37:36,080 Speaker 2: rating and a review. As always, I appreciate you guys 760 00:37:36,080 --> 00:37:37,719 Speaker 2: supporting us, but if you could take a minute to 761 00:37:37,719 --> 00:37:42,280 Speaker 2: do that, I'd really appreciate it. The volume