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Speaker 1: Dubb Dynasty as a production of iHeartMedia and the NBA.

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Speaker 2: With the second pick in the two thousand and seven

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Speaker 2: NBA Draft, the Seattle SuperSonics select Kevin Durant from the

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Speaker 2: University of Texas.

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Speaker 1: The realization of a dream.

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Speaker 3: This young man from Switzerland, Maryland, who was still age eighteen,

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Speaker 3: went to Texas for one year, was the consensus National

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Speaker 3: player of the year. No freshman ever has been the

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Speaker 3: consensus National player.

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Speaker 4: Of the year.

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Speaker 5: Then it comes to Durant, He's gonna try to win it,

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Speaker 5: Durand that's a three pointer.

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Speaker 6: Of the Sonics with the ball game.

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Speaker 1: Rives, lay up talk by Durant, army back to the.

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Speaker 7: Land and for the laft out of Bowl.

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Speaker 5: Splosh, I was just puffed away Tilson and Zappalochaipu. Durant

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Speaker 5: to labasket, unders and fires it down to Lavast.

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Speaker 1: What a long drive durt to drive.

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Speaker 5: Dan what before.

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Speaker 3: Today?

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Speaker 8: Seven times?

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Speaker 1: Those were some highlights of Kevin Durant's time in the

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Speaker 1: NBA before he won an NBA championship. From getting drafted

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Speaker 1: in two thousand and seven, to his debut season, which

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Speaker 1: was the final one for the SuperSonics in Seattle, to

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Speaker 1: his Finals appearance with the Thunder in twenty twelve to

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Speaker 1: his MVP season in Oklahoma City in twenty fourteen. I'm

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Speaker 1: Israel Gutierrez and this is dubbed dynasty. Almost from the

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Speaker 1: moment he was drafted, Kevin Durant was projected to be

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Speaker 1: one of the most gifted scorers in the league. It

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Speaker 1: was thought he would challenge, if not surpassed, the league's

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Speaker 1: other greats, whether it was an aging Kobe Bryant or

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Speaker 1: a vibrant Lebron James in his prime. By the time

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Speaker 1: Durant's career was.

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Speaker 3: Done, is there a player out there that you're looking

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Speaker 3: at that motivates you?

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Speaker 4: Yeah?

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Speaker 9: Who's that?

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Speaker 4: Keavin Durant?

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Speaker 6: Why?

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Speaker 4: I feel like he's next to the line.

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Speaker 1: For most of us, we'd envisioned all of, if not

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Speaker 1: some of that success coming in Oklahoma City, where he'd

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Speaker 1: continue his path to be one of the greats and

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Speaker 1: pick up a championship or more along the way. He

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Speaker 1: didn't win an Okase, just the one finals appearance, and

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Speaker 1: after making the controversial move to Golden State, Durant could

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Speaker 1: finally see the championship on the horizon and a lifelong

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Speaker 1: goal about to be accomplished, but would it look or

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Speaker 1: feel anything like he'd dreamed now that he's on a

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Speaker 1: team dubbed too Talented to fail. Last We Left You,

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Speaker 1: Durant was facing the possibility of failing. He and the

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Speaker 1: Warriors were in the Western Conference Finals against the San

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Speaker 1: Antonio Spurs, having not dropped a single game in the playoffs,

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Speaker 1: but Kawhi Leonard was cooking in Game one in Oakland.

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Speaker 1: With twenty six points through about twenty eight minutes of play,

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Speaker 1: the Spurs were stunning the Oakland crowd, leading the Juggernaut

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Speaker 1: Warriors by twenty one points.

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Speaker 5: Leonard drives muscles his way inside of scores chants for

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Speaker 5: a three point play.

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Speaker 1: Then, with about eight minutes left in the third Leonard

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Speaker 1: received the screen from LaMarcus Aldridge. The Warriors defender switched,

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Speaker 1: and with the shot clock under three seconds, Leonard rose

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Speaker 1: up for a long two pointer in the left corner

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Speaker 1: with a closing Jajah Peculia trying to contest. Peculia's final

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Speaker 1: step on his close out ended up in Leonard's landing space,

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Speaker 1: and the resulting foot to foot contact would turn the

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Speaker 1: game and the series on its head.

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Speaker 7: O'clock at eight, Aldrich pushing off on Peturia. Leonard fires

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Speaker 7: from the corner and Leonard goes down again.

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Speaker 5: And he's in pain again in front of the Spurs

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Speaker 5: bench and a Leonard gingerly getting up.

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Speaker 4: Again.

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Speaker 5: That's what they call all the time, when you get

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Speaker 5: your feet into the landing space of the shooter, an

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Speaker 5: ankle taking a pounding year of the third quarter, one

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Speaker 5: that was already sore.

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Speaker 1: As Green pointed out, this wasn't the first time Leonard's

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Speaker 1: ankle was stressed in this game. Earlier, Kawhi turned it

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Speaker 1: after landing on a teammate's foot. You might remember that

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Speaker 1: Spur it was former Warrior David Lee, who'd spent his

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Speaker 1: final season in San Antonio.

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Speaker 5: Leonard answers back a corner three and Leonards hurt. I

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Speaker 5: think on his own guy at about the Spurs wanted

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Speaker 5: to stop the clock and Kawhi Leonard is hurt and

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Speaker 5: you can see he's upset.

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Speaker 1: Just what every kid did on a playground, you tighten

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Speaker 1: up that sneaker. And it was in his previous series

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Speaker 1: against the Rockets that Leonard initially turned the end. So

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Speaker 1: it was already coming into these conference finals vulnerable to

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Speaker 1: further damage. Here's Josha wants your sprain ankle.

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Speaker 4: It takes weeks to get it right, not only like

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Speaker 4: you know, to get it right by you to strengthening

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Speaker 4: a game, to get back to normal. It takes weeks.

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Speaker 4: So obviously we go during the playoffs. The only thing

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Speaker 4: you can do tape it like twice, you know, really

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Speaker 4: stabilize it. But ankle is weak. Actually he was playing

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Speaker 4: made out of his mind. I knew they that ankle,

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Speaker 4: like I really give him so much credit, and you

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Speaker 4: know that's amazing character. You know Sprain and Colorati too

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Speaker 4: in conference final. And not only he's playing great offensively,

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Speaker 4: but defensively kad is I don't want to say no show,

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Speaker 4: but he's strucking because you know Kauai is knowing, as

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Speaker 4: you know, stop defensive players, stop her with his hands

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Speaker 4: and I Q So we down first.

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Speaker 1: Game down and doubted there was no Tim Duncan. But

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Speaker 1: these were still the Spurs, coached by one of Steve

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Speaker 1: Kerr's mentors in Greg Popovich, and following many of the

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Speaker 1: same basketball principles the Warriors do. This is where the

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Speaker 1: conjecture gets hot and heavy. Did Peculia extend his leg purposely?

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Speaker 1: How would game one end if Kawhi was healthy. How

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Speaker 1: would the series end if Kawhi was healthy? Petculia can

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Speaker 1: answer that first part emphatically. He absolutely did not attempt

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Speaker 1: to injure Lennard. And if you've ever spoken to Peculia,

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Speaker 1: you tend to believe him.

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Speaker 10: Here's his side of the tail. Steve doesn't like when

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Speaker 10: you file three point shooter. He hates it because there

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Speaker 10: can be a momentum play right false okay, like you know,

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Speaker 10: regular file two points like two free throws right, but

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Speaker 10: not three okay. And I remember the moment the ball

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Speaker 10: goes up in the air, so I challenge it that

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Speaker 10: I start watching the ball. I start watching the ball.

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Speaker 10: But you know, when you rotate your momentum, because I'm

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Speaker 10: six to eleven right to two hundred and seventy five pounds,

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Speaker 10: So when I'm going towards something, it's hard to stop. Obviously,

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Speaker 10: it starts to stop yourself because you know, again it

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Speaker 10: was a hard rotation because I didn't want to give

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Speaker 10: up the wide open three. And then I remember I

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Speaker 10: didn't touch his hand, like there was no concert or

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Speaker 10: you know, body wise, no contacts. Say, I hear the

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Speaker 10: whistle and in my mind going like it was going

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Speaker 10: on that like, that's not a foul, Like I didn't

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Speaker 10: touch him. So I was shocked because now I hated.

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Speaker 10: I hate to make mistakes. It's a conference finals, guys,

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Speaker 10: like you know, it's not a regular season. It's okay

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Speaker 10: to make a mistake. No, it's not, because one miscommunication

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Speaker 10: one this kind of the foul can cost you a game.

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Speaker 10: It can cost you like the season and the championship.

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Speaker 4: Right. So I'm not the young I'm thirty something years old,

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Speaker 4: so i understand imponents of the mistakes. So I'm frustrated

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Speaker 4: for the bad call, and I start running away from

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Speaker 4: the from the referee, and in the middle of the court,

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Speaker 4: Pau Gasol was standing there, and I looked at him

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Speaker 4: and said, Paul, that's such a BS call. And then

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Speaker 4: I turn around, like literally, I turn around, and then

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Speaker 4: I see somebody is down and the whole bench is

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Speaker 4: around here, and I said, what happened, Pau, And Paul says,

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Speaker 4: I don't know, So I said, obviously, then I've realized

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Speaker 4: that Kawhi was now but I had no idea what

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Speaker 4: would happened? Is he just like he left the corp.

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Speaker 1: The Spurs were leading seventy eight to fifty five when

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Speaker 1: Leonard left the floor for good. With the shock of

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Speaker 1: Kawhi Gon and the Warriors in comeback mode, Golden State

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Speaker 1: scored the game's next eighteen points, all.

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Speaker 5: Chipped out to Durant, back to Tompson for three time.

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Speaker 5: Jenob we trying to draw the fowl Curry a two

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Speaker 5: quarter puts it. They're trying to draw the Warriors taking

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Speaker 5: out a rhythm Curry with the Steel ahead to Durant.

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Speaker 1: Durant drawn out. San Antonio still managed to fight and

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Speaker 1: were up eleven in the opening moments of the fourth quarter,

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Speaker 1: and with two twelve remaining, the Spurs were still holding

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Speaker 1: a three point lead until Steph Curry put the final

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Speaker 1: touches on the comeback win.

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Speaker 5: All tipped again picked up by Curry Curry for three.

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Speaker 1: It's come tie game.

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Speaker 5: The Rants got gentlele on a given gold carry place

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Speaker 5: it in.

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Speaker 10: They called the.

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Speaker 5: Goal tend, not golf. The rim early a goal tend

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Speaker 5: and that's a five point.

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Speaker 1: Lead for the Lord.

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Speaker 5: Bill's Missus lead bout tip to not Ti. The Warriors survived,

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Speaker 5: but take carey one.

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Speaker 1: After the game, Spurs coach Greg Popovich was still quite upset,

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Speaker 1: even bringing up multiple physical altercations Peculia had in his

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Speaker 1: recent NBA history.

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Speaker 11: A two step lead with your foot closing out. He's

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Speaker 11: not a program. It's dangerous, it's on sportsmanlife. It's just

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Speaker 11: not what anybody does to anybody.

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Speaker 1: Popovich's fure certainly stoked the fire after with Peculia being

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Speaker 1: painted as a dirty play. It also didn't help that

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Speaker 1: the two forces and their respective conferences were so dominant

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Speaker 1: in these playoffs. There wasn't much else to discuss to

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Speaker 1: this point in the postseason. Neither the Warriors nor the

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Speaker 1: Caves had lost the game. The Cavaliers would go on

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Speaker 1: to lose just one before getting to the finals, so

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Speaker 1: everyone would pounce some Peculia. Well, Peculia was just trying

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Speaker 1: to get a message across to Leonard himself.

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Speaker 4: I texted him. I texted, I said, I said, hey, man,

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Speaker 4: I have so much respect for you. I just want

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Speaker 4: you to know from me. That was not in purpose.

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Speaker 4: I couldn't control that, right, So I found his number,

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Speaker 4: I texted him, and that's all I cared about. But

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Speaker 4: then in console the media, the people, right fans, I

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Speaker 4: can't control that, So I say, you know what, Yeah,

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Speaker 4: I worried of course I wore it, didn't you know

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Speaker 4: you would because I knew there was not the case.

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Speaker 4: How can you do it? Like, how can to me?

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Speaker 4: I can't. I can't even think about how he purposely

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Speaker 4: can't do that, like really aimed after thirteen years in

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Speaker 4: this season because you never happened before, right, So I

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Speaker 4: was waiting for this moment for thirteen years. I knew

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Speaker 4: we were going to be down against you know, Western

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Speaker 4: Conference Finals, and I say, it just absurd, it's not realistic.

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Speaker 4: And yeah, there was too much noise. Even though it's

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Speaker 4: easier to say like not to worry about it, but

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Speaker 4: I was, I'll be honest. But at the same time,

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Speaker 4: I was keep reminding myself, like control whatever is in

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Speaker 4: your hand. I texted Kawai and I got a lot

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Speaker 4: of text messages from my teammates, you know, so support Kawhi. Yeah,

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Speaker 4: we communicated. Yeah, we did the communication, and he said

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Speaker 4: it actually after the game in press conference days. I

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Speaker 4: don't think it was intentional.

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Speaker 1: Curry and Durant combined for seventy four in that game,

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Speaker 1: one win, and without the resistance of Leonard, the Warriors

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Speaker 1: coasted to wins of thirty six, twelve, and fourteen points

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Speaker 1: to it to their third straight NBA Finals.

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Speaker 5: As the Warriors are headed to the NBA Finals for

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Speaker 5: the third consecutive year.

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Speaker 1: To this point, the Warriors' dominance was just as predicted.

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Speaker 1: They were just the third team to sweep the first

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Speaker 1: three rounds of the playoffs, along with the eighty three

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Speaker 1: six Ers and the one Lakers, and it was doing

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Speaker 1: nothing to quiet those who were critical of Kevin Durant

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Speaker 1: for joining the championship ready Warriors. Golden State needed a challenge,

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Speaker 1: at least in the eyes of sports purists, and all

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Speaker 1: that was left was the same team that faced the

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Speaker 1: previous two finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Not only were the

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Speaker 1: NBA Finals old hat to many of these Warriors, but

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Speaker 1: playing against Lebron in this series was also not to Durant. However,

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Speaker 1: he hadn't faced Lebron in the finals in five seasons,

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Speaker 1: and he'd never won a title, while all the primary

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Speaker 1: parties on both teams already had. Despite that, JaVale McGee

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Speaker 1: doesn't recall much win one for Kadie talk throughout that

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Speaker 1: season or in the playoffs.

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Speaker 9: I think everybody just went out there to be a professional,

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Speaker 9: and I played basketball and we knew if we win,

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Speaker 9: that's the only way we can defend KD. And if

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Speaker 9: we keep winning. We never had like internal conversations like, hey,

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Speaker 9: we need to protect KD. Mainly because he's a grown man,

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Speaker 9: so I'm sure he'll be okay.

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Speaker 1: Durant was beyond okay. In his first two Finals games

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Speaker 1: with Golden State, he'd score thirty eight and thirty three, respectively,

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Speaker 1: and then in Game three in Cleveland, he put up

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Speaker 1: another efficient thirty one, but it was the final few

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Speaker 1: points that'll be remembered most. With two nineteen left, Steph

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Speaker 1: Curry narrowed the Cavaliers lead before Durant took over from back.

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Speaker 7: Games go, Durant Thompson on the switch, Durant drives.

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Speaker 1: That's a great look. It finishes.

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Speaker 7: It's too easy. After the switch James with.

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Speaker 5: Eight to shoot. James pulls back, drives again, kicks it

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Speaker 5: out cover corner three and kenned the fall rebound. Durant

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Speaker 5: Duran for three.

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Speaker 1: An's good.

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Speaker 5: Kevin Durant from towntown and Golden State takes the lead.

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Speaker 5: Duran has it corver all over him and there's the coal.

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Speaker 5: Kevin Durant a great free throw shooter and suddenly this

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Speaker 5: building stunned by a quick turn of events.

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Speaker 1: The stunning three pointer Durant confidently took over a surprised

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Speaker 1: Lebron James will likely be Durant's signature championship moment because

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Speaker 1: despite the opponent, there wasn't much of a challenge. The

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Speaker 1: Warriors did drop Game four in Cleveland, allowing them to

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Speaker 1: celebrate the championship at home with a relatively easy game

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Speaker 1: five ways.

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Speaker 8: The road to redemption that has the Warriors back home.

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Speaker 7: Warriors are about two thousand seventeen champion.

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Speaker 12: That split second was just what it's all for.

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Speaker 4: That two or three seconds.

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Speaker 9: Soon as the buzzer sound, I swear it was about.

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Speaker 1: Fore Durant was a champion in his tenth season in

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Speaker 1: the league, and he might have just won it as

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Speaker 1: a member of the greatest team ever. That last part

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Speaker 1: will forever be up for debate, but not the championship part.

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Speaker 11: This seems like a dream wide away.

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Speaker 1: This, according to Slater, felt like everything it was supposed

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Speaker 1: to for KD in that celebratory moment, although a.

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Speaker 6: Lot like the outside world viewed it as man this

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Speaker 6: was an easy title like it was that first one,

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Speaker 6: was really celebrated hard, especially by him. I remember he

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Speaker 6: was a Finals MVP. He was with his mom, meeting

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Speaker 6: with Bill Russell, taking pictures with Bill Russell, and like

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Speaker 6: it felt like the pinnacle moment that he went there

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Speaker 6: to have. And then there's the famous video of him

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Speaker 6: leaving Oracle that night in his I believe it was

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Speaker 6: a Tesla when Tesla was like, wow, this guy. You know,

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Speaker 6: this guy's got a Tesla and he gets out of

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Speaker 6: the car. He's not driving, by the way. I remember,

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Speaker 6: he's in the passenger seat because obviously he had had

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Speaker 6: a few things to drink. And he gets out in

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Speaker 6: the whole Warriors crowd in the Oracle parking lot swarms

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Speaker 6: him and he's like holding up the trophy, and that,

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Speaker 6: to me has always been like that was the pinnacle

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Speaker 6: moment of the Kevin Durant era.

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Speaker 1: The moment, however, wouldn't last as long as Durant envisioned.

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Speaker 1: That's because after the championship and the ease with which

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Speaker 1: it came, Durant wasn't allowed to bask in his glory

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00:18:01,429 --> 00:18:05,509
Speaker 1: from atop the sports world. He was still defending himself

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Speaker 1: for deciding to play with the Warriors and making it

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Speaker 1: all look so easy here, slave.

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Speaker 6: This was an all time great at the peak of

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Speaker 6: his powers succeeding and being told that, like, you know,

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Speaker 6: who cares. You know, it was an easy path to

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Speaker 6: do it, and you know that frustrated him. And he's

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Speaker 6: given interviews and I've even talked to him a little

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Speaker 6: bit in that aftermath those next couple of seasons that

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Speaker 6: he definitely came to grips over that, probably that week

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Speaker 6: after the title, but certainly in the years after that,

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Speaker 6: Like and other athletes have said this, like they just

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Speaker 6: are they obsess over getting the title, and he had

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Speaker 6: had so many close calls in Oklahoma City, and like

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Speaker 6: he just it burned him to get the title. And

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Speaker 6: then you get it and then you celebrate and you know,

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Speaker 6: because it's happened, and then you wake up the next

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Speaker 6: day and it's like same life, same issues I may

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Speaker 6: have had outside the court saying, you know, like it's

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Speaker 6: not as fulfilling as you thought it might have been.

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Speaker 6: And then of course, you know, his was wrapped into

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Speaker 6: like the criticisms of how he did it, and you

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Speaker 6: know the fact that he's sitting there going, look, I've

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Speaker 6: kind of just proved I was the best player in

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Speaker 6: the world.

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Speaker 1: Probably the most painful singer in Durant's direction, and certainly

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Speaker 1: the most memorable, came just one month after the championship

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Speaker 1: at the SB Awards, where the world is supposed to

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Speaker 1: celebrate the greatest athletes and their accomplishments. A former pro athlete,

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Speaker 1: Peyton Manning was the host, and then his opening monologue,

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Speaker 1: he directed a joke at Durant that didn't appear to

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Speaker 1: land well with the reigning finals MVP.

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Speaker 12: I love that the final five won the most Olympic

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Speaker 12: medals of any US women's gymnastics team ever, and our

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Speaker 12: gymnastics team was so dominant that Kevin Durant told me

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Speaker 12: he wants to play for them next year. And I

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Speaker 12: gotta tell you, I don't think you'd sung for that team. Kevin, Yeah,

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Speaker 12: Russell leftro what do you bet?

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Speaker 1: The camera cut to Durant immediately after the punchline, and

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Speaker 1: he did not appear amused. Wearing a T shirt to

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Speaker 1: an awards event was very durant. So was the continued

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Speaker 1: blank face he was giving the camera and by extension,

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Speaker 1: Peyton Manning and every single hater. This is what the

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Speaker 1: off season, and frankly, the remainder of Durant's Golden State

341
00:20:48,469 --> 00:20:52,629
Speaker 1: career would be people discussing the fairness of the Warriors

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Speaker 1: or the competitive spirit of Durant making matters worse. About

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Speaker 1: a month before Durant's second season started with the Warriors,

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Speaker 1: he was exposed for having a burner account on Twitter

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Speaker 1: that he'd used to defend himself against often anonymous critics.

346
00:21:09,669 --> 00:21:13,428
Speaker 1: Durant tweeted a response to a user criticizing his exit

347
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Speaker 1: from OKC, writing in the third person quote, he didn't

348
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Speaker 1: like the organization or playing for Billy Donovan. His roster

349
00:21:22,109 --> 00:21:25,589
Speaker 1: wasn't that good. It was just him and Russ. Durant

350
00:21:25,629 --> 00:21:29,189
Speaker 1: added in another tweet, imagine taking Russ off that team,

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Speaker 1: see how bad they were. Katie couldn't win a championship

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Speaker 1: with those Cats. The only problem was Durant tweeted those

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Speaker 1: from his actual verified account, not the burner account he created.

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Speaker 4: Whoops.

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Speaker 1: Not only did it unleash loud criticism, but Durant was

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Speaker 1: viewed as overly sensitive to critics, and it allowed people

357
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Speaker 1: to further dissect one of the league's best players. Durant

358
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Speaker 1: has since said his burner account experience was about living

359
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Speaker 1: a normal life, which speaks to the difficult of living

360
00:22:04,229 --> 00:22:07,869
Speaker 1: as public a life as Durant has. Rachel Nichols has

361
00:22:07,909 --> 00:22:12,429
Speaker 1: watched image transformations happen in the NBA before, including Lebron

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Speaker 1: James's switch from a villain his first year in Miami

363
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Speaker 1: to a much more likable person after. She believes that

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Speaker 1: the introspect of Durant could have been embraced a bit

365
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Speaker 1: more if he just opened up about his decisions and

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Speaker 1: his emotions, so the viewing public can perhaps relate to

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Speaker 1: Tad better.

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Speaker 13: I think Kevin Durant is somehow underrated. Still, he is

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Speaker 13: an exceptional player. I put him higher in my all

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Speaker 13: time list than I think a lot of other people do.

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Speaker 13: I think because his nature is not to over explain himself.

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Speaker 13: I think because he is laid back. I think because

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Speaker 13: he doesn't really engage in what the media thinks, even

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Speaker 13: though he is very online with what the fans think.

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Speaker 13: I think that he didn't articulate his case. He didn't

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Speaker 13: feel like he needed to. He shouldn't have to answer

377
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Speaker 13: to anyone. I respect that Kevin Durant can run in

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Speaker 13: his life any way he wants, but I think it

379
00:23:05,669 --> 00:23:08,908
Speaker 13: made a big difference and hurt him for years. And

380
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Speaker 13: I think it affected for years his career decisions and choices.

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Speaker 13: And I think if he had been able to really

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Speaker 13: explain himself how he felt, why he did this, what

383
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Speaker 13: he was getting out of it, beyond just oh and

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Speaker 13: now I can win a ring that he wasn't solely

385
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Speaker 13: ring chasing. I think if he had been able to

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Speaker 13: connect with fans on that level and made that effort

387
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Speaker 13: to do that, I think it not only would have

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Speaker 13: changed the way people felt in subsequent years about the

389
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Speaker 13: Warriors winning titles. I think that Kevin Durant would still

390
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Speaker 13: be in Golden State right now. I think that it

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Speaker 13: had that deep an impact, and that if the strategy

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Speaker 13: on the marketing and pr had been different, I think

393
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Speaker 13: that that would have changed the course of the way

394
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Speaker 13: the NBA went over the next five to seven years.

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Speaker 13: And again, I want to be clear, I don't think

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Speaker 13: what Kevin did, the way he played it or people

397
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Speaker 13: advised him, was wrong, because it was Kevin's decision. You

398
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Speaker 13: can do whatever you want, it's your career. But if

399
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Speaker 13: he had done it differently, had he had been comfortable

400
00:24:05,589 --> 00:24:08,029
Speaker 13: or wanted to do it differently, that I think it

401
00:24:08,029 --> 00:24:14,029
Speaker 13: would have had a very very different result.

402
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Speaker 1: A different result in terms of public opinion and perhaps

403
00:24:16,709 --> 00:24:19,949
Speaker 1: whether or not Durant would leave Golden State. But while

404
00:24:19,949 --> 00:24:23,949
Speaker 1: he was there, the results were always great. That's what

405
00:24:24,029 --> 00:24:29,029
Speaker 1: added to a perceived lack of enthusiasm. Regardless of continued excellence,

406
00:24:29,469 --> 00:24:33,709
Speaker 1: the conversations would never be about that. Here's Slater on

407
00:24:33,829 --> 00:24:36,428
Speaker 1: Durant and the Warrior's motivation to repeat.

408
00:24:36,829 --> 00:24:39,109
Speaker 6: I know, Bob Myers is always compared to like you

409
00:24:39,189 --> 00:24:42,269
Speaker 6: climb Mount Everest once and oh, you know, you've done it,

410
00:24:42,309 --> 00:24:43,669
Speaker 6: and then it's like, Okay, now you're back at the

411
00:24:43,669 --> 00:24:46,669
Speaker 6: bottom climbing again. It's just the motivation. So I think

412
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Speaker 6: there was just like a the natural fatiguing nature of

413
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Speaker 6: defending a title wrapped into all of what we're talking

414
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Speaker 6: about with just like the narrative around Kevin Durant, and

415
00:24:57,189 --> 00:25:00,229
Speaker 6: just like the belief of like nothing you do no

416
00:25:00,229 --> 00:25:02,149
Speaker 6: matter how many points you score, no matter how well

417
00:25:02,189 --> 00:25:05,029
Speaker 6: you play this season, Like even if you just rumble

418
00:25:05,069 --> 00:25:06,829
Speaker 6: to a title and you are the Finals MVP and

419
00:25:06,829 --> 00:25:10,829
Speaker 6: you hit signature shots to sweep the Cavaliers, which he did,

420
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Speaker 6: like we won't respect your championship, and you know, the

421
00:25:16,309 --> 00:25:18,629
Speaker 6: Warriors hope was like that. He would just be like

422
00:25:18,789 --> 00:25:21,709
Speaker 6: you know that he like, don't care what these fans say,

423
00:25:21,709 --> 00:25:24,069
Speaker 6: don't care what everybody else does. Just keep racking up

424
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Speaker 6: championship because if you stay here and if you stay committed,

425
00:25:27,069 --> 00:25:29,509
Speaker 6: we will continue to dominate. That was their belief. But

426
00:25:29,629 --> 00:25:33,189
Speaker 6: he fed into what the outside story was about him

427
00:25:33,189 --> 00:25:36,789
Speaker 6: and then then kind of grumbled obviously about it, and

428
00:25:37,549 --> 00:25:40,749
Speaker 6: I would say, kind of receded a little bit into

429
00:25:40,829 --> 00:25:44,109
Speaker 6: you know, not as friendly you know, around the team. Again,

430
00:25:44,149 --> 00:25:47,709
Speaker 6: he probably wouldn't even love the characterization of all this because, like,

431
00:25:47,869 --> 00:25:50,389
Speaker 6: you know, his argument at the time, and he's not wrong.

432
00:25:50,469 --> 00:25:58,389
Speaker 6: Like his play never suffered. He was awesome throughout.

433
00:26:00,509 --> 00:26:03,029
Speaker 1: Durant and the Warriors continued to be awesome in the

434
00:26:03,029 --> 00:26:07,389
Speaker 1: two thousand in seventeen to eighteen season, despite Durant's satisfaction

435
00:26:07,749 --> 00:26:10,749
Speaker 1: likely not matching what he envisioned. The rest of the

436
00:26:10,749 --> 00:26:14,669
Speaker 1: Warriors were golden. They'd gotten their revenge on the Cavaliers,

437
00:26:15,189 --> 00:26:17,908
Speaker 1: and with Durant in the fold for another year at least,

438
00:26:18,429 --> 00:26:21,909
Speaker 1: the vibes were decent. With a season under his belt

439
00:26:21,949 --> 00:26:25,509
Speaker 1: and CURRS system, Durant was putting up a few more shots.

440
00:26:26,389 --> 00:26:29,309
Speaker 1: He didn't match his incredible fifty four percent shooting from

441
00:26:29,349 --> 00:26:32,149
Speaker 1: the previous season, but he did average better than twenty

442
00:26:32,189 --> 00:26:35,269
Speaker 1: six points and was back on the All NBA First team.

443
00:26:35,709 --> 00:26:40,149
Speaker 1: Warriors assistant coach Bruce Frasier would often assist Stephan Durant

444
00:26:40,189 --> 00:26:43,989
Speaker 1: in their workouts, and watching Durant was a whole new

445
00:26:43,989 --> 00:26:45,029
Speaker 1: experience for him.

446
00:26:45,189 --> 00:26:48,549
Speaker 14: The most versatile offensive player I've ever seen, probably the

447
00:26:48,629 --> 00:26:52,589
Speaker 14: most talented offensive I'm not saying just that to say

448
00:26:52,629 --> 00:26:56,189
Speaker 14: he's not a good defender either, but e Lee, you know,

449
00:26:56,269 --> 00:27:00,949
Speaker 14: he's his footwork on the block and the mid head

450
00:27:01,069 --> 00:27:05,188
Speaker 14: range in the elbow area, and you know he can

451
00:27:05,549 --> 00:27:08,668
Speaker 14: facing the baskets with his back to the basket, and

452
00:27:08,709 --> 00:27:12,429
Speaker 14: then you know, off the dribble and range from the league.

453
00:27:12,589 --> 00:27:15,109
Speaker 14: So here's a guy at six'. Twelve they can put

454
00:27:15,109 --> 00:27:16,949
Speaker 14: the ball on the, floor they can shoot it from.

455
00:27:16,949 --> 00:27:20,869
Speaker 14: Anywhere he can keep up With steph and kind of.

456
00:27:20,909 --> 00:27:24,629
Speaker 14: Shooting steff play And kevin used to shoot together at

457
00:27:24,709 --> 00:27:28,629
Speaker 14: times after, practice and he he was he could keep

458
00:27:28,709 --> 00:27:33,349
Speaker 14: up with. Them so and he's six.' TWELVE so, I

459
00:27:33,349 --> 00:27:37,989
Speaker 14: know i keep saying that, whatever is but, he is

460
00:27:39,789 --> 00:27:43,789
Speaker 14: he is an alien and he and he and, you

461
00:27:43,829 --> 00:27:48,589
Speaker 14: know in Credit, to kevin not only not only is he,

462
00:27:49,909 --> 00:27:54,149
Speaker 14: that skilled but he Doesn't miss he doesn't. Miss shots

463
00:27:54,189 --> 00:27:56,829
Speaker 14: he's the most Proficient player i've. Ever seen if you

464
00:27:56,869 --> 00:27:59,309
Speaker 14: ever go To Watch kevin durant work out or watch

465
00:27:59,389 --> 00:28:02,309
Speaker 14: him play in, a game but watch him, work out

466
00:28:02,349 --> 00:28:06,549
Speaker 14: he doesn't miss. Many shots and he's very detailed and

467
00:28:06,589 --> 00:28:12,189
Speaker 14: it matters to him and he steph go to a

468
00:28:12,269 --> 00:28:16,629
Speaker 14: pace in his workouts that most. Players don't kevin matches

469
00:28:16,669 --> 00:28:23,349
Speaker 14: that Pace and kevin goes. Extremely hard and, YOU know

470
00:28:23,429 --> 00:28:27,188
Speaker 14: i Think, for kevin he may enjoy working out and

471
00:28:27,269 --> 00:28:31,109
Speaker 14: being on the floor more than. Even games kevin loves

472
00:28:31,749 --> 00:28:34,109
Speaker 14: when he gets in it because it's Like his it's

473
00:28:34,109 --> 00:28:37,509
Speaker 14: like a it's like meditation. For him when he gets

474
00:28:37,509 --> 00:28:41,629
Speaker 14: into a, good workout the world goes away and he loves.

475
00:28:41,669 --> 00:28:45,029
Speaker 14: The game we used to have a simple warm up

476
00:28:45,029 --> 00:28:47,949
Speaker 14: theme called feet On. The floor kevin would just, come

477
00:28:47,989 --> 00:28:50,989
Speaker 14: in no ways know anything. For us he just wanted

478
00:28:50,989 --> 00:28:53,029
Speaker 14: to get his feet on. The floor, He said i'm

479
00:28:53,029 --> 00:28:55,709
Speaker 14: a HOOPER when i come to, THE gym i want

480
00:28:55,749 --> 00:28:59,589
Speaker 14: my feet on. The floor so it's actually a refreshing

481
00:29:01,989 --> 00:29:04,549
Speaker 14: take on a player like that because he loves. The

482
00:29:04,589 --> 00:29:09,909
Speaker 14: game you can feel that in his passion and his workouts,

483
00:29:10,389 --> 00:29:16,829
Speaker 14: and amazing, amazing talent amazing to, be around that kind,

484
00:29:16,829 --> 00:29:19,709
Speaker 14: of passion that kind of intensity to.

485
00:29:19,789 --> 00:29:24,789
Speaker 1: The craft there was a Consistency to durant this. Entire

486
00:29:24,869 --> 00:29:28,669
Speaker 1: season he did have a fifty point outburst Against the Blazers,

487
00:29:28,669 --> 00:29:31,749
Speaker 1: in february averaging thirty per game in the Month. Of

488
00:29:31,789 --> 00:29:34,589
Speaker 1: february that second beat of. The league d rattles at

489
00:29:34,589 --> 00:29:36,869
Speaker 1: home from, three points but he only broke forty three,

490
00:29:36,909 --> 00:29:39,949
Speaker 1: other times and he never hit more than six threes in.

491
00:29:39,989 --> 00:29:43,029
Speaker 1: A game there was always an ease With which, durant

492
00:29:43,069 --> 00:29:46,909
Speaker 1: scored so in year two he maybe didn't participate as

493
00:29:47,029 --> 00:29:50,669
Speaker 1: much in team offense and relied on his ability Attach More,

494
00:29:51,149 --> 00:29:52,109
Speaker 1: here slater.

495
00:29:52,149 --> 00:29:54,829
Speaker 6: He started to bristle at, the whole like, you said

496
00:29:54,869 --> 00:29:57,589
Speaker 6: Like the warriors play with joy in. Ball movement he's

497
00:29:57,789 --> 00:30:00,869
Speaker 6: he kind of stopped wanting he, you know wanting to

498
00:30:00,909 --> 00:30:02,189
Speaker 6: be part, of, Like oh i'm going to do the

499
00:30:02,189 --> 00:30:04,069
Speaker 6: back Cuts and i'm gonna be be part. Of this

500
00:30:04,189 --> 00:30:09,109
Speaker 6: it was much more of like a. Stagnant situation, Season.

501
00:30:08,709 --> 00:30:11,669
Speaker 1: Two steph had a ten to three, pointer game his

502
00:30:11,789 --> 00:30:14,989
Speaker 1: only double figure three game of. The season Not Even

503
00:30:15,029 --> 00:30:19,109
Speaker 1: klay thompson would put up A, signature historically explosive performance

504
00:30:19,109 --> 00:30:22,909
Speaker 1: in the. Regular season The way JaVale McGee describes the

505
00:30:22,949 --> 00:30:26,269
Speaker 1: seventeen eighteen season For, the warriors it was pretty much

506
00:30:26,309 --> 00:30:28,869
Speaker 1: self care until. THE postseason.

507
00:30:29,789 --> 00:30:32,189
Speaker 9: I mean maybe the fact that our practices were probably

508
00:30:32,229 --> 00:30:35,589
Speaker 9: like forty, five minutes probably an hour fifteen and then

509
00:30:35,629 --> 00:30:38,109
Speaker 9: it'll get what you need and get what. You Need

510
00:30:38,309 --> 00:30:41,429
Speaker 9: was kane played forty minutes, last game he probably just

511
00:30:41,509 --> 00:30:43,469
Speaker 9: needed a massage in an ice club and maybe. A

512
00:30:43,549 --> 00:30:46,589
Speaker 9: lift steph played thirty. Five minutes he probably need. The

513
00:30:46,629 --> 00:30:49,949
Speaker 9: same i'll play. Eight minutes i'm going to, Go lift

514
00:30:49,989 --> 00:30:52,549
Speaker 9: i'm gonna get on, The traadmill i'm gonna work on.

515
00:30:52,629 --> 00:30:56,189
Speaker 9: Some plays like everybody knew their role and everything they had,

516
00:30:56,229 --> 00:30:58,749
Speaker 9: to do and coach would make sure that he took

517
00:30:59,109 --> 00:31:02,629
Speaker 9: forty five to an hour fifteen of coaching and putting

518
00:31:02,629 --> 00:31:04,669
Speaker 9: things in our mind that we needed for the game

519
00:31:04,749 --> 00:31:07,149
Speaker 9: and for the series, and everything and then it was

520
00:31:07,189 --> 00:31:09,869
Speaker 9: given you need and they treated it as like professionals

521
00:31:09,909 --> 00:31:10,549
Speaker 9: and we all actual.

522
00:31:10,589 --> 00:31:13,429
Speaker 1: At defussions that was part of the appeal Of the.

523
00:31:13,429 --> 00:31:18,549
Speaker 1: Warriors organization it was considered and still is especially player

524
00:31:18,629 --> 00:31:23,069
Speaker 1: friendly Among. The warriors perks is a separate private plane

525
00:31:23,109 --> 00:31:26,509
Speaker 1: for family during, the playoffs but even during the, regular

526
00:31:26,589 --> 00:31:30,829
Speaker 1: season there's a flexibility allowed and it helps overcome the

527
00:31:30,909 --> 00:31:32,789
Speaker 1: rigors OF an. Nba season the.

528
00:31:32,789 --> 00:31:35,669
Speaker 9: Players had a lot more safe than any ORGANIZATION that

529
00:31:35,709 --> 00:31:37,789
Speaker 9: i had. Been in they had a lot more say

530
00:31:37,869 --> 00:31:40,109
Speaker 9: on when we, were leaving if we're going to, practice

531
00:31:40,149 --> 00:31:42,989
Speaker 9: early we're going to. Practice late get one friend on

532
00:31:43,029 --> 00:31:45,589
Speaker 9: the plane one time of. The year so it was a

533
00:31:45,669 --> 00:31:49,029
Speaker 9: real player oriented team and that was SOMETHING that i

534
00:31:49,109 --> 00:31:52,989
Speaker 9: hadn't seen firsthand behind the scenes in the. Locker room

535
00:31:53,229 --> 00:31:54,949
Speaker 9: that was my first time seeing something. Like that but

536
00:31:54,949 --> 00:31:57,309
Speaker 9: at the, same time they just went seventh. Grade nine

537
00:31:57,509 --> 00:32:00,869
Speaker 9: so with, that energy you realize the more, you win

538
00:32:01,229 --> 00:32:05,269
Speaker 9: the more least you have. More opportunities you have to

539
00:32:05,309 --> 00:32:07,709
Speaker 9: do what you want as long as there's a betterment for.

540
00:32:07,749 --> 00:32:11,749
Speaker 1: The team this team finished with fifty, eight wins second

541
00:32:11,789 --> 00:32:14,829
Speaker 1: In the west Behind. The rockets it was a clear

542
00:32:14,909 --> 00:32:17,949
Speaker 1: drop off from the sixty seven a, year earlier but

543
00:32:18,069 --> 00:32:21,549
Speaker 1: regular season win totals stopped mattering to this group a couple.

544
00:32:21,589 --> 00:32:25,749
Speaker 1: Seasons ago there was one dose, of drama one That

545
00:32:25,789 --> 00:32:28,989
Speaker 1: Allowed kevin durant to further display his value as A

546
00:32:29,029 --> 00:32:32,469
Speaker 1: one a. Type Leader steph curry sprained his knee In

547
00:32:32,509 --> 00:32:35,789
Speaker 1: a march game in which he was already returning from an. Ankle,

548
00:32:35,789 --> 00:32:41,229
Speaker 1: injury overall he'd missed sixteen of the last seventeen regular

549
00:32:41,269 --> 00:32:44,949
Speaker 1: season games and the first six in. The postseason most

550
00:32:44,989 --> 00:32:47,229
Speaker 1: of the team was suffering through the wear and tear

551
00:32:47,309 --> 00:32:50,869
Speaker 1: of multiple deep, playoff runs so the seven to ten

552
00:32:50,989 --> 00:32:55,269
Speaker 1: finished to the regular season would spark, some concern Especially

553
00:32:55,309 --> 00:32:59,349
Speaker 1: without curry to start, The playoffs but muscle memories set

554
00:32:59,389 --> 00:33:02,629
Speaker 1: in once the playoffs Began and durant didn't even have

555
00:33:02,669 --> 00:33:05,789
Speaker 1: to play hero As the warriors coasted to a five

556
00:33:05,909 --> 00:33:14,109
Speaker 1: game first round win Against the Spurs Without. Kawhi leonard

557
00:33:21,949 --> 00:33:24,469
Speaker 1: by The time curry came Back in game two Against

558
00:33:24,469 --> 00:33:27,189
Speaker 1: the pelicans with a casual five to threes off, The

559
00:33:27,229 --> 00:33:31,949
Speaker 1: Bench golden state was back to. Full strength another five

560
00:33:31,989 --> 00:33:35,109
Speaker 1: game finished sent the defending champs bliding into the.

561
00:33:35,149 --> 00:33:38,189
Speaker 14: Next round coward has in five after The Footing san

562
00:33:38,309 --> 00:33:42,469
Speaker 14: antonio and five To a french to the Worst The.

563
00:33:42,469 --> 00:33:43,749
Speaker 8: Conference final.

564
00:33:51,989 --> 00:33:57,989
Speaker 1: Then Came the conference, finals Opponent The. Houston rockets they'd

565
00:33:58,029 --> 00:34:00,749
Speaker 1: gone through a couple of iterations Of The james harden,

566
00:34:00,829 --> 00:34:03,869
Speaker 1: led team and this one had an old num mississ

567
00:34:03,869 --> 00:34:08,069
Speaker 1: Of the warriors. On it Point Guard chris paul combined

568
00:34:08,109 --> 00:34:11,868
Speaker 1: with Head coach, mike D'Antoni an offensive wizard who's particularly

569
00:34:11,909 --> 00:34:14,709
Speaker 1: good with, point Guards the rockets were not only the

570
00:34:14,749 --> 00:34:18,069
Speaker 1: team best suited to Beat, the warriors they'd become their

571
00:34:18,109 --> 00:34:21,828
Speaker 1: most dangerous rival In The, western conference more so Than

572
00:34:21,869 --> 00:34:25,069
Speaker 1: the Spurs, and grizzlies who'd Previously Given building state the.

573
00:34:25,149 --> 00:34:28,589
Speaker 1: Toughest Tess here's slater on those three Point.

574
00:34:28,589 --> 00:34:32,229
Speaker 6: Happy rockets they were playing the math game before everybody

575
00:34:32,269 --> 00:34:34,869
Speaker 6: else was playing the math game threes. In, layups Now

576
00:34:34,869 --> 00:34:37,069
Speaker 6: the warriors will tell you that part of the reason

577
00:34:37,069 --> 00:34:39,828
Speaker 6: they won those series is because in a seven game

578
00:34:39,869 --> 00:34:42,229
Speaker 6: series they could scheme up knowing that you don't even

579
00:34:42,269 --> 00:34:44,389
Speaker 6: have to worry about the, mid range. You can, you

580
00:34:44,389 --> 00:34:48,189
Speaker 6: know they were. Two predictable it became this is the whole.

581
00:34:48,229 --> 00:34:49,709
Speaker 6: Other thing but it was like kind of a clash

582
00:34:49,709 --> 00:34:53,869
Speaker 6: of styles between very Interestingly Between, steve kerr Who was

583
00:34:53,949 --> 00:34:57,149
Speaker 6: mike D'ANTONI'S former Gm in Phoenix and, mike D'Antoni and

584
00:34:57,229 --> 00:35:00,149
Speaker 6: like their basketball beliefs were going at it a. Little

585
00:35:00,149 --> 00:35:03,309
Speaker 6: bit and, you Know, the warriors although they're viewed as

586
00:35:03,349 --> 00:35:05,429
Speaker 6: the three point champion because of whose steph is like

587
00:35:05,469 --> 00:35:07,069
Speaker 6: they love the. Mid range clay shout a ton of.

588
00:35:07,069 --> 00:35:09,989
Speaker 6: Mid Range kevin durant like hated the idea that he

589
00:35:10,029 --> 00:35:12,669
Speaker 6: should strip out the nineteen footer from, his game and

590
00:35:12,709 --> 00:35:14,788
Speaker 6: they never told Him. To david They Had david west on.

591
00:35:14,829 --> 00:35:16,829
Speaker 6: Those teams he was just doing pick and pop. Eighteen

592
00:35:16,869 --> 00:35:20,069
Speaker 6: Footers And sean, livingston right that's like the mid range.

593
00:35:20,109 --> 00:35:23,429
Speaker 6: Assassin forever so they loved Beating those rockets teams for,

594
00:35:23,429 --> 00:35:25,509
Speaker 6: many reasons but that was one. Of them was his idea,

595
00:35:25,509 --> 00:35:28,989
Speaker 6: that like, you know it was basketball philosophy's going at

596
00:35:29,029 --> 00:35:31,069
Speaker 6: it a. Little bit but to answer, your, Question like

597
00:35:31,309 --> 00:35:33,949
Speaker 6: houston was just. Really good they were built. REALLY well

598
00:35:34,029 --> 00:35:35,748
Speaker 6: i know they're known. As that, you know it was

599
00:35:35,829 --> 00:35:38,629
Speaker 6: just pick and roll in three point shooters Spread Around.

600
00:35:38,749 --> 00:35:41,069
Speaker 6: James harden but they also Defended the warriors a lot

601
00:35:41,109 --> 00:35:43,989
Speaker 6: better than most teams because they could go small and

602
00:35:44,229 --> 00:35:46,709
Speaker 6: Play more, warriors environment and they. Could switch YOU. Got,

603
00:35:46,709 --> 00:35:49,989
Speaker 6: Pj Tucker eric gordon strong switch. With guys trevor resa

604
00:35:50,109 --> 00:35:52,669
Speaker 6: was good in. Those series so it was just it

605
00:35:52,709 --> 00:35:53,748
Speaker 6: was their best atonent over.

606
00:35:53,789 --> 00:35:56,909
Speaker 1: That Era trevor reza was a forward On those rockets

607
00:35:57,269 --> 00:36:00,029
Speaker 1: and he'd already Played the warriors in the twenty. Fifteen

608
00:36:00,069 --> 00:36:04,429
Speaker 1: playoffs he goes as far as to Suggest the warriors

609
00:36:04,469 --> 00:36:06,869
Speaker 1: made the Move for durant to keep up With, the

610
00:36:06,949 --> 00:36:11,189
Speaker 1: rockets not To Combat lebron james And. The Cavaliers the

611
00:36:11,229 --> 00:36:14,669
Speaker 1: warriors probably would Have pursued durant regardless Of what houston,

612
00:36:14,789 --> 00:36:17,629
Speaker 1: was doing But the rockets did have seven more Wins

613
00:36:17,669 --> 00:36:20,549
Speaker 1: In golden state and home court advantage in these, conference

614
00:36:20,549 --> 00:36:24,149
Speaker 1: finals and according to, a Reason Adding chris paul to

615
00:36:24,189 --> 00:36:28,349
Speaker 1: a group that Already, Featured Harden, ERIC Gordon, Pj Tucker,

616
00:36:28,589 --> 00:36:31,949
Speaker 1: clint capella and himself was the chains that would Put

617
00:36:31,989 --> 00:36:32,709
Speaker 1: the rockets over.

618
00:36:32,749 --> 00:36:36,989
Speaker 15: The, top, WELL man i got to be on a

619
00:36:37,189 --> 00:36:39,589
Speaker 15: Team with Chris And, new orleans and, you know we

620
00:36:39,669 --> 00:36:42,549
Speaker 15: played against each other a lot, coming up so we

621
00:36:42,629 --> 00:36:44,989
Speaker 15: had a friendship there even now to. This day he's

622
00:36:44,989 --> 00:36:48,229
Speaker 15: one of my, closest friends more like family. Than friends

623
00:36:48,269 --> 00:36:51,589
Speaker 15: so to know what he can do throughout his career

624
00:36:51,629 --> 00:36:55,349
Speaker 15: and understanding what we, had there everything that he brought

625
00:36:55,949 --> 00:36:59,309
Speaker 15: or brings to, the court we needed bad and so

626
00:36:59,669 --> 00:37:02,829
Speaker 15: just him coming along And helped james tremendously because it

627
00:37:02,869 --> 00:37:06,589
Speaker 15: gave somebody body else, the opportunity or It gave james

628
00:37:06,709 --> 00:37:09,748
Speaker 15: opportunity to see the game from a different level of

629
00:37:10,669 --> 00:37:13,829
Speaker 15: or different, like Mindset another Hall of fame type talent

630
00:37:14,069 --> 00:37:17,229
Speaker 15: to see a different, you know a different lens of

631
00:37:17,269 --> 00:37:20,069
Speaker 15: how to play. The game so and it kept teams,

632
00:37:20,069 --> 00:37:23,748
Speaker 15: off balanced. You Know so chris coming to our team

633
00:37:23,869 --> 00:37:27,029
Speaker 15: definitely gave us another element that we needed year as

634
00:37:27,069 --> 00:37:30,869
Speaker 15: a genius when it comes, to offense he just opened up.

635
00:37:30,869 --> 00:37:32,389
Speaker 15: Our offense he spread the floor a.

636
00:37:32,469 --> 00:37:35,149
Speaker 9: Little. More Again with Chris.

637
00:37:34,869 --> 00:37:38,268
Speaker 15: And james being, you know those guards that could, make

638
00:37:38,309 --> 00:37:41,469
Speaker 15: plays it opened up the court even more for them

639
00:37:41,509 --> 00:37:42,909
Speaker 15: to be as special as.

640
00:37:42,949 --> 00:37:56,429
Speaker 1: They Are, Chris, Paul james Harden and. Mike D'Antoni was

641
00:37:56,469 --> 00:38:01,549
Speaker 1: an offensive basketball, lover's dream but D'Antoni had never boasted.

642
00:38:01,549 --> 00:38:06,429
Speaker 1: Great defenses this team was different thanks to Guys. Like

643
00:38:06,469 --> 00:38:10,869
Speaker 1: Areza the rockets were seventh in defensive rating, this season And,

644
00:38:10,989 --> 00:38:14,149
Speaker 1: dan toni with the help of Assistant Coach, jeff pisdelic

645
00:38:14,629 --> 00:38:17,709
Speaker 1: developed a defensive scheme that addressed the Fact the warriors

646
00:38:17,749 --> 00:38:21,189
Speaker 1: weren't just a three point. Shooting team here's, The, reason.

647
00:38:21,309 --> 00:38:24,229
Speaker 15: Well, for us we knew that although they shot a

648
00:38:24,269 --> 00:38:26,389
Speaker 15: lot of threes and made a lot. Of threes what

649
00:38:26,869 --> 00:38:30,748
Speaker 15: they really did was they finished inside the paint. A lot,

650
00:38:30,869 --> 00:38:33,748
Speaker 15: you know if you notice The way, stepp plays he

651
00:38:33,789 --> 00:38:35,748
Speaker 15: shoots a lot, of threes but he also gets a

652
00:38:35,869 --> 00:38:37,788
Speaker 15: lot of layups and he gets to the free throw line,

653
00:38:37,829 --> 00:38:40,189
Speaker 15: a lot and a lot of teams overreact to the

654
00:38:40,189 --> 00:38:42,709
Speaker 15: three point line and not really pay attention to the

655
00:38:42,789 --> 00:38:45,268
Speaker 15: layers that they getting open up their threes with the

656
00:38:45,269 --> 00:38:47,788
Speaker 15: way that they moved. The ball so coach came up

657
00:38:47,829 --> 00:38:50,748
Speaker 15: with a scheme to where once, we switch it's not

658
00:38:50,869 --> 00:38:55,109
Speaker 15: just a, point switch it's actually come together. And switch

659
00:38:55,469 --> 00:38:58,749
Speaker 15: so you take away, the slips you take away the easy,

660
00:38:58,829 --> 00:39:01,549
Speaker 15: back doors and, you know you bring the level of

661
00:39:01,549 --> 00:39:04,629
Speaker 15: physicality to the game where you know it wears on the.

662
00:39:04,709 --> 00:39:07,589
Speaker 15: Offensive player so when we figured that out and we,

663
00:39:07,629 --> 00:39:11,549
Speaker 15: did that which took some time to get used, to it,

664
00:39:11,669 --> 00:39:14,308
Speaker 15: you know with a different style, of play we got.

665
00:39:14,309 --> 00:39:17,949
Speaker 1: Better defensively through three games In The Western, conference Finals

666
00:39:18,149 --> 00:39:21,029
Speaker 1: the rockets defense didn't appear to be the. Difference Make

667
00:39:22,029 --> 00:39:24,389
Speaker 1: the Warriors took game One in houston with one hundred and,

668
00:39:24,469 --> 00:39:27,748
Speaker 1: nineteen points and After a houston Rebound in, Game Two

669
00:39:28,349 --> 00:39:30,669
Speaker 1: golden state put up another one hundred and twenty Six

670
00:39:30,709 --> 00:39:33,429
Speaker 1: in game three to take a two one. Series Lead

671
00:39:35,189 --> 00:39:43,629
Speaker 1: chu curry watched. By hard what's, a Mob. There's curry.

672
00:39:45,949 --> 00:39:47,589
Speaker 6: We were from two to fifteen if THE.

673
00:39:48,109 --> 00:39:51,788
Speaker 1: Down nba, leford right we were sixteen.

674
00:39:54,469 --> 00:39:55,269
Speaker 4: Ye home.

675
00:39:57,309 --> 00:40:02,869
Speaker 1: Play game Against lay Over n this is when the

676
00:40:02,949 --> 00:40:06,709
Speaker 1: defense is would Kick in game four would be an

677
00:40:06,869 --> 00:40:11,309
Speaker 1: absolute slug fast with both teams shooting thirty nine percent

678
00:40:11,389 --> 00:40:15,389
Speaker 1: from the Floor, in Oakland the rockets would trail by

679
00:40:15,469 --> 00:40:18,229
Speaker 1: double figures in the, second half only to come back

680
00:40:18,269 --> 00:40:20,709
Speaker 1: and win ninety five to ninety two to tie. The

681
00:40:20,789 --> 00:40:23,069
Speaker 1: series what a strict.

682
00:40:24,629 --> 00:40:30,069
Speaker 8: Partin with the throve oh.

683
00:40:28,509 --> 00:40:31,268
Speaker 1: Flat shoal, My, Change Harden.

684
00:40:30,989 --> 00:40:34,269
Speaker 8: Gordon Light Had draymond green and a lot of trailer.

685
00:40:34,389 --> 00:40:38,908
Speaker 1: Out There following harden score Thirty And chris paul Talked

686
00:40:38,909 --> 00:40:42,189
Speaker 1: To kristin ludlow after adding. Twenty, seven chris you have

687
00:40:42,269 --> 00:40:45,229
Speaker 1: earned a win and one of the most difficult environments

688
00:40:45,309 --> 00:40:47,589
Speaker 1: to do so IN. The nba once look over your

689
00:40:47,629 --> 00:40:50,109
Speaker 1: team in that fourth quarter as you overcame a double.

690
00:40:50,229 --> 00:40:52,189
Speaker 1: DIGIT deficite i went on a hell of a run

691
00:40:52,269 --> 00:40:53,309
Speaker 1: there and the third stuff.

692
00:40:53,349 --> 00:40:55,709
Speaker 15: GOT hot i went up eighty, to SEVENTY and i,

693
00:40:55,829 --> 00:40:58,308
Speaker 15: told us the guys in, the huddle and that's.

694
00:40:58,349 --> 00:41:00,469
Speaker 1: Fight back, you know that's. Fight back and that's what. We,

695
00:41:00,589 --> 00:41:02,748
Speaker 1: did man hell of. A game team up for.

696
00:41:04,909 --> 00:41:05,509
Speaker 4: Big time game.

697
00:41:05,589 --> 00:41:05,909
Speaker 9: Right here.

698
00:41:08,149 --> 00:41:11,309
Speaker 1: Game five Back in houston would be just as. Defensive

699
00:41:11,349 --> 00:41:14,669
Speaker 1: Oriented the rockets shot an even worse Than in game

700
00:41:14,789 --> 00:41:18,109
Speaker 1: four at thirty, seven percent but still held a one

701
00:41:18,149 --> 00:41:21,069
Speaker 1: point lead in the. Final minute it was then that

702
00:41:21,189 --> 00:41:24,789
Speaker 1: The basketball god stepped in once again to Influence the.

703
00:41:24,869 --> 00:41:28,469
Speaker 1: Warriors faith after driving to the rim and spinning in,

704
00:41:28,509 --> 00:41:31,989
Speaker 1: The lane paul went down and immediately grabbed at his.

705
00:41:32,109 --> 00:41:33,989
Speaker 1: Right hamstring oh, my.

706
00:41:34,029 --> 00:41:41,388
Speaker 5: God one to start, one shot puck to, fu all

707
00:41:41,789 --> 00:41:43,989
Speaker 5: got a bite cook all on.

708
00:41:44,149 --> 00:41:52,509
Speaker 8: The smid who? From Suckers Here's draymond frank giving it

709
00:41:52,589 --> 00:41:55,189
Speaker 8: out to What fine.

710
00:41:57,229 --> 00:41:57,748
Speaker 1: Rice call?

711
00:41:57,909 --> 00:41:57,949
Speaker 4: Was?

712
00:41:58,189 --> 00:42:01,469
Speaker 1: Down first paul. Is hunt he's not gonna come out.

713
00:42:01,509 --> 00:42:05,789
Speaker 1: The game he did not pass that. Last play it

714
00:42:05,909 --> 00:42:07,549
Speaker 1: was a. Desperation player he.

715
00:42:07,669 --> 00:42:08,389
Speaker 3: Was hunting.

716
00:42:09,789 --> 00:42:12,949
Speaker 1: Paul was already untucking his shirt before he left, the

717
00:42:13,069 --> 00:42:17,149
Speaker 1: court showing he knew it was a. Significant Injury the

718
00:42:17,269 --> 00:42:19,389
Speaker 1: rockets held on to take a three to two, series

719
00:42:19,509 --> 00:42:24,709
Speaker 1: lead but all their enthusiasm was Dampened by. Paul's injury one,

720
00:42:24,829 --> 00:42:28,029
Speaker 1: year earlier It was leonard's injury In the conference finals

721
00:42:28,349 --> 00:42:32,629
Speaker 1: that brought up questions About. The ducks, this time it

722
00:42:32,629 --> 00:42:35,069
Speaker 1: would be an Injury To chris paul in a much

723
00:42:35,149 --> 00:42:40,189
Speaker 1: more competitive series that had folks. Talking Similarly the warriors

724
00:42:40,269 --> 00:42:43,469
Speaker 1: tied the series with little resistance behind thirty Five From.

725
00:42:43,509 --> 00:42:49,709
Speaker 1: Clay thompson it Was a, game six, After, all tasha find.

726
00:42:52,269 --> 00:42:52,669
Speaker 5: What is it?

727
00:42:52,789 --> 00:42:54,069
Speaker 1: About You in game six?

728
00:42:54,149 --> 00:42:55,349
Speaker 3: Elimination, GAME.

729
00:42:57,149 --> 00:43:00,189
Speaker 4: Oh i don't want to.

730
00:43:00,229 --> 00:43:02,349
Speaker 1: Go home we worked to all this season to. Go

731
00:43:02,469 --> 00:43:04,669
Speaker 1: home and this is what we.

732
00:43:04,749 --> 00:43:08,389
Speaker 5: Played for, when yeah back gets the wall and it

733
00:43:08,469 --> 00:43:10,509
Speaker 5: shows what you Made of and this feels right.

734
00:43:10,589 --> 00:43:11,748
Speaker 1: Right now but as Soon as i'm gonna do, This,

735
00:43:11,789 --> 00:43:13,029
Speaker 1: Total david i'm gonna forget about.

736
00:43:13,069 --> 00:43:13,549
Speaker 4: This game.

737
00:43:16,709 --> 00:43:20,069
Speaker 1: Then in game Seven, in Houston the rockets were using

738
00:43:20,109 --> 00:43:23,989
Speaker 1: their home energy to fight Off. The Warriors Without, Chris

739
00:43:24,069 --> 00:43:27,348
Speaker 1: paul houston led forty two to twenty eight with six

740
00:43:27,509 --> 00:43:30,828
Speaker 1: forty three left in the. Second quarter it was at

741
00:43:30,869 --> 00:43:34,349
Speaker 1: that very Moment the rockets forgot how to shoot, a

742
00:43:34,389 --> 00:43:39,149
Speaker 1: basketball at least from three. Point range you remember when

743
00:43:39,149 --> 00:43:41,669
Speaker 1: the air conditioning went Out In san Antonio during game

744
00:43:41,749 --> 00:43:43,709
Speaker 1: one of the finals Between the spurs and, the heat

745
00:43:44,469 --> 00:43:47,229
Speaker 1: leading to lebron cramping And the spurs eking out. A,

746
00:43:47,269 --> 00:43:52,629
Speaker 1: win well this was, like that except It was houston's

747
00:43:52,749 --> 00:43:54,309
Speaker 1: offense that. Lost power.

748
00:43:55,549 --> 00:44:02,109
Speaker 5: Harden were working for Fall our Bill dawn. Tonio shock they.

749
00:44:02,029 --> 00:44:12,109
Speaker 1: Are in their grill is hot well gotten talker be

750
00:44:12,149 --> 00:44:19,709
Speaker 1: reflected out about going a harder hot. Partner shoes it.

751
00:44:22,269 --> 00:44:22,709
Speaker 4: All a.

752
00:44:22,789 --> 00:44:27,589
Speaker 1: Golden Statele the rockets missed twenty seven consecutive three pointers

753
00:44:27,629 --> 00:44:30,149
Speaker 1: from that point in the, second quarter all the way

754
00:44:30,229 --> 00:44:33,909
Speaker 1: until the six twenty eight mark of the. Fourth quarter by,

755
00:44:33,989 --> 00:44:36,868
Speaker 1: that Time the warriors had taken a ten, point lead

756
00:44:37,309 --> 00:44:39,109
Speaker 1: and they'd hold on to win one oh one to.

757
00:44:39,269 --> 00:44:44,308
Speaker 8: Ninety two here chops up fod one most twenty point

758
00:44:44,389 --> 00:44:50,309
Speaker 8: scot pops it out the light o y bounds royal

759
00:44:50,509 --> 00:44:51,789
Speaker 8: by a rezon.

760
00:44:52,189 --> 00:44:55,469
Speaker 10: Four three cannot find the range?

761
00:44:55,669 --> 00:44:56,788
Speaker 5: Is present were?

762
00:44:56,909 --> 00:45:02,189
Speaker 1: Your stock it was an inconceivable Display. From houston it

763
00:45:02,349 --> 00:45:06,469
Speaker 1: was also impot able to explain they weren't all. Bad

764
00:45:06,589 --> 00:45:11,989
Speaker 1: looks they were just. All, missus ariza who was zero

765
00:45:11,989 --> 00:45:14,429
Speaker 1: for nine from three in, the game six of them

766
00:45:14,509 --> 00:45:17,828
Speaker 1: coming in that ice, cold stretch couldn't shed any light

767
00:45:17,949 --> 00:45:21,509
Speaker 1: on Why the rockets, were missing but he most certainly

768
00:45:21,589 --> 00:45:24,109
Speaker 1: believes the outcome of the series would have been Different

769
00:45:24,589 --> 00:45:26,989
Speaker 1: had paul not. Gotten, Hurt yes.

770
00:45:27,949 --> 00:45:28,469
Speaker 4: I'm gonna go.

771
00:45:28,589 --> 00:45:31,109
Speaker 15: With, hell yet who was gonna win that series if

772
00:45:31,109 --> 00:45:34,748
Speaker 15: he Doesn't get although they may have had Like more

773
00:45:35,149 --> 00:45:40,589
Speaker 15: Hall of fame, type players, but again like with Him

774
00:45:40,749 --> 00:45:46,549
Speaker 15: and james being those Quote unquote Hall of fame players on,

775
00:45:46,749 --> 00:45:49,949
Speaker 15: THAT team i felt like we had enough to beat.

776
00:45:50,469 --> 00:45:59,029
Speaker 15: A Team With, Steph clay Katie and treymond and their, supporting.

777
00:45:58,709 --> 00:46:01,829
Speaker 1: Cast the warriors were on their way to a, familiar

778
00:46:01,869 --> 00:46:06,629
Speaker 1: place their FOURTH Consecutive. Nba finals they'd face a familiar

779
00:46:06,669 --> 00:46:11,989
Speaker 1: opponent they'd finished with a. Familiar result there's. The buzzer

780
00:46:12,109 --> 00:46:13,109
Speaker 1: there's a new dynasty IN.

781
00:46:13,149 --> 00:46:16,949
Speaker 5: The Nba The Golden state warriors champions, once again back

782
00:46:16,989 --> 00:46:18,389
Speaker 5: to back titles three and four.

783
00:46:18,509 --> 00:46:19,109
Speaker 4: Years ago.

784
00:46:21,829 --> 00:46:25,069
Speaker 1: They'd learned soon they're. After that what could tear this

785
00:46:25,189 --> 00:46:29,349
Speaker 1: group apart wasn't. Any opponent it would be just. That

786
00:46:30,389 --> 00:46:35,589
Speaker 1: Familiarity The kevin durant era Of the warriors would crumble

787
00:46:35,869 --> 00:46:40,789
Speaker 1: from the inside out on the next. Dub, dynasty.

788
00:46:42,469 --> 00:46:45,269
Speaker 4: Uh it was just some things said that shouldn't have,

789
00:46:45,309 --> 00:46:46,629
Speaker 4: been said and lines.

790
00:46:46,669 --> 00:46:49,549
Speaker 15: Were CROSSED so i can understand somebody feeling it a

791
00:46:49,629 --> 00:46:50,109
Speaker 15: certain type.

792
00:46:50,109 --> 00:46:50,629
Speaker 9: Of way Once the.

793
00:46:50,709 --> 00:46:54,709
Speaker 16: Lions crossed It was kevin's free agency and the uncertainty

794
00:46:54,829 --> 00:46:58,989
Speaker 16: of what he wanted for, his future and he didn't

795
00:46:58,989 --> 00:47:00,908
Speaker 16: want to talk about it, a LOT but i think

796
00:47:00,989 --> 00:47:04,509
Speaker 16: that's because he truly, didn't know so there was. Just

797
00:47:04,669 --> 00:47:06,268
Speaker 16: tension that's the best way to put.

798
00:47:06,309 --> 00:47:09,229
Speaker 6: A tension I remember kevin did presconference at, THE time

799
00:47:09,309 --> 00:47:10,909
Speaker 6: i think in the middle Of the blazer series where

800
00:47:10,949 --> 00:47:12,789
Speaker 6: he was. Really upset why does it always have to

801
00:47:12,829 --> 00:47:15,428
Speaker 6: Be the WARRIOR unt Kd the Warriors, Aunt kad because

802
00:47:15,469 --> 00:47:17,429
Speaker 6: Suddenly the warriors were played really WELL.

803
00:47:17,509 --> 00:47:20,748
Speaker 7: Without kde my, feeling was, you know he's not going

804
00:47:20,829 --> 00:47:23,109
Speaker 7: to come back unless he's ready to, come BACK and

805
00:47:23,229 --> 00:47:24,949
Speaker 7: i think that a lot of people felt the. Same

806
00:47:25,029 --> 00:47:25,909
Speaker 7: way and.

807
00:47:26,349 --> 00:47:27,868
Speaker 6: Everybody's up they got a chance.

808
00:47:27,949 --> 00:47:29,029
Speaker 15: To win this Staff.

809
00:47:32,629 --> 00:47:35,589
Speaker 1: Dub dynasty is a Production of iHeartMedia AND. The nba

810
00:47:36,149 --> 00:47:40,189
Speaker 1: for more Podcasts, from iHeartRadio Visit the, iHeartRadio App, apple

811
00:47:40,269 --> 00:47:42,509
Speaker 1: podcasts or wherever you get. Your podcasts