WEBVTT - #thisleague UNCUT: Conference Finals, bonus Bucks talk and another NBA coaching change 0:00:00.160 --> 0:00:04.360 Welcome to this League Uncut in the rule of twenty 0:00:04.400 --> 0:00:10.200 four hour NBA News. This's you, Chris Haynes. It's time, 0:00:10.800 --> 0:00:18.840 work's time. It's so time. This League Uncut is underway 0:00:19.040 --> 0:00:19.840 ten on five. 0:00:21.520 --> 0:00:22.479 This should be a good one. 0:00:23.880 --> 0:00:29.360 Hey, everyone, welcome in to a brand new edition of 0:00:29.400 --> 0:00:30.760 This League Uncut. 0:00:31.000 --> 0:00:32.680 Mark Steign here with Chris Haynes. 0:00:32.680 --> 0:00:39.760 We are taping at lunchtime on the East Coast on Thursday. 0:00:40.159 --> 0:00:43.320 Chris Haynes in Atlanta. I'm in Dallas. 0:00:44.120 --> 0:00:48.160 We've got Chris in a much more optimized Wi Fi 0:00:48.240 --> 0:00:52.239 situation now. So the many, many, many issues that we 0:00:52.320 --> 0:00:56.360 had in the last two episodes, including the near arrest 0:00:56.480 --> 0:00:56.960 of the. 0:00:56.840 --> 0:00:57.760 Star of our show. 0:00:57.880 --> 0:01:01.160 And obviously I'm saying that facetiously, but there was a 0:01:01.160 --> 0:01:05.000 flicker of concern during our last episode when Chris Haynes 0:01:05.120 --> 0:01:08.920 was the only person on the campus of Clark University 0:01:08.959 --> 0:01:14.640 besides curious security guards stalking him and wondering why he 0:01:14.720 --> 0:01:19.600 was doing his pod on an empty campus. But we 0:01:19.680 --> 0:01:22.319 don't have to deal with any of that today, thankfully, 0:01:22.560 --> 0:01:27.120 because it is the morning slash afternoon. After Chris Haynes 0:01:27.200 --> 0:01:30.720 was part of a Western Conference alt cast, I got 0:01:30.720 --> 0:01:33.680 to confess to my podcast partner here, I did not 0:01:33.840 --> 0:01:34.600 watch any of it. 0:01:34.680 --> 0:01:35.240 I wanted to. 0:01:35.480 --> 0:01:38.520 I saw that you as one of the co hosts 0:01:38.600 --> 0:01:43.600 of this alt cast, you were also in charge of 0:01:43.600 --> 0:01:46.360 lining up the guests, and you had Damian Lillard and 0:01:47.200 --> 0:01:50.280 Bobby Portis from the Milwaukee Bucks on, but I did 0:01:50.280 --> 0:01:52.080 not get to see any of it. So tell us, 0:01:53.600 --> 0:01:55.480 how was it, man, how was the alt Cast? 0:01:56.240 --> 0:01:57.720 It's cool, you know, it's a. 0:02:00.040 --> 0:02:03.880 Know, you're trying to strike the right balance between you know, 0:02:04.200 --> 0:02:10.440 podcast format and giving commentary. For the record, I had 0:02:10.560 --> 0:02:14.400 nothing nothing to do with Bobby Porters being the guest. 0:02:14.480 --> 0:02:17.720 He was actually in Atlanta, so he was doing the 0:02:17.880 --> 0:02:22.079 car wash at turn so he he showed up, did 0:02:22.120 --> 0:02:25.040 our shown bonus guest. 0:02:24.840 --> 0:02:26.320 That was a definitely bonus guest. 0:02:26.360 --> 0:02:28.880 He stayed on for quite a while, probably most of 0:02:28.919 --> 0:02:32.200 the first half, and then Dame came on the third quarter. 0:02:32.440 --> 0:02:34.880 Dame stayed with us the entire third quarter, so that 0:02:35.000 --> 0:02:38.440 was cool. Got to catch up on what he's doing, 0:02:39.400 --> 0:02:41.040 how he's preparing for next season. 0:02:41.520 --> 0:02:43.320 You know, he was he was really good. He was 0:02:43.360 --> 0:02:44.080 good in candidate. 0:02:44.120 --> 0:02:46.480 You know, he said, you know, around this time of year, 0:02:46.520 --> 0:02:50.760 he becomes a hater because he usually roots for the 0:02:50.880 --> 0:02:55.040 team that won the championship last year. So new players 0:02:55.080 --> 0:02:58.079 can't win the finals because he doesn't He doesn't want 0:02:58.080 --> 0:03:01.720 a new player, you know him, to the to get 0:03:01.760 --> 0:03:04.480 the titles. So he said, so this one is tough 0:03:04.480 --> 0:03:06.480 because there's going to be a new champion, but that 0:03:06.560 --> 0:03:09.000 it's cool. He gave it update on his achilles injury, 0:03:09.040 --> 0:03:11.760 where he's at the struggles. 0:03:12.040 --> 0:03:14.200 Is he glad he played in that game six because 0:03:14.240 --> 0:03:16.560 like I told you, man, I was. I was scared 0:03:16.600 --> 0:03:21.080 for him when he came back trying to save Milwaukee season. 0:03:21.760 --> 0:03:24.160 Yeah, no, he felt he had to do it and 0:03:24.200 --> 0:03:26.880 he believed that Giannis would have came back for game 0:03:27.000 --> 0:03:31.440 seven had they won Game six. So now he didn't 0:03:31.440 --> 0:03:34.640 he doesn't have any regrets and he didn't. He didn't 0:03:34.680 --> 0:03:37.680 hurt it any further. So that was good news. But 0:03:38.280 --> 0:03:41.400 he's still in the physical therapy stage of his rehab 0:03:41.440 --> 0:03:45.080 and he hopes to be back being able to get 0:03:45.080 --> 0:03:47.280 on the court at some time sometime next month. 0:03:47.320 --> 0:03:48.680 But no, it was cool. Stein's cool. 0:03:48.760 --> 0:03:52.680 Like again, to each to each his own, to each 0:03:52.720 --> 0:03:54.840 his or her own, I should say, you got the 0:03:54.880 --> 0:03:58.760 traditional broadcast on TNT, and then you have an out 0:03:58.880 --> 0:04:03.200 cast on True TV every game during the Western Conference Finals. Again, 0:04:04.360 --> 0:04:07.440 we have fun. We got some you know, have some 0:04:07.480 --> 0:04:09.760 good feedback. We have people that loved it that were 0:04:09.800 --> 0:04:12.480 tweeting out us, emailing us. We have people that hate it, 0:04:12.840 --> 0:04:15.280 you know. So it's it's a balance you're trying to 0:04:15.280 --> 0:04:19.960 strike as far as like how much commentary, how much 0:04:20.040 --> 0:04:22.560 play by play are you giving? We're not doing play 0:04:22.560 --> 0:04:25.880 by play, but it's just it's a lot going on. 0:04:26.040 --> 0:04:28.600 So I don't know if there is a balance, but 0:04:29.000 --> 0:04:30.160 we definitely have fun. 0:04:30.839 --> 0:04:34.080 Well for you though, I mean, you're in Atlanta in 0:04:34.160 --> 0:04:37.679 a beautiful studio. You get to hang out for three 0:04:37.720 --> 0:04:41.000 hours with Vince Carter. That can't be bad. That was cool, 0:04:41.120 --> 0:04:42.360 So it's a good deal for you. 0:04:43.480 --> 0:04:44.280 Yeah, no, it was cool. 0:04:44.360 --> 0:04:46.480 Vince Carter is here, e Donna's Haslom's here, We're all 0:04:46.480 --> 0:04:49.960 standing at the same hotel. Ug is here, and you 0:04:50.000 --> 0:04:52.880 know Brendan Haywood, that's my guy. You know, you you 0:04:53.279 --> 0:04:56.200 have Brendan Haywood in Dallas. I had Brendan Haywood in 0:04:56.240 --> 0:05:00.400 Cleveland his last year in the NBA. You know Channing 0:05:00.440 --> 0:05:04.039 Fries here, So you know, it's good cast of people here. 0:05:04.080 --> 0:05:07.480 So we were connecting, you know, in between times when 0:05:07.520 --> 0:05:10.360 we have the time. So it's cool now, but it's 0:05:10.400 --> 0:05:13.760 cool to stay planet for I'm gonna be here. I 0:05:13.800 --> 0:05:15.720 could be here if this goes Game seven, I can 0:05:15.760 --> 0:05:18.120 be here all the way up until June third. I 0:05:18.120 --> 0:05:19.920 don't think this is going to be a sweep at 0:05:19.960 --> 0:05:22.880 all this series, so it definitely has the potential to 0:05:22.880 --> 0:05:23.480 go to distance. 0:05:23.839 --> 0:05:26.960 A lot of Bucks doing TV right now, which is strange. 0:05:27.000 --> 0:05:30.680 I saw Malik be your guy, Malik Beasley on the 0:05:30.720 --> 0:05:34.960 fan Duel Show today, Bobby and Dame doing your show, 0:05:35.000 --> 0:05:39.600 and then maybe the best news for Bucks fans this morning, 0:05:39.720 --> 0:05:46.400 out of the blue, Yiannis Antetokounmpo tweeting quote, I promise 0:05:46.480 --> 0:05:49.880 you we will get back to where we belong, and 0:05:49.920 --> 0:05:52.039 they're going to give us our damn flowers. 0:05:52.320 --> 0:05:54.760 The tweet started with Milwaukee, thank you. 0:05:54.800 --> 0:05:57.239 So I think Bucks fans were probably a little nervous 0:05:57.240 --> 0:05:59.760 when they read the first few words of the tweet, 0:05:59.760 --> 0:06:02.839 but I know it's Gianni's coming out here to proclaim 0:06:03.000 --> 0:06:07.560 to Brewtown that he wants to come back strong. The 0:06:07.600 --> 0:06:10.320 Bucks are on the forefront of his mind. Probably the 0:06:10.360 --> 0:06:13.200 best thing you could read or hear if you're a 0:06:13.240 --> 0:06:17.120 Bucks fan to hear Janni's proclaiming to the world, I 0:06:17.240 --> 0:06:19.720 promise you we will get back to where we belong. 0:06:19.880 --> 0:06:22.360 So even though I failed you and I did not 0:06:22.520 --> 0:06:24.960 watch the alt cast, I'm guessing you got a similar 0:06:25.080 --> 0:06:26.760 vibe from mister Lillard last night. 0:06:27.600 --> 0:06:27.800 Yeah. 0:06:27.920 --> 0:06:31.120 No, they're excited and you're honest, and Dame, they will 0:06:31.160 --> 0:06:35.640 get together at some point this offseason, will get to get. 0:06:35.480 --> 0:06:39.280 The training together. So you know they're looking forward to it. 0:06:39.320 --> 0:06:41.400 But as far as you talk about the Bucks media 0:06:41.440 --> 0:06:45.920 tour that they're going on, start it, it's not going 0:06:45.920 --> 0:06:46.360 to stop. 0:06:47.160 --> 0:06:50.400 I'm expected to have Doc Rivers come on. 0:06:51.279 --> 0:06:51.719 Wow. 0:06:54.880 --> 0:06:58.120 So Bucks Bucks media tour is ongoing. 0:06:58.240 --> 0:07:01.520 Can we get any of these Bucks exluminaries on this show? 0:07:03.640 --> 0:07:06.440 Three of those four people have all wait, did Doc 0:07:06.520 --> 0:07:07.040 do this show? 0:07:07.120 --> 0:07:08.520 No, docted my doc. 0:07:08.720 --> 0:07:10.800 Doc did my radio show in Dallas. But obviously we've 0:07:10.800 --> 0:07:13.520 had Dame on, and we've had your favorite NBA player, 0:07:13.560 --> 0:07:14.320 Malik Beasley on. 0:07:14.400 --> 0:07:16.440 Of course he was the first guest in show history. 0:07:16.600 --> 0:07:18.080 We have Bobby Porters too. 0:07:18.280 --> 0:07:22.640 We had Bobby that's right. Yeah, Yeah, we've had we 0:07:22.680 --> 0:07:23.360 have a doctor. 0:07:23.440 --> 0:07:25.920 We have not listen, we have hold on you had Doc. 0:07:26.800 --> 0:07:29.760 You chose to have Doc on your show? That was 0:07:31.000 --> 0:07:31.280 That was. 0:07:31.240 --> 0:07:33.840 Because Doc Rivers was in Dallas and I just got 0:07:33.880 --> 0:07:36.880 a few minutes with him in the arena, my home arena. 0:07:36.960 --> 0:07:39.840 Let's so you get to be forgetting some Bucks players 0:07:39.960 --> 0:07:43.200 on and we've we've actually already had all the Bucks 0:07:43.200 --> 0:07:44.640 players that I had all yesterday. 0:07:44.720 --> 0:07:47.760 I'm why are you moving to Milwaukee? Just let's end 0:07:47.760 --> 0:07:48.400 the charade. 0:07:48.480 --> 0:07:48.920 And just. 0:07:50.840 --> 0:07:53.440 I mean, seriously, how many Bucks games did you go 0:07:53.520 --> 0:07:54.040 to this year? 0:07:54.080 --> 0:07:55.840 And how many Kings games did you go to? 0:07:55.960 --> 0:07:58.680 I'm sure if we counted it up, I think the 0:07:58.760 --> 0:07:59.840 Bucks win the rest. 0:08:01.640 --> 0:08:03.840 That's crazy consider I live in second middle. 0:08:03.920 --> 0:08:06.840 And speaking of races, did I really see footage of 0:08:06.880 --> 0:08:11.840 you recreating Kenny Smith one of a con sprint to 0:08:12.000 --> 0:08:14.480 the TNT video board? 0:08:14.600 --> 0:08:15.480 What was that all about? 0:08:15.560 --> 0:08:19.960 Don? I am impressed? So hold on stime again. The 0:08:20.000 --> 0:08:22.960 only way you saw that, well, not take that back, 0:08:23.080 --> 0:08:26.160 I forgot it was posted a Facebook. Anytime I post 0:08:26.200 --> 0:08:28.760 on Instagram is posted on my Facebook. So you saw 0:08:28.760 --> 0:08:29.360 it on face. 0:08:29.200 --> 0:08:30.040 There's only two way. 0:08:30.080 --> 0:08:32.680 Yeah, there's only two ways that this information can reach 0:08:32.760 --> 0:08:36.360 me because I barely know how to operate Instagram. Either 0:08:36.400 --> 0:08:39.120 my son sees it on Instagram, which does happen a lot. 0:08:39.240 --> 0:08:41.120 My son does tell me, hey, did you see what 0:08:41.200 --> 0:08:45.080 Chris posted? So he's my my son is is is 0:08:45.120 --> 0:08:48.120 an avid follower of your social media activity. But yes, 0:08:48.720 --> 0:08:50.520 there's also a chance that I can see it on 0:08:51.040 --> 0:08:52.120 old man Facebook. 0:08:52.480 --> 0:08:52.760 Old. 0:08:53.559 --> 0:08:57.520 The fact that you're still getting your content, your entertainment 0:08:57.600 --> 0:08:58.760 content through Facebook. 0:08:58.960 --> 0:08:59.640 I really don't. 0:08:59.679 --> 0:08:59.960 I don't. 0:09:00.360 --> 0:09:02.400 I don't like. I don't like. I really don't like 0:09:02.559 --> 0:09:03.280 using that either. 0:09:03.400 --> 0:09:05.960 But there's a you know, like I said, once in 0:09:05.960 --> 0:09:08.079 a while, I will see something on there. I really, 0:09:08.120 --> 0:09:11.200 I really believe me. Twitter is enough man, That's like 0:09:12.600 --> 0:09:16.000 it's enough. And that's why like TikTok, don't even know. 0:09:15.960 --> 0:09:16.840 How to open that. 0:09:17.800 --> 0:09:21.280 I continue to be urged that I need to start 0:09:21.320 --> 0:09:24.840 tiktoking if that is the right vernacular. 0:09:24.679 --> 0:09:28.439 Me too. I'll hold off still, but yes, I hear 0:09:28.440 --> 0:09:28.960 you me too. 0:09:29.280 --> 0:09:32.080 Substack, man, substack is the only that that's where I 0:09:32.080 --> 0:09:34.400 need to be. That's where my food, my attention stays. 0:09:34.400 --> 0:09:38.079 Fuss, that's who pays the bills as of right now, substack. 0:09:38.559 --> 0:09:40.160 But no, yeah, I did recreate that. 0:09:40.600 --> 0:09:45.000 Kenny Smith uh falling on the steps as he's going 0:09:45.040 --> 0:09:49.240 to the board. Our our all studio, our all cast studio, 0:09:49.400 --> 0:09:52.160 is actually the same. It's in the same it's the 0:09:52.200 --> 0:09:56.839 same studio. It's the inside, the inside, the NBA crew. 0:09:57.240 --> 0:10:01.240 It's just that we're turned the opposite way. So I 0:10:01.320 --> 0:10:03.640 was just having some fun at kiddies' spence, That's all 0:10:03.679 --> 0:10:06.040 I said to the kid, and he laughed. He said, 0:10:07.320 --> 0:10:09.680 you ran into the camera trying to play it all. 0:10:10.640 --> 0:10:13.839 I gotta look at what he talking about. I guess 0:10:13.840 --> 0:10:16.480 he think I really failed. But yeah, I was just 0:10:16.640 --> 0:10:19.000 having for so it was cool. I'm enjoying myself. 0:10:19.040 --> 0:10:20.959 All right, Well, let's talk about the game last night 0:10:21.000 --> 0:10:24.840 that you were covering, because that was quite a spicy start. 0:10:24.920 --> 0:10:27.920 I would say to this first round series, where you know, 0:10:27.960 --> 0:10:30.960 the Wolves are widely regarded, I think, as the favorite, 0:10:31.040 --> 0:10:33.839 and look, you can certainly make the argument that they 0:10:33.960 --> 0:10:37.400 deserve that. When you go to Denver and win three 0:10:37.480 --> 0:10:39.440 times in a series, and you also win a home 0:10:39.520 --> 0:10:42.240 game by forty plus points. 0:10:42.160 --> 0:10:45.720 You deserve to be the favorites. 0:10:46.480 --> 0:10:51.000 But Dallas, they went in to Minnesota last night and 0:10:51.120 --> 0:10:53.640 made quite a statement, even though the three ball was 0:10:53.720 --> 0:10:57.880 not there. It is the sixth playoff series of the 0:10:58.000 --> 0:11:02.160 Jason kidd As coach air in Dallas, first time out 0:11:02.160 --> 0:11:05.600 of those six that Dallas wins game one, and Dallas 0:11:05.600 --> 0:11:10.000 has won four of those previous five playoff series under 0:11:10.080 --> 0:11:14.000 Jason Kidds, So they've done it four times in the 0:11:14.000 --> 0:11:15.000 past without even. 0:11:14.800 --> 0:11:15.679 Winning game one. 0:11:16.160 --> 0:11:19.720 Now they go in to Minneapolis and take game one. 0:11:20.200 --> 0:11:21.839 What did you see and what did some of your 0:11:21.840 --> 0:11:25.520 colleagues see when you were watching this game from your 0:11:25.559 --> 0:11:26.480 studio perch. 0:11:27.320 --> 0:11:31.480 I feel like Luca and Kyrie have to be on 0:11:31.720 --> 0:11:34.200 because I feel like the Minnesota have they have more 0:11:34.240 --> 0:11:40.559 offensive weapons and the weapons that Dallas has yo their 0:11:40.640 --> 0:11:46.040 shots are primarily created via Luca and Kyrie. So I thought, 0:11:46.080 --> 0:11:49.199 you know, obviously Minnesota has home court advantage. They should 0:11:49.200 --> 0:11:51.559 have had the advantage in this series, especially early on. 0:11:53.640 --> 0:11:56.800 I was very interested in looking at the matchups. Jade 0:11:56.840 --> 0:12:02.240 mcdames on Luca Dodgets, Anthony Edwarson, Kyrie, and I said this, 0:12:02.440 --> 0:12:04.960 I told you this. I feel like Minnesota has the 0:12:04.960 --> 0:12:08.400 best defense in the league interior and on a PERIMETI 0:12:09.880 --> 0:12:12.880 Lucas showed that it did not matter. 0:12:14.400 --> 0:12:16.920 Kyrie showed that it did not matter. 0:12:17.640 --> 0:12:21.360 Those guys are a problem, and you saw Minnesota at 0:12:21.440 --> 0:12:28.040 times electing to just allow Jaden McDaniels to guard Luca 0:12:29.040 --> 0:12:33.720 and allow Anthony Edwards to go at Kyrie, irving no help. 0:12:34.240 --> 0:12:36.640 Maybe a little bit of trap on the pick and rolls, 0:12:36.679 --> 0:12:41.000 but when it was isolation, they weren't sending doubles. Luca 0:12:41.360 --> 0:12:46.600 Kyrie ate them alive. I was very impressed by Luca 0:12:46.760 --> 0:12:49.360 still being able to get separation. Think about what Luca 0:12:49.400 --> 0:12:53.000 has dealt with in the playoffs thus far. You know 0:12:53.880 --> 0:12:56.720 had he has Jade mcdowells, who was a long defender 0:12:56.760 --> 0:12:59.640 who got a belief second team All Defense this season. 0:13:00.000 --> 0:13:02.520 Congratulations to him. But he's left. 0:13:02.600 --> 0:13:05.400 He has the lyft, he has the quickness, he has 0:13:05.440 --> 0:13:11.400 the foot speed. Luca still finds a way, still can 0:13:11.520 --> 0:13:15.160 use his body to push off and get space. And 0:13:15.280 --> 0:13:18.280 Luca had to deal with Lou Dort in Okay, See, 0:13:18.400 --> 0:13:22.480 somebody who's a physical specimen has the foot speed, but 0:13:22.559 --> 0:13:25.640 he's somebody that's going to bump you and not allow 0:13:25.679 --> 0:13:29.040 you to get to your spots. Luca still found a way. 0:13:29.280 --> 0:13:31.959 Now Luca might be a little bit battered and bruise 0:13:32.160 --> 0:13:35.360 from that experience with Dort, but he's sure that he can. 0:13:35.520 --> 0:13:36.360 It doesn't matter. 0:13:36.880 --> 0:13:40.240 So with that being said, Minnesota has a problem on 0:13:40.320 --> 0:13:45.760 their hands because they cannot stop Luca or Kyrie. And 0:13:45.840 --> 0:13:48.120 if that is the case, there's going to be trouble. 0:13:48.400 --> 0:13:51.479 With all that being said, Minnesota is still a good team. 0:13:52.080 --> 0:13:55.160 I expect this series to still go the distance. But 0:13:55.280 --> 0:13:58.160 I was definitely surprised that Dallas got Game one. 0:13:59.240 --> 0:14:04.200 Well, I think what stands out for me it's just again, 0:14:05.000 --> 0:14:09.400 how quickly this has come together for Dallas. They have 0:14:09.440 --> 0:14:13.960 a completely new identity and it's really come together in 0:14:14.040 --> 0:14:19.960 the space of three months. And you know that I 0:14:20.040 --> 0:14:23.800 love my NBA history, and this is something that I 0:14:23.880 --> 0:14:25.800 talk about on my sub stock all the time. 0:14:27.080 --> 0:14:30.120 In season, trades do not typically lead to championships. 0:14:30.440 --> 0:14:33.640 You have the Clyde Drexler example from nineteen ninety five, 0:14:34.160 --> 0:14:38.000 but those Rockets when they traded for Clyde, they were 0:14:38.000 --> 0:14:41.760 already defending champions. In two thousand and four, you had 0:14:41.800 --> 0:14:45.640 Detroit getting Rashid Wallace and that was obviously Rashid was 0:14:45.680 --> 0:14:48.680 a huge boost to that team and just took the 0:14:48.680 --> 0:14:51.760 Pistons to a new level with his two way play. 0:14:51.800 --> 0:14:53.960 And then more recently twenty nineteen. 0:14:54.920 --> 0:14:57.240 The Raptors were able to get Mark Gasol at the 0:14:57.240 --> 0:15:01.680 trade deadline. But again it's only three examples that I 0:15:01.720 --> 0:15:09.040 can really remember. In the sixteen team playoff Era and Dallas. 0:15:09.920 --> 0:15:11.320 They make the trades for PJ. 0:15:11.600 --> 0:15:15.800 Washington and Daniel Gafford at the deadline, and those are 0:15:15.840 --> 0:15:20.480 not as splashy as the three trades I mentioned because 0:15:20.560 --> 0:15:23.800 Dallas was not getting an All Star or even a 0:15:23.800 --> 0:15:24.560 former All Star. 0:15:24.640 --> 0:15:24.880 PJ. 0:15:25.080 --> 0:15:28.880 Washington had never played in a playoff game before this spring. 0:15:29.000 --> 0:15:33.880 But what those editions have done and the defensive team 0:15:34.000 --> 0:15:38.240 that the Mavericks have become since those additions, Minnesota, I 0:15:38.280 --> 0:15:41.040 totally agree with you, Minnesota, that is the best defensive 0:15:41.080 --> 0:15:45.000 team in the league. But the Mavericks are also an 0:15:45.040 --> 0:15:49.320 elite defensive team and they just continue to prove it. 0:15:51.120 --> 0:15:58.160 And the defense that they play, combined with the flammability 0:15:58.920 --> 0:16:02.560 of Luca and ky it's what makes them dangerous. And 0:16:04.160 --> 0:16:06.880 you know that was the blueprint kind of game you 0:16:07.000 --> 0:16:10.400 get from your two star guards. For anyone who has 0:16:10.440 --> 0:16:13.080 followed the MAVs in these playoffs, you know Kyrie Irving 0:16:13.120 --> 0:16:18.040 has been a second half score this whole spring, but 0:16:18.240 --> 0:16:21.000 last night he came out with twenty four points in 0:16:21.040 --> 0:16:27.600 the first half. Was so aggressive against the coverage of 0:16:27.640 --> 0:16:32.160 Aunt Edwards and the Wolves, and then that set up 0:16:32.280 --> 0:16:36.760 Luca to finish the game with a virtuoso fourth quarter. 0:16:37.880 --> 0:16:41.479 And you know, that's the best that Luca has looked physically. 0:16:41.960 --> 0:16:47.160 You know, he he was ailing and struggling throughout the 0:16:47.200 --> 0:16:49.640 Oklahoma City series. I don't know that he ever looked 0:16:50.160 --> 0:16:53.920 as fluid and dominant as he did in last night's 0:16:53.920 --> 0:16:54.400 fourth quarter. 0:16:54.440 --> 0:16:55.960 But even saying that, even when. 0:16:55.920 --> 0:16:59.200 You focus on Luca and Kyrie again, this Dallas team, 0:17:00.200 --> 0:17:02.600 I just keep saying it. I've been around this franchise 0:17:02.640 --> 0:17:07.480 for twenty five something years, and never in all that 0:17:07.640 --> 0:17:13.600 time have you had to hat tip the Mavericks defense 0:17:13.680 --> 0:17:17.840 like you do now. Even in twenty eleven, even after 0:17:17.880 --> 0:17:21.080 they added Tyson Chandler, which made them a very good 0:17:21.119 --> 0:17:24.199 defensive team, they had Tyson Chandler and Sean Marrian who 0:17:24.200 --> 0:17:27.600 could guard every position on the court. But the identity 0:17:27.640 --> 0:17:31.359 of that team was still first and foremost Dirk Navisky 0:17:32.440 --> 0:17:37.159 and his incredible offensive ability. That was the first, second, 0:17:37.160 --> 0:17:39.880 and third thing you talked about with those Mavericks. I mean, 0:17:39.960 --> 0:17:42.520 this Mavericks team, the way they have defended, and it 0:17:42.560 --> 0:17:47.040 has all come together since the trade deadline and you 0:17:47.320 --> 0:17:51.600 just don't see that very often anymore. Really really impressive. 0:17:51.640 --> 0:17:55.160 And look at it's one game. Not making any declarations. 0:17:55.520 --> 0:17:59.840 The MAVs haven't seized anything yet. Jason Kidd very pointedly 0:18:00.080 --> 0:18:02.520 said to his team after the game, we haven't done 0:18:02.560 --> 0:18:04.920 anything yet. But for Dallas to be able to win 0:18:04.960 --> 0:18:08.439 a game with an almost non existent three ball as 0:18:08.480 --> 0:18:10.960 a team, you can't win a game like that if 0:18:10.960 --> 0:18:12.200 your defense doesn't deliver. 0:18:12.880 --> 0:18:18.240 So stein interesting that you bring up the midseason trades, 0:18:18.640 --> 0:18:23.560 the additions that Dason Mavericks made. So I'm announced right 0:18:23.600 --> 0:18:27.200 here on this show that I I have an interesting 0:18:27.240 --> 0:18:32.320 guest coming on our all cast show Game two Friday, 0:18:33.119 --> 0:18:37.920 MAVs t. Wolves, somebody who has ties to Dallas and 0:18:38.080 --> 0:18:43.400 somebody who contributed to those trades. I have it on 0:18:43.440 --> 0:18:48.720 Grant Williams. Grant Williams would be on talking about the 0:18:48.760 --> 0:18:53.040 MAVs t. Wolves game. Man, I'm pretty sure we'll get 0:18:53.040 --> 0:18:55.880 to see how you felt about how everything went down. 0:18:56.000 --> 0:18:56.720 That's pretty good. 0:18:56.800 --> 0:18:59.600 Well, yeah, and look, you know, the Mavericks gave up 0:18:59.600 --> 0:19:02.000 a lot to get Grant Williams. They gave up a 0:19:02.040 --> 0:19:05.239 pick swap with San Antonio to make that happen. Then 0:19:05.280 --> 0:19:08.360 they pivot, and they had to give up a lot 0:19:08.880 --> 0:19:12.920 to trade Grant Williams to Charlotte to get PJ. Washington, remember, 0:19:12.960 --> 0:19:17.080 a top two protected pick, So this has to work 0:19:17.119 --> 0:19:21.920 for Dallas. They have surrendered control of their first round 0:19:21.960 --> 0:19:26.320 pick from twenty twenty seven to twenty thirty. The MAVs 0:19:26.359 --> 0:19:29.679 don't have it, so this thing had to work, but 0:19:30.240 --> 0:19:36.199 it is. PJ Washington has been fantastic in these playoffs 0:19:36.240 --> 0:19:38.320 after a slow start, which you would have expected a 0:19:38.320 --> 0:19:41.360 slow start because he was new to the playoff stage. 0:19:41.800 --> 0:19:42.359 But PJ. 0:19:42.680 --> 0:19:46.359 Washington has stepped up in these playoffs and he's meeting 0:19:46.400 --> 0:19:52.160 the moment. And Daniel Gafford combined with the rookie Derek 0:19:52.240 --> 0:19:58.200 Lively the second Dallas has a true center tandem now, 0:19:58.240 --> 0:20:01.919 a truly effective center tandem now, much like they did 0:20:02.680 --> 0:20:06.320 back in the championship days with Tyson Chandler and your 0:20:06.359 --> 0:20:11.439 guy Brendan Haywood. So the trade is definitely working for 0:20:11.520 --> 0:20:14.879 the Mavericks. And you know, Luka Doncic is now eligible 0:20:15.040 --> 0:20:18.159 for a five year, three hundred and forty six million 0:20:18.200 --> 0:20:23.720 dollar contract extension after next season. With the moves that 0:20:23.840 --> 0:20:26.720 Dallas has made, you know they're going to offer him 0:20:26.720 --> 0:20:31.600 that extension the first second they can. So they're trying 0:20:31.600 --> 0:20:34.000 to win this long term commitment from Luka Doncic with 0:20:34.040 --> 0:20:37.040 the team they put together in a second run to 0:20:37.080 --> 0:20:41.240 the conference finals in three years. The Mavericks gambled a 0:20:41.280 --> 0:20:42.840 lot at the trade deadline, but it. 0:20:42.840 --> 0:20:54.920 Is working okay well. 0:20:54.920 --> 0:20:58.159 Obviously, we will continue to be talking tons about the 0:20:58.200 --> 0:21:02.960 Western Conference, since that is a series Chris Haynes will 0:21:03.000 --> 0:21:06.880 be covering from his alt cast perch and I will 0:21:06.920 --> 0:21:08.920 be covering some of it in person. 0:21:09.600 --> 0:21:11.960 More details on that. 0:21:12.000 --> 0:21:16.760 To come, but let's talk some about the East, and 0:21:16.920 --> 0:21:19.960 let's try not to jinx ourselves because we are recording 0:21:20.000 --> 0:21:25.480 this again roughly seven hours before tip off of Game 0:21:25.560 --> 0:21:29.680 two tonight in Boston. The Pacers. By now it's been 0:21:29.720 --> 0:21:36.240 covered ad nauseum about the absolutely golden opportunity that they 0:21:36.280 --> 0:21:41.920 threw away in Game one. I ask you, Chris Haynes, 0:21:44.240 --> 0:21:47.320 can the Pacers recover from that collapse? 0:21:48.960 --> 0:21:51.960 Well, when you're thinking about performance wise, they were right 0:21:52.000 --> 0:21:59.120 there Boston, New York top three craziest environments in the league, 0:22:00.440 --> 0:22:03.640 just came from winning a Game seven in New York. 0:22:04.359 --> 0:22:08.120 I think that gave them so much confidence. I think it. 0:22:08.119 --> 0:22:11.239 Prepared them so much for that game one battle in 0:22:11.320 --> 0:22:15.159 Boston that they were in. They should have won that 0:22:15.240 --> 0:22:21.960 game costly turnovers, a few by tyres, just fumbling the 0:22:21.960 --> 0:22:27.159 ball towards the end, couldn't get the ball in bounds 0:22:27.800 --> 0:22:31.119 like they they gave that game game away, you know, 0:22:31.440 --> 0:22:33.800 you know, shout out to Rick Carlo trying to take 0:22:34.440 --> 0:22:37.040 the blame for that. Maybe he should have called the 0:22:37.080 --> 0:22:41.800 time out. Maybe you foul Jalen Brown sent them to 0:22:41.840 --> 0:22:44.240 a line stead allow him to shoot a three in 0:22:44.280 --> 0:22:45.960 which he made to. 0:22:46.040 --> 0:22:51.640 Tie the game. It was mishap beyond mishap. Now can 0:22:51.720 --> 0:22:53.520 they recover that? 0:22:53.520 --> 0:22:57.720