WEBVTT - Anthony Edwards Spectacular, Nuggets and Celtics Showdown and Bulls Improving

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<v Speaker 1>Edwards can't hit the second pacers haven't changed up ahead,

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<v Speaker 1>Nieman Flock Edwards getting up.

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<v Speaker 2>And good night.

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<v Speaker 3>Welcome into nv Pulster production of iHeartRadio in the NBA.

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<v Speaker 3>I'm Sarahcusack, NBA analyst for the Yes Network, and today

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<v Speaker 3>is Friday, March eighth, and from our extraordinary core group

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<v Speaker 3>of NBA journalists were joined now by NBA dot Com

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<v Speaker 3>Senior writer Steve Ashburner and wooh wee asked, we had

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<v Speaker 3>a good game last night, A couple of good ones.

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<v Speaker 3>Actually a slate for the Thursday night, and we're gonna

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<v Speaker 3>get to the showdown between the Denver Nuggets and the

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<v Speaker 3>Boston Celtics. But let's get back to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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<v Speaker 3>My goodness, Anthony Edwards put on a show. It was

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<v Speaker 3>in light of the news that came out of Karl

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<v Speaker 3>Anthony Towns having torn his meniscus. He will require surgery.

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<v Speaker 3>He'll be reevaluated in a month. I think there is

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<v Speaker 3>hope on certain about the timeline, but that he will inevitably,

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<v Speaker 3>hopefully be able to return for the Minnesota Timberwolves at

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<v Speaker 3>some point during the playoffs. Given where they're at, and

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<v Speaker 3>assume they are still going and advancing. But Anthony Edwards man.

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<v Speaker 3>It was extraordinary to watch as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat

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<v Speaker 3>Indiana at Indiana one thirteen, one eleven, amongst a lot

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<v Speaker 3>of showcasing of what he could do on the offensive

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<v Speaker 3>side with forty four points and six rebounds. He had

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<v Speaker 3>a nasty block ash against aaron Ne Smith, a second

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<v Speaker 3>block of the game that looked like he his armpit

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<v Speaker 3>was at the rim. It's hard to believe a six

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<v Speaker 3>to four player like him could get up that high,

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<v Speaker 3>but it was fun to watch. It was good to

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<v Speaker 3>see thirty six points, Rapids.

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<v Speaker 1>Pull up from deep cash lit Hessy runner off one

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<v Speaker 1>leg got it the drop, forty three for Anthony Edwards.

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<v Speaker 1>Edwards can't hit the second, Pacers have a chance up ahead,

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<v Speaker 1>Niceman block Edwards getting up and good night.

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<v Speaker 3>Just overall four Minnesota the response that they had and

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<v Speaker 3>continue to have as they for the night took sole

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<v Speaker 3>possession of first there in the Western Conference. What did

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<v Speaker 3>you take away from that showing and in particular the

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<v Speaker 3>performance of Anthony Edwards.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, Hi, Sarah, you know the second thing I thought

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<v Speaker 2>of was I know how much you hated it when

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<v Speaker 2>you would hit your head on the bottom of the

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<v Speaker 2>backboard when you would block opponent.

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<v Speaker 3>Shots exactly exactly. It's a terrible ponytail would always be yeah,

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<v Speaker 3>get getting caught caught in the in the nuts.

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<v Speaker 2>The first thing I thought of, though, was I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>that was clearly Anthony Edwards saying, get on my backfellows.

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<v Speaker 2>Know I've got this. Karl Anthony Towns is going to

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<v Speaker 2>be out for a while. They do not want to

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<v Speaker 2>sink in the standings. That would be sort of old

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<v Speaker 2>Timberwolves approach. You know, they want to maintain their their

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<v Speaker 2>lofty perch, certainly a top seed in the West. If

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<v Speaker 2>they can't quite hang on to number one, it's a

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<v Speaker 2>it's a real test of this team's maturity and that

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<v Speaker 2>that's sort of been one of the questions, even when

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<v Speaker 2>things have been going well. It's just like, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>are they are they able to handle the highs? You know,

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<v Speaker 2>they've had to handle lows. One good thing is that

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<v Speaker 2>they had to play quite a lot without Karl Anthony

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<v Speaker 2>Towns last season, so they know how to do that.

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<v Speaker 2>The key is doing it and maintaining your success. And

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<v Speaker 2>and I know last year they got into a thing

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<v Speaker 2>where they tried to play one way when they had

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<v Speaker 2>Cat and Rudy Gobert and then they tried to play

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<v Speaker 2>a different way when uh, you know, Cat was out.

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<v Speaker 2>And you know, I think that the key now is

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<v Speaker 2>to try to maintain and play their style, keep their

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<v Speaker 2>defense up. But that's been their calling card this season.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, you have spectacular offensive play from Cat at

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<v Speaker 2>times and Anthony Edwards on many nights, but they want

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<v Speaker 2>to stay good defensively. Anthony Edwards is spectacular in this game,

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<v Speaker 2>and you know he's he's spectacular in most games in moments.

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<v Speaker 2>Consistency is still you know, there to be had for him.

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<v Speaker 2>And we'll see now if this is an opportunity, if

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<v Speaker 2>he seizes this opportunity to you know, be the leader

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<v Speaker 2>in every which way for this team. You know, he's

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<v Speaker 2>a he's a really solid two way player. He doesn't

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<v Speaker 2>need to lead the defense at Rudy Gobert's job. But

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<v Speaker 2>you know, Anthony Edwards now is uh. I mean, we

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<v Speaker 2>heard it last night, you know, when they talked about

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<v Speaker 2>it on the on the national broadcast that he's he's

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<v Speaker 2>worthy of MVP consideration and he's one of those new

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<v Speaker 2>faces like you know, Shake Gilgs, Alexander and Jason Tatum

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<v Speaker 2>that I think will get a lot of votes, even

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<v Speaker 2>you know Brunton, depending on how the Knicks finish, and

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<v Speaker 2>some new blood in that MVP consideration. So Anthony Edwards

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<v Speaker 2>has the stage right now and we'll see how he finishes.

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<v Speaker 3>Do you think he'll be a future MVP?

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<v Speaker 2>Oh? I think he's got all the skills. I think

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<v Speaker 2>that that team is sort of becoming I hate the term,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, his team, but it really is. He is

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<v Speaker 2>becoming the point guy that on that team. And as

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<v Speaker 2>if he irons out, you know, lapses and knights where

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<v Speaker 2>he doesn't stick to his strengths, you know, there's no

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<v Speaker 2>reason to stop them. Look, you know I mentioned it

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<v Speaker 2>early in early this calendar year. I went there right

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<v Speaker 2>after Christmas and did a couple of stories on them,

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<v Speaker 2>and other people have mentioned it too. I mean, there's

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<v Speaker 2>a there's a look to him, there's a sort of

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<v Speaker 2>a coiled energy to him, and certainly there's raw talent

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<v Speaker 2>to him that is reminiscent of Michael Jordan. Now that's

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<v Speaker 2>a heavy burden to put on anybody. Some guys have

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<v Speaker 2>wanted it and seized it and have fallen short. Anthony

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<v Speaker 2>Edwards doesn't seem particularly interested in it. But his size,

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<v Speaker 2>his leaping ability, just his overall look, he packs potential

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<v Speaker 2>to be a Jordan like player in the course of

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<v Speaker 2>a forty eight minute game. You know, everything that Jordan accomplished,

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<v Speaker 2>beyond that awards, commercial success, everything, you know, that's that's

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<v Speaker 2>a whole different topic. But in terms of Anthony Edwards

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<v Speaker 2>and the way he plays and what he can do

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<v Speaker 2>for that team, you know, I don't want to put

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<v Speaker 2>a ceiling on that.

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<v Speaker 3>And nor should we. And you mentioned that in the disposition,

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<v Speaker 3>just how genuinely himself he always shows up. But you

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<v Speaker 3>see that competitiveness and you certainly saw it last night,

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<v Speaker 3>as you mentioned on both ends of the and how

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<v Speaker 3>he continues to improve his efficiency from the three point

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<v Speaker 3>line last night, you know, being one of those three

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<v Speaker 3>of seven. But that's become more of a consistency of

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<v Speaker 3>his decision making of when he's attacking, using that explosiveness,

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<v Speaker 3>when he's looking to take those perimeter shots. But yeah,

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<v Speaker 3>but it's it's it was a again in light of

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<v Speaker 3>the news of Karl Anthony Towns, Kylie Anderson getting the

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<v Speaker 3>start there, they've got a veteran group, they've got a

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<v Speaker 3>solid backup big who had been playing a lot of

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<v Speaker 3>four but in in nas Red. It's going to be

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<v Speaker 3>interesting to watch how they continue to play and if

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<v Speaker 3>they can maintain whether it's that top spot in the

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<v Speaker 3>Western Conference or maintain they've been bouncing around up there

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<v Speaker 3>between them Oklahoma City and the Denver Nuggets, if they

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<v Speaker 3>can stay in those places as you get set towards

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<v Speaker 3>the postseason, it's looking like like a team that, to

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<v Speaker 3>your point, is Anthony Edwards team speaking of MVPs, speaking

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<v Speaker 3>of the Western Conference and those Denver Nuggets. The showdown

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<v Speaker 3>last night was fun between the Denver Nuggets Boston Celtics.

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<v Speaker 3>The Nuggets end up winning one fifteen, one oh nine

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<v Speaker 3>at home, and I think there's a lot of things

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<v Speaker 3>that you take from that game. Ash, I think, you

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<v Speaker 3>know we're talking about MVP. We were talking about Jason Tatum,

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<v Speaker 3>a player who thinks that he has said at this

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<v Speaker 3>point of the season that he is the best player

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<v Speaker 3>in the league. You should be a part of the

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<v Speaker 3>MVP conversation. But I think there's points that there's questions

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<v Speaker 3>in some of those biggest moments, and last last night

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<v Speaker 3>being one of those for the Celtics. Jalen Brown was

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<v Speaker 3>incredible forty one points, fourteen rebounds. Tatum, though, had an

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<v Speaker 3>off NiFe five to thirteen from the field for just

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<v Speaker 3>fifteen points, especially some opportunities down the stretch. Kristaps porsingis

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<v Speaker 3>with twenty four points and Jokic put together another masterpiece

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<v Speaker 3>triple double thirty two point triple double.

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<v Speaker 1>Portnzega Sa Jokics.

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<v Speaker 4>They clear it out, Jo kis palmag it spins, Yo

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<v Speaker 4>kicks lasing in two point game, Yo kich up with

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<v Speaker 4>spens Jo kisok No he leaves it forcrden.

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<v Speaker 1>What a pass pass?

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<v Speaker 3>When it comes to this Nuggets team, the Celtics team,

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<v Speaker 3>and the things that's still the regular season, the things

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<v Speaker 3>that you start to pick apart as you look at

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<v Speaker 3>these two teams and potentially meeting in the finals. What

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<v Speaker 3>did you take away from that game last night that

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<v Speaker 3>either fortified some of your thoughts in the things that

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<v Speaker 3>you would expect, or gave you more pause and questions

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<v Speaker 3>about where these teams are out at this point of

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<v Speaker 3>the year.

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<v Speaker 2>No, not so much pausing questions after that game. I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>I like the fact that both of them had lost

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<v Speaker 2>their previous games. I think that nobody wanted to lose

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<v Speaker 2>to in a row. That added to the tension and

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<v Speaker 2>the motivation. Not that those teams you know, need much,

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<v Speaker 2>but it was a different mood. I sense. There was

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<v Speaker 2>a seriousness about that game, as there should be when

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<v Speaker 2>you're into March and you've got the top you know,

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<v Speaker 2>two of the top contenders, a potential finals preview. I

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<v Speaker 2>don't have serious concerns frankly about either team. I think

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<v Speaker 2>that they are you know, they're as good as it

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<v Speaker 2>gets in their respective conferences. Whether they finish, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>in the Nuggets case first or not, I don't as

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<v Speaker 2>long as they're a top seed with some home court edge,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, early on, I think they know how to

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<v Speaker 2>go places and win. Obviously they would love to flex

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<v Speaker 2>their fifty two eighty advantage more often. Jalen Brown mentioned

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<v Speaker 2>that he missed half his free throws, possibly because of

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<v Speaker 2>the altitude. So I mean, that's sort of the least

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<v Speaker 2>exertion you make, right you standing and shoot a free throw.

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<v Speaker 2>He might have been looking at that number that they

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<v Speaker 2>have right by the line there, but no, I think

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<v Speaker 2>I think it was a terrific game. You know, the

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<v Speaker 2>way Denver rallies around Yokich's desire to get that number

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<v Speaker 2>one seed, and they've been great since the All Star break.

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<v Speaker 2>He sent a group text apparently right after coming out

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<v Speaker 2>of the break and you know, identified that as a goal.

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<v Speaker 2>So that's seriousness. By defending champions is very impressive. I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>he's he's a marvel to watch because all the things that,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, it's almost like a Steph Curry thing where

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<v Speaker 2>Steph Curry breathed life into a lot of young basketball

0:11:13.920 --> 0:11:16.400
<v Speaker 2>players dreams that hey, I don't have to be six ' ten.

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<v Speaker 2>You know I can. I can learn to shoot this

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<v Speaker 2>ball and handle this ball, and that could carry me

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<v Speaker 2>a long way. Not you know, not silly, I'm only

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<v Speaker 2>going to play in the NBA, or my life is

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<v Speaker 2>ruined kind of stuff. But you know, it's inspirational. And

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<v Speaker 2>I think Jokich is the same way. You know, you

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<v Speaker 2>don't have to jump three feet in the air, or

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<v Speaker 2>more like Anthony Edwards, you you don't have to be

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<v Speaker 2>the quickest guy. I mean, Luca too shows you you

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<v Speaker 2>can play slow and play great. And with Jokic his

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<v Speaker 2>ability to pick apart defenses to come up with the

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<v Speaker 2>ball to you know, just the finesse and the and

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<v Speaker 2>the and the instincts and the vision that he has

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<v Speaker 2>to make those other guys better. I mean, to me,

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<v Speaker 2>he's leading candidate for MVP. I talked about new Blood earlier,

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<v Speaker 2>but you know the guy that that sort of that

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<v Speaker 2>his to win I think right now is Yokic. So

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<v Speaker 2>I could take seven more of those games in June,

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<v Speaker 2>that would be a delight.

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<v Speaker 3>If you did take seven more of those games in June.

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<v Speaker 2>Who do you have, Well, tell me where Game seven

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<v Speaker 2>is going to be played. I mean, it looks like

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<v Speaker 2>it would be played in Boston, so you know, I

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<v Speaker 2>would I would think that perhaps this would be the

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<v Speaker 2>Celtics breaking through. They seem to have everything they need.

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<v Speaker 2>I think they're the best team in the league right now.

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<v Speaker 2>They don't have the experience quite that Denver has. They

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<v Speaker 2>don't have Jokic. Tatum's not a bad MVP candidate, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>of his of his own and I think they learned

0:12:40.720 --> 0:12:42.480
<v Speaker 2>things as they go. I mean, I think that that

0:12:42.480 --> 0:12:45.280
<v Speaker 2>that Cleveland game was a learning experience in terms of

0:12:45.840 --> 0:12:48.680
<v Speaker 2>for Tatum and for for the Celtics, for Joe Massoula,

0:12:48.720 --> 0:12:51.200
<v Speaker 2>that you're gonna go quicker. If you're down, you have

0:12:51.240 --> 0:12:53.160
<v Speaker 2>to go quicker and you know what they what they

0:12:54.120 --> 0:12:55.800
<v Speaker 2>tried to do. They treated it like it was a

0:12:55.840 --> 0:12:58.520
<v Speaker 2>tie game, and and it doesn't work that way. So,

0:12:59.679 --> 0:13:01.839
<v Speaker 2>you know, I think that those type of things are

0:13:01.880 --> 0:13:04.800
<v Speaker 2>picking up. I'm very impressed with Porzingis too. I mean,

0:13:06.440 --> 0:13:08.480
<v Speaker 2>all of the Celtics have to sort of give a

0:13:08.480 --> 0:13:11.560
<v Speaker 2>little bit in their games because of the other guys

0:13:11.559 --> 0:13:15.360
<v Speaker 2>on the floor, But I mean Porzingi's just his ability

0:13:15.440 --> 0:13:18.360
<v Speaker 2>to just you know, his quick release as a big man,

0:13:18.520 --> 0:13:20.600
<v Speaker 2>some of the things he does at seven foot three.

0:13:21.160 --> 0:13:23.960
<v Speaker 2>You know, we get all excited about Webbin Yama because

0:13:23.960 --> 0:13:26.200
<v Speaker 2>he's a rookie and he's got one more inch on him,

0:13:26.600 --> 0:13:29.320
<v Speaker 2>but Porzingis to me, is a gold standard. You know,

0:13:29.360 --> 0:13:32.200
<v Speaker 2>when Minyama could do a lot worse than to you know,

0:13:32.760 --> 0:13:37.400
<v Speaker 2>emulate or be compared to Porzingis. So I just I

0:13:37.400 --> 0:13:41.880
<v Speaker 2>think they're loaded. And yeah, I would go with whichever

0:13:41.920 --> 0:13:43.880
<v Speaker 2>team is home on Game seven between those two.

0:13:44.600 --> 0:13:50.320
<v Speaker 3>Okay, diplomatic answer, I do. I think Boston is incredible.

0:13:50.360 --> 0:13:52.600
<v Speaker 3>They've had incredible season. There's a reason why they have

0:13:52.760 --> 0:13:56.720
<v Speaker 3>been the runaway favorite in the Eastern Conference, why they've

0:13:56.720 --> 0:13:59.040
<v Speaker 3>had the best record in the NBA. To your point,

0:13:59.040 --> 0:14:04.000
<v Speaker 3>how Kristaps Porzingis has fit in. They have been extraordinary

0:14:04.000 --> 0:14:06.480
<v Speaker 3>from the three point line, leading the league, you know,

0:14:06.640 --> 0:14:09.320
<v Speaker 3>again pretty much for the entire season. It takes and

0:14:09.400 --> 0:14:11.640
<v Speaker 3>makes and all of those things, the depth of the group,

0:14:12.200 --> 0:14:15.760
<v Speaker 3>the core pieces of Tatum playing, you know, to a

0:14:15.840 --> 0:14:19.600
<v Speaker 3>rough game last night, but Tatum playing like an MVP candidates.

0:14:20.040 --> 0:14:22.960
<v Speaker 3>I say all that to say, though, those are my

0:14:23.160 --> 0:14:25.720
<v Speaker 3>concerns that you have a night. They didn't shoot the

0:14:25.720 --> 0:14:29.200
<v Speaker 3>ball well from three, just around a twenty nine percent,

0:14:29.240 --> 0:14:32.200
<v Speaker 3>but Denver did not as well. They were for twenty

0:14:32.240 --> 0:14:36.120
<v Speaker 3>one from beyond the arc. But that is my concerns.

0:14:36.120 --> 0:14:38.040
<v Speaker 3>You have a couple off nights, and I would still

0:14:38.080 --> 0:14:40.040
<v Speaker 3>take I think sometimes it comes down to do you

0:14:40.120 --> 0:14:42.280
<v Speaker 3>have the best player on the floor, And to me,

0:14:42.360 --> 0:14:44.400
<v Speaker 3>there was no question that Nikola Jokic is the best

0:14:44.400 --> 0:14:46.840
<v Speaker 3>player on the floor. I think Michael alone having won

0:14:46.880 --> 0:14:49.960
<v Speaker 3>a championship, the experience that he has. I think Joe

0:14:49.960 --> 0:14:52.280
<v Speaker 3>Missoula has made strides this year. But I still think

0:14:52.680 --> 0:14:54.640
<v Speaker 3>that will be something to watch in the course of

0:14:54.680 --> 0:14:58.480
<v Speaker 3>the postseason. Adjustments to be made. So yeah, I still

0:14:58.520 --> 0:15:02.200
<v Speaker 3>I still would give Denver the edge, regardless of what

0:15:02.240 --> 0:15:05.160
<v Speaker 3>that looks like. But but man, would that be fun

0:15:05.320 --> 0:15:08.920
<v Speaker 3>and potentially will be fun. And speaking of fun, ass

0:15:08.960 --> 0:15:13.440
<v Speaker 3>she wrote a story about my hometown Chicago bulls who've

0:15:13.520 --> 0:15:18.760
<v Speaker 3>been who have exactly our hometown Chicago Bulls who are

0:15:18.760 --> 0:15:20.680
<v Speaker 3>coming off of a win last night. We're going to

0:15:20.760 --> 0:15:30.880
<v Speaker 3>talk about that right after the break. Welcome back to

0:15:30.960 --> 0:15:35.280
<v Speaker 3>nd Pulser Cristak joined by the great Steve Ashburner, uh

0:15:35.320 --> 0:15:39.080
<v Speaker 3>and ash As. We mentioned good old Chicago, Chicago Bulls

0:15:39.720 --> 0:15:42.440
<v Speaker 3>currently sitting in that nice spot in the Eastern Conference,

0:15:42.520 --> 0:15:45.920
<v Speaker 3>and you know, a lot of questions about direction of

0:15:45.920 --> 0:15:47.600
<v Speaker 3>the bulls, what's going to happen, what they were going

0:15:47.680 --> 0:15:49.920
<v Speaker 3>to do with the trade deadline. You can look at

0:15:49.960 --> 0:15:52.560
<v Speaker 3>a variety of areas, but overall since then and what

0:15:52.600 --> 0:15:56.280
<v Speaker 3>they've been doing and playing better. They beat the Golden

0:15:56.320 --> 0:15:59.440
<v Speaker 3>State Warriors in San Francisco, won twenty five twenty two.

0:15:59.520 --> 0:16:02.360
<v Speaker 3>Last night. You had a big game from Nikolavucevich thirty

0:16:02.360 --> 0:16:05.640
<v Speaker 3>three and eleven, twenty points from Kobe White to mar

0:16:05.680 --> 0:16:07.960
<v Speaker 3>De Rozen with thirty three and eight. He's been playing

0:16:07.960 --> 0:16:11.520
<v Speaker 3>really well. You've got a story about the Bulls in

0:16:11.840 --> 0:16:14.240
<v Speaker 3>what they've been doing in this recent stretch. Fill us in,

0:16:14.360 --> 0:16:16.360
<v Speaker 3>fill us in a little bit and give some optimism

0:16:16.440 --> 0:16:18.600
<v Speaker 3>to all our shy folks.

0:16:19.160 --> 0:16:21.120
<v Speaker 2>Well, here's the good news, I guess for the Schicgo

0:16:21.160 --> 0:16:23.200
<v Speaker 2>Bulls this season. It's going to be hard for them

0:16:23.240 --> 0:16:26.320
<v Speaker 2>to miss the playing tournament. Now, it's going to be

0:16:26.320 --> 0:16:29.240
<v Speaker 2>hard for them to do any better than a play

0:16:29.280 --> 0:16:32.800
<v Speaker 2>in spot, because they're about as far from sixth place

0:16:32.800 --> 0:16:35.320
<v Speaker 2>as they are from eleventh. So you know, it kind

0:16:35.360 --> 0:16:37.840
<v Speaker 2>of is what it is. They're about five games in

0:16:37.880 --> 0:16:41.200
<v Speaker 2>each direction, so a play in you know, these days

0:16:41.200 --> 0:16:44.440
<v Speaker 2>of play in birth has a little more luster when

0:16:44.440 --> 0:16:46.440
<v Speaker 2>you look at the teams that are clumped down there

0:16:46.440 --> 0:16:49.560
<v Speaker 2>in the West. You get some powerhouse teams with Sacramento

0:16:49.680 --> 0:16:52.560
<v Speaker 2>and Dallas and the Lakers and the Warriors, and then

0:16:52.600 --> 0:16:54.800
<v Speaker 2>of course what Miami did out of the playing spot

0:16:55.440 --> 0:16:57.880
<v Speaker 2>last season. Now anybody thinks that that's the way to

0:16:57.920 --> 0:17:01.800
<v Speaker 2>go for the playoffs to make a long run, you know,

0:17:01.840 --> 0:17:05.080
<v Speaker 2>they'd be sadly mistaken. But we'll see. The Bulls have

0:17:05.160 --> 0:17:09.400
<v Speaker 2>been rather bullheaded in their approach to this season. They

0:17:09.440 --> 0:17:14.000
<v Speaker 2>haven't made many changes, they haven't willingly shuffled the deck.

0:17:14.160 --> 0:17:17.480
<v Speaker 2>They were supposed to be sellers at the trade deadline,

0:17:17.680 --> 0:17:21.880
<v Speaker 2>and nothing happened, and much to a lot of people's

0:17:21.960 --> 0:17:27.080
<v Speaker 2>chagrin that follow that team, But here they are. They

0:17:27.119 --> 0:17:29.840
<v Speaker 2>win a little, they lose a little. Up until last night,

0:17:30.240 --> 0:17:35.080
<v Speaker 2>they hadn't won or lost more than two in a row,

0:17:35.240 --> 0:17:39.000
<v Speaker 2>and I think it's two months. So you know, they tease,

0:17:39.119 --> 0:17:41.720
<v Speaker 2>they go back. They lose to Detroit for two times,

0:17:41.720 --> 0:17:43.960
<v Speaker 2>you know, the second time a couple of weeks ago

0:17:44.440 --> 0:17:47.400
<v Speaker 2>this season, two losses to the Pistons who've only won

0:17:47.480 --> 0:17:50.120
<v Speaker 2>ten and yet then they come back the next night

0:17:50.160 --> 0:17:52.600
<v Speaker 2>and they beat Cleveland in double overtime. So it's been

0:17:52.640 --> 0:17:54.840
<v Speaker 2>that kind of a thing. They go into Golden State

0:17:54.920 --> 0:17:57.919
<v Speaker 2>and win, and that three and zero on this West

0:17:58.080 --> 0:18:01.240
<v Speaker 2>coast trip, which again, that's a big winning streak for

0:18:01.280 --> 0:18:06.639
<v Speaker 2>the Chicago Bulls. You know, I think one key, like

0:18:06.680 --> 0:18:09.959
<v Speaker 2>it or not, has been Zach Lavine's absence. You know,

0:18:10.119 --> 0:18:14.000
<v Speaker 2>he he had a sore foot, I believe it was,

0:18:14.040 --> 0:18:17.879
<v Speaker 2>and he eventually opted to shut things down with surgery.

0:18:18.560 --> 0:18:20.720
<v Speaker 2>They were ten and five in the games he played.

0:18:20.720 --> 0:18:24.040
<v Speaker 2>They're over five hundred when he's not there, So it

0:18:24.080 --> 0:18:28.000
<v Speaker 2>does suggest some addition. By subtraction, it has opened up

0:18:28.040 --> 0:18:32.240
<v Speaker 2>opportunity for guys like Kobe White, who I think is

0:18:33.119 --> 0:18:38.359
<v Speaker 2>certainly deserves consideration for most improved player Io Dsumu, who

0:18:38.520 --> 0:18:42.000
<v Speaker 2>has a bigger role now he's built himself up physically,

0:18:42.080 --> 0:18:47.479
<v Speaker 2>he's more capable of playing both ends and playing longer minutes.

0:18:48.560 --> 0:18:52.639
<v Speaker 2>You know, they have the core guys of Vussovic and

0:18:52.720 --> 0:18:56.119
<v Speaker 2>Demarto Rosen and they've been very solid vets. I like

0:18:56.200 --> 0:18:59.440
<v Speaker 2>the fact that Billy Donovan has experimented at times with

0:18:59.840 --> 0:19:04.080
<v Speaker 2>the two bigs, with Vouch and Andre Drummond. So you know,

0:19:04.080 --> 0:19:07.119
<v Speaker 2>there are interesting facets to this Bulls team to do

0:19:07.200 --> 0:19:09.639
<v Speaker 2>it without Levigne, who's supposed to be their number one guy, right,

0:19:09.680 --> 0:19:15.160
<v Speaker 2>he's paid like it. He's not around Patrick Williams. You know, management,

0:19:15.240 --> 0:19:18.880
<v Speaker 2>this management are turns corn of service his draft pick

0:19:19.560 --> 0:19:23.159
<v Speaker 2>at number four about four years ago, that that hasn't

0:19:23.160 --> 0:19:26.879
<v Speaker 2>panned out at all, and yet here they are, and

0:19:26.920 --> 0:19:28.879
<v Speaker 2>you know, I think it's it's a it's a tribute

0:19:28.880 --> 0:19:33.040
<v Speaker 2>to resiliency and stubbornness and they still pack that building,

0:19:33.160 --> 0:19:36.959
<v Speaker 2>which you know is almost a disincentive for them to

0:19:37.000 --> 0:19:38.880
<v Speaker 2>tear up that team and try to start over.

0:19:39.480 --> 0:19:44.000
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, it's been something that's been interesting to watch to monitor,

0:19:44.600 --> 0:19:46.280
<v Speaker 3>and I do think to your point with what the

0:19:46.320 --> 0:19:49.359
<v Speaker 3>building is like what United centers like the fans deal

0:19:49.440 --> 0:19:52.959
<v Speaker 3>whether they are they are excited or they're a little, uh,

0:19:53.200 --> 0:19:56.760
<v Speaker 3>you know, a little disappointed. In the big picture of things,

0:19:57.200 --> 0:19:59.439
<v Speaker 3>this team does play hard, they're fun to watch, and

0:19:59.560 --> 0:20:01.680
<v Speaker 3>I think there's something to be said for that.

0:20:01.800 --> 0:20:05.240
<v Speaker 2>In the how can you not like the dunkin Donuts race.

0:20:05.160 --> 0:20:08.320
<v Speaker 3>Right Dots, Benny the Bill Bull, you know, I I

0:20:08.800 --> 0:20:11.720
<v Speaker 3>would put him amongst the best mascots in putting on

0:20:11.760 --> 0:20:15.120
<v Speaker 3>a show in the league. So you know, it's it's

0:20:15.160 --> 0:20:17.400
<v Speaker 3>gonna be interesting to watch. In your point that those

0:20:17.440 --> 0:20:20.920
<v Speaker 3>playing teams those we were talking about the Boston Celtics,

0:20:20.960 --> 0:20:22.199
<v Speaker 3>So I think for a lot of those that end

0:20:22.240 --> 0:20:24.640
<v Speaker 3>up at that nine to ten spot to the reward

0:20:24.680 --> 0:20:26.760
<v Speaker 3>of getting a chance to take a trip to Boston,

0:20:26.840 --> 0:20:30.840
<v Speaker 3>maybe maybe a tough sledding, but nonetheless it's it's it's

0:20:30.840 --> 0:20:33.200
<v Speaker 3>about postseason basketball, and for a lot of teams that

0:20:33.200 --> 0:20:36.119
<v Speaker 3>that means something. Ash as always, you are the best.

0:20:36.160 --> 0:20:39.680
<v Speaker 3>We appreciate you. We will continue to read, watch all

0:20:39.720 --> 0:20:42.760
<v Speaker 3>your good stuff on NBA dot Com and NBA TV,

0:20:42.840 --> 0:20:44.760
<v Speaker 3>and until next time, we'll see so