1 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:19,719 What is Krak a lack and bellow thermondic Pierre Efforts. I am Dan Valley, 2 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:24,359 coming at you with a brief introduction. Brian Taporak, a good friend 3 00:00:24,359 --> 00:00:27,760 of mine who works for Bleach Report, covers the NBA for Forbes and also 4 00:00:27,839 --> 00:00:31,879 the NBA Podcast, did a joint It's not really a home and home. 5 00:00:31,879 --> 00:00:34,560 We're not gonna split it up, but it was over a two hour episode 6 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,280 that we're going to post on both our feeds. I figured though, I 7 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,520 would throw it up and split it into two parts for this podcast, because 8 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:44,000 we did a Mavericks Thunder preview and a Nick Pacers preview. So that's what 9 00:00:44,079 --> 00:00:47,119 you're getting today on a Sunday. I know it's not a long podcast like 10 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:50,200 everyone who listens to this is used to, but you know, thirty five 11 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:53,399 plus minutes, forty minutes. I think that's good enough, and I might 12 00:00:53,439 --> 00:00:56,359 still attach this to the end of the other one. If people want to 13 00:00:56,359 --> 00:00:58,920 watch listen to the full two hour episode, which I think I will drop 14 00:00:59,159 --> 00:01:00,600 on Monday. But I want the previews out there because that stuff will be 15 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:03,439 dated. One of the things I said was dated while we were recording. 16 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:07,400 Actually, I was talking about MAXI Kleeba and some of those lineups, and 17 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:10,799 we all know he had that shoulder injury. I didn't know it was a 18 00:01:10,799 --> 00:01:14,760 full on dislocation, and as I was talking, the notification I think came 19 00:01:14,799 --> 00:01:18,959 from ESPN's to McMahon that he has just just flat out dislocation and so we'll 20 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,040 be shocked to see him in that series. So something on data is I 21 00:01:22,079 --> 00:01:23,959 was talking about, so we might as well get this up. I thought 22 00:01:25,159 --> 00:01:27,840 Brian had some really interesting thoughts on both these series. Everything I say is 23 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:33,159 obviously so interesting, so we'll throw that out for you. I hope you 24 00:01:33,239 --> 00:01:36,079 enjoy those if you're listening to this for some reason the first time and having 25 00:01:36,159 --> 00:01:38,200 subscribe Bose already. If you are subscribed, I know we ask you to 26 00:01:38,239 --> 00:01:42,680 share these. We're going to double down on that now that were my accounts. 27 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:47,000 Harder Knox and mine are being repressed on Twitter. I got some weird 28 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:49,719 hold place on them for spam activity. Don't really understand that, so retweet 29 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,439 it, tell people about it, share it links like, share the links, 30 00:01:53,439 --> 00:01:57,000 go on YouTube, comment the hell like write comments, help the algorithm, 31 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:00,319 maybe push us a little bit further. We were really appreciate it, 32 00:02:00,359 --> 00:02:02,879 but let's get to some We're just gonna get right into it. There will 33 00:02:02,879 --> 00:02:07,239 be no intro. The full episode will have an intro with him with Brian, 34 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:09,560 but let's talk to Brian about we start with Knicks Pacers and then it's 35 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:13,719 on to thunder Mats. Should we spend just a couple of minutes on the 36 00:02:13,759 --> 00:02:19,319 playoff series that are Yeah, we have been actual basketball? Yeah, yeah, 37 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:23,800 yeah, let's do it. So Nick's Pacers starts on Monday. What 38 00:02:23,879 --> 00:02:25,879 is your I guess maybe this is the best way for us, Like what 39 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,919 is your biggest just question or thing that you're watching sort of leading into this 40 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:36,039 series. I want to set an over under on the number of rebounds that 41 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,360 Miles Turner gets in this series, and I guess it depends on how many 42 00:02:39,439 --> 00:02:45,319 games it goes, So maybe we should do rebounds per game instead, But 43 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:50,039 what like four and a half? Is that a fair over under? I 44 00:02:50,039 --> 00:02:53,400 mean, that's that's the big concern I think for the Pacers. They were 45 00:02:53,719 --> 00:02:58,759 not a great rebounding team during the regular season, the eighth in the league 46 00:02:59,439 --> 00:03:02,520 in terms of total rebounds per game, and as we saw we saw it 47 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:06,280 last year with the Knicks against the Cavs in the first round. We thought 48 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,360 this year against the Sixers, and the Sixer would have a freaking seven to 49 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:14,560 two Joel Embiid even though he was on one knee. They are just such 50 00:03:14,719 --> 00:03:20,280 a physical rebounding team. Honestly, I think the thing that I would be 51 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:25,719 concerned about as a Pacers fan is that you know the series against the Jannis 52 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:30,960 Liss Bucks and like hobbled dameless Bucks. I don't want to take anything away 53 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:32,599 from them. You play who is in front of you. It's awesome for 54 00:03:32,599 --> 00:03:36,159 the Pacers who have taken care of business. I think it took a little 55 00:03:36,159 --> 00:03:39,159 longer than it should have, but good on them from advancing. The Knicks 56 00:03:39,199 --> 00:03:46,639 just emerged from an all out war in the first round, like they Those 57 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:52,039 series are just very different tonally, and I think the Knicks are just more 58 00:03:52,199 --> 00:03:58,280 ready for this type of grueling, physical matchup that they're going to try to 59 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:00,400 drag this down to. Honestly, I think it's gonna be such an interesting 60 00:04:00,439 --> 00:04:03,599 contract at styles because the Pacers are just gonna get out and run as much 61 00:04:03,599 --> 00:04:08,400 as they possibly can. Yeah, but I don't think the Knicks are gonna 62 00:04:08,599 --> 00:04:11,319 let them do so, because they're such a good rebounding team, So it's 63 00:04:11,439 --> 00:04:15,919 who who wins the battle of styles might be the biggest question of this series. 64 00:04:15,399 --> 00:04:19,000 Yeah, that's definitely the thing I'm looking for too, Because the Pacers 65 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:24,759 after even as I'm using post Sakham trade, they were second in average possession 66 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,959 time, So the second fatch team only Washington was faster. The Knicks were 67 00:04:28,959 --> 00:04:31,519 thirtieth, so dead last average possession time. And so you're looking at a 68 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:35,480 team that wants that will more likely than not slow things down. We've seen 69 00:04:35,519 --> 00:04:38,879 the Knicks they'll get out and run on some of the live ball stuff, 70 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:43,319 but that's very much like Josh Hart dependent. It sort of feels like And 71 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:46,720 then if you're the Knicks, though, can you keep the Pacers they've been 72 00:04:46,399 --> 00:04:49,639 like, especially after live rebounds, the Knicks have been pretty good at preventing 73 00:04:49,639 --> 00:04:55,279 teams from getting out in transition. Can you do that against the Pacers team 74 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:57,759 that is going to look to run. But part of the Pacers being able 75 00:04:57,759 --> 00:05:01,920 to do that is can they get the defensive board to get out and run 76 00:05:02,319 --> 00:05:08,759 so good on the offensive glass? And do you sell out any part of 77 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,879 your transition offense to try and put extra bodies to keep the Knicks like from 78 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,319 getting those, because I guess the thing with the Pacers, they'll they'll run 79 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,040 anyway, even on like the dead, Like after a score of the other 80 00:05:18,079 --> 00:05:20,600 team, they'll get out and run anyway. Like if you're gonna give the 81 00:05:20,639 --> 00:05:24,839 Knicks an opportunity to get their defense set, it's just gonna be harder for 82 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:27,199 you to do that. And so this team, more so than that Bucks 83 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:30,360 team, you're gonna have a hard time, harder time ending possessions. The 84 00:05:30,399 --> 00:05:33,319 other thing I'm kind of looking at is, I mean, I'm always just 85 00:05:33,319 --> 00:05:35,399 looking at what is Jalen runs and gonna be able to do? Is just 86 00:05:35,439 --> 00:05:40,040 the sole focal point, Like how aggressively will the Pacers defend him? I 87 00:05:40,079 --> 00:05:43,120 assume we saw a lot of it in the regular season, like Andrew Nemhart 88 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,959 on Jalen runs in will be the Maybe we'll see some Nie Myth on him 89 00:05:45,959 --> 00:05:48,519 a little bit, maybe McConnell at points, But I assume nem Hard will 90 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:53,079 get the primary assignment. But how else are you going about that? Is 91 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:56,199 there anyone I know there are players? Like how how much will the Knicks 92 00:05:56,199 --> 00:06:00,360 sell out to try and go after tyres Haliburton, like to hunt him in 93 00:06:00,399 --> 00:06:03,639 the half court and then how much is Indian turn gonna sell out to prevent 94 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,519 that from not happening. But well, we're gonna send two to the ball 95 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:11,480 right away or something and make these other guys beat us. And then finally, 96 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:14,360 just because we've never seen it, at least they didn't play each other 97 00:06:14,519 --> 00:06:17,279 because Og got injured. I don't think right like Og versus Siakam. I'm 98 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:21,160 just assuming that those are just that's how they're gonna match up, like on 99 00:06:21,199 --> 00:06:25,240 both ends of the floors against each other. That's just gonna be really fun 100 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:28,879 to see. And I'm I'm curious, who do you give the edge too 101 00:06:29,319 --> 00:06:32,160 in just the NBA defense isn't even offense are so complicated, it's never just 102 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:36,360 gonna be Og versus Passcal. But who do you give the advantage to in 103 00:06:36,399 --> 00:06:42,360 that primary matchup? Yeah, it's a great question. I mean you would 104 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:46,879 think on the surface Pastcal, he's a more well rounded player, but definitely 105 00:06:46,879 --> 00:06:50,160 more dynamic. Yeah, we just saw Og hold his own against Joel and 106 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:55,920 b I mean not just straight one on one. He had a lot of 107 00:06:55,920 --> 00:07:00,800 help. But you know, he has a lot more size than like Siakam 108 00:07:00,879 --> 00:07:03,560 is big and physical, but he's not as big and physical as Joel Embiid. 109 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:08,000 So I think Og is gonna be able to at least hold his own 110 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,759 in that matchup defensively. And you know, to your point, those guys, 111 00:07:11,959 --> 00:07:15,680 Lloyd knows, they probably went against each other in practice for a number 112 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,480 of years in Toronto. So this might just be like Nick Nurse might just 113 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:23,680 be having flashbacks watching this series, just thinking back to all this Toronto days. 114 00:07:25,519 --> 00:07:29,839 But yeah, I mean to your point on Brunson, I don't know, 115 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:31,360 like the Sixers tried a lot of different stuff on him, and they 116 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:35,120 had a lot of different wings they could throw at him. Tobias got switched 117 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:40,360 on to him a lot, like Kelly Oubray, Nick Patoom Melton didn't play 118 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:43,120 a ton in that series, but he would have been another option. They 119 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:46,519 doubled him. Brunson. I mean, it took him two games to kind 120 00:07:46,519 --> 00:07:49,360 of figure it out, but after that it was just game on. I 121 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:53,920 mean they could do nothing to stop him. He has. You know, 122 00:07:54,000 --> 00:08:00,959 I don't know how you stop the little hesitation like him driving to the basket 123 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,680 and then just stopping, Like if he beats you off the dribble, he's 124 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:07,839 going to draw a foul on you because he just he knows how to manipulate 125 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:13,199 his body and his driving such that he will stop and you are going to 126 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:16,879 keep running and you're gonna come flying over his back. So if you can, 127 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:22,439 I guess that's the key. If Indiana can stay out of foul trouble 128 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:24,959 or just stay out of foul trouble. With regard to Jalen Brunson, don't 129 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,879 fall for I don't want to call it like grifting or foulbating because like, 130 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:35,799 especially for someone who covers the Sixers, like I recognize the irony and Sixers 131 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:39,799 people complaining about Jalen Brunson's whistle. Joella beatd Kyle Lowry are the kings of 132 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:45,240 this, so you know, like kudos to him. But that is something 133 00:08:45,279 --> 00:08:48,480 that the Pacers are going to have to be very much aware of in this 134 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:50,840 series, that he is going to be trying to draw that kind of contact 135 00:08:50,879 --> 00:08:54,519 and he's very good at drawing that type of contact. And also, I 136 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:58,600 mean, if you have Miles Turner playing in draft, like Brunson has that 137 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:05,600 mid range game that I mean every superstar needs, but he the floater especially, 138 00:09:05,759 --> 00:09:09,240 really seemed like he got more and more comfortable with that throughout the Sixers 139 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:11,600 series as well. Do I'm not. I just don't know if Indiana has 140 00:09:11,639 --> 00:09:16,440 as many options to throw at him defensively as the Sixers did, and even 141 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:22,200 that wasn't enough to stop him after games one and two. Yeah, I'm 142 00:09:22,159 --> 00:09:26,879 It's just so it's such a contrast in styles to where you look at it 143 00:09:26,919 --> 00:09:30,559 and I'm wondering. And the Knicks did get up more threes post trade deadline, 144 00:09:30,639 --> 00:09:33,600 but they're seventeenth and three point ten th eight out of the twenty teams 145 00:09:33,639 --> 00:09:37,200 that made the play in since the end of the regular season, And so 146 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:39,279 you look at how many threes Indy made just during that, and that's with 147 00:09:39,399 --> 00:09:45,200 Tyres Haliburton shooting very poorly from three sub thirty percent again, which is another 148 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:48,320 thing to track, by the way, like Haliburton not seeming to get as 149 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:52,279 deep when he's like attacking. And then also just he's putting up the threes, 150 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:54,639 it feels like I does feel like he's settling actually, but they're not 151 00:09:54,639 --> 00:09:58,759 going into as high clip. So you look at it and just so both 152 00:09:58,799 --> 00:10:01,480 of these things last six game, the Pacers end up making in their series 153 00:10:01,519 --> 00:10:05,879 eighty four threes. The Knicks made seventy one against the Sixers. But because 154 00:10:05,879 --> 00:10:09,240 the Knicks are on the offensive glass and they're a team that can get to 155 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,679 the foul line, whereas the Pacers that's not really something that they rely on, 156 00:10:13,159 --> 00:10:16,639 which gives more like what's gonna be the bigger offset or are we gonna 157 00:10:16,639 --> 00:10:20,679 have to see one team? And I would argue that if there's gonna be 158 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:26,360 a team that has to sort of change their style, it might be the 159 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:31,320 Knicks more than the Pacers, just because the way the Pacers play feels like 160 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:35,639 it's easier to dictate terms with now the Knicks in the offensive glass, that's 161 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:37,960 something that they could absolutely But in terms of their shot selection, maybe are 162 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:41,279 they gonna have to, you know, get up some more threes in this 163 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:43,559 series? And that's where it's you know, when you kind of look at 164 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,399 it, Oh, is this a Dante DiVincenzo where Josh Hart or not? 165 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:50,120 I mean it's not even Josh Harst is never gonna come out of the game. 166 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:54,559 But it's like, how much run is Dante DiVincenzo getting and doesn't need 167 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:58,000 to be more because he's someone that you can station out ultra deep and he'll 168 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:00,799 get them up. Josh Hart did a good job of taking the threes. 169 00:11:00,799 --> 00:11:03,879 But I'm assuming that's what that's the guy and he's still gonna continue to I 170 00:11:03,879 --> 00:11:07,320 would guess help or send help from as Josh Hart when he's on the floor. 171 00:11:07,759 --> 00:11:09,759 And then I think, and this is a I'm interested to see, 172 00:11:09,799 --> 00:11:13,759 like, just because it's been so long, the Knicks were basically playing six 173 00:11:13,879 --> 00:11:18,960 guys by the end of the sixer series, because like deuced bake Bride would 174 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:22,120 he played eleven minutes in game six and he's has some really good moments. 175 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:26,240 Do we see any burnout whatsoever? You can tell me the Knicks are conditions 176 00:11:26,279 --> 00:11:30,080 for this, It's fine. I'm just curious. It's so many minutes. 177 00:11:30,399 --> 00:11:33,960 We're in May, like they've been. These dudes have played so many games. 178 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:35,960 Is there any sort of burnout there? And I don't expect Tims to 179 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:39,639 expand his rotation, like he's just gonna play seven. It's gonna be seven 180 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:43,039 guys. But Donovich is injured. And by the way, that's another kind 181 00:11:43,039 --> 00:11:46,840 of interesting subplot. I know he wasn't playing a lot, but he added 182 00:11:46,879 --> 00:11:50,320 floor spacing and breaking case of emergency shot creation. They don't have that. 183 00:11:50,519 --> 00:11:54,480 Al Berks isn't playing and so did the Knicks. Like, the Knicks won 184 00:11:54,519 --> 00:11:58,039 that sixer series and they had some really high offensive moments. But is their 185 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:03,159 offense like even worse off in the series even though they're going against an inferior 186 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:07,240 defense, Then what's the just because Philly has in Beid is able to throw 187 00:12:07,279 --> 00:12:11,519 at you because you're dealing with guys playing so many minutes and now it's just 188 00:12:11,279 --> 00:12:15,159 it's just brunt, Like you don't even have another lever to pull unless you 189 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:18,200 want to break open Alec Burk's are overstretched. Duce who can do a little 190 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:24,159 bit of that? Yeah, Although does Josh Hart continue to shoot like Steph 191 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:26,759 Curry or does he start shooting like Josh Hart? Again? That would be 192 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:31,840 I mean, that would be like that's like the flip side of does Tyres 193 00:12:31,879 --> 00:12:39,039 Haliburton continue to shoot like we think Josh Hart does? Yeah, And like, 194 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:41,000 you know, credit honestly credit to Josh Hart because he, I know, 195 00:12:41,639 --> 00:12:46,360 early in that series he said, like I knew this was the strategy 196 00:12:46,399 --> 00:12:50,159 coming in, and I spent the entire week leading up to that series, 197 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:54,639 uh, you know, just jacking up threes in practice, Like I knew 198 00:12:54,879 --> 00:13:01,279 they were going to target me and he was able to. But I think 199 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:05,600 to your point, they are absolutely going to continue leaving him open. Like 200 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:09,840 if they're gonna double Jalen Brentson, it makes sense to double with Josh Hart's 201 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:13,600 man. So do they continue to do that? Does he continue to make 202 00:13:13,639 --> 00:13:18,080 them pay? Here's my thing is then, does it though? Because you 203 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:22,799 like it's you need bodies on Josh Hart once that shot goes up to prevent 204 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:28,159 just like the offensive rebound, like because he's just everywhere defensively offensively, like 205 00:13:28,399 --> 00:13:31,080 like a magnet to the ball. And so do you kind of like, 206 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:35,919 well, should we maybe just chance helping off of just literally anybody else because 207 00:13:35,919 --> 00:13:43,600 we need to keep him from getting these getting these like second chance opportunities or 208 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:46,360 ending our own possession just because he's so good at getting the defensive boards as 209 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:52,559 well. It's just I'm so I'm most fascinated by Nuggets Timberwolves in the second 210 00:13:52,639 --> 00:13:56,000 round, but like because of just you've said it, the contrast and styles 211 00:13:56,039 --> 00:14:00,799 here, Knick's first pacers is really just peeking. I mean, and obviously 212 00:14:00,919 --> 00:14:05,559 my Knicks ties for sure, but it's peaking my attention six ways towards Sunday. 213 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:07,080 I can't wait for that series to start, do you have a prediction 214 00:14:07,159 --> 00:14:13,559 for this one. This might be disrespectful to the Pacers, but I just 215 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:16,000 feel like the Knicks role here, I could see it. I think it 216 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:20,440 might make n You did mention this at the top. They have this maddening 217 00:14:20,519 --> 00:14:26,679 tendency to play worse against worse opponents, and like the Knicks are a better 218 00:14:26,679 --> 00:14:31,440 team than that version of the Bucks. So I'm sort of kind of wondering, 219 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:33,200 or are they gonna rise to the occasion here because the Knicks are a 220 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:37,679 better team and it feels like it would almost feel like a Gianni's been available 221 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:39,320 that series, that the Pacers might have been on their A game more often. 222 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:41,679 They might have lost, but they might have just been on their A 223 00:14:41,799 --> 00:14:46,600 game more often. I'm gonna go Nixon six here. I ultimately just don't 224 00:14:46,639 --> 00:14:52,279 think you mentioned this already too. I don't think that there's many buttons for 225 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:56,799 Rick Carlisle to push here in this series. And I think if they do 226 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:01,759 beat the Knicks, we look back on it as the offense for the Knicks 227 00:15:01,759 --> 00:15:07,159 just fell flat because they ran out of guys who could not even just generate 228 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:11,039 their own shots but make shots aside from Brunson, and then also we saw 229 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:16,440 Pascal Siakam go full what he was the first two games in that Bucks series, 230 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:20,960 or Tyres Haliburton shooting starts to look like Tyre's Haliburton again. Yeah, 231 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:24,000 And like Mitchell Robinson, I know, came back in that sixer series, 232 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:30,039 still themes pretty banged up. So if he leaves again there, we're gonna 233 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:33,120 We're absolutely having a game, especially if the Knicks make it to the conference 234 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:37,600 finals where Tims doesn't sub anybody out and maybe it's like my borderline necessity because 235 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:43,480 mcdonovitch is already out and Mitchell Robinson needs to miss another game and then you 236 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:45,440 know what, I'm just not gonna play deuce tonight. So we're just gonna 237 00:15:45,519 --> 00:15:48,120 roll with these five the entire time and they might still win. That's what's 238 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:54,159 sick. I honestly, like, I have nothing but respect for what the 239 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:56,120 Knicks have built over the last couple of years. And they found the right 240 00:15:56,200 --> 00:16:03,759 brand of Sikos for Tom Thibodeau. Like it's really it's an impressive alignment that 241 00:16:03,799 --> 00:16:07,320 we don't often see between front office, coaching staff and players. But they 242 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:12,679 found the right type of guys to buy into the identity that Tibbs has and 243 00:16:12,879 --> 00:16:17,799 like I think this Knicks team, especially after the Og trade, when they 244 00:16:17,799 --> 00:16:22,159 were just bum slaying for like, it was like a month or so before 245 00:16:22,279 --> 00:16:25,240 Randall and Og got hurt and then they kind of like fell onto the radar. 246 00:16:25,799 --> 00:16:29,600 But like, I think they went under the radar, which is a 247 00:16:29,639 --> 00:16:33,200 weird thing to say about the New York Knicks. It like they never go 248 00:16:33,279 --> 00:16:37,399 under the radar. But like, I don't think people really appreciated how good 249 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:41,360 this Knicks team is. I think they are for real. I think they 250 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:45,799 could be even scarier next year if they do the Paul George thing that we 251 00:16:45,799 --> 00:16:51,080 talked about earlier, make some sort of big acquisition with Randall and bgdonovich. 252 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,759 But I mean, I like they I don't think people should discount them. 253 00:16:55,799 --> 00:17:00,480 And even if they win this series and move on to presumably play Boston Conference 254 00:17:00,519 --> 00:17:03,600 finals, Like, I don't think Boston is just gonna blow the doors off 255 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:04,920 of the Knicks. I think it's gonna be a hard fot series. I 256 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:07,319 don't even know. I'd have to dig deeper as to who I would pick 257 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:11,039 for that one, but I think there would be some people who are prepared 258 00:17:11,039 --> 00:17:14,240 to be like, well, this is like the knickses Atlanta Hawks run in 259 00:17:14,279 --> 00:17:18,319 twenty twenty one, like that's they just caught the right matchups. The hobbled 260 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:22,240 Sixers a Pacers team that just is fine, and it's like, no, 261 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:26,039 like this team, there's definitely something more to this. There's definitely stuff they 262 00:17:26,079 --> 00:17:32,000 need to add, but it's this is not like an aberration when you're looking 263 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:36,000 at what they're able to do. So I'm gonna go Nixon six, but 264 00:17:36,079 --> 00:17:37,880 I really just there's just so much variance to how the Pacers play. I 265 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:42,559 don't feel great about it. Yeah, the only thing I'd be like fairly 266 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:49,119 surprised by is a Pacers in five or Pacers in four, like I could 267 00:17:49,319 --> 00:17:52,920 there are definitely worlds in which the Knicks just like totally run out of gas 268 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:56,640 and the Pacer would win the series. But I think it would be a 269 00:17:56,680 --> 00:18:00,559 longer series, Like I think, I think the Knicks are going in as 270 00:18:00,599 --> 00:18:04,880 the better team. They are a somewhat heavy favorite on the odds market, 271 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:08,000 so I could see, you know, a Knicks sweep. I could see 272 00:18:08,079 --> 00:18:11,880 Nixon five. I could see a long series either way, but Pacers winning 273 00:18:12,279 --> 00:18:17,079 in a short series would be surprise to me because I do think the Knicks 274 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:22,400 just have a clear advantage in terms of talent, and I just keep coming 275 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:26,279 back to the physicality, man, like the rebounding. It sounds so stupid 276 00:18:26,279 --> 00:18:30,960 to Hartbond, but the Sixers would have won that series if not for the 277 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:34,279 rebounding. I mean they oh, no, go ahead, Sorry, I 278 00:18:34,279 --> 00:18:38,000 didn't mean it was game one, like they got a rebound by twenty and 279 00:18:38,039 --> 00:18:42,200 it's like every every fourth quarter it felt like, you know, Game four 280 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:48,640 especially was they just got destroyed at the end, like and even Game six, 281 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:51,119 I think there were a couple of key ones late where the Knicks just 282 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:55,240 continue to generate these possessions out of thin air that they should not be getting, 283 00:18:55,279 --> 00:18:59,559 and it allows them to build these leads. And honestly, I could 284 00:18:59,599 --> 00:19:04,279 also see just the wild swings that Nick Sixers series, the Game two ending, 285 00:19:04,319 --> 00:19:07,079 the Game five ending, you know, them getting up so big in 286 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:11,480 Game six, and then giving up the whole lead by halftime, going down 287 00:19:11,519 --> 00:19:15,759 ten points in the third quarter, coming back from that, going up late, 288 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:19,400 giving that whole lead back up like they I think that just tested them 289 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:22,759 in a way that the Pacers did not get tested in the first round, 290 00:19:22,799 --> 00:19:26,759 and it's going to prepare them for what's coming more than the Pacers might be, 291 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:30,599 and I would say it's not stupid to harp on the offensive rebounding When 292 00:19:30,599 --> 00:19:33,400 they boarded it was like basically thirty six percent of their own misses for the 293 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:37,839 series, and they were like stretches where at the end of it was Game 294 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:41,680 six, they rebounded fifty six point two percent of their own misses. In 295 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:45,160 the first quarter of Game six, the Slickers actually rebounded forty six percent of 296 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:49,200 their own misses. I think in that quarter fifty percent for a twelve minute 297 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:56,160 stretch is fucking wild. I'm honestly just proud of the Sixers for not totally 298 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:57,799 letting go of the rope because when they were down thirty three to eleven, 299 00:19:57,799 --> 00:20:00,319 and I was like, you know, that game started nine o'clock, so 300 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:03,000 I'm telling my wife like, yeah, actually, maybe I will go to 301 00:20:03,039 --> 00:20:06,680 bed with you halftime, like maybe, And then you know, they had 302 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:07,799 already taken back to the lead by halftime, and I went up to That 303 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:11,880 series was so epic. It was I think the most entertaining first round series 304 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:15,960 for me since you remember that what year was that the Clippers Spurs where it 305 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:19,880 came down to uh was it? Chris Paul hit like the game winner. 306 00:20:21,039 --> 00:20:23,200 It was in Game seven, like basically hit the buzzer at that that. 307 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:27,119 I think this was the most entertaining first round series I've seen since then, 308 00:20:27,279 --> 00:20:32,640 was that twenty fourteen? I think so around there? Yeah, yeah, 309 00:20:32,759 --> 00:20:37,079 yeah, it was like I should be more upset about it, and I 310 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:41,200 honestly I'm surprised that six Ers. I guess Sixers fans had just already moved 311 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:47,000 on to like arguing about Jimmy Butler versus Paul George versus branding Ingram versus two 312 00:20:47,039 --> 00:20:51,799 stars and three stars whatever, so like no one's really fixated on it. 313 00:20:51,839 --> 00:20:56,400 If anything, I think it just kind of solidified that Tyrese Maxie is that 314 00:20:56,519 --> 00:21:00,119 dude, and that really is that dude. That's all that matters from the 315 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:03,359 season, honestly, because that was their biggest the non Harden question coming in 316 00:21:03,559 --> 00:21:07,160 was is Danny's Maxie the clear number two? Yes, question answered. Now 317 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:11,599 we can move on. But yeah, like I mean, the entire series 318 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:17,799 being decided by a margin of one point. I just I loved the Nick 319 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:22,519 Durson's coment four Game six was just so fitting where he was just like nothing 320 00:21:22,559 --> 00:21:26,079 matters. Did you see the meme I posted about that. It was from 321 00:21:26,319 --> 00:21:29,440 oh man, why am I blanking? On the What's that show? From 322 00:21:29,519 --> 00:21:33,720 Netflix? With Jason Bateman based in Missouri, oh Ozark And the meme is 323 00:21:33,799 --> 00:21:37,759 I don't know, I don't know fuck about ship or shit about fun And 324 00:21:37,759 --> 00:21:40,200 that's basically what Nick Nurse said. I was like, I respect it. 325 00:21:40,519 --> 00:21:44,880 This is a level of Neilism that is so relatable, uh that I love 326 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:47,720 it. I was gonna ask, do we have a few minutes to spend 327 00:21:47,759 --> 00:21:52,240 on just Thunder uh before we go? Before we go, I'm about to 328 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:56,279 forget who the Thunder playing Thunder MAVs? What are your initial thoughts like heading 329 00:21:56,279 --> 00:22:00,200 into this series, And like we're kind of fresh off as we're recording the 330 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:04,039 the MAVs bouncing the Clippers, so I haven't dug super deep into it, 331 00:22:04,079 --> 00:22:11,440 but it's kind of another fascinating matchup too, where's just like like Dallas plays 332 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:18,279 I think understatedly super huge to where it's okay, you have Dancic just massive 333 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:22,720 for a point guard. And then now they've just run these lineups where it's 334 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:27,640 Derek Jones Junior, PJ. Washington and then Gafford or Lively or it's you 335 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:32,680 have PJ. Washington Maxi Kliba, and we haven't seen them really play with 336 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:36,079 another big with that, but like PJ Washing Maxi Kliba with a Derek Jones 337 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:38,279 junior, so they could just be super big, which that's still a weakness 338 00:22:38,319 --> 00:22:41,559 of the Thunder. I don't think you need to go out and get sizes, 339 00:22:41,599 --> 00:22:45,119 and they didn't at the trade deadline. But it's kind of like fascinating 340 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:48,559 to where you don't view Dallas as this physical team, but the four on 341 00:22:48,759 --> 00:22:52,839 three situations they can create in the half court with their pick and rolls. 342 00:22:53,319 --> 00:22:59,160 I do think we'll stress test, Okay sees defense for sure. Yeah, 343 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:03,519 I mean we'll see. But I know injured the shoulder last night. I 344 00:23:03,559 --> 00:23:07,480 think as we were recording, I saw Sean's notification about like, I think 345 00:23:07,519 --> 00:23:11,680 it's a full dislocation. If I saw that, Oh I didn't see that. 346 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:17,599 I think I might have read that wrong. So I apologize and advance, 347 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:22,640 uh third degree dislocation. This is from Tim McMahon of ESPN. Third 348 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:26,519 degree dislocation of the AC joint in Maxi Kleebler's shoulder. So, oh, 349 00:23:26,519 --> 00:23:30,480 he's done. I don't mind. Definitely, perhaps the remainder of the Mavis 350 00:23:30,519 --> 00:23:33,680 playoff runt and that's like that's a kind of big deal for this that's a 351 00:23:33,759 --> 00:23:40,240 huge deal. Well because now it's like everything I just said, it's just 352 00:23:40,279 --> 00:23:44,160 like it's negated, so they're not as huge, but like you still have 353 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:48,880 the Derek Jones junior PJ. Washington big look, and that fared really well 354 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:55,000 for Dallas against the Clippers. The with the PJ. Washington, Gafford and 355 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:59,279 Derek Jones junior front court. Their offense actually wasn't great, but they still 356 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:02,720 scored the Clippers by five point one points per one hundred possessions. And now 357 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:06,279 you add Lively in there instead of Gafford, uh, and it was plus 358 00:24:06,319 --> 00:24:11,000 twelve point two points per one hundred possessions. And again that's without the offense 359 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:14,440 kind of being elite. And I think that's maybe the sacrifice you make is 360 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:18,480 that you have these three. You have a non shooter at the five and 361 00:24:18,519 --> 00:24:22,160 then two shaky shooters relatively speaking, and PJ. Washington and Rick Jones junior. 362 00:24:22,559 --> 00:24:26,720 But like they their defense is real and like I don't know how they're 363 00:24:26,759 --> 00:24:30,240 gonna do against the Clippers. Are they were never truly five out and like 364 00:24:30,279 --> 00:24:34,480 the Thunder just five out basically what forty eight minutes a game. There's like 365 00:24:34,519 --> 00:24:37,720 there's no unless they're gonna you know, un cork bismock biumbo for the series. 366 00:24:37,759 --> 00:24:41,720 For some reason, it's just gonna be. So I think they will 367 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:45,799 be a team. And he shot a trillion percent from three against the Pelicans. 368 00:24:47,319 --> 00:24:52,640 They're gonna more egregiously not defend Josh Giddy, I think than a lot 369 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:56,559 of like then like other teams might, Yeah, for sure, And like 370 00:24:56,599 --> 00:25:00,119 I know everyone fixates on Okacs size and the rebound in general as being their 371 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:06,680 achilles heel. They are, I mean, Chut seven to one. Gidea's 372 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:10,240 six' eight. Sga is also a jumbo point guard at six' six, 373 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:12,000 Jalen Williams is six to five, and lud Dort sixty three, but 374 00:25:12,039 --> 00:25:18,000 he's i mean, got a huge wingspan. It's just the lockdown defensive threat. 375 00:25:18,319 --> 00:25:23,720 Like I think the Thunder actually match up kind of well defensively other than 376 00:25:23,759 --> 00:25:27,200 the potential of them just getting bullied. But like, do you know who's 377 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:32,240 like kind of their skeleton key for that? I mean, and this is 378 00:25:32,279 --> 00:25:36,319 not like it's lou Dort just because you mentioned he's six three, six' 379 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:41,400 four and It's like I would rather see him defend Luka Doncic than Kyrie Irving 380 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:45,079 because he's just built like a brick house. And I'm not saying he's gonna 381 00:25:45,079 --> 00:25:48,799 get the best of that matchup, but if you look at how much you're 382 00:25:48,799 --> 00:25:52,319 gonna need to pressure THEO and set extra bodies at Luca, you just I 383 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:55,440 think with the Thunder, even if you want to use J Dubb in those 384 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:59,720 situations, they will, but way like you just because of those two dudes 385 00:25:59,759 --> 00:26:03,559 like J Dub versus Kyrie, like those are just I'm not saying you're gonna 386 00:26:03,599 --> 00:26:07,880 leave those guys alone the entire time, but you might because you can, 387 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:11,319 like that's an option that you just have. And yeah, you can like 388 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:17,480 honestly switch interchangeably between Dort Williams SGA. You probably don't want Giddy on either 389 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:18,519 one of those guys if you can avoid it, but like you know, 390 00:26:18,599 --> 00:26:22,799 even he can switch on to them if you were just switching everything. So 391 00:26:23,519 --> 00:26:26,720 yeah, I think Under actually have the personnel to match up. Kind of 392 00:26:27,039 --> 00:26:33,480 like no one's gonna stop Kyrie, not this version of Kyrie I saw someone 393 00:26:33,519 --> 00:26:37,440 created if Kyrie had Qui's personality, which is basically just don't do or say 394 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:41,319 anything. He'd be the most likable player in NBA history because of the aesthetics 395 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:44,759 of his game. And I was trying to think, like, who's a 396 00:26:44,799 --> 00:26:48,359 flashy player that had like this understated, non controversial personality, and like the 397 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:53,279 answer is just Nicole Jokic. It's just like he's he's super aesthetically to watch 398 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:56,079 him. So I digress on there. I was gonna ask you, though, 399 00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:00,440 like do you think this sounds counterintuitive? I don't think it's true, 400 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:06,519 But because of how physical Luca is, do you think like sort of the 401 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:11,799 going after Chet's guy, like screening that and like trying to get Luca onto 402 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:15,519 Chet to where okay, Like Chet, Yeah, we know he's mobile, 403 00:27:15,559 --> 00:27:18,759 we know he's a fantastic grim protector, shot block or whatever. But will 404 00:27:18,839 --> 00:27:22,599 Luca feel more confident in that matchup just because he has like just stronger shoulders 405 00:27:22,839 --> 00:27:26,960 and backside. Where is that a matchup that you would see the mavericks. 406 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:30,839 I want to say attacking, because I don't think Chet's a liability, but 407 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:36,599 maybe being more willing to allow to happen or go at just because of that, 408 00:27:36,799 --> 00:27:41,440 or is it just is my my overthinking that I could see it. 409 00:27:41,559 --> 00:27:45,559 I mean, I can certainly see the rationale behind it. I think Chet 410 00:27:45,599 --> 00:27:49,720 also just has the length and like the foot speed to recover that even if 411 00:27:49,799 --> 00:27:56,480 Luca blows by him, especially like Luca's got on his blocky knee. I 412 00:27:56,519 --> 00:28:00,000 know he's still dominating, but like he looks, he looks fast, right 413 00:28:00,079 --> 00:28:03,200 like, that's never his selling point. He's it's always just his size and 414 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:07,519 his physicality and his control of his body. But he looked even slower than 415 00:28:07,599 --> 00:28:11,880 usual right now. So I do wonder if Chet might be able to like 416 00:28:12,559 --> 00:28:15,799 it blow You know, you can blow by Chet, but it doesn't matter 417 00:28:15,799 --> 00:28:18,160 because that's gonna be able to recover by the time you get to the rim 418 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:25,039 that he's gonna block your stuff anyway. So, like, I fully expect 419 00:28:25,519 --> 00:28:27,960 Luca and Kyrie to continue. You know, it's not like they're gonna all 420 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:33,119 of a sudden score ten points a game or like pull. Will Lucas shoot 421 00:28:33,160 --> 00:28:37,960 better than sub twenty four from three point range in this series? Yeah? 422 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:41,039 Man, that was rough last night. I mean, he was He's not 423 00:28:41,079 --> 00:28:44,799 even close, And that's that's why I wonder how much the need is affecting 424 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:48,799 him. And it kind of because of that has me leaning okayc in the 425 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:53,839 series, Like, if if we had fully healthy Mavericks and Mexic Liba was 426 00:28:55,079 --> 00:29:00,599 not probably done for the playoffs, I think it'd be probably to a coin 427 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:07,799 flip. But if we're gonna get like eighty percent Luca and we're not gonna 428 00:29:07,839 --> 00:29:11,359 have Kleeba, so now they don't have as many five out options as they 429 00:29:11,359 --> 00:29:18,039 otherwise would have. It just makes me wonder where it's coming from, Like, 430 00:29:18,079 --> 00:29:22,240 where's the offense coming from for Dallas if it's not Luca and Kyrie and 431 00:29:22,559 --> 00:29:26,880 or just you know, there was guys kicking out to open three point shooters 432 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:30,079 and if PJ. Washington and Derek Jones Junior are knocking down their threes? 433 00:29:30,519 --> 00:29:34,839 Cool. Do we know about Tim Partaway's status for this series, by the 434 00:29:34,839 --> 00:29:37,279 way, no, just see, I mean I don't think they want to 435 00:29:37,279 --> 00:29:40,599 play him, so I don't really like, I don't even know if I 436 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:42,000 view it as like it. I guess if they want the three point shooting 437 00:29:42,039 --> 00:29:45,519 out there, but I haven't seen anything more about his status since he's been 438 00:29:45,519 --> 00:29:49,799 dealing with what was it, he's the ankle injury. So yeah, this 439 00:29:51,319 --> 00:29:55,559 I will say PJ. Washington like because we know Derek Jones junior, they 440 00:29:55,559 --> 00:29:57,880 will have him on one of the Thunder's primaries. This becomes like a huge 441 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:03,079 PJ. Washington's here because just this version of the Clipper, I mean, 442 00:30:03,079 --> 00:30:04,799 he did a good job against the Clab, like the mass defense was suffocating, 443 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:08,640 but like this is different when you look at J dub or Shay specifically, 444 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:12,039 Like those are two completely different players. Whoever he winds up guarding more. 445 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:17,200 But I'm so interesting how Dallas's defense holds up against OKC. But I 446 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:19,200 think right now I'm leaning, especially now that you told me about this Cleve 447 00:30:19,319 --> 00:30:22,000 injuries were recording, I didn't realize the shoulder and he was that surious. 448 00:30:22,519 --> 00:30:26,079 I'm gonna go OKC in six, and honestly, because Lucas dealing with the 449 00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:30,640 knee stuff, I think Dallas's defense is resilient enough to win two even with 450 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:33,480 that. It just wouldn't shock me if this was an OKAC in five. 451 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:40,079 I still think people underestimate just how dominant the Thunder are, Like they're terrifying. 452 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:44,359 I think the MAVs obviously have more more buttons to push than that version 453 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:47,279 of the Pelicans that we saw, But I think you can make the case 454 00:30:47,319 --> 00:30:52,200 that who are the best Shay Gil just Alexander defenders in the West. It's 455 00:30:52,279 --> 00:30:56,680 probably Herb Jones and or Jayden McDaniels, and so like the MAVs just don't 456 00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:59,640 have a Herb Jone. They have Derek Jones Junior and PJ. Washington and 457 00:31:00,039 --> 00:31:03,839 Antexum and that's just not the same. Yeah. Yeah, I mean it's 458 00:31:03,839 --> 00:31:07,200 like hard to read into the first round series from the Thunder because there was 459 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:11,559 no Zion and but I mean they you know, Game one was close and 460 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:14,440 then they kind of just toyed with the Pelicans for three games, and I 461 00:31:14,519 --> 00:31:18,039 don't think they're gonna have that luxury against the Bavericks unless one of Luca or 462 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:22,359 Kyrie missed time. And hopefully that isn't the case. But I'm with you 463 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:26,480 and leaning okay. See, I selfishly hope it goes seven, just because 464 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:30,680 I think it's gonna be a really fun series. The one thing I'm not 465 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:36,200 looking forward to is all of the m v P discourse between SGA fans and 466 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:41,160 Luca fans, and I think it's gonna be probably more. Does it matter 467 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:44,359 Jokic will be named the m v P. I think what is it Tuesday 468 00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:48,680 or am I missing? When's the date on that whatever? Yeah, hopefully 469 00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:51,759 it's soon because that would kind of put it to bed. I hope so. 470 00:31:51,839 --> 00:31:53,680 But yeah, well, then do we have the O this guy should 471 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:56,079 have been number two and this guy should have been number three, and he's 472 00:31:56,240 --> 00:32:00,440 like I think there's just gonna be a lot of pissing over which who better 473 00:32:00,519 --> 00:32:02,960 Luca don Chic or Shake Gilds Alexander. I'd love to find about who's the 474 00:32:02,960 --> 00:32:08,119 better loser or non winner, who's the better non winner for this award, 475 00:32:08,759 --> 00:32:13,279 who's the better all for fort team All NBA player, who cares they're both 476 00:32:13,359 --> 00:32:15,720 great? Then you're not gonna win MVP because Yoki should still here. So 477 00:32:16,519 --> 00:32:20,880 I don't I don't want to. I'm just gonna like unplug from those conversations. 478 00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:23,599 But I as a basketball fan, I'm going to enjoy the hell out 479 00:32:23,599 --> 00:32:27,880 of seeing two of the best players in the NBA going hand to head against 480 00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:31,359 one another, and it should be I'm excited that we're gonna have three super 481 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:35,960 tantalizing second round matchups. I just can't bring myself to care about who this 482 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:38,359 said, like Calves, Magic Bugget, like Celtics in five, Like it's 483 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:43,799 just I want the Magic. I want the Magic to win, just because 484 00:32:43,839 --> 00:32:47,079 I I think they could be interesting. I'm not saying they're gonna like give 485 00:32:47,119 --> 00:32:52,160 a real scare to Boston, but with you know, Mitchell st banged up 486 00:32:52,319 --> 00:32:55,559 and Jared Allen I missed the last two games of the Rim thing, who 487 00:32:55,599 --> 00:32:59,480 knows if he plays Sunday. I think the Cavs are just too injured to 488 00:32:59,519 --> 00:33:01,599 really put I think, yeah, Orlando's defense could maybe do some stuff to 489 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:07,079 gum up Boston's offense, especially with they might have more points of like, 490 00:33:07,279 --> 00:33:12,720 oh, we can sacrifice here to go here if Christos Porzingis isn't isn't healthy. 491 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:15,039 But I mean, I don't know if we're watching Donovan Mitchell in that 492 00:33:15,079 --> 00:33:20,279 game against the Magic in Game six, just in every single point for the 493 00:33:20,279 --> 00:33:22,240 Cavs in the fourth quarter. So it's just he's still I don't know how 494 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:25,319 he got this reputation just someone who doesn't rise to the occasion of the playoff. 495 00:33:25,359 --> 00:33:30,759 He has some epic postseason performances, So I don't know where people are 496 00:33:30,799 --> 00:33:32,279 just like, oh, like this is someone who just always disappears when it 497 00:33:32,319 --> 00:33:36,680 matters. I'm like, where the hell is that? Actually, some people 498 00:33:36,720 --> 00:33:40,240 don't traffic in any sort of reality. I mean, it was the Bubbles 499 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:43,920 series with him and Jamal Murray. I was like one of the best one 500 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:46,359 on one showdowns we've seen in recent years. Right, he is like now 501 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:51,319 I think second or third all time in playoff fifty point games. Wow, 502 00:33:51,359 --> 00:33:54,480 total, because he has three and I think there's he's in the top five 503 00:33:54,519 --> 00:33:59,160 already and he needs all active players. By the way, so in a 504 00:33:59,720 --> 00:34:02,480 in a league that has Lebron James and Kevin Durant like still playing, obviously 505 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:06,920 they didn't make it deep this year, his three fifty point games the leader 506 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:09,880 among all active players. Well, now you just gave me something for Tyrese 507 00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:17,239 Maxi to look forward to in about six years. All Right, I think 508 00:34:17,239 --> 00:34:21,519 I took a place for us to wrap up. So Dan, thank you 509 00:34:21,639 --> 00:34:23,559 for coming on or thank you for hosting me, because we're gonna have this 510 00:34:23,719 --> 00:34:30,639 go live on both of our podcasts, and I wish you the best in 511 00:34:30,679 --> 00:34:35,480 the series against the Pacers as much as I really, I genuinely don't even 512 00:34:35,519 --> 00:34:37,440 hate the Knicks like that, I think as the finest compliment I could pay 513 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:43,159 coming out of a playoff series. I know Knicks fans got a little excited 514 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:45,880 about their taste of playoff success, which I get you haven't had a ton 515 00:34:45,880 --> 00:34:50,119 of it in recent years, so go, will you beat the seventh seed? 516 00:34:50,199 --> 00:34:53,880 Congratulations? But I do think I do think they are for real. 517 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:57,760 I do think there's a lot to build on moving forward, and I think 518 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:02,199 you know they should. I hope to see them against Boston in the conference 519 00:35:02,199 --> 00:35:07,760 finals, and I hope we get a competitive series there. Thank you. 520 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:13,039 And I do know I'm so far like separated from my psychotic fandom when I 521 00:35:13,079 --> 00:35:15,239 was younger, just because being in the business for so long does kill at 522 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:19,159 least some of it for you. I don't hate Joel Embiid. I enjoy 523 00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:21,639 him. I love Tyros Maxie. I thought Philly put up a hell of 524 00:35:21,679 --> 00:35:23,800 a fight, but they were not. I will say in defensive Knicks fans 525 00:35:23,960 --> 00:35:27,960 who should act like they've been here before. Now you want a playoff series 526 00:35:28,039 --> 00:35:29,880 last year, it's like, let's add like you're in the second round. 527 00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:32,440 Congratulations. This is the burden of expectations, because if you lose against the 528 00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:37,480 team that's clearly worse than you, even without Julius random Bydanovic, there would 529 00:35:37,519 --> 00:35:38,920 be questions. They answered but like, let's act Knicks fans, let's act 530 00:35:38,920 --> 00:35:42,920 like we've been here before, because now now we have I will say, 531 00:35:42,920 --> 00:35:46,400 Philly was not your typical seventh seed. No, that was like the stuff 532 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:49,599 that they were doing with Tyrus Maxi and Joell Ebid at the beginning of the 533 00:35:49,639 --> 00:35:52,760 year. So that was a fun series. Thank you so much for having 534 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:59,000 me Slash, Thank you so much for coming on. It was my pleasure 535 00:35:59,199 --> 00:36:02,920 on both glens and honestly, everyone follow us both on Twitter. You can 536 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:08,639 find at the NBA Pod and then download this episode twice at both of our 537 00:36:09,199 --> 00:36:12,960 This on the NBA Pod, go subscribe to Hardwine KNOCKX. If you're listening 538 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:16,039 to this on Hard One Knocks, go subscribe to the NBA Pod. Honestly, 539 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:21,800 for NBA Pod subscribers, Dan and Grant do a ton of great work 540 00:36:22,039 --> 00:36:25,119 and pump out way more stuff than we do, so please go subscribe to 541 00:36:25,159 --> 00:36:29,760 them if you want a ton of great NBA coverage. Dan, for your 542 00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:32,800 sake, I hope that you don't do the every team preview this year because 543 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:37,119 I know how much time that takes. But I know I'm thinking about I'm 544 00:36:37,119 --> 00:36:43,199 thinking about digital this year. But people love it. Rest Ashore. If 545 00:36:43,199 --> 00:36:45,599 I do it, I'll need you for the sixers. So I know you 546 00:36:45,679 --> 00:36:50,519 might be planning like a hiatus or something, but you're not getting it from 547 00:36:50,519 --> 00:36:53,320 this podcast. Is not happening. What's just hope Dryl Morey makes his moves 548 00:36:53,360 --> 00:36:59,639 early in July. I am keeping my fingers crossed that, like, by 549 00:36:59,719 --> 00:37:02,840 July fifteenth, I can walk away from that'll be done, especially because now 550 00:37:02,840 --> 00:37:06,239 that I think teams will, even though they would have had a hole on 551 00:37:06,280 --> 00:37:07,559 it to begin with, Now that you could talk to your own players after 552 00:37:07,559 --> 00:37:10,639 the final, we're just gonna see moves line up like big bag boom, 553 00:37:10,639 --> 00:37:15,079 even faster than it's like. Oh, free agency is done five minutes into 554 00:37:15,119 --> 00:37:17,760 its starting. How did that happen? Well? Because Lloyd note the teams 555 00:37:17,760 --> 00:37:23,159 never talked to their free agents before this year. No, never unless DeAndre 556 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:28,519 Jordan gotta make sure. Nuggets got to make sure that you have DeAndre Jordan. 557 00:37:29,679 --> 00:37:32,480 They never got panalized. I'm still mad it broke at six o'clock. 558 00:37:32,519 --> 00:37:37,400 What are we doing? Did you write the League office? I wrote an 559 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:44,119 article about it? Of course you did. Yeah, Well, that's why 560 00:37:44,079 --> 00:37:46,039 you cancribe to the NBA pod. You and more can go like you can 561 00:37:46,119 --> 00:37:52,039 make the bulls sound compelling, more can make the bulls now compel. I 562 00:37:52,119 --> 00:37:57,440 enjoyed the I enjoyed the All NBA discussion where you two couldn't decide and you 563 00:37:57,480 --> 00:38:02,320 were just like fucking throw beyond there then. Honestly, I mean he's fully 564 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:06,440 pivoted into being a Spurs fan, and I think it's the correct call. 565 00:38:06,519 --> 00:38:10,239 And if there are any other both bands listening out there where like you need 566 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:14,239 long term viability, it's the Spurs and Thunder. Brian and I will be 567 00:38:14,599 --> 00:38:17,079 having a spin off where recover only the Thunder since it seems like localized contents 568 00:38:17,079 --> 00:38:21,719 a lot more popular than what we do now in terms of podcasting anyway, 569 00:38:22,039 --> 00:38:25,119 So look forward to us launching our Thunder podcast in the near We're coming for 570 00:38:25,199 --> 00:38:31,920 you the uncontested and okay see topic Thunder whatever they're called, and there's other 571 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:36,320 what's the one at the Athletic We're coming for all you. Has no one 572 00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:39,800 claimed thunder Buddies yet, we need to just claim it before we're the thunder 573 00:38:39,800 --> 00:38:44,280 buddies. I already have the LLD set up. We're perfect, good, 574 00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:45,480 good, good, all right, well, thank you dad. It's always 575 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:49,280 fun chopping it up with you, and we will. We will definitely catch 576 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:52,559 up soon because Yeah, I absolutely want to debate this three star, two 577 00:38:52,559 --> 00:38:57,760 star, three max stuff at some point because I think it's honestly, I 578 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:00,440 think that is the biggest conversation that needs to be across the NBA this off 579 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:04,840 season. It seems like fans are starting to catch on, but I think 580 00:39:04,880 --> 00:39:07,760 it's it's gonna be that into the dividing line looking forward and we're gonna turn 581 00:39:07,800 --> 00:39:10,079 and see them, and yes, we have to do that. Thank you 582 00:39:10,119 --> 00:39:14,840 for having me. It's a funny slash thank you for coming to me. 583 00:39:15,639 --> 00:39:15,199 That was good.