WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.120 All right, let's get it. 2 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:05.280 Drivetime Friday afternoon, thirteen minutes past the hour, two o'clock. 3 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:09.640 Lovely day, lovely, lovely day, in preparation for what looks 4 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:13.720 like a really really lovely Memorial Day weekend. About seventy 5 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:16.640 two degrees sunny here in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. 6 00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:19.679 As it is every single day. It's going to have 7 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:22.039 you along for the ride. Spence check, it's behind the mic, 8 00:00:22.199 --> 00:00:24.440 order Larson, behind the glass. Yeah, we got great weather 9 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:26.199 this weekend and throughout. 10 00:00:25.879 --> 00:00:26.960 Next week as well. 11 00:00:27.640 --> 00:00:31.559 It looks like summer is on its way. Happy Friday 12 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:33.799 to you, Congratulations, it is weekend time. 13 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:34.200 You made it. 14 00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:36.960 Take a big old deep breath, and hopefully have a 15 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:38.039 long weekend like we do. 16 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:39.359 We'll be off on Monday. 17 00:00:39.479 --> 00:00:42.119 So this is our final show until Tuesday of next week. 18 00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:44.439 But luckily it is a. 19 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:48.200 Jam packed, busy, busy show, very busy show with a 20 00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:51.560 lot to do, of course, the NBA Playoff basketball top 21 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:54.520 of mind awareness. The Oklahoma City Thunder took a commanding 22 00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:59.119 two zero lead and once again kind of just kind. 23 00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:00.759 Of fit the script. I did even to feel. 24 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:04.200 About OKAC the way I felt about Boston a year ago. 25 00:01:04.359 --> 00:01:06.280 They've got a level that I don't think anyone else 26 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:09.680 has left, and quite frankly, they have all year long. 27 00:01:09.760 --> 00:01:11.439 They kind of just did last night where they've been 28 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:15.120 doing all year long. Had a really excellent third quarter 29 00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:18.239 and second half. Julius Randall did not even get it 30 00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:21.760 get off the bench in the fourth quarter. This is 31 00:01:21.799 --> 00:01:25.079 who Julius Randall typically has been in spring basketball. He's 32 00:01:25.079 --> 00:01:27.359 had a really good playoffs, but not great Last night 33 00:01:28.280 --> 00:01:33.040 one eighteen, one oh three and Oklahoma City takes a 34 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:35.799 two to zero lead on the Minnesota Timberwolves. 35 00:01:35.799 --> 00:01:37.400 They'll head back to will not head back. 36 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:41.200 They'll head to Minnesota at the Target Center to take 37 00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:44.599 on well Uh to go back home. Minnesota is going 38 00:01:44.599 --> 00:01:46.840 to try to protect their home court after OKAC was 39 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:50.519 able to get the first two games down in Oklahoma City. 40 00:01:50.920 --> 00:01:53.280 The New York Knicks fighting for their playoff live. This 41 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:56.000 is a franchise that I can tell you is zero 42 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:59.879 to fourteen in the history of the organization. When they 43 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:03.000 go down to zero. They have never gone down to 44 00:02:03.159 --> 00:02:06.879 zero while losing the first two games at Madison Square Garden. 45 00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:09.479 But that's what's at stake tonight. Nicks are a healthy 46 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:11.759 five point favorite that line has kind of oscillated a 47 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:14.639 little bit back and forth, so we'll see if New 48 00:02:14.680 --> 00:02:17.240 York can bounce back. We'll see if Tom Thibodeau decides 49 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:19.319 to extend his rotation a little bit. But we do 50 00:02:19.360 --> 00:02:22.800 have some playoff basketball tonight, and a big one at that. 51 00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:26.439 The world of pro hockey continues to roll along as 52 00:02:26.439 --> 00:02:28.919 far as the Stanley Cup playoffs go. 53 00:02:29.080 --> 00:02:30.719 It's the Oilers and the Stars tonight. 54 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:34.280 The Stars have won seven straight games at American Airlines 55 00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:37.319 Center in Dallas, Texas. That's one shy of their record 56 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:41.560 in the postseason, and they lead the Western Conference Final 57 00:02:41.639 --> 00:02:44.639 one zero over Cony McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. 58 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:47.319 But you'll get that game tonight as well. 59 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:52.240 So some playoff basketball, some playoff hockey, playoff basketball, playoff hockey. 60 00:02:52.439 --> 00:02:54.680 Last night as well, we'll get to some takeaways from 61 00:02:54.680 --> 00:02:58.680 the games. The Panthers smoked the Hurricanes, and the Panthers 62 00:02:58.759 --> 00:03:02.159 are the hottest team right now and the National Hockey League, 63 00:03:02.840 --> 00:03:06.000 so we'll do some playoff basketball, some playoff hockey. We 64 00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:08.719 are inching closer and closer to the NBA Draft coming 65 00:03:08.759 --> 00:03:11.639 up on June the twenty fifth. The next date of 66 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:15.319 interest or Jazz fans. We're about one month away, virtually 67 00:03:15.319 --> 00:03:18.719 almost one month away, and a lot of rumors continue 68 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:22.159 to fly about what the Jazz could do, either prior 69 00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:25.120 to Draft night or on Draft night, move up, move down, 70 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:27.800 utilize their assets to bring in a couple of pieces. 71 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:30.960 We'll have to kind of see how this thing goes, 72 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:33.560 but we'll get you ready for the NBA Draft. Want 73 00:03:33.560 --> 00:03:35.599 to remind you that we're gonna have great NBA Draft coverage. 74 00:03:35.639 --> 00:03:40.080 It's myself, Richard Smith, Gordy Chiasa live throughout the course 75 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:42.000 of the first round, and then the second round is 76 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:44.319 the day after and that takes place during our show, 77 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:47.719 so we'll have live reaction and let you know, of 78 00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:50.639 course what the Jazz elect to do with their four picks. 79 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:53.520 Two in the first round, two in the second. So 80 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:57.120 a lot to do on the program. More college football 81 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:00.759 changes on the way after the news broke yesterday that. 82 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:02.199 The college football. 83 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:06.000 Playoff will be straight seeding now as opposed to awarding 84 00:04:06.039 --> 00:04:09.000 conference champs seeds. It's just the best teams get the 85 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:12.280 best seeds. And we talked to Matt Brown yesterday about 86 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:14.439 a bevy of different changes that are on the horizon 87 00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:18.360 and how this sport could take shape as we move forward, 88 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:21.399 so we'll get the latest in that direction. No new 89 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:24.000 news on the Jake Retz laugh situation out at BYU 90 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:27.040 other than what's been reported by the Salt Lake Tribune 91 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:29.560 and others. ESPN are Guy Kyle Bonnet Gurrow with some 92 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:32.920 good reporting yesterday. But anything comes down while we're on 93 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:34.920 air today, of course, we'll bring that to you. After 94 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:37.480 our little four a up north to Ogden yesterday, we're 95 00:04:37.480 --> 00:04:40.000 back in studio today with a really good guest list. 96 00:04:40.759 --> 00:04:42.680 Start things off with the hippest. 97 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:47.439 NBA rider around, Howard Beck from the Ringer Taco KC Minnesota, 98 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:51.160 Top New York and in Indiana. Of course, a little 99 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:55.439 jazz basketball some offseason NBA Zach Harper will stop by 100 00:04:55.480 --> 00:04:57.480 as well. One of our favorites on a Friday, Paul 101 00:04:57.560 --> 00:04:59.439 pug Meyer joins us to talk some and golf. 102 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:05.000 Charles Schwab Challenge. The PGA Tour is stopping. 103 00:05:04.680 --> 00:05:07.120 At the Charles Schwab, so we will talk some golf 104 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:10.120 on the program today with that guy Paul pug Meyer. 105 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:13.079 Talk a little local golf as well. Played eighteen this 106 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:17.720 morning at Bottaville. Shout out Bottaville. Lovely Little Track enjoyed 107 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:22.040 that beautiful day, bringing mikeym for some off season NFL conversation, 108 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:25.439 some football with Mike, and then Andy Larson from the 109 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:27.920 Solid Tribune to do a little jazz and Little rsl 110 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:32.040 RSL back at action tomorrow against Vancouver, the best team 111 00:05:32.040 --> 00:05:33.680 in the Western Conference, one of the best. 112 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:34.839 Teams in all of Major League Soccer. 113 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:39.079 So Howard Beck, Zach Harper, Paul Pugmyer, Mikeym, Andy Larson, 114 00:05:39.160 --> 00:05:41.439 he Spence Check, it's all of you, your great listeners. 115 00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:45.120 Happy Friday to you and that guy Porter Larson. Confidence 116 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:50.199 level Game two Knicks Pacers, where you at? 117 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:52.199 I don't. 118 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:54.720 I don't think I can rightly say I'm confident, Spencer, 119 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:57.000 not with the way Game one went. 120 00:05:57.759 --> 00:05:58.680 You know I have. 121 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:02.079 I'll say this, I'm confident the Knicks will bounce back 122 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:05.240 in the energy they play with. I'm confident that they're 123 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:08.160 not going to, like all of a sudden, get swept 124 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:11.560 and blown out in this series. I'm confident in like 125 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:17.120 the fight that they'll have tonight. But man, when you 126 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:19.319 get some of the performances you had into Game one 127 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:21.560 and still find a way to lose, I'm gonna have 128 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:23.920 to see a reverse course a little bit before I 129 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:25.439 can go into the next game confident. 130 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:27.680 There's a little uneasiness there. 131 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:29.399 Fair enough as there should be. 132 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:31.639 So we'll get you ready for some NBA playoff action 133 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:34.839 tonight and talk about Game two takeaways Oka see Wolves 134 00:06:34.920 --> 00:06:37.519 last night. Howard Beck our first guest right out of 135 00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:39.240 the gates. But before we get to Howard. On this 136 00:06:39.399 --> 00:06:43.279 Friday afternoon weekend edition style courtesy off our good friends, 137 00:06:43.319 --> 00:06:45.519 your good friends, Stewart Prize Picks, it is to now 138 00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:46.480 for your opening tip. 139 00:06:47.079 --> 00:06:49.519 Welcome to the Drive with Spence check its on Utah's 140 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:52.920 number one Sports Talk Now into the studios of ESPN 141 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:55.600 seven hundred to set the scene for the show. The 142 00:06:55.639 --> 00:06:57.680 opening tip of the Drive is brought to you by 143 00:06:57.720 --> 00:07:01.600 Prize Picks. Use the code es P seven hundred and 144 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:03.800 run your game with Prize Picks. 145 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:06.759 Cash in on the basketball playoffs with Prize Picks. Don't 146 00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:08.759 miss your last chance to add your favorite players from 147 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:11.279 the court to your Prize Picks lineup. 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I want't you go ahead and 169 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:14.040 give me more on Deuce McBride four point five points. 170 00:08:14.040 --> 00:08:17.040 That one feels easy. So there you go. Good friends 171 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:19.680 at Price Picks. Got a little playoff basketball last night 172 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:22.839 or tonight and playoff basketball last night before we get 173 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:26.360 to Nick Spacers. It's just starting to feel about Oklahoma 174 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:28.639 City the way I felt about Boston last year. 175 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:31.360 This is their time and they're ready. 176 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:34.799 And one of the things that I always, you know, 177 00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:39.159 hesitate about when it comes to anointing a team believing 178 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:42.399 they can win a championship is if you have not 179 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:45.519 had a lengthy playoff run as a group before and 180 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:48.120 I haven't seen you do it, I'm always hesitant to 181 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:51.240 say I believe that you can. And Oklahoma City with 182 00:08:51.320 --> 00:08:53.919 this group, you know, they've made the postseason before. Last year, 183 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:55.919 they won one round and they were beaten by the 184 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:57.519 MAVs in the second round. 185 00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:59.120 So I was a little bit hesitant. 186 00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:02.240 Even though all the data indicates they are historic and 187 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:04.200 they had a historic regular season, I was just a 188 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:07.279 little bit hesitant to anoint them as the favors to 189 00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:11.159 win the championship. And Boston last year just had a 190 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:13.840 level and honestly, throughout the course of the regular season, 191 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:16.000 when Boston was healthy and they were really ticking, they 192 00:09:16.039 --> 00:09:19.279 still have that level, but of course their lack of 193 00:09:19.320 --> 00:09:21.679 health against the Knicks and the New York Knicks ability 194 00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:24.519 to kind of exploit different things with them, they've sent 195 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:26.919 them home and now they're on vacation. Jason Tatum is 196 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:30.720 rehabbing his injury. Oklahoma City has that level, and I 197 00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:33.559 don't think anybody else does. I don't think Minnesota does. 198 00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:36.039 I don't think New York does. I don't think Indiana does. 199 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:40.399 I think Indiana has some really intriguing things, but I 200 00:09:40.440 --> 00:09:42.840 don't think their pace will bother Oklahoma City if that's 201 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:46.080 our finals matchup, and New York just isn't deep enough, 202 00:09:46.200 --> 00:09:47.919 or they have a head coach that refuses to look 203 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:51.240 down hiss bench. And last night was just kind of 204 00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:54.679 fit the script. They didn't really do anything all that special. 205 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:57.600 They had a great performance from the reigning MVP. Now 206 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:01.559 Shay had thirty eight points. He only took two three 207 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:05.039 point shots. He made one of them. The analytical community 208 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:07.879 continues to take a bunch of l's during this postseason run. 209 00:10:08.200 --> 00:10:09.679 Oklahoma City is. 210 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:14.080 Intentional at getting Rudy Gobert in pick and roll situations 211 00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:16.279 and then killing him in the mid range. 212 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:18.840 And I love Rudy, that's our guy. 213 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:21.240 Of course, he was here for eight years and nine 214 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:24.480 years played really really well, but that's always kind of 215 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:27.000 been the Achilles heel if you can get him in 216 00:10:27.080 --> 00:10:30.120 switches and then make him uncomfortable out on the perimeter 217 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:32.440 and take advantage of him in the mid range. And 218 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:36.759 that's what Oklahoma City has done intentionally, like they're almost 219 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:41.200 insulting Rudy by canceling two or three different actions to 220 00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:43.480 get Gobert's man up to set the screen so they 221 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:46.279 can get the switch. And then it's Jalen Williams and 222 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:50.840 shay Giljes Alexander specifically, those two have been a nightmare 223 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:54.320 in the mid range more than anything else when it 224 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:57.080 comes to the way Oklahoma City is attacking Minnesota offensively. 225 00:10:57.480 --> 00:11:00.000 Jalen had twenty six points last night, He had ten boards, 226 00:11:00.039 --> 00:11:02.080 he had five assists, but he only hit two three 227 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:05.080 point shots. As I reference say, with one three point 228 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:08.240 shot back to the free throw line fifteen times, and yes, 229 00:11:08.279 --> 00:11:10.200 that is a superpower, whether you like it or not. 230 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:14.480 Twelve of twenty one thirty eight points, eight assists, three steals, 231 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:17.639 and after a pretty back and forth first half that 232 00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:20.720 felt like it could kind of go either way. Oklahoma 233 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:24.360 City just curb stop Minnesota in the third quarter and 234 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:28.360 Julius Randall, welcome back, buddy. This is who he has 235 00:11:28.440 --> 00:11:31.720 been historically speaking in spring basketball. He's had a great playoffs. 236 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:34.480 I'm not taking anything he has done away from him. 237 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:37.559 Eleven shots last night, only made two, did not play 238 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:40.559 in the fourth quarter, had four turnovers, and. 239 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:42.600 Ultimately there's not a home for him. 240 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:44.480 If he's going to play the way he played last night, 241 00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:46.320 and if he is not going to be a viable 242 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:50.200 number two, it almost doesn't matter what Aunt does. And 243 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:52.759 Aunt was more aggressive last night at Minnesota was a 244 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:55.399 little bit better with their turnovers, but Oklahoma City once 245 00:11:55.399 --> 00:12:00.840 again was plus twenty two off turnovers, and that's their superpower. 246 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:02.919 Throughout the course of the season, they set an NBA 247 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:06.519 record plus twenty one per game off of turnovers. In 248 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:09.919 the playoffs, it's over plus twenty five. And so Minnesota 249 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:12.799 was better last night, but I just don't think it matters. 250 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:14.879 I don't know that this is a sweep. I think 251 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:17.080 Minnesota can go back to Target Center and get one. 252 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:22.200 But this feels like a mountain that's insurmountable for Minnesota, 253 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:24.799 and they've got a Conley problem because when they play 254 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:30.519 Mike Connolly, they essentially, okay see exploits him defensively, but 255 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:33.240 when they sit Mike Conley, their offense does not run 256 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:35.960 as smoothly as smoothly as it does when Mike is 257 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:40.120 on the floor. So again, Oklahoma City is starting to 258 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:42.399 remind me of the way I felt about the Boston 259 00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:45.519 Celtics last year. They just have a level that nobody 260 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:48.399 left in the postseason has and this is their time. 261 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:49.919 I feel like they're ready, and I if I had 262 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:51.320 to pick today, I'm gonna tell you that I think 263 00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:53.879 they're gonna win the NBA Championship. They're six wins away, 264 00:12:54.279 --> 00:12:57.240 all right. Tonight Madison Square Garden, six o'clock Mountain Time 265 00:12:57.440 --> 00:13:04.639 on TNT. Thank goodness. Does the inside the NBA crew 266 00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:09.080 going to ESPN fix how horrible ESPN's every NBA coverages? 267 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:10.600 Like, does it just fix it? 268 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:15.879 I mean ESPN's NBA coverage outside of my guy, Mike Breen. Okay, 269 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:19.440 shout out Mike Breen. Honestly, dude, it is embarrassing. It 270 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:23.639 is a it's it's atrocious. I like Legler, I like Doris. 271 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:26.039 You know, there's there's there's parts about some of the 272 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:28.960 broadcasts that are good. But I like you, I don't 273 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:31.159 think it really does because I think it's just personality based. 274 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:33.360 It's just who you get, right. If you tune in 275 00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:35.519 and stephen A. Smith is covering the Knicks, then it's 276 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:40.039 gonna be obnoxious and atrocious. If it's Reggie Miller assessing 277 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:43.039 replays about Nix and Pacers, it's gonna be like it. 278 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:46.120 There's there's give and take with every broadcast. I think 279 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:51.480 you know right now it really does depend on like 280 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:55.759 the team you get, the tandem you get. And it's hard, 281 00:13:55.960 --> 00:13:58.799 especially as a Knicks fan, trying to decide because I 282 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:01.639 think stephen A puts on like a but poor, poor 283 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:05.279 representation of us. And then you have Reggie who I 284 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:08.919 think actually spends a lot of the game doing good breakdowns, 285 00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:10.759 but there are some of the times where you know 286 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:13.279 then he's doing the thing with Tyrese at the end 287 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:13.919 of the game. 288 00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:14.840 It's embarrassing. 289 00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:17.519 So luckily TNT has the coverage tonight real quick before 290 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:21.840 we catch a break? Can can Tom Thibodeau get ten 291 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:24.000 minutes out of Precious at you a like? Can we 292 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:27.399 get ten minutes out of Landry Shammitt? Can you can 293 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:31.240 you take Delon right former you'd off ice like. Ultimately, 294 00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:33.480 what this will come down to is whether or not 295 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:35.639 the Knicks have the gas at the end to get 296 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:36.080 it done. 297 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:38.279 I've gone back and watched the end of that game. 298 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:40.360 Maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment, like six or 299 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:44.720 seven times, and credit Aaron Nesmith for going ray Allen 300 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:48.519 circa nineteen ninety eight ogn and Obi stopped closing out 301 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:50.519 and he never stopped closing out. 302 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:52.120 Josh Hart stopped closing out. 303 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:55.080 He slipped twice, he allowed a backdoor cut where he 304 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:55.879 was flat footed. 305 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:57.440 Jalen Brunson had. 306 00:14:57.320 --> 00:15:01.159 Two a horrific atrocious turns overs down the stretch that 307 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:04.639 he never does. Karl Anthony Towns is limping up and 308 00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:07.480 down the court during overtime. So I'm not taking anything 309 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:10.519 away from the pacers. And I understand Tom Thibodeau is 310 00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:13.879 who he is. But you've got to extend your bench. 311 00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:16.519 You have to find another four or five minutes for Og. 312 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:18.519 You have to find a couple of minutes for Heart, 313 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:20.440 you have to find a couple of minutes for Jalen, 314 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:22.559 and you've got to make sure Kat is fresh down 315 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:26.200 the stretch. Cat sneaky is like your secret weapon here. 316 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:29.120 Indiana does not have size, but they have depth. New 317 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:31.840 York has size, but they don't have depth. So can 318 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:34.080 you get ten minutes out of precious at youa? Can 319 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:36.879 you get eight minutes out of Landry Shammitt? Can you 320 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:41.080 be smarter with your challenges and save them for later 321 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:43.759 in the game like Rick Carlisle did? And can you 322 00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:45.960 stagger your timeouts to rest your guys? 323 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:47.039 Tom? 324 00:15:47.080 --> 00:15:49.759 We know what your mo is and you've never coached 325 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:51.320 in the finals as a head coach, and a lot 326 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:54.639 of people believe the reason is you run your player's ragged. 327 00:15:55.159 --> 00:15:57.399 And while I've said for years and Frank Issola has 328 00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:59.200 been on this for a long time, there is no 329 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:02.960 hard data that backs up the assertion that players get 330 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:05.360 hurt if they play for Tom Thibodau. All players get 331 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:07.799 hurt no matter who they play for. But I know 332 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:10.080 what I'm seeing when I'm watching it, And if you 333 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:12.279 go back and watch the way the Knicks fail to 334 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:15.840 close Game one against the Pacers, it's just as much 335 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:18.240 on the fatigue factor of New York than it was 336 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:21.600 about shot making for Indiana. And typically I'd say with 337 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:24.000 Jalen on your roster. If it's close down the stretch, 338 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:26.840 you're fine. But after game one, I'm not ready to 339 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:29.480 make any grandiose statements about this game tonight, So we'll 340 00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:30.919 have to see. We're gonna go live to New York 341 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:33.240 coming up next and bringing Howard Beck. But I want 342 00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:35.279 to let you know that ESPN and seven hundred and 343 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:37.480 ninety two ONEFM is your home of the Indy five 344 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:40.840 hundred Sunday Morning with coverage beginning at nine am. 345 00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:42.159 That's brought to you in part by. 346 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:45.080 Burt Brothers Summer Adventures or Just around the Corner, and 347 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:47.480 Burt Brothers is kicking out the season with huge savings 348 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:51.399 on auto services and deals on major tire brands. Are 349 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:53.559 you superstitious at all? I don't know that I know 350 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:55.960 this about you. Are you superstitious? Are you a little 351 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:57.639 stitious on a scale of one to ten? 352 00:16:57.879 --> 00:17:01.559 I might be a little stitious, but I'm not superstitious. 353 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:04.799 I don't know what the scale is and I've never 354 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:05.920 been tested. 355 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.480 Okay, fair enough. 356 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:10.000 Well, we played Orange Crush last week for Howard in 357 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:11.680 honor of our next and it did not work, so 358 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:14.160 we switched it up. But I figured we'd stick with 359 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:16.440 ther em to get our guy in the ride mindset 360 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:18.839 before his Friday hit Howard, Happy Friday, sir? 361 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:21.119 How are you doing all right? 362 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:24.119 Guys? How are you love? The choice of drive an 363 00:17:24.119 --> 00:17:28.240 all time favorite, so, sir, And you're a drive time 364 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:31.079 show right, so that that sits. I'm not sure that 365 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:34.920 the thematic tie into the Nixon Pacers other than driving 366 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:35.799 the Balls. 367 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:38.319 Yeah, I guess. I don't know. I just you know. 368 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:40.480 I didn't want to do Orange Crush again because it 369 00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:43.319 didn't work last time, so I figured we'd switch it up. 370 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:48.119 You are in the great City of New York, correct, 371 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:48.960 I am. 372 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:50.279 I will be heading to the garden as soon as 373 00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:50.759 we hang up. 374 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:52.640 So does it feel like a funeral? What is it? 375 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:54.559 What's the what's the buzz? What's the buzz in the 376 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:55.599 city today? Howard? 377 00:17:56.759 --> 00:18:01.160 I mean, might be completely done related. But it's May 378 00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:04.759 twenty third, and it is like gray and cold and rainy, 379 00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:10.039 and it feels like Portland frankly, So I don't know 380 00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:12.480 if I can blame the Knicks for that, or if 381 00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:14.240 the if like it's vice versa, or if it's just 382 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:16.000 reflecting the mood of the city. I don't I don't 383 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:18.920 know what to tell you there there's definitely some shock 384 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:22.359 and some hangover for the fans for sure from the 385 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:26.359 other night. Whether the Knicks have that will we'll see 386 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:28.240 in a few hours. You know, it's an I suspect 387 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:31.240 everything we know about this team, about Tibbs, about Brunson, 388 00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:33.599 about Josh Hart, about the way this team has been. 389 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:36.799 I don't think the dent in their psyche from the 390 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:39.119 other night is going to carry over, Like this is 391 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:41.000 a This is the kind of team that you know, 392 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:43.920 they've they've kind of seen it all already. They're kind 393 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:45.799 of a tough minded group. That's that that is their 394 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:50.680 hallmark anyway. So you know, like with every playoff series, 395 00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:53.599 or most playoff series, every night's a new game. And 396 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:59.160 you know, younger teams may feel that differently because they 397 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:01.960 they're they're not used to just shaking it off and 398 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:05.680 hit the next one. But I these things have a 399 00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:08.839 way of changing very quickly. So I don't know what 400 00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:10.279 we're going to see tonight, but I don't think the 401 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:11.759 other night is going to have anything to do with it. 402 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:13.279 I tend to agree with that. 403 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:15.839 But before we dig into tonight a little bit further, 404 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:17.920 since I've not been able to visit with you, since 405 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:22.599 Game one. It's wild man, Like I was watching and 406 00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:24.599 taking notes, you know, to get ready for the show 407 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:28.119 the next day, like, Okay, here's this story. Okay, wait, 408 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:30.160 wait a second, No, here's the story. Okay, wait, that's 409 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:33.240 not the story you like. I could give you ten 410 00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:38.319 different targets to aim at, and probably more about game one, 411 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:41.960 but your biggest takeaways from both what the Pacers were 412 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:44.640 able to do and what the Knicks were unable to 413 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:45.519 do to close it out. 414 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:50.200 You know, as you say that about how many different 415 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:52.960 stories there were. The first thing I'm always going to 416 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:56.200 remember about that game other than Halliburton's crazy shot at 417 00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:57.880 the buzzer that we thought was a game winner and 418 00:19:57.880 --> 00:19:59.240 that he thought was a game winner but wasn't a 419 00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:00.960 game winner, but it was only the game tire that 420 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:05.799 forced over time. The thing that was also staying with 421 00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:09.519 me was Jalen Brunson went to the bench with five 422 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:12.960 fouls and you know whatever, eight nine minutes left and 423 00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:15.400 a two point lead for the Knicks, and I thought, wow, 424 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:17.240 this is the golden opportunity for the pay Like, if 425 00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:18.839 the Pacers were gonna win it, I thought it was then, 426 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:21.599 and because the Pacers instead lost ground while Brunton was 427 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:25.079 on the bench, I'm like, well they're cooked. And I 428 00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:27.000 think years from now, I'm still going to be thinking 429 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:29.920 about how much I thought this thing was just over 430 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:31.880 and how impressive it was that the Knicks were able 431 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:35.839 to extend their lead by a lot with without their 432 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:40.160 best player. I don't know what to make of any 433 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:43.279 of that spence, Like, I don't know, like do we 434 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:46.960 go into game two thinking, well, you know, the Knicks 435 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:50.400 played their butts off and still lost, and you know, 436 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:52.839 so now it's it's in the pacers favor, not just 437 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:56.240 home court advantage, but just the overall vibe of it all, 438 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:59.079 is it? The Pacers were lucky just to be able 439 00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:00.960 to come back, and the Smith hit some I mean, 440 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:03.920 he's a great shooter, but he hit some some crazy shots, 441 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:06.720 and you know there's gonna be some you know, return 442 00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:10.440 to baseline here, some you know, regression of the mean. 443 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:13.640 I don't know which way to try to spin this, 444 00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:16.720 which is why I will just still rest on We'll 445 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:17.519 see what happens in. 446 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:18.200 A few hours. 447 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:21.160 Little Birdie tells me that somebody may have left press 448 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:21.960 roll a little early. 449 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:23.480 Can you confirm or deny? 450 00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:26.519 I mean, you don't need a Birdie. I spoke about 451 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:29.720 it for like ten minutes on Rosillo's podcast yesterday, and 452 00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:32.720 I spoke about it again on the Real Ones pod today. 453 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:37.960 When they're down fourteen fifteen, the Pacers are down, it 454 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.920 didn't matter which who's down. But then when the score 455 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:41.920 is that big of a gap and there's five minutes 456 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:44.119 left in a game at the Garden, if you're sitting 457 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:47.839 on the Chase Bridge, which is where the media auxiliary 458 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:50.759 go right like the press area for like the beat 459 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:53.839 writers and some of the local columnists, it's not that big, 460 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:55.720 so most of us are up on this Chase Bridge, 461 00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:58.799 which is level nine at the Garden. For anyone who's 462 00:21:58.839 --> 00:21:59.880 never been there, that is about his. 463 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:01.279 Up as you can go. 464 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:05.880 It's also where inside the NBA's studio set was right, 465 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:10.359 that's floor nine. Event level is five, so the locker 466 00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:12.440 rooms are on five, the press conferences are on five, 467 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:15.400 the press workroom is on six, so it's a hike, 468 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:18.640 and if you want to be downstairs where you need 469 00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:21.559 to be in time for the coaches and the players 470 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:24.880 and everything else. Sometimes it's like, well, if the game's 471 00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:27.160 out of hand, I might as well go now, because 472 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:33.519 the stairwells are just an absolute like just madhouse, especially 473 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:35.000 if the next of one, which it looked like they 474 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:37.319 were going to do, because it's just this moving party. 475 00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:40.279 It's it's really raucous, and it's fine if you're a fan, 476 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:42.920 but if you're a reporter trying to get down to 477 00:22:43.640 --> 00:22:46.200 the press room or the locker rooms to get your 478 00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:49.640 job done, it's kind of hard to navigate. So yeah, 479 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:51.519 I was not the only one who left. I got 480 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:54.359 to the press room. Rachel Nichols was there, Chris Mannix 481 00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:56.720 was there, some of my Ringer colleagues were there, Like 482 00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:58.359 a lot of us were in the press room watching 483 00:22:58.359 --> 00:23:01.319 those final minutes of regulations thing Dinnicks are going to 484 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:04.319 finish this off, and we were to all just of 485 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:06.880 course flabbergasted. And then some people actually rushed back up 486 00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:07.720 to the Chase Bridge. 487 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.079 I did not. 488 00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:11.480 I waited it out, So yeah, that happened. That was 489 00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:11.799 a thing. 490 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:14.920 I did not realize that it struck such a cord. 491 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:16.880 I was mostly just giving you guff. I mean, I 492 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:19.079 think I went to ten jazz games this year, and 493 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:21.000 I think I left at halftime of every single one. 494 00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:25.359 So I'm not one to talk and I'm very different for. 495 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:27.920 Sure, and I'm also very aware of the complicated space 496 00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:30.680 you have to traverse to the garden. But Zach Low 497 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:34.279 couldn't run you guys over enough fast enough with Mannix 498 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:35.839 and Nichols like that was the. 499 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.799 First thing he talked about. 500 00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:38.559 He took the victory lap that he was the only 501 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:41.519 one left on press row and called all y'all out 502 00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:42.000 by name. 503 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:47.880 I mean, you know, I think Zach probably figured whether 504 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:49.640 he gets down there in time or not doesn't matter. 505 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:51.759 He was going to wait it out, and he's got 506 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:54.599 a life leisurely drive back up to suburban Connecticut to 507 00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:58.359 his estate, you know. So the rest of us felt 508 00:23:58.359 --> 00:23:59.079 like we needed to get. 509 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:01.920 Downstairs one more thing on Game one, Howard, because I'm 510 00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:05.559 wondering if at any point now, as somebody who has 511 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:08.920 been cheering for this franchise since I was ten years old, 512 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:11.880 it has ingrained in me not to believe the game 513 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:14.240 is ever over, and it's ingrained in me to believe 514 00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:16.400 that if something could go wrong, it probably will. 515 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:19.799 So at no point was I like, all right, that's it. 516 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:23.440 But when Jalen hit his step back three and it's 517 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:25.839 one nineteen one oh five with two point fifty one, 518 00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:27.920 I just said there's not enough time. 519 00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:29.640 Like no part of me was like, all. 520 00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:32.160 Right, that's it, because I figured something, if something's any 521 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:33.119 could happen, it might. 522 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:36.599 But I just thought, like the Pacers simply will run. 523 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:38.599 Out of time because I didn't think Aaron Nee Smith 524 00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:40.920 was going to go ray Allen circa nineteen ninety eight. 525 00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:43.400 Was there any point in the game where you're like, yep, 526 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:44.759 that's it, Nicks one, it's over. 527 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:49.359 Yeah, multiple times, including when I left my seat. 528 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:52.359 To go down the press room. 529 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:56.519 I did not see this happening. But who could have 530 00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:59.200 predicted you know, Nie Smith just you know, turning into 531 00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:03.519 a flamethrower, and you know the Knicks, you know, gagging 532 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:06.440 at the worst moments too. I mean, you know, anonob 533 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:09.119 and Towns each missing a free throw. Like a lot 534 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:11.160 of things had to happen, as is often the case 535 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:14.279 in a dramatic NBA comeback, Right, So. 536 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:19.039 It's it's all of it. 537 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:21.720 I have not rewatched all that sequence, but I mean 538 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:24.880 there's so many just I think unlikely twists and turns 539 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:29.279 in there, and especially given how much of a clutch 540 00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:32.039 team the Knicks are, you absolutely do not expect this. 541 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:34.119 But one of the things I said before the series started, 542 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:38.200 was you know, given what the Knicks have done and 543 00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:40.000 what Jalen Brunston has done, he is the clutch player 544 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:42.519 of the year and all that. If this is, if 545 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:45.559 it's ever close in this series, the Pacers could be 546 00:25:45.559 --> 00:25:48.240 cooked because the Brunson's going to always bring it home. 547 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:51.359 But I as soon as I thought that earlier in 548 00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:53.039 the week, as I was getting all my thoughts down, 549 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:56.000 I thought, wait, Tyre's Halliburton has hit a buch huge 550 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:58.640 clutch shots in his career already. The Pacers have wiped 551 00:25:58.680 --> 00:26:01.880 out massive leads to win on the road. You don't 552 00:26:01.880 --> 00:26:03.720 want it close against them either, Like this is like 553 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:07.200 they're truly both of these teams are built to weather this, 554 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:10.759 and so it sort of becomes a coin flip as 555 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:13.440 to who can prevail in the end. But even all 556 00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:16.079 that said, like I mean, all this comes down to 557 00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:19.359 Tyrese Haliburton driving into the lane, turning around, making a 558 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:22.519 U turn, going back out to the arc, hitting a 559 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:26.000 shot with his toe on the line, giving the choke sign, 560 00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:29.240 going into overtime, and then having to still like go oh, whoops, 561 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:31.119 choke sign too early. Guess we better finish this off 562 00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:33.240 and overtime now and still having to then execute then 563 00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:36.359 like it's it's just so many different things that's what 564 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:39.160 makes this like that game. Apologies to you and all 565 00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:40.640 the rest of the Knicks fans, but that game is 566 00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:43.759 going to go down as an all time incredible game. 567 00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:46.000 We're going to be talking about this years and decades 568 00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:48.759 from now, just like we talk about Sorry again, Reggie 569 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:52.079 Miller's eight points and nine seconds or Derek Fisher's point 570 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:54.119 four that I was there for all the years ago, 571 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:58.359 Like this is a playoff classic instantly, and wherever the 572 00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:00.319 series ends, like the Knicks could win the series, we 573 00:27:00.359 --> 00:27:02.640 will still be talking about Tyreez Haliburton. 574 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:02.759 In that moment. 575 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:05.680 I'll be honest, I couldn't sleep, like I kept going 576 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:08.880 over the final few possessions, and I did go back 577 00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:12.559 and watch Howard and ultimately as much credit as the 578 00:27:12.599 --> 00:27:16.119 Pacers deserve and Niece Smith and Halliburton and Rick Carlisle's 579 00:27:16.119 --> 00:27:19.759 a hell of a coach. Ognnobe stopped closing out. Josh 580 00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:22.759 Hart slipped twice. Josh Hart was caught on a back 581 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:26.920 door cut with his feet firmly planted on the floor. 582 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:29.720 Jalen with a couple of bad turnovers down the stretch, 583 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:32.119 Kat misses a free throw. Og misses a free throw. 584 00:27:32.839 --> 00:27:35.599 Credit the Pacers. The Knicks were gassed. So as we 585 00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:39.039 move over to tonight, here's my first question. Can Tom 586 00:27:39.079 --> 00:27:42.240 Thibodeau get ten minutes out of precious Atchua? Can he 587 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:45.680 get eight minutes out of Landry Shammitt? I know his deal, right, 588 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:49.160 but they were gassed. Kat was limping up and down 589 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:52.400 the floor at the end. And again Og never fails 590 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:55.279 to close out, and he did on multiple occasions. So 591 00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:57.759 I get like, this is who Tom is. It's who 592 00:27:57.799 --> 00:28:00.839 he's always been. I understand that rushes that you is 593 00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:03.400 not a bad player. He's got some pieces on his 594 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:05.279 bench that he can throw in there for four or 595 00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:08.079 five minutes. He also has to be better with his challenges, 596 00:28:08.119 --> 00:28:09.960 and I think he has to be better with his timeouts. 597 00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:11.400 I thought he was out coach game one. 598 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:14.599 Is there any chance he extends the bench a little 599 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:16.720 bit so they're not so gassed at the end. 600 00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:26.279 You know, Tibbs is fairly stubborn about these things. He 601 00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:29.279 trusts who he trusts in that rotation, And yeah, I 602 00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:33.720 mean we've seen the pattern over and over again. I 603 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:36.400 do think so A couple of quick things what is 604 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:39.640 a concern for the Knicks in general coming into the 605 00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:42.400 series would be and certainly after Game one, the Pacers 606 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:46.119 play at this just frantic pace and they're gonna get 607 00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:49.240 up and down the court and the knickser are used 608 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:51.640 to playing much more deliberately, and as much as the 609 00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:54.839 Knicks are certainly conditioned for long minutes because Tibbs plays 610 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:58.119 them all, you know, among the highest minutes in the league. 611 00:28:58.319 --> 00:29:00.000 It's it's it did their pay. 612 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:02.960 It's not running up and down at the PACER's pace, 613 00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:05.519 which is which again it's frantic, and I do think 614 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:08.640 and also the Pacers move the ball quite a bit, right, 615 00:29:08.680 --> 00:29:11.079 like you have to defend multiple actions in every possession, 616 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:14.559 unlike what they faced with Boston or Detroit. So there's 617 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:17.079 there is a potential fatigue factor here on in every 618 00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:21.920 other day series for the Knicks. On top of that, yeah, 619 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:25.079 the shorter rotation. So to the question of precious at 620 00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:28.000 Chua in particular, you know, Town's had a pretty big game. 621 00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:31.000 He had some some missteps of key moments late, but 622 00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:34.240 Town's had a pretty big game against them, and Miles 623 00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:36.799 Turner was not and you know, or or Siakam any 624 00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:38.400 of their bigs were not really the answer. So I 625 00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:41.720 do wonder if they might just dust off precious Atchua anyway, 626 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:45.359 and you know he's he's closer to like Tobias Harris 627 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:49.799 size really and you know Tobias Harris had had some good, 628 00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:52.640 you know, stretches against towns, and you do need to 629 00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:54.359 give towns different looks. And sometimes when you get a 630 00:29:54.359 --> 00:29:58.279 guy who's just strong with the lower center of gravity, 631 00:29:58.440 --> 00:30:02.400 that that can have an impact. So we'll see. I 632 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:06.359 think your instinct is right given everything we just talked about, 633 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:09.839 like they probably should extend the rotation at least by 634 00:30:09.880 --> 00:30:10.599 one more player. 635 00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:14.000 Okay, so you make some good points regarding the pace, 636 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:17.680 because ultimately early on in that game, I think what 637 00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:21.599 people forget is Indiana could not miss. They just made 638 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:23.599 I think they made their first ten shots, but the 639 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:26.880 Knicks were able to keep up. But they were playing 640 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:29.799 up and down and it was and it was working 641 00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:30.559 for the Knicks. 642 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:32.400 They were actually playing well offensively. 643 00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:35.119 And New York can run, They've got fast wings, Jalen 644 00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:38.680 can get up and down. Kats not necessarily flee to foot. 645 00:30:39.079 --> 00:30:41.640 But if Tom isn't going to extend his bench by 646 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:44.200 a player or two, what do they have to do 647 00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:47.079 to be careful that even if the pace is working, 648 00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:50.400 understanding that going up and down with a bench that 649 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:54.039 goes eleven deep fifteen plus minutes a night with eleven 650 00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:57.279 players eventually will catch up to you. How do they 651 00:30:57.319 --> 00:31:00.640 stop themselves from getting in this up and down game 652 00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:02.599 back and forth, even though at times it works to 653 00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:04.480 make sure that they have enough gas at the end. 654 00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:10.720 I don't know. I think you can be as deliberate 655 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:13.240 as you want, but if the other team is pulling 656 00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:15.720 the ball out of the basket and immediately spritten up 657 00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:21.079 court and you know, basically going seven seconds or less 658 00:31:21.079 --> 00:31:23.880 Mike d'An toni style, which so many times the other 659 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:26.319 night I've flashed in my head. And it's funny because 660 00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:28.960 of course the sun's paced back then, which we thought 661 00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:31.640 of as so frantic, and they're gonna shoot as soon 662 00:31:31.640 --> 00:31:34.839 as they get their first open shot. Their pace would 663 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:37.440 be slow by today's NBA standards, but that's what it 664 00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:40.000 looked like to me watching the Pacers go like they're 665 00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:41.799 just gonna get up court and the first good shot 666 00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:46.720 they got, boom, it's going, And it's easy to get 667 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:50.640 caught up in that. But I do think, yeah, the 668 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:53.079 Knicks have to try to do things their way. They 669 00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:56.559 need just to slow it down. They need to make 670 00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:59.920 the Pacers work as much on defense as possible to 671 00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:03.960 maybe hopefully put a dent in their stamina at the 672 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:06.799 other end. But yeah, the pacers that are gonna say, fine, 673 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:08.960 we're you know, we're gonna run nine ten or eleven 674 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:11.240 deep or whatever. We'll have fresh bodies out there. So 675 00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:15.000 I'm not sure what the exact answer is there. 676 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:18.799 All right, last thing on tonight, what's your gut say? 677 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:21.839 I completely agree with And I think a lot of 678 00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:26.200 this does come from Jalen Brunson specifically, and Tom Thibodeau's well, 679 00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:29.759 But Jalen has this like stoicism about him where he 680 00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:32.839 doesn't get high, he doesn't get low. After they beat 681 00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:35.279 the Celtics, he's the one that was yelling at his 682 00:32:35.319 --> 00:32:37.440 teammates to get into the locker room like nothing has 683 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:40.599 gone down yet. So I agree that I think this 684 00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:44.160 group can compartmentalize and put Game one out of their minds. 685 00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:46.279 And I'm not asking you to pick because I I 686 00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:47.079 know you don't do that. 687 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:48.680 But what's your gut tell you? What do you have 688 00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.559 a lean for tonight? 689 00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:51.200 Yeah? 690 00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:55.880 I mean I reflexively, you know, go with the home team, 691 00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:58.680 especially if they're just lost a game, right, like you know, 692 00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:01.519 the Knicks saying the NIXT going down oh two, which 693 00:33:01.599 --> 00:33:04.720 would stun me. But that said, when the Knicks stole 694 00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:06.599 game won from Boston, I thought, oh, yeah, of course 695 00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:07.799 Boston's gonna win Game two. 696 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:08.200 Oops. 697 00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:10.799 And it's same thing with the Pacers and Calves. But 698 00:33:10.839 --> 00:33:13.039 it's been that kind of postseason where the Pacers beat 699 00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:15.000 the Calves in Game one in Cleveland, and I thought, 700 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:19.279 of course Cleveland's gonna win Game two again. Oops. For 701 00:33:19.319 --> 00:33:21.920 your sake, I hope I'm I'm right this time. But yeah, 702 00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:24.920 I absolutely expect the Knicks to win. It wouldn't even 703 00:33:24.920 --> 00:33:27.839 surprise me if it were, you know, a pretty big gap, 704 00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:31.480 not a blowout, but just like win and win handily. 705 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.960 Like I don't think we'll see the same kind of 706 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:38.559 drama in the final minutes. But you just you just 707 00:33:38.680 --> 00:33:40.599 never know. I mean, I had a piece earlier this 708 00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:44.079 week basically saying like, welcome to the NBA's age of chaos, 709 00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:46.599 and it referenced all the things I just mentioned and 710 00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:49.240 many more. You know, whether it's Dallas jumping up in 711 00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:54.559 the lottery, whether it's just the volatility in the standings 712 00:33:54.599 --> 00:33:57.599 in the playoffs and two sixty win teams going down 713 00:33:57.599 --> 00:34:01.359 in the second round, and just across the board, like 714 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:05.480 there is so much unpredictability about the NBA right now, 715 00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:07.559 and it cuts both ways, right There's aspects of it 716 00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:09.840 that make it really fun. There's a lot more suspense, 717 00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:12.000 and there really is this sense of you've just never 718 00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:15.360 known a given night what may happen. The flip side 719 00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:18.719 of it is being sixty win team guarantees or nothing, 720 00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:20.480 and that could be pretty frustrating for those teams and 721 00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:25.159 their fans. And it does just feel like it's harder 722 00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:27.800 to get to wrap our heads around, you know, any 723 00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:28.039 of it. 724 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:30.880 So, but this is where we are. 725 00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:32.519 This is this is, you know, like I say, not 726 00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:34.880 just the age of parody, but it's the age of chaos. 727 00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:35.719 It is. 728 00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:38.000 It is all right moving out this way before we 729 00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:41.719 get to the nuts and bolts of the Western Conference Finals. 730 00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:46.079 Your reaction to Shay be An awarded MVP and any 731 00:34:46.199 --> 00:34:48.400 inside information as to why we all had to wait 732 00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:49.840 for so long for that announcement. 733 00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:53.639 It's weird how everybody latched onto that. I don't think 734 00:34:53.639 --> 00:34:55.800 this is all that much later than usual. I haven't 735 00:34:55.840 --> 00:34:56.679 looked up the dates. 736 00:34:56.719 --> 00:34:57.239 Maybe you have. 737 00:34:58.639 --> 00:35:03.239 The MVP always comes after all the other major awards, 738 00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:05.239 you know, the only thing that's still left right now 739 00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:07.239 is you know, I think, so we have the All 740 00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:10.519 Defensive Teams yesterday, we'll have all MBA tonight and then 741 00:35:10.559 --> 00:35:14.440 we'll be done. But MVP always comes after all the 742 00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:16.719 other big awards, aside from the two I just mentioned. 743 00:35:17.480 --> 00:35:21.400 And could they have done it during Denver OKC. So, 744 00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:23.119 like all I can tell you is this, there's a 745 00:35:23.159 --> 00:35:25.400 bunch of different factors. Right they announced The way things 746 00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:28.320 go these days, they announce all the awards, the major 747 00:35:28.360 --> 00:35:30.960 awards on TNT, so it's got to be on a 748 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:34.280 Turner night in the playoffs, and Turner and ESPN divide 749 00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:37.639 up all these games. So that's one consideration. Another consideration is, 750 00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:39.800 as I understand that the league does not like doing 751 00:35:39.800 --> 00:35:43.719 awards major awards in the second week of a series. 752 00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:47.239 I think because it could become awkward, like you're not 753 00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:50.639 going to be to give shade like the MVP before 754 00:35:50.719 --> 00:35:53.199 Game seven against the Nuggets. That would have been, you know, 755 00:35:53.639 --> 00:35:57.920 a little uncomfortable. And I don't know they had a 756 00:35:57.960 --> 00:36:00.519 window the first week of that series. So it's just 757 00:36:00.760 --> 00:36:04.199 they're weighing a bunch of stuff and trying to figure 758 00:36:04.199 --> 00:36:05.679 out when to thread the needle. 759 00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:07.039 It's it's difficult. 760 00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:09.760 I don't think there was any plan to do it 761 00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:11.400 this way. It's just kind of the way it unfolded. 762 00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:14.360 So I'm starting to feel about Okay, see the way 763 00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:16.039 I felt about Boston a year ago. 764 00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:18.920 I just think to have a level that nobody else does. 765 00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:22.360 I was hesitant to just anoint them, even though the 766 00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:25.280 numbers and data probably says we should have been maybe 767 00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:27.440 quicker to do that. I just if you have not 768 00:36:27.599 --> 00:36:29.840 had a deep playoff run as a group together, I'm 769 00:36:29.840 --> 00:36:32.440 always a little bit skeptical. I don't know that it's 770 00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:34.960 as sweet, but I don't think Minnesota really has much 771 00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:37.320 of a prayer here. And I think if you're OKAYC 772 00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:39.440 you got to feel pretty good about your chances of 773 00:36:39.480 --> 00:36:42.119 not just going to the finals, but winning the whole thing. 774 00:36:42.199 --> 00:36:43.920 I mean, I feel like they're ready. Howard, what are 775 00:36:43.960 --> 00:36:44.679 your thoughts? 776 00:36:45.760 --> 00:36:48.440 They definitely look ready, There's no question. The last night's 777 00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:52.360 game was pretty pretty darn convincing, and you know, I 778 00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:55.000 thought this was going to be a much closer series. 779 00:36:55.199 --> 00:36:57.280 It still could you know it shifts in Minnesota. We'll 780 00:36:57.280 --> 00:36:59.719 see what happens. But you know, teams that are up 781 00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:01.639 too in a best of seven series in the NBA 782 00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:04.480 win the series ninety two percent of the time, so 783 00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:09.800 including six and zero in this postseason, So the chances 784 00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:11.719 are this thing is over, but we'll see how it 785 00:37:11.719 --> 00:37:15.039 plays out. The fact is, yeah, Oklahoma is everything that 786 00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:18.559 we've been praising them for since last summer when we 787 00:37:18.559 --> 00:37:21.599 were talking about them as being favorites, which is they're young, 788 00:37:21.679 --> 00:37:26.159 they're deep, they're super talented, and you know, they play 789 00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:30.079 incredible defense like the Timberwolves. It looks like there's just 790 00:37:30.159 --> 00:37:34.159 no time or space for them to get anything done offensively. 791 00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:37.360 You dribble one time too many, it's being poked away. 792 00:37:37.920 --> 00:37:39.920 You know, you turn your back on your defender for 793 00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:44.559 two seconds and there's there's a hand there and it's 794 00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:46.559 you know you want to then you know, rely on 795 00:37:46.599 --> 00:37:49.000 more more passing and ball movement, right, But like the 796 00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:53.039 second you throw one slightly off target past someone leaping 797 00:37:53.039 --> 00:37:54.840 into the passing lane and stealing it and running off 798 00:37:54.920 --> 00:37:58.559 for a fast break. So I don't know what you 799 00:37:58.599 --> 00:38:00.519 do about that. And the fact is, you know, Anthony 800 00:38:00.639 --> 00:38:03.119 Edwards does not have He's got good help around him 801 00:38:03.119 --> 00:38:05.559 in the sense of like he's got shooters and Julius 802 00:38:05.599 --> 00:38:07.119 Randall can do a lot with the ball in his hands. 803 00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:08.679 But you know as a Nick fan that you know 804 00:38:08.840 --> 00:38:11.800 Julius Randall kind of comes and goes, and he has 805 00:38:11.840 --> 00:38:16.400 suddenly disappeared again, and there's just not a second threat 806 00:38:17.119 --> 00:38:19.800 to keep the thunder, you know, honest for for Anthony 807 00:38:19.880 --> 00:38:24.760 Edwards benefit. So I'm not expecting some great comeback at 808 00:38:24.760 --> 00:38:28.159 this stage by the Timberwolves. And yeah, I guess we'll 809 00:38:28.159 --> 00:38:29.760 all be setting up camp in Oklahoma soon. 810 00:38:30.440 --> 00:38:33.840 Oh, look at the excitement in Howard's voice. Maybe you 811 00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:37.280 can get a Oklahoma City Indianapolis finals. 812 00:38:37.320 --> 00:38:39.360 I'm sure you'd love that. Yeah. 813 00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:44.639 I made the cracker earlier today on the Real Ones 814 00:38:44.880 --> 00:38:47.960 with with apologies to Oklahoma, but because we were the 815 00:38:48.079 --> 00:38:50.320 Logan Murdock my coast was saying something about, you know, 816 00:38:50.440 --> 00:38:53.119 parade in Oklahoma. I'm like, yeah, it's gonna last like 817 00:38:53.159 --> 00:38:54.800 two minutes and everybody's got to turn around and go 818 00:38:54.840 --> 00:38:56.559 back again, or that it'll be out in the field. 819 00:38:56.639 --> 00:39:03.760 But yeah, it's bad, right, It's yeah, I think that's 820 00:39:03.760 --> 00:39:07.119 where we're going. Not my favorite place on the NBA map. 821 00:39:07.199 --> 00:39:10.599 But but they're an amazing team. They've done a fantastic job, 822 00:39:10.800 --> 00:39:15.119 and I do not expect that anybody who comes out 823 00:39:15.119 --> 00:39:16.920 of the East is going to beat them either. So 824 00:39:17.719 --> 00:39:20.119 and then we can all start having premature discussions about 825 00:39:20.119 --> 00:39:21.239 whether or not they'll be a dynasty. 826 00:39:21.480 --> 00:39:23.519 Well, when the Jazz are in the finals in twenty 827 00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:25.519 forty seven, I can't wait to have you out here 828 00:39:25.519 --> 00:39:28.519 in Salle a coward, So we'll set you loose. I 829 00:39:28.519 --> 00:39:30.280 know you got some traffic to fight and enjoy the 830 00:39:30.280 --> 00:39:31.559 game tonight and stay to the. 831 00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:32.000 End, will you? 832 00:39:33.400 --> 00:39:34.239 I will try. 833 00:39:34.360 --> 00:39:34.719 Thank you. 834 00:39:34.719 --> 00:39:38.000 Appreciate such Howard back from the Ringer, one of our favorites. 835 00:39:38.719 --> 00:39:40.880 He's really not on Twitter much anymore, but you can 836 00:39:40.880 --> 00:39:42.840 find the link to his work on his Twitter page 837 00:39:42.920 --> 00:39:44.760 at Howard beck is where you find him, and he's 838 00:39:44.760 --> 00:39:47.960 also on Blue Sky as well. Appreciate Howard's tom He's 839 00:39:47.960 --> 00:39:50.559 brought to you today by our friends at IFA Country Stores. 840 00:39:50.559 --> 00:39:52.679 When the seasons change, if you're like any good coach, 841 00:39:52.679 --> 00:39:54.719 you'll put together your game plan for a healthy green 842 00:39:54.800 --> 00:39:57.519 lawn and you'll turn to the experts at IFA. Check 843 00:39:57.519 --> 00:39:59.760 out our four plus lawn care program everything you need 844 00:39:59.800 --> 00:40:01.519 to make your yard to hit. You know, I was 845 00:40:01.599 --> 00:40:05.239 waiting to learn a term that describes the way Zach 846 00:40:05.440 --> 00:40:09.320 pretends like he likes Pitbull and Tyres. Saliburton dropped it. 847 00:40:09.320 --> 00:40:12.880 It's are a farming. That's what he's doing. It's the 848 00:40:13.000 --> 00:40:15.760 very definition. It's the act of intentionally trying to appear 849 00:40:15.840 --> 00:40:20.119 cool or charismatic through actions or behaviors often perceived as 850 00:40:20.199 --> 00:40:21.639 exaggerated or artificial. 851 00:40:22.760 --> 00:40:23.559 We have the term. 852 00:40:23.599 --> 00:40:25.639 Now, can you use Pitbull for that? 853 00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:29.679 And Zach Harper or a farming on a Friday? Right? 854 00:40:31.440 --> 00:40:33.360 I wouldn't say, I mean, I don't think I'm trying 855 00:40:33.400 --> 00:40:35.760 to look cool. I just enjoyed the music. Whether you 856 00:40:35.800 --> 00:40:37.559 think that makes me look cool or not seems to 857 00:40:37.599 --> 00:40:41.719 be a projection of your own thoughts on what Pitbull is. 858 00:40:42.679 --> 00:40:44.599 So I think we just cracked the cake. 859 00:40:44.719 --> 00:40:47.400 Don't get psychological on me on a Friday. We don't 860 00:40:47.400 --> 00:40:50.199 need to go two levels deep. Had you had you 861 00:40:50.239 --> 00:40:53.320 ever heard the term are a farming before Halliburton dropped 862 00:40:53.360 --> 00:40:55.320 it because it was new to me, Okay. 863 00:40:54.960 --> 00:40:56.920 And I really hope I never hear it again. It 864 00:40:57.079 --> 00:40:58.519 founded real dumb, it did? 865 00:40:58.639 --> 00:40:58.960 It did? 866 00:40:59.000 --> 00:40:59.119 All? 867 00:40:59.199 --> 00:40:59.320 Right? 868 00:40:59.360 --> 00:41:01.360 Well, while we're in the space. I don't know which 869 00:41:01.400 --> 00:41:04.599 target you want to aim at game one. I mean, like, 870 00:41:04.679 --> 00:41:08.360 there are so many different directions we could go. I 871 00:41:08.400 --> 00:41:11.039 referenced this earlier ro had Howard beck On when Jalen 872 00:41:11.159 --> 00:41:14.159 hit his step back three to make it a fourteen 873 00:41:14.199 --> 00:41:16.920 point game. As a Nick fan, I'm never gonna be like, yeah, 874 00:41:16.960 --> 00:41:19.559 it's over. But I just thought Indiana was out of time. 875 00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:24.239 Right at what point of that game, if at all, 876 00:41:24.320 --> 00:41:25.519 were you like, all right, that's it. 877 00:41:25.559 --> 00:41:26.960 There's no way the Knicks can lose this. 878 00:41:27.800 --> 00:41:30.159 So I'll tell you. I'll tell you. Actually my experience 879 00:41:30.280 --> 00:41:34.159 of the game, I mistimed when I thought that game 880 00:41:34.199 --> 00:41:36.800 was going to be over, like an idiot. So I 881 00:41:36.920 --> 00:41:39.079 actually planned to go to dinner with somebody at seven 882 00:41:39.119 --> 00:41:42.679 point thirty. They were late by a few minutes, so 883 00:41:42.679 --> 00:41:46.039 I'm just sitting outside a sushi restaurant watching on my phone. 884 00:41:46.559 --> 00:41:49.920 I had to stop looking at the game with thirty 885 00:41:49.920 --> 00:41:52.559 four seconds left. So with the five point game, they're 886 00:41:52.599 --> 00:41:55.519 in that replay review or thirty four seconds left in 887 00:41:55.559 --> 00:41:57.559 the fourth quarter, so they're in that review on the 888 00:41:57.599 --> 00:42:01.159 og foul, they're up what five point or whatever it was, 889 00:42:01.239 --> 00:42:03.480 thirty four seconds left. I'm like well, I mean, I 890 00:42:03.480 --> 00:42:07.519 know the Pacers can do this, but whatever. Three hours later, 891 00:42:07.559 --> 00:42:11.239 I checked my phone and I'm like, wait a second, 892 00:42:11.519 --> 00:42:15.440 Pacers won. I had like I didn't know, Oh my god, 893 00:42:15.679 --> 00:42:18.000 Like I checked my phone. I had like one hundred 894 00:42:18.039 --> 00:42:20.920 and forty text messages or something like that. Like I 895 00:42:21.039 --> 00:42:23.800 just it was. It was chaos in my phone. I 896 00:42:23.840 --> 00:42:27.440 had no idea. But what's funny is like up until 897 00:42:27.440 --> 00:42:29.440 that point when I when I when I saw it 898 00:42:29.440 --> 00:42:31.960 was my phone. You know, we had this live blog 899 00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:34.840 going on the athletic and when it was one eighteen 900 00:42:34.880 --> 00:42:38.239 one oh two, with like seven something left, James Edwards 901 00:42:38.239 --> 00:42:40.559 the third does a great job covering the next for us. 902 00:42:41.800 --> 00:42:43.519 You know, maybe cat had hit a shot or someone 903 00:42:43.559 --> 00:42:45.280 had hit a shot, and he's like, that's gonna do it. 904 00:42:45.719 --> 00:42:47.559 And Eric Name, who does a great job covering the 905 00:42:47.559 --> 00:42:49.800 bucks for us, is in there. He goes, guys, let's 906 00:42:49.800 --> 00:42:51.480 not cow this Pacers team out of have seen it 907 00:42:51.519 --> 00:42:54.960 too many times. And then you know when Jalen hits 908 00:42:55.000 --> 00:42:58.000 that that shot, you know I think someone else said 909 00:42:58.000 --> 00:42:59.920 it in Eric Name again, it's like, guys, don't count 910 00:43:00.079 --> 00:43:02.519 Pacers off. And then you know they made that little 911 00:43:02.599 --> 00:43:04.960 run and I think at the thirty four second mark, 912 00:43:05.000 --> 00:43:06.920 or maybe just before it, I want to say, Lot 913 00:43:07.000 --> 00:43:09.639 Murray for US was like, oh, this is a fake comeback, 914 00:43:09.719 --> 00:43:12.360 and Eric name again was like, guys, do not count 915 00:43:12.360 --> 00:43:15.519 this Pacers team that because he can't. They've got three 916 00:43:15.599 --> 00:43:18.760 times in this postseason. They just snapped a nine and 917 00:43:18.960 --> 00:43:22.719 seventy game losing streak of teams down fourteen or more 918 00:43:22.760 --> 00:43:25.119 with two fifty left, which is a weird stat. But 919 00:43:25.199 --> 00:43:28.559 somebody looked it up, so we should say it. 920 00:43:28.559 --> 00:43:30.039 It is a weird stat. 921 00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:33.519 But you know, there are so many things about it 922 00:43:34.079 --> 00:43:37.360 that were wild historic. It was a comedy of errors. 923 00:43:37.400 --> 00:43:40.559 It was a perfect storm for Indianapolis. And as much 924 00:43:40.599 --> 00:43:43.760 as it was about crazy shot making, Zach, I don't 925 00:43:43.760 --> 00:43:45.159 know if you've had a chance to go back and 926 00:43:45.199 --> 00:43:48.559 watch the end at all, but it was simply that 927 00:43:48.880 --> 00:43:52.679 this team was out of gas. Og stopped closing, which 928 00:43:52.679 --> 00:43:55.119 he never does. Josh Hart slipped twice, and then there 929 00:43:55.159 --> 00:43:57.800 was a back door cut where he's flat footed Jalen 930 00:43:57.880 --> 00:44:01.039 with multiple odd turnovers down the street. Kat was limping 931 00:44:01.119 --> 00:44:03.199 up and down. Oh Kat has a New York accent. Now, 932 00:44:03.199 --> 00:44:04.480 I don't know if you know, I don't know if 933 00:44:04.480 --> 00:44:05.079 you're aware of that. 934 00:44:05.880 --> 00:44:06.760 I'm sure that'll laugh. 935 00:44:06.880 --> 00:44:08.559 Okay, Yeah, I sent you a tweet. I don't know 936 00:44:08.559 --> 00:44:10.280 if you check that out. But the fact of the 937 00:44:10.280 --> 00:44:11.440 matter is this Zach. 938 00:44:11.639 --> 00:44:11.800 Yeah. 939 00:44:11.840 --> 00:44:13.920 I've been listening to him interviewed since he was eighteen, 940 00:44:14.159 --> 00:44:16.760 never had a New York accent until now. But look, 941 00:44:17.239 --> 00:44:19.039 Tom thibodeau' is a hell of a coach, all right, 942 00:44:19.079 --> 00:44:22.039 But at some point, here's my question to you, can 943 00:44:22.039 --> 00:44:24.079 you get ten minutes out of Precious at YOUA? Can 944 00:44:24.119 --> 00:44:27.800 you get eight minutes? If you're gonna play your boy campaign, 945 00:44:28.519 --> 00:44:31.000 Precious at YOUA can give you ten minutes and Landry 946 00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:33.679 Shammick can give you eight. I know he probably won't, 947 00:44:33.920 --> 00:44:36.360 but what what do they have to do If you 948 00:44:36.440 --> 00:44:39.400 will not extend his rotation, then they can't get in 949 00:44:39.440 --> 00:44:41.559 a track meet. They have to do something tonight to 950 00:44:41.599 --> 00:44:43.960 make sure their best players don't look gassed at the end. 951 00:44:45.079 --> 00:44:47.559 You can't run with these guys like that's first and portant, 952 00:44:47.599 --> 00:44:50.400 like I know they played well. I know the Knicks 953 00:44:50.440 --> 00:44:53.480 played well. And if you don't have that overtime period 954 00:44:53.519 --> 00:44:55.679 and they don't give them that, you know that last 955 00:44:55.679 --> 00:44:58.039 shot or whatever, it all looks great, right, all right, 956 00:44:58.079 --> 00:45:00.360 you survived it and you you you wan it out everything, 957 00:45:00.360 --> 00:45:02.519 but the process of it is like you can't run 958 00:45:02.559 --> 00:45:04.880 with the pacers. They and the thing is like Cat's 959 00:45:04.880 --> 00:45:08.400 a pretty methodical score. Jamon Brunson's definitely a methodical score. Oh, 960 00:45:08.519 --> 00:45:11.519 Jan Ando, he's a methodical score. They should be slowing 961 00:45:11.519 --> 00:45:14.079 it down offensively. They should be trying to like, you're 962 00:45:14.079 --> 00:45:16.920 not going to slow Indiana down offensively, but you can 963 00:45:16.960 --> 00:45:20.000 slow the game down yourself on your end of the floor. 964 00:45:20.039 --> 00:45:22.599 And so I like, I just think it's a mistake 965 00:45:22.639 --> 00:45:26.800 to allow both stop you know, both offenses to be 966 00:45:27.039 --> 00:45:29.920 a quick pace. I'm with you. And what's funny about 967 00:45:29.920 --> 00:45:32.599 this is I kind of feel like before game one, 968 00:45:34.079 --> 00:45:36.679 we had had all the backlash to fifteen years of 969 00:45:36.719 --> 00:45:41.119 backlash against oh. I thought Tom Thibodeau's running guys and 970 00:45:41.159 --> 00:45:42.800 you know, playing too many minutes. I thought that was 971 00:45:42.800 --> 00:45:45.199 supposed to prevent that, Like, we got all this stuff 972 00:45:46.079 --> 00:45:47.960 kind of saying that that's no longer a thing, and 973 00:45:48.000 --> 00:45:51.320 then you know, day one, they run out of gas. 974 00:45:51.880 --> 00:45:55.159 Maybe we shouldn't just do that. Maybe we shouldn't dismiss 975 00:45:55.239 --> 00:45:58.400 fifteen years of something just because they won another game 976 00:45:58.960 --> 00:46:02.239 and got to the conference, like I'm with you, Like 977 00:46:02.239 --> 00:46:05.519 like if Campaign is on the court, precious can't be 978 00:46:05.559 --> 00:46:08.239 worse than Campaign. I've seen pressures chewing play. I get 979 00:46:08.280 --> 00:46:10.000 if you don't know if pressures the chewing guy. But 980 00:46:10.039 --> 00:46:13.599 like he can he can give you six minutes, five, 981 00:46:13.840 --> 00:46:15.760 he can give you three somewhere in the second quarter, 982 00:46:15.800 --> 00:46:18.079 three somewhere in the beginning of the fourth quarter. 983 00:46:19.000 --> 00:46:19.840 It's all you need. 984 00:46:20.079 --> 00:46:23.360 I mean, look, I get sticking to the plan, and 985 00:46:23.400 --> 00:46:26.159 I get sticking to what brought you here. But in 986 00:46:26.199 --> 00:46:30.000 the in the fourth quarter against the Celtics, it was 987 00:46:30.000 --> 00:46:33.039 one hundred and ten to seventy six with five minutes left, 988 00:46:33.039 --> 00:46:36.280 and Jalen Brunson is fighting over pick set by Xavier Tillman, 989 00:46:36.320 --> 00:46:39.800 and it's like, what are we doing? I mean, Delon 990 00:46:39.920 --> 00:46:43.880 Wright he like, I don't know, man. I actually thought 991 00:46:44.079 --> 00:46:46.280 one of my biggest takeaways from game one, and I 992 00:46:46.320 --> 00:46:48.519 didn't hear a ton of people dig into this. I 993 00:46:48.559 --> 00:46:51.039 thought Tom was out coached. He used his challenges way 994 00:46:51.079 --> 00:46:55.199 too early. He didn't stagger his timeouts. Carlisle had two 995 00:46:55.440 --> 00:46:57.960 challenges that he used late with two big plays. 996 00:46:58.480 --> 00:46:58.760 YEP. 997 00:46:59.079 --> 00:47:02.559 I think Tom Thibbott has some adjusting to do as well, 998 00:47:02.599 --> 00:47:04.320 if they want to get out of this series, or 999 00:47:04.360 --> 00:47:07.039 you can just be stubborn and probably lose your job 1000 00:47:07.119 --> 00:47:07.559 at the end. 1001 00:47:07.519 --> 00:47:07.880 Of the year. 1002 00:47:08.119 --> 00:47:10.000 I mean, because I think that's where we're headed if 1003 00:47:10.039 --> 00:47:12.079 he refuses to adjust a little bit. 1004 00:47:13.199 --> 00:47:15.719 Yeah, Like I thought if they got to the conference finals, 1005 00:47:15.719 --> 00:47:18.920 his job was safe. But if you lose to the Pacers, 1006 00:47:18.960 --> 00:47:21.119 I don't know if that's true. And that's not a shot. 1007 00:47:21.199 --> 00:47:22.880 That's not me taking a shot at the Pacers. I 1008 00:47:22.920 --> 00:47:25.920 just don't know if James Dolan's going to feel that way, right, Like, 1009 00:47:25.960 --> 00:47:28.199 that's that's the person you have to kind of convince 1010 00:47:28.239 --> 00:47:32.679 and historically not the most rational guy, you know, not 1011 00:47:33.119 --> 00:47:38.400 the clearest thinker there. Yeah, I don't think. I don't 1012 00:47:38.400 --> 00:47:42.440 think there's any shame in getting out coached by Rick Carlisle, 1013 00:47:42.480 --> 00:47:44.519 But the way he got out coached, I'm with you, like, 1014 00:47:44.559 --> 00:47:46.719 I think that's bad. I do not know what is 1015 00:47:46.760 --> 00:47:50.320 this obsession in this postseason with some of these coaches 1016 00:47:51.079 --> 00:47:58.320 using challenges early on the most like Mundane place, Like, 1017 00:47:58.440 --> 00:48:01.199 I don't like Carlisle played it right, He had his 1018 00:48:01.280 --> 00:48:03.880 chat like you said, he had challenges late for plays 1019 00:48:03.880 --> 00:48:06.559 that mattered, not some dumb challenge in the first half. 1020 00:48:06.559 --> 00:48:09.320 That really doesn't like unless it's a guy picking up 1021 00:48:09.320 --> 00:48:11.840 a third foul, like a star picking up a third foul. 1022 00:48:12.199 --> 00:48:14.360 I don't think I would ever challenge in the first half. 1023 00:48:15.199 --> 00:48:17.840 I don't get it. I don't understand that. And Tom 1024 00:48:17.880 --> 00:48:20.559 Thibodeau is one of those coaches that will do it, 1025 00:48:20.639 --> 00:48:23.800 and he just like he can't be so sobborn. I 1026 00:48:23.880 --> 00:48:25.599 know it got them there, and I know, like, oh, 1027 00:48:25.679 --> 00:48:27.480 they're so conditioned now and they're ready for these big 1028 00:48:27.519 --> 00:48:31.480 mens and everything. Not really, not really. They're a good 1029 00:48:31.559 --> 00:48:34.039 team and they are well coached to a degree, and 1030 00:48:34.079 --> 00:48:38.800 they know their identity. But you do have to be adaptable, 1031 00:48:39.360 --> 00:48:42.920 like they You're not so good that you have to 1032 00:48:43.000 --> 00:48:46.280 force everybody to adapt to you, right. 1033 00:48:46.360 --> 00:48:49.400 And there were two occasions, one from Halliburton and the 1034 00:48:49.440 --> 00:48:52.559 other from Turner in the first half. And look, every 1035 00:48:52.639 --> 00:48:56.280 NBA player, whenever they commit a foul and they think 1036 00:48:56.320 --> 00:48:58.400 it's questionable, they turn around, they do the thing. 1037 00:48:58.440 --> 00:49:00.440 Okay, let's review the thing. They I'll do it. 1038 00:49:00.920 --> 00:49:02.920 But there were two occasions that I took note of. 1039 00:49:03.480 --> 00:49:05.920 Halliburton was called for a foul in the first half. 1040 00:49:05.960 --> 00:49:08.079 He turns to the bench and he does the thing Okay, 1041 00:49:08.199 --> 00:49:11.280 let's review it. And Carlisle basically told him to shut up. 1042 00:49:11.440 --> 00:49:13.760 He said, go play, and then he did the same 1043 00:49:13.800 --> 00:49:15.840 thing to Miles Turner about two minutes later, and I 1044 00:49:15.840 --> 00:49:19.280 took note. I'm like, he's saving his challenges, which is 1045 00:49:19.320 --> 00:49:22.400 what you should do. And the challenge Tom used on 1046 00:49:22.440 --> 00:49:24.760 the Jalen offensive foul was beyond dumb. 1047 00:49:24.840 --> 00:49:26.280 I don't know who told him to do that. It 1048 00:49:26.320 --> 00:49:27.199 was clearly a foul. 1049 00:49:27.280 --> 00:49:30.280 They were not going to win that. So ultimately that 1050 00:49:30.320 --> 00:49:32.719 brings us to tonight. Do you have a lean? I mean, 1051 00:49:32.760 --> 00:49:36.719 I feel like there's a stoicism to Jalen Brunson that 1052 00:49:36.800 --> 00:49:40.159 I respect. Like after the Knicks beat the Celtics, he's 1053 00:49:41.000 --> 00:49:44.360 summarily dismissing the celebrations and telling his teammates to go 1054 00:49:44.440 --> 00:49:47.119 to the locker room. I don't anticipate, Like I know, 1055 00:49:47.159 --> 00:49:49.559 the media narrative is like, hey, there's gonna be a hangover. 1056 00:49:49.639 --> 00:49:52.679 There's no coming back from that, and that was a horrible, 1057 00:49:52.760 --> 00:49:55.800 damn loss. I'm not saying it's not, but I feel 1058 00:49:55.800 --> 00:49:57.280 like the Knicks, you're going to respond tonight. 1059 00:49:57.320 --> 00:49:57.480 Now. 1060 00:49:57.519 --> 00:49:59.880 I don't know if their coach is going to a 1061 00:50:00.199 --> 00:50:01.880 just enough to give them gas at the end to 1062 00:50:01.920 --> 00:50:02.519 win the game. 1063 00:50:02.960 --> 00:50:04.519 But I don't feel like all is lost. 1064 00:50:04.519 --> 00:50:06.320 Tell me where your your head is at as far 1065 00:50:06.400 --> 00:50:08.519 as the game tonight and the rest of the series. 1066 00:50:09.159 --> 00:50:11.639 It's a bad loss. I don't think it's like this 1067 00:50:11.760 --> 00:50:15.400 gut punch they can't recover from. Yeah, I mean, if 1068 00:50:15.440 --> 00:50:18.800 you think about it, even if like the end of regulation, 1069 00:50:19.840 --> 00:50:23.280 yes it's a collapse because they gave up a fourteen 1070 00:50:23.320 --> 00:50:26.320 point lead in two minutes and fifty seconds. They scored 1071 00:50:26.320 --> 00:50:29.880 on seven of their last ten possessions like that. 1072 00:50:30.079 --> 00:50:30.599 That's the thing. 1073 00:50:30.639 --> 00:50:33.079 They weren't giving the ball away the whole time and 1074 00:50:33.119 --> 00:50:36.559 missing shots badly like they scored. The problem is they 1075 00:50:36.639 --> 00:50:39.199 just came up three pointers in Aaron Neith Smith every time, 1076 00:50:39.280 --> 00:50:41.880 like they were trading one for three, two for three 1077 00:50:42.519 --> 00:50:45.880 every time. And so I do think it's fluky. I 1078 00:50:46.440 --> 00:50:50.960 don't think it was. I think overtime was kind of 1079 00:50:51.159 --> 00:50:53.760 was more of an indictment on the bad things about 1080 00:50:53.800 --> 00:50:56.360 that team. I don't think the end of regulation was. 1081 00:50:56.440 --> 00:50:58.400 I think that was a fluke. I think this is 1082 00:50:58.800 --> 00:51:01.519 this isn't some young team that rattled. I think it's 1083 00:51:01.599 --> 00:51:03.199 just a team of veterans that will be fine. I 1084 00:51:03.199 --> 00:51:05.000 think Jalen Bruns as the leader is going to make 1085 00:51:05.039 --> 00:51:08.280 them fine. I think they'll probably win. I also think 1086 00:51:08.280 --> 00:51:11.119 teams keep underestimating this Pacers team, and this Pacers team 1087 00:51:11.239 --> 00:51:12.880 is capable of winning the championship. 1088 00:51:13.880 --> 00:51:18.039 They're really good and I've been wildly impressed. And you know, ultimately, 1089 00:51:18.079 --> 00:51:20.360 I do think the Knicks have some size down low 1090 00:51:20.480 --> 00:51:22.559 that the Pacers don't. But the Pacers have the depth 1091 00:51:22.559 --> 00:51:25.559 at the Knicks don't. It makes it yeah, really really fascinating. 1092 00:51:25.599 --> 00:51:27.239 But I know you don't have a ton of time today, 1093 00:51:27.280 --> 00:51:29.639 So let's move out this way and before we talk, 1094 00:51:29.679 --> 00:51:32.119 Okse t Wolves chase the MVP. 1095 00:51:32.360 --> 00:51:33.519 Yeah, do you think do you think that was the 1096 00:51:33.559 --> 00:51:33.960 right call? 1097 00:51:34.719 --> 00:51:36.840 I voted for him? Yeah? I think so. Here the 1098 00:51:36.840 --> 00:51:39.199 season no one else has ever had. Their team was dominant, 1099 00:51:39.239 --> 00:51:42.239 and he was the best player they you know, they 1100 00:51:43.039 --> 00:51:45.400 there was a massive difference with him on the court 1101 00:51:45.480 --> 00:51:48.480 versus him off the court. Like I don't fault if 1102 00:51:48.480 --> 00:51:50.400 you if you voted for Jokis and thought he was it, 1103 00:51:50.440 --> 00:51:54.039 But if you dismiss Shaye as an MVP candidate, I 1104 00:51:54.559 --> 00:51:55.800 think you've got a weird agenda. 1105 00:51:57.079 --> 00:51:59.079 Yeah, well said, And I would not have had an 1106 00:51:59.079 --> 00:52:02.199 issue with anyone who Jokic, but I agree with you. 1107 00:52:02.280 --> 00:52:05.599 I believe Shay was the red call. All right. So 1108 00:52:05.960 --> 00:52:08.199 I said this earlier with Howard, I'll repeat it to you. 1109 00:52:09.239 --> 00:52:11.480 And this is not breaking news because if you've watched 1110 00:52:11.519 --> 00:52:13.440 them all year, you know that they have a level 1111 00:52:13.519 --> 00:52:16.880 that maybe nobody else has. Boston had it last year 1112 00:52:17.119 --> 00:52:19.079 and I started to feel like no one was going 1113 00:52:19.159 --> 00:52:20.880 to touch the Celtics, and I'm starting to feel like 1114 00:52:20.920 --> 00:52:25.519 nobody's touching Okac. I'm always very hesitant to anoint the 1115 00:52:25.559 --> 00:52:27.639 team that has never had a deep playoff run, and 1116 00:52:27.679 --> 00:52:29.559 that was kind of my hesitancy, like, let's see how 1117 00:52:29.599 --> 00:52:33.440 you guys respond. And you know, a couple of moments 1118 00:52:33.440 --> 00:52:36.039 first Denver that weren't great. But Denver is a team 1119 00:52:36.079 --> 00:52:38.559 that has one of the best players of this generation 1120 00:52:38.639 --> 00:52:41.000 and won a championship a couple of years ago. I 1121 00:52:41.039 --> 00:52:42.960 feel like they're ready, man. I feel like I'm ready 1122 00:52:43.000 --> 00:52:44.719 to say that today that I feel like they're ready. 1123 00:52:44.800 --> 00:52:46.760 I don't think the Wolves has what it takes to 1124 00:52:46.760 --> 00:52:48.639 come back and win four. I think they can get 1125 00:52:48.719 --> 00:52:51.519 one at home, and I don't think either New York 1126 00:52:51.599 --> 00:52:54.840 or Indiana has the level Okasee has when they are 1127 00:52:54.920 --> 00:52:56.119 maximizing their ceiling. 1128 00:52:56.119 --> 00:52:57.159 What are your thoughts. 1129 00:52:57.719 --> 00:53:00.920 I think Indiana could challenge them. I do, like I 1130 00:53:01.280 --> 00:53:03.440 think Indiana's got the depth to do it and the 1131 00:53:03.519 --> 00:53:06.559 style of play to maybe mess some things up. But 1132 00:53:06.760 --> 00:53:09.760 it would take a lot of like hitting your peak 1133 00:53:09.800 --> 00:53:10.480 at the right time. 1134 00:53:10.559 --> 00:53:10.760 Right. 1135 00:53:10.760 --> 00:53:13.440 But yeah, I mean, okay, so he's just super impressive. 1136 00:53:13.519 --> 00:53:16.079 I actually I disagree with a lot of people, like 1137 00:53:16.079 --> 00:53:19.159 I think Minnesota. Minnesota should have won Game one, And 1138 00:53:19.199 --> 00:53:20.760 I know you look at the final score and think 1139 00:53:20.760 --> 00:53:24.719 that's ridiculous, but Minnesota went eight of thirty on wide 1140 00:53:24.719 --> 00:53:27.719 open three point shots and it was good shooters taken. 1141 00:53:28.079 --> 00:53:30.199 It's not like it was a bunch of a bunch 1142 00:53:30.199 --> 00:53:32.920 of bums getting these corner open corner shots because it 1143 00:53:33.000 --> 00:53:37.440 was being funneled there. Like Devincenzo, Alexander Walker nas reed, 1144 00:53:37.719 --> 00:53:41.599 Mike Connley like these were forty percent wide open shooters 1145 00:53:42.000 --> 00:53:45.960 who were missing wide open shots. And I like, I 1146 00:53:46.199 --> 00:53:48.639 they should have been up, you know, fifteen eighteen points 1147 00:53:48.639 --> 00:53:50.840 in the first you know, at halftime they were up 1148 00:53:50.840 --> 00:53:53.800 four and we you know, okay, s he's the best 1149 00:53:53.840 --> 00:53:55.840 third quarter team in basketball and they're going to make 1150 00:53:55.880 --> 00:53:58.280 that run. It's different when you have the fifteen to 1151 00:53:58.280 --> 00:54:01.800 eighteen point cushion versus the four point cushion. You know, like, 1152 00:54:01.880 --> 00:54:03.800 I just think that's different. Also, this was a ten 1153 00:54:03.840 --> 00:54:06.599 point game with four minute minutes left in a game 1154 00:54:06.639 --> 00:54:09.960 where they just they missed so many open threes. So 1155 00:54:10.000 --> 00:54:13.519 I actually think Minnesota probably should have won that game. 1156 00:54:14.519 --> 00:54:17.880 Game two, you see the cracks there, right, You see 1157 00:54:17.920 --> 00:54:22.320 the frustration of Minnesota, and it's really starting to get 1158 00:54:22.320 --> 00:54:26.440 to them, the disparity and how the game's being officiated. 1159 00:54:26.440 --> 00:54:29.079 And I'm not even saying this is this is a 1160 00:54:29.519 --> 00:54:32.800 they're losing because the rest they even if it's not 1161 00:54:32.880 --> 00:54:34.840 the case, they feel it is and they're letting it 1162 00:54:34.880 --> 00:54:37.880 get to them, like they are whining through this stuff, 1163 00:54:37.880 --> 00:54:40.559 like they're they're letting the frustration instead of just playing 1164 00:54:40.639 --> 00:54:44.320 and being physical and just playing their way. They're in 1165 00:54:44.880 --> 00:54:49.079 between zone because of it. Defensively, and I do think okay, 1166 00:54:49.119 --> 00:54:52.400 See gets away with more more contact defensively than what 1167 00:54:52.440 --> 00:54:55.920 Minnesota is. Okay, you got to adjust them, like you 1168 00:54:56.079 --> 00:54:58.360 just got to figure it out. You can't just throw 1169 00:54:58.400 --> 00:55:01.440 your hands up and start pushing and pouting and everything 1170 00:55:01.480 --> 00:55:03.159 like you gotta you gotta figure it out. And so 1171 00:55:03.840 --> 00:55:06.719 like they're they're struggling a little bit. Mentally, I think 1172 00:55:06.719 --> 00:55:09.559 they'll be I think things will change at home. It 1173 00:55:09.800 --> 00:55:11.960 Like it really wouldn't shock me if it was two 1174 00:55:11.960 --> 00:55:14.079 to two going back to okay See, but I like, 1175 00:55:14.159 --> 00:55:17.159 I mean, okay, she's going to win the series. But 1176 00:55:17.239 --> 00:55:20.559 I think I don't think Minnesota is going to shoot 1177 00:55:20.559 --> 00:55:23.320 this poorly the whole time. I mean they're getting they're 1178 00:55:23.400 --> 00:55:27.199 generating good looks. They cut down on the turnovers. The 1179 00:55:27.280 --> 00:55:30.079 problem is when they force turnovers, they're dead ball turnovers. 1180 00:55:30.079 --> 00:55:32.840 When okay See force turnovers, they're all live ball turnovers, 1181 00:55:32.840 --> 00:55:36.639 Like they just there's there is this disparity there. And 1182 00:55:36.639 --> 00:55:39.320 and we always talk about a team getting hot offensively, 1183 00:55:39.719 --> 00:55:42.480 Okay see gets hot defensively. They go on these like 1184 00:55:42.760 --> 00:55:45.159 runs defensively they're just crazy impressive. 1185 00:55:45.960 --> 00:55:46.599 Yeah they do. 1186 00:55:46.800 --> 00:55:48.719 And when they dial it up a notch with that 1187 00:55:48.920 --> 00:55:50.400 length and that size, it just. 1188 00:55:50.360 --> 00:55:52.599 Feels like the Minnesota's up against it. 1189 00:55:52.679 --> 00:55:54.599 And last thing before I say you lose, I mean, 1190 00:55:55.199 --> 00:55:56.719 you know, I said this to a lot of my 1191 00:55:56.840 --> 00:55:59.159 friends last year watching the Knicks in the playoffs, like 1192 00:55:59.159 --> 00:56:01.360 what do you think, well, what do you think about 1193 00:56:01.440 --> 00:56:04.679 Julius Randall? Is your second option? Offensively and look, I'm 1194 00:56:04.719 --> 00:56:07.119 not taking anything away from what he's done so far, 1195 00:56:07.280 --> 00:56:09.840 but last night I was like, yeah, that's kind of 1196 00:56:09.920 --> 00:56:11.519 who he's been spring basketball. 1197 00:56:11.559 --> 00:56:13.159 They need more from him, Zach if they're going to 1198 00:56:13.199 --> 00:56:13.800 get back in this. 1199 00:56:14.559 --> 00:56:17.079 Yeah. I said this in a video for today where 1200 00:56:17.440 --> 00:56:19.039 you know he was great for he was great for 1201 00:56:19.079 --> 00:56:20.679 too much. He played the best basketball of his career 1202 00:56:20.679 --> 00:56:22.960 for the last two months they did, and then he 1203 00:56:22.960 --> 00:56:25.519 turned into a pumpkin yep in game two and I said, 1204 00:56:25.599 --> 00:56:28.199 this is all this is our bad with Like, you 1205 00:56:28.239 --> 00:56:30.880 don't talk about a perfect game during a perfect game, right, 1206 00:56:30.960 --> 00:56:33.159 you don't address it, Like that's what happened. Like everyone 1207 00:56:33.199 --> 00:56:35.639 started to be like, oh, Julius Randall, he's really good, 1208 00:56:35.639 --> 00:56:39.480 and now it feels like it's ruined. And yeah, like 1209 00:56:39.559 --> 00:56:42.800 I mean maybe good because that player options coming up 1210 00:56:42.840 --> 00:56:45.559 instead of needing a new contract. Yeah, like Julius Randall, 1211 00:56:46.360 --> 00:56:48.239 maybe he gets back to it. I still think he's 1212 00:56:48.639 --> 00:56:50.840 you know, he's definitely better than what he was last night, 1213 00:56:51.360 --> 00:56:53.840 but they need him to be perfect. They need to 1214 00:56:53.880 --> 00:56:56.159 be perfect and they need to hit these outside shots 1215 00:56:56.199 --> 00:56:58.280 to have a chance to win these games. And then 1216 00:56:58.320 --> 00:57:01.000 even then, like you, like you were talking about Okay. See, 1217 00:57:01.039 --> 00:57:03.239 they just have a gear that and hit that gear 1218 00:57:03.239 --> 00:57:04.679 every game that no one else can touch. 1219 00:57:05.519 --> 00:57:07.400 Yeah, yep, we'll see what happens though. 1220 00:57:07.440 --> 00:57:07.559 Man. 1221 00:57:07.679 --> 00:57:09.480 Enjoy the game tonight. I appreciate the time. Have a 1222 00:57:09.480 --> 00:57:10.159 good long weekend. 1223 00:57:10.159 --> 00:57:11.719 Okay, all right, buddy, thank you, all right. 1224 00:57:11.760 --> 00:57:14.320 Zach Harper from The Athletic at tak Hoops on Twitter 1225 00:57:14.360 --> 00:57:17.239 is where you find his work, a bunch of different pods, 1226 00:57:17.440 --> 00:57:19.920 a bunch of different videos for the Athletic and writes 1227 00:57:19.960 --> 00:57:22.760 their weekly power rankings. He is a voter for MBA 1228 00:57:22.760 --> 00:57:25.559 Awards as well. Appreciate Zach's time on this Friday afternoon. 1229 00:57:25.559 --> 00:57:28.039 He's brought to you today by our friends at x Clear. 1230 00:57:28.679 --> 00:57:31.039 Allergy season is here. If it's hitting your hard, X 1231 00:57:31.079 --> 00:57:33.119 Clear has got your back. 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X Clear is a natural way to breathe easy. 1242 00:58:08.280 --> 00:58:12.000 So Nick Pacers Game two tonight Madison Square Garden, and 1243 00:58:12.039 --> 00:58:15.440 then obviously the Western Conference Finals resumes tomorrow. They're gonna 1244 00:58:15.440 --> 00:58:18.239 head up to Minneapolis to see if Minnesota can get 1245 00:58:18.239 --> 00:58:18.639 back in this. 1246 00:58:19.280 --> 00:58:21.800 Yeah, Porter, you know this, I mean, you know. 1247 00:58:22.119 --> 00:58:24.039 One of the fun things about when the Knicks are 1248 00:58:24.039 --> 00:58:26.239 in the playoffs is I reconnect with a lot of kids. 1249 00:58:26.239 --> 00:58:27.639 I grew up with a lot of friends of mine 1250 00:58:27.639 --> 00:58:30.480 from junior high and high school. And last year when 1251 00:58:30.599 --> 00:58:32.519 the Knicks were kind of playing better and it looked 1252 00:58:32.559 --> 00:58:34.559 like they were going to be a playoff team that 1253 00:58:34.599 --> 00:58:37.079 maybe could do something, they would all ask me like, so, 1254 00:58:37.119 --> 00:58:39.960 what do you think about their chances of I don't know, 1255 00:58:40.000 --> 00:58:42.280 maybe winning the East or going to the Eastern Conference Finals. 1256 00:58:42.320 --> 00:58:44.960 And the calculation for the Knicks for a couple of 1257 00:58:45.000 --> 00:58:48.280 years was like, if Jalen's your best player, what do 1258 00:58:48.320 --> 00:58:50.559 you make of Julius Randall being your number two option. 1259 00:58:51.199 --> 00:58:52.679 And I want to be clear, I think Zach made 1260 00:58:52.679 --> 00:58:53.079 a good point. 1261 00:58:53.119 --> 00:58:55.519 For about a month and a half, even I was like, wow, 1262 00:58:55.760 --> 00:58:58.679 you know, wait, he's playing basketball in the spring in 1263 00:58:58.719 --> 00:59:01.719 a much more efficient, engaged way on both sides of 1264 00:59:01.719 --> 00:59:04.280 the floor. He was guarding. He's a big, physical kid. 1265 00:59:04.880 --> 00:59:06.639 He was an All star in LA. I mean, he's 1266 00:59:06.679 --> 00:59:09.559 not a bad player. But I think the issue with 1267 00:59:09.599 --> 00:59:14.000 Minnesota is that if Ant isn't necessarily making miracles happen, 1268 00:59:15.519 --> 00:59:18.719 and Julius isn't going to be engaged Like Jade McDaniels 1269 00:59:18.760 --> 00:59:20.880 is a good player, can you rely on him to 1270 00:59:20.920 --> 00:59:24.159 be a number two Dante DiVincenzo off the bench? 1271 00:59:24.320 --> 00:59:27.159 He has not shot well all playoff long. 1272 00:59:27.559 --> 00:59:29.960 I think Nikill Alexander Walker is given in great minutes, 1273 00:59:30.000 --> 00:59:32.280 but the number two option for them has to be 1274 00:59:32.360 --> 00:59:36.760 Julius Randall offensively. And if that's the calculation, and if 1275 00:59:36.800 --> 00:59:39.519 you've watched Julius Randall play spring basketball enough, you kind 1276 00:59:39.519 --> 00:59:41.119 of know at some point he's going to come back 1277 00:59:41.119 --> 00:59:42.559 down to earth, and we saw it last night. 1278 00:59:42.679 --> 00:59:44.440 Well, the problem with Julius Randall is. 1279 00:59:47.079 --> 00:59:49.679 I've always liked what he brings as a player in 1280 00:59:50.039 --> 00:59:53.559 certain forms, but he is one of those kind of 1281 00:59:53.639 --> 00:59:57.960 archetypes that is matchup dependent. Right, So in a certain 1282 00:59:58.000 --> 01:00:01.599 matchup against a certain lineup, you're gonna see Julius Randall 1283 01:00:01.679 --> 01:00:05.960 look like in all NBA type forward and we saw 1284 01:00:05.960 --> 01:00:08.280 that at times with New York. But if you throw 1285 01:00:08.320 --> 01:00:11.400 in a lineup that can match his physicality or a 1286 01:00:11.440 --> 01:00:14.360 lineup that bothers him with length and kind of forces 1287 01:00:14.440 --> 01:00:17.400 him out of the paint, it doesn't allow him to 1288 01:00:17.400 --> 01:00:19.679 be a bully on the offensive glass, right. The things 1289 01:00:19.719 --> 01:00:27.320 that he really does kind of succeed in. Man, it 1290 01:00:27.440 --> 01:00:30.519 really turns into a situation where also the defensive end spence, 1291 01:00:30.599 --> 01:00:32.360 if you get a guy who can beat him on 1292 01:00:32.360 --> 01:00:34.960 a first step or makes him move latterly a lot, 1293 01:00:35.400 --> 01:00:37.880 spaces the floor a little bit, He's he's kind of 1294 01:00:37.920 --> 01:00:41.079 matchup dependent on both sides of the ball. So that's 1295 01:00:41.119 --> 01:00:43.199 the real problem is that, Yeah, you really like the 1296 01:00:43.280 --> 01:00:46.159 Julius Randall you see at certain points, but you throw 1297 01:00:46.440 --> 01:00:48.880 a different player out there, all of a sudden, you 1298 01:00:48.920 --> 01:00:53.039 see a different player and that can be frustrating. Players 1299 01:00:53.079 --> 01:00:56.280 like Karl Anthony Towns, although he has different things that 1300 01:00:56.320 --> 01:00:59.760 he struggles with He's seven foot can handle, can shoot, 1301 01:00:59.800 --> 01:01:03.960 can There's not many matchups that are problems for him. 1302 01:01:04.039 --> 01:01:05.719 It's different things to get to. 1303 01:01:06.079 --> 01:01:09.719 And the thing with Julius and this isn't necessarily something 1304 01:01:09.719 --> 01:01:13.079 that's exclusive to him and Tom Thibodeau has talked about 1305 01:01:13.079 --> 01:01:17.079 this in the past. When he is not scoring, when 1306 01:01:17.079 --> 01:01:20.800 he is not shooting it well, he doesn't card yep, disconnected, defensively, 1307 01:01:21.280 --> 01:01:23.119 gets down on himself, gets frustrated. 1308 01:01:23.119 --> 01:01:24.400 You can see his body language. 1309 01:01:24.400 --> 01:01:27.440 And that's why Chris Finch just sat him in the 1310 01:01:27.480 --> 01:01:29.039 fourth quarter and went with Nas reed. 1311 01:01:29.079 --> 01:01:30.880 He decided to go with Nas and Rudy. 1312 01:01:30.960 --> 01:01:37.039 By the way, Oklahoma City is intentionally going at Gobert 1313 01:01:37.400 --> 01:01:40.480 over and over and over again, and it's when Shae 1314 01:01:40.519 --> 01:01:43.719 and Jalen have the ball in their hands. I saw 1315 01:01:43.840 --> 01:01:47.079 Shae cancel three different actions last night to get Hartenstein 1316 01:01:47.119 --> 01:01:48.880 to the top of the key to just get the switch. 1317 01:01:49.400 --> 01:01:51.400 And the nice thing about Shay is that it's not 1318 01:01:51.480 --> 01:01:54.159 a switch to take a step back three. He wants 1319 01:01:54.159 --> 01:01:56.159 to cross you over and pull up from fifteen feet 1320 01:01:56.199 --> 01:01:58.920 when he gets to a spot. He has evolved into 1321 01:01:58.960 --> 01:02:01.400 a place where he is as elite as any individual 1322 01:02:01.480 --> 01:02:02.840 score in Pro basketball. 1323 01:02:02.840 --> 01:02:06.559 And you'll remember me saying this before Game one. I'm 1324 01:02:06.599 --> 01:02:08.679 not one who falls into the Rudy gets played off 1325 01:02:08.679 --> 01:02:11.360 the floor narrative. You know, I think that that is 1326 01:02:11.880 --> 01:02:15.000 very often overblown and very often unfair because of the 1327 01:02:15.039 --> 01:02:17.840 situations that the Jazz put Rudy in for a long time, 1328 01:02:17.840 --> 01:02:20.760 because of the personnel they failed to put around him. Now, 1329 01:02:21.480 --> 01:02:23.679 what I said before Game one of this series was 1330 01:02:23.719 --> 01:02:27.960 that while that narrative is usually unwarranted, this is a 1331 01:02:28.000 --> 01:02:32.480 series where because of the personnel, because of the spacing 1332 01:02:32.519 --> 01:02:35.239 the floor that okay see has, because of the length 1333 01:02:35.239 --> 01:02:38.079 that they can sometimes throw out there, this is a 1334 01:02:38.119 --> 01:02:41.679 series where Rudy may have to adjust some of the 1335 01:02:41.719 --> 01:02:45.760 way some of the ways he plays. He's gonna have 1336 01:02:45.840 --> 01:02:50.199 to switch out a lot, and he might not be 1337 01:02:50.280 --> 01:02:54.880 playable at certain moments through certain stretches in this series. Right, 1338 01:02:54.920 --> 01:02:57.679 And that is I think kind of where there is 1339 01:02:57.719 --> 01:03:00.639 some truth to that discussion. But a lot of times 1340 01:03:00.679 --> 01:03:03.039 it's not based on Rudy. It's based on the personalities 1341 01:03:03.079 --> 01:03:03.960 playing against Yeah. 1342 01:03:03.960 --> 01:03:06.679 And also to your point, it's never really been about 1343 01:03:06.840 --> 01:03:08.880 we want to go at Rudy to play him off 1344 01:03:08.880 --> 01:03:10.760 the floor. It's that we want to go at Rudy 1345 01:03:10.800 --> 01:03:12.199 in high pick and roll to get him away from 1346 01:03:12.199 --> 01:03:14.880 the rim and get him trouble exactly. So we can't 1347 01:03:14.920 --> 01:03:17.960 have one of the best shot blockers this generation protecting 1348 01:03:17.960 --> 01:03:18.320 the rim. 1349 01:03:18.400 --> 01:03:19.920 Let's get him out and pick and roll switch. 1350 01:03:19.960 --> 01:03:22.320 Let's get him on the perimeter and that way, even 1351 01:03:22.360 --> 01:03:25.159 if he's able to successfully guard an individual one on one, 1352 01:03:25.199 --> 01:03:27.079 boom boom, boom, you move the ball, go to the basket. 1353 01:03:27.159 --> 01:03:27.679 He's not there. 1354 01:03:28.239 --> 01:03:31.239 I mean, there are several reasons to do this, and 1355 01:03:31.280 --> 01:03:33.880 typically Rudy is able to hedge and recover better than 1356 01:03:33.880 --> 01:03:35.039 most people give him credit for. 1357 01:03:35.159 --> 01:03:38.119 But man Okac is going right at him. 1358 01:03:38.400 --> 01:03:41.079 We got Mike Cam from the NFL Network stopping by 1359 01:03:41.519 --> 01:03:45.199 to talk some off season NFL grown men will be 1360 01:03:45.199 --> 01:03:48.559 allowed to push other grown men in the tush once. 1361 01:03:48.480 --> 01:03:50.239 Again coming up for this NFL season. 1362 01:03:50.239 --> 01:03:52.960 It's been a massive storyline, so thank goodness we have 1363 01:03:53.039 --> 01:03:56.800 some clarity on that. Andy Larson sawl a tribune. But 1364 01:03:56.880 --> 01:03:59.960 time now to talk a little golf. Charles Schwab challenged 1365 01:04:00.079 --> 01:04:01.920 going on in the world of the PGA Tour. 1366 01:04:02.360 --> 01:04:03.519 Colonial Country Club. 1367 01:04:03.559 --> 01:04:06.400 A lot of fun local golf storylines, including me having 1368 01:04:06.400 --> 01:04:08.559 a good front nine at Bonaville in a horrible back 1369 01:04:08.679 --> 01:04:11.880 nine today, Paul Pugmyer, I think that's where we lead 1370 01:04:11.960 --> 01:04:12.639 right my round. 1371 01:04:12.679 --> 01:04:14.159 We should break it down hole by hole. 1372 01:04:15.000 --> 01:04:18.159 Let's do it, and let's see if there's anybody on 1373 01:04:18.159 --> 01:04:20.840 the golf course pushing each other in the dish. 1374 01:04:20.880 --> 01:04:21.920 Well well played, sir. 1375 01:04:21.960 --> 01:04:24.559 We will not break down my round from today, but 1376 01:04:24.639 --> 01:04:26.199 I will ask you for a slight tip. 1377 01:04:26.239 --> 01:04:27.039 Do you mind if I do that? 1378 01:04:27.840 --> 01:04:28.199 Please? 1379 01:04:28.360 --> 01:04:31.400 I've developed this odd tendency of coming over the top 1380 01:04:31.480 --> 01:04:33.920 and pulling everything because I'm trying to fix my slice. 1381 01:04:33.960 --> 01:04:35.800 How do I stop from coming over the top on 1382 01:04:35.800 --> 01:04:36.440 my golf swing? 1383 01:04:39.119 --> 01:04:42.960 There are some drills you can do that involve just 1384 01:04:43.079 --> 01:04:47.280 placing some itemsund in front of the ballun on the 1385 01:04:47.360 --> 01:04:49.960 range and swinging the club to the right of them. 1386 01:04:50.320 --> 01:04:53.000 Put a stick in the ground, an alignment rod in 1387 01:04:53.079 --> 01:04:56.000 the ground in front of you, and try to start 1388 01:04:56.039 --> 01:05:00.280 the ball to the right of the stick. When it 1389 01:05:00.320 --> 01:05:03.960 initially starts flying off your club. That will make you 1390 01:05:04.079 --> 01:05:07.960 less focus on your swing. Lets your natural athleticism take over. 1391 01:05:08.360 --> 01:05:09.960 If you're looking at where do I want the ball 1392 01:05:10.039 --> 01:05:12.679 to go? Focus on where you're starting the ball, and 1393 01:05:12.679 --> 01:05:14.960 that will bring the club into the path it needs 1394 01:05:15.039 --> 01:05:15.280 to be. 1395 01:05:15.559 --> 01:05:17.840 I always so much appreciate the fact that you claim 1396 01:05:17.880 --> 01:05:20.480 I'm this natural athlete that needs to just lean into 1397 01:05:20.519 --> 01:05:21.480 my athleticism. 1398 01:05:21.519 --> 01:05:23.239 When I play golf, it means a lot ball, So 1399 01:05:23.280 --> 01:05:23.599 thank you. 1400 01:05:24.400 --> 01:05:27.519 Hey, one of us played for Rickman, Jerris and the Ristlers, 1401 01:05:27.599 --> 01:05:29.000 didn't I think it's real. 1402 01:05:29.119 --> 01:05:31.880 Well, that's not entire like, Okay, a few months, but 1403 01:05:32.000 --> 01:05:32.679 you know whatever. 1404 01:05:32.760 --> 01:05:35.559 Okay, one more tip day. How do I sink every 1405 01:05:35.559 --> 01:05:37.119 single putt within twelve feet? 1406 01:05:37.679 --> 01:05:43.000 You don't, Okay, putting is hard, and not every good 1407 01:05:43.039 --> 01:05:45.760 putt goes in, not every bad put stays out. I 1408 01:05:45.800 --> 01:05:49.880 would focus on making sure that your next putt is 1409 01:05:49.920 --> 01:05:53.159 a tap d no stress, something you don't have to mark. 1410 01:05:53.719 --> 01:05:56.880 And if that is your goal, it's attainable, it's doable, 1411 01:05:57.280 --> 01:06:00.519 and it focuses you on getting the speed right and 1412 01:06:00.559 --> 01:06:03.599 then pets will just start falling because they will. But 1413 01:06:04.719 --> 01:06:08.519 keep in mind that the break even point for the 1414 01:06:08.599 --> 01:06:11.519 on the PGA Tour, the two hundred best players on 1415 01:06:11.559 --> 01:06:15.840 the planet, the guy's visiting from Krypton, the break even 1416 01:06:15.960 --> 01:06:19.760 point is eight feet. Inside eight feet, they start making 1417 01:06:19.760 --> 01:06:22.559 more than fifty percent. Outside of eight feet, they start 1418 01:06:22.599 --> 01:06:26.159 making less than fifty percent. So at twelve feet you're 1419 01:06:26.239 --> 01:06:28.800 making the best players on the planet. They're making less 1420 01:06:28.840 --> 01:06:31.960 than fifty percent. We should not expect to be better 1421 01:06:31.960 --> 01:06:32.199 than that. 1422 01:06:32.880 --> 01:06:34.519 You know, I'm glad you brought up the pros. 1423 01:06:34.559 --> 01:06:36.400 I want to let's lean into this for a second 1424 01:06:36.440 --> 01:06:39.159 because I was playing with our guy Richard Smith today 1425 01:06:39.239 --> 01:06:43.360 Wes rough shout out our guy Wesley Roff. And you know, 1426 01:06:43.599 --> 01:06:45.320 I've told you this before, and I want you to 1427 01:06:45.400 --> 01:06:46.360 kind of elaborate on this. 1428 01:06:46.800 --> 01:06:48.880 I think for the average. 1429 01:06:48.440 --> 01:06:51.000 Golfer who's trying to get better, I think for the 1430 01:06:51.039 --> 01:06:54.119 average golfer that maybe doesn't watch a ton of pro golf, 1431 01:06:54.639 --> 01:06:58.719 the assumption is the pros just pure every shot and 1432 01:06:59.039 --> 01:07:01.079 they did. You know they they hit every fairway, they 1433 01:07:01.159 --> 01:07:03.400 hit every green. And as I told you when I 1434 01:07:03.440 --> 01:07:05.719 went down to Bay Hill as an honorary observer, it 1435 01:07:05.760 --> 01:07:07.400 was the first time I saw it up close. When 1436 01:07:07.440 --> 01:07:10.000 I'm like, dude, they're not perfect. They just figure it out. 1437 01:07:10.079 --> 01:07:13.519 They problem solve right, like they know how to problem solve. 1438 01:07:13.920 --> 01:07:16.280 So elaborate on that a little bit. As you've watched 1439 01:07:16.320 --> 01:07:19.239 the professionals, both on the men's and the women's side, 1440 01:07:19.280 --> 01:07:22.400 what really makes them different? Now their misses are different 1441 01:07:22.400 --> 01:07:25.000 than ours. And I'm not saying like it's not more 1442 01:07:25.079 --> 01:07:26.360 pure than the average golfer. 1443 01:07:26.360 --> 01:07:28.760 It clearly is. But they're not perfect, Paul, are They. 1444 01:07:29.400 --> 01:07:32.719 Not even close? And I really appreciate the way you 1445 01:07:32.760 --> 01:07:35.840 say that. I love your term problem solved. Let's use 1446 01:07:35.880 --> 01:07:41.360 that Golf is a presentation of a series of problems, 1447 01:07:41.360 --> 01:07:44.920 a series of questions that it is asking you to solve. 1448 01:07:45.599 --> 01:07:49.760 And these guys are good at solving the question. Now, 1449 01:07:49.920 --> 01:07:52.639 they will hit great shots, that's true. Their misses are 1450 01:07:52.679 --> 01:07:56.880 smaller than ours, that's totally true. And on occasion there 1451 01:07:57.000 --> 01:08:00.639 is just staggering greatness. The highlight reel that a Tiger 1452 01:08:00.679 --> 01:08:04.679 Woods puts together are just incredible. But I want to 1453 01:08:04.800 --> 01:08:07.639 really focus on something that Tiger said a couple three 1454 01:08:07.719 --> 01:08:11.320 years ago, and he was asked to say, you know, 1455 01:08:11.400 --> 01:08:13.960 what was it about your two thousand and two thousand 1456 01:08:13.960 --> 01:08:18.119 and one dominant period in the game. He thought for 1457 01:08:18.159 --> 01:08:20.279 a minute, and he shrugged, and he said, I was 1458 01:08:20.319 --> 01:08:24.479 a pretty good lag petter. Well there's yeah, there's a 1459 01:08:24.479 --> 01:08:26.399 lot in there, and well look at what there isn't 1460 01:08:26.520 --> 01:08:30.159 He didn't talk about being a great ball striker, though 1461 01:08:30.199 --> 01:08:33.880 he was. He didn't talk about hitting a series of 1462 01:08:33.920 --> 01:08:37.439 incredible shots. Though he did what he talked about was 1463 01:08:37.640 --> 01:08:44.520 taking care of the basic business. He executed double plays. 1464 01:08:44.560 --> 01:08:48.560 If you're going to go baseball, he executed layups if 1465 01:08:48.560 --> 01:08:51.159 you're going to go basketball. He took care of lagging 1466 01:08:51.159 --> 01:08:54.600 the putt into the first putt into a place where 1467 01:08:54.600 --> 01:08:57.399 he had no stress on the second, and so he 1468 01:08:57.560 --> 01:08:59.920 didn't give shots back. And so now you're going to 1469 01:08:59.920 --> 01:09:02.359 go full circle. That brings me to the real thing 1470 01:09:02.439 --> 01:09:06.800 that they do. The superpower that these pros have is 1471 01:09:06.840 --> 01:09:12.960 that they don't give shots away. They make pars by scrambling, 1472 01:09:13.079 --> 01:09:15.840 they make pars by playing smart, and then they go 1473 01:09:15.920 --> 01:09:18.399 on to the next hole and see if it presents 1474 01:09:18.399 --> 01:09:21.119 an opportunity for a birdie, and if it doesn't, they 1475 01:09:21.119 --> 01:09:24.600 make a par and they rinse and repeat. They don't 1476 01:09:24.640 --> 01:09:27.760 give shots back, and that's their superpower. 1477 01:09:28.760 --> 01:09:32.920 Okay, Paul, I have learned lessons from you and others 1478 01:09:32.960 --> 01:09:34.680 that know the game in a way that I don't 1479 01:09:34.680 --> 01:09:36.680 that we do not say, wow, that's kind of tiger 1480 01:09:36.800 --> 01:09:38.560 ish or he's kind of reminded me of Tiger that 1481 01:09:39.319 --> 01:09:42.880 and I understand that what Tiger did during I don't know, 1482 01:09:43.000 --> 01:09:45.239 maybe a three or four year period is something that 1483 01:09:45.279 --> 01:09:48.000 we have never seen before and potential we'll never see again. 1484 01:09:48.600 --> 01:09:50.880 But I haven't talked to you since the PGA Championship. 1485 01:09:50.960 --> 01:09:55.319 And look, man, he's healthy now. And by he everyone 1486 01:09:55.359 --> 01:09:58.359 knows who I'm talking about. Scott, He's healthy now and 1487 01:09:58.560 --> 01:10:00.600 based off of what he did, did he year ago 1488 01:10:01.000 --> 01:10:04.039 and now that he's got another major in his back pocket. 1489 01:10:04.600 --> 01:10:08.640 Just you put the context around really what we're watching 1490 01:10:08.760 --> 01:10:11.039 when he is at the top of his game. 1491 01:10:11.600 --> 01:10:16.439 We are looking at Tiger esque performance. We are in addition, 1492 01:10:16.640 --> 01:10:20.720 we are looking at Jack Nicholas performance, and that is 1493 01:10:20.800 --> 01:10:24.960 the rarest air in the game. We're talking about somebody 1494 01:10:25.000 --> 01:10:29.800 with three majors and the players by their twenty eighth birthday, 1495 01:10:30.239 --> 01:10:33.000 that's a group of three. It's Jack Nicholas, it is 1496 01:10:33.399 --> 01:10:36.000 although Nicholas didn't have the players because by his twenty eighth, 1497 01:10:36.039 --> 01:10:39.119 because they didn't have it yet. But it's Jack Nicholas, 1498 01:10:39.159 --> 01:10:42.039 it's Tiger Woods, and it's Scotti Scheffler. But in addition, 1499 01:10:42.079 --> 01:10:47.000 when you dig into the underlying performance statistics, when you 1500 01:10:47.039 --> 01:10:50.760 look at the greens in regulation, the proximity to the whole, 1501 01:10:51.399 --> 01:10:55.439 the bogie avoidance, which is a huge stat that very 1502 01:10:55.479 --> 01:10:59.399 seldom gives the do it deserves when you look at 1503 01:10:59.399 --> 01:11:03.840 these underlying performance stats, Scheffler is on that level of 1504 01:11:03.960 --> 01:11:08.960 performance with Tiger Woods, with Jack Nicholas. He is twenty 1505 01:11:09.000 --> 01:11:12.800 eight years old. Generally you figure that for a golfer, 1506 01:11:12.920 --> 01:11:16.399 their prime years are thirty to thirty six. He's coming, 1507 01:11:16.640 --> 01:11:20.439 he's still looking forward to his prime yeers, and he 1508 01:11:20.600 --> 01:11:27.239 is statistically dominant. Right now, we are talking about a 1509 01:11:27.359 --> 01:11:30.840 person who is on the cusp of and has potential 1510 01:11:30.920 --> 01:11:35.720 to establish a career on the par with the Tiger 1511 01:11:35.760 --> 01:11:38.520 Woods and the Jack Nicholas. Now, now that I say that, though, 1512 01:11:38.560 --> 01:11:41.600 we have to pump the brakes just a little bit. 1513 01:11:43.039 --> 01:11:47.439 The world of sports is so full of early stars 1514 01:11:47.640 --> 01:11:54.680 that don't maintain and carry it forward over the intervening years. 1515 01:11:55.079 --> 01:11:59.079 We have yet to see if Scheffler can do it 1516 01:11:59.199 --> 01:12:02.720 for the next ten years, but all of the underlaying 1517 01:12:02.760 --> 01:12:04.319 indicators say that he will. 1518 01:12:05.399 --> 01:12:09.239 Okay, who is most likely to be his? Oh, man, 1519 01:12:09.359 --> 01:12:10.399 you're gonna have to tell me here? 1520 01:12:10.880 --> 01:12:11.600 His Phil? 1521 01:12:11.840 --> 01:12:15.880 His Phil Nicholson? Who was Jack's main competitor? Was it 1522 01:12:16.039 --> 01:12:20.119 Arnie Like? Who is most likely to be Scotty's? I 1523 01:12:20.119 --> 01:12:23.239 guess I'll say antagonist. If Scotty's the protagonist. 1524 01:12:24.000 --> 01:12:27.640 Yeah, what a fun question. So for Nicholas it was 1525 01:12:28.319 --> 01:12:32.880 it was Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, although Billy Casper 1526 01:12:33.000 --> 01:12:35.359 utah z owed. Billy Casper was right there, but a 1527 01:12:35.439 --> 01:12:37.680 very quiet personality, and so he didn't get a lot 1528 01:12:37.720 --> 01:12:41.319 of news. And you're correct to identify Phil Nicholson. But 1529 01:12:41.319 --> 01:12:44.479 in addition to Phil, it was Ernie Els and VJ. 1530 01:12:44.720 --> 01:12:49.880 Singh for Tiger. So who for Scottie? What a fun question. 1531 01:12:49.960 --> 01:12:52.720 I think it's going to come from players younger than 1532 01:12:52.800 --> 01:12:55.319 him right now. I think it's going to come from 1533 01:12:55.319 --> 01:12:59.199 players like Luke Clanton, this college kid who is is 1534 01:12:59.359 --> 01:13:02.840 coming up in making a lot of noise. We're going 1535 01:13:02.920 --> 01:13:07.960 to see younger players coming out of college and doing 1536 01:13:08.039 --> 01:13:12.000 things that there just wasn't the institutional support for them 1537 01:13:12.039 --> 01:13:16.000 to do in previous generations. Because the path to the 1538 01:13:16.000 --> 01:13:19.159 PJ Tour is now open to college stars in ways 1539 01:13:19.199 --> 01:13:25.039 that it wasn't before. So that's a fun question. I'm 1540 01:13:25.079 --> 01:13:27.159 going to have fun thinking about it and watching it. 1541 01:13:27.239 --> 01:13:28.920 But right now, I think it's going to come from 1542 01:13:28.960 --> 01:13:33.239 a younger generation, not his age peers, not Scotty's age peers. 1543 01:13:33.319 --> 01:13:36.479 Right now, all right, Paul Kind of a random little 1544 01:13:36.479 --> 01:13:39.079 bit of a non sequitur. But we're halfway through the 1545 01:13:39.119 --> 01:13:42.439 major championship season with a couple of majors now behind us, 1546 01:13:43.000 --> 01:13:45.359 and we're four months away from the Ryder Cup. 1547 01:13:45.520 --> 01:13:48.439 Okay, so Luke Donald. 1548 01:13:48.159 --> 01:13:50.920 Obviously Captain Keegan, you know, which is kind of a 1549 01:13:50.920 --> 01:13:55.159 fun story. Some tough decisions, as there is every single year. 1550 01:13:55.199 --> 01:13:58.279 My first question in this scope of our conversation is 1551 01:13:59.000 --> 01:14:02.199 will Tony now make the Ryder Cup team. 1552 01:14:05.479 --> 01:14:09.640 Today? He certainly wouldn't, and so he would need to 1553 01:14:09.760 --> 01:14:15.239 change his arc and trajectory and do it quickly. I 1554 01:14:15.279 --> 01:14:20.199 think that he has to play well in the remaining majors, 1555 01:14:20.520 --> 01:14:25.000 in particular at the US Open at Oakmont, And the 1556 01:14:25.039 --> 01:14:28.960 reason for that is, first of all, it is Oakmont, 1557 01:14:29.239 --> 01:14:32.920 for crying out loud, the biggest, baddest US Open course 1558 01:14:33.000 --> 01:14:36.439 there is. And if you think US Open, you think 1559 01:14:36.479 --> 01:14:41.000 traditional US Open, Oakmont is the answer to all your questions. 1560 01:14:41.439 --> 01:14:46.159 And this is such an incredibly demanding golf course and 1561 01:14:46.199 --> 01:14:50.039 so doing well at Oakmont will be necessary for Tony 1562 01:14:50.359 --> 01:14:53.640 to be able to make the Ryder Cup team. And 1563 01:14:53.880 --> 01:14:55.600 part of the reason for that is that it's just 1564 01:14:55.640 --> 01:14:57.359 playing the US Open. But the other half of the 1565 01:14:57.359 --> 01:15:00.279 reason is that the Ryder Cup will be at beth 1566 01:15:00.319 --> 01:15:04.479 Played Bethpage Black, and beth Page Black is a big 1567 01:15:04.560 --> 01:15:08.520 bad golf course too, and so demonstrating the ability to 1568 01:15:08.600 --> 01:15:11.800 play big bad golf on a big bad golf course 1569 01:15:12.239 --> 01:15:14.640 that is going to be necessary. The opportunity comes at 1570 01:15:14.640 --> 01:15:16.960 the US Open the second week of June. It will 1571 01:15:16.960 --> 01:15:22.279 be at Oakmont. Watch the US Open carefully. The Open Championship, 1572 01:15:22.319 --> 01:15:27.159 the British Open port Rush this year a different kind 1573 01:15:27.199 --> 01:15:30.720 of golf and it will require a different kind of play. 1574 01:15:31.880 --> 01:15:35.359 Not as big as Oakmont, but then again, very few 1575 01:15:35.359 --> 01:15:40.560 things are. It requires more subtlety, it requires more art, 1576 01:15:41.640 --> 01:15:45.239 but a different kind of test at port Rush that 1577 01:15:45.479 --> 01:15:48.920 it is where the entire world is watching. Tony has 1578 01:15:48.960 --> 01:15:51.439 to play well in the two remaining majors to make 1579 01:15:51.560 --> 01:15:52.520 the Ryder Cup team. 1580 01:15:53.119 --> 01:15:56.319 Obviously, Scott he is a lock. Any other locks right 1581 01:15:56.319 --> 01:15:57.600 now as you see it, Paul. 1582 01:16:01.079 --> 01:16:09.119 As nobody is locked as Scotty. Sure, Sure, We've just 1583 01:16:09.159 --> 01:16:11.880 got too many points out there yet to be awarded. 1584 01:16:12.960 --> 01:16:14.479 So no, I think the answer is no. 1585 01:16:15.520 --> 01:16:17.680 It feels like Xander's in a good spot. It feels 1586 01:16:17.760 --> 01:16:20.199 like Bryson's in good spot. It feels like JT is 1587 01:16:20.199 --> 01:16:20.920 in a good spot. 1588 01:16:21.000 --> 01:16:22.319 Maybe more cowa. 1589 01:16:23.560 --> 01:16:26.159 Let me throw they have to not fall on their face. 1590 01:16:26.319 --> 01:16:30.199 Sure, sure, let's it's just too early to say, let me. 1591 01:16:30.159 --> 01:16:32.640 Throw one more thing at you here, though, because when 1592 01:16:32.640 --> 01:16:35.159 I first asked you whether or not Keegan Bradley should 1593 01:16:35.159 --> 01:16:38.279 pick himself, you were emphatic that he should not. Now 1594 01:16:39.039 --> 01:16:42.119 maybe you feel still feel that way. But he has 1595 01:16:42.159 --> 01:16:44.640 six top twenty fives in his first eleven starts. He 1596 01:16:44.760 --> 01:16:48.399 tied for eight that the PGA Championship. He is outside 1597 01:16:48.520 --> 01:16:50.960 the top six as of now, But if he keeps playing, 1598 01:16:51.319 --> 01:16:53.159 even if he's maybe seventh or eighth. 1599 01:16:53.680 --> 01:16:55.239 Have you changed your stance. 1600 01:16:54.880 --> 01:16:57.239 On whether or not Keegan should select himself to play 1601 01:16:57.319 --> 01:16:58.560 while he serves as captain. 1602 01:16:59.840 --> 01:17:00.720 I have not. 1603 01:17:01.760 --> 01:17:05.880 I think that the captaincy is such a demanding role 1604 01:17:06.560 --> 01:17:08.920 that it requires all of his attention, and I think 1605 01:17:08.960 --> 01:17:12.079 he would undermine his ability to give total focus to 1606 01:17:12.159 --> 01:17:16.359 playing if he were a player and the captain. So 1607 01:17:16.560 --> 01:17:20.359 even if he were to get himself in by points, 1608 01:17:20.760 --> 01:17:23.960 I personally think that he should focus on being the captain. 1609 01:17:26.359 --> 01:17:29.520 He's inside the ropes and I'm not He's smarter than 1610 01:17:29.600 --> 01:17:33.319 me and a better player than me. But from my perspective, 1611 01:17:33.520 --> 01:17:36.399 everything says if you're going to be the captain, be 1612 01:17:36.600 --> 01:17:39.239 the captain. And he's the captain. 1613 01:17:40.279 --> 01:17:42.640 All right. There is a tournament going on right now. 1614 01:17:43.319 --> 01:17:43.760 It is. 1615 01:17:44.000 --> 01:17:46.399 It's not a great field. Scott He's in the field, 1616 01:17:46.680 --> 01:17:49.600 but he hasn't played that well. He is tied for 1617 01:17:49.600 --> 01:17:54.159 forty seventh for the Charles Schwab Challenge down at Colonial 1618 01:17:54.239 --> 01:17:57.079 Country Club in Fort Worth. So tell us about the track, 1619 01:17:57.119 --> 01:17:59.000 tell us about the tournament, then we'll find out what's 1620 01:17:59.039 --> 01:18:01.119 going on with the n and find out what's going 1621 01:18:01.159 --> 01:18:01.680 on with the show. 1622 01:18:02.560 --> 01:18:09.560 Sure, thank you. The Schwab Challenge Colonial. This is one 1623 01:18:09.600 --> 01:18:14.039 of those traditional lovely tournaments that kind of got the 1624 01:18:14.119 --> 01:18:19.399 short stick when the PGA Tour went to this elevated 1625 01:18:20.399 --> 01:18:24.560 tournament status thing that they're doing now, because it's a 1626 01:18:24.600 --> 01:18:29.319 tournament with a lot of history, and yet it doesn't 1627 01:18:29.399 --> 01:18:32.119 draw the big field because it doesn't offer as much 1628 01:18:32.159 --> 01:18:36.479 money or as many points, and that's really unfortunate. This 1629 01:18:37.119 --> 01:18:41.720 is a wonderful tournament on a great golf course with 1630 01:18:41.800 --> 01:18:45.199 a great history, and I wish it got a stronger field, 1631 01:18:45.279 --> 01:18:47.960 but it doesn't. Scotty's playing in it because it's a 1632 01:18:48.000 --> 01:18:50.119 little bit of a hometown thing, and he gave the 1633 01:18:50.159 --> 01:18:53.560 sponsors his commitment he would go, and he did, and 1634 01:18:54.079 --> 01:18:57.840 he showed up. Go Scotty. I admire that he's not 1635 01:18:58.079 --> 01:19:04.560 playing particularly well. What was like something like okay, yeah, 1636 01:19:05.119 --> 01:19:09.159 Now that raises an interesting thing. Playing well the week 1637 01:19:09.239 --> 01:19:13.680 after a major win is so stupid hard that we 1638 01:19:13.880 --> 01:19:18.279 still will talk about when Bernhard Langer won at Heritage 1639 01:19:18.399 --> 01:19:20.560 the week after he won the Masters, now it's forty 1640 01:19:20.600 --> 01:19:24.159 five years ago, because it's just so hard. Winning a 1641 01:19:24.199 --> 01:19:27.920 major takes so much out of you mentally, physically, emotionally, 1642 01:19:28.000 --> 01:19:31.119 in every way. You're left depleted by the time you 1643 01:19:31.159 --> 01:19:36.239 win a major. And so you know, Scotty remained standing 1644 01:19:36.279 --> 01:19:40.720 for seventy two holes. It's pretty impressive. The week after 1645 01:19:40.760 --> 01:19:43.000 he won the PGA in the manner in which he wanted. 1646 01:19:43.079 --> 01:19:44.960 I mean, you know, keep in mind, going into the 1647 01:19:45.000 --> 01:19:47.720 back nine on Sunday, there were a lot of people 1648 01:19:47.760 --> 01:19:50.199 in that tournament and Scotty had to dig deep and 1649 01:19:50.359 --> 01:19:52.359 turn on the gas and go win the thing, which 1650 01:19:52.399 --> 01:19:56.880 he did. But it's it takes a toll, and so 1651 01:19:57.000 --> 01:19:58.760 the very next week for him to peg it and 1652 01:19:58.840 --> 01:20:01.640 let it fly, there's no reason to expect him to 1653 01:20:02.079 --> 01:20:04.359 do very well at all. I don't think. 1654 01:20:05.840 --> 01:20:06.239 Good. 1655 01:20:06.439 --> 01:20:10.680 But anyway, it's unfortunate that a tournament with this history 1656 01:20:11.479 --> 01:20:13.079 doesn't get a good field. 1657 01:20:13.239 --> 01:20:16.159 It all right, Paul, Before I say you lose, We've 1658 01:20:16.199 --> 01:20:20.439 got I think aute and several BYU golfers playing well 1659 01:20:20.479 --> 01:20:22.720 in the NCAA's So I would imagine that will be 1660 01:20:22.760 --> 01:20:27.159 a topic of conversation, maybe the topic du jour, as 1661 01:20:27.199 --> 01:20:28.399 they say in the business. 1662 01:20:28.199 --> 01:20:29.880 What's coming up on the show tomorrow? 1663 01:20:30.520 --> 01:20:34.000 Absolutely we're going to be talking about the NCAA Finals. 1664 01:20:34.319 --> 01:20:37.720 The Cougars made it as a team. They won the regionals, 1665 01:20:37.760 --> 01:20:41.840 first time since regionals were established some ten twelve years 1666 01:20:41.840 --> 01:20:44.880 ago that DYU has actually won a regional, although they've 1667 01:20:44.880 --> 01:20:48.920 come out of regionals into the NCAA Finals many times. 1668 01:20:49.199 --> 01:20:53.560 So they are at La Costa in carlsbat, California. As 1669 01:20:53.600 --> 01:20:58.439 a team. The youths were one stupid shot short of 1670 01:20:58.560 --> 01:21:02.880 qualifying to go on to play in the Nationals. However, 1671 01:21:03.399 --> 01:21:09.199 their horse, Braxton Watts, won the regionals individually, so he 1672 01:21:09.359 --> 01:21:13.239 is there as an individual they have. The morning Wave 1673 01:21:13.399 --> 01:21:18.199 has completed its work down at LaCosta this morning. The 1674 01:21:18.239 --> 01:21:21.239 afternoon wave is just getting going here about an hour ago, 1675 01:21:21.359 --> 01:21:23.880 so we really don't know where scores are coming in yet. 1676 01:21:23.960 --> 01:21:28.600 But there is an interesting sidebar to this. The stroke 1677 01:21:28.640 --> 01:21:33.800 play portion of the tournament will be played today, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 1678 01:21:33.920 --> 01:21:37.720 and Monday. Brigham Youam University doesn't play on Sunday, so 1679 01:21:37.760 --> 01:21:41.159 the NCAA accommodated them by letting them play their round 1680 01:21:41.279 --> 01:21:45.279 three yesterday. They already have their third round score in 1681 01:21:45.319 --> 01:21:48.479 the books. They shot plus one as a team in 1682 01:21:48.560 --> 01:21:52.199 their third round score. We don't yet know what that means, 1683 01:21:52.199 --> 01:21:54.600 whether it's really good or not so good, but we 1684 01:21:54.680 --> 01:21:57.119 do know what it is. They shot plus one for 1685 01:21:57.159 --> 01:22:00.680 their Sunday round and it's done. We're going to see 1686 01:22:00.720 --> 01:22:01.760 how that all plays out. 1687 01:22:02.479 --> 01:22:04.479 Paul, thank you sir for the time. Have a great 1688 01:22:04.560 --> 01:22:06.560 show tomorrow and we will catch up soon. 1689 01:22:07.479 --> 01:22:08.079 Thank you so much. 1690 01:22:08.119 --> 01:22:11.640 Stavi, Paul pugmyer Utah Golf Radio every Saturday morning on 1691 01:22:11.720 --> 01:22:15.119 our radio station. The eyes of the PGA Tour are 1692 01:22:15.359 --> 01:22:18.960 on the Charles Swab Challenge going on right now at 1693 01:22:18.960 --> 01:22:22.119 the Colonial Country Club and Fort Worth, Texas, where some 1694 01:22:22.159 --> 01:22:24.520 guy named Ben Griffin as lead. I don't know many 1695 01:22:24.560 --> 01:22:28.720 of these golfers. Ricky Fowler is in the mix. Scottie 1696 01:22:28.720 --> 01:22:30.880 Scheffler's in the field, he's not playing well. Jordan Speak's 1697 01:22:30.880 --> 01:22:34.039 gonna miss another cut. So a few big names, you 1698 01:22:34.039 --> 01:22:36.920 know what goes well with golf here? How about that 1699 01:22:36.960 --> 01:22:40.760 our good friends at Rooster's Brewing four locations, two in Ogden, 1700 01:22:40.840 --> 01:22:43.159 one when Layton of course, the airport as well. 1701 01:22:43.239 --> 01:22:47.000 Roostersbrewingco. Dot com. Let's welcome in the head brewer. 1702 01:22:47.000 --> 01:22:50.520 He's very important up in Ogden, Colton on a Friday afternoon. 1703 01:22:50.520 --> 01:22:53.520 Happy Friday, Colton. How you doing I'm doing it well. 1704 01:22:53.600 --> 01:22:54.760 How it's yourself good? 1705 01:22:54.800 --> 01:22:56.720 So how'd you get into this? How does one become 1706 01:22:56.760 --> 01:22:59.000 a head brewer? How did you get into this whole thing? 1707 01:23:00.000 --> 01:23:00.640 Oh goodness? 1708 01:23:01.039 --> 01:23:03.119 Kind of a kind of an apprenticeship thing for me. 1709 01:23:03.319 --> 01:23:05.239 I start working at Roosters when I was seventeen years 1710 01:23:05.279 --> 01:23:07.680 old as a busser and kind of worked my way 1711 01:23:07.760 --> 01:23:12.760 up hosting, serving, bartending, and then Physician opened up, and yeah, 1712 01:23:12.880 --> 01:23:14.760 it brought me in and taught me everything I know. 1713 01:23:15.119 --> 01:23:17.520 Very nice. Well, celebrating thirty years this summer. 1714 01:23:17.520 --> 01:23:19.520 It's one of my favorite spots, going it back to 1715 01:23:19.600 --> 01:23:22.159 nineteen ninety five and historic twenty fifth Street where it 1716 01:23:22.199 --> 01:23:26.279 all began, So tell us Colton about the Hibiscus Sour 1717 01:23:26.560 --> 01:23:28.159 or this two bit Amber that. 1718 01:23:28.159 --> 01:23:29.399 You guys are brought in the studio. 1719 01:23:29.439 --> 01:23:30.880 What do we know about these What do we need 1720 01:23:30.920 --> 01:23:32.760 to know about these beers? 1721 01:23:33.039 --> 01:23:35.359 Alrighty, So with the Hibiscus Hour, that's one of our 1722 01:23:35.439 --> 01:23:39.960 newer fays that we've got. It's a nice, pretty level sour. 1723 01:23:40.000 --> 01:23:44.600 It's not overly, it's not it's got some nice, full 1724 01:23:44.680 --> 01:23:46.640 characteristics to it and all that that you get from 1725 01:23:46.640 --> 01:23:50.199 the biscus. It's for the sour heads, and it's a 1726 01:23:50.199 --> 01:23:52.960 good introductory sour for people that I've never really. 1727 01:23:52.720 --> 01:23:53.239 Tried it before. 1728 01:23:53.279 --> 01:23:54.800 And then with our two Bit Amber, that's just kind 1729 01:23:54.840 --> 01:23:57.880 of throwback to one of our first beers that we 1730 01:23:59.239 --> 01:24:01.399 came up with twenty five thirty years ago. 1731 01:24:01.600 --> 01:24:02.880 So very nice. 1732 01:24:03.000 --> 01:24:06.000 Roosters now with two family friendly brew pub locations as 1733 01:24:06.039 --> 01:24:08.640 well as a twenty one plus tap room in Ogden, 1734 01:24:09.239 --> 01:24:11.840 fresh food pairings and throwbacks to the original menu are 1735 01:24:11.840 --> 01:24:14.039 being featured all summer long. Like I said, cheers to 1736 01:24:14.079 --> 01:24:17.079 thirty years. It's heading now into the Memorial weekend. Now 1737 01:24:17.039 --> 01:24:18.840 I'm looking forward to one of our favorite events of 1738 01:24:18.840 --> 01:24:21.880 the year. It's the Ofoam which is an independent bluegrass 1739 01:24:21.920 --> 01:24:25.560 festival in Weaver County. Roosters will be pouring beers all 1740 01:24:25.760 --> 01:24:29.000 ofo am long Friday through Sunday. Made the thirtieth to 1741 01:24:29.079 --> 01:24:33.039 June the First Go Try Anniversary two bit amber Ale, Colton. 1742 01:24:33.079 --> 01:24:34.880 I appreciate your time, man, have a great weekend. We'll 1743 01:24:34.920 --> 01:24:36.720 chat soon as well. 1744 01:24:36.760 --> 01:24:38.920 Thank you all right, good friends over at Rooster's Brewing 1745 01:24:38.920 --> 01:24:41.359 again four locations two and Ogden one in Layton. 1746 01:24:41.399 --> 01:24:42.680 There's one of the airport as well. 1747 01:24:42.760 --> 01:24:47.199 More information can be found at Roostersbrewingco dot com. Team 1748 01:24:47.239 --> 01:24:51.039 Minors two hours tip off Madison Square Garden Game two 1749 01:24:51.319 --> 01:24:55.960 New York Knicks Indiana Pacers. Oh goodness, you know what 1750 01:24:56.039 --> 01:24:58.279 our next guest. I know he's a football guy, but 1751 01:24:58.319 --> 01:24:59.239 he's a New York guy. 1752 01:24:59.640 --> 01:25:01.239 Mike, how are you? 1753 01:25:01.279 --> 01:25:01.479 Pal? 1754 01:25:02.760 --> 01:25:05.039 Well? I was good until you just kind of like 1755 01:25:05.199 --> 01:25:08.319 planted the seed of what happened the other night at MSG. 1756 01:25:08.479 --> 01:25:11.199 I don't I don't need that reminder. So yes, definitely 1757 01:25:11.399 --> 01:25:14.880 a high level of frustration watching the Indiana Pacers win 1758 01:25:14.960 --> 01:25:16.039 that game of the way that they did. 1759 01:25:16.119 --> 01:25:17.399 Dude, I still can't believe it. 1760 01:25:17.479 --> 01:25:19.960 I didn't sleep, I honestly didn't because I was having 1761 01:25:20.439 --> 01:25:24.520 I was oscillating between Tyrese Halliburton and Reggie Miller putting 1762 01:25:24.680 --> 01:25:27.600 their hands around there. Yeah, and then Reggie's shots and 1763 01:25:27.680 --> 01:25:30.960 Mark Jackson shimming and the Davis brothers beating up Charles 1764 01:25:30.960 --> 01:25:35.439 Oakley and look, I mean, as a lifelong fan of 1765 01:25:35.520 --> 01:25:39.000 this team. Two part question, what's it been like to 1766 01:25:39.079 --> 01:25:41.359 at least watch them be relevant again? And just how 1767 01:25:41.399 --> 01:25:44.199 heartbreaking was game one? Three part question? And are you 1768 01:25:44.279 --> 01:25:45.920 confident they can get back into it tonight? 1769 01:25:46.520 --> 01:25:50.399 Definitely confident on winning tonight, like we'll get it done. 1770 01:25:50.720 --> 01:25:53.359 That's the fan of me thinking very very positively, which, 1771 01:25:53.399 --> 01:25:55.640 by the way, and you know this as as a 1772 01:25:55.680 --> 01:25:58.560 sort of a Nick fan. When you when you suffer, 1773 01:25:59.079 --> 01:26:01.239 you know, a quarter centre of some of the struggles, 1774 01:26:01.279 --> 01:26:04.039 it's easy to get negative and quite frankly doubt what 1775 01:26:04.079 --> 01:26:06.079 your team is capable of doing. This does feel like 1776 01:26:06.119 --> 01:26:09.119 a different vibe though, around this particular NIX team. So 1777 01:26:09.159 --> 01:26:12.239 definitely confident from that perspective, feel a lot of the 1778 01:26:12.279 --> 01:26:16.279 pain that you're describing, because honestly, when Haliburton mimicked the 1779 01:26:16.319 --> 01:26:18.840 Reggie thing, almost threw something at the TV, I'm like, 1780 01:26:18.880 --> 01:26:20.760 you got to be kidding me. Should be noted by 1781 01:26:20.800 --> 01:26:23.359 the way Reggie and company. They did lose that series, 1782 01:26:23.399 --> 01:26:26.199 for whatever it's worth, and you know, they obviously went 1783 01:26:26.239 --> 01:26:29.199 back and forth and there were some great mega playoff 1784 01:26:29.239 --> 01:26:32.199 series between the two teams during the course of the nineties. 1785 01:26:32.239 --> 01:26:34.920 But I do feel confident that they can get this 1786 01:26:34.920 --> 01:26:38.000 thing done. I forget what part two was in the question, 1787 01:26:38.119 --> 01:26:40.399 and hopefully I'm covering that a little bit. 1788 01:26:40.640 --> 01:26:44.520 Just as a lifelong fan of his team, since it's 1789 01:26:44.520 --> 01:26:47.119 been twenty five years, how fun has it been to 1790 01:26:47.159 --> 01:26:49.279 at least have them relevant on the scale again? 1791 01:26:50.760 --> 01:26:58.319 Mike? Is he still there? Did you drop? I think so? 1792 01:26:58.439 --> 01:26:59.600 It was a hard hitting question. 1793 01:27:00.399 --> 01:27:02.159 Let's get it. Let's get him back on Mike Yam 1794 01:27:02.359 --> 01:27:05.960 NFL Network. You guys probably know Mike from his time 1795 01:27:06.000 --> 01:27:09.000 at the PAC twelve network. That's when we first were 1796 01:27:09.039 --> 01:27:10.720 able to get to know him. We're interviewed mostly the 1797 01:27:10.800 --> 01:27:13.279 NFL and college football, but Mike is a New Yorker, 1798 01:27:14.159 --> 01:27:16.199 went to school there, and so I wanted to kind 1799 01:27:16.199 --> 01:27:18.560 of kick the tires on what it's been like for 1800 01:27:18.640 --> 01:27:19.680 him to watch this team. 1801 01:27:19.760 --> 01:27:21.279 It is Team minus. 1802 01:27:21.319 --> 01:27:21.560 Well. 1803 01:27:21.680 --> 01:27:24.039 One hour and fifty three minutes from tip off at 1804 01:27:23.880 --> 01:27:27.600 Madison Square Garden, Game two, Nicks Pacers. We also have 1805 01:27:27.640 --> 01:27:31.039 Oilers and Stars tonight. If you're looking for the hockey 1806 01:27:31.039 --> 01:27:33.520 side of things, you can hear Oilers Stars Game two 1807 01:27:33.680 --> 01:27:37.520 on our radio station, ESPN seven hundred. We are your 1808 01:27:37.520 --> 01:27:39.439 home with the Stanley Cup Playoffs here in the market. 1809 01:27:39.439 --> 01:27:41.720 We're also your home of the NBA Playoffs, so you 1810 01:27:41.720 --> 01:27:44.319 can hear the Knicks and the Pacers Game two on 1811 01:27:44.760 --> 01:27:47.800 the fan Take two with Mikey and Mike. We weren't 1812 01:27:47.800 --> 01:27:51.359 able to hear the answer to the question, just curious 1813 01:27:51.399 --> 01:27:53.520 how it's been for you to at least have this 1814 01:27:53.560 --> 01:27:55.520 team relevant on this level again. 1815 01:27:55.920 --> 01:27:57.720 For sure, apologize, I don't know. I'm in a place 1816 01:27:57.720 --> 01:27:59.159 where I actually have full bars, so I don't know 1817 01:27:59.199 --> 01:28:02.560 what happened there. Look, this is great, and I think 1818 01:28:02.560 --> 01:28:06.760 I speak to any sports fan for any franchise who 1819 01:28:06.840 --> 01:28:09.479 has had to do with some struggles and prolonged struggles, 1820 01:28:09.520 --> 01:28:12.600 because this is when your team, when you suffer and 1821 01:28:12.640 --> 01:28:15.439 you're watching these games and you just quite frankly become 1822 01:28:15.479 --> 01:28:18.439 almost apathetic to your own team. That's the worst place 1823 01:28:18.479 --> 01:28:23.159 to be. So when you get this invigorated sense of 1824 01:28:23.680 --> 01:28:26.359 of sort of pride, like you know, I couldn't tell 1825 01:28:26.359 --> 01:28:28.239 you the last time. You know, this season obviously, and 1826 01:28:28.399 --> 01:28:30.640 we've got flashes of it, I think at times last year. 1827 01:28:30.680 --> 01:28:33.239 But watching this team this season, you know, I think 1828 01:28:33.239 --> 01:28:35.159 to myself, Oh my god, like we really have a 1829 01:28:35.239 --> 01:28:37.319 chance here, and that's all you really care about, that's 1830 01:28:37.359 --> 01:28:39.479 all you want. It's just an opportunity to try to 1831 01:28:39.520 --> 01:28:43.279 win a championship. And you know, watching Cat sometimes like 1832 01:28:43.479 --> 01:28:46.000 firesome threes, I do cringe and I think to myself, 1833 01:28:46.039 --> 01:28:49.079 you could be the most dominant player on the floor 1834 01:28:49.159 --> 01:28:51.560 every single night. Please park yourself in the paint and 1835 01:28:51.680 --> 01:28:53.680 just work. And I get it, like you want that's 1836 01:28:53.720 --> 01:28:55.399 part of his game, and when they go down, I 1837 01:28:55.439 --> 01:28:58.039 certainly like it. But there's like I wouldn't even have 1838 01:28:58.119 --> 01:29:01.119 this conversation with you normally, but because they're relevant and 1839 01:29:01.159 --> 01:29:04.000 because you feel like they can win, it's really exciting. 1840 01:29:04.279 --> 01:29:06.560 Are you in New York currently? Are you in the city? 1841 01:29:07.399 --> 01:29:07.720 No? 1842 01:29:07.720 --> 01:29:07.800 No. 1843 01:29:07.920 --> 01:29:11.319 I actually was back in New York two weeks ago, 1844 01:29:11.439 --> 01:29:15.159 and you could feel like this buzz that that's generating. 1845 01:29:15.239 --> 01:29:17.199 And look, I think for anyone who hasn't been to 1846 01:29:17.239 --> 01:29:19.840 New York before, but you might think of it a 1847 01:29:19.840 --> 01:29:23.119 certain way. I'll tell you this. When the Knicks are good, 1848 01:29:23.239 --> 01:29:26.800 and the Knicks are relevant. New York is a basketball town. 1849 01:29:27.000 --> 01:29:28.880 We could talk about the Yankees. I wish we could 1850 01:29:28.920 --> 01:29:31.319 say that about the Mets, but the reality is when 1851 01:29:31.319 --> 01:29:34.960 the Knicks are rolling, that city is absolutely electric. I 1852 01:29:35.039 --> 01:29:37.079 felt it when I was there in the nineties. There 1853 01:29:37.079 --> 01:29:39.640 were some good seasons in the early two thousands where 1854 01:29:39.840 --> 01:29:41.840 you know, they were good, just not quite good enough 1855 01:29:42.039 --> 01:29:45.359 to get over that hump, and that city, it is 1856 01:29:45.520 --> 01:29:46.720 awesome to be a part of it. 1857 01:29:47.079 --> 01:29:49.760 Well said, all right, let's move on to some NFL stuff, Mike, 1858 01:29:49.840 --> 01:29:52.199 And I'm just so glad that I can sleep well 1859 01:29:52.279 --> 01:29:55.239 knowing the next season, grown men will continue to be 1860 01:29:55.279 --> 01:29:58.199 allowed to push you other grown men in the toush like. 1861 01:29:58.319 --> 01:29:59.920 Dude, you know what this is. 1862 01:30:00.439 --> 01:30:03.439 This is a testament to how football starved we are 1863 01:30:03.479 --> 01:30:06.079 in this country. Because I cannot believe how much attention 1864 01:30:06.159 --> 01:30:07.079 this story is received. 1865 01:30:07.119 --> 01:30:09.560 I know, I know, I'm so with you. And by 1866 01:30:09.600 --> 01:30:12.119 the way, they got it right, I know it was close. 1867 01:30:12.199 --> 01:30:12.359 You know. 1868 01:30:12.359 --> 01:30:14.199 A couple of our guys sort of indicated that this 1869 01:30:14.239 --> 01:30:17.479 thing might not actually stay alive, which I always thought 1870 01:30:17.479 --> 01:30:20.720 was ridiculous. This is football. This is a physical sport. 1871 01:30:20.960 --> 01:30:24.000 The true definition is are my guys better than your guys. 1872 01:30:24.119 --> 01:30:26.479 Are we stronger at the line of scrimmage and the 1873 01:30:26.520 --> 01:30:28.760 fact that you just now have to figure out how 1874 01:30:28.760 --> 01:30:31.279 to stop it? Like, why do we penalize teams for 1875 01:30:31.359 --> 01:30:34.239 having success? Like what's the difference between that and the 1876 01:30:34.279 --> 01:30:36.399 traditional I know what the difference is, but the traditional 1877 01:30:36.479 --> 01:30:40.039 quarterback sneak versus the inside handoff. You know, guys just 1878 01:30:40.159 --> 01:30:43.600 moving large bodies out of the way. That's essentially kind 1879 01:30:43.600 --> 01:30:45.720 of what this is. And I don't think the Eagles 1880 01:30:45.720 --> 01:30:47.359 should have been by the way, I'm a Giants fan. 1881 01:30:47.560 --> 01:30:49.840 Don't like saying this, but the Eagles shouldn't be penalized 1882 01:30:50.039 --> 01:30:53.199 for having success running a play that is hard for 1883 01:30:53.239 --> 01:30:55.760 the opposition to go and stop. And defensive players and 1884 01:30:55.760 --> 01:30:57.680 I've talked to them in the NFL they have all 1885 01:30:57.720 --> 01:30:59.560 genuinely said the same thing. I would talked to one 1886 01:30:59.560 --> 01:31:02.680 defensive guy that said it should be not included in 1887 01:31:02.680 --> 01:31:04.600 the game and it should be banned. Every one of 1888 01:31:04.640 --> 01:31:06.920 them says, look, don't love it, but we got to 1889 01:31:06.960 --> 01:31:08.920 be better to stop it, and it's on us to 1890 01:31:08.960 --> 01:31:10.960 go and do that. No one's wanting and crying. You 1891 01:31:11.119 --> 01:31:11.880 just got to be better. 1892 01:31:12.520 --> 01:31:12.920 Okay. 1893 01:31:12.960 --> 01:31:16.439 As a massive fan, of the television show Succession. Nothing 1894 01:31:16.479 --> 01:31:19.359 delights me more than the thought of billionaires arguing with 1895 01:31:19.439 --> 01:31:23.920 each other. Just how just how tense was that meeting? 1896 01:31:24.000 --> 01:31:26.399 Based off reports I've only read, I don't know, but 1897 01:31:26.439 --> 01:31:29.840 what's your understanding of how tense that meeting was behind 1898 01:31:29.880 --> 01:31:30.520 closed doors? 1899 01:31:31.039 --> 01:31:34.119 Yeah, tense is maybe a good way of describing it. 1900 01:31:34.199 --> 01:31:37.119 You look, when you have a subject like this that 1901 01:31:37.239 --> 01:31:40.399 does create as much controversy as it did, which is 1902 01:31:40.479 --> 01:31:43.159 once again surprising, and the team that had the most 1903 01:31:43.159 --> 01:31:45.479 success running it was the team that won the Super Bowl, 1904 01:31:45.880 --> 01:31:48.720 that's going to grab you know, a lot of ears 1905 01:31:48.760 --> 01:31:50.439 of a lot of folks. And I think when you 1906 01:31:50.520 --> 01:31:54.279 saw people grasping at straws talking about health and safety 1907 01:31:54.319 --> 01:31:57.199 with that specific play without any data to support it, 1908 01:31:57.399 --> 01:32:00.319 I think some of these folks in that real we're 1909 01:32:00.359 --> 01:32:03.840 sort of grasping trying to make a compelling argument, And 1910 01:32:03.880 --> 01:32:06.680 the fact that it got twenty two votes, you know, 1911 01:32:06.840 --> 01:32:09.000 is sort of like telling, at least in my mind, 1912 01:32:09.119 --> 01:32:11.479 like this thing was was relatively close. So you know, 1913 01:32:11.520 --> 01:32:12.840 those debates got a little heated. 1914 01:32:13.359 --> 01:32:15.520 Do you think maybe Jeffrey Laurie should have ran his 1915 01:32:15.600 --> 01:32:18.520 speech past his PR team before he decided to drop, 1916 01:32:18.840 --> 01:32:20.920 you know, the things that he dropped to draw the 1917 01:32:20.960 --> 01:32:22.800 analogy of what it felt like to actually have a 1918 01:32:22.840 --> 01:32:23.840 play that successful. 1919 01:32:24.880 --> 01:32:27.000 You can say whatever you want when you go on 1920 01:32:27.079 --> 01:32:29.159 to Super Bowl that fair, you can do what you 1921 01:32:29.239 --> 01:32:34.880 can say, whatevery. Look for me, when when you look 1922 01:32:34.920 --> 01:32:38.039 that rosters, it is solid right, like they're not going anywhere. 1923 01:32:38.039 --> 01:32:40.359 They're going to compete, you know, essentially over the next 1924 01:32:40.399 --> 01:32:42.720 couple of seasons, especially because of Saque, I feel like 1925 01:32:43.000 --> 01:32:45.000 I'm like just down across the board as a Knicks 1926 01:32:45.000 --> 01:32:47.119 fan suffering the loss the other night. Now I'm talking 1927 01:32:47.159 --> 01:32:50.479 about the Giants indirectly because it's the Eagles and this success. 1928 01:32:50.520 --> 01:32:52.880 But when when you're on the top, you can say 1929 01:32:52.880 --> 01:32:54.600 what you want, You can do what you want until 1930 01:32:54.640 --> 01:32:57.000 you get knocked off. And you know, like all that 1931 01:32:57.039 --> 01:32:59.640 conversation about the Kansas City Chiefs being this dominant team, 1932 01:32:59.840 --> 01:33:01.800 like Casey's got some holes, all of a sudden that 1933 01:33:01.840 --> 01:33:04.520 we look at with that roster, the Eagles roster looks 1934 01:33:04.560 --> 01:33:05.960 pretty darn good though right now. 1935 01:33:06.600 --> 01:33:07.039 It does. 1936 01:33:07.199 --> 01:33:09.640 It does, and like you said, they're wearing the ring, 1937 01:33:09.760 --> 01:33:12.479 you know, and when you're on that level, you have 1938 01:33:12.560 --> 01:33:15.399 a certain level of autonomy that you certainly wouldn't otherwise. 1939 01:33:15.439 --> 01:33:16.760 But let me ask you this. 1940 01:33:16.840 --> 01:33:19.640 A number of years ago, at a charity event in 1941 01:33:19.880 --> 01:33:22.479 midtown Manhattan, I had a chance to meet Jim Mersy. 1942 01:33:22.520 --> 01:33:24.479 I certainly did, never got to know him at all. 1943 01:33:25.159 --> 01:33:29.079 And look, I mean speaking of eccentric billionaires and you know, 1944 01:33:30.319 --> 01:33:34.479 very very wealthy people oftentimes just to have a different 1945 01:33:34.520 --> 01:33:36.600 way of approaching life, for better or for worse. And 1946 01:33:36.640 --> 01:33:39.199 I'm not judging one way or the other. A lot 1947 01:33:39.199 --> 01:33:40.920 of people have come out with a lot of very 1948 01:33:41.000 --> 01:33:44.520 kind things. I think Peyton's been great to provide some 1949 01:33:44.600 --> 01:33:48.079 context around what Jim Mersay means to that city and 1950 01:33:48.119 --> 01:33:50.439 that organization. But I don't know if you ever had 1951 01:33:50.479 --> 01:33:51.760 a chance to get to know him a little bit. 1952 01:33:51.840 --> 01:33:53.920 But if so, like what sort of made him tick? 1953 01:33:53.960 --> 01:33:55.520 And what are your thoughts on is passing at the 1954 01:33:55.560 --> 01:33:56.439 age of sixty five? 1955 01:33:57.199 --> 01:34:00.279 Yeah, I mean certainly shocking in the sense of the 1956 01:34:00.319 --> 01:34:02.479 age factor. You know, we had sort of heard these 1957 01:34:02.520 --> 01:34:05.640 reports that things were declining a little bit and Jim 1958 01:34:05.720 --> 01:34:08.439 wasn't in the greatest health. My paths never crossed with him, 1959 01:34:08.439 --> 01:34:11.520 but certainly have heard some first hand accounts from from 1960 01:34:11.600 --> 01:34:14.119 a few of my colleagues at NFL network regarding him 1961 01:34:14.119 --> 01:34:16.199 and sort of the legend around him. You're right, Peyton. 1962 01:34:16.199 --> 01:34:18.239 I've seen a bunch of interviews with him recently where 1963 01:34:18.399 --> 01:34:22.319 Peyton has really painted a really positive picture and the 1964 01:34:22.399 --> 01:34:25.039 impact that he's had. I mean, we saw Jim, you know, 1965 01:34:25.079 --> 01:34:27.680 on Hall of Fame ceremonies around a lot of his players, 1966 01:34:27.720 --> 01:34:30.640 and this endearment that you could see that went both 1967 01:34:30.640 --> 01:34:34.000 ways was certainly special. But I think a unique character 1968 01:34:34.039 --> 01:34:35.560 in a lot of ways, right Like when you look 1969 01:34:35.640 --> 01:34:39.039 at that organization, the directions and the decisions that they've made, 1970 01:34:39.199 --> 01:34:42.199 never shy about being public. Ian Rappaport the other day 1971 01:34:42.199 --> 01:34:45.119 actually was telling a pretty interesting story when you know 1972 01:34:45.239 --> 01:34:48.760 about Dan Snyder and and him being with with Washington 1973 01:34:48.800 --> 01:34:50.600 at that point and obviously all the news that had 1974 01:34:50.640 --> 01:34:53.039 come out. You know, Jim Urseley was the first one 1975 01:34:53.039 --> 01:34:56.239 publicly to say, hey, like this is a fireble you know, 1976 01:34:56.279 --> 01:34:58.279 offense so to speak, right where you can have a 1977 01:34:58.319 --> 01:35:01.279 conversation that maybe he shouldn't have of you know, ownership 1978 01:35:01.439 --> 01:35:04.800 a majority ownership of an NFL franchise, and you know, 1979 01:35:05.439 --> 01:35:07.720 even looking back now and as I'm like telling that 1980 01:35:07.760 --> 01:35:10.920 story that Ian had had shared with with a lot 1981 01:35:10.960 --> 01:35:14.279 of folks on television. I think to myself, like, that's 1982 01:35:14.279 --> 01:35:16.319 a people person. That's like a hey, I'm trying to 1983 01:35:16.319 --> 01:35:18.039 do the right thing type of person, even when it 1984 01:35:18.119 --> 01:35:20.359 might not be popular. Even in a room with other 1985 01:35:20.439 --> 01:35:22.640 NFL owners, we're generally speaking, you might have some of 1986 01:35:22.680 --> 01:35:25.119 those debates, but you know you're gonna there's gonna be 1987 01:35:25.159 --> 01:35:29.479 a cohesiveness around you know, a particular subject like that 1988 01:35:29.520 --> 01:35:31.840 you would imagine, or people aren't going to go public 1989 01:35:31.880 --> 01:35:34.880 with it. Jim did go public with and I think 1990 01:35:34.880 --> 01:35:36.800 that speaks to the character and the type of person 1991 01:35:36.840 --> 01:35:37.279 that he was. 1992 01:35:38.279 --> 01:35:40.520 So ultimately, the Niners had to pay him. They had 1993 01:35:40.520 --> 01:35:43.159 to pay brock perty and that's just the deal. And 1994 01:35:43.239 --> 01:35:47.159 so we can haggle over the number who he makes 1995 01:35:47.199 --> 01:35:50.199 more than, who he makes less than. We can talk 1996 01:35:50.239 --> 01:35:52.960 about the complicated dynamic of being able to build a 1997 01:35:53.000 --> 01:35:55.760 really good team when your quarterback is not his rookie deal. 1998 01:35:55.800 --> 01:35:59.439 And Seattle knows that with Russell Wilson, and then a 1999 01:35:59.439 --> 01:36:01.319 lot of teams have learned that lesson. And so we 2000 01:36:01.359 --> 01:36:03.560 have a lot of Niners fans around here, and certainly 2001 01:36:04.119 --> 01:36:06.239 the roster had to be stripped down a little bit 2002 01:36:06.319 --> 01:36:08.359 to pay their starting quarterback. But like I said, I 2003 01:36:08.399 --> 01:36:10.279 don't know what other course of action they had. 2004 01:36:10.159 --> 01:36:13.279 Mike don't have enough. There is no other course of action. 2005 01:36:13.359 --> 01:36:17.239 And you look at, you know, the percentages around the 2006 01:36:17.359 --> 01:36:21.199 NFL that quarterbacks are occupying on the salary cap. This 2007 01:36:21.319 --> 01:36:24.319 deal's not that bad. I think it's like fourteen percent, 2008 01:36:25.039 --> 01:36:26.880 you know, spensaf shitchy at text when this thing is done. 2009 01:36:26.920 --> 01:36:28.479 I'll get to the exact number, but I think it's 2010 01:36:28.520 --> 01:36:31.399 in that range. And to me, that's actually what makes 2011 01:36:31.399 --> 01:36:33.920 this feel pretty good. I think it's gaudy when you 2012 01:36:33.920 --> 01:36:36.319 look at the numbers over fifty you know, million dollars 2013 01:36:36.359 --> 01:36:38.039 a year. I think I said this to you a 2014 01:36:38.079 --> 01:36:39.920 couple of weeks ago. I you know, sometimes because of 2015 01:36:40.000 --> 01:36:41.399 my time in the Bay Area, I'll hop on some 2016 01:36:41.439 --> 01:36:44.199 of those radio stations there, and I had said, like, 2017 01:36:44.560 --> 01:36:46.000 you know, I guess it was like a little bit 2018 01:36:46.039 --> 01:36:48.000 of noteworthy because people made a thing out of it. 2019 01:36:47.880 --> 01:36:49.600 But it was like, yeah, it's gonna get fifty million dollars, 2020 01:36:49.880 --> 01:36:51.920 that's the going rate. Like that wasn't breaking news. That 2021 01:36:51.960 --> 01:36:55.359 shouldn't have been shocking to anyone. But you know, you 2022 01:36:55.399 --> 01:36:57.239 don't have much of a choice. You can't win in 2023 01:36:57.279 --> 01:37:01.439 this league without that position being occupied in a meaningful way. 2024 01:37:01.479 --> 01:37:04.880 So they absolutely needed him to sign, and they needed 2025 01:37:04.880 --> 01:37:06.760 to get that deal done and structure in a way 2026 01:37:06.760 --> 01:37:09.399 where they can still make potentially some other moves. 2027 01:37:09.960 --> 01:37:12.560 So I will ask you about the Steelers Aaron Rodgers 2028 01:37:12.600 --> 01:37:15.600 stuff because it's topical. I don't really care to talk 2029 01:37:15.720 --> 01:37:18.159 much about Aaron on the show as a jet fan 2030 01:37:18.239 --> 01:37:22.359 that saw that thing really falling flat on its face 2031 01:37:22.399 --> 01:37:25.199 far before Aaron was hurt, quite frankly. But anyway, the 2032 01:37:25.239 --> 01:37:28.079 Steelers have to do something, and the reports are they're still 2033 01:37:28.119 --> 01:37:30.960 waiting and are willing to wait for a little bit 2034 01:37:31.000 --> 01:37:33.239 while Aaron does whatever the hell Aaron's doing. 2035 01:37:33.960 --> 01:37:34.920 How do you think this ends? 2036 01:37:36.319 --> 01:37:39.000 I still think Aaron Rodgers is one of those those 2037 01:37:39.159 --> 01:37:41.319 names that is always going to grab a ton of attention, 2038 01:37:41.680 --> 01:37:43.680 and it's going to be a story that we're going 2039 01:37:43.760 --> 01:37:45.640 to continue to track. I do think we're going to 2040 01:37:45.680 --> 01:37:47.840 see him on an NFL football field. I still think 2041 01:37:47.880 --> 01:37:49.960 it's going to be the Pittsburgh Steelers. I think they 2042 01:37:50.560 --> 01:37:54.560 drafted accordingly based off of the premise that he was 2043 01:37:54.600 --> 01:37:57.000 going to be there. I think this thing is going 2044 01:37:57.079 --> 01:37:59.920 to go and be taken down to the wire here. 2045 01:38:00.039 --> 01:38:03.479 I don't think Aaron's got any sort of need or 2046 01:38:03.520 --> 01:38:07.159 desire to go through another arduous camp That said, I 2047 01:38:07.760 --> 01:38:11.000 think when you go down this path like the Jets did, 2048 01:38:11.479 --> 01:38:14.079 it becomes a little bit of a problem, right, Like 2049 01:38:14.119 --> 01:38:16.560 the circus that's going to follow is significant. I know 2050 01:38:16.640 --> 01:38:18.359 you know all about this. You and I have talked 2051 01:38:18.359 --> 01:38:20.279 about the Jets a ton. I think the fact that 2052 01:38:20.319 --> 01:38:22.079 they've had to go down the path that they did 2053 01:38:22.920 --> 01:38:25.359 is telling. I think there's something still left in the 2054 01:38:25.399 --> 01:38:28.039 tank for Aaron, if I'm being totally honest, I think 2055 01:38:28.079 --> 01:38:30.720 you saw some flashes of that in the second half 2056 01:38:30.760 --> 01:38:32.960 of the season. I think it's really hard to come 2057 01:38:33.000 --> 01:38:35.680 off an Achilles injury, especially at that age, and be 2058 01:38:35.760 --> 01:38:38.560 really effective. But I actually thought there were some good 2059 01:38:38.560 --> 01:38:40.640 stuff that we saw from Aaron Rodgers in the second 2060 01:38:40.680 --> 01:38:44.239 half of the season. So cautiously optimistic that this is 2061 01:38:44.279 --> 01:38:47.039 a guy that might be able to give this team 2062 01:38:47.640 --> 01:38:50.319 enough of a nudge to sort of get over the hunt, 2063 01:38:50.359 --> 01:38:52.920 because there's some fundamental issues right now with that team. 2064 01:38:53.199 --> 01:38:56.319 They're good, they're not great, and the worst position to 2065 01:38:56.359 --> 01:38:58.199 be in the NFL is a good team because you're 2066 01:38:58.239 --> 01:39:00.640 not going to pick that far up and you're just, 2067 01:39:00.760 --> 01:39:02.560 you know, do you have a real chance of winning 2068 01:39:02.560 --> 01:39:04.479 a Super Bowl? And that's really what it comes down to. 2069 01:39:04.800 --> 01:39:06.720 I want to ask you a storyline surrounding one of 2070 01:39:06.760 --> 01:39:09.520 our old PAC twelve pals. Of course, Caleb Williams in 2071 01:39:09.560 --> 01:39:14.760 this book that Seth Wickersham has wrote, and Seth is a. 2072 01:39:14.119 --> 01:39:15.600 Brilliant rider, does a good job. 2073 01:39:15.680 --> 01:39:18.760 And you know, Mike, you remember there were these rumors 2074 01:39:18.800 --> 01:39:21.039 out there that no one could really coroborate, that he 2075 01:39:21.079 --> 01:39:23.199 didn't want to go to Chicago and his father didn't 2076 01:39:23.199 --> 01:39:25.680 want him to play for the Bears. And then every 2077 01:39:25.680 --> 01:39:27.920 time Caleb was asked about it publicly, of course you 2078 01:39:28.000 --> 01:39:29.479 say the thing that you have to say to make 2079 01:39:29.520 --> 01:39:32.520 sure you're still the number one overall pick. But these 2080 01:39:32.560 --> 01:39:36.119 details that Caleb and his father attempted to circumvent the 2081 01:39:36.199 --> 01:39:39.239 draft process to maybe land him anywhere other than Chicago 2082 01:39:39.960 --> 01:39:42.279 certainly a rough look for a player that has to 2083 01:39:42.279 --> 01:39:44.479 go back and try to lead this locker room once again? 2084 01:39:44.520 --> 01:39:47.560 What do you make of this story surrounding Caleb Williams? 2085 01:39:47.960 --> 01:39:50.159 So, I think there's a lot of layers here. Number One, 2086 01:39:50.399 --> 01:39:52.800 you can make the argument that who would want to 2087 01:39:52.800 --> 01:39:55.000 play in Chicago as a quarterback. So look at the 2088 01:39:55.039 --> 01:39:58.039 history of that organization over the last twenty five years 2089 01:39:58.159 --> 01:40:01.000 or so, haven't had success there. Their head coach at 2090 01:40:01.000 --> 01:40:04.399 the time a defensive minded guy who quite frankly didn't 2091 01:40:04.439 --> 01:40:07.399 ever really seem to figure it out at that position 2092 01:40:07.439 --> 01:40:10.600 on the offensive side. So I can certainly understand the 2093 01:40:10.640 --> 01:40:13.840 need and the desire not to want to play there, 2094 01:40:14.399 --> 01:40:17.760 just off of face value and that situation. Playing also 2095 01:40:17.800 --> 01:40:20.399 in Chicago. And actually one of my good buddies, Curtis Conway, 2096 01:40:20.439 --> 01:40:22.680 who went to USC you just like Caleb, and then 2097 01:40:22.760 --> 01:40:26.680 ended up playing you know, at Chicago. It was tough 2098 01:40:26.720 --> 01:40:28.479 for him, Like he had told me a little bit 2099 01:40:28.520 --> 01:40:30.560 about what that experience is like, playing in the cold 2100 01:40:30.800 --> 01:40:33.840 and trying to to kind of deal with those conditions 2101 01:40:33.880 --> 01:40:35.840 not always the easiest thing. So I'm sure they're a 2102 01:40:35.920 --> 01:40:38.159 little bit of a factor there. And then here's the 2103 01:40:38.199 --> 01:40:42.560 third layer. Tell me in recent history, where we've talked 2104 01:40:42.560 --> 01:40:45.399 about a high level quarterback that's had this much attention, 2105 01:40:45.560 --> 01:40:48.640 this much buzz, that didn't have some opinions in terms 2106 01:40:48.640 --> 01:40:50.760 of his family and where they wanted him to go. 2107 01:40:51.439 --> 01:40:53.279 You know, I mentioned, you know, being a Giants fan. 2108 01:40:53.880 --> 01:40:55.800 I don't think it's the same sort of situation there 2109 01:40:55.800 --> 01:40:58.159 with Eli Manning. But you know, quite frankly, like we 2110 01:40:58.239 --> 01:41:00.319 knew what those reports were John Elway, you know, go 2111 01:41:00.560 --> 01:41:03.119 even further back in time, like this is nothing new 2112 01:41:03.159 --> 01:41:05.159 that we've seen in the NFL. But I do think 2113 01:41:05.199 --> 01:41:06.920 it's a little bit of a harder look because of 2114 01:41:06.920 --> 01:41:09.840 the current circumstances. But I do think Caleb can say, 2115 01:41:09.960 --> 01:41:13.680 or you know, some some through another representative, it can 2116 01:41:13.760 --> 01:41:15.720 sort of spin this and just say, look look at 2117 01:41:15.720 --> 01:41:17.479 what this offense was, Like, this was going to be 2118 01:41:17.479 --> 01:41:19.960 a tough sell to put this guy under the gun. 2119 01:41:20.359 --> 01:41:22.159 And by the way, like you even saw that those 2120 01:41:22.199 --> 01:41:24.640 first few weeks of the season in his rookie campaign, 2121 01:41:24.680 --> 01:41:27.319 there were some real struggles and you start thinking, like, schematically, 2122 01:41:27.520 --> 01:41:29.800 does this make sense? Should we, you know, be running 2123 01:41:29.800 --> 01:41:32.840 the type of offense they got real run heavy after 2124 01:41:32.920 --> 01:41:35.399 the firing of the refluse, And I think that actually helped, 2125 01:41:35.479 --> 01:41:37.359 you know, Caleb sort of settle down a little bit. 2126 01:41:37.840 --> 01:41:40.039 Yeah, you reference the Giants just out of curiosity. 2127 01:41:40.079 --> 01:41:42.039 Of course, they bring in Russell Wilson and they have 2128 01:41:42.159 --> 01:41:44.920 Jamis as the backup, but we didn't have It was 2129 01:41:44.960 --> 01:41:47.880 kind of an outlier NFL draft cycle around here. Not 2130 01:41:48.000 --> 01:41:52.039 a lot of Utes or Cougar's you know, drafted very 2131 01:41:52.239 --> 01:41:54.560 high and hopefully a lot of them stick on rosters, 2132 01:41:54.560 --> 01:41:57.239 the ones that were drafted late. But Jackson Dark played 2133 01:41:57.239 --> 01:41:59.560 his high school ball about thirty miles south of the 2134 01:41:59.560 --> 01:42:02.319 are I want or what early returns are with Jackson 2135 01:42:02.399 --> 01:42:05.199 and you know, the early rookie mini camps and such. 2136 01:42:05.960 --> 01:42:09.239 Yeah, the moxie. I think that's still like the biggest message. 2137 01:42:09.239 --> 01:42:11.359 I have some friends that are still in that area, 2138 01:42:11.479 --> 01:42:14.039 in the New York area, around that organization, and they'll 2139 01:42:14.079 --> 01:42:16.039 tell you they've told me, and they would tell you 2140 01:42:16.079 --> 01:42:18.600 the same thing. And that's this premise of the direction 2141 01:42:18.720 --> 01:42:21.039 and the reason why they went with Jackson Dark. It 2142 01:42:21.159 --> 01:42:22.800 was one of the things that you know, when I 2143 01:42:22.840 --> 01:42:24.640 was working for the CW this past year, we had 2144 01:42:24.720 --> 01:42:28.439 ACC football and we obviously had the Pac twelve, but 2145 01:42:28.600 --> 01:42:31.119 Ole Miss was up on our screen, you know a 2146 01:42:31.159 --> 01:42:33.399 few times, and it's because it's Jackson and I knew 2147 01:42:33.399 --> 01:42:35.079 there was a petition for him to be you know, 2148 01:42:35.199 --> 01:42:37.239 first round pick, and the fact that he was at 2149 01:42:37.319 --> 01:42:39.479 SC at one point, you know, I was always kind 2150 01:42:39.479 --> 01:42:41.720 of keep a close eye on sort of him and 2151 01:42:41.760 --> 01:42:44.239 those offenses because they were they were sort of dealing, 2152 01:42:44.279 --> 01:42:46.319 and the more I watched them, the more I said, 2153 01:42:46.319 --> 01:42:49.239 there's a little bit of I know, I don't want 2154 01:42:49.239 --> 01:42:51.000 to use a foul word, but like he's got a 2155 01:42:51.000 --> 01:42:54.079 little something in him there, and you know, knowing day 2156 01:42:54.119 --> 01:42:56.359 Ball and the type of offense that he wants to 2157 01:42:56.399 --> 01:42:59.039 run in the personnel that he needs there and having 2158 01:42:59.159 --> 01:43:02.479 that type of here and that dynamic in New York, 2159 01:43:02.560 --> 01:43:05.840 Like that's meaningful. I always say this, and you know 2160 01:43:05.920 --> 01:43:07.960 this because of your time in that city, and you've 2161 01:43:08.039 --> 01:43:09.600 sort of asked me about sort of the vibe in 2162 01:43:09.640 --> 01:43:12.439 New York. It is a different place and there is 2163 01:43:12.479 --> 01:43:14.800 a different personality that you need to go and have, 2164 01:43:14.880 --> 01:43:17.640 And I think like Cam'scattaboo is like a really good example. 2165 01:43:17.720 --> 01:43:21.479 Like I think Cam is going to absolutely crush it 2166 01:43:21.640 --> 01:43:24.439 in New York, Like he's got that type of personality. 2167 01:43:24.680 --> 01:43:27.079 And I think Jackson Dart fits that mold as well. 2168 01:43:27.479 --> 01:43:30.119 Speaking of quarterbacks, Mike, since you and I last spoke, 2169 01:43:30.279 --> 01:43:33.199 and I was reminded our listeners earlier that we got 2170 01:43:33.199 --> 01:43:35.439 to know you and a lot of people around here 2171 01:43:35.479 --> 01:43:37.680 remember you from your time with the PAC twelve network, 2172 01:43:37.680 --> 01:43:40.439 and you got to know Cameron Rising pretty well. And 2173 01:43:41.159 --> 01:43:43.439 we've been waiting, Yeah, we've been waiting out here for 2174 01:43:43.479 --> 01:43:45.720 a word about what he would do with his future. 2175 01:43:45.840 --> 01:43:49.239 I fully anticipated and would certainly have had no problem 2176 01:43:49.239 --> 01:43:52.039 with it at all, Cameron finding a place to play 2177 01:43:52.039 --> 01:43:54.000 for another year and make a couple hundred k I mean, 2178 01:43:54.039 --> 01:43:55.960 put the real world off as long as you want, 2179 01:43:56.000 --> 01:43:59.720 young man. But we now know that unfortunately he asked 2180 01:43:59.760 --> 01:44:03.279 him retire. He'll take over his the offensive coordinator at 2181 01:44:03.319 --> 01:44:06.960 his alma mater in California. As we now officially know 2182 01:44:07.119 --> 01:44:09.640 what his future is, how should Cameron rise and be 2183 01:44:09.720 --> 01:44:11.239 remembered here in Salt Lake City. 2184 01:44:12.039 --> 01:44:15.159 I think a winner, a leader, a guy that didn't 2185 01:44:15.199 --> 01:44:18.520 necessarily give up at all. And I think that's been 2186 01:44:18.600 --> 01:44:22.479 one of the key ingredients to that story. And I 2187 01:44:22.520 --> 01:44:25.319 think it speaks to the type of player and personality 2188 01:44:25.760 --> 01:44:28.079 and the profile of the guy that goes and plays 2189 01:44:28.199 --> 01:44:31.640 on that campus. For Kyle Whittingham, I know, and you 2190 01:44:31.840 --> 01:44:34.560 probably would agree with this, But the more I watched him, 2191 01:44:34.560 --> 01:44:37.000 the more impressed I was. The more you talk to 2192 01:44:37.039 --> 01:44:40.239 people around that team about him inside that locker room, 2193 01:44:40.359 --> 01:44:42.920 what he sort of meant to that to that ball club, 2194 01:44:43.000 --> 01:44:45.000 and really, you know, in a lot of ways sort 2195 01:44:45.000 --> 01:44:47.960 of helping spearhead and settle down an offense that's been 2196 01:44:48.039 --> 01:44:50.079 much aligned. I mean when I was in the league 2197 01:44:50.520 --> 01:44:53.159 covering the thing every single day, like we always knew 2198 01:44:53.159 --> 01:44:54.800 it what that defense was going to look like, We 2199 01:44:54.880 --> 01:44:56.640 knew that was going to lead them, We knew that 2200 01:44:56.680 --> 01:44:58.520 inside the trenches they were going to be good. But look, 2201 01:44:58.520 --> 01:45:01.000 it was a revolving door at the offense sub coordinator spot, 2202 01:45:01.039 --> 01:45:03.399 and it always felt like, you know, year after year 2203 01:45:03.520 --> 01:45:06.600 we were talking about a significant injury to their quarterback 2204 01:45:06.720 --> 01:45:09.239 and that was never an easy thing to go and 2205 01:45:09.279 --> 01:45:11.359 watch when you felt like the expectation was high. But 2206 01:45:11.720 --> 01:45:13.760 I think Camp should only be remembered for for all 2207 01:45:13.800 --> 01:45:15.680 the positive that he did on the football field. 2208 01:45:15.880 --> 01:45:18.279 All right back, before I say you lose another NFL 2209 01:45:18.680 --> 01:45:22.960 offseason storyline that I've just I'll just ask you. So 2210 01:45:23.159 --> 01:45:26.279 it's official that NFL players are going to be allowed 2211 01:45:26.279 --> 01:45:29.439 to play flag football in the Olympics in twenty. 2212 01:45:29.039 --> 01:45:31.880 Twenty eight, who are we playing against? 2213 01:45:32.239 --> 01:45:36.800 Like, I'm just confused, world, this football is an innately 2214 01:45:36.920 --> 01:45:39.720 American sport. It feels like we should play against each other, 2215 01:45:39.800 --> 01:45:43.720 Like who out there can feel the team to compete 2216 01:45:43.880 --> 01:45:46.600 with our NFL players, or is this ninety two dream 2217 01:45:46.680 --> 01:45:49.239 team where we're going to be diagnola by forty every 2218 01:45:49.279 --> 01:45:49.840 single game? 2219 01:45:51.239 --> 01:45:54.520 So God, we could do a whole show on this. 2220 01:45:54.760 --> 01:45:56.920 And I love where you're going because I actually haven't 2221 01:45:56.960 --> 01:45:59.199 been asked this question before. Here's what I can tell you. 2222 01:45:59.239 --> 01:46:04.279 The United States world rankings teams like Germany, Italy. If 2223 01:46:04.319 --> 01:46:07.840 I'm not mistaken, Australia's got a pretty decent team as well. 2224 01:46:08.479 --> 01:46:10.479 There are rankings. You can google them and you can 2225 01:46:10.520 --> 01:46:14.039 see like who's done well? Right? The US team by 2226 01:46:14.119 --> 01:46:19.199 a mile is dominating these rankings. I've heard the analogies 2227 01:46:19.239 --> 01:46:21.359 with the dream team. You're a basketball guy, I'm a 2228 01:46:21.359 --> 01:46:24.880 basketball guy. We both know the dynamics around the reason 2229 01:46:24.880 --> 01:46:28.039 why that dream team came together and this. These are 2230 01:46:28.039 --> 01:46:32.239 two different different paths for two different sports. I don't 2231 01:46:32.279 --> 01:46:35.760 think it's a four gone conclusion and I might take 2232 01:46:35.800 --> 01:46:37.800 some serious heat for this. I don't think it's a 2233 01:46:37.840 --> 01:46:41.279 fore gone conclusion that some of the NFL players are 2234 01:46:41.359 --> 01:46:43.199 not as good as some of the flag football players. 2235 01:46:43.479 --> 01:46:46.119 It is a different sport, it is played differently, It 2236 01:46:46.199 --> 01:46:49.359 is not the same. I would tell you if there 2237 01:46:49.399 --> 01:46:51.479 was a draft and who the guys I'm taking everyone 2238 01:46:51.560 --> 01:46:54.199 talks about Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. This thing is three 2239 01:46:54.319 --> 01:46:57.239 seasons away, three football seasons away. Those dudes are going 2240 01:46:57.279 --> 01:46:59.279 to be a little bit older. This is not what 2241 01:46:59.319 --> 01:47:01.760 we see in the bowl games. Like these guys legitimately 2242 01:47:01.760 --> 01:47:04.439 get after it. I would be concerned about soft tissue injuries. 2243 01:47:05.119 --> 01:47:07.000 There's no pads. I think you're going to see two 2244 01:47:07.039 --> 01:47:11.159 way players. Like to me, you know, Tarik Woolan is 2245 01:47:11.199 --> 01:47:12.680 a guy. The other day someone asked me, like, Hey, 2246 01:47:12.960 --> 01:47:15.039 who's someone you'd want. I want a speed guy like Wolan, 2247 01:47:15.199 --> 01:47:17.840 Who's who's got experience as a wide receiver, place corner now, 2248 01:47:17.880 --> 01:47:20.520 but he transitioned. Travis Hunter certainly comes to mind. He 2249 01:47:20.520 --> 01:47:23.479 wants these freak athletes. But I do think there's a 2250 01:47:23.520 --> 01:47:27.079 world where it's they're going to dominate. Whether it's NFL 2251 01:47:27.079 --> 01:47:30.239 players or not, it's going to dominate. But I do 2252 01:47:30.439 --> 01:47:34.079 think that the guys that have helped the United States 2253 01:47:34.239 --> 01:47:36.319 rise up the rankings and help lead a charge to 2254 01:47:36.359 --> 01:47:39.800 make this legitimately Olympic sport do deserve an opportunity to 2255 01:47:39.840 --> 01:47:42.039 grab one of those roster spots. It would be very 2256 01:47:42.079 --> 01:47:44.680 meaningful for them because they are the ones that prefer 2257 01:47:44.680 --> 01:47:46.960 to put this sport on the map, all. 2258 01:47:46.920 --> 01:47:48.279 Right, Mike, I appreciate the time. 2259 01:47:48.279 --> 01:47:50.800 We're about ninety minutes away, so let's see if we 2260 01:47:50.800 --> 01:47:53.840 can get it done tonight, Game two and Man, I 2261 01:47:53.880 --> 01:47:55.479 try to have hope as a Nick fan, but as 2262 01:47:55.479 --> 01:47:56.159 you know, it's tough. 2263 01:47:56.199 --> 01:47:58.359 So I appreciate your time. Man, have a great long weekend. 2264 01:47:58.399 --> 01:48:01.319 Okay, you're the best. Man. Always appreciate the invite, all. 2265 01:48:01.279 --> 01:48:03.800 Right, Mike Yam PAC twelve network back in the day 2266 01:48:04.079 --> 01:48:06.159 now with our friends at the NFL Network. He is 2267 01:48:06.159 --> 01:48:09.640 on Twitter at Mike Underscore Yam is where you find him. 2268 01:48:09.680 --> 01:48:10.960 All right, listen up, join me. 2269 01:48:11.279 --> 01:48:11.720 That's right. 2270 01:48:11.800 --> 01:48:13.880 This guy over here who's got two thumbs and is 2271 01:48:13.880 --> 01:48:15.960 going to be at the Kyle van Neigolf Tournament. That's 2272 01:48:16.039 --> 01:48:19.720 me Monday, June third, for the twenty twenty five Kyle 2273 01:48:19.840 --> 01:48:22.520 van Neudcharity Golf Challenge at the Black Desert Resort in 2274 01:48:22.600 --> 01:48:24.119 scenic Saint George. 2275 01:48:24.199 --> 01:48:26.000 All the proceedings from this tournament. 2276 01:48:25.680 --> 01:48:28.159 Go to benefit the Van Neid Valor Foundation that helps 2277 01:48:28.159 --> 01:48:31.800 foster kids and the Adoption Foundations. Kyle was adopted as 2278 01:48:31.800 --> 01:48:33.960 an infant, so this cause is very meaningful to him 2279 01:48:33.960 --> 01:48:37.000 and his family. Starts on Sunday, June the twenty fifth, 2280 01:48:37.039 --> 01:48:40.319 with a welcome cocktail party at seven o'clock. Then on 2281 01:48:40.399 --> 01:48:42.560 Monday we'll get going with check in and breakfast at 2282 01:48:42.560 --> 01:48:45.880 Club seventy three. The welcomes at eight forty five, shotguns 2283 01:48:45.880 --> 01:48:48.560 start at nine o'clock, the awards are at two point thirty, 2284 01:48:49.000 --> 01:48:51.239 and lunch has served on the course. For more information, 2285 01:48:51.359 --> 01:48:54.199 go to van Neid Golf twenty twenty five dot givesmart 2286 01:48:54.199 --> 01:48:57.079 dot com. Andy Larsen will join us coming up next. 2287 01:48:57.079 --> 01:48:59.439 But let's welcome in Ryan from the Dish professionals. Give 2288 01:48:59.479 --> 01:49:02.000 him a call at eight oh one four to two four. 2289 01:49:02.039 --> 01:49:03.479 Dish shave a bunch of money on a bunch of 2290 01:49:03.520 --> 01:49:04.479 different things. What's going on? 2291 01:49:04.600 --> 01:49:04.840 Ryan? 2292 01:49:05.760 --> 01:49:09.840 This is a fantastic opportunity, guys. 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Take the upgrade, 2303 01:49:44.840 --> 01:49:48.439 get the free programming, Get the biggest, fastest TVR out there, 2304 01:49:48.840 --> 01:49:52.279 and we'll get you. Also set you up with internet too. 2305 01:49:52.600 --> 01:49:55.720 If a half a dozen different internet providers available, you 2306 01:49:55.840 --> 01:49:59.239 name it, we got it. We can help you lower 2307 01:49:59.279 --> 01:50:03.159 your bill with with and the TV, saving you thousands. 2308 01:50:03.279 --> 01:50:04.920 It's up to you. Do you want to put money 2309 01:50:04.920 --> 01:50:07.279 back in your pocket? Calls today four to four dish 2310 01:50:07.359 --> 01:50:10.239 eight oh one four two four dish. 2311 01:50:10.640 --> 01:50:12.840 About an hour and twenty five minutes away. 2312 01:50:12.640 --> 01:50:15.479 From tip off at Madison Square Garden tonight Game two 2313 01:50:15.560 --> 01:50:19.840 Knicks Pacers after a historic collapse by the New York 2314 01:50:19.920 --> 01:50:22.840 Knicks in Game one. We also have playoff hockey tonight 2315 01:50:22.960 --> 01:50:26.479 for the Dallas Edmonton game. Keep it right here on 2316 01:50:26.720 --> 01:50:30.079 ESPN seven hundred if you're looking for the basketball on 2317 01:50:30.119 --> 01:50:33.600 the Eastern Conference final side. Checkout the fan for Game 2318 01:50:33.640 --> 01:50:39.039 two of Knicks Pacers. Andy Larson, Salt Lake Tribune, Happy Friday, Andy, 2319 01:50:39.079 --> 01:50:39.560 how are we doing? 2320 01:50:40.119 --> 01:50:40.640 I'm good man? 2321 01:50:40.680 --> 01:50:42.960 How are you I'm doing well. I'm doing well. 2322 01:50:43.079 --> 01:50:46.239 How did you digest that horrific collapse by the Knicks 2323 01:50:46.239 --> 01:50:48.000 and the comeback by the Pacers Game one? 2324 01:50:48.800 --> 01:50:51.640 I mean it was fun, right, Like, I mean, I 2325 01:50:52.000 --> 01:50:53.920 think that's one of the great things about basketball is 2326 01:50:53.920 --> 01:50:56.720 that like that can happen that like an aaron Ne 2327 01:50:56.840 --> 01:50:59.399 Smith and all of a sudden hit six threes and 2328 01:51:00.520 --> 01:51:05.039 you're right back in it. And I love Halburton, you know, 2329 01:51:05.520 --> 01:51:08.720 with the nods Reggie Miller. H I love that, you know, 2330 01:51:09.239 --> 01:51:12.159 Reggie shot when he did the choking symbol also was 2331 01:51:12.239 --> 01:51:16.159 tied to tie the game, and so I thought it 2332 01:51:16.239 --> 01:51:20.279 was a brilliant homage. And Okay, I have to admit 2333 01:51:20.359 --> 01:51:23.239 I'm you know, I suspect we are on different sides 2334 01:51:23.279 --> 01:51:25.119 of this, but I am rooting for the Pacers a 2335 01:51:25.119 --> 01:51:28.359 little bit because their team that's built in a really 2336 01:51:28.399 --> 01:51:32.600 interesting way, like has just nailed trades with their with 2337 01:51:32.760 --> 01:51:37.279 Pascalsiokoman obviously Haliburton, and then drafted really well around him 2338 01:51:37.279 --> 01:51:41.079 with you know, picks six through thirty. Really like it's 2339 01:51:41.079 --> 01:51:43.159 it's kind of a cool story that's just gone so 2340 01:51:43.359 --> 01:51:46.800 under the radar, and you know, they have every good 2341 01:51:46.800 --> 01:51:48.279 of a chance as they you know, it's the next 2342 01:51:48.319 --> 01:51:50.359 two and maybe better to make it to the NBA Finals. 2343 01:51:50.359 --> 01:51:53.199 Now, does it matter who makes it out of the 2344 01:51:53.199 --> 01:51:57.039 East when Oklahoma City appears to have a level that 2345 01:51:57.159 --> 01:52:00.600 nobody else has and maybe Boston has it when they're healthy, 2346 01:52:00.640 --> 01:52:03.439 but they're out of course, Tatum hurt and and look, 2347 01:52:03.600 --> 01:52:05.720 you know this, You've been watching them all year and 2348 01:52:05.800 --> 01:52:08.279 the net is is historic. It's not like they just 2349 01:52:08.439 --> 01:52:11.680 found this level this week. But it's just it's I 2350 01:52:11.720 --> 01:52:14.880 feel the same way Andy about Oklahoma City now that 2351 01:52:14.920 --> 01:52:17.000 I felt about Boston this time last year, and I 2352 01:52:17.039 --> 01:52:19.079 just feel like they have a level that nobody else does. 2353 01:52:20.079 --> 01:52:22.960 Yeah, I agree with that one hundred percent. I would 2354 01:52:23.000 --> 01:52:25.880 say the only thing is, you know, you you want 2355 01:52:25.920 --> 01:52:27.880 to get to the NBA Finals because you never know 2356 01:52:27.920 --> 01:52:31.039 what's going to happen healthwiz, right, Like, if we're honest, 2357 01:52:31.439 --> 01:52:34.640 the Toronto Raptors, the kawit Toronto Raptors of twenty nineteen 2358 01:52:34.680 --> 01:52:37.159 weren't favored to win the NBA Finals in but then 2359 01:52:37.520 --> 01:52:39.399 all of a sudden, Clay goes down and then Kevin 2360 01:52:39.479 --> 01:52:43.239 Durant tears his achilles and then it's Stephan versus. You know, 2361 01:52:43.359 --> 01:52:46.119 a pretty good solid Raptors team, right, Like, so if 2362 01:52:47.079 --> 01:52:49.760 Shay goes down for whatever reason in the NBA Finals 2363 01:52:49.760 --> 01:52:51.800 are between now and then, like, you know what, I 2364 01:52:51.800 --> 01:52:54.920 don't think that's likely, but in that five percent chance, 2365 01:52:55.039 --> 01:52:57.720 then yeah, I think then you know, the Pacers have 2366 01:52:57.760 --> 01:53:00.520 a really good shot at it. But yeah, you're right, 2367 01:53:00.640 --> 01:53:03.920 like healthy as is this thunder team is rolling. They're 2368 01:53:03.920 --> 01:53:06.239 too good. They have been good, all too good all year. 2369 01:53:06.800 --> 01:53:08.680 Like it's it's pretty. 2370 01:53:08.399 --> 01:53:12.119 Clearly a thunder in five or six situation, I think 2371 01:53:12.119 --> 01:53:15.159 against either Eastern Conference team if both sides are healthy. 2372 01:53:15.439 --> 01:53:17.680 Shaye, excuse me, Shaye is your MVP. 2373 01:53:18.039 --> 01:53:20.239 I believe when you last joined us, you said that 2374 01:53:20.359 --> 01:53:23.000 you were going to cast your vote for Nicola Jokicic, 2375 01:53:23.039 --> 01:53:26.399 which I have no problem with it all. I feel 2376 01:53:26.399 --> 01:53:28.319 like and I'm I'm not you know me, I'm not 2377 01:53:28.439 --> 01:53:29.359 usually of fence Center. 2378 01:53:29.359 --> 01:53:30.000 I'm not like this. 2379 01:53:30.119 --> 01:53:32.760 I just thought both were deserving and Shaye gets it. 2380 01:53:33.000 --> 01:53:34.239 Give me your thoughts. 2381 01:53:34.560 --> 01:53:38.079 Yeah, I think, yeah, completely reasonable and a good pick, 2382 01:53:38.159 --> 01:53:42.399 like just like you have no problems with anyone who 2383 01:53:42.439 --> 01:53:45.920 went with SJA. You know, I thought of really telltale 2384 01:53:45.960 --> 01:53:48.399 series between the two last you know, last week and 2385 01:53:48.520 --> 01:53:50.960 two weeks ago like just both of them are very 2386 01:53:50.960 --> 01:53:54.680 good players. Shay has a little bit more help. Jokic 2387 01:53:55.199 --> 01:54:00.800 is probably more heliocentric offensively, right, Like, just in order 2388 01:54:00.800 --> 01:54:04.239 for the Nuggets to succeed, they need Jokic, and in 2389 01:54:04.319 --> 01:54:07.319 order for the Thunder to succeed, they are they are 2390 01:54:07.319 --> 01:54:11.319 in a better place without Shay. That being said, you know, 2391 01:54:11.359 --> 01:54:13.399 Shae has had an awesome individual year, and I think 2392 01:54:13.600 --> 01:54:15.840 these first few games have also served to kind of 2393 01:54:15.960 --> 01:54:18.920 draw a line between him and like the other stars 2394 01:54:18.920 --> 01:54:21.720 of the league, like an Anthony Edwards who is struggling 2395 01:54:21.760 --> 01:54:23.800 a little bit, was struggling with the efficiency, can't get 2396 01:54:23.800 --> 01:54:27.119 to his spots, you know, like it has been it 2397 01:54:27.159 --> 01:54:29.600 hasn't been easy, where I think Shay has made it 2398 01:54:29.600 --> 01:54:31.840 look easy. And yes, you know, like people will complain 2399 01:54:31.880 --> 01:54:34.680 about the fouls in game one. Game two is about 2400 01:54:34.680 --> 01:54:36.680 as clean as of a performance as you're ever going 2401 01:54:36.720 --> 01:54:39.239 to see from a star, and he maybe had even 2402 01:54:39.479 --> 01:54:41.560 a better game, you know, like he is kind of 2403 01:54:41.600 --> 01:54:46.520 the classic mid range sniper scorer guard that like I 2404 01:54:46.560 --> 01:54:50.720 think NBA basketball fans love to see and so like 2405 01:54:50.800 --> 01:54:54.520 that is, you know, and that has been a successful 2406 01:54:54.600 --> 01:54:57.239 formula in the playoffs before, and it is certainly right now. 2407 01:54:57.479 --> 01:54:59.720 So is somebody that had a front row seed to 2408 01:54:59.720 --> 01:55:01.279 the room go bear experience. 2409 01:55:01.600 --> 01:55:03.159 And you know, I'm a Rudy guy. 2410 01:55:03.399 --> 01:55:06.520 I appreciated everything he did here, and you know, I 2411 01:55:06.720 --> 01:55:09.720 don't think he'll ever get all the credit he deserved 2412 01:55:09.760 --> 01:55:12.840 for the way he conducted himself when I think his teammate, 2413 01:55:13.039 --> 01:55:14.760 more often than not, was the guy throwing him. 2414 01:55:14.720 --> 01:55:15.199 Under the bus. 2415 01:55:15.199 --> 01:55:18.000 Now, Rudy was not innocent of everything, But I'll tell 2416 01:55:18.000 --> 01:55:23.640 you what, Andy Oklahoma City is so intentional about putting 2417 01:55:23.720 --> 01:55:26.760 him in switches, and it's Shane, it's Jalen specifically. But 2418 01:55:26.840 --> 01:55:29.319 what's interesting is they're feasting in the mid range. It's 2419 01:55:29.319 --> 01:55:31.560 not like, let's get him out behind the three point line. 2420 01:55:31.840 --> 01:55:34.119 Rudy wants to plan and drop. We know this, But 2421 01:55:34.319 --> 01:55:38.640 what is fair to say about what happens when Rudy 2422 01:55:38.720 --> 01:55:41.119 is putting those positions where other teams do seem to 2423 01:55:41.119 --> 01:55:43.159 find a lot of success by getting him out on 2424 01:55:43.199 --> 01:55:45.039 switches on perimeter players. 2425 01:55:45.399 --> 01:55:48.199 Yeah, look, it's not about getting switches and putting him 2426 01:55:48.239 --> 01:55:50.560 on the perimeter against ISO and going one on one 2427 01:55:50.640 --> 01:55:53.880 right like that is actually a pretty big, bad mass 2428 01:55:53.920 --> 01:55:55.840 move when you look at it over the aggregate, like 2429 01:55:55.880 --> 01:55:58.439 he's actually pretty good at staying in front, and you 2430 01:55:58.520 --> 01:56:00.800 waked a lot of shot clock in the dribbling and 2431 01:56:00.920 --> 01:56:03.239 you know, like the backing it out and all that 2432 01:56:03.279 --> 01:56:05.760 kind of stuff. I think what Bignell and the Thunder 2433 01:56:05.800 --> 01:56:08.640 have done really well at is you attack him in 2434 01:56:08.680 --> 01:56:11.199 the pick and roll, go drop, and then snake the 2435 01:56:11.279 --> 01:56:14.479 defender so that it is just you and Rudy now 2436 01:56:14.600 --> 01:56:18.800 from fifteen feet away while the ball handlers on the move, 2437 01:56:19.279 --> 01:56:21.960 rather than from twenty five feet away outside the three 2438 01:56:21.960 --> 01:56:24.920 point line, kind of holding onto it. And I think 2439 01:56:25.000 --> 01:56:27.520 that's where Rudy can kind of get in between a 2440 01:56:27.520 --> 01:56:30.359 little bit, where he's you know, thinking about rim protection 2441 01:56:30.520 --> 01:56:34.880 first but ends up giving up the twelve to fifteen 2442 01:56:34.920 --> 01:56:37.600 foot mid range floater kind of stuff that I think 2443 01:56:38.039 --> 01:56:41.840 Sga and Jalen Williams are really good at. That has 2444 01:56:41.880 --> 01:56:44.159 always been a little bit of a problem for him, 2445 01:56:44.159 --> 01:56:46.199 if I'm honest, you know, like that is a lot 2446 01:56:46.199 --> 01:56:48.039 of what we saw in the Rocket series when the 2447 01:56:48.119 --> 01:56:52.079 Jazz played him, for example, when Westbrook was making his jumper, 2448 01:56:52.079 --> 01:56:53.039 it was a little bit of a problem. 2449 01:56:53.079 --> 01:56:55.479 In the Thunder series, it is. 2450 01:56:56.600 --> 01:56:59.000 I would also say that I do think and have 2451 01:56:59.079 --> 01:57:00.720 thought this for a couple of years that Rudy is 2452 01:57:00.760 --> 01:57:03.680 not quite the defender that he was in his utof 2453 01:57:03.760 --> 01:57:06.439 Rian like he is at that age where it makes 2454 01:57:06.479 --> 01:57:08.199 sense that he has lost the step. And I think 2455 01:57:08.239 --> 01:57:10.479 he has lost the step and it's not a huge step. 2456 01:57:10.479 --> 01:57:12.760 And you know, I think he makes them a well, 2457 01:57:12.800 --> 01:57:14.960 it makes him a second team All defense guy rather 2458 01:57:15.000 --> 01:57:16.600 than a first team All defense guy. And I think, 2459 01:57:16.760 --> 01:57:18.640 you know, we're seeing a little bit of that where 2460 01:57:18.720 --> 01:57:22.119 the margins are pretty fine and the Thunder taking advantage 2461 01:57:22.159 --> 01:57:22.840 of them. 2462 01:57:23.199 --> 01:57:25.079 All right, let's move over to some Jazz stuff. 2463 01:57:25.119 --> 01:57:29.199 Since you and I last spoke, the All Rookie teams 2464 01:57:29.199 --> 01:57:31.680 were released, and the Jazz are not in the mix 2465 01:57:31.720 --> 01:57:33.399 and have not been in the mix for very many 2466 01:57:33.399 --> 01:57:36.600 postseason honors. That's what happens when you're unseious about winning 2467 01:57:36.640 --> 01:57:38.399 and you don't have a lot of good basketball players 2468 01:57:38.399 --> 01:57:41.880 and your basketball team but holding out hope for maybe 2469 01:57:41.920 --> 01:57:45.439 Isaiah or Kyle to potentially grabs. I don't think either 2470 01:57:45.479 --> 01:57:48.399 of them we're going to be first team. Wasn't a 2471 01:57:48.399 --> 01:57:50.800 great rookie class, you know, the Reshache kid, the number 2472 01:57:50.840 --> 01:57:53.600 one overall pick, Stefan Castle Rookie of the Year are you 2473 01:57:53.680 --> 01:57:57.720 surprised that neither Cody nor Kyle uh finished on the 2474 01:57:57.880 --> 01:58:00.319 at least the second team All NBA Rookie. 2475 01:58:00.640 --> 01:58:03.399 No, because neither You know, first of all, a lot 2476 01:58:03.439 --> 01:58:04.920 of voters are just gonna look at the win loss 2477 01:58:04.960 --> 01:58:06.439 record and be like, you know, why am I voting 2478 01:58:06.439 --> 01:58:08.920 for a jasmin. Second, a lot of voters are going 2479 01:58:08.960 --> 01:58:10.800 to look at the points totals and say, why am 2480 01:58:10.800 --> 01:58:11.920 I voting for these guys? 2481 01:58:12.000 --> 01:58:12.199 Right? 2482 01:58:12.279 --> 01:58:14.640 And you know, kind of the interesting thing about Isaiah 2483 01:58:15.279 --> 01:58:18.680 was his assist number. The interesting things about Kyle Philipasky 2484 01:58:18.840 --> 01:58:22.039 was his efficiency in shooting and scoring the ball. But 2485 01:58:22.239 --> 01:58:24.920 wasn't like the number of points they put up, whereas 2486 01:58:25.000 --> 01:58:26.640 if like either of them had put up you know, 2487 01:58:26.760 --> 01:58:29.119 thirteen points a game or something, I think there's a 2488 01:58:29.159 --> 01:58:31.560 realistic shot there are second team or first team. But 2489 01:58:31.640 --> 01:58:35.159 you know, they weren't able to didn't have that chance. 2490 01:58:35.199 --> 01:58:37.720 And you know, frankly, maybe probably weren't that good in 2491 01:58:37.760 --> 01:58:40.239 their rookie years, right, So look, I would have had 2492 01:58:40.279 --> 01:58:42.680 probably both of them over Bob Carrington. I did in 2493 01:58:42.760 --> 01:58:46.960 my vote, but I don't think and as well, he's 2494 01:58:47.039 --> 01:58:49.560 missed me from New Orleans. I don't think I had 2495 01:58:49.640 --> 01:58:53.079 him on my second team either. But I don't think 2496 01:58:53.079 --> 01:58:56.119 that the grand miscarriage of justice. You know, Isaiah call 2497 01:58:56.159 --> 01:58:58.800 Your missed out on the second team by one point 2498 01:58:58.800 --> 01:59:01.359 compared to Bob Carrington. I thought Collier, when you take 2499 01:59:01.399 --> 01:59:04.159 into account the passing over the second half of the year, 2500 01:59:04.359 --> 01:59:07.359 did have a better season overall than Carrington. But again, 2501 01:59:07.439 --> 01:59:10.560 like it's hard to get two up in arms when 2502 01:59:10.800 --> 01:59:14.880 you're talking about spot eleven versus tenth in a ROS 2503 01:59:14.920 --> 01:59:17.800 rookie class on a team that doesn't, you know, on 2504 01:59:17.840 --> 01:59:20.560 two teams that didn't win anything, right, It's just it's 2505 01:59:20.560 --> 01:59:24.520 hard to know who is right in that scenario. I 2506 01:59:24.520 --> 01:59:28.039 will say, like the Jazz and Jazz management were very 2507 01:59:28.079 --> 01:59:30.560 happy that Bob Carrington made the game winning shot in 2508 01:59:30.600 --> 01:59:33.439 Game eighty two. It didn't end up mattering, but like 2509 01:59:33.920 --> 01:59:38.560 that made a the Jazz management happen. So there were 2510 01:59:38.560 --> 01:59:41.199 some jokes about voting Bob Carrington Rookie of the Year 2511 01:59:42.000 --> 01:59:46.319 made to me, But look like it's again, no grand 2512 01:59:46.399 --> 01:59:47.520 miscarriage of justice. 2513 01:59:47.680 --> 01:59:48.920 This is fine. 2514 01:59:49.000 --> 01:59:51.279 Those guys were about the eleventh and twelfth best rookies 2515 01:59:51.319 --> 01:59:53.720 in the class. That's where they ended up. It's good 2516 01:59:53.760 --> 01:59:56.640 that they got the eleventh and twelfth best rookies in 2517 01:59:56.640 --> 01:59:59.079 the class with picks number twenty eight and number thirty two. 2518 02:00:00.079 --> 02:00:03.439 You are about one month and change, almost exactly one 2519 02:00:03.479 --> 02:00:07.079 month away from the NBA Draft. I think everybody's moved 2520 02:00:07.119 --> 02:00:10.800 on from the disappointment that the Jazz are at five, 2521 02:00:10.920 --> 02:00:13.720 even though mathematically that was one of the more likely 2522 02:00:13.720 --> 02:00:16.279 spots in the fall. Give us some intel. What are 2523 02:00:16.279 --> 02:00:18.640 you hearing? You know, you hear all this stuff. They're 2524 02:00:18.680 --> 02:00:20.960 going to be bullish and try to move up. Maybe 2525 02:00:20.960 --> 02:00:24.039 san Antonio looks at moving too, because there's some redundancy 2526 02:00:24.079 --> 02:00:26.640 although reports, are they going to keep it in draft 2527 02:00:26.720 --> 02:00:29.600 Dylan Harper and let them grow alongside Stefon Castle and 2528 02:00:29.680 --> 02:00:30.720 learn from Daron Fox. 2529 02:00:30.800 --> 02:00:32.319 Maybe Philly's in play at three. 2530 02:00:33.239 --> 02:00:36.000 That's a complicated transaction based off of what it would 2531 02:00:36.000 --> 02:00:38.760 take to get three. If it's Paul Georgian return, does 2532 02:00:38.760 --> 02:00:41.319 that make sense? Are you willing to move on from Larry? 2533 02:00:41.399 --> 02:00:43.880 What? What are you hearing prior to draft night? A 2534 02:00:43.880 --> 02:00:44.359 month away? 2535 02:00:44.399 --> 02:00:44.479 What? 2536 02:00:44.800 --> 02:00:45.880 Give us some intel? Andy? 2537 02:00:46.600 --> 02:00:46.800 Yeah? 2538 02:00:46.840 --> 02:00:49.760 Look, I mean they are open to everything, right. I 2539 02:00:49.760 --> 02:00:54.560 would also say that those conversations don't ramp up now, right, 2540 02:00:54.680 --> 02:00:58.039 Like it's still a month and more than a month 2541 02:00:58.079 --> 02:01:01.800 until the NBA Draft. You know, they're working on scheduling 2542 02:01:01.840 --> 02:01:05.239 those prospects to get in that. It does sound like 2543 02:01:05.279 --> 02:01:07.119 they are going to be successful in meeting with or 2544 02:01:07.159 --> 02:01:09.600 working out all of those guys in that range. So 2545 02:01:09.640 --> 02:01:12.880 I think that's notable, you know, besides probably the top two. 2546 02:01:14.199 --> 02:01:18.439 But look, it's you know, I think they've also signaled 2547 02:01:18.560 --> 02:01:21.760 probably that this is not They're not going to be 2548 02:01:21.760 --> 02:01:23.840 giving up the farm to move from number five to 2549 02:01:23.960 --> 02:01:27.600 number three, right, Like, I don't think that they They 2550 02:01:27.640 --> 02:01:29.760 see those players in kind of the same tier. And 2551 02:01:29.840 --> 02:01:32.359 so yes, maybe you give up something, you know, if 2552 02:01:33.039 --> 02:01:35.800 Philadelphia wants to compete next year and is interested in 2553 02:01:35.840 --> 02:01:38.399 the column Sexton, sure, you know, Like I think that's 2554 02:01:38.399 --> 02:01:41.119 something that would be a good use of an expiring 2555 02:01:41.159 --> 02:01:43.239 calm secton and I think obviously the Jazz would be 2556 02:01:43.279 --> 02:01:45.399 willing to do that as well. But like in terms 2557 02:01:45.399 --> 02:01:48.479 of visit worth a lowry marketing, yeah, probably not. And 2558 02:01:48.560 --> 02:01:53.000 so you have that conversation. But I also think that, 2559 02:01:53.920 --> 02:01:58.399 you know, they the plan scene still seems to be 2560 02:01:59.119 --> 02:02:02.760 the long right, Like that is as much as there 2561 02:02:02.840 --> 02:02:05.279 was a lot of handging, and I think reasonably so. 2562 02:02:05.520 --> 02:02:09.680 When the picks fell to number five about the tanking 2563 02:02:09.760 --> 02:02:13.600 and the long term plan not working out. I don't 2564 02:02:13.640 --> 02:02:16.880 see a huge shift coming in terms of like them 2565 02:02:16.960 --> 02:02:19.159 all of a sudden going out and getting some of 2566 02:02:19.359 --> 02:02:22.119 the players on the trade market. So that's what I 2567 02:02:22.239 --> 02:02:25.039 continue to hear again. You know, look, there aren't those 2568 02:02:25.079 --> 02:02:27.640 conversations right now for the most part. They're all like 2569 02:02:28.079 --> 02:02:31.520 little kind of hey, you know, isn't it interesting san 2570 02:02:31.520 --> 02:02:34.560 Antonio got the number two pick kind of conversations with 2571 02:02:34.680 --> 02:02:38.279 league exacts, like everyone's just kind of talking generally about 2572 02:02:38.279 --> 02:02:40.319 the league to each other. No, I'm talking in specifics 2573 02:02:41.079 --> 02:02:44.079 right now. And so I think that's that's where the 2574 02:02:44.159 --> 02:02:44.960 Jazz stand right now. 2575 02:02:45.000 --> 02:02:48.199 As you've been able to dig in to study, watch, 2576 02:02:48.279 --> 02:02:51.439 learn about the prospects and understand the landscape ahead of 2577 02:02:51.479 --> 02:02:54.920 the Jazz who are drafted at five, have you landed 2578 02:02:54.960 --> 02:02:58.079 on who you perceived to be the best case scenario 2579 02:02:58.439 --> 02:03:01.680 available at five and who the Jazz should walk away 2580 02:03:01.680 --> 02:03:04.640 from for fans learning about names, Who's best case at 2581 02:03:04.640 --> 02:03:05.600 five in your opinion? 2582 02:03:05.640 --> 02:03:08.880 Andy, That's a good question, and I honestly want to 2583 02:03:08.920 --> 02:03:10.159 do more work on it. And I know that's a 2584 02:03:10.199 --> 02:03:13.079 cop out answer, but I'm working on building a stat 2585 02:03:13.640 --> 02:03:18.039 model right now, going back to Andy Analytics mass days. 2586 02:03:20.079 --> 02:03:22.359 So I want to wait until I finish that before 2587 02:03:22.399 --> 02:03:25.119 I like, really, you know, stake my name, because let 2588 02:03:25.199 --> 02:03:27.359 me be honest, what happened last year is I thought 2589 02:03:27.359 --> 02:03:29.279 Cody Williams was a really good ticket number ten. 2590 02:03:29.479 --> 02:03:30.920 I thought he was. 2591 02:03:31.760 --> 02:03:34.399 It was a good selection that he fell to number ten, 2592 02:03:34.960 --> 02:03:36.640 and I thought it was the best outcome for the 2593 02:03:36.720 --> 02:03:39.600 Jazz And that made me look really, really dumb, and 2594 02:03:39.640 --> 02:03:42.600 it may look really some too, frankly like, and look, 2595 02:03:42.600 --> 02:03:44.680 there's still a chance Tody Williams, you know, six season 2596 02:03:44.720 --> 02:03:47.239 his NBA career, but look, when he had as bad 2597 02:03:47.239 --> 02:03:49.560 of a rookie season as he did, the odds are 2598 02:03:49.600 --> 02:03:52.239 short and you would not have drafted him number ten 2599 02:03:52.279 --> 02:03:55.000 if you were to redraft last year's draft again. So 2600 02:03:55.479 --> 02:03:58.439 I want to approach this draft number five, more important drafts, 2601 02:03:58.520 --> 02:04:02.800 better draft, with the little little bit more rigorous miss 2602 02:04:02.800 --> 02:04:05.479 than I did last year because it sent me astray. 2603 02:04:05.800 --> 02:04:08.960 And so yeah, I don't know. You know, there are 2604 02:04:08.960 --> 02:04:10.479 a lot of good names, and I'm sure you talk 2605 02:04:10.520 --> 02:04:12.640 about them on the show, but I'm trying to figure 2606 02:04:12.640 --> 02:04:16.399 it out. Like my sense is, I don't love Ace Bailey. 2607 02:04:16.439 --> 02:04:19.319 I don't love that archetype of player. I would be 2608 02:04:19.359 --> 02:04:21.479 more in favor of a Trey Johnson R VJED film 2609 02:04:21.560 --> 02:04:25.520 or a Conkine ple But like I again, have to 2610 02:04:25.840 --> 02:04:28.399 know more than just vibes at this point because I 2611 02:04:28.439 --> 02:04:29.840 did such a bad job Blackcraft. 2612 02:04:30.079 --> 02:04:32.960 When you say you're sure I talk about these prospects 2613 02:04:33.000 --> 02:04:35.079 on the show, is that an admission that you're not 2614 02:04:35.199 --> 02:04:37.239 tuned in every day two to six Live. 2615 02:04:39.319 --> 02:04:42.039 You know, I just missed that last half hour, that's all. 2616 02:04:42.039 --> 02:04:43.840 When I'm sure you're talking about them all the time. No, 2617 02:04:43.960 --> 02:04:47.039 I'm busy learning. 2618 02:04:46.760 --> 02:04:50.039 The news, you know, and there's a lot there's a 2619 02:04:50.079 --> 02:04:52.520 lot of news out there. One thing that you and 2620 02:04:52.560 --> 02:04:56.840 I haven't discussed Walker Kessler extension eligible coming up. 2621 02:04:56.840 --> 02:04:58.000 How do you think this plays out? 2622 02:04:59.079 --> 02:05:00.720 Yeah, really good question. 2623 02:05:00.760 --> 02:05:00.920 You know. 2624 02:05:01.039 --> 02:05:05.720 I think ultimately most likely is that the two sides 2625 02:05:05.800 --> 02:05:08.600 kind of come to a deal, like in that twenty 2626 02:05:08.640 --> 02:05:11.800 five million dollar a year range, you know, plus minus 2627 02:05:11.840 --> 02:05:16.079 five a year, which is where you know the league 2628 02:05:16.199 --> 02:05:20.000 is kind of extended. Guys in that platte, you know, 2629 02:05:20.079 --> 02:05:24.479 so like the Spurs with Kelvin Johnson or Devin Vessel 2630 02:05:24.720 --> 02:05:28.279 or you know, like kind of good players who you 2631 02:05:28.319 --> 02:05:31.840 know can play roles on great teams, probably sub all 2632 02:05:31.880 --> 02:05:34.479 star potential, but guys who want to keep around are 2633 02:05:34.560 --> 02:05:36.880 kind of in that range, and I think that's where 2634 02:05:36.920 --> 02:05:41.199 Walker likely finds himselves. But yeah, you know, they can't 2635 02:05:41.439 --> 02:05:45.239 really do that until later on in the summer, until September, 2636 02:05:45.279 --> 02:05:48.159 and that's you know, when you should expect that to happen. 2637 02:05:49.319 --> 02:05:51.439 That being said, you know, I also think it really 2638 02:05:51.479 --> 02:05:54.039 really matters what else you're doing around the team, And 2639 02:05:54.680 --> 02:05:57.079 you know, like if you draft Metalwaks, who I don't 2640 02:05:57.079 --> 02:05:59.279 think you should, but at number five, then all of 2641 02:05:59.319 --> 02:06:01.199 a sudden, maybe you're thinking about Walker Kessler in a 2642 02:06:01.199 --> 02:06:05.960 different way. So we'll see, but I think generally like 2643 02:06:06.600 --> 02:06:09.359 there was one of the things, one of frankly the 2644 02:06:09.399 --> 02:06:11.600 only good things that came out of last season was 2645 02:06:11.640 --> 02:06:14.880 that Walker clearly made himself into a figure, into a 2646 02:06:14.920 --> 02:06:18.199 player that you want to have on the roster moving forward. 2647 02:06:18.239 --> 02:06:21.199 And given that the Jazz have kind of not a 2648 02:06:21.239 --> 02:06:23.119 full out else going for them right now in terms 2649 02:06:23.119 --> 02:06:26.960 of young, really talented talent, and then the fact that 2650 02:06:27.000 --> 02:06:29.039 you also have to get to the salary floor, it 2651 02:06:29.159 --> 02:06:31.279 just does make sense to give Walker an extension. 2652 02:06:31.760 --> 02:06:36.000 Do you think based off of what has now transpired, 2653 02:06:36.079 --> 02:06:38.960 not just with this draft cycle, but every draft lottery 2654 02:06:39.039 --> 02:06:43.000 since twenty nineteen. The Jazz will put their best foot 2655 02:06:43.039 --> 02:06:46.600 forward this year. No inventing injuries, about marketing, no cittying 2656 02:06:46.680 --> 02:06:49.800 veteran players, no telling Walker Keshler you are Ray Allen 2657 02:06:49.840 --> 02:06:51.880 from nineteen ninety eight. Now, do you think we might 2658 02:06:51.920 --> 02:06:55.600 have a serious approach to competing based off of how 2659 02:06:55.640 --> 02:06:57.199 everything played out last year? 2660 02:06:58.119 --> 02:07:01.319 I'm skeptical because, if anything, there's more incentive to tank, 2661 02:07:01.399 --> 02:07:04.840 not less, you know, Like as much as Cooper Flagg 2662 02:07:04.920 --> 02:07:07.520 was a prize and I truly think he's a very 2663 02:07:07.760 --> 02:07:10.600 excellent prospect, like one of the be one of the 2664 02:07:10.600 --> 02:07:12.560 better number one picks in the last ten years. Like 2665 02:07:13.319 --> 02:07:15.720 I think at the top of this draft there are 2666 02:07:15.760 --> 02:07:18.279 even more good dudes who you might be even more 2667 02:07:18.319 --> 02:07:21.760 sure on, right, Like I feel really confident on Age Debaansa, 2668 02:07:21.800 --> 02:07:23.800 and I feel really confident on Darren Peterson, and I 2669 02:07:23.800 --> 02:07:27.359 feel maybe even most confident on Cameron Boozer, like his 2670 02:07:27.520 --> 02:07:30.560 floor is so high, so all of a sudden, now 2671 02:07:30.640 --> 02:07:33.159 you have even more incentive to try to get a 2672 02:07:33.239 --> 02:07:35.399 top three pick, not just one pick, not just a 2673 02:07:35.439 --> 02:07:38.600 fourteen percent chance, but a forty two percent chance at 2674 02:07:38.640 --> 02:07:41.840 one of those three three franchise changing guys plus a 2675 02:07:41.880 --> 02:07:44.720 number of guys blew them Like. I don't think that 2676 02:07:44.760 --> 02:07:48.159 the incentives have actually changed all that much other than 2677 02:07:48.239 --> 02:07:52.279 public pressure, like you know, fan ticket price, you know, 2678 02:07:52.359 --> 02:07:55.720 ticket interest goes down, people get more mad at Ryan Smith, 2679 02:07:55.720 --> 02:08:01.520 et cetera. He's been pretty uh, he's been pretty hard 2680 02:08:01.560 --> 02:08:04.000 to you know, stone face to that. So to this point, 2681 02:08:04.199 --> 02:08:08.119 I don't know if that changes necessarily. I think they 2682 02:08:08.279 --> 02:08:10.199 probably just continue to go down the spat. 2683 02:08:11.079 --> 02:08:16.399 So Windhorst and McMahon and bontevs. Last week did a 2684 02:08:16.520 --> 02:08:20.119 pod on The Hoop Collective about the era of parody 2685 02:08:20.800 --> 02:08:23.760 in the NBA, and we had Bobby Marks on the show. 2686 02:08:23.760 --> 02:08:26.439 I think it was Monday of this week, and Bobby 2687 02:08:26.479 --> 02:08:29.760 did just a masterful job of kind of walking us 2688 02:08:29.760 --> 02:08:33.359 through why we are smack dab in the middle of 2689 02:08:33.479 --> 02:08:37.079 a great time in the NBA if you are a 2690 02:08:37.079 --> 02:08:39.640 fan of a basketball team that plays its basketball in 2691 02:08:39.680 --> 02:08:42.680 a city like Salt Lake. And as a result of 2692 02:08:42.720 --> 02:08:46.399 those conversations, I did like an entire segment to open 2693 02:08:46.439 --> 02:08:50.000 the show about how you know, with the new CBA 2694 02:08:50.319 --> 02:08:54.039 and billionaires clearly scared of the second apron if you 2695 02:08:54.399 --> 02:08:56.960 always wondered what the answer to the question what scares 2696 02:08:57.000 --> 02:09:00.920 billionaires is and pro sports? In the NBA, it's a 2697 02:09:01.159 --> 02:09:03.800 tax bill like Boston's gonna have a five hundred million 2698 02:09:03.840 --> 02:09:06.359 dollars just for the right to have the team that 2699 02:09:06.479 --> 02:09:08.960 will not have Jason Tatum next year and lost in 2700 02:09:09.000 --> 02:09:13.520 the second round. The new CBA expires in twenty thirty, 2701 02:09:14.199 --> 02:09:17.119 and there's already a significant amount of pushback to what 2702 02:09:17.199 --> 02:09:21.079 it's done in pro basketball to not allow teams to 2703 02:09:21.159 --> 02:09:25.520 keep their great teams together based off of punitive economic penalties. 2704 02:09:25.560 --> 02:09:28.600 And you said out a tweet that said, it's disappointing 2705 02:09:28.640 --> 02:09:31.199 the Jazz are missing out on the NBA's parody era. 2706 02:09:32.039 --> 02:09:34.000 It is unfortunate that the Jazz are not in a 2707 02:09:34.000 --> 02:09:37.800 better spot to capitalize on this landscape that's allowed teams 2708 02:09:37.840 --> 02:09:45.600 in Oklahoma City, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Denver, Minnesota to build really 2709 02:09:45.640 --> 02:09:49.159 good teams. What's your take on it? What are your 2710 02:09:49.159 --> 02:09:51.520 thoughts on it? Expand on the tweet that you sent. 2711 02:09:52.279 --> 02:09:54.960 Yeah, look, I mean it's hard because I don't know 2712 02:09:55.000 --> 02:09:57.319 that it's their fault and I don't think like the 2713 02:09:57.399 --> 02:10:02.119 Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Jazz is that interesting in this 2714 02:10:02.279 --> 02:10:06.479 era eier. Like, I think ultimately the economics of that team, 2715 02:10:06.720 --> 02:10:08.920 just with the Cats and the way that they had 2716 02:10:08.920 --> 02:10:12.359 traded and misused some of their picks like meant that 2717 02:10:12.640 --> 02:10:16.960 they weren't going to compete either. But you know, in 2718 02:10:17.039 --> 02:10:21.279 the course of Jazz history, there's a couple of famous 2719 02:10:21.319 --> 02:10:25.600 times when the Jazz had very good teams and came 2720 02:10:25.680 --> 02:10:31.199 up against greatness and losht and and that's just how 2721 02:10:31.239 --> 02:10:33.560 that happens, right Like, But if the stock in them 2722 02:10:33.600 --> 02:10:36.119 and the Lone Jazz are in the twenty twenty five 2723 02:10:36.439 --> 02:10:38.720 NBA Finals or in NBA playoffs, like. 2724 02:10:39.039 --> 02:10:41.359 I think they win the thing. I think I think they. 2725 02:10:41.239 --> 02:10:41.880 Win the title. 2726 02:10:42.319 --> 02:10:46.319 And so from a Utah perspective and a Jazz time perspective, 2727 02:10:46.439 --> 02:10:51.319 it is disappointing that like the cycle of success and 2728 02:10:51.359 --> 02:10:54.159 failure has lined up this way so that in an 2729 02:10:54.199 --> 02:10:57.319 era where there's more parody than ever, the Jazz are 2730 02:10:57.359 --> 02:11:01.159 at their lowest point in franchise history. Now, Like, do 2731 02:11:01.239 --> 02:11:05.199 I expect that to continue? I kind of do. Actually, 2732 02:11:05.239 --> 02:11:10.239 I think this current setup allows owners to sell their team. 2733 02:11:10.359 --> 02:11:12.479 Their fan base is hope a little bit. 2734 02:11:13.359 --> 02:11:14.159 I do think. 2735 02:11:14.039 --> 02:11:17.520 Overall, the Warriors dynasty was probably actually bad for the league. 2736 02:11:17.920 --> 02:11:19.720 I think there are some tweaks they can make about 2737 02:11:19.800 --> 02:11:24.000 keeping their own teams, keeping their own players, and you know, 2738 02:11:24.119 --> 02:11:27.840 whether that's a franchise tag or a lesson salary cap 2739 02:11:27.880 --> 02:11:31.560 impact or something like that. But ultimately you also look 2740 02:11:31.600 --> 02:11:34.000 at the TV deal and everyone's making too much money 2741 02:11:34.000 --> 02:11:35.840 to change. And I think that's one thing we learned 2742 02:11:36.359 --> 02:11:38.840 in the last go around is like, hey, if everyone's 2743 02:11:38.880 --> 02:11:42.079 making hundreds of millions of dollars here, the incentive to 2744 02:11:42.199 --> 02:11:44.279 change a ton is not going to be there. So 2745 02:11:45.920 --> 02:11:49.199 I think ultimately there's not going to be a ton 2746 02:11:49.279 --> 02:11:53.600 of support for changing drastically the way that the NBA operates. 2747 02:11:53.399 --> 02:11:56.560 And then so it becomes, you know, can the Jazz 2748 02:11:56.880 --> 02:12:00.520 take advantage with their own era at some point you know, 2749 02:12:00.840 --> 02:12:03.279 let's be honest, three, four or five years down the road, 2750 02:12:03.520 --> 02:12:06.640 And that is to be determined by the draft picks 2751 02:12:06.680 --> 02:12:08.840 they make and whether they get luckery on lottery night, 2752 02:12:08.880 --> 02:12:12.479 and like whether or not you know, Lowry continues in 2753 02:12:12.680 --> 02:12:15.359 all start kind of status or it falls off a bit, 2754 02:12:15.479 --> 02:12:18.159 and whether or not you know, Isaiah call you is 2755 02:12:18.159 --> 02:12:20.520 a starting point guard or a backup point guard or 2756 02:12:20.560 --> 02:12:24.439 not an NBA player, like all this is still super influx, 2757 02:12:24.560 --> 02:12:28.880 but I you know, That's all I was trying to 2758 02:12:28.880 --> 02:12:31.800 say is just like, hey, the fine waves have just 2759 02:12:31.840 --> 02:12:34.520 lined up in the exact opposite way from the way 2760 02:12:34.520 --> 02:12:36.119 you would want them to if you were a jazz fan. 2761 02:12:37.359 --> 02:12:39.520 All right, Andy, we got to do it before I 2762 02:12:39.520 --> 02:12:42.119 say you lose. If you believe, then you'll just stand 2763 02:12:42.199 --> 02:12:45.119 up on your feet and you'll shout it out loud. 2764 02:12:45.680 --> 02:12:47.800 The problem is, goals are fun. 2765 02:12:48.359 --> 02:12:51.600 Two hundred and fifty minutes, I think now between goals 2766 02:12:51.600 --> 02:12:53.520 for our cell win, listen for. 2767 02:12:55.119 --> 02:12:55.399 Again. 2768 02:12:55.479 --> 02:12:57.680 We established earlier that you listened every minute of the 2769 02:12:57.720 --> 02:13:00.399 show live, so I don't have to rehash what Pablo 2770 02:13:00.479 --> 02:13:02.760 said this week, but just in case you may have 2771 02:13:02.800 --> 02:13:08.159 missed that small portion. Pablo and then Kurt the next day, 2772 02:13:09.199 --> 02:13:11.399 they both said that they have been informed by new 2773 02:13:11.439 --> 02:13:15.640 ownership that they are not interested in selling players. They're 2774 02:13:15.640 --> 02:13:19.000 not interested in selling Diego Luno. They're not interested in 2775 02:13:19.079 --> 02:13:22.840 selling young players who are playing well for the club. Now, 2776 02:13:23.000 --> 02:13:27.760 if a team in La Liga or whatever calls RSL 2777 02:13:27.840 --> 02:13:30.840 and says thirty million for Diego, you probably do it, 2778 02:13:30.880 --> 02:13:31.880 and I understand why. 2779 02:13:32.600 --> 02:13:34.279 But that was kind of new. 2780 02:13:34.399 --> 02:13:39.319 That was positive news to ascertain from I mean, I 2781 02:13:39.319 --> 02:13:42.359 will have to see, because at this point, the bottom 2782 02:13:42.439 --> 02:13:45.800 line is they just badly need economic confusion. And Pablo 2783 02:13:45.880 --> 02:13:48.199 said he thinks they're two attacking players away from being 2784 02:13:48.239 --> 02:13:48.640 really good. 2785 02:13:48.720 --> 02:13:51.319 Kurt essentially cooperated that as well. 2786 02:13:51.439 --> 02:13:55.399 So while the present certainly appears to be bleak and 2787 02:13:55.439 --> 02:13:57.319 as you point out on your Twitter page, not a 2788 02:13:57.319 --> 02:14:00.960 lot to hope for right now, I just wondered what 2789 02:14:01.000 --> 02:14:03.279 you make of that piece of information that the Millers 2790 02:14:03.279 --> 02:14:05.920 seemed to be maybe moving away from the ethos of 2791 02:14:06.560 --> 02:14:09.960 developing and selling players and maybe we'll have good young 2792 02:14:09.960 --> 02:14:11.840 players stay here for a long time, which is what 2793 02:14:11.880 --> 02:14:13.399 you need to do to build a winning team. 2794 02:14:14.239 --> 02:14:17.640 Yeah, it's so interesting because you know then Pablo reportedly, 2795 02:14:17.680 --> 02:14:20.600 at least according to the Apple TV broadcast, said the opposite, 2796 02:14:20.640 --> 02:14:23.840 that he feels Diego Luna would like real. 2797 02:14:23.800 --> 02:14:25.399 Quick, real quick, real quick, real quick. 2798 02:14:25.439 --> 02:14:28.760 Not to interrupt you, but I asked Pablo that very question, 2799 02:14:29.000 --> 02:14:31.079 and I was glad I did, because he did not 2800 02:14:31.239 --> 02:14:34.640 say that it was taken out of context, so the 2801 02:14:34.720 --> 02:14:37.199 context was based off of how well he's played. He 2802 02:14:37.239 --> 02:14:39.119 wouldn't be surprised if there are a lot of offers 2803 02:14:39.119 --> 02:14:39.960 this summer. 2804 02:14:40.319 --> 02:14:43.840 Okay, well, look, and you know that maybe the case, 2805 02:14:43.920 --> 02:14:47.800 and I do think like keeping Diego Luna is number one, 2806 02:14:48.159 --> 02:14:50.039 you know, important thing to do if you want a 2807 02:14:50.079 --> 02:14:54.039 successful RSL. You know, I think to some degree also 2808 02:14:54.079 --> 02:14:56.239 depends on Diego Luna whether or not he wants to 2809 02:14:56.319 --> 02:14:59.439 spend his entire career in an RSL uniform or not, 2810 02:15:00.000 --> 02:15:02.039 based on the quality of the team or whether he 2811 02:15:02.119 --> 02:15:04.319 thinks you can go accomplished bigger things in Europe, you know, 2812 02:15:04.439 --> 02:15:07.319 like for a lot of soccer players understandably, so it's 2813 02:15:07.319 --> 02:15:10.199 their dream to be on like Champions League stages and 2814 02:15:10.239 --> 02:15:14.000 not US Open Cup stages, and so yeah, we'll see. 2815 02:15:14.000 --> 02:15:15.920 But like regardless that it is great to hear that 2816 02:15:16.000 --> 02:15:17.920 it is good to hear that they want to keep 2817 02:15:18.000 --> 02:15:20.800 young players in And then, you know, so with the 2818 02:15:20.880 --> 02:15:24.399 model RFL has chosen, which is the two designated player 2819 02:15:24.439 --> 02:15:27.960 for under twenty two slot model, that means you've got 2820 02:15:28.000 --> 02:15:31.319 two kind of older talismanic guys who have to set 2821 02:15:31.439 --> 02:15:34.239 the the caliber of the team, and then you have 2822 02:15:34.359 --> 02:15:37.920 four twenty two year old Ish guys who are on 2823 02:15:38.000 --> 02:15:40.399 their you know, up and coming trajectory who can also 2824 02:15:40.439 --> 02:15:43.560 help that you can spend unlimited to uncapped money on 2825 02:15:43.720 --> 02:15:46.119 that's the MLS rule. Diego Luna is one of your 2826 02:15:46.199 --> 02:15:48.840 under twenty two guys, Brian o'hade is clearly one of 2827 02:15:48.840 --> 02:15:50.840 your under twenty two guys. Then you need to do 2828 02:15:50.880 --> 02:15:53.720 better with like the Nelson Plasio spot, right like, but 2829 02:15:54.039 --> 02:15:57.000 nevertheless that can be done. Tom k mark us another 2830 02:15:57.079 --> 02:16:00.359 under twenty two guys. Then uh, you just need to 2831 02:16:00.359 --> 02:16:02.760 be way, way way better on the designated players scale, 2832 02:16:02.800 --> 02:16:05.159 right like, I think it's started to call Giago Gonsalvez 2833 02:16:05.319 --> 02:16:08.720 a failure at this point, and he's your only designated player. 2834 02:16:08.720 --> 02:16:12.119 You've left that second slot open. So look, I mean, 2835 02:16:12.279 --> 02:16:15.399 given how long the Miller deal was in the works, 2836 02:16:15.479 --> 02:16:19.159 right like, they first had those conversations in November, they did, 2837 02:16:19.239 --> 02:16:23.159 to some extent have the leeway to say, hey, this 2838 02:16:23.359 --> 02:16:26.119 is how we'd like to see the club change when 2839 02:16:26.159 --> 02:16:28.520 we're in charge. Now, maybe they didn't have they didn't 2840 02:16:28.520 --> 02:16:32.600 feel good about it, whatever, But the disappointing week after 2841 02:16:32.760 --> 02:16:35.840 the Millers finalized the PaperWorks, they did the press conference 2842 02:16:36.120 --> 02:16:40.479 and then only signs Willia Gatta like is you know, 2843 02:16:40.799 --> 02:16:43.719 leaves need to be more pessimistic than optimistic. Also, maybe 2844 02:16:43.719 --> 02:16:46.600 the fact that I'm a skeptic, but like in the end, 2845 02:16:46.879 --> 02:16:49.959 I would love to see a Miller organization really invest 2846 02:16:50.120 --> 02:16:53.280 into the team because the team desperately needs it, and 2847 02:16:53.319 --> 02:16:56.280 you are letting down players the likes of Diego Luna, 2848 02:16:56.440 --> 02:17:00.280 Raphael Cabral and Mechaanelli, et cetera, because they you, you know, 2849 02:17:00.399 --> 02:17:03.920 the team does not lack talent necessarily, it's just so 2850 02:17:04.200 --> 02:17:07.200 bleaku on the offensive side of things that it's holding 2851 02:17:07.239 --> 02:17:08.040 everyone else back. 2852 02:17:08.920 --> 02:17:11.360 All right, Andy, good stuff today, man, appreciate the time, 2853 02:17:11.520 --> 02:17:12.760 have a great weekend, and. 2854 02:17:12.760 --> 02:17:13.559 We'll catch up soon. 2855 02:17:14.239 --> 02:17:14.680 Sounds good. 2856 02:17:14.680 --> 02:17:15.719 Thanks then, Andy Larson. 2857 02:17:15.799 --> 02:17:18.399 Salt Lake Tribune covers the Jazz a bunch of other 2858 02:17:18.440 --> 02:17:21.120 things as well. At Andy B. Larson is where you 2859 02:17:21.159 --> 02:17:23.799 find him. Shout out to our good friends at Corland Roofing. 2860 02:17:23.879 --> 02:17:26.840 You're reroofing and roof repair experts with over twenty years 2861 02:17:26.879 --> 02:17:27.520 of experience. 2862 02:17:27.559 --> 02:17:29.079 They're family owned and operated. 2863 02:17:29.760 --> 02:17:32.200 Call Courland Roofing today to get free rain gutters with 2864 02:17:32.239 --> 02:17:34.760 any roof replacement. And if you don't need rain gutters, 2865 02:17:34.760 --> 02:17:36.799 that are going to knock fifteen hundred bucks off anyway, 2866 02:17:36.879 --> 02:17:38.559 so call them and save a bunch of money and 2867 02:17:38.600 --> 02:17:42.399 get that roof replaced before the weather gets wicked womb. 2868 02:17:43.479 --> 02:17:45.559 That was my Karl Anthony Towns New York accent. 2869 02:17:45.760 --> 02:17:46.159 Nice. 2870 02:17:46.200 --> 02:17:47.840 Have you looked at the tweet I sent you? He 2871 02:17:47.879 --> 02:17:50.159 suddenly has adopted a New York accent. 2872 02:17:50.239 --> 02:17:50.879 I did see that. 2873 02:17:52.360 --> 02:17:55.799 Hey, you know he's been there for a while. Uh 2874 02:17:55.799 --> 02:17:57.440 but yeah, like you, it wasn't there before. 2875 02:17:58.479 --> 02:18:01.440 Eight o one six one five five six zero from 2876 02:18:01.479 --> 02:18:04.399 all my brothers in New York, New York at Rookie Park. 2877 02:18:04.600 --> 02:18:07.120 What I've been listening to you interview since you're eighteen? 2878 02:18:07.159 --> 02:18:09.639 You've never had that accent before? Eight oh one six 2879 02:18:09.719 --> 02:18:12.079 one five five five six zero eight oh one six 2880 02:18:12.200 --> 02:18:14.479 one five five five six zero eight oh one six 2881 02:18:14.600 --> 02:18:17.959 one five five five six zero Online at Cortland roofine 2882 02:18:18.040 --> 02:18:20.840 dot com. By the way, new cool thing on the station. 2883 02:18:21.440 --> 02:18:23.399 We are your home of the Indy five hundred Sunday 2884 02:18:23.399 --> 02:18:25.559 morning with coverage beginning at nine am. That's brought to 2885 02:18:25.600 --> 02:18:27.760 you in part by Burt Brothers. Summer Adventures are just 2886 02:18:27.799 --> 02:18:30.600 around the corner and Burt Brothers is kicking off the 2887 02:18:30.600 --> 02:18:33.680 season with huge savings on auto services and deals on 2888 02:18:33.799 --> 02:18:37.040 major tire brands, say being on Firestone with rebates up 2889 02:18:37.079 --> 02:18:38.680 to one hundred and twenty bucks now through the end 2890 02:18:38.680 --> 02:18:41.079 of May. Visit your nearest Burt Brothers today and drive 2891 02:18:41.120 --> 02:18:46.280 home with a great deal. All right, I am going 2892 02:18:46.280 --> 02:18:50.879 to choose to approach tonight with glass at full. I 2893 02:18:50.920 --> 02:18:53.520 think Howard Beck did a good job of articulating, and 2894 02:18:53.559 --> 02:18:55.680 I really do think this comes from Jalen more than 2895 02:18:55.680 --> 02:18:59.319 anything else. There's just this like measured approach to the kid, 2896 02:18:59.399 --> 02:19:01.399 and they're always has been all the way back in 2897 02:19:01.440 --> 02:19:04.000 college when he was at Nova and then of course 2898 02:19:04.479 --> 02:19:06.399 with the MAVs. The MAVs at one point at Rick 2899 02:19:06.399 --> 02:19:09.120 Carlile's Rick carl was their coach and their back court 2900 02:19:09.159 --> 02:19:11.280 was Jalen, Brunts and Luka Doncicch. Think about that for 2901 02:19:11.280 --> 02:19:14.479 a second. I do think the next win. No part 2902 02:19:14.479 --> 02:19:16.079 of me thinks it's gonna be comfortable. I have a 2903 02:19:16.079 --> 02:19:19.319 tremendous respect for Rick and this Indiana Pacers team. Although 2904 02:19:19.319 --> 02:19:22.680 I hate them, Yes, I cannot stand them. It's the 2905 02:19:22.719 --> 02:19:25.600 heat and the Pacers to me that I just oh 2906 02:19:25.959 --> 02:19:26.639 and the Rockets. 2907 02:19:26.680 --> 02:19:27.479 I learned that this year. 2908 02:19:28.040 --> 02:19:30.719 Your level of confidence tonight before we say good night 2909 02:19:30.719 --> 02:19:32.799 about the Nicks being able to even up the series. 2910 02:19:32.639 --> 02:19:33.319 I am. 2911 02:19:33.959 --> 02:19:36.079 I'm pretty confident about their ability to even up the 2912 02:19:36.120 --> 02:19:40.360 series tonight. I am you know, like you said, it's 2913 02:19:40.399 --> 02:19:43.159 a group led by Jalen Brunson who seems to have 2914 02:19:45.159 --> 02:19:50.440 a good, great, good resolve. You know, it doesn't seem 2915 02:19:50.479 --> 02:19:53.159 like they're a crew that's gonna let the wheels fall off. 2916 02:19:54.319 --> 02:19:56.479 A bunch of these guys have a national championship. I 2917 02:19:56.520 --> 02:19:58.280 know that's at the college level, but it is still 2918 02:19:58.399 --> 02:20:03.079 championship experience. I think they adjust. I think they bounce back. 2919 02:20:03.440 --> 02:20:06.600 I think they get Game two Spence, but I thought 2920 02:20:06.639 --> 02:20:09.479 they'd get Game one. And if they lose tonight, they 2921 02:20:09.520 --> 02:20:11.600 lose tonight and you go too and you lose the 2922 02:20:11.600 --> 02:20:12.079 way you. 2923 02:20:12.000 --> 02:20:14.559 Did an MSG. I think the series is over. 2924 02:20:14.799 --> 02:20:17.319 I know, I know you don't say that after two games, 2925 02:20:17.319 --> 02:20:19.719 but I said it after the Boston series because the 2926 02:20:19.760 --> 02:20:26.440 way you lose does matter. And yeah, big game, Big 2927 02:20:26.479 --> 02:20:31.440 Game two. If if there's you know, a time to 2928 02:20:31.520 --> 02:20:34.200 put too much stock into one of them, this is 2929 02:20:34.200 --> 02:20:34.719 the one. 2930 02:20:35.000 --> 02:20:35.200 I know. 2931 02:20:35.239 --> 02:20:37.399 I'm a Knicks fan. I know it's you know, maybe 2932 02:20:38.479 --> 02:20:42.639 showing there, but I think tonight in many ways, may 2933 02:20:42.680 --> 02:20:43.440 decide the series. 2934 02:20:43.600 --> 02:20:46.479 Knicks are oh and fourteen in franchise history. When they 2935 02:20:46.479 --> 02:20:49.760 trail O two, they have never lost two games at 2936 02:20:49.760 --> 02:20:52.360 home to start a playoff series, so historic in a 2937 02:20:52.399 --> 02:20:54.280 lot of ways, and I agree if they don't get 2938 02:20:54.280 --> 02:20:57.520 it tonight, it's curtains all right. We have a long weekend, 2939 02:20:57.559 --> 02:20:59.319 which is very nice. I hope you guys have the 2940 02:20:59.360 --> 02:21:02.079 same order. We are off Monday. What comes our way 2941 02:21:02.200 --> 02:21:03.879 when we're back on a Tuesday show. 2942 02:21:03.920 --> 02:21:05.600 Yeah, since we have Monday off, we'll double up on 2943 02:21:05.639 --> 02:21:09.639 the NBA Daily assist Tom Haberstrow and Tim McMahon On 2944 02:21:09.680 --> 02:21:12.920 a Tuesday afternoon, we'll chat with Rafael Barlow on some 2945 02:21:13.040 --> 02:21:16.520 NBA draft who wasn't able to join us earlier this week. 2946 02:21:16.559 --> 02:21:20.319 And then to wrap it all up, hopefully a better 2947 02:21:20.360 --> 02:21:23.600 showing from our guys from RSL and we'll have a 2948 02:21:23.600 --> 02:21:25.000 little recap of their weekend as well. 2949 02:21:25.040 --> 02:21:28.639 How about a goal, just one, just a goal, baby steps. 2950 02:21:28.680 --> 02:21:29.360 I'm good with that. 2951 02:21:29.520 --> 02:21:31.200 I'll goal against Vancouver. 2952 02:21:30.799 --> 02:21:33.440 Tomorrow, maybe a point two, maybe. 2953 02:21:33.159 --> 02:21:35.280 A point, Yeah, that would be nice, but baby steps 2954 02:21:35.319 --> 02:21:36.959 a goal first. Then we'll see. 2955 02:21:37.079 --> 02:21:39.159 I got to take advantage of Diego before he takes 2956 02:21:39.200 --> 02:21:41.680 off for the US men's National Seam Gold Cup duty. 2957 02:21:42.120 --> 02:21:44.120 We'll say good night, special thank you to Howard Beck, 2958 02:21:44.280 --> 02:21:47.200 Zach Harper, Paul Pugmyer, Mike Yam and Andy Larson Fun 2959 02:21:47.239 --> 02:21:49.600 Show Today. If you missed any of it, the website 2960 02:21:49.680 --> 02:21:52.440 is there at your disposal. It's ESPN seven hundred sports 2961 02:21:52.440 --> 02:21:54.719 dot com. Make sure to download our mobile app and 2962 02:21:54.760 --> 02:21:57.520 take us on the go. ESPN seven hundred app is 2963 02:21:57.559 --> 02:21:59.239 available in the App Store of the Google Play Store. 2964 02:21:59.280 --> 02:22:01.799 And finally, for what we do specifically in our space 2965 02:22:01.840 --> 02:22:04.600 every afternoon for four hours. If you miss any of it, 2966 02:22:04.639 --> 02:22:08.239 good news, it's up for your consumption. On our podcast page. 2967 02:22:08.280 --> 02:22:09.639 You can listen to whatever part of it you want 2968 02:22:09.639 --> 02:22:11.959 to on your time. It is called The Drive with Spence. 2969 02:22:12.040 --> 02:22:14.239 Check its that's available wherever you get your show. Subscribe, 2970 02:22:14.319 --> 02:22:16.239 rate reviews, say nice things of the comments. Give us 2971 02:22:16.239 --> 02:22:19.280 all the stars. You will be eternally blessed reporter. I'm 2972 02:22:19.280 --> 02:22:21.600 Spence Sega and I have a great long weekend. Gang, 2973 02:22:21.639 --> 02:22:23.159 begid to yourself, begoind to each other. We'll talk to 2974 02:22:23.200 --> 02:22:25.280 you on a Tuesday edition of the Drive and as 2975 02:22:25.280 --> 02:22:27.600 well as you can catch it right here on ESPN 2976 02:22:27.639 --> 02:22:29.559 seven hundred ninety two ANDEFM. We are proud to be 2977 02:22:29.600 --> 02:22:32.280 part of Utah's ESPN Radio network.