WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.760 --> 00:00:04.879 What's good. Everybody is your boy cal game face Lee. 2 00:00:04.919 --> 00:00:08.720 And it's me Warrenshaw and we are officially live on millions, y'all. 3 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:13.039 That's right, The Baseline NBA podcast is officially live. Just 4 00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:17.199 go to millions dot co and go to our profile 5 00:00:17.239 --> 00:00:20.800 the Baseline NBA Podcast to check out more dope content 6 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:22.600 curated just for you. 7 00:00:23.160 --> 00:00:25.800 And if you're looking to book with us, collaborate us, 8 00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:28.320 or get with us in any way, that's the spot 9 00:00:28.359 --> 00:00:29.679 to make sure that that happens, y'all. 10 00:00:30.079 --> 00:00:33.159 Absolutely so be sure to go to millions dot co. 11 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:34.840 You already know. 12 00:00:35.399 --> 00:00:38.679 Keep it real here the Baseline NBA Podcast. Your boy 13 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:41.320 Cayl gave face Lee and my man warren Shaw hit 14 00:00:41.399 --> 00:00:42.439 us up on millions. 15 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:44.079 Don't miss out. 16 00:00:45.399 --> 00:00:49.640 This is the Baseline discussing the hot button topics. 17 00:00:49.240 --> 00:00:50.640 Of the NBA. 18 00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:54.320 Welcome everybody here, Tune to the Baseline Cali Warrenshaw discussing 19 00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:57.240 the hot button topics of the NBA And we are 20 00:00:57.280 --> 00:00:57.920 finally here. 21 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:01.759 The table is set. NBA Finals is. 22 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:06.439 Now upon us and it will be Indiana Pacers taking 23 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:12.319 on the Oklahoma City Thunder. And I am sure the 24 00:01:12.439 --> 00:01:17.959 NBA pundits those who are about the big ratings when 25 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:24.120 it comes to watching NBA Playoff Basketball, NBA Finals, basketball 26 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:28.760 sports entertainment are just shrugging their shoulders and are just 27 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:33.280 kind of like, WTF. But you know what, Sean, I 28 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:36.599 we here for it. And I'm pretty sure that if 29 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:40.480 you were watching the whole NBA Playoffs run for both 30 00:01:40.519 --> 00:01:43.439 of these seams, respectively, you would be here for it 31 00:01:43.480 --> 00:01:46.200 as well too. And it's only apropos if we come 32 00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:49.000 to this point of the of the NBA season, it's 33 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:53.439 culminated that it arguably would be the two best playing 34 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:57.000 teams that are going into the NBA Finals, and not 35 00:01:57.079 --> 00:01:58.519 simply because of the names. 36 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:00.159 So let me go and rot the red carpet. I'm 37 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:00.920 my right hand man. 38 00:02:01.239 --> 00:02:04.560 Www, dots that that net big OUNIPNC, My man ister 39 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:06.400 wone shar ripping out of Fort Laidale, Florida. 40 00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:08.000 What's good? My brother? 41 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:10.800 That smirk on your face is telling me that you 42 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:14.599 about about it. So I'm supposing that we're gonna feel 43 00:02:14.599 --> 00:02:19.319 good about our discussion in previewing the NBA Finals. 44 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:23.520 I just love basketball, and I love the surprises that 45 00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:26.719 this NBA season has has given us and bestowed upon us. 46 00:02:27.080 --> 00:02:30.360 For what I'm calling the unexpected NBA Finals and and 47 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:33.319 that's not to be dismissive in any way. I just think, 48 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:35.800 you know, the betting odds makers did not have Indiana 49 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:38.479 and Okay see as your NBA finalists. Like just there's 50 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:41.400 just it just didn't happen. So the internet pacers have 51 00:02:41.560 --> 00:02:44.439 gone on to you know, really prove me wrong, you know, 52 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:46.599 in a variety of ways over the course of the season. 53 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:49.159 And it's fun. Like I'm excited about, you know, the 54 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:53.360 opportunities here. So uh, I just listen, I'm just excited 55 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:56.199 to talk basketball, the NBA Finals or upon us. It's 56 00:02:56.199 --> 00:03:00.000 been a long, long and very interesting and peculiar season, 57 00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:02.680 and I think there's this apropos, if you will, that 58 00:03:02.759 --> 00:03:05.240 we're getting something that we didn't expect as the NBA 59 00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:06.960 Finals here in the jew. 60 00:03:06.919 --> 00:03:09.560 Look, you're my boy, right, We've been doing this for 61 00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:11.719 quite some time. And I don't want to be labor 62 00:03:11.800 --> 00:03:13.879 our conversation because I do want the attention to be 63 00:03:13.960 --> 00:03:16.479 on the things that we are looking forward to with 64 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:19.319 regards to this matchup, which I really think is about 65 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:22.520 as intriguing a matchup as you will probably get over 66 00:03:22.680 --> 00:03:26.039 the last five years. As far as the dynamics of 67 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:29.639 what these two teams bring to the table. But I 68 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:32.439 know that you've been saying, hey, you know, they proved 69 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:35.159 me wrong. Look, you just weren't a believer in the 70 00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:40.039 Indiana Pacers and the makeup of this team in comparison 71 00:03:40.520 --> 00:03:45.080 to what we essentially have said were among the better teams. 72 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:48.639 But what I am appreciating about what the NBA has 73 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:50.840 done through the course of this year and what we're 74 00:03:50.840 --> 00:03:54.039 actually seeing with the implementation and the way that things 75 00:03:54.039 --> 00:03:55.199 have changed and evolved. 76 00:03:56.120 --> 00:03:57.319 They want there too. 77 00:03:57.719 --> 00:04:00.879 They want parody, right, And while a lot of people 78 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:03.639 are pulling the idea of it, this is why you 79 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:06.439 want the parody, and you want the parody kind of 80 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:09.479 as a precursor. You want it, you know, reflective in 81 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:12.199 what we're seeing as you're going through that process of 82 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:14.680 watching an NBA season. I don't think you would have 83 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:17.720 just instantly said the Indiana Pacers given what they showed 84 00:04:17.800 --> 00:04:19.560 us at the beginning of the season to what they 85 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:22.680 look like at the end of the season with minimal changes. 86 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:25.079 It was more of like it was a wake up call. 87 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:25.519 Right. 88 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:28.000 So I'm not gonna sit there and let you just 89 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:30.519 basically be like yo, Shaw, you know, yeah, that's right, 90 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:32.600 you were completely off on it, or whatever the case 91 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:35.279 may be. They had a lot of proving to do right, 92 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:37.519 because I think a lot of people had a right 93 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:39.600 to feel like this was kind of an overrated team 94 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:42.360 or maybe they overachieved because they just did not come 95 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:45.720 out looking like the team that surprised this last year. 96 00:04:46.040 --> 00:04:48.000 And it's not like we haven't seen that before. Now, 97 00:04:48.040 --> 00:04:51.120 with all that being said, we were kind of questioning 98 00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:54.759 whether or not, okaysee, was that team right because they 99 00:04:54.839 --> 00:04:57.920 underachieved last year. Right, people didn't buy into them being 100 00:04:57.959 --> 00:05:00.519 that number one seed. They come out to Gate, they're 101 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:03.439 among the best teams going, and they hit a stump 102 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:04.920 in a road a couple of times when they dealt 103 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:07.319 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. People believed that the Cleveland Cavaliers 104 00:05:07.800 --> 00:05:08.439 were the best team. 105 00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:08.600 Right. 106 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:10.879 When we saw that matchup earlier this year and we 107 00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:13.319 start the Cleveland Cavaliers, it's basically take them to the 108 00:05:13.319 --> 00:05:16.680 tool shed at the land and then OKAC showed us 109 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:20.439 their resiliency. They showed us that they learned from their mistakes, 110 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:22.920 they learned from the losses that they took. They came 111 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:26.319 back and they just basically put a spanking on Cleveland, 112 00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:28.639 and then we said to ourselves, oh wow, Now the 113 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:30.959 question is, are the Boss and Celtics, you know, in 114 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:33.360 a position where they can actually repeat because it just 115 00:05:33.399 --> 00:05:36.160 looks like, if Okac is that kind of team, are 116 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:38.759 the Celtics really about being that type of team to 117 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:40.000 defend their championship? 118 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:40.759 So there were so. 119 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:43.920 Many storylines going on, Shaw and this is what I 120 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:46.000 love that we have gotten it to this point where 121 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:47.759 we can truly say, you know what, when it was 122 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:49.439 all said and done, when we wipe all of this 123 00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:51.879 down and you take off all the injuries and all 124 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:55.839 the excuses. The Pacers were one of the hottest teams 125 00:05:55.879 --> 00:05:58.240 in the second half of the season, and they carried 126 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:01.920 it into the playoffs and they won the games that 127 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:04.279 mattered the most to get them to this point, the 128 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:08.720 Oklahoma City Thunder. For them to be as viable as 129 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:13.800 a finals participant, they had to go through a roadblock, 130 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:17.160 and that roadblock was one of the former champions into 131 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:20.839 Denver Nuggets. I think that series proved to us that 132 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:22.800 if they go out and do what they were put 133 00:06:22.839 --> 00:06:24.959 together to do, they would be one of the best 134 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:27.079 teams in the NBA and would be one of the 135 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:28.800 participants in the NBA Finals. 136 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:31.360 Yeah, he said a lot. And I'll actually want to 137 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:34.319 throw it back to the aspect of these two teams 138 00:06:34.360 --> 00:06:36.959 doing what they needed to do Keith Smith front of 139 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:39.959 the show, and a lot of I think of the 140 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:42.879 smarter NBA podcasts and ones that are not just kind 141 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:46.560 of like clickbaitio case to b. They've latched onto this 142 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:49.639 tweet by Keith Smith where he indicated that this is 143 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:52.800 going to be the first NBA Finals in the luxury 144 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:56.439 tax era, that both teams were not luxury tax players. 145 00:06:57.000 --> 00:07:03.160 So this is smart team building, rafting, coaching, player development, 146 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:06.720 all of the things, and none of these teams and 147 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:08.839 it's not they won't be this way forever, but as 148 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:11.480 of this NBA Finals, none of these teams, neither of 149 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:14.399 these two teams are luxury tax players. That is amazing, 150 00:07:15.319 --> 00:07:17.839 and that is amazing, and I think you know, okay, 151 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:20.959 see and Indiana, they they made really smart trades obviously, Okay, 152 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:23.639 see getting SGA in Paul George trade. There's the Paul 153 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:26.160 George angle down a lot of NBA twitter is hanging 154 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:28.680 on to as well too. These are two or two 155 00:07:28.839 --> 00:07:31.720 former Paul George teams as well. But then the Halliburton 156 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:34.360 for Sabona trade you know, from Indiana, then they get 157 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:36.120 Siakam the next year later, or what are the case 158 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:39.959 they be? Like really well constructed teams who deserve to 159 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:42.360 be here. And I'm not taking anything away from them 160 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:46.120 anymore at all in any aspector or or any way 161 00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:49.279 for them because I love I love basketball. I love 162 00:07:49.279 --> 00:07:52.160 that these two teams represent basketball. And while it's not 163 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:56.319 the air quot sexiest finals in terms of market size 164 00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:58.160 or what are the cases be, these are the two 165 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:00.000 best teams standing. And that's what you will. 166 00:08:00.639 --> 00:08:04.079 Listen for all these people out there that love, you know, 167 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:11.240 to inject you know, quote unquote the the trash talking 168 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:13.720 aspect of what we what we do and what I'm 169 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:16.120 what I'm talking about is you look at these teams 170 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:19.879 and they don't exhibit quote unquote the star power that 171 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:22.720 I think people are trying, you know, to elevate when 172 00:08:22.759 --> 00:08:26.519 we attach ourselves to the NBA and the marketability of 173 00:08:26.519 --> 00:08:27.360 the NBA. 174 00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:28.680 But look at these two teams. 175 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:32.440 Shaw, these are thoroughbreds, right The Oklahoma City Thunder have 176 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:36.360 proven that they can run with any team if they 177 00:08:36.440 --> 00:08:40.519 want to. Notice I said, if they want to. But 178 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:45.159 they don't have to. They believe that they're good enough 179 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:47.240 that if you want to go half court, we can 180 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:50.320 half court you. You want to go all out track meet, 181 00:08:50.519 --> 00:08:52.519 we can run with you. And we'll run with you 182 00:08:52.600 --> 00:08:55.840 fifteen deep if we have to write. They're players that 183 00:08:56.080 --> 00:09:00.000 showed up in this Western Conference Finals that you probably 184 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:04.600 have not heard their names up until they got into 185 00:09:04.679 --> 00:09:08.960 the playoffs and their dagonault and you know, you can 186 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:11.679 clearly tell that he's elevated himself as a coach and 187 00:09:12.840 --> 00:09:16.399 when he is implementing and deploying the roster and what 188 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:18.279 he needs his guys to go out and do, and 189 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:21.279 they're going out and doing it. The caseon Wallace's the 190 00:09:21.399 --> 00:09:25.200 Kendrick Williams. These dudes, you don't hear them all throughout 191 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:27.279 the but he's played them. He's played them if you 192 00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:30.759 were paying attention to them, and they found minutes. He 193 00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:34.879 found minutes for them critical situations where it was needed, 194 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:37.519 not about just giving guys a blow, not out of 195 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:42.000 necessity or desperation, but out of the strategic aspect of 196 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:44.600 what the OKC thunder needed to do for them to 197 00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:47.000 win a game or win a series. And that to me, 198 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:49.120 it speaks bothers. And I give the same credit to 199 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:52.240 Rick Carlisle when he felt like a matchup was not 200 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:56.879 in his favor, even if he had marginally playable guys, 201 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:59.799 he still put them out there with confidence that they 202 00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:03.039 are doing something that is going to benefit them when 203 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:05.200 it came down to closing out that series against the 204 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:07.799 New York Knicks, And that, to me is the kind 205 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:10.600 of things you want to see coming into an NBA Finals. 206 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:13.639 Were all of these components that you're measuring up and 207 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:15.960 trying to say who has the advantage of this that? 208 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:18.399 And the third if it's not being shown or implemented 209 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:20.759 any course through their run, it will always be a 210 00:10:20.840 --> 00:10:23.919 question mark and will always probably be against them if 211 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:25.639 it's not being displayed at some point. 212 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:29.799 Yeah, I think that's another great point. These are also 213 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:33.840 the two deepest teams left and that's important, and that's 214 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:36.879 I think on purpose, right, These coaches went deep into 215 00:10:36.919 --> 00:10:40.240 their bench. They went deep into their bench all season long. 216 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:42.879 They and in some cases they were forced. You know, 217 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:45.840 Check and Hertenstein all missed injuries, you know, various times 218 00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:47.960 things J. J. Williams this some time as well to 219 00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:50.120 both J. Williams actually you know in O ca see 220 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:53.480 Nate Smith missed time, them hard miss time. So I 221 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:56.279 think they, the Pacers and the thunder understood the need 222 00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:58.759 for a deep bench, but ultimately that allowed them to 223 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:02.960 be trustworthy to those guys eight, nine, ten, eleven, and twelve. 224 00:11:03.080 --> 00:11:05.240 You know, Thomas Ryant three threes, and you know in 225 00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:07.720 the close out game of Game six, you know, basically 226 00:11:07.799 --> 00:11:09.600 getting out of the doul drums of the Miami bench 227 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:11.559 where he just wasn't getting any run and his big 228 00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:13.399 threes and thats since I kind of sent the tide, 229 00:11:13.559 --> 00:11:16.960 especially in that first half. Like listen, I respect the 230 00:11:17.080 --> 00:11:20.159 roster construction, I respect the organizations that are in this 231 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:23.039 NBA Finals, and I think I'll pick it back off 232 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:24.720 of you what you said one more time. You know, 233 00:11:24.840 --> 00:11:26.799 be damned what any of all dependents are saying. Be 234 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:28.720 damned what NBA fans are saying, like, Oh, this is 235 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:30.799 gonna be a boring finals. I'm not gonna watch, cool, 236 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:32.879 don't watch. I think you're gonna miss out on some 237 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:35.639 great basketball. But if that's your choice because you don't 238 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:38.519 have the air quote mar Key guys or names that 239 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:41.240 you're used to, this is exactly what the NBA wanted. 240 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:43.279 They wanted the aspect of trying to bring in new 241 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:45.840 blood and now having these small and mid market teams 242 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:55.159 in the NBA Finals is an amazing case. VB. Is 243 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:57.559 he overrated at this point? What more can you say? 244 00:11:57.559 --> 00:11:59.799 He's made it to the NBA Finals with the team 245 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:03.080 that is extremely well constructed, but it's definitely built in 246 00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:05.399 his image and his likeness and terms of his leadership 247 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:06.720 and getting getting the pace up and down. 248 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:11.799 Absolutely Golly Warren Show based on NBA podcast our NBA 249 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:14.120 Finals preview. I mean we were just right out the gate. 250 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:16.000 We were just all about talking about it, right, you know, 251 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:17.240 forget a plug. 252 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:18.799 You people know who we are. You know what we've 253 00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:19.080 been doing. 254 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:21.159 We've been doing it all season long and for all 255 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:24.080 twelve plus years, right like, we've been doing this, right, 256 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:25.960 So you know where to find is, you know where 257 00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:26.519 to catch is. 258 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:29.840 One thing. 259 00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:31.879 And then you know, obviously we're gonna you know, drop 260 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:33.159 it to a quick break and then we'll get into 261 00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:35.759 the into the gist of you know where where we 262 00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:39.480 think the keys to the game is, you know, to 263 00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:42.799 who might actually have an advantage, may have a disadvantage, 264 00:12:42.840 --> 00:12:46.480 and then ultimately we'll you know, give our picks one 265 00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:50.000 thing that I think I'm really really really looking forward to. 266 00:12:49.799 --> 00:12:54.919 What is intrigued me about this series is the way 267 00:12:55.480 --> 00:13:00.679 that both of these teams are manufacturing their points. Okay, 268 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:05.600 let right now, like a lot of the really high ended, 269 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:09.240 well respected analysts are looking at this as an offensive 270 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:12.720 versus defensive matchup right like, because the Indiana Pacers are 271 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:14.240 the kind of team that can run up one hundred 272 00:13:14.279 --> 00:13:17.240 and thirty points. But I want people to really understand 273 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:21.360 the Oklahoma City Thunder as equally as well too. We're 274 00:13:21.559 --> 00:13:24.080 are scoring north of one hundred and twenty something points, 275 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:27.639 and a lot of it comes down to what they're 276 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:30.399 forcing the other teams to not be able to do. 277 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:34.120 And what we saw in this last series with the 278 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:40.080 Indiana Pacers is they are finding ways for them to hit. 279 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:41.840 Those quote quote unquote. 280 00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:46.039 Those quotas right of them hitting those one hundred and 281 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:48.399 twenty points, but they're doing it at the expense of 282 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:52.600 the opposition's mistakes, which is making them as equally a 283 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:55.559 formidable team as the Oklahoma City Thunder. I think what 284 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:58.360 it does now come down to is are the Pacers 285 00:13:58.440 --> 00:14:02.200 able to consistently do that to win four of seven games? 286 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:02.799 Right? 287 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:05.639 Because I don't think there'll ever be a question about 288 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:09.240 what OKC is capable of doing. They have been doing this, 289 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:12.080 and they do it with consistency. Now, there'll be times 290 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:14.600 where you know, somebody cracks the Da Vinci code on 291 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:17.559 the OKC Thunder defense, and there are times where the 292 00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:20.879 OKAC Thunder offensively get too kind of hung up on 293 00:14:20.919 --> 00:14:25.279 their own. But I want to see can the Indiana 294 00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:30.480 Pacers as equally reflect that same level of defensive intensity 295 00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:33.720 on a team that equals them when you look at 296 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:36.559 the matchups and the way that they're situated and how 297 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:39.799 these these offenses are executed, because to me, that could 298 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:41.919 very much be a toss up, and then it really 299 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:50.120 comes down to basketball IQ execution and better shot selection 300 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:53.720 and decision making, which I will say I question the 301 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:56.840 Indiana Pacers a lot more than I probably do the 302 00:14:56.840 --> 00:14:59.720 Oklahoma City Thunder. But I'm gonna leave that part for 303 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:01.799 you try to kind of kind of weigh in and 304 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:04.799 chime in on, because through there we'll segue into where 305 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:07.919 we see these X factors and the matchups and who 306 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:10.600 probably has the advantage over who when it comes to 307 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:12.799 the total roster, and then giving our picks. 308 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:15.120 Yeah, well, I mean I think, you know, it's a 309 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:17.840 great it's a great opportunity for us to understand the 310 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:20.759 machinations of all of these teams. So both these teams 311 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:23.440 twelve and four, you know, getting into and I think 312 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:26.080 the twelve and four are looked very different obviously in 313 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:28.120 terms of how we got here. Okay, see, as you 314 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:30.399 said before and as we've said, forged by fire with 315 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:33.120 the Denver Nuggets in that series, while the Pacers more 316 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:37.240 or less have been able to i'd say truly dominate 317 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:40.240 almost every one of their matchup six games, very close 318 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:42.320 six games, and the game will probably turn that series 319 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:44.840 around for them ultimately when the New York series or whatever. 320 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:47.240 But you know, they they haven't been they haven't faced 321 00:15:47.240 --> 00:15:50.480 elimination yet, right, And I think you know that's that's 322 00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:54.159 just a different situation than than Oka. See. But again, 323 00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:56.360 we still get here with twelve and four records, both 324 00:15:56.399 --> 00:16:00.000 teams who are offensively capable, defensively capable. In the end, 325 00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:01.559 I really turned up to the defense on this next 326 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:04.080 team and it's forced a lot of turnovers. And that's 327 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:05.679 something that I think when when we come back to 328 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:07.639 the break, something that will be a great part of 329 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:10.639 the conversation to kind of figure out, you know, who's 330 00:16:10.679 --> 00:16:14.720 more reliance on their defense to turn into offense or 331 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:17.240 who should be ultimately and who will be able to 332 00:16:17.320 --> 00:16:21.320 just kind of be able to sustain their normal offense, right, 333 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:23.159 you know, can they run the half court offense and 334 00:16:23.559 --> 00:16:26.159 execute in a way that will be efficient enough in 335 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:28.799 essence to get w's in this series? So cannot wait 336 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:31.960 dive into that conversation. But again, two teams twelve and four, 337 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:36.639 very different, different different looks, but same results here NBA Finalists. 338 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:39.159 Your tune to the baseline Cali warn't Shaw discussing the 339 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:43.240 hot button topics of the NBA are special edition of 340 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:47.320 the Baseline NBA Finals Preview Indiana Pass Oklahoma City Thunder 341 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:49.840 coming up, Sean, I will break down some of those 342 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:53.399 nuances where the advantages play for other team and then 343 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:56.159 ultimately we got to pick a winner, right, so you 344 00:16:56.159 --> 00:17:06.839 don't want to miss it here on the Baseline. We're back, 345 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:10.839 Cali Warrenshaw based on NBA podcast NBA Finals Preview Oklahoma 346 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:16.480 City Thunder, Indiana Pacers, and just before we hit our Breakshaw, 347 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:19.640 you alluded to one of the things that I think 348 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:23.759 was really important is which team is gonna have to 349 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:26.279 heavily rely on their defense to. 350 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:30.039 Allow them more. 351 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:36.200 Opportunities for shots, allow them to force the other team 352 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:41.799 to really appreciate the amount of shot attempts that they 353 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:46.599 will have to be efficient in order to maintain and hang. 354 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:49.160 And I think it's a really great way to kind 355 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:52.799 of look into you know, have the Indiana Pacers caught up? 356 00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:55.559 We can safely say throughout the course of the run 357 00:17:55.599 --> 00:18:01.240 for the Oklahoma City Thunder, their defense really and I'm 358 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:03.599 sure that there will be, you know, metrics that will 359 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:06.680 speak to it on historical levels. I don't want to 360 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:08.799 go as far as to say they were among they 361 00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:11.200 are the greatest defense that's ever played. I'm not really 362 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:13.079 buying that because I think when you look at who 363 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:15.519 you're playing against, the level of the competition that you're 364 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:18.039 playing against, I think that speaks volumes. 365 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:22.519 I will say that they are definitely one of. 366 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:26.759 The most effective defensive teams that we have seen in 367 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:30.000 recent history, with the way that all of them have 368 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:34.319 had an intricate part in being able to affect those numbers. 369 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:37.079 The Oklahoma City Thunder, without question, to me, would be 370 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:40.519 the team that offers the most consistency to come out 371 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:46.319 and play defensive, intense basketball for forty eight minutes through 372 00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:48.759 and through, and even though the results may not speak 373 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:51.079 to saying, Okay, you're holding a team to seventy points 374 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:55.119 eighty points, it's the quality of shot and the amount 375 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:58.880 of opportunities they're giving themselves in order for them to 376 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:01.559 beat the other team that I think resonates with me. 377 00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:05.319 And it's something that I wonder this series that we 378 00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:07.599 saw with the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks. 379 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:12.839 While the Indiana Pacers definitely improved as far as what 380 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:16.839 they showed excuse me, defensively, I wonder if whether or 381 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:18.720 not a lot of it as well too, just came 382 00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:21.160 down to who they were playing against and the fact 383 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:24.200 that they weren't a tentative to details in not making 384 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:27.279 themselves turn the ball over. So I wonder, now with 385 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:31.160 this Oklahoma City Thunder team, do they nullify that aspect 386 00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:31.839 with the Pacers. 387 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:35.119 Yeah. So I'll throw a couple of numbers at you. 388 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:38.880 These are, you know, two obviously the two last teams 389 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:42.920 in the NBA, and the numbers are going to skew 390 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:44.920 towards them because of just kind of like where they're at. 391 00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:48.559 But Oklahoma City really relies on defense and defense and 392 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:51.119 essence deternament the offense, as I was saying before the break, 393 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:54.559 so roughly twenty four points per game in the playoffs 394 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:59.279 are they're getting based off of turnovers? Like they're scoring 395 00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:01.799 those points off of turnovers twenty four of those points. 396 00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:05.680 Indiana conversely getting nineteen points off off of turnovers. So 397 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:09.559 what I'm interested to see here is that the fast 398 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:13.559 breaking style of Indiana, while their pace, hasn't necessarily reflected 399 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:16.599 everything that we think to be true about them, because 400 00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:18.720 right now they're at a pace off only ninety nine 401 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:21.359