WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:01.600 Privee with Spence checkets. 2 00:00:01.720 --> 00:00:04.559 This is k A L L North Salt Lake k 3 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:09.039 x R k HD three ESPN seven hundred and ninety 4 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:09.519 two to one. 5 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:16.239 F M S. 6 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:29.760 Messing me up my whole head season me just like 7 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:30.559 Tita did. 8 00:00:31.320 --> 00:00:34.399 Now look at what you got, ol boy crushing it 9 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:37.000 in or the host, the whole world see it. It's 10 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:38.640 what you can't my peoples. 11 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:40.039 They can play no. 12 00:00:40.200 --> 00:00:44.240 NBA basketball tonight. I don't even know what I'm gonna do. 13 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:52.560 Conference finals start tomorrow and they continue on Wednesday. Happy 14 00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:55.479 Monday to our guy Tom Haberstrow, who joins now to 15 00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:56.079 talsing Ball. 16 00:00:56.159 --> 00:01:05.079 Tommy, what's going on? Man? Hello? Tom? Tom Averstrow, All 17 00:01:05.159 --> 00:01:05.599 right here. 18 00:01:05.719 --> 00:01:09.200 I had myself on mute. I was it was a 19 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:12.359 rookie move. I had myself on mute and I was talking, 20 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:15.319 and you were like, hey, can I hear you? When 21 00:01:15.319 --> 00:01:17.400 I was like, is my take that the last of 22 00:01:17.480 --> 00:01:20.480 Us episode that I watched that I can't watch tonight? 23 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:22.799 Do you have any last of US takes? Are you 24 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:23.680 watching that show? 25 00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:27.120 I am not? You have you made your way through 26 00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:28.200 righteous Gemstones? 27 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:32.519 So that's on my to do list this offseason. I know, 28 00:01:32.680 --> 00:01:35.719 I know, just don't just don't. I know it. Everybody, 29 00:01:35.799 --> 00:01:38.760 all my buddies are I can't believe because, like, if 30 00:01:38.760 --> 00:01:41.280 you did an algorithm of like things that I like, 31 00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:46.640 comedies shows, HBO shows, whatever, it would all point to 32 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:49.480 the Righteous Epstones. And I haven't started it yet. And 33 00:01:49.560 --> 00:01:51.719 I'm sorry. I apologize. That is number one on my 34 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:52.239 big board. 35 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:54.640 You do not have to apologize to me, but you 36 00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:57.560 can count me among the people were not best buds. 37 00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:00.000 But it does seem like righteous Gemstones would be right 38 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:03.159 down your alley. I mean, I'm a like anything McBride does. 39 00:02:03.159 --> 00:02:05.439 I'll give it a chance, you know, vice principles, whatever 40 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:07.120 it is, I'm gonna watch Danny McBride. 41 00:02:08.039 --> 00:02:13.479 Well, I think I think right now the NBA it's 42 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:16.960 it's a great time to be an NBA fan because 43 00:02:17.479 --> 00:02:21.120 we've got some new fresh blood. We've got the whole 44 00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:24.520 Cooper Flag dynamic. There's a lot of storylines with the 45 00:02:24.599 --> 00:02:27.800 Luka Doncic stuff. We've got some new blood. But I 46 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:29.800 got to say, at this point in the postseason, I 47 00:02:29.800 --> 00:02:32.360 think everyone deserves a little bit of a beat, a 48 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:35.719 little bit of a break. And so last night having 49 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:38.879 no game and then tonight not having a game I 50 00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:42.159 think it's good for all. I'm not saying it's Aaron Gordon. 51 00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:44.520 Where Aaron Gordon is now after losing saying we need 52 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:48.080 more rest in the postseason. I'm not saying I'm taking 53 00:02:48.159 --> 00:02:51.759 a page out of Aaron Gordon's book. I'm just saying, Look, 54 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:56.719 I think for everyone's health and their their families and 55 00:02:56.759 --> 00:02:59.960 their loved ones, it'll be good to get some FaceTime 56 00:03:00.039 --> 00:03:02.520 with them this evening. I'm just saying that. 57 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:05.639 What if you're single and your only child is twenty three, 58 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:08.080 living in New Canaan, Connecticut and not in Salt Lake. 59 00:03:08.120 --> 00:03:09.919 What if you have literally nothing to do and no 60 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:11.080 family to interface with. 61 00:03:12.039 --> 00:03:13.039 You're asking for a friend. 62 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:16.080 Yeah no, not me, not me, Tom, just a buddy 63 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:16.400 of mine. 64 00:03:18.680 --> 00:03:21.520 Well, you know what, you can pull up some bold clips. 65 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:25.000 You know, you can pull up whatever you want. And 66 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:26.919 that's a great thing about the NBA is there's a 67 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:29.919 plenty of libraries there on NBA dot Com or if 68 00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:33.319 you want, on all the streaming platforms, there's lots of 69 00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:35.439 content you can watch on the NBA if you need 70 00:03:35.479 --> 00:03:36.759 to fill that void in your life. 71 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:39.080 Or could you do me a favor and go to 72 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:42.360 the archive of the Staples wreckers and see if you 73 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:45.759 can give me nineteen ninety four New Canaan at Staples 74 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:48.120 Spence check its versus Pete Van Sicklin. 75 00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:49.000 Can you can you do that? 76 00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:53.400 What is a website error message for roh or not fun? 77 00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:56.400 That's that's what that is. I don't know what you're 78 00:03:56.439 --> 00:03:56.960 talking about. 79 00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:00.360 A fair enough All right, Tom, I've got of a 80 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:03.439 loaded question, but you'll be good with this. I started 81 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:07.039 the show off today with you know, we're about to 82 00:04:07.080 --> 00:04:10.560 have our seventh NBA champion seven years. When you look 83 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:13.520 at some of the teams that have won championships, it's Milwaukee, 84 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:18.519 it is Denver, and ultimately this year we have Minnesota, 85 00:04:18.600 --> 00:04:21.959 we have Oklahoma City, we have Indianapolis, all in the 86 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:26.360 final four, which means this era of parody should benefit 87 00:04:26.439 --> 00:04:28.600 teams at play in cities such as ours. 88 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:28.839 Now. 89 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:32.360 The problem is the Jazz are not ready to capitalize 90 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:34.720 on what other teams have been able to position themselves 91 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:38.720 to capitalize on. The new CBA expires in five years. 92 00:04:38.759 --> 00:04:40.800 We had Bobby Marks on last segment. We kind of 93 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:44.959 walked through this so explained to us why we have 94 00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:49.240 seen this parody manifest itself in pro basketball and how 95 00:04:49.240 --> 00:04:53.439 the Jazz can position themselves to capitalize on this era 96 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:56.279 the way that other small, small market teams have. 97 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:01.199 He's how you do it. Build up your medical staff. 98 00:05:02.360 --> 00:05:06.160 There's no cap on your medical staff. And this parody 99 00:05:06.199 --> 00:05:10.959 era is lipstick on a pig. The parody label is 100 00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:17.199 a nice, warm propaganda term to say, all our stars 101 00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:20.480 are injured these days, and that's what's dictating these non 102 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:24.160 repeats and new champions every year. Because guys like Jason Tatum, 103 00:05:24.279 --> 00:05:26.240 or if it's Jiannis, or if it's Kevin Durant in 104 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:29.160 the twenty nineteen NBA finals, or it's Klay Thompson in 105 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:31.839 the twenty nineteen NBA Finals, if it's Chris Middleton with 106 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:34.680 the Milwaukee Bucks, if it's Drew Holliday this year in 107 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:40.879 Jason Tatum, these repeat quests are more a result of 108 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:44.199 stars getting injured. Then I think what's being led on 109 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:47.480 and we can say this is the era of you know, 110 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:52.519 the CBA, that the second Apron and the Big three 111 00:05:52.600 --> 00:05:56.120 era is done. I would argue that this is more 112 00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:58.680 of a function of NBA stars are getting hurt and 113 00:05:58.680 --> 00:06:01.720 not on our TV screen than it is more of 114 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:07.759 this like good competitive balance measures. And I think that's 115 00:06:07.800 --> 00:06:10.399 not a fun story to tell, it's an important story 116 00:06:10.439 --> 00:06:13.720 to tell. It's an accurate, accurate story to tell that 117 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:19.439 the repeat champions or the reigning champions, I should say 118 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:25.120 in that seven years are more injury riddled than not. 119 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:28.920 So when we look at the Boston Celtics and why 120 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:33.040 they they felt in that series, there's two reasons. One 121 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:37.040 they got really cold shooting, and two they had no 122 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:39.959 Jason Tatum, a banged up Drew Holiday who was missing 123 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:42.839 playoff games earlier in the series. In the playoffs, he 124 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:47.399 had also Christaps Porzingis, who was a shell of himself. Right, 125 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:52.040 the Knicks were healthy, they played great, but the Boston 126 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:56.560 Celtics are not repeat champions, mostly because of the fact 127 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:59.800 that they didn't shoot well and that they weren't healthy. 128 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:03.360 And that really is the big story here is when 129 00:07:03.399 --> 00:07:07.079 you're talking about parody in the NBA, it's not a 130 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:10.240 thing of competitive ballots, no matter what they sell you. 131 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:14.560 It's more about three point shooting has taken over the 132 00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:17.920 league and because of that, there's more variance in who 133 00:07:17.959 --> 00:07:20.879 wins in a series. And if you look at every 134 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:24.480 series this postseason, almost all of them have been won 135 00:07:24.519 --> 00:07:27.160 by the team that shot better from Downtown almost every 136 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:31.160 single one. And so when you have the three ball 137 00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:36.959 mattering this much and injuries mattering this much in the postseason, 138 00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:42.079 I just wrote a column for Yahoo Sports that injuries 139 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:47.240 in the postseason have increased sevenfolds since the late nineteen nineties. 140 00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:52.959 Injuries to star players, all star players have increased sevenfold 141 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:57.519 since the late nineteen nineties and fivefold since as recently 142 00:07:58.120 --> 00:08:02.439 as two thousand and eight. So that is why we're 143 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:04.879 not having these repeat champions. As much as we want 144 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:07.399 to say it's about, oh, everyone's got a chance, Well 145 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:11.079 everyone's got a chance because stars that matter more in 146 00:08:11.160 --> 00:08:14.639 basketball than any other sport, star players are not being 147 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:17.519 available because of injuries and three point shooting, and so 148 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:20.800 I think that's more of a reason. And if you're 149 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:22.959 a Utah Jazz, say and I would say, make sure 150 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:25.560 your training staff is as good as the New York 151 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:29.399 Knicks is one, because they just got the Trainers Award 152 00:08:29.480 --> 00:08:33.639 this year. The Traders Association Athletic Trainers Association give out 153 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:38.720 the Athletic Training Association Award and going to the healthiest 154 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:40.480 or the best training staff in the league, and it 155 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:43.679 just got awarded to the Knicks today and they got 156 00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:46.240 Casey Smith from the Dallas Mavericks, which is one of 157 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:52.279 the reasons why allegedly Luka Doncic was moved at the deadline, 158 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:54.919 was because Casey Smith, who was one of the best 159 00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:59.600 and most well regarded training staff head athletic trainers in 160 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:02.159 the NBA. That was as close to Dryk Dabitsky as 161 00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:05.080 anybody who was a part of the staff when they 162 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:08.320 won the twenty eleven NBA Finals against the Miami Heat. 163 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:11.919 That guy just got the award for the New York Knicks. 164 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:14.440 And I think that this is an important storyline for 165 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:16.840 the franchises that are in Charlotte, where I'm based, and 166 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:21.000 in Utah and in Memphis and New Orleans. You gotta 167 00:09:21.159 --> 00:09:23.720 ramp up your medical staffs because that is the most 168 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:27.039 important ingredient when it comes to winning championships. Is not 169 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:29.919 just having stars, yes we all know that, but making 170 00:09:29.960 --> 00:09:33.480 sure those stars are healthy and well supported by your 171 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:37.159 performance of medical staff. That's gonna dictate as much as 172 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:40.159 getting the star is making sure that they're able to 173 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:43.440 play in June, in May, and in April. And that 174 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:45.639 is a big storyline that no one's talking about. 175 00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:49.159 Well, Tom, I didn't invite you on to completely sabotage 176 00:09:49.159 --> 00:09:54.080 my rundown of the show today. Okay, so you're not 177 00:09:54.120 --> 00:09:58.039 necessarily wrong. The problem with talking about that through the 178 00:09:58.159 --> 00:10:00.600 prism of where the Jazz file themselves is all due 179 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:03.399 respect to the current roster, none of them really have 180 00:10:03.480 --> 00:10:06.000 to stay healthy for them to do anything special. So 181 00:10:06.039 --> 00:10:10.000 I guess I'll try to change maybe the angle in 182 00:10:10.039 --> 00:10:11.559 the direction. But I do want to get back to 183 00:10:11.559 --> 00:10:13.159 what you just said, because I'm wondering what your thoughts 184 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:15.240 are and why we're seeing this. But when it comes 185 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:19.600 to the jazz perspective, is there anything that we can't 186 00:10:19.639 --> 00:10:22.559 ascertain from the current landscape of the NBA that is 187 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:26.120 positive for this fan base to look at through the 188 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:29.360 prism of what Okac has built, and Minnesota has built, 189 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:32.600 and Indianapolis is built, and Milwaukee winning a title and 190 00:10:32.679 --> 00:10:34.840 Denver winning a title. Is there anything about all of 191 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:37.639 that that this fan base should look at as a 192 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:41.600 positive piece of news for the future of this organization 193 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:43.639 as they continue to try to roster construct. 194 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:46.559 Well, yeah, I mean it's good news that we have 195 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:49.080 injuries to star players, because if you don't have a 196 00:10:49.080 --> 00:10:52.399 great team, or if you're trying to rebuild and you 197 00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:55.919 know strike it hit the lottery not and sorry the 198 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:58.759 draft lottery. We don't have to revisit that from last week. 199 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:02.679 But the point is, if you are a mid tier 200 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:06.840 title contender like the Indiana Pacers or the Minnesota Timberwolves 201 00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:09.960 that were not in my top tier all season long 202 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:14.200 at Tomdefiner dot com, you have a better shot in 203 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:18.759 today's era when Jason Tatum and Jamian Lillard tear their 204 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:22.039 achilles in the postseason, like you have a better chance 205 00:11:22.679 --> 00:11:26.879 at making a run and having things break your way 206 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:29.320 if star players are getting into your more so, if 207 00:11:29.320 --> 00:11:32.879 the Utah Jazz want to look at this era and say, hey, 208 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:37.279 it's a shorter path because of this, I would agree 209 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:41.320 with you. I would also say that when you have 210 00:11:41.480 --> 00:11:46.440 a guy like Will Hardy who believes in three pointers 211 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:49.720 and has a shot profile of you know, having smart 212 00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:54.240 taking your shots from smart places on the floor, rim 213 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:58.159 get to the free throw line, and three pointers. This 214 00:11:58.200 --> 00:12:01.200 is the modern way to play. And you're seeing that 215 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:03.639 games are being dictated by three pointers a lot more. 216 00:12:04.200 --> 00:12:08.240 And he believes that like Will Hardy is wise to 217 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:10.279 the importance of the three point shot. That doesn't mean 218 00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:14.360 that he he is okay with Walker Kessler taking tad 219 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:17.519 threes a game that we saw a little cameo of 220 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:19.159 that at the end of the season, and we might 221 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:22.000 know why that was happening. But I think when you 222 00:12:22.039 --> 00:12:26.200 look at the Utah Jazz and this more open playing 223 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:32.919 open season for the championship, it might not be as 224 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:36.000 long of a runway as it was in previous generations 225 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:39.320 and the thunder or evidence of that. And I also 226 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:43.559 think that the Indiana Pacers, you remember they were in 227 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:47.080 the Webby sweepstakes like they were gonna be a team 228 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:48.600 that was going to tank and they kind of were 229 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:51.120 too good for that. It wasn't long ago that the 230 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:56.679 Indiana Pacers were considered Vegas's the lowest number in the 231 00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:58.759 over unders by by Vegas. There was only a couple 232 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:02.399 of years ago. And so now they are one of 233 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:04.600 the last four teams remaining for a second straight year. 234 00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:08.279 And I think there's a good lesson there for Utah 235 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:09.759 Jazz that this can turn around quickly. 236 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:13.799 So we talked to you, I think our first NBA 237 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:17.480 guest after the bad news that the Jazz did not 238 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:20.919 get a little luck last week and they a cheap 239 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:25.039 hesitating to say they fell to five because the percentages 240 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:27.799 said that was the best possible out or not. The 241 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:33.720 most likely possible outcome was four or five. So that 242 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:36.120 was their floor. So they didn't get the luck, but 243 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:39.320 they actually landed where the numbers said they probably would land. 244 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:42.159 Here's my question, Tom, because we've already seen. 245 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:45.000 A couple of reports, one from our local b rider 246 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:48.559 here the desrat News, Sarah Todd indicating the Jazz are 247 00:13:48.679 --> 00:13:51.080 going to do whatever they can to try to move up, 248 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:52.919 and they're going to try to be bold. They've got 249 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:56.799 all the assets. You will see how that looks or 250 00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:59.559 what it looks like. But who in the top five 251 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:02.799 we can remove Dallas? Because Patrick Dumont was like, we're 252 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:06.320 keeping one. We're drafting Cooper flag No Nico, you can't 253 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:09.399 trade it. So that's already kind of done. So if 254 00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:11.679 we move Dallas, who in front of the Jazz is 255 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:13.480 most likely to move up? And you think the Jazz 256 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:18.159 can get something like that done. 257 00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:21.200 I'm looking at San Antonio. San Antonio at number two. 258 00:14:21.320 --> 00:14:25.840 They already have Dared Fox and Stefan Castle and Dylan 259 00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:29.799 Harper is considered the favorite to go number two before 260 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:33.080 the draft lottery, And we'll see what happens and if 261 00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:39.039 the San Antonio Spurs moved down right, would they want 262 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:44.000 someone on the Utah Jazz roster right now in to 263 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:48.039 trade down from two to five, And would they be 264 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:53.840 willing to part with let's say Lowry Markinen or John 265 00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:59.159 Collins or another veteran that would be appealing to a 266 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:01.799 team that's trying to win, as we saw with Daron 267 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:06.440 Fox acquisition, They're trying to win now. And if if 268 00:15:06.440 --> 00:15:10.200 it's gonna be lowry marketing on the table for Dylan Harper, 269 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:15.720 I don't know. I think the Utah Jazz would be 270 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:18.240 very wise to try to go get a Dylan Harper, 271 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:20.639 but if it comes to the cost of marketing, I 272 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:23.360 can understand why he would be very appealing to the Spurs, 273 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:26.279 and why Dylan Harper would be very appealing to the 274 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:29.360 Utah Jazz to get like their point guard, whether you 275 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:33.559 want to say hybrid guard of the future, that would 276 00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:36.519 make sense from a personnel standpoint. I just don't know 277 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:40.080 if the Utah Jazz would move marketing for Dylan Harper. 278 00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:41.919 I don't know if he's that much of the knockdown 279 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:45.720 or a home run draft prospect, But in terms of 280 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:49.720 the needs of the San Antonio Spurs as getting a 281 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:55.279 knockdown three point shooter. A big like Harrison Barnes is 282 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:58.720 like a poor man's version of Lowry market In. Larry 283 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:00.919 Markin is a star version of Garrison Barnes, a big 284 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:05.039 guard who can shoot the rock and play multiple positions. 285 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:08.240 When you got like Larry Markinen and Victor Webbin Yama 286 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:11.840 next to each other, that's really impressive. That's a really 287 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:15.440 tough to guard front line. They're big and you don't 288 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:19.600 need as much shot blocking if you're Larry Marketing when 289 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:22.080 you got Wemby right there behind you, He's like a 290 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:26.320 suit up version of Walker Kessler back there. So that's 291 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:29.120 I would ask for more if I'm the San Antonio, 292 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:31.919 if I'm the Utah Jazz, if I'm gonna move Larry Markinen. 293 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:36.399 But that seems like two teams that are on different trajectories, 294 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:39.600 and you could imagine them trying to move up. But 295 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:41.840 I can't imagine the San Antonio Spurs are going to 296 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:45.840 move down for John Collins or something like that. So 297 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:48.159 it would be tough for me to see the San 298 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:50.639 Antonio Spurs unless Larry Markin is on the table. 299 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:51.919 All right. 300 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:56.039 Moving over now to teams that are still playing, and 301 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:58.440 I wonder and I've talked to Bobby about this and 302 00:16:58.799 --> 00:17:02.840 you'll get it, you know. Visions of Charles Smith missing 303 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:04.079 four layups in a row. 304 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:05.359 No, he was not fouled. 305 00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:09.839 Visions of Anthony Mason literally throwing an in bounce pass 306 00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:11.880 to Reggie Miller, who stepped back and hit a three 307 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:15.559 when Greg Anthony fell down. Visions of Patrick Ewing's finger 308 00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:18.240 roll bouncing off the back of the rim against the Pacers, 309 00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:21.599 John Starts going three of eighteen and pat Riley refusing 310 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:24.960 to just take Rolando Blackman off ice for a minute. 311 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:27.599 All of those things dancing through my Nick fan head. 312 00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:29.519 So no part of me thought we were going to 313 00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:32.880 see a blowout on Friday night, Yet we did. What 314 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:36.279 stands out most, Tom, outside of the Tatum stuff, which 315 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:38.759 we know has to be brought into the equation, but 316 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:40.440 the way the Knicks have been able to do this 317 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:42.680 and build this roster that brings them back to the 318 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:44.640 conference finals, what stands out most to you. 319 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:51.079 I mean, it's Jalen Brunson. This guy is unreal. The 320 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:56.519 way that he has dominated in fourth quarters this postseason 321 00:17:56.759 --> 00:18:01.880 and in clutch time, it's remarkable. It's a testament to 322 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:06.079 Leon Rose and Tom Thibodeau and Worldwide West, and the 323 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:09.599 fact that they believe so much in Jalen Brunton to 324 00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:12.559 tamper whatever you want to call it, hire his father 325 00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:16.759 to the coaching staff under Tom Thibodeau, and send a 326 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:20.359 whole fleet of people to go watch that game that 327 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:22.319 they thought it was about Donovan Mitchell when it's more 328 00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:27.960 about Jalen Brunson. To go and acquire that guy and 329 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:30.759 then say, not only is he going to be an 330 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:34.039 All Star for us, but he's going to be one 331 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:36.640 of the best, if not the best playoff performer in 332 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:39.480 a couple of years. Because that's the level that Jalen 333 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:43.119 Brunson has been playing this postseason, averaging twenty nine points 334 00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:48.359 per game and in the fourth quarters. In fourth quarters 335 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:55.279 this postseason, Jalen Brunson has over one hundred points. He 336 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:59.119 has one hundred and fourteen points this postseason and the 337 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:04.240 next highest guy I has seventy six. So Jalen Brunson 338 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:07.440 in the fourth quarter shooting fifty one percent from the floor, 339 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:11.440 forty eight percent from downtown and has more points than 340 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:16.440 anybody by forty by by by about forty points. That's 341 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:19.559 insane and He's not a big dude, and so I 342 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:22.319 can understand why people looked at Jalen Brunson and said 343 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:26.160 he's undersize, he's not athletic enough. But the dude's a 344 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:28.960 winner and he's proven time and time again that he's 345 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:31.240 been able to step up and last postseason against the 346 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:33.720 Indiana Pacers getting hurt and just not being able to 347 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:36.920 finish the season. I can't wait for this series. I 348 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:40.200 can't wait to see how Karl Anthony Towns is leveraged 349 00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:42.240 in this In this series, we got two five out 350 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:45.519 teams with Miles Turner and Karl Anthony Towns being two 351 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:47.640 of the best three points shooting bigs in the league. 352 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:51.160 We've got a lot of bad blood between these two teams. Historically, 353 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:53.839 we're gonna see Reggie Miller on the mic for TNT 354 00:19:53.960 --> 00:19:58.160 and their last postseason on the broadcast. There's a lot 355 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:00.839 of dynamics here that are really excited. But my favorite 356 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:04.319 thing is that we have the potential for Tyree's Halliburton 357 00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:07.000 to do the choke sign against the New York Knicks. 358 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:09.240 I'll at Reggie Miller with Reggie Miller in the building 359 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:14.319 in Indiana, like if that happens WWE ain't got nothing 360 00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:17.480 on this series. We even saw Tyree Taliburton and Jalen 361 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:22.240 Brunson in WWE, and it wouldn't top the theatrics. If 362 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:25.160 the Indiana Pacers win a clutch game in Indiana against 363 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:28.559 the New York Knicks and with Reggie Miller on on 364 00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:31.759 the broadcast, Tyre's Haliburton busts that out, like, I am, 365 00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:33.680 I am, I am here for this series. 366 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:36.880 You know what PTSD is, Tom, you know the definition 367 00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:37.079 of that. 368 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:37.359 There. 369 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:39.599 I'm sorry, okay, So, like, of all the interviews you're 370 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:41.400 gonna do this week, this is the only one you 371 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.319 didn't need to do that. 372 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:45.759 You realize that, right, I am sorry to do that 373 00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:46.079 to you. 374 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:46.519 All good? 375 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:49.279 At first, I start off by having the mute button 376 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:51.640 on and then I do that. See you come on, man, 377 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:53.440 if you hung up on me, I would not blame you. 378 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:55.680 I would never do that to you, especially at my age. 379 00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:59.119 When my son is visibly embarrassed watching me text. He's like, Dad, 380 00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:00.880 why does that take you? So I'm like, just leave 381 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:03.400 me alone. I'll get it done just real quick. Who 382 00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:05.240 do you give the advantage to nick Pacers? 383 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.119 Just early on? 384 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:09.680 I think it's the Pacers and the way that they 385 00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:13.519 get up and down the floor, the shot making that 386 00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:15.279 they have. They are the best shooting team in the 387 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:18.480 postseason so far. They've got about eight guys in that 388 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:24.400 series shooting fifty percent or higher against Cleveland. They are 389 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:27.720 a team that I think could give the next real 390 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:30.960 problems when it comes to that up tempo. They move 391 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:35.400 the ball crazy way more than the Boston Celtics. The 392 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:38.720 Indiana Pacers are having more passes per game this postseason 393 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:41.519 than any team since twenty fifteen. It's been a decade 394 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:43.960 plus since we've seen a team move the ball this 395 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:47.319 much per game than the Indiana Pacers. And as we 396 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:51.079 saw against the Boston Celtics, the switching that they do 397 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:53.759 sometimes they can get vulnerable. You're going to try to 398 00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:56.680 limit the passing by switching a lot, but they're not 399 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:59.759 a good switching team, and so are you going to 400 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:06.400 see Tom Thibodeau in that very overload strongside defense, and 401 00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:09.240