WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>Keith Smith. He rights for so many different and appears

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<v Speaker 1>on the front office show at Sports Track and you

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<v Speaker 1>can follo him on Twitter at Keith Smith NBA. He

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<v Speaker 1>was with us earlier this year, was fantastic. Had to

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<v Speaker 1>have him back again and he's with us on this

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<v Speaker 1>Tuesday morning. Keith, hope you and yours are well. How

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<v Speaker 1>are you today, I'm doing great.

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<v Speaker 2>Thanks for having me.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, really appreciate you coming on. I am not surprised

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<v Speaker 1>by the Pistons and Knick series. What has surprised you,

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<v Speaker 1>if anything, and what's your takeaway in the first two games.

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<v Speaker 2>I think the biggest surprise I've had is that Detroit

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<v Speaker 2>has been able to contain the Knicks offense, and the

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<v Speaker 2>Knicks offense has been one of the better ones in

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<v Speaker 2>the league this year. Pistons defense was good, but it's

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<v Speaker 2>not a great defensive group, but they've been able to

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<v Speaker 2>really kind of keep them in check and that's allowed

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<v Speaker 2>them to play in these two close games. And I

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<v Speaker 2>said it last night, I think both teams are probably

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<v Speaker 2>waking up this morning thinking we should be up to

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<v Speaker 2>Oh it appears Detroit fell apart in Game one. New

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<v Speaker 2>York feels like they probably have one foot away in

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<v Speaker 2>Game two and that makes for a pretty good series.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I don't disagree with you. I think you know,

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<v Speaker 1>Kate cunning and Jalen Brunson's been really good obviously, but

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<v Speaker 1>he had six turnovers yesterday. Kid Cunningham in Game one

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<v Speaker 1>had a double double, but had six turnovers. And look,

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, when you handle the ball as much as

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<v Speaker 1>those guys do, you're going to have some full pause

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<v Speaker 1>every once in a while. But I think Cunningham has

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<v Speaker 1>proved some things, and so is Detroit's youth. Now, I

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<v Speaker 1>have argued this, Keith, when you look at the amount

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<v Speaker 1>of playoff experience with Harris and Beasley and Hardaway and Shrewder,

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<v Speaker 1>that really Detroit is not that untested in postseason play.

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<v Speaker 1>Why do you think there is a mantra about Detroit's

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<v Speaker 1>inexperience and that maybe the playoffs would be too much

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<v Speaker 1>for a young team to adapt to.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, it's a fair question. I think what people are

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<v Speaker 2>looking at is they're looking at their main guy, being

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<v Speaker 2>Kate Cunningham. This is the first go two other starters

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<v Speaker 2>have never been anywhere near the playoffs either in Durham

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<v Speaker 2>and Thompson. And then you've got I know Isaiah Stewer

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<v Speaker 2>was out for Game two, but him Ron Holland that's

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<v Speaker 2>I still think what people think of when they think

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<v Speaker 2>of Detroit, because there's still I think some people coming

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<v Speaker 2>around to they're here, and they didn't get here just

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<v Speaker 2>fully homegrown. They made some really smart editions over the

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<v Speaker 2>last really year or so, getting Harris and Beasley and

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<v Speaker 2>then getting hard Away and Shruder. Though those guys are

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<v Speaker 2>really solid pickups, and that's good. Now. The other thing

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<v Speaker 2>is they don't have a lot of experience in the

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<v Speaker 2>playoffs together as a group. But it's not like this

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<v Speaker 2>Knicks team is swimming in experience together either. Townsend Bridges

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<v Speaker 2>weren't there for them last year. They're figuring it out.

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<v Speaker 2>You have just as much in the playoffs as Detroit is.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, when you looked at Game one and Game two combined,

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<v Speaker 1>I've argued that I think Detroit's been the better team

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<v Speaker 1>in at least six of the quarters. Effect the largest

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<v Speaker 1>defences they had yesterday was just three points, so I

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<v Speaker 1>thought they were clearly the better team. Every team's going

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<v Speaker 1>to make a run, as you well know, what do

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<v Speaker 1>you expect in Game three?

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<v Speaker 2>I think it's going to look pretty similar to what

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<v Speaker 2>it looked like in the first couple of games. I

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<v Speaker 2>think both teams are gonna be fairly low possession game.

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<v Speaker 2>It's probably gonna be extremely physical. You're going to see

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<v Speaker 2>both teams are really trying to get their main guys

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<v Speaker 2>to the free throw line, both Tounningham and Brunson. They'll

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<v Speaker 2>run selectively when it's there, when they can kind of push.

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<v Speaker 2>And I think the big keys you kind of touched

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<v Speaker 2>on before is it's the turnovers and then the offensive rebounding.

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<v Speaker 2>If Detroit can continue to do a good job on

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<v Speaker 2>the glass, which they did in game Game two, they

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<v Speaker 2>got twelve offensive rebounds, they held the knicks, it's only

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<v Speaker 2>seven offensive rebounds. That creates all these extra possessions for you,

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<v Speaker 2>especially if you can then control the turn and that's huge.

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<v Speaker 2>So I think it's probably going to look similar the same,

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<v Speaker 2>probably not the prettiest basketball you've ever seen. And now

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<v Speaker 2>I'll also say this, I think Dak crowd is going

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<v Speaker 2>to be ready to roll for Game three. I think

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<v Speaker 2>they are going to be fired off and run radio.

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<v Speaker 2>It's been a long time since they've been in this

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<v Speaker 2>position in my off series in Detroit, and I think

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<v Speaker 2>that's gonna be a really fun environment.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I do too. Keith Smith joining us. You can

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<v Speaker 1>follo him on Twitter at Keith Smith NBA. He of

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<v Speaker 1>Sports Track and the Front Office Show. I do believe

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<v Speaker 1>in motion can only take you so far. It sure

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<v Speaker 1>sounded like Madison Square Garden was REVVD up and ready

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<v Speaker 1>to roll last night too, and then Detroit took them

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<v Speaker 1>out of it. They've shown me something that the Pistons have.

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<v Speaker 1>They've shown I think great resolve. They played downhill, they

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<v Speaker 1>played aggressive, That's why they got to the line thirty

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<v Speaker 1>four times last night. And I think they've played for

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<v Speaker 1>the most part very under control. Who do you credit

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<v Speaker 1>that to? JB. Bickerstaff, the ve in presence on this team,

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<v Speaker 1>the younger players growing up before our eyes. Are a

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<v Speaker 1>combination of all three.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, gets a little bit of all of it. I

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<v Speaker 2>think what you see, especially in the playoffs, is when

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<v Speaker 2>everything kind of gets a little wild. And in each

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<v Speaker 2>one of these games, there's them moments where things have

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<v Speaker 2>gotten very This is not as a writer, this is

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<v Speaker 2>a horrendous grammar, but it got very scrambling where where

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<v Speaker 2>things are just kind of going a little little crazy.

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<v Speaker 2>And you saw in game one, maybe Bigger staff was

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<v Speaker 2>the one. It was like everybody just on the down,

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<v Speaker 2>slow down, like let's all relax. In game two with

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<v Speaker 2>Dennis Shrewder, he went and literally got the balls three

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<v Speaker 2>or four different times. It was like everybody just settle, like, everybody,

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<v Speaker 2>take a breath. We don't need to be running around

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<v Speaker 2>like crazy right now. And I think, I think that's

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<v Speaker 2>what it is. And then I also think Keith Cunningham

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<v Speaker 2>is really the very best ball handlers, point guards, lead playmakers,

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<v Speaker 2>call whatever you want, in which he is one of

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<v Speaker 2>That description fits him perfectly. Is when when they really

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<v Speaker 2>find their way, it's when they're controlling the pace of

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<v Speaker 2>the game. And he is really getting to the point

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<v Speaker 2>where if he wants to play fast, the game's going

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<v Speaker 2>to be played fast. He wants to play slow, the

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<v Speaker 2>game's going to be played slow. And that's so big

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<v Speaker 2>for both him and the Pistons.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, it's very similar to a football game last night.

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<v Speaker 1>Who dictated tempo? When I thought the Pistons dictated tempo

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<v Speaker 1>more than the Knicks did. I'm going to ask you

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<v Speaker 1>this question strictly from a Piston's perspective. I'm not being

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<v Speaker 1>a homer here. I just want your opinion. I like

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<v Speaker 1>Jalen Brunson. Is he a flopper, uh.

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<v Speaker 2>Slopper, foul dator or whatever you want to call it. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>And there was the point last night where he was

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<v Speaker 2>no longer even looking to score. He was just trying

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<v Speaker 2>to get to the free throw line. And that that's

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<v Speaker 2>when everything kind of gets sideways for me. I know

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<v Speaker 2>that's when a lot of fans I really get upset

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<v Speaker 2>and don't really like it. And that's that that's not great.

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<v Speaker 2>He is a great player and I love the way

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<v Speaker 2>he plays, but yeah, there was a point last night

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<v Speaker 2>in the second half where he would drive it and

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<v Speaker 2>literally sideways them back to the basket and jumping in

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<v Speaker 2>the guys and throwing shots up to their credit, the

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<v Speaker 2>officials were like that, we're not given to see it.

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<v Speaker 2>What was he got? I think he earned and there

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<v Speaker 2>were a couple of miss calls where I think he

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<v Speaker 2>could have got there. I think there are a couple

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<v Speaker 2>of miss calls that one against the Pistons too, and

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<v Speaker 2>that's going to happen in a long game. But yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>he's definitely a guy who you know, sometimes goes in

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<v Speaker 2>there looking to win contact versus China's core.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm interested to get your take on this because I

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<v Speaker 1>think Tom Thibodeau's a hell of a coach. I really do.

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<v Speaker 1>And it's like you said, I mean, the Knicks are

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<v Speaker 1>good defensively. Detroit fourth and defensive assistency, so you know

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<v Speaker 1>they're good defensively. Did Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks miss

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<v Speaker 1>an opportunity with not making I'll use a clichee the

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<v Speaker 1>proper adjustments to Detroit's hectic, frantic, helter skelter defense that

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<v Speaker 1>seemed to catch New York off guard throughout the game.

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<v Speaker 2>I think they didn't. They didn't. I think there were moments,

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<v Speaker 2>especially with the turnovers, where that costs them. I think

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<v Speaker 2>they generated a lot of really good shots and they

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<v Speaker 2>just didn't make them. You know, Jalen Bronson was kind

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<v Speaker 2>of had their best day as a shooter and he

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<v Speaker 2>went four of twelve. You know, Og and Andobi could

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<v Speaker 2>make shot. Car Anthony Town has been very muted so far.

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<v Speaker 2>Jalen Durant has done a really good job staying in

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<v Speaker 2>his airspace and not giving him any room to move

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<v Speaker 2>out when he's out on the perimeter. Isaiah Stewart and

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<v Speaker 2>some of that in Game one, Paul Reid did a

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<v Speaker 2>nice job with that in his you know, I'll be

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<v Speaker 2>a limited minute, but I thought he did a really

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<v Speaker 2>good job of getting getting insane connected to Towns and

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<v Speaker 2>that's mad. It's off on the Knicks to score. So

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<v Speaker 2>I think, yeah, I think they're gonna probably come into

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<v Speaker 2>Game three trying to find a way. We got to

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<v Speaker 2>free U Karl Anthony Towns more. They can't just be

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<v Speaker 2>the Jalen Bronson show. And then the Wings kind of

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<v Speaker 2>shooting a lot of shots, and those guys are all good.

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<v Speaker 2>But if you're limiting Towns to eleven field goal attempts

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<v Speaker 2>and the other guys are taking ten to twenty field

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<v Speaker 2>goal attempts each year, feeling pretty good about your deepense

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<v Speaker 2>game plan.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, he seemed almost disinterested or dispirited. If you will,

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<v Speaker 1>Keith Smith from Front Office Show and Sports Track joining

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<v Speaker 1>us here on ex'es and bros. I want your quick

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<v Speaker 1>thought on some of the other series. It doesn't have

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<v Speaker 1>to be anything in particular, but a general feeling. Clippers

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<v Speaker 1>win last night, Kawhi Leonard had thirty nine to even

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<v Speaker 1>the series with Denver. Obviously, Minnesota really impressive with twenty

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<v Speaker 1>one threes in a win over a Lakers team that

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<v Speaker 1>just didn't look conditioned very well according to JJ Reddick.

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<v Speaker 1>And then of course the impressive showing by Oklahoma City

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<v Speaker 1>as well, Boston tested by Orlando for a little bit,

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<v Speaker 1>and of course Cleveland taking care of business at home

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<v Speaker 1>as well. Is there anything that has stood out from

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<v Speaker 1>you that has made you change your mind early on

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<v Speaker 1>in the first game or two in these NBA playoffs.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I think come it's the one where I've probably

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<v Speaker 2>had the most change of heart so far as the

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<v Speaker 2>Lakers Wolves series. I think I went into that thinking

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<v Speaker 2>the Lakers would find enough ways to score points, and

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<v Speaker 2>they may still it's only one game, but the problems

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<v Speaker 2>they had defensively with Minnesota, I didn't expect them to

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<v Speaker 2>be quite that glaring. And then that was huge and

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<v Speaker 2>they're gonna have to really tighten it up. I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>they let a lot of open jump shots go thumb.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, I'm contested in that first game, and then

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<v Speaker 2>that that's tough. You're not going to beat a good

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<v Speaker 2>shooting Wolves team by letting him shoot that much, so

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<v Speaker 2>I would not with no hand in the face, So

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<v Speaker 2>that that's a major challenge for them. There, So I'm

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<v Speaker 2>very curious to see what happens in that that THEO

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<v Speaker 2>series the rest of the way, and then all the

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<v Speaker 2>other've kind of gone how I expected. I thought Clippers

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<v Speaker 2>Nuggets would be a real battle. Let's see what happens.

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<v Speaker 2>Is Damian Lillard playing game two not for the Bucks,

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<v Speaker 2>does that change that series? We don't really know. It's

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<v Speaker 2>also a little unfair to expect, after he's missed the

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<v Speaker 2>last month plus to expect Damian lower to come in

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<v Speaker 2>and just be Damian Millard. It's probably going to take

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<v Speaker 2>him a little bit of time to kind of get

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<v Speaker 2>himself going. But yeah, those are the things we're looking for.

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<v Speaker 2>That's the fun thing about the playoffs. Get into game two,

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<v Speaker 2>game three, and you start seeing those adjustments and eventually

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<v Speaker 2>turn out of the adjustments and just has to be

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<v Speaker 2>that you play better.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, Keith dead on there. I actually said before, I

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<v Speaker 1>think the dark horse is Indiana. I think Indiana is

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<v Speaker 1>better than people give them credit for. They've been very

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<v Speaker 1>steady this season. I think they play really well on

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<v Speaker 1>both sides of the floor. And I just don't think

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<v Speaker 1>enough people talk about him because of what Cleveland's done

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<v Speaker 1>on the year and rightfully so in Boston's the defending champion.

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<v Speaker 1>And then of course the Knicks is a team that

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<v Speaker 1>people just seem to gravitate towards. Before I let you go,

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<v Speaker 1>you just had brought up the Lakers lack of defense,

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<v Speaker 1>not justifying the trade by any stretch, and you're not either.

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<v Speaker 1>I am blown away that Nico Harrison, the general manager

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<v Speaker 1>of the Dallas Mavericks, can be so out of touch

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<v Speaker 1>to actually admit to the press publicly. I didn't realize

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<v Speaker 1>the support or passion my words, not his, that Dallas

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<v Speaker 1>Mavericks fans had for Luka Doncic. Why does somebody not

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<v Speaker 1>go to him and say stop talking because you're making

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<v Speaker 1>things worse in Dallas.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that's what I said yesterday. I said, word of advice,

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<v Speaker 2>no more press conferences, no more talking than me to

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<v Speaker 2>either work in silence or make a change. When he

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<v Speaker 2>said that yesterday that he didn't understand how much Luca

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<v Speaker 2>meant to the city, Yeah, Avericks fans, to me, that's

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<v Speaker 2>a fireable offense. That is a compln You have no

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<v Speaker 2>understanding of your team, your organization, your city, and that's

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<v Speaker 2>that's just wrong. And you were not talking about coming

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<v Speaker 2>in and trading a guy who is in year fifteen

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<v Speaker 2>and doesn't have it left anymore. And here you're going

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<v Speaker 2>to take the punches because you traded a franchise legend.

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<v Speaker 2>This is a guy who's not I don't even know

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<v Speaker 2>that he's hitting his prime years yet, and he's already

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<v Speaker 2>one of the best players in the world, and you're

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<v Speaker 2>sitting here saying, oh, yeah, I was surprised that people

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<v Speaker 2>were so mad, But to me that that would have

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<v Speaker 2>been enough right then and there, or I would have

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<v Speaker 2>said if I was running that press conference, if I

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<v Speaker 2>was pr would have said it's over, we're done. Then

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<v Speaker 2>if I was ownership, would have come down the home

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<v Speaker 2>and said, you're fired. Let's you know, hey, next press

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<v Speaker 2>conference we have is announcing our next head of basketball operations.

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<v Speaker 2>Because this guy, it's just very clear to me now

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<v Speaker 2>he doesn't get it. And you're absolutely right, no more talking.

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<v Speaker 2>Don't put this guy in front of a microphone again

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<v Speaker 2>until sometime deep into the offseason.

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<v Speaker 1>All right, lastly, and I appreciate the time and the insight.

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<v Speaker 1>Tom Thibodaux said after the game last night that Brunson

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<v Speaker 1>is not getting the calls like Cunning is getting the calls.

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<v Speaker 1>Is that In my opinion it is, but I want

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<v Speaker 1>I want confirmation from you that's a coach planning a

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<v Speaker 1>seed for the rest of the series.

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, yeah, absolutely so, Bill Jackson. Playbook he's explain about

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<v Speaker 2>about the officiating and I hope it's swings your way

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<v Speaker 2>in the next round. It's also a big market. I

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<v Speaker 2>put playbook there where where it's often a team that

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<v Speaker 2>gets a ton of attention. You know, those coaches are

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<v Speaker 2>going to get a lot of play and and you know, sadly,

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<v Speaker 2>more often than not they seem like they work. The

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<v Speaker 2>question is that they only going to be a temporary

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<v Speaker 2>type thing.

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<v Speaker 1>Love your insight man. Appreciate the phone call and the

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<v Speaker 1>chance to chat hoops with you. Keith. To keep up

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<v Speaker 1>the great work with Front Office, show and sports Track

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<v Speaker 1>and folks. If you want a good follow when it

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<v Speaker 1>comes to the NBA, Keith Smith NBA with us here

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<v Speaker 1>on Exis and bros. Have a great rest of your week, Keith,

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<v Speaker 1>enjoy the rest of the playoffs. Thanks for the time, buddy,

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<v Speaker 1>I appreciate it.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you for having me