WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:02.560 You know, I was waiting to learn a term that 2 00:00:02.839 --> 00:00:06.559 describes the way Zach pretends like he likes Pitbull and 3 00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:10.439 Tyres Saliburton dropped it. It's are a farming. That's what 4 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:13.279 he's doing. It's the very definition. It's the act of 5 00:00:13.320 --> 00:00:16.760 intentionally trying to appear cool or charismatic through actions or 6 00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:20.559 behaviors often perceived as exaggerated or artificial. 7 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:24.559 We have the term. Now, can you use Pitbull for that? 8 00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:28.280 And Zach Harper or a farming on a Friday? 9 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:32.000 Right? I wouldn't say, I mean, I don't think I'm 10 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:34.520 trying to look cool. I just enjoy the music. Whether 11 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:36.399 you think that makes me look cool or not seems 12 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:39.520 to be a projection of your own thoughts on what 13 00:00:39.640 --> 00:00:43.520 Pitbull is. So I think we just cracked the cake. 14 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:46.280 Don't get psychological on me on a Friday. You don't 15 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:49.359 need to go two levels deep. You had you ever 16 00:00:49.399 --> 00:00:52.320 heard the term are a farming before Halliburton dropped it 17 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:54.240 because it was new to me, Okay. 18 00:00:53.880 --> 00:00:55.799 And I really hope I never hear it again. That 19 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:57.439 founded real, dumb? It did? 20 00:00:57.560 --> 00:00:58.240 It did? All right? 21 00:00:58.280 --> 00:00:59.960 While we're while we're in the space, I don't know 22 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:03.520 which target you want to aim at game one. I mean, like, 23 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:07.239 there are so many different directions we could go. I 24 00:01:07.319 --> 00:01:10.280 referenced this earlier, had Howard beck On when Jalen hit 25 00:01:10.439 --> 00:01:13.719 his step back three to make it a fourteen point game. 26 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:15.879 As a Nick fan, I'm never gonna be like, yeah, 27 00:01:15.879 --> 00:01:18.480 it's over. But I just thought Indiana was out of time. 28 00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:23.159 Right at what point of that game, if at all, 29 00:01:23.239 --> 00:01:24.400 were you like, all right, that's it. 30 00:01:24.439 --> 00:01:25.879 There's no way the Knicks can lose this. 31 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:29.079 So I'll tell you. I'll tell you. Actually my experience 32 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:33.040 of the game, I mistimed when I thought that game 33 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:35.719 was going to be over, like an idiot. So I 34 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:39.640 actually planned to go to dinner with somebody at seven thirty. 35 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:41.920 They were late by a few minutes, so I'm just 36 00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:45.599 sitting outside a sushi restaurant watching on my phone. I 37 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:49.040 had to stop looking at the game with thirty four 38 00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:51.599 seconds left. So with the five point game, they're in 39 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:54.560 that replay review or thirty four seconds left in the 40 00:01:54.599 --> 00:01:57.280 fourth quarter, so they're in that review on the og foul, 41 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:00.120 they're up what five at that point or whatever it was, 42 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:02.280 I was thirty four seconds left. I'm like, well, I mean, 43 00:02:02.280 --> 00:02:05.760 I know the Pacers can do this, but whatever. Three 44 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:09.639 hours later, I checked my phone and I'm like, wait 45 00:02:09.719 --> 00:02:13.039 a second, Pacers won. I had like I didn't know, 46 00:02:13.639 --> 00:02:16.159 Oh my god, Like I checked my phone. I had 47 00:02:16.199 --> 00:02:18.800 like one hundred and forty text messages or something like that. 48 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:22.520 Like I just it was. It was chaos in my phone. 49 00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:26.000 I had no idea. But what's funny is like up 50 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:28.199 until that point when I when I when I saw 51 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:30.560 it was my phone. You know, we had this live 52 00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:33.360 blog going on the athletic and when it was one 53 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:36.719 eighteen one oh two, with like seven something left, James 54 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:39.159 Edwards the third does a great job covering the next 55 00:02:39.159 --> 00:02:42.120 for us. You know, maybe Cat had hit a shot 56 00:02:42.199 --> 00:02:43.599 or someone had hit a shot, and he's like, that's 57 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:45.919 gonna do it. And Eric Name who does a great 58 00:02:45.960 --> 00:02:47.960 job covering the bucks for us, and then there he goes, guys, 59 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:50.400 let's not count this Pacers team out of seen it 60 00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:53.840 too many times. And then you know when Jalen hits 61 00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:56.919 that that shot, you know, I think someone else said 62 00:02:56.919 --> 00:02:58.879 it in Eric Name again, it's like, guys, don't count 63 00:02:58.919 --> 00:03:01.159 the Pacers off. And then you know they made that 64 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:03.639 little run and I think at the thirty four second 65 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:05.639 Mark or maybe just before it, I want to say, 66 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:07.560 Lot Murray for US was like, oh, this is a 67 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:10.680 fake comeback, and Eric name again was like, guys, do 68 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:13.800 not count this spacers in that because he can't. They've 69 00:03:13.800 --> 00:03:16.960 bought three times in this postseason. They just snapped a 70 00:03:17.080 --> 00:03:21.439 nine seventy game losing streak of teams down fourteen or 71 00:03:21.439 --> 00:03:23.919 more with two fifty left, which is a weird stat. 72 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:27.479 But somebody looked it up, so we should say it. 73 00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:30.960 It is a weird stat. But you know, there are 74 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:34.879 so many things about it that were wild historic. It 75 00:03:34.919 --> 00:03:37.400 was a comedy of errors. It was a perfect storm 76 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:41.360 for Indianapolis. And as much as it was about crazy 77 00:03:41.400 --> 00:03:43.319 shot making, Zach, I don't know if you've had a 78 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:44.919 chance to go back and watch the end at all, 79 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:50.000 but it was simply that this team was out of gas. 80 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:53.680 Og stopped closing, which he never does, Josh Hart slipped twice, 81 00:03:53.680 --> 00:03:55.240 and then there was a back door cut where he's 82 00:03:55.240 --> 00:03:59.159 flat footed Jalen with multiple odd turnovers down the stretch. 83 00:03:59.240 --> 00:04:01.240 Kat was limping up and down. Oh Kat has a 84 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:02.759 New York accent. Now, I don't know if you know, 85 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:03.479 I don't know if. 86 00:04:03.400 --> 00:04:05.719 You're aware of that I'm sure that'll last. 87 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:07.199 Okay, Yeah, I sent you a tweet. 88 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:08.759 I don't know if you check that out. But the 89 00:04:08.759 --> 00:04:10.360 fact of the matter is this Zach. 90 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:10.719 Yeah. 91 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:12.840 I've been listening to him interviewed since he was eighteen, 92 00:04:13.080 --> 00:04:15.680 never had a New York accent until now. But look, 93 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:17.920 Tom thibodeau' is a hell of a coach, all right, 94 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:20.959 But at some point, here's my question to you. Can 95 00:04:20.959 --> 00:04:23.000 you get ten minutes out of Precious at YOUUA? Can 96 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:26.720 you get eight minutes? If you're gonna play your boy campaign. 97 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:29.879 Precious at YOUA can give you ten minutes and Landry 98 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:32.600 Shammick can give you eight. I know he probably won't, 99 00:04:32.839 --> 00:04:35.319 but what what do they have to do If you 100 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:38.279 will not extend his rotation, then they can't get in 101 00:04:38.360 --> 00:04:40.480 a track meet. They have to do something tonight to 102 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:42.879 make sure their best players don't look gassed at the end. 103 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:46.160 You can't run with these guys like that's first and 104 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:49.000 portant like I know they played well. I know the 105 00:04:49.079 --> 00:04:52.000 Knicks played well. And if you don't have that overtime 106 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:54.279 period and they don't give up that, you know that 107 00:04:54.360 --> 00:04:56.959 last shot or whatever, it all looks great, right, all right? 108 00:04:57.000 --> 00:04:59.360 You survived it. And you you Wane and everything, but 109 00:04:59.639 --> 00:05:02.079 the of it is like you can't run with the pacers. 110 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:04.920 They and the thing is like Cat's a pretty methodical score. 111 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:08.959 Jamon Brunson's definitely a methodical score. Oh, Janaoi's a methodical score. 112 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:12.000 They should be slowing it down offensively. They should be 113 00:05:12.079 --> 00:05:15.319 trying to like, you're not gonna slow Indiana down offensively, 114 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:18.199 but you can slow the game down yourself on your 115 00:05:18.279 --> 00:05:20.439 end of the floor. And so I like, I just 116 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:24.519 think it's a mistake to allow both stop you know, 117 00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:27.120 both offenses to be a quick pace. I'm with you. 118 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:30.519 And what's funny about this is I kind of feel 119 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:34.600 like before game one, we had had all the backlash 120 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:38.079 to fifteen years of backlash against oh. I thought Tom 121 00:05:38.120 --> 00:05:41.160 Thibodeau's running guys and you know, playing too many minutes. 122 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:42.959 I thought that was supposed to prevent that, Like we 123 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:46.000 got all this stuff kind of saying that that's no 124 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:49.360 longer a thing, and then you know, Day one, they 125 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:52.319 run out of gas. Maybe we shouldn't just do that. 126 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:55.879 Maybe we shouldn't dismiss fifteen years of something just because 127 00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:59.199 they won another game and got to the conference finals. 128 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:02.240 Like I'm with you like, like, if Campaign is on 129 00:06:02.279 --> 00:06:05.920 the court, precious can't be worse than Campaign. I've seen 130 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:07.639 pressures chewing play Like I get if you don't know 131 00:06:07.800 --> 00:06:10.519 if pressures to chewing guy, but like he can he 132 00:06:10.519 --> 00:06:13.319 can give you six minutes, five, he can give you 133 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:15.800 three somewhere in the second quarter, three, somewhere in the 134 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:17.000 beginning of the fourth quarter. 135 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:18.720 It's all you need. 136 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:22.279 I mean, look, I get sticking to the plan, and 137 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:25.079 I get sticking to what brought you here. But in 138 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:28.879 the in the fourth quarter against the Celtics, it was 139 00:06:28.920 --> 00:06:31.959 one hundred and ten to seventy six with five minutes left, 140 00:06:31.959 --> 00:06:35.199 and Jalen Brunson is fighting over pick set by Xavier Tillman, 141 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:35.759 and it's. 142 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:39.959 Like, what are we doing? I mean, Delon Wright he like, 143 00:06:40.759 --> 00:06:41.439 I don't know, man. 144 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:44.920 I actually thought one of my biggest takeaways from game one, 145 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:46.879 and I didn't hear a ton of people dig into this. 146 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:49.720 I thought Tom was out coached. He used his challenges 147 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:53.839 way too early. He didn't stagger his timeouts. Carlisle had 148 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:56.879 two challenges that he used late with two big plays. 149 00:06:57.360 --> 00:06:57.639 YEP. 150 00:06:58.040 --> 00:07:01.079 I think Tom Thibodeau has some uh adjusting to do 151 00:07:01.160 --> 00:07:02.800 as well. If they want to get out of this series, 152 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:05.639 or you can just be stubborn and probably lose your 153 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:07.560 job at the end of the year. I mean, because 154 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:10.079 I think that's where we're headed if he refuses to 155 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:11.000 adjust a little bit. 156 00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:14.639 Yeah, Like I thought if they got to the conference finals, 157 00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:17.839 his job was safe. But if you lose to the Pacers, 158 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:20.040 I don't know if that's true. And that's not a shot. 159 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:21.759 That's not me taking a shot at the Pacers. I 160 00:07:21.800 --> 00:07:24.800 just don't know if James Dolan's gonna feel that way, right, Like, 161 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:27.120 that's that's the person you have to kind of convince 162 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:31.920 and historically not the most rational guy, you know, not 163 00:07:32.040 --> 00:07:35.759 the not the clearest thinker there. Yeah, I don't think. 164 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:40.519 I don't think there's any shame in getting out coached 165 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:42.720 by Rick Carlisle, But the way he got out coached, 166 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:44.759 I'm with you, like, I think that's bad. I do 167 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:48.319 not know what is this obsession in this postseason with 168 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:54.519 some of these coaches using challenges early on the most 169 00:07:54.800 --> 00:07:59.720 like mundane plays like I don't like Carlisle played it right, 170 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:01.639 he had chat like you said, he had challenges late 171 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:05.000 for plays that mattered, not some dumb challenge in the 172 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:07.720 first half that really doesn't like unless it's a guy 173 00:08:07.800 --> 00:08:10.040 picking up a third foul, like a star picking up 174 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:12.560 a third foul. I don't think I would ever challenge 175 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:15.680 in the first half. I don't get it. I don't 176 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:18.600 understand that. And Tom Thibodeau is one of those coaches 177 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:21.800 that will do it, and he just like he can't 178 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:23.839 be so stubborn. I know it got them there, and 179 00:08:23.879 --> 00:08:25.720 I know, like, oh, they're so conditioned now and they're 180 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:29.480 ready for these big mens and everything. Not really, not really, 181 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:32.320 they're they're a good team, and they are well coached 182 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:35.240 to a degree, and they know their identity. But you 183 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:40.519 do have to be adaptable, like they You're not so 184 00:08:40.600 --> 00:08:45.200 good that you have to force everybody to adapt to you, right. 185 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:48.320 And there were two occasions, one from Halliburton and the 186 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:51.480 other from Turner in the first half. And look every 187 00:08:51.559 --> 00:08:55.200 NBA player, whenever they commit a foul and they think 188 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:57.600 it's questionable, they turn around, they do the thing. Okay, 189 00:08:57.679 --> 00:09:00.120 let's review the thing, and they all do it. There 190 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:03.440 were two occasions that I took note of. Halliburton was 191 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:05.480 called for a foul in the first half. He turns 192 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:07.320 to the bench and he does the thing Okay, let's 193 00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:10.200 review it, and Carlisle basically told him to shut up. 194 00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:12.679 He said, go play, and then he did the same 195 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:14.759 thing to Miles Turner about two minutes later, and I 196 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:18.200 took note. I'm like, he's saving his challenges, which is 197 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:21.320 what you should do. And the challenge Tom used on 198 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:24.080 the Jalen offensive foul was beyond dumb. I don't know 199 00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:26.159 who told him to do that. It was clearly a foul. 200 00:09:26.200 --> 00:09:29.519 They were not gonna win that. So ultimately that brings 201 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:31.600 us to tonight. Do you have a lean? I mean, 202 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:35.679 I feel like there's a stoicism to Jalen Brunson that 203 00:09:35.720 --> 00:09:39.080 I respect. Like, after the Knicks beat the Celtics, he's 204 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:43.279 summarily dismissing the celebrations and telling his teammates to go 205 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:46.000 to the locker room. I don't anticipate, Like I know, 206 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:48.480 the media narrative is like, hey, there's gonna be a hangover. 207 00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:51.600 There's no coming back from that, and that was a horrible, 208 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:54.720 damn loss. I'm not saying it's not, but I feel 209 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:56.200 like the Knicks, you're going to respond tonight. 210 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:56.399 Now. 211 00:09:56.440 --> 00:09:59.200 I don't know if their coach is going to adjust 212 00:09:59.320 --> 00:10:01.000 enough to give them gas at the end to win 213 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:01.440 the game. 214 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:03.440 But I don't feel like all is lost. 215 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:05.440 Tell me where your head is out as far as 216 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:07.799 the game tonight and the rest of the series. 217 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:10.519 It's a bad loss. I don't think it's like this 218 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:14.320 gut punch they can't recover from. Yeah, I mean, if 219 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:17.720 you think about it, even if like the end of regulation, 220 00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:22.200 yes it's a collapse because they gave up a fourteen 221 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:25.200 point lead in two minutes and fifty seconds. They scored 222 00:10:25.240 --> 00:10:29.200 on seven of their last ten possessions like that. That's 223 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:31.559 the thing. They weren't giving the ball away the whole 224 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:35.320 time and missing shots badly like they scored. The problem 225 00:10:35.320 --> 00:10:37.360 is they just came up three pointers in Aaron neth 226 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:40.039 Smith every time, like they were trading one for three, 227 00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:43.840 two for three every time. And so I do think 228 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:47.639 it's fluky. I don't think it was. I think overtime 229 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:51.679 was kind of was more of an indictment on the 230 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:54.360 bad things about that team. I don't think the end 231 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:56.679 of regulation was. I think that was a fluke. I 232 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:59.519 think this is this isn't some young team that's rattled. 233 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:01.720 I think it's just a team of veterans that will 234 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:03.519 be fine. I think Jalen Bruns as the leader is 235 00:11:03.559 --> 00:11:06.279 going to make them fine. I think they'll probably win. 236 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:09.279 I also think teams keep underestimating this Pacers team, and 237 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:11.799 this Pacers team is capable of winning the championship. 238 00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:16.960 They're really good and I've been wildly impressed. And you know, ultimately, 239 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:19.279 I do think the Knicks have some size down low 240 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:21.480 that the Pacers don't. But the Pacers have the depth 241 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:24.480 at the Knicks don't. It makes it really really fascinating. 242 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:26.159 But I know you don't have a ton of time today, 243 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:28.559 So let's move out this way and before we talk, 244 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:31.039 okse t Wolves chase the MVP. 245 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:32.440 Yeah, do you think do you think that was the 246 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:32.879 right call? 247 00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:35.720 I voted for him? Yeah? I think so. Here the 248 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:38.120 season no one else has ever had. Their team was dominant, 249 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:41.120 and he was the best player they you know, they 250 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:44.320 there was a massive difference with him on the court 251 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:47.399 versus him off the court. Like I don't fault if 252 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:49.320 you if you voted for Jokicic and thought he was it, 253 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:52.960 But if you dismiss Shaye as an MVP candidate, I 254 00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:54.720 think you've got a weird agenda. 255 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:58.000 Yeah, well said, And I would not have had an 256 00:11:58.000 --> 00:11:59.919 issue with anyone who voted for Jokic, but I did 257 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:01.120 I agree with you. 258 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:04.519 I believe Shay was the red call. All right. So 259 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:07.120 I said this earlier with Howard. I'll repeat it to you. 260 00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:10.399 And this is not breaking news because if you've watched 261 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:12.360 them all year, you know that they have a level 262 00:12:12.440 --> 00:12:15.799 that maybe nobody else has. Boston had it last year 263 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.000 and I started to feel like no one was going 264 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:19.799 to touch the Celtics, and I'm starting to feel like 265 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:24.399 nobody's touching Okasee. I'm always very hesitant to anoint the 266 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:26.559 team that has never had a deep playoff run, and 267 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:28.480 that was kind of my hesitancy, like, let's see how 268 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:32.600 you guys respond. And you know, a couple of moments VERSU. 269 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:35.080 Denver that weren't great, but Denver is a team that 270 00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:37.600 has one of the best players of this generation and 271 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:40.159 won a championship a couple of years ago. I feel 272 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:41.960 like they're ready, man. I feel like I'm ready to 273 00:12:41.960 --> 00:12:43.799 say that today that I feel like they're ready. I 274 00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:45.840 don't think the Wolves has what it takes to come 275 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:47.840 back and win four. I think they can get one 276 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:50.559 at home, and I don't think either New York or 277 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:54.480 Indiana has the level Okasee has when they are maximizing 278 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:55.039 their ceiling. 279 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:56.080 What are your thoughts. 280 00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:00.080 I think Indiana could challenge them, I do, like I 281 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:02.240 I think Indiana's got the depth to do it and 282 00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:05.320 the style of play to maybe mess some things up, 283 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:08.399 But it would take a lot of like hitting your 284 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:11.039 peak at the right time. Right. But yeah, I mean, okay, 285 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:14.440 so he's just super impressive. I actually I disagree with 286 00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:16.480 a lot of people, like I think Minnesota. Minnesota should 287 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:18.759 have won Game one, and I know you look at 288 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:22.559 the final score and think that's ridiculous, but Minnesota went 289 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:25.120 eight of thirty on wide open three point shots and 290 00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:28.159 it was good shooters taken. It's not like it was 291 00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:30.240 a bunch of a bunch of bums getting these corner 292 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:33.960 open corner shots because it was being funneled there. Like Devincenzo, 293 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:38.960 Alexander Walker nas reed, Mike Connley like these were forty 294 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:43.120 percent wide open shooters who were missing wide open shots. 295 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:46.279 And I like, I they should have been up, you know, 296 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:49.240 fifteen eighteen points in the first you know, at halftime 297 00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:52.320 they were up four, and we you know, okay, so 298 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:54.279 he's the best third quarter team in basketball and they're 299 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:56.679 going to make that run. It's different when you have 300 00:13:56.720 --> 00:14:00.000 the fifteen to eighteen point cushion versus the four point cushion, 301 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:02.200 you know, like, I just think that's different. Also, this 302 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:05.120 was a ten point game with four minute minutes left 303 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:07.600 in a game where they just they missed so many 304 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:11.600 open threes. So I actually think Minnesota probably should have 305 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:16.200 won that game. Game two, you see the cracks there, right, 306 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:20.840 You see the frustration of Minnesota, and it's really starting 307 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:24.720 to get to them the disparity and how the game's 308 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:27.240 being officiated. And I'm not even saying this is this 309 00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:31.240 is a they're losing because of the rest they even 310 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:33.120 if it's not the case, they feel it is, and 311 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:36.200 they're letting it get to them like they are whining 312 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:38.879 through this stuff, like they're they're letting the frustration instead 313 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:42.440 of just playing and being physical and just playing their way. 314 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:46.519 They're in this in between zone because of it. Defensively, 315 00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:49.080 and I do think okay, See gets away with more 316 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:53.279 more contact defensively than what Minnesota is. Okay, you got 317 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:56.039 to adjust them, like you just got to figure it out. 318 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:58.720 You can't just throw your hands up and start pushing 319 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:01.799 and pouting everything like you gotta you gotta figure it out. 320 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:05.159 And so like they're they're struggling a little bit mentally. 321 00:15:05.320 --> 00:15:08.240 I think they'll be I think things will change at home. 322 00:15:08.440 --> 00:15:10.720 It Like it really wouldn't shock me if it was 323 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:12.960 two to two going back to okay See, but I like, 324 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:16.039 I mean, okay, she's going to win the series. But 325 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:19.480 I think I don't think Minnesota is going to shoot 326 00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:22.240 this poorly the whole time. I mean they're getting they're 327 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:26.120 generating good looks. They cut down on the turnovers. The 328 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:29.000 problem is when they force turnovers, they're dead ball turnovers. 329 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:31.759 When okay See force turnovers, they're all live ball turnovers. 330 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:35.559 Like they just there's there is a disparity there. And 331 00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:38.240 and we always talked about a team getting hot offensively, 332 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:41.399 Okay See gets hot defensively. They go on these like 333 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:44.080 runs defensively they're just crazy impressive. 334 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:47.080 Yeah they do. And when they dial it up a 335 00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:49.639 notch with that length and that size, it just feels 336 00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:52.519 like the Minnesota's up against it. And last thing before 337 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:54.919 I say you lose, I mean, you know, I said 338 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:57.000 this to a lot of my friends last year watching 339 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:58.679 the Knicks in the playoffs, like what do you think? 340 00:15:58.759 --> 00:16:01.039 I'm like, well, what do you think about Julius Randall 341 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:04.000 as your second option offensively? And look, I'm not taking 342 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:06.919 anything away from what he's done so far, but last 343 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:09.159 night I was like, yeah, that's kind of who he's 344 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:10.440 been spring basketball. 345 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:12.080 They need more from him, Zach if they're going to 346 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:12.720 get back in this. 347 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:16.000 Yeah. I said this in a video for Today where 348 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:17.960 you know he was great for he was great for 349 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:19.600 too much. He played the best basketball of his career 350 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:21.840 for the last two months they did, and then he 351 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:24.440 turned into a pumpkin yep in Game two and I said, 352 00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:27.120 this is all this is our bad with Like, you 353 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:29.799 don't talk about a perfect game during a perfect game, right, 354 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:32.080 you don't address it. Like that's what happened. Like everyone 355 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:34.559 started to be like, oh, Julius Randall, he's really good, 356 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:38.399 and now it feels like it's ruined. And yeah, like 357 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:41.720 I mean maybe good because that player options coming up 358 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:44.480 instead of needing a new contract. Yeah, like Julius Randall, 359 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:47.159 maybe he gets back to it. I still think he's 360 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:49.759 you know, he's definitely better than what he was last night, 361 00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:52.759 but they need him to be perfect. They need to 362 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:55.080 be perfect, and they need to hit these outside shots 363 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:57.200 to have a chance to win these games and then 364 00:16:57.200 --> 00:16:59.639 even then, like you like you were talking about, like, okay, 365 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:01.879 see me, just have a gear that and hit that 366 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:03.600 gear every game that no one else can touch. 367 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:06.319 Yeah, yep, we'll see what happens though. 368 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:06.480 Man. 369 00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:08.400 Enjoy the game tonight. I appreciate the time. Have a 370 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:09.039 good long weekend. 371 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:10.599 Okay, all right, buddy, thank you, all right. 372 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:13.200 Zach Harper from the Athletic at tak Hoops on Twitter 373 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:16.119 is where you find his work. A bunch of different pods, 374 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:18.839 a bunch of different videos for the Athletic and writes 375 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:21.680 their weekly power rankings. He is a voter for NBA 376 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:24.480 Awards as well. Appreciate Zach's time on this Friday afternoon.