Speaker 1: What is a fellasic goes, I am a delirious Dan
Favalley coming at you with Mort Jensen of the NBA
podcast fame, of Yahoo Sports fame, and of Forbes fame
as well, and most importantly only fan celebrity. We're here
talk Nick Pacers, which is just one of the most
outrageous playoff series so far that I've seen in recent memory,
which is wild considering how many ridiculous playoff series we've seen.
Mark just before we get started and dig into what
we've kind of seen, and then we have questions for
the rest of the series.
Speaker 2: How the heck are you doing well? Sir? Doing well?
Let's just get right into it.
Speaker 3: I could bore you with the details of my life
and how I'm doing, but I think the pe will
want to hear about this series way more so.
Speaker 1: What so let's start. I want to start here this series.
What are your impressions of it so far? Just like
what is? Can you? But is there one element of
it that shocked you the most? Is there something that
you'd like? This clearly isn't how anyone expected it to go.
We know the Nicks haven't been great at home in
the playoffs, but lose the first two while having just
an all time choke fest in game one. So then
game three their trademark on the road. We're down twenty.
It looks awful. We're gonna come back and do this?
What is Let's that's the question. What's been most surprising
to you about this series so far?
Speaker 3: Well, I mean, look, I'm not gonna sit here and
say that I would predict these major like late games turnarounds.
Speaker 1: That's why I predicted all of it, all right.
Speaker 3: Yeah, But I will say I'm not surprised at the
overarching element of Indiana winning the first two and then
dropping their first home game like that. I'm not surprised
that the Pacers are up to one. So I think
in the overarching scheme of things, it's holding true to
what I you know, kind of expected. It's the way
we got here, right, It's the journey. It's not about
the destination, and the journey has just been nuts. It's
like I actually say, I think Jalen Brunson said it
the best. He said, He said it better than I
can ever say. He said, no, lead feels safe. That
is absolutely right on the money. Like even last night
when they were down was the ten points coming into
the fourth, you know, you were like, you know what,
this game's not over ten points. In today's NBA, that
can go like that. That can be a quick turnaround.
And I think they tied it or did they even
take the lead the next like at the eight minute mark,
eight seven or eight minute marks, something along those lines,
so like, and and then after they did, you still
were like, oh, okay, they're leading.
Speaker 2: But I don't feel good about that either.
Speaker 3: Right right, So I guess my biggest takeaway is I
love the fact that when we're late in games, we
have no fing clue was actually going to pull it out.
I think that makes for great basketball viewing. I think
it makes for such an intriguing layer of these playoffs,
So that that's probably what's most surprising to me. Like
we've seen a lot of DUTs in terms of like
playoff performances, like for you know, blowouts, teams that have
just beaten others by forty even forty So, oh, we
even had like a fifty point right was the heat calves?
Speaker 2: Like the game four? What was that? Was it fifty
nine points?
Speaker 1: Or what was Grizzly Thunder Game one? That was obnoxious?
Speaker 2: Oh, that to us.
Speaker 3: Yeah, Like, so we've had some really big blowouts, and
this one just feels different. These teams feels like they're
a little bit more aligned, like on the same level,
which just makes it so much more intriguing in terms
of the unpredictability of it.
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's the next season. Felt over again when they
were down twenty in Game three. And you have to
give a ton of credit to the Pacers, and what
they've done really isn't a surprise to me. I think
anyone who's paid tangential attention to the Pacers understood or
at least had a feel for how good they were.
And I didn't pick them to win this series, but I
even noted at the when we were doing our predictions,
I said my head saying Pacers in six or seven,
and I just went my heart is saying Nixon seven.
They just feel like both of these teams for the East,
like from the East perspective, are giving off team of
destiny vibes, just with the comebacks they've had, the shots
that they've made, and now there's just like this collision
course when you're kind of dealing into like more of
the nitty gritty of the series. I think one of
the things that from the Pacers end that has surprised
me is that we haven't seen and look, they won
the first two games, but we haven't seen more of
a small on Karl Anthony Towns like other teams have
gravitated towards it's been we want to stick with Andrew
Nemhart going on to Josh Hart so that he can
he can float around, which does seem like it's the
right decision. I'm curious and as we're recording this, I
don't think we have news on Aaron Nee Smith's ankle right, So,
not that I know, no, because that would flip a
lot of what India has done so far. I would think,
not that he's gonna miss time, but if he's hobbled,
it's this dude defends Jalen Brunson that allows you to
use Andrew Nemhart in this way. But also, oh, I
think after the game that Karl Anthony Towns had, and
I have a couple like Knicks thoughts on that that
I definitely want to get to. But after the game
that Karl Anthony Towns had, are we gonna see any
adjustments there? So? But I've been a little bit surprised
that we haven't seen more of that from the Pacers
initially just to get that look. But this team is
like the the amount of ways the Pacers that they
can beat you is honestly terrifying. And it's just like
Ben mcmathern's not had a good series. He's been on
the floor. It feels like they're playing four versus six
and like they still like Ben Shepherds right, like we're
gonna find a way, like carve out minutes for him.
The degree to which Miles Turner has deepened his offensive
bag over the past two to three years is actually
kind of mind melting when you look at his ability
to like dribble out of pressure and like take a
side step three or just attack off the dribble and
maybe punish some mismassed excuse me, mismatches In the post
Pascal Siakam people, I say, this is one of the
few takes I got right, But like, remember how many
people were just kind of overthought past Gulciakam in Indiana.
Look at what it took to get him. And he
just adds this. I know he didn't have a great
Game three, but even down the stretch when they needed buckets,
things bogged down. You don't like to see them get
away from their offense. But that's also why you have
passed Gal Siakam. It's because those shots that you hear
the broadcast say it like you have to live with
that shot if you're the Knicks, and you know what
passed Gal Siakam wants those fadeaway jumpers, like from around
the elbow areas. So this Pacers team that needless to
say about just Tyres Haliburton, where that dude does not.
I'm trying to think of who the last guy was
in their prime who just didn't need to score to
have such a like demonstrative impact on the game. And
I know, like Jokic can have it now, but I
mean like he almost RELI yeah, Nash was the one
Nash or Chris Paul maybe just like where they would
reliably not score twenty points in certain where it feels
like jokicch is oh did he score enough? And oh yeah,
he has forty. It just doesn't feel like he has.
Speaker 3: For the Braun Lebraun occasionally like honestly that we just
don't make that comparison because he's built like a power
forward and he's you know, the leading score, all time
leading scorer, so that's why we never associate him in
that vein. But there are plenty of games where he's
basically just being a floor general and making the right
plays and is settling for seventeen to eighteen points. So
you know, there are a lot of players who I
think Halbert is starting to remind me of in that
way that he approaches. I will say there are still
some games Dan, and I think you and I've talked
about this before where I'm like, hmm, halle, come on,
like turn on the Jets right where he has some
sort of a mismatch where you know he can affect
the game, maybe a little game free like.
Speaker 1: Mitchell Robinson's on him or Towns is on him. It's like,
why aren't you getting deeper into the paint. We know
you can.
Speaker 3: Yep, yeah yeah, And he's a big point guard to it.
I think for him that's probably the next step him
realizing just how tall and long he actually is, how
he can extend himself. So there's when we think back
on it, and I know he's been retired for a while,
so like not everyone might you know have the inner
movie in their head playing when I say his name.
But you remember how Dwayne Wade would like finish place
at the rim. I know he's like superbly athletic, more
so than Halle, but he would.
Speaker 2: Drive for example, he would take you know, the first.
Speaker 3: Step and then he will he would extend with his
left arm he was coming off the left wing or whatever,
and like you would kind of go oh oh, like
he could just manufacture shots out of thin air because
he's just he knows how to utilize literally every single
inch of himself. That's where I think the next step
for for Haliburton's solution has to come to like he's
so long, and you see him be a little bit
more compactful on drives where I'm like, no, no, no,
stretch it out, man, Like you're supremely long, and when
you're going up against you know, posting point guards and
like they're tracking you into the paint, you can just extend.
Half of those guys are like six two six', Three
like you got both the wingspan and the high on.
Them just.
Speaker 1: Extend, YEAH i mean it's a good. Point and yet
he the way that he can hit those shots in
big moments get separation from the perimeter almost it will
is just been like to have that because Like Steve
nash had some pretty big. Shots but IT i think
that might be why if it's, me if it's, you
if it's, other people might get more frustrated With halbert
and than it feels like with other. Players is because
he has the killed like he's a he's turned full
heel like the choke symbol In game. One this series
is so. NUTS i love it as a as A knicks,
FAN i can't handle it AND i don't want to
die before THE Nba, Finals but as someone who tries
to cover the league as unbiasedly as, possible this is
WHY i still enjoy doing WHAT i do because it's
bonkers every single. Night AND i think this has been
great for The pacers just to like people put this
asterisk on Their conference finals appearance last, year Which i'm
just not a believer in asterisk because it's so hard
to win a title in any given, year no matter
the injury breaks your team gets or another team. Gets
but this has been sort of a no not because
doing it against The, knicks but it's you went through
The cavaliers and you did that to The knicks on their.
Home did you SEE i was laughing at this that
there Were it was probably ON, espn maybe it Was Fox,
sports about, like, well will The pacers be afraid to
win A game seven IN? Msg they won A game
seven IN msg last. YEAR i know The knicks were,
injured but like that was always, ridiculous AND i like
That india finally seems like it's starting to get the
credit that it deserves as as like the team that's
as good as it. Is BUT i did want to
ask you about the, towns the way they're Defending, towns
specifically when he's been defended by one of their, Bigs
Pascal siakham Or Miles. Turner The knicks are averaging as
a team one point three eight points per possession for this.
Series that's, Outrageous but you kind of look at where
you've been and you can make the case, That, okay
The knicks choked Away game, one but you were up
two zero and you should have been up three to.
Zero when you kind of look at How game three
unfolded in the, LADDER i mean you could kind of
sense them letting go of it towards the end of
that first. Half The knicks went on that mini. Run
but if You're indiana looking at, this do you then
investigate more of, like, well do we put like a
smaller player On Carl Anthony towns because he's just been so.
Hesitant part of it is The knicks won't go like
get him the ball, sometimes but the other part of
it is just he's not wired unless really he's on the,
Block like he's just not wired to attack those guys
the way that he should. Be and so if You're Rick,
carlisle is that something you're looking at for the rest
of the series or do you look at this and,
say we're up two to, one we can easily be
up three to. Zero we're. Not we're not flipping anything right,
now especially again when we're kind of wondering about the
state Of Aarony smith's.
Speaker 3: Ankle, RIGHT i think WHAT i If i'm The, PACERS
i prepare for, everything and then When game four starts,
ROLLING i kind of read it as it. GOES i, mean,
Look townds had four points entering the fourth quarter last,
night for, Example so, like if he has another slow,
Start i'm not necessarily inclined to switch things up on him.
Necessarily the thing about sounds and this is why he's
so difficult to cover. Us, well it's when he actually
gets NOT i don't want to say. Motivated motivating is
the wrong, word but when he gets, aggressive that's probably
a better. Word when he gets like super. AGGRESSIVE i
honestly don't care who you put on. Him it could
be a big it could be a, wing it could
be a you, know a sturdy. GUARD i don't. Care
when he has that level of confidence and he just
seeks things, out he will win that wet matchup far
more than he'll lose. It so for, me it's not
a matter of, oh how does a team affect you,
know the defensively To. Towns to, me it's all About towns.
Himself it's, like when do you want to attack it
the right? Way how do you want to do, this
this and? That and that's when you had to react
as the opposing, coach because let's be, real If towns
is like fully on, board comes out aggressive from the opening,
TIP i don't think it matters if you Put Myles
turner on him Or AARON. E smith Or Andrew, yeah,
YEAH i. DON'T i don't like then he'll just punish
you in every, way which way he. Can so to,
me it comes down to like reading How towns is
approaching a. Game it means that shooting, around you have
one of your assistant coaches, basically just you tell one
of your assistant coaches for the next forty five, minutes
you Watch towns during, warmups and you watch only, him
and you give me a full report, afterwards like do
we have to be? Concerned doese how? That look at the,
side look at what is he working on right? Now,
everything and if he comes out, slow you don't worry about,
it at least not until he starts amping up a little.
Speaker 1: Bit that's an excellent, point because he was having he
was actually had some pretty good defensive, moments AND i
think a lot of the times in that third quarter
then specifically The knicks played great defense only to brain
farted away at the offensive. End but he didn't like
he was having a nothing game until the fourth, quarter
and he scored Those he had twenty POINTS i think
by the five minute and ten mark, left and then
he didn't score. Again by the, WAY i believe WHAT
i do think is interesting and it kind of dovetails
with your point, Nicely And i'm curious your thoughts on,
this So tis makes the starting lineup, change Inserts Mitchell
robinson For Josh. Hart what also, happened, though is everybody
gets in foul. Trouble duce McBride had three And Quality
towns And Jalen brunson were both in foul trouble the
rest of the. Game, essentially it Forced tibbs to put
him in this. Lineup This town's put in this lineup
where he had to be aggressive offensively because you were
playing With Josh, hart duce, McBride Delon wright And Landry,
shammitt WHICH i don't know If tibbs was just playing
the fuck IF i know What i'm doing card or
if this was just, No i'm really trying To you
have to give him credit for experimenting with. It that
lineup specifically played like three. Minutes it was three electric.
Minutes but even when you're looking at the mixing and
matching the other parts of it to where there was
other players in, there but there still was No Jalen.
Brunson it wasn't having both, mckail bridges And ogan And
obi there at the same. Time what do you make
of the idea that if he's put in a situation
to where he has. Won he's insulated defensively because not
only Is Jalen brunton not on the, court but you've
surrounded him With duce, McBride Josh, hart And Delon wright
who can still like he will fight Even Landry. Shamitt
by the, Way i'm not saying he's a great, defender no. Greens,
yeah he put up a fight in the post on
a couple of, Possessions so you've insulated him, DEFENSIVELY i
think just by virtue Of John brunson not being out.
There and then, two what do you just sort of
make of the idea that baptize this by fire essentially
where it's like he has to be aggressive? Officially do
you want to know? Why because no one else, like,
Yeah deuce McBride will put up some, shots but no
one else is going to generate their own shots at
the clip that he. Can And i'm wondering if that's
a recipe and it leads into another THING i want
to ask you about in a, Second but what do
you make of that being a recipe for it doesn't
have to be that exact lineup because that was? Okay
is that a lineup that's going to. Sustain but let's
Put Karl Anthony town's in a situation where he has
to be the, guy, yeah to make that happen.
Speaker 3: OFFENSIVELY i don't hate that a plan, whatsoever because, look,
Look jalen might be your most skilled offensive player in
terms of like you, know oh, NO i want to
say most skilled perimeter offensive. Player towns has a capability
of playing inside.
Speaker 2: Out he.
Speaker 3: Is he's a playmaker a, well like a secondary. Playmaker
SO i trust the ball going through his hands almost
as much As jalen to be honest with, You, like
we're up at that. Level yet when we've seen games
all throughout the, season it's all like the center point
of everything has always Been Jaal Jail. JALEN i think
that's been a slight miscalculation on behalf of the coaching staff.
THERE i don't think The knicks and we can even
go back to the walls for, YEARS i don't think
anyone has really Utilized towns in that high use row
THAT i think he can he could actually. MAINTAIN i
said this On blue S guy the other the other.
DAY i still think If towns is, like you, know
mentally ready for a season where he's like aggressive right
off the. Pop he could have like a thirty point
average on high efficiency throughout a full. SEASON i don't
think that is in any way. Unrealistic like when you
think about, it he his free throws at a high.
Clip he's a tremendous three point shooter for someone his.
Size he can still score in the, post although you
know that's one that's probably the one area where he lacks.
Speaker 1: Aggressiveness and even when he's, aggressive it just looks. Clumsy it.
Speaker 3: Does but like he's he's still efficient enough to the
point WHERE i wouldn't hate running more of my offense through.
Him AND i think this series has been a very
good example of actually taking your two best offensive players
and telling, them, hey score. More Like jalen sid thirty,
Four towns at twenty. Six Those i'm not Asking jalens
to score forty four every single, day but Like i'm
saying that those two should definitely carry more of an
offensive burden for The knicks and not saying they should
play forty five. Minutes that's part of like the give and.
Take you, know the next, season coming into next, season
you have to make sure every one of those starters
are playing below forty five. Minutes first and, foremost that
is wildly. Important but when those guys are out, There
jalen And carl, specifically you have to run more of
the offense through.
Speaker 2: Them you just.
Speaker 3: Do and that's Not i'm not trying to point fingers
At mikale or. Og og has been fantastic this season.
Overall i'm not saying he's a bad offensive, player BUT
i do think it's pretty clear That jale And carl
are the, two you, know the two guys who make
things go in a way Where mikhaale And og can
sort of play off of those. Two so, YES i
trial by, fire fine by.
Speaker 1: Me and WHAT i think is interesting about that IS
i would agree with you overall in the sense OF
i really don't think because of what we, saw this
isn't just A knicks. THING i think it's probably received
more of a spotlight because he's In New york now
instead Of. Minnesota corlegue has always been a roller, coaster
and a lot of that can be on. Him he
is the closest you get to having a viable number two.
OPTION i Like michale bridges og annobia at. Times i've
shown a lot of. Growth but if you're looking for
a reliable number two, OPTION i would argue, one The
knicks do not have, one and two That Karl Anthony
town's is the closest they come to having. One, Right
WHAT i do think is problematic moving forward long, term
and shout out To Nick Film Schools djzulo on this.
Week he's been all over this for a while and
it's a thought That i've had not maybe with the
intricacy that he. Has for sure there's a great like
What i'm getting, At so shout out to. Him Like
Conthie towns And Jalen, brunson their games compliment one, another
but they're just not intertwined. Enough and part of that
is the way that defenses will guard The knicks to
where it's When heart's on the floor with the previous starting,
lineup you're going to have him screen because you want
to get the big in the action or have someone
For Jalen brunson at. Target the other part Is Jalen
brunson really does seem to operate better when he has
a big who once sets good, screens Which Cornthie towns
will not always, do and then that big will pull
has that gravity on the way to the basket And
Corinthe towns is more of a pick and pop, option
and so what you're doing is really shrinking the. Space
but even Though Coneae town's a three point, shooter, like
you're shrinking the space for defenses to. Defend AND i
don't want to say they're a counterintuitive fit because they
think there are things that can be. Done Lank Mitchell
robinson is like with the both of them is kind
of part of it because you can theoretically get the
best of Have Karl Anthony town's orbit and Have Mitch
robinson set. Screens but the thought That i've had is
stagger the ever living hell out of these. Two even,
more they played twenty eight minutes together In game, one
nineteen minutes each in games two and. THREE i know
you're gonna close with. THEM i know they're gonna start.
Together but the numbers on this mort in this series
are kind of, wild and they basically hold true the entire.
Playoffs brunson playing Without towns against The, pacers The knicks
are a plus ten in forty two, Minutes towns Without
brunson a plus fifteen and thirty five. Minutes the two
of them together are minus twenty and sixty five. Minutes,
NOW i know a lot of that's the starting lineup's.
Fault they're a minus twenty nine overall in the, series but,
like it's probably risky to stagger them like a lot
relative to the regular season and to this. Point but
it's a button If I'M tims THAT i just might
press because, one in, theory you're unlocking not just the
best version Of Karl Anthony, towns but i'll, say a
more intuitive version Of Jalen. Bruns and if you're kind
of tethering him to the one Big mitch, MINUTES i love.
Speaker 3: That, YEAH i, look that is something we've seen for
so many teams over the course of the. History, honestly
where you're, saying we want had to have a real
difference maker on the floor at every single point of this,
game and we can't rely on our primary guides to
play more than thirty six forty eight minutes per game because,
look THE np is crazy now and any player averaging
over forty minutes has blown knees basically after the end
of the. Season so, YEAH i think that is a
perfectly reasonable way to go about. It and, look you
Have mikale And, og who might be the best complimentary
secondary guys to the staggered. Player if you catch my,
drift like If jalen is on the floor and towns us,
off then you have you, Know mikail Or og for,
example playing Alongside. Jalen those are perfect roles for them as.
Well and you can flip it and, say, Well jaleen
goes all goes. In maybe he also has a stint
With mikail And. Ogi those guys compliment both those guys
to a wild, degree at least on a theoretical, scale
BECAUSE i will say, This mikail is just becoming, inconsistent
especially off it becoming, WELL i, KNOW i, mean, look
one thing is the defense slip this, year and we
know that the shot was like in and. Out IT'S
i think we're reaching new lows here when it comes
to like the, SHOT i don't know what the hell
it is. ANYMORE i you, know usually at least a
couple of years, back when he took an open three
or an open, well he's still a good mid range,
Shooter i'll give him, that but like an open, THREE
i was, like, yeah like this probably has like a
solid sixty five percent chance of going in, Now i'm
just like anybody's. GUESS i wouldn't dare putting a bed
on it at, All like Will Mikle bridges make this
open corner three? Pointer, like, No i'm, Not i'm not
waiting anything on. THIS i have no.
Speaker 1: Clue, No i'm with you on. THAT i think the defense,
DEFINITELY i think picked up like towards the middle of
the season through the, end but the offense has Felt,
yeah the mid range stuff has been, there but like
even some of the mid range stuff can get annoying
and you've seen it come to bear and basically where
it's he's always fading away from the, rim like even
when he has open pathways to the. Basket but, yeah
the three point shooting has never felt like more of
a wild. Card but do you know, what the it's
not the, problem but you know what the reality of
the situation, is that's kind of like that's a third
option on a title. Team like same with og like
not having more ball, skills being a little bit he
had a you, know he kind of ignited The knicks
offense at points In game, Three like that's those. Guys,
Yeah McHale, bridges we held Out. HOPE i was on
the train when he went To, brooke AND i was, Like,
yeah this guy can be a number two by the
end of last, year his final. Season that's, like, okay
he's probably just like better suited in that number three type.
Role The knicks's pecking order is such THAT i, think
and because they gave up so much for, him but
it's a fair way to look at. It you immediately
think that he needs to be a different type of
offensive player than he actually. Is but like this Is
michale Bri, yes he needs to hit more wide open, threes,
RIGHT i tell you that. Much but the inconsistency is it's.
Damning but it's not just. Him it's Like Jalen brunson
probably has not had his different had to have his best.
Game that was one of the worst Games i've ever
Seen Jalen brunson play in A knicks, uniform probably in
A maverick uniform. Too brain far passes Just indie. Had
his defense is the pressure The knicks don't know how to.
Handle they do not man indeed does. Not if they
don't want to be screened, more they're not gonna be.
Screened it's and it's, funny and Now i'm going out
A pacers. DETOUR i don't care because what was our
concern leading into the, season like do they have enough?
Defense is? It do they have enough size on? Defense
they need another premier wing. Defender and it's, Right Tyres
holburton got, better even if incrementally on. Defense Pascal siakam
has always been a little bit underrated, there and Then
Andrew nemhar And Aaron Ei. Smith if they don't want
to be, screened they're not gonna be. Screened this this
team is the pressure is. THERE i thought The knicks
have thrown some really bad passes. Here but that's the
other part of the flaw of the, roster which is
what concerns me when you're looking at them long, term
is just going this. Far let's say they beat The
pacers or make it to A game seven or. Whatever
doesn't reinforce the wrong things here In New york because
this flaw isn't going. Anywhere there's stuff that we're talking.
About Michale bridges is, inconsistency, Staggering Karl Anthony towns And Jayalen.
Brunson the idea that Karlthy towns is your highest paid
player on those one of those thirty five percent, maxes
and you're sitting here, saying, well he really can't be
your primary big in a lot of, matches like there
need to, matchups you need to Have Mitchell robinson or
another big on the court with. Him that's. Problematic there's
nothing you can do about it. Now but, like that's
SOMETHING i think they're gonna have to look at over the.
Offseason we'll see how deeply they look into, it depending
on how this series. Ends but that inconsistency you're talking,
about it feels, like with the exception Of Jalen, brunson
that that is baked into THE dna of These, nicks
and that is it's uncle, comfortable and yet here they
are at the same.
Speaker 3: TIME i have a question about that. Og right he
had that stretch was Said March april when he was
averaging just.
Speaker 1: Ridiculous John brunson had that ankle, injury and then og
just went, Kaboom.
Speaker 2: Yeah completely. Nuts.
Speaker 3: RIGHT i wonder, it, like would it be would it
be worth? Exploring LIKE i, know it's never you can't
really set it up like, oh you're now you're the
third option and now you're the fourth. Option but LIKE
i do think there is too big of a gap
between shot attempts From bridges To, Ananobi like would it
be interesting to go into next season and kind of
Empower og to take more shots and sort of Encourage
bridges to play off of those, Three, like so the
primary three Are, Jalen carl And og BECAUSE i would
love to see How mikhale responds to being way more
of a selective shooter than what he is right.
Speaker 1: Now SO i, yes it is the short. Answer the
long answer IS i think not so much this, series
but When Jalen brunson came back from that, injury anecdotally,
speaking it feels like we saw The knicks funnel some
of his usage Towards Og, Ananobi AND i think in
this series what this is a CREDIT i think to
The pacers And Pascal siakam, specifically but like they're matched
up against one, another AND i think The knicks feel,
better especially when you're looking at we need someone to
run like on the, ball especially If Josh hart isn't
going to be on the on the. Court he's just
more wired to do. That but they probably feel better About,
hey do we want to See og go After pascal Siakam.
Or we've seen a lot Of tyre's haliburt not On Michel,
bridges and SO i think that's kind of responsible for the.
Series But i'm with you in the sense that do
you want to empower Og? MOORE i say that with
the caveat though of we talked about that for years
with The, raptors AND i just think we've probably reached
the point where he will have nights where there's just
some like wild drives and he does some hit some
side step. Threes that's just not him as a. Player
AND i think again could be another that's Not Mikail bridges.
Either like these two are really great, players and maybe
what The knicks have done is insulated themselves against disaster
because so many of their key players are. Inconsistent but
like there's just enough talent there to figure it. Out
it'll never be, easy but you can still maybe kind
of game. It but that's an interesting thought as to,
like well there is there another level to og. Here
i'd be all for exploring. It BUT i think if
you asked me about McHale or Og An, andobi my
answer is no for both of. Them AND i think
that's part of the reason why if they ended up
moving on From TIBs or WHEN i see people And
i've complained About TIBs plenty And i'm not saying he
is the right coach for the, situation and it's the
series isn't. OVER i don't want me to get too
long term with. It BUT i don't think that this
roster it's core. ISSUES i don't think they're just born
from the matters of.
Speaker 2: COACHING i agree with.
Speaker 1: That is there anything else on this anything about The?
Pacers the last NOTE i would have to throw to
you is when you talk about, inconsistency IS i would
like this and we saw it in? Game what was?
Speaker 3: That?
Speaker 1: TWO i feel like it needs to be made a
point to Get Pascal siakam more involved or at least
like maintain a level of, involvement because he's a, weapon
AND i just feel like at times he's underutilized way too.
Much AND i don't know if that's you, know comes
back to the town's. DISCUSSION i want to make it
clear he's nowhere near that, extreme like he's more of
a steadying offensive. PRESENCE i don't know if we wall
more On siakam or if it's just the manner in
which they're getting him the. Ball and, look he has
ogn And obi on him a lot of the. Time
that's got a factor in but getting him those just
those elbows touches or like getting him any sort of
deep paint, touches which it feels like when they want
to they can almost do. It Will i'd like to
see them make more of an emphasis on that for
the rest of this.
Speaker 2: Series it's interesting you say.
Speaker 3: That so WHEN i have Some paris to Cover spurs,
PACERS i had A danish colleague with me who Asked
Rick carlisle about like that exact question and just in
general terms of the regular, season like are you planning
to Get Pascal siaka more? Involved And carlisle was, like you,
know that's not the way we look at, It like
we look at it through the flow of the, Game
like we're not gonna like just throw the ball to
a certain player just because that's. That this wasn't, verbatim
but like that was his larger, point AND i remember
sitting there, thinking you, know LIKE i understand what you're
trying to say, here that you want this sort of
equal opportunity offense still With halle as your, quarterback but
it might be more beneficial to you occasionally at, Least
so maybe just clear out some space or just kind
of funnel the ball towards Siak i'm just a little
bit more because he's he's too talented not to to produce.
Speaker 2: At a high level.
Speaker 3: Level so, YES i would absolutely squeeze WHATEVER i can
out of him moving. Forward you, know you have to
utilize having a point guard who is a, star who
isn't as shut hungry as you know a lot of
other players in the. League having someone who's like completely
okay with seeing the ball go through the hands of other.
Players utilize. That that's a good. Thing that's an asset for.
You so if you can get more shots For, shiakam
who is in high efficiency score by the, way all the.
Speaker 2: Better, YES i would support.
Speaker 1: That, yeah for. Sure and you mentioned the part about
what Brick carlo had said that's what makes The pacers
offense so. Dangerous but we've also seen the value of
What siakam can, Do SO i would probably echo everything
you said right. There anything else about this SERIES i
would shout out just you, know some of The pacers
bench has not been, great but Like Ben sheppard given
him Minutes Tony bradley being dusted, off like being able,
to like you talk about functional, depth like being able
to turn on a lean on those. Guys AND i
think even with The, Knicks duce McBride's been big for
them in this. Series and then if You're Landry shamitt
barely playing Until game three of The Eastern Conference finals
and coming in AND i think he really Gave he
was kind of just like the billboard for that Entire nick's.
Comeback he wasn't the most important member of, it but
it was like he came, in gave you minutes that
you needed at a time when you couldn't afford not
to have, them and things took off from. There so
just shout out to like these reserves coming in and
leaving their mark on on this type of.
Speaker 2: Stage, YEP i, WILL i, HAD i do have.
Speaker 3: Something, Finally i'm just gonna pluck some of my own
work to be honest with, you BECAUSE i just wrote
about The pacers over At yahoo. Today brian Wind horst
reported ON espn that they're open to Keeping Miles turner.
Around well that open to keeping him, around because obviously
they're open to going into the luxury tax to Retain Miles.
Speaker 1: Trup BELIEVE i see.
Speaker 3: It that's so that was my my, well my point
of the piece is basically this that's only the starting. Point,
like you just made back to back conference. Finals you
owe it to the fan base to not just Resign.
Miles you also have to when Aaron Ne smith is
up in two, years go get him a new. Deal
like you have to actually see this. Through if The
pacers become a shelf themselves over the next couple of
years because they want to save, money shame on them big.
Speaker 1: Time, Yeah and they're not in a position where like
these are Not none of these, guys with the exception Of,
halliburn are ever gonna be these thirty five percent max
guys and Aaron Ei. SMITH i, think, look even if
they want to duct the tax next, year they have
enough room under the tax projected right now to whereas
you can move some money around and figure it. Out
The Aaron smith one's going to be interesting BECAUSE i,
like is he on the best contract in THE. NBA
i think you can make a case That Jalen brunson's
on the best contract in THE, nba so he's probably
a top five contract at worst at this, point he
won't sign an extension right off this.
Speaker 3: Number, no, no because the, extension even though it increased
to one hundred and forty percent as opposed to one
to twenty in veteran extension, limits he's earning what Eleven
let me just just double check AND i want to
sit here on the podcast and lie just want to
make sure it get the numbers. RIGHT i think it
was eleven per. Year, yes it is eleven million per
year from Aaron Ne smith straight, like no. Increases so
in his final year twenty six twenty, seven he only
accounts for six point five percent of the salary, cap.
Speaker 2: Which is a freaking'.
Speaker 3: Pargain so one hundred and forty percent of that when
he's looking like a full time starter at this, point
he's looking.
Speaker 1: Like more than. THAT i, mean he turned. Out the
shooting has been.
Speaker 3: Like, well What i'm saying full time, START i could
say high end. Starter What i'm saying like he's he's
not an all star level yet at, least like you
know WHAT i, Mean like he's not at that atmosphere
or stratosphere, yet but like he's still someone who's going
to be paid start.
Speaker 1: Money, yeah and look the defense he's played On Jalen
Brunson's at points in the, series The knicks are barely
averaging a point per possession when he Defends Jalen, brunson
and that's Like Derek white On Jalen brunston, territory which is.
Speaker 3: BONKERS i would not be surprised if the player they
move off on from is Actually.
Speaker 2: Mathrin you know what's.
Speaker 1: So weird about, that, though is one he makes so
little and so if you're really trying to cut into
your cap, Sheet Obi toppins the name THAT i think
is brought, up AND i saw.
Speaker 2: SOMETHING i brought him up as.
Speaker 3: Well But i'm, thinking, like because they have to Pay
benedict in a couple of, years or not even a couple,
years he's extension eligible after this, season and, like even
if he doesn't get an, extension then he's going to
go in as a restricted. Freation so he's only got
one year left after this, one and then he's gonna
get paid a certain amount of, money And i'm pretty
sure it's gonna be higher than what he's going to
be on in the final year of his. Contract SO
i think they want to get out ahead of that
and basically, say all, right, look we don't want to
trade a guy with like half a year to go
until he's like in restricted free. Agency at least we
can trade him maybe in the summer where there's like
a full season for a team to like navigate those.
Speaker 1: WATERS i will, say we gets iffy about, that and
you deal with, it but it's, like you better be
sure That Ben shepherd can soak up a ton of. Minutes,
yes otherwise you need to go out and find another
sort of wing type. PLAYER i know benne matthis maybe
not the ideal, fit but he made some strides this
year and, yeah They're, LOOK i, echo we didn't want
to make this about the, future but like if there
was ever any, doubt AND i don't think there should have,
been that The pacers were a good, team they've put
it to. Bed now they could lose this series and
that they're still they're still, close and The east is
just we don't know what's gonna happen With gianni's but
The tatum injury In, boston you know changes are coming. There,
yeah it's so wide. Open look at what just happened To.
Cleveland yeah they could be maybe they're healthy through the
postseason next. Year but, like you don't look at them
after their three postseason. Trips you certainly don't look at
these knicks and, say, like, oh they're they're ready to
run the. Tables you don't even look At milwaukee like
that If yannis is still. There if, Anything yanni's being
In milwaukee kind of ensures that the wealth of competition
is still redistributed throughout the league because you're not creating
a borderline superpower, elsewhere so The east is wide. OPEN
i don't anticipate The pacers will do anything major to
shake this, up but They it's been really cool to
kind of see them confirm That, no, oh there was
no rush to coordinate. Them they were just They're they're
just really fucking. Good AND i think they're one of
the teams and, okay see will of course be a
something we look, at but they're becoming an exemplar for
depth matters in the. Playoffs now it feels like like
it really feels like it, matters and The pacers have
kind of been like one of the forerunners of.
Speaker 2: That, YEAH i totally.
Speaker 3: Agree and by the, Way Indiana oka see that is
going to be basketball porn and THEN i don't care
about all the narratives that's gonna pop up, about, oh
this is gonna be a low ratings. SERIES i don't
give a. Fuck that is going to be fantastic. Basketball
it could not for people who actually enjoy watching, basketball
who actually enjoy the. Sport this is gonna be Like
Christmas eve if we get that. Finals so that's the
One i'm.
Speaker 1: Rooting and then if you're really Like I'm i'm gonna be,
HERE i, won't you, know subscribe to. Them but if
It's nick's thunder the level of, oh look at grifter
versus grifter AND sga Versus jalen BR i will be
interested to see just how that gets boiled down TO
i won't partake in it BECAUSE i THINK i do
think it's. Ridiculous for the most, part they can both,
grift so does Everybody Like i'm A knicks, fan AND
i can even, admit, like, yeah watching you once IF
i just fling himself into guys and off guys can
get annoying from time to, time like it MUCKs up the,
Game but we're not in for a bad whatever we,
get we're not in for a bad finals. Matchup so
more this was. Fun can you tell all our listeners
subscribers where they can find you and all the great
work that you.
Speaker 3: Do, Yes SO i am over At Blue, sky WHERE
i usually share links to my. Work i'm honestly, YEAH
i just want to get out ahead of. This i'm
not really doing a bunch of social media. Anymore LIKE
i don't know what it. Is Maybe i'm getting, older
but like you can definitely find at least some links
to our work over at Blue. Sky, otherwise if you
want to find my work, actively you can go To
google search my name and Say yahoo And, forbes and
then those archives are going to come. Up then of
course anything podcast and just Speak, danish bluster the podcasts
Speaker 1: Until next time and has always leave me with the
one shout out to the one the only the next
player THAT i Think tibbs will insert in to the game,
unexpectedly Mister Frank Pila keina