WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:04.480 We're back on the drive with ESPN's Dave mcmanimon joining 2 00:00:04.519 --> 00:00:08.720 us for today's NBA Daily Assist Alex Jensen five o'clock 3 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:12.240 hour tonight, always appreciate his time. Hey Porter, real quick? 4 00:00:12.279 --> 00:00:16.079 Do you follow? Do you follow Dave mcminimon on Instagram? 5 00:00:16.199 --> 00:00:17.160 I think so? I think? 6 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:17.320 So? 7 00:00:17.480 --> 00:00:19.359 Okay? Has he ever. 8 00:00:19.239 --> 00:00:22.719 Posted a photo uh thanking us for bringing him on 9 00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:24.920 and like saying, Hey, this is really cool. I've been 10 00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:26.960 doing this for years and Spence rules. Has he ever 11 00:00:27.399 --> 00:00:29.039 posted any photos like that? 12 00:00:29.160 --> 00:00:30.239 You sell the Richien hit? 13 00:00:30.280 --> 00:00:30.359 No? 14 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:32.799 I mean, I'm just saying, like, I like Richison, but 15 00:00:32.920 --> 00:00:34.799 I do too. You know, I think Dave is on 16 00:00:34.920 --> 00:00:36.520 Riches show once a year, he's on our show. 17 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:37.439 I'm just curious. 18 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:40.359 Did I miss a post of Dave saying Wow, it's 19 00:00:40.359 --> 00:00:41.799 awesome to be on Spencer's show again. 20 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:43.799 I know we've had Dave on rem I think we've 21 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:46.039 had Dave like on site before. Have we had him 22 00:00:46.039 --> 00:00:46.640 in studio? 23 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:47.479 Uh? No? 24 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:51.079 But you know, I'm just wondering if if he holds 25 00:00:51.159 --> 00:00:53.719 rich Eison on a pedestal, then he doesn't really feel 26 00:00:53.799 --> 00:00:56.320 like I'm worthy of social media sharing. 27 00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:58.280 Yeah, you may have a point. 28 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:00.799 I don't know Dave mcminnimon joins us a Thursday. What's 29 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:03.000 the deal, dude? I mean I like Rich Eisen too, 30 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:04.760 but I mean, come on equal time. 31 00:01:06.359 --> 00:01:11.159 I would say in my recollection, when I made sure 32 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:14.920 to go remote on site with you Journal Star weekend 33 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:18.799 in Salt Lake City, your operation didn't have a cameraman 34 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:22.400 there capturing the moment and then sharing that image with 35 00:01:22.439 --> 00:01:25.079 me so that I could then share with my followers. 36 00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:29.319 Had I received that japeg and not shared it, I 37 00:01:29.319 --> 00:01:31.239 think you would have a point. But I would have 38 00:01:31.319 --> 00:01:33.000 to say, like, you got to up your game. You 39 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:35.400 got to start doing it like Eisen, so I can 40 00:01:35.480 --> 00:01:37.760 start promoting the show the same way. 41 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:40.879 Porter, Will you please hire a photographer before Dave gets 42 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:42.280 off their so we could do it next time he's 43 00:01:42.280 --> 00:01:46.400 in town, just for Dave mc minnibe's next hit. Okay, 44 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:49.719 thank you, sir. I kid Dave, obviously, I kid. 45 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:52.719 All right. Look, you know the deal man, You do 46 00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:53.480 this job. 47 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:56.040 You're in this ecosystem, and you've got to put the 48 00:01:56.079 --> 00:01:58.799 fan aside, which I try to do. But I have 49 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:01.159 not been this excited about a New York Nick team 50 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:04.439 truly in twenty five years, since the late nineties, right, 51 00:02:05.280 --> 00:02:09.879 I am still incredibly skeptical of their ability to get 52 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:11.919 two more wins. That's just where I'm at. But where 53 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:14.840 are you at with Nick Celtics after two games? 54 00:02:15.879 --> 00:02:19.520 I mean, listen, they the Knicks deserve so much credit 55 00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:22.120 for the way they did not give up on either 56 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:26.400 of those those games. Day one, Cavs and foul trouble 57 00:02:26.520 --> 00:02:30.000 didn't find a rhythm, bruntson caught a heater late and 58 00:02:30.199 --> 00:02:33.479 mckel bridges making every play they needed in overtime. And 59 00:02:33.800 --> 00:02:37.319 last night, you know, like just they never gave up 60 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:40.080 once again. And you know, the Boston I'm not saying 61 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:45.840 they're like an intimidating opponent, but they are very, very 62 00:02:45.879 --> 00:02:49.719 good one. They're a worthy champion, and anyone who watched 63 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:54.560 them this year, I think certainly they have the best 64 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:57.759 level of play when they are at their best. But 65 00:02:57.800 --> 00:03:01.080 the Knicks are making it tough for the Celtics to 66 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:04.280 play at their best. And man, the Garden's going to 67 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:07.439 be insane for Game three. I saw Jared Smith said 68 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:08.879 he's going to go there. He needs to be in 69 00:03:08.919 --> 00:03:12.319 the building. You can imagine I'll surely be a parade 70 00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:15.240 of former Knicks there, you know, Patrick Ewing going up 71 00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:17.319 to Boston for these games, but you know Pat will 72 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:21.639 be in the building. You know you're gonna see Larry Johnson, etc. Center. 73 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:25.039 It's going to be awesome. And I think this is 74 00:03:25.080 --> 00:03:27.400 kind of what everyone was hoping for last year, that 75 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:30.000 NIXT team to make it to the conference finals, obviously 76 00:03:30.120 --> 00:03:31.960 upset by Indiana and they go were injured at the 77 00:03:32.039 --> 00:03:36.400 end of their run. They look like a real contender 78 00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:39.439 right now. I will say this, though, the series is 79 00:03:39.479 --> 00:03:42.400 far from over. And you know, I picked Boston in seven, 80 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:44.919 and you know, I guess my confidence and etic is 81 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:48.319 shaken ever so slightly, but I don't think it's going 82 00:03:48.360 --> 00:03:49.919 to be easy from here on out for. 83 00:03:49.879 --> 00:03:53.240 The next I'm surprised you picked Boston in seven. Most 84 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:55.759 people picked Boston in four or five or six, so 85 00:03:55.800 --> 00:03:58.520 I'm surprised you thought it would go seven. And look, 86 00:03:58.599 --> 00:04:01.960 I completely agree with you, and we really should give 87 00:04:01.960 --> 00:04:03.639 Tom Tibodau and the New York Knicks a ton of 88 00:04:03.639 --> 00:04:05.199 credit for a number of different things. 89 00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:07.560 They've changed their defensive approach. 90 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:10.639 Some of the switches that Boston is trying to force 91 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:13.080 has not worked because Og is just such a beast 92 00:04:13.159 --> 00:04:15.039 and when the switches don't work. 93 00:04:15.080 --> 00:04:17.560 It allow it allows the defenders to stay home. 94 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:20.319 So a lot of the Boston misses are can test it, 95 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:23.519 but a lot of the Boston missues are not contested. Dave, So, 96 00:04:23.560 --> 00:04:26.319 do you feel like we're in for like a regression 97 00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:28.519 to the mean situation? Part of me believes one of 98 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:31.319 these games Boston is just going to go like twenty two 99 00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:34.000 of forty two from three and win by like thirty. 100 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:37.680 I mean, you'd think that's going to be the case here. 101 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:40.759 I mean, it's clearly the style of play that they 102 00:04:41.240 --> 00:04:44.199 look to go for, and they have the personnel to 103 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:46.959 do it. You know, it's not just Jason Tatum, but 104 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:52.160 Jalen Brown and Derek White and Pritchard Howser, etc. Like 105 00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:55.360 even a Horford and forzeingis when he's right, Like they 106 00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:57.199 have a ton of guys who can hit from the outside, 107 00:04:57.240 --> 00:05:01.360 and like you do have a non well, I want 108 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:05.560 to get this word out right, anominally type things that 109 00:05:05.639 --> 00:05:09.759 occur in NBA playoffs run. You know the Kimberwolves, who 110 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:12.240 I've covered now in the first and second round. They 111 00:05:12.279 --> 00:05:14.560 open up Game one against the Lakers. They hit twenty 112 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:17.639 two threes these last two games between game five against 113 00:05:17.639 --> 00:05:20.720 the Lakers and Game one against the Warriors. They're twelve 114 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:23.439 for seventy six from three. Are they the twenty two 115 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:25.480 to three team. Are they the twelve for seventy six. 116 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:29.720 They're probably neither, right. But with teams you know, throwing 117 00:05:29.879 --> 00:05:33.399 the kitchen sink at you defensively, they're going to have 118 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:37.000 some ups and downs on a huge stage. And the 119 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:39.800 question is, you know, will we get the rooty t 120 00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:44.560 type of semerity from this Celtics group going into Game three? 121 00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:46.879 That you never underestimate the heart of a champion, and 122 00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:50.199 they look like a different team and they have kind 123 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:54.600 of the stable sense of mind to be able to 124 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:58.680 recognize that two oh really doesn't matter. It doesn't matters, 125 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:01.639 Like what do we do? Tip off for Game three, 126 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:04.759 play our best forty eight minutes of basketball, and then 127 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:07.920 you know, continue to get back into the series that way. 128 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:11.920 So the rise of kind of the analytical approach to 129 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:15.040 the game of basketball certainly is not new. I think 130 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:17.120 John Hollinger was one of the first to kind of 131 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:20.199 help people understand how new numbers can be digestible and 132 00:06:20.279 --> 00:06:24.399 not completely boring. I hate broadcast that are steeped and analytics. 133 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:28.439 I think they're boring anyway, But ultimately I understand how 134 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:30.879 the approach from a front office and a coaching staff 135 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:33.759 can lead to more efficient you know, efficient play and 136 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:37.759 rotational decisions and such. But look, man, you're up twenty 137 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:41.680 with thirteen or fourteen minutes left in the game. The 138 00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:44.680 craziest stat Dave for me from Game one is after 139 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:48.120 Boston goes up twenty with three and a half minutes left, 140 00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:51.199 ten straight possessions they shoot a three and nine of 141 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:53.839 those possessions the ball didn't even break the pain. Like, 142 00:06:55.160 --> 00:06:59.519 at what point do you say, okay, our style and 143 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:01.839 the person now we have to your point that is 144 00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:05.720 suited to play this style won a championship a year ago, 145 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:08.639 has led to a tremendous couple of year run. But 146 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:12.120 maybe it's okay to try to attack the glass and 147 00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:14.360 get twos and ones when you're up twenty with fourteen 148 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:16.560 minutes left to play, Like, at what point do you 149 00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:19.319 kind of scrap the whole approach in the name of 150 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:21.199 just running the game out so you can get to win. 151 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:26.480 It's a great point, and it's why, as we've seen 152 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:31.600 the analytical movement basically say teams just want layups, dunks, 153 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:36.360 and threes and specific corner threes where you've had people 154 00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:40.879 like Lebron James publicly be vocal pushing back against that, saying, like, 155 00:07:40.920 --> 00:07:43.639 what about the midrange? You need to have a midrange 156 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:45.759 game because that's the shot you can get to at 157 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:48.920 the end of the shot clock that teams are going 158 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:50.360 to give it to you, Like, you should have that 159 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:54.560 in your bag. And look at the maestro for the 160 00:07:54.639 --> 00:07:57.800 Knicks in Jalen Brunston. I mean, he has every single 161 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:02.720 three level score type of bag to his game, whereas 162 00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:07.439 you know Tatum, right, like that's what he's kind of 163 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:11.199 been critiqued for over the last several years, where when 164 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:14.160 he goes to that mid range step back, it's not 165 00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:16.680 a very efficient shot for him. And so you wonder 166 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:21.040 do they have the personnel to get those shots you're 167 00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:23.879 talking about on the fly? And also like who is 168 00:08:23.879 --> 00:08:28.040 their penetrating guard to, you know, other than Richard can 169 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:30.120 do that in moments off the bench, but that's more 170 00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:32.159 of a change of pace type guy who's going to 171 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:34.279 be the guy consistently getting into the pain for them. 172 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:39.519 So as great as they are with their fastball, and 173 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:43.039 obviously there's a reason they were the champion, and they're 174 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:45.519 a team that hit more threes last year in their 175 00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:48.799 postseason run than any other team has an NBA postseason history. 176 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:53.840 But they if they aren't hitting, they all of a 177 00:08:53.879 --> 00:08:57.519 sudden look vulnerable. Now, I think the numbers will bear 178 00:08:57.559 --> 00:09:00.639 out and they're gonna win with that style in the 179 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:04.039 long run personally, but I mean, they are certainly playing 180 00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:05.600 with fire going to the Game three. 181 00:09:05.879 --> 00:09:10.120 So as you know the Missoula the portion of the 182 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:14.240 basketball I don't know media or ecosystem that criticizes Missoula. 183 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:19.879 It's okay. Inherit he inherited emy Udoka's team. He fell 184 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:22.399 into the job because Will Hardy took the Jazz job. 185 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:25.759 Will was Joe's number one assistant and then Will takes 186 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:29.720 the Jazz job like two weeks later, loses the job 187 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:31.440 because of what happened off the floor of Missoula. 188 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:32.399 Kind of falls into it. 189 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:35.600 So the criticism is, did he just inherit a roster 190 00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:39.240 and a system that is self sustainable because of the 191 00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:42.559 roster that Danny Danny Ainge then Brad Stevens put together, 192 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:44.679 which I still believe is the best roster in pro 193 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:47.759 basketball on paper. And so the criticism has kind of 194 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:50.840 been all right, it's a it's an auto drive car, 195 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:52.639 like you don't really have to do much. 196 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:53.919 I'm not sure how fair that is. 197 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:58.600 But what are you expecting from him as it pertains 198 00:09:58.600 --> 00:10:01.320 two adjustments that people think that he needs to make, 199 00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:03.240 or do you think he just rides with the system 200 00:10:03.240 --> 00:10:04.799 that won him the chip a year ago. 201 00:10:07.399 --> 00:10:10.039 He seems to be And I covered the finals last year, 202 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:11.720 so I got to spend a little bit of time 203 00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:15.159 around him. He seems to be a guy who's pretty 204 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:21.279 strong in his divinchs and not one to meddle with 205 00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:24.919 the big picture. Now, of course, I imagine Neils some 206 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:28.919 sort of adjustments, but I wouldn't even venture like a 207 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:31.360 guess as to what specifically that would be. But I 208 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:38.279 think in general this roster has perfected to some degree. 209 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:42.440 This approach of shooting forty three is a game, and 210 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:45.440 I think if you look at the long time term 211 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:49.080 sample size, right, you'd even say that for the two 212 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:53.679 games so far the series, it worked for seventy out 213 00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:56.919 of the eighty six minutes or whatever ninety six minutes, right, 214 00:10:57.039 --> 00:11:03.720 So I wouldn't anticipate whole sold wholesale changes, but you know, 215 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:05.519 he would be kind of a sleep of the wheel 216 00:11:05.559 --> 00:11:06.840 if he doesn't make some tweeks. 217 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:09.879 Last question before we move on, My goodness, I could 218 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:12.120 talk to you for three hours today. This playoffs has 219 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:16.039 been so insane. But should the Celtics? 220 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:19.120 Should they? Should they not find their way back? 221 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:22.279 If if Missulla stays stubborn and the Knicks get it, 222 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:24.360 Let's say, I don't know, maybe the next go to 223 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:27.480 MSG and get two. They're on the hook next year 224 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:30.879 for twenty three, you're two hundred and twenty three million 225 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:33.080 dollars in change, almost two hundred and twenty four million 226 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:36.080 dollars in change. They have a new ownership group who 227 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:39.120 I would imagine would not be thrilled to pay a 228 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:41.159 luxury tax bill for a team that lost in the 229 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:44.399 second round. If Boston doesn't get back into this thing 230 00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:45.639 and win, what do you think. 231 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:47.919 The offseason looks like for Joe Missoula and this roster? 232 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:53.639 And that is a very very good question. And obviously 233 00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:56.679 the owners group putting up on precedent amounts of money 234 00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:59.399 just to be able to take over. And that's a 235 00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:01.960 huge bill. And you know some of the pieces, you know, 236 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:05.919 a guy like Al Horford not getting any younger. I 237 00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:09.480 don't know, I think it certainly would have them reevaluate 238 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:14.440 things and and look again at the the brunt excuse me, 239 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:18.639 the Jalen Brown situation and him with Jason Tatum and 240 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:23.360 figure is just really our best pathway forward paying both 241 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:26.559 these guys incredible sum of money when there's still a 242 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:30.159 bit of an overlap. I would tend to think that 243 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:33.240 they would try to keep them together together one more year, 244 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:36.879 because again you're be talking about the big picture of 245 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:40.279 this team is that this would be a second round exit, right, 246 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:44.919 but over the last nine years, it would be that 247 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:48.039 would be the earliest sex that they had. I've including 248 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:53.080 two finals appearances, a championship, and six conference finals appearances. 249 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:57.159 So do you trust the eject button on that? I 250 00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:01.799 think probably not. But I think some of the kind 251 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:03.960 of the role players, you would have to look at, 252 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:07.559 what specifically were we missing against the Knicks and is 253 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:09.919 it going to be something that we are going to 254 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:13.440 achieve by continuing to pay some of these role players. 255 00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:16.559 And I think obviously there would be some degree of 256 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:17.120 a shakeup. 257 00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:21.399 You like dogs, Dave love Do you love dogs? Okay, 258 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:23.840 We're gonna move over to Indiana and Cleveland. Now here's 259 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:27.120 the deal. Donovan Mitchell is a golden doodle. We love 260 00:13:27.159 --> 00:13:30.440 golden doodles. Everyone loves golden doodles. The golden doodles are cute. 261 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:32.279 You can enter them to a dogs show. They're gonna 262 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:35.200 win a dog show here there. To win the NBA Playoffs, 263 00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:38.440 you got to have Rott Wilders and the Pacers have 264 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:40.879 a bunch of dogs. Man, they got a bunt Nie 265 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:44.320 Smith and them. I mean, Benedict Matherin wants to fight 266 00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:45.320 everybody all the time. 267 00:13:45.559 --> 00:13:48.399 And do you know, and we love Donovan here, I 268 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:49.159 cheer for Nonavan. 269 00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:51.759 And look, he nearly hung half a hundred and he's 270 00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:53.759 without three of his four best teammates. 271 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:55.480 So this is not even a criticism. 272 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:57.759 But we all thought we were a high speed ahead 273 00:13:57.799 --> 00:14:00.279 to Boston Cleveland and the Calves are up a creek. Man, 274 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:02.120 what do you make of what we've seen so far 275 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:04.120 with the Pacers taking that to a lead. 276 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:07.759 Yeah, I mean, that's what a brutal game. Brutal ending. 277 00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:11.120 I say, for Donovan Mitchell, you're missing three of your 278 00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:15.480 keyp rotation guys. You know DeAndrea Hunter, no Evan Mobley 279 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:17.679 who just was named Defensive Player of the Year and 280 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:20.639 can't go because of an ankle. Obviously Daris Garland has 281 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:23.080 been out since the first round. You put up forty 282 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:25.799 eight I think you have nine to fifth four steals, 283 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:28.200 and in the last two minutes and thirty seconds you 284 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:30.399 can't hold on to a seven point lead, in part 285 00:14:30.440 --> 00:14:33.000 because you missed two free throws and you have a 286 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:35.759 bad turnover, and of course Matt Screws also had a 287 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:40.639 terrible turnover. But I mean, that is devastating. And you know, 288 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:43.399 he said the right thing postgame, Okay, we got to 289 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:46.559 go down to Indiana and get two, And like, I 290 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:50.360 hope there's confidence behind that statement because this is a 291 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:54.279 really tough Indiana team and a lot of I mean 292 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:57.360 a commentary is through the lens of the Lakers. JJ 293 00:14:57.480 --> 00:15:00.639 Reddick was so high on this Pacers team all season long. 294 00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:04.960 He thought that they play with an incredible pace, they 295 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:09.200 are really sharp rotations defensively, and they have the size 296 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:12.639 and physicality to give you problems on the wings. And 297 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:16.919 this Cavs team, they are very, very deep, but all 298 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:20.159 of a sudden, there is a big drop off. Whereas 299 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:25.000 you know, Dean Wade getting knights Man minutes, they seem deep. 300 00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:27.799 But when Dean Wade's getting six man minutes. It's a 301 00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:31.000 different mass that you're dealing with. You know, ty Jerome 302 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:34.960 was a six Man of the Year candidate. He starts 303 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:37.559 in Game two, goes one for fourteen, you know, and 304 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:40.519 it's the guy guarding Haliburton when he makes the game 305 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:43.480 winning shot, and you wonder, you know, if he should 306 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:46.639 have available up on him closer. I mean, it makes 307 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:49.360 you think back to Game seven and twenty sixteen finals. 308 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:52.200 Kevin loved it a better CONTESTO and Steph Curry than 309 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:56.679 ty Jerome did on Tyrus Haliburton that situation. So I think, 310 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:59.120 whereas this is Calf's team, I actually watch a lot 311 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:01.759 because I spent four year covered in Cleveland, and I 312 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:05.159 really enjoyed this group. I think they're a fun group 313 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:08.600 to watch. I think they're I don't have nearly the 314 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:11.039 same faith I have in the Calves do I have 315 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:14.440 in Boston. Like I think they are up the creek 316 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:16.080 without a paddle. This is gonna be a tough one 317 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:17.159 for them to advance through. 318 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:17.679 I agree. 319 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:19.840 One more question with this series though, because of course 320 00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:22.320 you want Evan Mobley and you want DeAndre Hunter, but 321 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:26.279 they need Darius Garland in this series. Any thoughts on 322 00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:28.720 if they're getting close to healthy with either Garland or 323 00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:30.039 all three of those guys. 324 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:35.080 I mean, what we heard most recently from Kay Etkinson 325 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:38.679 was basically putting it on the medical staff and saying 326 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:42.000 it's out of Garland's hands. When you start to hear 327 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:45.360 stuff like that, you know, let's say, even if he 328 00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:48.799 does get in uniform at some point the series, or 329 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:51.720 even as close as these next two games in Indiana, 330 00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:54.440 I think they're kind of laying it out there that 331 00:16:55.000 --> 00:17:00.600 he's not the player that we've accustomed to have received 332 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:05.279 his contribution to the multi time All Star Like again, 333 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:07.480 maybe I'm wrong, and maybe this is smoke screen from 334 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:10.319 Kenny Atkinson, but his most recent comments that I read 335 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:13.000 in a Cleveland Plain Dealer makes me think that you're 336 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:16.599 not going to be getting prid time Derek Starlin this series. 337 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:18.200 So we're gonna have to try to figure a way 338 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:20.079 to win without them. 339 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:22.319 Man to your point, I'm not sure they can. But 340 00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:24.480 let's move out west. With a few minutes we have 341 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:28.680 remaining Warriors t Wolves. Game one goes to Golden State, 342 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:32.160 even though Stephen Wardell Curry played thirteen minutes and left 343 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:34.079 in the second quarter, So give us an update on 344 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:37.039 Steph and give me your thoughts on whether or not 345 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:39.519 Golden State can actually get this thing done if Steph 346 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:41.319 isn't ready to go sometime quick. 347 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:44.920 Yeah. One, I have to give credit to Steph Curry 348 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:48.200 speaking to reporters today Minneapolis. A lot of guys when 349 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:51.000 they're injured will not do that, and I think it 350 00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:55.000 only benefits the fans to have that kind of trust 351 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:58.519 with the press, to be able to give some information 352 00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:01.720 about what you're going through. He is a guy who 353 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:03.960 he really doesn't know. You know, he's been in the 354 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:09.240 league for forever and has never experienced a hamstring injury period. 355 00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:12.079 He was asked if he even experienced tightness at some 356 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:15.039 time in his career and he said no. And so 357 00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:19.119 the plan here is to give him a full week's rest, 358 00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:23.000 which means Game two, three, and four are out, and 359 00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:26.240 then see where he is at that moment. So right 360 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:30.000 now it's just treatment round the clock. He is doing 361 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:32.880 stand still shooting. I think probably just to you know, 362 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:37.319 not have himself go nuts during this process more than anything, 363 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:42.279 and then we will see where the series stands. If 364 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:45.759 it's going back to San Francisco for a Game six. 365 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:50.119 I think everyone involved with the Warriors like that is 366 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:52.880 the tie of skuy Hope is that we can get 367 00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:56.480 Steph Curry on the court that game, but we don't 368 00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:58.880 know if that will be a Willis Reid Steph Curry 369 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:01.079 and he's going to be there just to get the 370 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:03.680 crowd riled up. You know, people forget what those reason 371 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:05.960 we scored four points in that game when the Knicks 372 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:10.079 won it, or he will actually be able to recover 373 00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:12.880 from this thing. A Grade one strain is one of 374 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:16.960 two weeks and it's something that if you rush it back, 375 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:19.720 you're automatically out for another one to two weeks. So 376 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:24.559 it's a tough situation for them. I think the Wolves 377 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:27.039 is sixth going into this series. I think it probably 378 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:30.559 still goes that direction. But I do think when you 379 00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:33.880 get a guy like Jimmy Butler, that's a pretty good 380 00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:37.680 alternative to having. Of course, Steph Curry's, you know, an 381 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:40.440 all time great, but Jimmy Butler is someone who will 382 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:44.160 not blink at this task that's placed on his plate 383 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:46.480 right now. He will come out, he'll come out with 384 00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:49.359 a game plan. He would be ball dominant. They're probably 385 00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:51.519 not going to score a ton again, but they're going 386 00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:53.519 to grind out this game. They're going to be physical. 387 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:56.680 They out rebounded the Wolves by ten in game one. 388 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:58.440 They're going to try to do the same thing here. 389 00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:01.759 And if they can get a hot shooting night from 390 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:06.039 you know, Brandon Puzhevski or you know, Buddy Healed, they 391 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:08.920 could have a chance to stay in this thing. Basically, 392 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:11.160 all they got to look at the next three games. 393 00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:13.920 We got to win one and that'll assure us that 394 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:16.240 this thing goes six. And if it goes six, you 395 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:17.680 have a chance to get Steph Curry back. 396 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:20.359 Give me a thought on tonight. The Tea Wolves are 397 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:22.920 a ten point five point favorite. Part of me feels 398 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:26.079 like this could look a little bit like Oklahoma City 399 00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:28.960 and Denver last night. Part of me feels like we 400 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:31.079 may see the Tea Wolves wrong. But what do you 401 00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:34.279