WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:02.319 One of our favorites talk some hoop. It is Howard 2 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:05.480 Beck on a Friday afternoon. Howard, Happy Friday, sir. 3 00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:08.640 How are you Spence doing great? How are you sir? 4 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:11.519 I'm well, I'm well. And I got to start with 5 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:14.240 with Jalen last night, an iconic shot that will live 6 00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:17.440 in Nick lore. And you know, we'll get into kind 7 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:20.280 of the nuts and bolts of what's next, because the 8 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:23.079 Celtics are a nightmare matchup, not just for New York 9 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:26.399 but for everybody. But what is the right way to 10 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:29.320 frame that moment and what it meant for Nick fans? 11 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:32.479 Just the snapshot moment of Jalen knocking down that shot 12 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:34.320 to beat the Pistons in Detroit. 13 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:40.439 Incredible shot, Incredible moments. I do know. I'm here in 14 00:00:40.439 --> 00:00:42.200 New York until I have a lot of friends and 15 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:45.039 others in my world to our Knicks fan and I think, 16 00:00:45.079 --> 00:00:47.679 you know, like part of it is like there's just 17 00:00:47.719 --> 00:00:50.200 the thrill of it, the excitement of that shot and 18 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:52.399 how important it was and how iportant it was just 19 00:00:52.439 --> 00:00:55.039 to kind of finally put down this Pistons team that 20 00:00:55.240 --> 00:00:59.439 was you know, really like stressing them out throughout this series, 21 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:01.759 like they the Pissons at every shot to win this series. 22 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:03.039 We can get back to that in a minute. 23 00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:04.959 But it's been an. 24 00:01:04.840 --> 00:01:08.840 Interesting season for the Knicks and their fans because frankly, 25 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:12.719 it's been the kind of thing where nobody has been 26 00:01:12.760 --> 00:01:15.359 particularly I don't feel like the people I know, at 27 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:19.120 least have been particularly confident in how this season was 28 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:22.000 going to go that ever since they brought in Towns 29 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:25.640 and Bridges and said goodbye to Evincenzo and Hartenstein, the 30 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:28.959 personality of this team changed since last season, and they 31 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:33.640 weren't quite as gritty. Brunson obviously is Josh hart Is, 32 00:01:33.959 --> 00:01:37.159 but I think Knicks fans in general have had a 33 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:40.799 little bit of anxiety about this team, not sure how 34 00:01:41.400 --> 00:01:44.760 good they'd ultimately be, whether they actually could you know, 35 00:01:45.079 --> 00:01:47.719 go up against the Celtics and the Cavs for that matter, 36 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:50.799 And so now it was like, are we going to 37 00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:52.680 even get out of the first round? And there were, 38 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:55.760 you know, I think some moments of concern there, especially 39 00:01:55.760 --> 00:01:58.519 when the Pistons stole home court advantage winning Game two 40 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:02.159 at the Garden. So Brunson once again, I mean, he's 41 00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:05.359 clutch player of the Year for a reason. The guy's amazing. 42 00:02:05.519 --> 00:02:09.039 He always comes through. And yeah, that was a really 43 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:11.439 important one, and and and now now comes a really 44 00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:12.280 big challenge. 45 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:16.120 So you know, we'll get to the Celtics matchup coming 46 00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:18.319 coming up in a bit. But I want to hone 47 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:21.560 in on Jalen for a moment because, look, I know 48 00:02:21.639 --> 00:02:24.159 what we're supposed to do today, like we're on first 49 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:26.479 take is say he's already the greatest Nick of all 50 00:02:26.520 --> 00:02:30.719 time or whatever. But but but look, I mean, and 51 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:33.240 I'm biased, as you know, and I do appreciate it 52 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:38.360 when a star player embraces the challenge of being great 53 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:38.800 in New. 54 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:41.759 York, because you can roll your eyes with that all 55 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:42.080 you want. 56 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:44.000 It just is different. And if you have an experience 57 00:02:44.039 --> 00:02:45.919 in the way you and I've experienced, you don't fully 58 00:02:46.039 --> 00:02:49.400 understand it. What do you What are you willing to 59 00:02:49.479 --> 00:02:52.360 say about who he is and who he can be 60 00:02:52.439 --> 00:02:54.479 based off the start of his career in New York? 61 00:02:56.360 --> 00:02:59.120 Yeah, I mean I chuckled quite a bit earlier today 62 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:01.439 when I saw that some but he had anointed him 63 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:03.319 as the greatest Nick or potentially the greatest Nick of 64 00:03:03.319 --> 00:03:06.759 all time a little early for that. And you know, 65 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:09.039 look that to get out of the second round would 66 00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:16.199 be nice you know, before we start making proclamations, he's 67 00:03:16.599 --> 00:03:19.840 already let's just say it this way to start with, 68 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:21.840 in the last twenty years, he is by far the 69 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:25.439 most important Nick. And with all due respect of Carmelo 70 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:29.599 Anthony or anybody else who came along, I don't think 71 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:32.120 that's a stretch at all. He's the most important Nixon's 72 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:35.840 Patrick Ewing. That's an easy one. Is he at Ewing's 73 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:38.400 level even yet? No, I mean, you ain't got them 74 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:41.479 to you know, the finals, and you know, plausibly to 75 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:43.360 the second finals, you know, even if he was hurt. 76 00:03:44.439 --> 00:03:47.520 And the Ewing era was a wildly successful era, the 77 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:50.400 most successful era of Knicks basketball since the early seventies. 78 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:53.479 And then we have to bring you know, Clyde Fraser 79 00:03:53.479 --> 00:03:55.520 into the mix, and Willis Reid and everybody else. So 80 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:59.560 I mean, I think, you know, Jalen Brunton himself probably 81 00:03:59.560 --> 00:04:02.680 would not have the audacity to place himself on the 82 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:06.080 Knick's mount rushmore. Just yet it's still early in his 83 00:04:06.199 --> 00:04:08.560 time here too, so like we don't need to be 84 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:11.360 in a rush. But he is by far the most 85 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:14.919 popular and most important and most significant Nick. I think 86 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:18.759 of this millennium, right the last twenty five years, and 87 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:21.000 we'll see how much more he can stack on top 88 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:21.639 of that from here. 89 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:25.439 Yeah. I mean, look, and all of that is well said, 90 00:04:25.480 --> 00:04:27.480 and I agree with it. It just you know, the 91 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:29.560 day after you hit a game winning shot to be 92 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:32.079 the sixth seed in the first round, and the superlatives 93 00:04:32.120 --> 00:04:33.920 are like he's the best nick ever, Like what are 94 00:04:33.959 --> 00:04:39.319 we doing? But ultimately I have really enjoyed watching the 95 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:42.560 way he goes about his business. Do you feel, like Howard, 96 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:47.079 there's so much pressure on him? I mean it's one 97 00:04:47.160 --> 00:04:50.759 four flat, it's isolation, it's Jalen make a play, and 98 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:52.720 you know, maybe you can get away. 99 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:53.519 With that from time to time. 100 00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:56.639 But offensively, what do you make of how much Tom 101 00:04:56.720 --> 00:04:59.519 asks of him? Like it's not just in crunch time, 102 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:02.120 like it feels like if Jalen doesn't make the play, 103 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:04.240 And look, when Jalen sits, they do try to play 104 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:05.879 through Kat. We'll get to Cat in a moment, But 105 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:07.959 what do you make of how they approach it's schematically 106 00:05:07.959 --> 00:05:10.240 offensively just asking him to do everything. 107 00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:15.040 Ah yeah, I mean listen, you know Tom Thibodeau has 108 00:05:15.720 --> 00:05:18.120 you know, forgotten more about basketball than you and I 109 00:05:18.279 --> 00:05:21.480 will ever know. All the stuff right, all the caveats apply. 110 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:27.079 I admit that I have been a little puzzled by 111 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:32.360 certain aspects of Tips's approach, especially once they got mckail Bridges. Now, 112 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:35.279 mckail bridges is not a point guard, and he's not 113 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:37.759 necessarily even a point forward. But mckil bridges did a 114 00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:39.920 lot with the ball in his hands, as you know, 115 00:05:39.959 --> 00:05:41.720 the third wheel in Phoenix the year they went to 116 00:05:41.720 --> 00:05:44.600 the finals. He you know, spent a half season in 117 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:48.560 Brooklyn being a plausible first option, even though that's not 118 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:50.480 really what he's cut out to do. He can do 119 00:05:50.519 --> 00:05:52.279 a lot with the ball in his hands, is the point. 120 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:54.959 And I thought there was an opportunity when the Knicks 121 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:58.399 got Bridges that they could play through him some both 122 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:01.680 as a guy who could lead the second unit instead 123 00:06:01.720 --> 00:06:02.920 of say like a you know, a kind of a 124 00:06:02.920 --> 00:06:06.600 combo guard like Deuce McBride or Cameron Payne. I thought 125 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:10.800 Bridges could run the second unit and could at times 126 00:06:10.839 --> 00:06:13.360 take some of the ball handling duties and playmaking duties 127 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:15.399 off of brunts and shoulders even when they're playing together, 128 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:20.480 as a way of letting Brunson, you know, kind of 129 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:22.399 take a breather now and then or just not to 130 00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:25.120 have the full you know, brunt of the defense on 131 00:06:25.160 --> 00:06:28.000 him at all times. And I was surprised just that 132 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:30.480 this season it's still just been like, give the ball 133 00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:33.439 to Jalen Brunston and let him cook. And I'm not 134 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:36.120 a big ISO ball guy or a big you know, 135 00:06:36.439 --> 00:06:39.319 like like Helio centrism guy. I don't think that just 136 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:42.800 handing the ball to James Harden, Russell Westbrook or Luca 137 00:06:42.920 --> 00:06:44.680 for that matter, over and over and over again is 138 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:48.399 the best strategy, especially in the playoffs when teams will 139 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:51.000 feast on an offense that feels too predictable. And so 140 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:56.759 I think both for Brunton's his health, his durability, his 141 00:06:56.759 --> 00:07:00.240 his energy levels, and also just what's effective, I think 142 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:03.319 you have to diversify your offense more. And I have 143 00:07:03.399 --> 00:07:04.519 been puzzled by that aspect. 144 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:08.600 So let's give Detroit some flowers, man. I mean four games, 145 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:11.439 four straight game decided by I think three points or less, 146 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:14.399 which has never happened in NBA history before. And we 147 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:16.399 are in saw Lake City, where we are home of 148 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:19.199 the worst team in the NBA. The moniker of the 149 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:22.120 worst team in the NBA year ago was Detroit and 150 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:24.079 they fall the five in the draft, so they didn't 151 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:26.759 even get rewarded for such an anemic season. Of course, Kate 152 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:30.360 was hurt last year, but former Jazz general manager Dennis 153 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:34.240 Lindsay is assisting Trajan Langdon that roster construction. And look, 154 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:36.959 Kate is awesome, but it's not just Kate. I'm very 155 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:39.639 impressed with Jalen Duran, who picked up a lot of 156 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:42.759 slack with Isaiah Stewart out. And then you know, are 157 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:45.360 Thompson man, these Thompson kids. Hoof man, there's a lot 158 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:47.759 of potential there. What do you make of this project 159 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:50.439 that we've seen in Detroit, a great basketball city that's 160 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:52.680 not had a great basketball team in a long long time. 161 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:54.279 Yeah. 162 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:57.079 Look, I attended all of the home games in the series, 163 00:07:57.399 --> 00:08:00.000 the New York games, and so I got to see 164 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:02.160 them up close and and you know, be around that 165 00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:07.759 team a little bit, and you know, super talented, super confident, 166 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:10.920 great chemistry. They really seem to like each other. There's 167 00:08:10.920 --> 00:08:13.560 a good vibe around that team. That's always a nice sign. 168 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:16.639 With a young team that's on the rise. Kate Cunningham 169 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:18.519 is gonna make one of the All NBA teams. Those 170 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:22.759 will be announced within the next week. Or two. You know, JB. 171 00:08:22.839 --> 00:08:25.759 Bickerstaff might be Coach of the Year that's coming soon, 172 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:31.160 that announcement, and there's all the promise in the world. 173 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:34.000 Like Asar Thompson, you know, I've talked to people who 174 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:36.600 have said, like, if he hadn't been hurt part of 175 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:39.039 this season, he you know, we might have seen him 176 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:42.240 even outshine his brother for best defender. Like those two 177 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:45.240 are gonna be, like they're gonna both be all defensive 178 00:08:45.240 --> 00:08:48.759 team for the foreseeable future and both in the running 179 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:50.759 with each other, you know, potentially for well, no one's 180 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:53.039 gonna be defensive Player of the Year because when Benyama 181 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:54.679 is just gonna take it over for the next decade. 182 00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:59.440 But but Asar Thompson's the real deal defensively, Kate Cunningham 183 00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:02.279 is the real deal as a really big by the 184 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:07.039 way point guard, Like he's like that guy's he's he's 185 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:09.519 just a beast, like there's like most point guards can't 186 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:13.480 defend him, can pass over anybody. So they've got their 187 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:16.039 anchor and they've got good supporting players, and I think 188 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:18.840 the key now is to just be patient. I have 189 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:20.720 a story about this up with the Ringer dot Com today, 190 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:24.240 in fact, about what comes next, and people around the 191 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:26.559 league saying like, yeah, they need to slow roll this now. 192 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:29.039 Don't don't rush it, don't say Okay, it's time to 193 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:32.279 go all in. Just let these guys grow, because there 194 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:34.360 were three best players are all twenty three and younger. 195 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:38.519 Yeah, yeah, no. I've been very impressed with what they've built. 196 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:40.759 And you know, we always cheer for Dennis around here, 197 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:43.759 so hopefully they can keep taking a step up, all right, Howard. 198 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:46.240 For all of the celebration in New York about the 199 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:49.399 first round victory, the Celtics are a seven to one 200 00:09:49.600 --> 00:09:52.519 favorite to beat the Knicks. And it's not just four 201 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:54.919 and oh this year with an average margin of sixteen. 202 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:57.559 It is eight and one in their last nine and 203 00:09:57.639 --> 00:10:01.279 quite frankly the only chance, opinion, Howard, the Nicks have 204 00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:03.799 as if the Celtics are compromised with their health, then 205 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:06.919 they kind of are with Drew Holliday. But look, Derek 206 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:10.559 White is a difficult matchup for Jalen. He'll be able 207 00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:12.720 to guard him. Peyton Pritchard sixth Man of the Year. 208 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:14.279 I don't know. 209 00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:16.120 I mean, it feels like if they go to five 210 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:16.799 or six it. 211 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:18.799 Might be a win. I don't have a lot of 212 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:21.240 hope for the next round two. What do you make 213 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:22.639 of this Celtic nick matchup? 214 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:27.600 When they went out last summer and got Bridges using 215 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:30.039 pretty much all their draft capital to get him. The 216 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:32.519 first thing I thought was, you are loading up to 217 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:34.960 try to deal with the Celtics because the Celtics are 218 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:38.360 built primarily around Tatum and Brown, big wings who can 219 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:39.639 do a lot with the ball in their hands, and 220 00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:42.480 you need as many really good to great perimeter defenders 221 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:45.879 as you can get. Og Andnobi is you know, as 222 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:47.720 good as they get one of the premier defenders in 223 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:52.279 the league. Bridges. You'll get mixed reviews about him for 224 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:54.440 the last couple of years of his defense, like maybe 225 00:10:54.440 --> 00:10:58.399 his reputation has kind of exceeded his actual production the 226 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:01.120 last couple of years on the defensive side. But it 227 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:03.440 looked to me like that was the plan, get Bridges 228 00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:07.320 between him and Anobi and Hart. Maybe you've got enough 229 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:11.399 to at least, you know, deal with slow down whatever 230 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:14.519 Brown and Tatum. I don't think that that's going to 231 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:16.360 be enough. And I think that the flip side of 232 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:19.960 it is that the Celtics are the most well built 233 00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:23.200 team you could have to disrupt the Knicks offense. Like, 234 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:26.480 the Knicks offense has been great this season, but so 235 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:28.519 much of it as Jalen Brunson, and it begins and 236 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:31.399 ends with him. And think about the number of guys, like, 237 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:34.639 assume Drew Holliday is healthy and can play. Drew Holliday 238 00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:36.440 one of the best defenders in the league, Derek White 239 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:38.960 one of the best defenders in the NBA. Brown and 240 00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:42.799 Tatum both very very good defenders. They've got so many 241 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:47.080 guys they can throw at Brunson and big long guys too. Like, 242 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:50.080 I just think that it's going to be very difficult 243 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:52.879 for the Knicks to function at the same level in 244 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:56.679 this series. And defensively, like, the Nicks look pretty good 245 00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:58.879 against the Pistons, but this hasn't been a great defensive 246 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:01.840 season for them. And the Celtics and just beat you 247 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:05.440 in so many ways from so many places, with so 248 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:09.759 many different guys. I just don't think they have a chance. No, 249 00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:14.759 I think most people will probably say Celtics in six. Respectfully, 250 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:17.039 I think there's a chance at Celtics in five. I 251 00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:19.000 don't want to be disrespectful, but I think that that's 252 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:19.879 on the table. 253 00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:23.159 Before we get to the series. Out this way some 254 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:26.519 sad news, Greg Popovich, and you know, probably for the 255 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:28.799 best because of the health, has decided that he can 256 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:31.600 no longer coach the Spurs. He'll move into the front office. 257 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:36.320 And look all the numbers and twenty two regular season victories, 258 00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:39.679 five NBA Championships, three NBA Coach of the Year Award 259 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:43.559 wins for him, and you know, say what you want 260 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:47.679 about the icy relationship at times with the media, I 261 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:51.080 feel like, you know, this is among if not the 262 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:54.000 greatest coaches that we've ever seen in this game. I 263 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:56.480 wonder what your thoughts are, Howard on this Friday, as 264 00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:58.080 Greg Popovich has called it a career. 265 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:02.399 You know, I'm gonna put it this way. I think 266 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:04.879 I think my ultimate reaction is I'm happy for him. 267 00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:07.039 I'm happy for him that he can walk away, you know, 268 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:10.279 and like after a health scare and live his life 269 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:13.200 like he's going to still be involved with the Spurs, obviously, 270 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:17.720 but coaching is really taxing, and you know, there's there's 271 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:20.559 just so much that goes into it physically, mentally, emotionally, 272 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:23.159 and clearly he still loved it, but he'd already become 273 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:26.279 the oldest coach at NBA head coach in NBA history, 274 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:29.519 and you know, you hate that he has to walk 275 00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:32.679 away under these circumstances, but at least he's he is 276 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:35.200 able to walk away and and you know, find a 277 00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:37.720 different kind of you know, work life balance at this 278 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:41.440 stage of his life and still be involved. I think 279 00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:43.960 he's really important to you know, frankly, the soul of 280 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:47.559 that franchise, like the Spurs themselves. Papovich and Arci Buford 281 00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:49.279 will tell you and have told me, and I told 282 00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:53.120 everybody over the last couple of decades, nothing is possible 283 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:55.519 about Tim Duncan. Tim Duncan is the reason we haven't 284 00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:57.480 had a dynasty, the reason that we had all our success, 285 00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:59.960 the reason that we get all this adulation from you guys, 286 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:02.919 The reason that you can say something about Spurs culture 287 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:05.440 is because of what Duncan established. That's all true, and 288 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:09.320 that's fine, and it's not false modesty, but it's it's 289 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:13.200 short changing pop to say that pop wasn't a really really, 290 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:15.840 really important part of setting the DNA for the franchise 291 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:17.840 as well. That when we talk about Spurs culture and 292 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:21.440 everything that that franchise values and has been about, it's pop. 293 00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:24.200 And I've kind of likened him to a modern day 294 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:27.399 Red hourback where it was you know, our back was 295 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:31.759 the thread that connected all of those Celtics eras from 296 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:34.120 the sixties, you know, all the way through two thousand 297 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:36.399 and eight when they won a championship with with Piercecarnett 298 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:39.840 and Ray Allen and Pop I think represents that same 299 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:44.360 kind of of you know, you know, franchise conscience again, 300 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:47.960 heart and soul for them, and I just think it's 301 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:50.559 important that he's still there as they move into this 302 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:55.039 Webbanyama era and with a Pop disciple in miss Johnson 303 00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:58.840 now taking over as head coach. So, I mean, incredible career, 304 00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:02.559 great coach. Your point about the media is noted, but 305 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:05.120 I will tell you that aside from those you know, 306 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:08.120 very notable moments and sometimes they're tense, Pop is also 307 00:15:08.200 --> 00:15:10.879 phenomenal with the media and has been great to me 308 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:13.080 when I've needed him, you know, one on one occasionally 309 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:16.759 over the years. And my last thought on that and 310 00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:19.759 I'll just say it, people will take it however they want. 311 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:24.240 I'm gonna miss his political conscience as well, and his 312 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:28.559 strength and his ability to be outspoken and not ever 313 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:31.240 afraid to say what's on his mind or what needs 314 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:33.200 to be said in the times that we live in, 315 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:37.440 and that is rare and so basketball aside, I'm going 316 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:38.399 to miss that part as well. 317 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:41.679 Here here well said all right, Lakers tea Wolves. 318 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:44.720 I was not one that believed that the Luka del 319 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:48.279 made Lakers the Lakers instantly a championship contender this year. 320 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:51.120 We'll see what happens moving forward. My first question is 321 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:53.519 am I a bad person for rolling my eyes that 322 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:57.399 Lebron James apparently suffered an MCL spraying in Game five? 323 00:15:57.480 --> 00:15:58.679 Does that make me a bad person? 324 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:03.320 I haven't even seen that. I've I've been like in 325 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:05.240 the office all day working on other stuff. Did I 326 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:07.480 miss a belated injury report? 327 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:10.000 Yeah, about thirty forty five minutes ago. 328 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:13.919 ESPN's reporting that actually in that de Vincenzo collision, he 329 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:16.279 sprained his MCL And now we've got to deal with 330 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:18.440 the whole He has a player option? Is he coming? Like? 331 00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:21.279 They lose? And now it's time to create stories. So 332 00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:23.399 we keep focusing on Lebron and I just this time 333 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:25.679 of year. It drives me nuts, That's just what I'm saying. 334 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:30.240 I understand that there is certainly a segment of the 335 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:34.559 of fans and media who react to all these things 336 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:36.960 the same way you do with a big emoji. I 337 00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:41.720 roll that looked really bad when he when that collision happened, 338 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:44.480 and I was, I was, you know at that moment, 339 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:46.080 I think like was a Reggie Miller on the call, 340 00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:47.799 Like it was like there was kind of that grave 341 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:49.919 kind of tone, like, oh my god, is this going 342 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.480 to be it? And especially with a player at his 343 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:53.720 age when you go down that hard and when it's 344 00:16:53.799 --> 00:16:55.399 when you're you know, you got hit at a funky 345 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:58.120 angle and you think, oh, man, I hope this isn't 346 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:00.879 going to be something serious. I'm going to take it 347 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:03.279 to face value that if there's an mcl sprain report, 348 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:05.559 that there's probably an mcl sprain. I don't think that 349 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:09.079 that's necessarily a look at me again, the drama over 350 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:12.200 whether he's gonna play or not. You know, we are 351 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:13.039 as much a part of this. 352 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:13.640 As he is. 353 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:16.559 Let's be honest. We don't have to do this dance 354 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:21.160 as the media, but we do. And credit to a 355 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:22.960 lot of my colleagues out in LA and people who 356 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:24.839 have reported on that team closely who have been saying, 357 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:27.920 while Lebron has said he's got to take some time, 358 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:31.559 which is natural after twenty two years, the reporting is 359 00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:34.920 but everybody expects he's going to keep playing. So you know, 360 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:37.200 people can decide to obsess over it or not obsess 361 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:39.440 over it. And if too many people in the media 362 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:42.519 are obsessing over it, you can tune us out enough. 363 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:45.359 All right. I will always cheer for our Rudy. 364 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:49.440 I will. He was great here, he wanted to stay here, 365 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:52.680 was bummed when he was traded. He's kept his residence 366 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:55.440 here and I don't know, man, I mean, there are 367 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:57.920 a few things here, like he was catching lobs over 368 00:17:57.960 --> 00:18:01.000 Gabe Vincent, who is the same height as my But 369 00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:03.640 at the same time, that was probably the best go 370 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:06.000 beart playoff game that we've seen, and I was very 371 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:06.640 happy for him. 372 00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:08.240 How did you digest that game, Howard? 373 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:13.359 I don't know why poor catching strays are fair? 374 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:15.599 You know, it's all good. 375 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:20.000 Uh, Rudy Gobert was awesome. It helps that. Yeah, he's 376 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:22.079 playing against the team that has no real centers and 377 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:24.079 the one center they do have they lost faith in. 378 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.799 But it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter who you put 379 00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:28.680 out there. Rudy did what he did, and you know, 380 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:31.000 given all the shots in the strays that he's taken 381 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:33.799 over the years. Uh, that was good to see. I'm 382 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:37.240 I'm legitimately happy for him as well. And you know, 383 00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:41.759 it only gets harder from here. Uh. You know, we'll 384 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:44.319 we'll see who they end up facing in the next round. 385 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:48.480 But you know, if if if Rudy's going up against 386 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:52.160 the Rockets, uh, you know that's got they got that 387 00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:54.279 jumbo front court there that they can put out there, 388 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:58.200 He's gonna have his hands full defensively as well as offensively. 389 00:18:58.839 --> 00:19:01.880 And you know, if they get through them, you know, 390 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:04.319 the thunder are going to present all kinds of other 391 00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:07.880 challenges too. But Minnesota's had a great resurgence here considering 392 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:08.960 the way they started the season. 393 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:13.799 All right, So Golden State has one more chance to 394 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:15.759 get this done at home, and if not, they've got 395 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:18.079 to go back to Houston. They are a five point 396 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:20.839 five point favorite. What do you think happens tonight? This 397 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:23.119 series has been so fun? What do you think goes 398 00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:23.920 down to night? Howard? 399 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:29.680 You know, I'm not one for predictions, but I yeah, 400 00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:31.599 I mean I'd be shocked if they lost it at home. 401 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:34.839