WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:02.200 So, of course I really want to see the New 2 00:00:02.240 --> 00:00:05.280 York Knicks come back in the series and win. But 3 00:00:05.400 --> 00:00:07.879 there is a part of me that is cheering for 4 00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:11.000 the Pacers to play the Thunder in the finals so 5 00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:14.119 we can hear these Prima Donna, ESPN media guys bitch 6 00:00:14.160 --> 00:00:15.759 and moan about their routes. 7 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:16.640 Between these two cities. 8 00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:20.359 Our next guest certainly is not in that group. Certainly 9 00:00:20.440 --> 00:00:22.199 is not in that category. He is a man of 10 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:25.160 the people. He enjoys the small towns and cities of America. 11 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:27.440 Dave McManamon, Happy Friday, sir. 12 00:00:27.480 --> 00:00:29.359 How are you yeah? 13 00:00:29.399 --> 00:00:31.000 I mean, I was born in a small town, just 14 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:32.200 like John Cooper Bella Camp. 15 00:00:32.600 --> 00:00:36.119 Right, let's go okay. 16 00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:38.079 Now, the question right off the topic is who's going 17 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:40.560 to be the most bummed out if it's Indianapolis and 18 00:00:40.600 --> 00:00:43.520 Oklahoma City, Adam Silver. 19 00:00:46.240 --> 00:00:49.560 Probably my wife because she loves New York. 20 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:50.560 You know. 21 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:54.119 But obviously we're all here for great basketball, and I 22 00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:57.560 do believe the way the Nicks have pulled themself off 23 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:01.320 the mat clearly if they get to the finals, they'll 24 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:05.120 be a formidable team. And India I believed throughout. I 25 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:07.959 mean I may have told you this before. JJ Reddick 26 00:01:07.959 --> 00:01:11.319 may be Indiana's biggest fan. Throughout the regular season, he 27 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:15.040 just lauded them for being so good on both sides 28 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:18.400 of the ball, being so disciplined, having a deep bench, 29 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:21.480 having so many switchabule defenders who can also shoot, and 30 00:01:22.120 --> 00:01:24.359 that's come to bear in the postseason. 31 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:26.239 That's because he's buddies with TJ. 32 00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:29.040 McConnell and don't feed me this hole and don't feed 33 00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:31.799 me this whole. I'm just cheering for good basketball. No 34 00:01:31.959 --> 00:01:34.560 part of me believes that day for a second. 35 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:37.560 I am cheering for the personal experience of being able 36 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:39.959 to cover an NBA Finals game in Mad Square Garden. 37 00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:44.319 So there's my bias there. Obviously, had some great memories 38 00:01:44.400 --> 00:01:46.599 of the Big East Corn in the Garden with Syracuse 39 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:49.439 when I was in college. I would just love to 40 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:54.079 see the city electric for it. However, Indiana is a 41 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:57.920 great basketball town as well, and that place can get 42 00:01:58.000 --> 00:01:59.920 rocket as well. We were just there for All Star Game, 43 00:02:01.239 --> 00:02:04.439 you know, last season. They were great hosts city. So 44 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:08.000 whatever worked out so long is what I am truly 45 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:10.560 rooting for is a six or seven game series. I'm 46 00:02:10.599 --> 00:02:13.039 tired of these five game series has got the last 47 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:13.800 couple of years. 48 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:14.400 Now I'm with you there. 49 00:02:14.439 --> 00:02:16.639 What do you think the small market will do to 50 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:20.840 the TV number? Because you know, nobody that loves basketball 51 00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:24.039 will ever have anything but reverence for the great Spurs 52 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:27.360 teams when they were spurring at the highest level of spurring. 53 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:30.680 But some of those finals numbers were not great as 54 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:33.919 far as the TV audience goes. And New York Indiana 55 00:02:33.960 --> 00:02:37.360 has been through the roof, but okay, see Minnesota, those 56 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:39.520 numbers have not been great. Dave, what do you think 57 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:41.800 the small market potential nature If the Knicks can't get 58 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:44.639 this done, we'll do to the eyeballs watching the finals? 59 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:47.960 Yeah, obviously if the next art there will be a 60 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:54.000 lower number. Part of the Minnesota OKAC series I covered 61 00:02:54.039 --> 00:02:56.759 it was really it was one good game out of five. 62 00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:00.439 I mean the other four were quite frankly trash. You know, 63 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:04.759 you had twenty point, forty point thirty point blowouts in 64 00:03:04.840 --> 00:03:07.759 those other four games, and that had something to do 65 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:10.800 with it. I do I mean cliche. It will sound 66 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:13.520 like it's kind of like you, you write a good story, 67 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:15.960 We'll find an audience if these are good basketball games, 68 00:03:15.960 --> 00:03:19.560 and we'll find an audience, And you know, I think 69 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:21.759 that will be the challenge on whatever team that's coming 70 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:25.080 out of the East will face is you're going against 71 00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:29.599 a rested, well oiled machine that will have home court 72 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:32.599 advantage of the thunder. And can you make it a 73 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:38.199 series that will be compelling basketball? Because if it's compelling basketball, 74 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:39.560 like you just kind of throw your hands up and 75 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:42.560 you're like, okay, well, you know that's that's what the 76 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:47.039 league wanted anyway, Right, this whole new CBA was about parody. 77 00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:50.840 And if the parody leads to the two teams that 78 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:56.879 getting to the final pinnacle, ability to you know, match 79 00:03:56.919 --> 00:04:00.319 styles and and make it a series where it's like 80 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:04.759 teams that are worthy of that pedestal. Like, then I 81 00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:08.360 think you live whatever the number is. If the Knicks 82 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:11.759 get there and they get swept in four games, like 83 00:04:11.800 --> 00:04:13.919 that doesn't do the league any good any either. 84 00:04:13.719 --> 00:04:15.639 You know, it does not. 85 00:04:15.800 --> 00:04:17.839 All Right, before we get I do want to talk 86 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:21.720 Pacers Nicks. But before we do that, let's talk about 87 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:23.600 what happened out this way, because of course you got 88 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:26.279 a front real seat. But before you get there, when 89 00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:28.199 you heard Shack's speech last night. 90 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:34.759 Didn't make you nervous, Yeah, just a little bit. Who 91 00:04:34.759 --> 00:04:36.439 do you think he was talking about specifically. 92 00:04:38.120 --> 00:04:42.519 I will not venture a guess. He didn't choose to 93 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:47.920 disclose any names on that one, so I will look 94 00:04:47.959 --> 00:04:51.079 forward to seeing how the partnership bears out. I'll say 95 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:54.879 that I personally have had a great relationship with pretty 96 00:04:54.920 --> 00:04:56.399 much everyone with that numbory. I was just spend a 97 00:04:56.439 --> 00:04:59.680 time with Terry Greenberg and okay, see, you know, we 98 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:03.519 spent time of the bubble. I've known EJ and Charles 99 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:06.160 and Shack on a personal basis, not Kunny as much, 100 00:05:06.199 --> 00:05:10.120 but you know, I think it will be a great 101 00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:13.600 partnership that will have some quirks to it, I think 102 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:16.560 to figure out at the beginning, but I think it's 103 00:05:16.600 --> 00:05:19.360 to be cool to have those guys, you know, holding 104 00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:21.319 the FPN mic flag at the NBA Finals. 105 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:22.399 It is so wild. 106 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:24.720 You still come on this show when my when my 107 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:27.319 goal every single week is just to make you sweat 108 00:05:27.399 --> 00:05:29.519 and corner you and see if I can get you 109 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:30.680 to say something you'd regret. 110 00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:33.759 You're very good at this day, you know it is. 111 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:38.160 It's like a mental challenge. It's like my Sudoku coming 112 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:40.399 on here and try not to slip off, just keep my. 113 00:05:40.279 --> 00:05:43.160 Brain shout well, good, look, I want to keep you 114 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:46.279 on your toes. I've got I've got to I've got 115 00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:48.240 to keep you honest because I'm sure the other affiliates 116 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:50.720 you go on like, hey, tell me about schematically, how 117 00:05:50.839 --> 00:05:53.040 Jalen Bruns and guards are pick and roll. I want 118 00:05:53.079 --> 00:05:55.240 to keep you frosty, Dave. I want to keep the 119 00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:55.839 energy up. 120 00:05:56.959 --> 00:05:59.680 Yeah, I mean, I really want to know exactly who 121 00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:02.920 you are. Were you impersonating there? Now? I need to 122 00:06:02.920 --> 00:06:04.480 put it on you like they're out? 123 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:09.040 Oh man, all right, so you know what. Let me 124 00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:12.680 let me just ask this question. Can either Indiana or 125 00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:16.480 New York make Oklahoma City sweat? Like when when they 126 00:06:16.920 --> 00:06:20.040 lock in, when they are guarding, when they're flying up 127 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:23.439 and down. It's of course the shay thing is the 128 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:27.680 shay thing. But they're so deep they're impossible. And you 129 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:30.040 know they have been all year. They're eighty and eighteen, 130 00:06:30.360 --> 00:06:32.680 they're twenty nine and one against the East. Do either 131 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:34.920 New York or Indiana have a shot in the hell 132 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:35.680 against OKAC? 133 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:42.600 I mean, I think, having seen them completely dismantle a 134 00:06:42.600 --> 00:06:44.879 Wolves team that I cover for two rounds and believe 135 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:47.079 that they had a legitimate shot of beating them, I 136 00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:52.839 doubt it. Whether the Knicks in that Rockets atmosphere that 137 00:06:52.920 --> 00:06:54.720 be of the Garden would be able to maybe get 138 00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:56.959 a little bit further because that would be a true 139 00:06:56.959 --> 00:07:01.000 home court advantage. Possibly the same time, they're not like 140 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:06.240 a perfect team. The thing that gives them a larger 141 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:09.879 margin of error to work with is they create so 142 00:07:09.959 --> 00:07:13.079 many turnovers that and they're also a really good crashing those. 143 00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:16.519 Last is that they get like on average in the 144 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:19.120 Minnesota series, who is close to like six or seven 145 00:07:19.480 --> 00:07:22.079 more shots on goals in the games that they want, 146 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:24.759 So you don't need to shoot as good of a 147 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:28.639 percentage if you get an extra seven tries to try to, 148 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:34.639 you know, keep up offensively. Shake gillis Ender is a 149 00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:38.519 master young master of the game, and even if you 150 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:40.879 take away the foul shots, he's still one of the 151 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:45.079 best scores of the twenty twenty five playoffs. So he's incredible. 152 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:49.759 Where I think they do have some vulnerability is a 153 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:53.879 Chip looked great in Game four against the Wolves, but 154 00:07:54.600 --> 00:07:57.399 he wasn't a huge factor of most of that series, 155 00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:00.720 and heart and seeing can get in foul trouble and 156 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:03.680 you know, so they are a little vulnerable in the middle. 157 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:06.519 They guess a team like the Knicks that they get 158 00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:09.199 there with certainly what we've seen from it to Robinson 159 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:14.639 in Colonnthrea Towns in the Eastern Conference finals. But I 160 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:18.680 think like with the Knicks, the straw that sorts of 161 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:23.120 drink in Jalen Brunson being you know, a little bit 162 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:28.000 undersized and you know, can get you know, kind of 163 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:30.879 crowded by bigger defenders, like they're gonna give him a 164 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:32.679 heck of a time when he gets there. If it's Indy, 165 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:38.480 I think they are the most equivalent team in the 166 00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:41.600 East to playing the Thunderstile in terms of like it 167 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:45.679 doesn't really matter who gets the numbers. It has spread 168 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:49.519 you out type of style. They can also defend with 169 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:53.759 multiple bodies. I do this kind of feel like like 170 00:08:53.960 --> 00:08:57.360 the Knicks, though would would have a slightly better chance. 171 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:00.000 But I will start, you're romantic. I like the add 172 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:04.200 of a team breaking through and winning. You know, we 173 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:07.000 all know it's been whatever, what's this fifty three years. 174 00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:09.720 Since the next of one m h yep, yep, And 175 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:11.200 we'll see We'll get there in a moment though, But 176 00:09:12.360 --> 00:09:16.559 ultimately the Minnesota takeaway and look, I cheer for the 177 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:18.879 Timberwolves because we had Rudy here of course. 178 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:20.799 And who doesn't like Mike Conley. If you don't like 179 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:23.960 Mike Conley, it's a you problem. Nikio Alexander Walker was 180 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:27.159 here wildly. Quinn never never played him, and he was 181 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:29.960 kind of like exactly what they needed. They preferred Royce O'Neill, 182 00:09:30.039 --> 00:09:31.679 but we don't have to do a Royce O'Neil vers 183 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:33.759 Nikkeil Alexander Walker segment today. 184 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:35.720 And then obviously Joey Ingles as well. 185 00:09:36.519 --> 00:09:38.759 I know we're supposed to be mad at Aunt, I 186 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:42.720 guess because I watch your network. I like it's odd 187 00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:46.279 to me because he's twenty three years old, and I 188 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:48.200 don't know, I feel like some of the reaction has 189 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:52.360 been people upset that he's not more upset at twenty 190 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:54.080 three years old. With all the game in the world, 191 00:09:54.120 --> 00:09:55.879 he's got plenty of time to live up to the 192 00:09:55.960 --> 00:09:59.080 hype as far as you know, face the league, best 193 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:01.519 domestic player or so many of the MVPs as if 194 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:04.679 late been international guys. They probably need to make a 195 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:06.519 decision on Mike because as much as I love him, 196 00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:07.720 it just didn't look great this year. 197 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:09.240 He's under contract one more year. 198 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:13.039 You know, as a Nick fan, I'm uniquely qualified to 199 00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:15.799 talk about your issues if Julius Randall is your number 200 00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:18.039 two offensive option. Even though it looked awesome for a 201 00:10:18.039 --> 00:10:21.279 minute against or excise me, against Golden State, I thought 202 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:23.240 Julius is probably the best player in that series. 203 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:25.320 And they were also able to beat the Lakers. 204 00:10:25.639 --> 00:10:28.360 So they're gonna be fine based off the fact that 205 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:30.480 they have a superstar who is twenty three years old. 206 00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:32.679 But it's clear now two straight years in the Western 207 00:10:32.679 --> 00:10:36.080 Conference finals, they've got to find whatever's next to get 208 00:10:36.120 --> 00:10:37.840 them to that next level. And the problem is the 209 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:40.080 next level, at least for now and probably for the 210 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:43.159 next three or four years, will reside in Okac. But 211 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:45.440 what's the offseason look like for Minnesota? They also have 212 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:47.360 to make a decision about Tim Conley, right. I think 213 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:52.120 he's a free agent, right, you. 214 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:57.120 Know, in speaking to you know, people with knowledge of 215 00:10:57.399 --> 00:11:01.480 the new ownership structure, they're big fan in Mark Laurie 216 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:03.519 and Alex Rodriguez are big fans to Tim Conley. So 217 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:06.960 I believe there's a ton of motivation got an extension 218 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:11.440 done there now. Of course, though, because he's proven himself 219 00:11:11.559 --> 00:11:15.080 in Denbury and Minnesota, like, there could be some guys 220 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:17.200 how they're off or somewhere else. Like, you got to 221 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:20.159 always keep that in mind. But I think the intention 222 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:24.120 would be to Keith Conley there. The biggest thing that 223 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:26.240 the Wolves can do in terms of getting better for 224 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:30.279 next year is it's really of course, they got to 225 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:33.200 take care of Nazrita to the opts out Joyce Rayndoll 226 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:36.960 if he opts out. I don't think Nikhil Alexander Walker 227 00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:40.000 will be extended by them. I think he's going to 228 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:41.480 be the guy that they're going to have to see 229 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:44.440 walk and then hope they can replace his production with 230 00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:47.720 Terrence Chang Junior and Rob Dillingham and Jalen Clark who 231 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:49.799 you know, Terrence Chang Junior at thirty five points of 232 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:52.240 the last three five games of the Western Conference Finals 233 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:55.639 have to really not play in all playoffs long. And 234 00:11:56.360 --> 00:12:00.279 you know Chris Finch after Game five admitted that on 235 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:02.519 him he needs to lengthen this bench with some of 236 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:05.639 those younger guys. It's those will be the guys that 237 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:08.799 fill the Alexander Walker spot. But really I think the 238 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:13.360 biggest room for improvement here is will be anchetting to 239 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:16.399 the level which we all assume he will. But then 240 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:19.360 Jane McDaniels, and McDaniel's so much better than it was 241 00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:23.000 a year ago, but still there's a big gap between 242 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:26.919 him and say Jaylen Williams, who's the second best player 243 00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:28.879 for Okay see and you saw that in the series. 244 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:32.440 You know, in game five, Jane McDaniels goes zero for 245 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:35.960 six to start the game and they're down twenty before 246 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:39.440 there's a blink of an eye, And yeah, give him 247 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:44.399 credit for you know, looking to see open scoring opportunities 248 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:46.279 and taking them. That they need a guy to do that, 249 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:49.279 but then you obviously have to convert. So I think 250 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:52.679 they were a team that were treading water a lot 251 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:56.080 of the year. They had some injuries, they were an 252 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:59.279 awkward fit, trying to make Julius work, trying to make 253 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:03.759 Donja dvids and so comfortable going away from obviously the 254 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:06.879 system they had had with Kat and Ant being the 255 00:13:06.919 --> 00:13:10.480 two pillars for them for three straight years. There's still 256 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:12.879 a lot of encouragement there. I think the part that's 257 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:16.159 concerning is that, like they are still in a super 258 00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:20.480 crowded Western Conference, And this is what Finch said after 259 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:23.200 the game. Game probably says like forty two and forty 260 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:25.120 might be a good year for a team in the 261 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:28.759 West next year, and then you're talking about an uphill 262 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:31.000 battle again in the playoffs where you don't have one 263 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:33.960 court advantage, and when you got to go in and 264 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:37.080 play a place like ok See, where it's a madhouse, 265 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:40.360 it's gonna be a tough one a series that way, Is. 266 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:42.559 There hurt your feelings that you're not on the Hoop collective? 267 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:49.279 I mean, I think it probably saves my sanity from 268 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:53.360 having to listen to him and Tim every day. But yeah, 269 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:55.039 it's a good group. I would like to be involved 270 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:56.840 a little bit more, you know. I'll go out to 271 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:58.759 the live show in Vegas. They had me on stage 272 00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:00.919 for a couple of years ago, so we'll see if 273 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:03.159 I guess to call up for that. But it's kind 274 00:14:03.159 --> 00:14:06.559 of see. The thing about it is none of those 275 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:09.360 guys actually cover a team that everybody cares about on 276 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:12.519 a daily basically the Lakers. So my time is better spent, 277 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:15.000 you know, dealing with Luca and Lebron and the Lakers 278 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:17.279 most of the time to carve me out an hour 279 00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:20.200 and a half to hear those guys talk about the 280 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:23.919 same issues over and over again. But they do do a. 281 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:26.240 Great job Hey, ay, Porter, I want you to clip 282 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:28.600 that answer, except the final part when he said they 283 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:29.919 do a great job, and it's a good time to 284 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:32.039 remind folks that Tim McMahon covers the jazz. 285 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:38.120 All right. You know you've mentioned Finch's postgame press conference. 286 00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:40.039 Did I hear him right when he said there are 287 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:43.120 thirteen teams in the West that will be jockeying for 288 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:43.879 home court? 289 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:45.320 Did he say thirteen? Is that right? 290 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:48.919 Yeah? He did say thirteen. So that's maybe a bit 291 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:53.240 of an overextension, but I mean it's not absurd. 292 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:58.200 Well, it also clearly excludes two teams. One probably resides 293 00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:59.960 here in Salt Lake. Is that fair to say? 294 00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:03.159 I think that's fair to say. Yes, But I think 295 00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:08.120 no one in your city, informed listeners, having paid attention 296 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:09.600 to a show would be shocked by that. 297 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:13.039 Isaiah Callier broke John Stockton's rookie assist record, Dave, I 298 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:13.720 don't know if you read that. 299 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:18.240 I actually didn't know that. I'm glad that you shared 300 00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:19.039 that information with me. 301 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:21.480 John Stockton also averaged fourteen minutes a game as a 302 00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:24.440 rookie because the starting point Griver's rookie green. Anyway, moving on, 303 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:26.799 does Lowry Marketing start for Oklahoma City. 304 00:15:29.559 --> 00:15:32.519 He does not, Dave, Yeah, I don't. I don't think. 305 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:35.960 I don't think he does. Yeah, I don't think he does. 306 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:38.519 What does that say about your team when your best 307 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:40.559 player would not even start for the team that's in 308 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.279 the finals. 309 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:48.799 I mean, it's a really good question to Brazil. I 310 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:52.639 think there's a certain style that Okay, see plays that 311 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:55.360 you know, Lou dort is. They would decide to go 312 00:15:55.480 --> 00:15:58.480 with a guy who's limited offensively because he's such a 313 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:01.679 beast defensively in that position. Mark is a very good player. 314 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:05.919 I mean, so I think it's a little unfair to 315 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:09.000 the wedge that conversation in because I think he could 316 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:12.320 start for, say, the Knicks, like he could start over 317 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:13.360 Josh Hart. 318 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:17.960 That's you know what, we're hanging the banner. Our best 319 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:20.919 player would start over Josh Art. We're gonna we're gonna 320 00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:24.440 hang that here in sall, like, okay, before we'll end 321 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:26.320 with Nick Spasers. But before we get there, let me 322 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:30.039 ask you a question without the uh sarcasm laced in it. 323 00:16:30.679 --> 00:16:31.320 Uh. 324 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:34.000 There are now, as a result of the way that 325 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:37.600 the CBA is structured, several avenues. How as far as 326 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:40.399 how you can build a contending team. Uh, it's no 327 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:43.519 longer was Lebron born in your city? Or does he 328 00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:46.159 want to live in South Beach? And and certainly with 329 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:49.120 Luke and Lebron and other you know, Golden State grabs 330 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:51.879 Jimmy Butler. There always will be those teams that can 331 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:54.039 grab the star to put next to other players like 332 00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:57.000 but ultimately, when you look at Indiana, when you look 333 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:59.879 at Oklahoma City, Uh, even the way the Knicks did it, 334 00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:02.799 the next did it slowly? You know it really? Jalen, 335 00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:05.200 of course turned out to be a great decision. How 336 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:09.240 do the Jazz take advantage of this parody era in 337 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:13.720 the NBA? And the CBA expires in twenty thirty and 338 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:15.720 I don't know if they're going to be massive changes. 339 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:17.160 I think a lot of people don't love. 340 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:20.160 How punitive some of the second Apron stuff seems to 341 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:22.240 be for owners having the right checks, just for the 342 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:24.640 right to have the roster. So if we say that 343 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:27.079 the Jazz have at least five years in this new 344 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:29.519 ecosystem of pro basketball, how do. 345 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:29.920 They do it? 346 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:30.240 Dave? 347 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:35.160 Because it's hard to draw a straight line between who 348 00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:37.839 the Jazz are now and who Oklahoma City is now, 349 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:40.079 even though Oklahoma City not too long ago, was in 350 00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:41.160 this rebuilding space. 351 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:43.720 Presty has just knocked it out of the park. Like 352 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:45.640 they drafted the right guys. 353 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:49.079 They were able to receive their generational piece in exchange 354 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:51.599 for Paul George, and they found guys off the scrap 355 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:53.799 peak they weren't even drafted. It's hard to say, do 356 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:57.039 a Presty because he's done it so brilliantly. But we 357 00:17:57.079 --> 00:18:00.359 are a basketball market star for a decent team. Danny 358 00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:02.200 and Jay z give is done. 359 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:05.880 So it starts with you got to draft well. And 360 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:09.799 when you're in the position where you're in the lottery 361 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:13.480 for you know, three out of five years, whatever it 362 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:15.359 will end up being for the Jazz. Like if you 363 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:18.759 get even one of those guys wrong, like you're putting 364 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:22.680 yourself beyond eight ball. Then you gotta look at the 365 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:27.480 Pacers identifying Tyree Halliburton as someone who was underutilized and 366 00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:30.200 turning him into a guy they did it through a trade. 367 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:32.160 The next same way with John Bruns that they did 368 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:35.880 it through free agency, identified a guy who was underutilized 369 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:38.200 and took him to another level. I think the Jazz 370 00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:41.160 kind of tried to do that with a guy like 371 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:47.759 Colm Sexton and probably they unleashed a slightly higher level 372 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:50.720 than he showed in Cleveland. But he's not one of 373 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:53.000 those two guys. But you have to continue to try 374 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:56.720 to find a guy that fits that archetype. And then 375 00:18:57.000 --> 00:19:00.880 you need a system and a coach and a clarity 376 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:03.920 of vision. And you know, you and I are both 377 00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:06.519 I think aligned and being will Hardy fans. So they 378 00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:10.759 got that part done. I think the jury is still 379 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:13.799 out on how they've done on the draft. You know, 380 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:18.160 obviously there's probably a reason why so many people are 381 00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:21.119 calling about Walker Kestler, probably because that was a probably 382 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:25.160 a pretty good pick, and so that's a guy you 383 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:28.000 can build around. And hey, you just told me you 384 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:32.160 got the guy breaking stasist record, so maybe that's another 385 00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:34.640 guy you can build around as well. I mean, Collier 386 00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:36.799 has built like a young Marcus Smart and if you 387 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:41.640 can turn that body into a defensive engine, then I 388 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:44.799 like kind of my inside outside pieces of the built around. 389 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:48.400 And then again you got to marketing. It was another 390 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:51.119 guy that they identified. I just think the market and 391 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:53.920 kind of timeline won't fit with where they're at right now. 392 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:58.400 So you're probably gonna have to commit to staying in 393 00:19:58.440 --> 00:20:05.079 this mode for a bit hit with some luck, you know, 394 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:07.079 the ping bom ball, got to go your way and 395 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:10.039 get the right guy. And you know, like again, I 396 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:12.319 know we were talking about the idea of this being 397 00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:15.599 you're already on the fast track with Cooper Flag, but 398 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:19.519 you know it could be you're already on the fast 399 00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:23.599 track if you get to beta out of Boyu. It's 400 00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:26.200 just a year delayed from what we thought. Maybe it 401 00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:26.519