WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:04.320 Breaking down all they says, and ohs, this is. 2 00:00:04.360 --> 00:00:06.960 I on the Ball with Steve Rivera on. 3 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:11.039 Blox Sports fourteen fifty. 4 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:13.839 All right, welcome back to my I on the Ball 5 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:17.199 here on Fox Sports fourteen fifty. I'm Steve Rivera, your 6 00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:22.879 Dave Silver. You know, now we have some programming changes, Dustin, 7 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:25.679 don't preact from the Indianapolis Star. 8 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:27.239 It should be calling any moment now. 9 00:00:27.239 --> 00:00:29.039 He's trying to get on a plane to get back 10 00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:32.200 home after last night's game. So he'll be on early 11 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:34.159 if we can get a hold of him here in 12 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:37.159 the next minute or so. He's already changed his flight 13 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:39.719 three times, or they changed it on him for three times. 14 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:43.039 He's just trying to get from Denver to Indy. 15 00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:45.600 So he was supposed to go like earlier today early 16 00:00:45.640 --> 00:00:47.799 this morning, got canceled, and then he was supposed to 17 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:50.240 go later tonight and got canceled, and then he got 18 00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:52.479 canceled again, and then now he's on a flight now 19 00:00:52.520 --> 00:00:53.880 that leaves in about twenty. 20 00:00:53.719 --> 00:00:57.280 To get back to Indianapolis. Yea from Oklahoma City from Yeah, well, 21 00:00:57.359 --> 00:00:59.399 I guess he's in Denver. They went to Denver first. 22 00:00:59.719 --> 00:00:59.960 Huh. 23 00:01:00.520 --> 00:01:05.760 Yeah, interesting how you can travel like in a triangle. 24 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:05.680 To get back. 25 00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:07.640 Right. Well, I told you I was trying to get 26 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:09.840 to Denver right here in a couple of weeks, and 27 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:12.439 you know goes direct. You've been there a number of 28 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:15.280 times direct. Well on the back is Denver to San 29 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:18.400 Diego to hear I thought that one. That's like a 30 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:19.879 four hour I've there and coming. 31 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:22.760 I've done one of those where I've gone New Orleans 32 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:24.840 San Diego to soon Like wait a minute, I just 33 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:29.959 flew over my city. Sometimes works that way. Yeah, yeah, 34 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:32.159 so you know, it is what it is. I'm hoping 35 00:01:32.200 --> 00:01:34.519 we get a call from him anytime now. So he's 36 00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:37.920 covering the NBA Finals or now. Yeah, he's one more 37 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:40.480 one or two more games, right, I think he's going 38 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:42.480 to go seven. Last night's game was fantastic. 39 00:01:42.840 --> 00:01:44.879 I said this to Chris because we made this wager, right, 40 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:47.599 I thought it would go six for sure, maybe seven, 41 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:50.439 because I thought Indianapolis is a pretty damn good team. 42 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:50.920 Uh. 43 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:55.359 And it's funny because both Math and O'Connell have done 44 00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:57.239 fantastically well well. 45 00:01:57.280 --> 00:01:59.359 TJ last night was certainly a key to getting them 46 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:01.280 into the game and keeping them there. And then we 47 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:02.959 we've been talking kind of off the air about just 48 00:02:03.159 --> 00:02:04.680 how they took him out. I don't know if it 49 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:06.879 was a situation he got tired or whatever. They wanted 50 00:02:06.920 --> 00:02:09.919 to get their their starter back in. But Halliburton has 51 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:12.759 been hurt and didn't do anything offensively really, and TJ, 52 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:15.840 you know, had eighteen points and was kind of leading 53 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:17.599 the charge in the third quarter at six. 54 00:02:18.039 --> 00:02:20.000 Had his own little six to zero run at one point. 55 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:23.000 So yeah, he's been one of the you know, guys, 56 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:25.759 kind of under the radar most of his career anyway, 57 00:02:25.800 --> 00:02:27.479 but then it's kind of cool that it gets in 58 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:28.800 the spotlight in these kind of games. 59 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:30.879 Yeah, you have no question he was. He has been 60 00:02:30.919 --> 00:02:35.159 the energizer bunny for that team the last few games. 61 00:02:35.479 --> 00:02:37.520 It's funny how he is, and he's just he's the 62 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:39.719 oldest or he's the oldest or second oldest guy on 63 00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:43.919 the team, got on the one of the youngest teams. 64 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:44.840 Yeah, right out there. 65 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:49.759 Yeah, six for eight shooting, they outscored, they outscored the 66 00:02:49.800 --> 00:02:51.639 Thunder thirty four to twenty eight in that third quarter. 67 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:53.280 It was basically TJ leading the way. 68 00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:55.159 So it was kind of fun to watch that and 69 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:57.400 having Richard Jefferson on the call every once in a while. 70 00:02:57.479 --> 00:02:58.560 He'll slip in a little. 71 00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:02.800 U of a reference between TJ and Benedict. 72 00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:03.599 Right. 73 00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:06.319 I'm trying to have him text us to call us, 74 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:11.759 okay five two oh, don't give him the number. 75 00:03:11.639 --> 00:03:12.520 No, no, no, Hi. 76 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:14.719 I'm telling him, not his number, but us our number 77 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:18.199 to four one six seventy four four zero old to 78 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:21.599 see if he says what he says, Okay, cool. We 79 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:23.680 can have him on as long as we as long 80 00:03:23.719 --> 00:03:27.800 as we can because he's just waiting for that that airplane. 81 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:30.800 We'll see what happens anything else. 82 00:03:31.080 --> 00:03:32.439 Yeah, I mean, he's just following the news of this 83 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:34.840 whole coaching situation with the u of a. You know, 84 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:36.639 Michael lev of course has been on top of it, 85 00:03:36.919 --> 00:03:40.159 as is Brian Peterson, and they're already talking about who 86 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:42.280 they're going to get in. Maybe a Nathan Banister was 87 00:03:42.280 --> 00:03:44.120 a guy that played here a number of years ago, 88 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:45.039 and he's been coaching that. 89 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:45.800 He was a pitcher. 90 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:48.159 He's been the pitching coach at Grand Canyon, So that 91 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:51.360 could be a name to the CHIP might consider or 92 00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:57.199 whoever makes that call. He was on the twenty sixteen 93 00:03:57.439 --> 00:04:01.080 Arizona team that made it to the College Series Championship. 94 00:04:01.080 --> 00:04:03.919 It's already in seven years or no, what am I saying? 95 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:04.919 Nine years? Nine years? 96 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:07.400 Yeah, so he's got to be about thirty, right, Yeah, 97 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:09.840 he's probably forty thirty, thirty one young? 98 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:10.919 You feel old? 99 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:12.919 These guys are so they're they're little kids, I know, 100 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:15.919 do you feel old? Because and thirty is not young anymore? 101 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:19.000 Because you know the guy the coach that's going to 102 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:21.720 San Diego State, there's thirty four. 103 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:22.000 Right. 104 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:25.399 It's kind of like Josh. Josh is no longer a 105 00:04:25.399 --> 00:04:28.480 young kid too. I think he's like forty four Josh Passner. 106 00:04:28.600 --> 00:04:32.439 Yeah, at Vegas, so you know, yeah, I mean all 107 00:04:32.439 --> 00:04:34.720 the announcements are coming from him, from Kevin Vance going 108 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:37.560 to STSU. Even the Mountain West Conference has it on 109 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:44.920 their website. Now to Torry Pines High guy, Yeah, it's 110 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:46.399 you go home? 111 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:48.759 You know, of course you go home. What's home for you? 112 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:54.360 Well, I mean, so Tony gwinn Well, home was basically 113 00:04:54.399 --> 00:04:54.839 San Jose. 114 00:04:54.920 --> 00:04:55.920 Oh would you go home. 115 00:04:57.240 --> 00:04:59.000 If I got a TV job back in the day, 116 00:04:59.040 --> 00:04:59.360 of course? 117 00:04:59.360 --> 00:04:59.480 Well? 118 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:02.519 Yeah? But did you go home now? No, because everyone's 119 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:03.639 gone left. 120 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:05.160 I felt that too when I went home for my 121 00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:09.839 anniversary reunion. I love my home, but no, it's over. 122 00:05:11.079 --> 00:05:12.160 Yeah, so he's only the guy. 123 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:14.959 He's only the seventh head baseball coach. I remember there 124 00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:17.120 was a guy NA named Jim Deetz who was the 125 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:21.000 coach back and then like Bud Black who has gone 126 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:23.240 on to become a manager and been fired a few times, 127 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:27.519 he was there, Tony Stephen Strasbourg, Tony Quinn, Tony Gwinn junior. 128 00:05:27.639 --> 00:05:29.839 I mean a lot of guys played junior coach there too. 129 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:34.399 He played well, he played there. If he goes yeah, 130 00:05:34.600 --> 00:05:35.360 so we'll see. 131 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:38.160 Arizona is one of those programs that will rebuild and 132 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:41.519 find a guy and be okay. But pitching had been 133 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:44.920 the key ingredient that they had lacked right up until 134 00:05:44.920 --> 00:05:45.639 the last couple of years. 135 00:05:45.800 --> 00:05:47.560 Yeah, and you know, they brought in all these guys. 136 00:05:47.560 --> 00:05:50.120 They basically switched out the pitching staff this this year 137 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:52.240 from last year's and here they are, you know, making 138 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:55.680 the College World Series and then most of them are 139 00:05:55.680 --> 00:05:57.800 going to probably be coming back there. Everyone's saying that's 140 00:05:57.800 --> 00:05:59.600 going to be the strong suit for next year's team 141 00:05:59.639 --> 00:06:02.120 is that most of the pictures are still going to 142 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:02.600 be around. 143 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:05.800 So yeah, except for except for the stopper. 144 00:06:05.879 --> 00:06:08.480 Well maybe he's he can come back. He wants to. 145 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:11.120 He's I mean, I think he's eligible and they're not. 146 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:12.800 I'm not sure about his draft status. 147 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:16.279 Oh, if you playing, if you can play it again? 148 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:18.839 Why not? Yeah, we get a little n I L. 149 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:20.399 I don't know what the n I L is in baseball. 150 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:24.399 Yeah, it's yeah. We talked about this little yesterday. Who 151 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:28.519 was here, Oh Troy, and they were talking like if 152 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:30.879 not more goes goes to the football program, and then 153 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:33.319 the rest kind of cannibalize that. 154 00:06:33.959 --> 00:06:35.920 That's nothing, right, that's nothing. We've got to call. 155 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:39.000 I think this might be him. Hello, you're on the 156 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:39.879 air and one of the ball who's this? 157 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:43.600 Hey, it's justin to Pure Star Dustin. 158 00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:44.040 How are you? 159 00:06:44.040 --> 00:06:46.600 Thanks for man, I'll be messing with you on that flight. 160 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:48.439 Yes they are. 161 00:06:50.279 --> 00:06:52.560 Now it's pushed back and it's leaving at six eighteen 162 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:54.240 and so oh so we're good. 163 00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:55.839 We're good. 164 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:57.079 Okay, cool, cool, cool? 165 00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:01.040 Now you're doing Oklahoma City to Denver then to Indianapolis. 166 00:07:01.720 --> 00:07:03.720 Yes, that's what it was. We got stuck. We've gotten 167 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:04.439 stuck in Denver. 168 00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:09.279 Is the issue Helen Nuggets doing? 169 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:11.839 They're not here right? Right? 170 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:13.879 So tell us we want we have so many questions 171 00:07:13.879 --> 00:07:16.399 for you got and one of the reasons we met 172 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:18.720 you before was you were here for the TJ. McConnell 173 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:21.879 stuff a few months ago. Uh, what's going on with 174 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:26.120 the rotation that Carlisle has with him? 175 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:26.480 Well? 176 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:28.959 He, I mean that's basically what it's been the whole year. 177 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:32.040 I mean, I think it's and obviously understandable when Tyrus 178 00:07:32.040 --> 00:07:33.959 Haliburton is having as bad at the day as he did, 179 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:37.000 certainly with the calf uh and what Notamy McConnell has 180 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:39.120 basically the way he played that the minutes he played 181 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:41.160 yesterday are pretty similar to what he's played all year, 182 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:43.360 which he's just a backup point guard, which generally means 183 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:45.879 he comes in late, you know, mid to late first 184 00:07:45.959 --> 00:07:48.480 quarter and stays into the mid mid to late second quarter, 185 00:07:48.920 --> 00:07:50.800 comes in mid to late third quarter, stays in the 186 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:52.879 mid late mid to late fourth quarter, and basically it's 187 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:55.639 sort of you know, starters end up taking three shifts, 188 00:07:56.199 --> 00:07:58.480 backups end up taking two shifts more or less, and 189 00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:01.360 you're basically expected, because you're gonna kind of go across. 190 00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:03.399 The quarter, to just go all out for two periods. 191 00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:05.480 So if you're gonna mess with that rotation and mess 192 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:08.519 with the usual assignments, you know, it changes. 193 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:09.199 Up the rhythm a little bit. 194 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:11.560 And so part of the reason why McConnell's effective he 195 00:08:11.639 --> 00:08:14.560 is in that is he's going max effort, expecting not 196 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:18.279 to come out or not to go back in after 197 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:20.199 he comes back out in the fourth quarter. Basically when 198 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:22.519 he goes in there, expecting to just spill it that 199 00:08:22.759 --> 00:08:23.360 entire time. 200 00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:24.759 So it obviously looks a little bit. 201 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:26.680 Weird when he's, you know, basically the second or third 202 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:28.399 most effective player. 203 00:08:28.839 --> 00:08:30.959 So I understand why everybody's a little bit but not sure. 204 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:33.559 But still that's the reason why is that that's just 205 00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:36.080 that's the shift that he's used to and. 206 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:37.279 He's done very well with it. 207 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:39.799 This may be a dumb question because you've covered him 208 00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:41.639 for a while now, but it would lead me to 209 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:44.519 believe that he's one of the better interviews, more accessible, 210 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:45.480 great stories. 211 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:47.080 McConnell. 212 00:08:47.159 --> 00:08:49.960 Yes, absolutely, I mean he's just i mean, super intelligent guy, 213 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:51.080 you know, obviously been. 214 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:52.720 In the league for ten years, certainly has a great story. 215 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:54.879 I mean, he's one of those guys that that. 216 00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:56.720 You can point to at you know, for a player 217 00:08:56.759 --> 00:08:58.960 at any level and say, see this is this is 218 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:00.720 an example. I mean This is the sort of guy 219 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:03.480 who made it despite being u as small as he is, 220 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:05.480 as short as he is, uh, and a guy that 221 00:09:05.559 --> 00:09:07.639 just just works, you know, as hard as he'll get 222 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:09.519 out to get there. But you know, I mean he's 223 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:12.279 he's not only a coach's son, but a coach's nephew. 224 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:14.879 Uh and everything else. I mean, he obviously grew up, 225 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:18.200 you know, in the game. Basically he's so uh, you know, 226 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:20.600 he's basketball royalty in Pittsburgh. I mean just they are, 227 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:22.720 you know, basically, you know, his aunts is really the 228 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:25.960 most decorated player in the family. Still, she's an Olympian. 229 00:09:26.360 --> 00:09:28.399 Susan mcconnells. Cerio is one of the one of the 230 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:31.440 truly great players in the eighties and nineties and has 231 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:33.759 gone on to become a great coach at several levels. 232 00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:37.000 She coached the WNBA, she coached at you know, the 233 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:37.720 college level. 234 00:09:37.799 --> 00:09:40.240 She's a high school coach. Again, She's won state championships 235 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:41.080 as a high school coach. 236 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:43.639 Uh, and they've accomplished so much so it makes him 237 00:09:43.639 --> 00:09:44.639 obviously very good at. 238 00:09:44.519 --> 00:09:46.679 Dealing with media. Uh. You know, he's hilarious. He's a 239 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:48.960 you know, a bit you know, he's he's a bit 240 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:50.519 of a you know, wise cracker. 241 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:52.440 Basically, he's been getting on me all week because I 242 00:09:52.440 --> 00:09:55.159 had to miss the first two games of the series 243 00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:57.000 for a wedding, and he is just he has just 244 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:59.879 been berating me the entire time for this. At every 245 00:09:59.879 --> 00:10:01.399 time on my show up he's like, oh, welcome to 246 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:02.159 Oklahoma City. 247 00:10:02.759 --> 00:10:04.600 Finally make it. Thanks TJ. 248 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:06.639 I appreciate it, but just uh, he's been a fun 249 00:10:06.679 --> 00:10:07.080 out of cover. 250 00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:09.480 So justin I'll borrate you too. Was it your wedding 251 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:10.559 or somebody else's? 252 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:13.759 It was my wife's best friends well in the speech, 253 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:15.240 so I would have been in some serious trouble. 254 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:19.200 There was a great TV moment you probably saw, you know, 255 00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:21.000 the highlights of I don't know if you saw when 256 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:23.000 it was actually happening with the family. I guess maybe 257 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:26.320 he's after one of the games in Indianapolis with you know, 258 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:30.080 Grandpa's there and you know every the dad's there and 259 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:32.320 then was it Sam came over and took pictures. 260 00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:32.679 I mean it was. 261 00:10:32.840 --> 00:10:34.919 It was a good TJ moment for us here to 262 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:35.600 watch this movie. 263 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:38.559 Absolutely, yeah, no, I know I didn't. We talked to 264 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:40.279 TJ a little bit about that. After he doesn't get 265 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:42.799 to get the many games. Obviously he's aging, you know, 266 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:45.080 I mean TJ's thirty three, so you can imagine how old. 267 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:47.360 You know, his grandfather certainly is up there in h 268 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:50.879 and and so it just you know, it doesn't get 269 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:52.639 to travel very much. But it was nice that he 270 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:55.080 got to be there and see, uh the NBA Finals, 271 00:10:55.120 --> 00:10:57.360 and he just said, that's just something that's uh, you know, 272 00:10:57.480 --> 00:10:59.759 a very very very big deal for him. 273 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:02.200 You know, when you came here in December, I think 274 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:05.120 it was, I think it was December, maybe early January. Uh, 275 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:07.559 it's no surprise to me when when they got the finals, 276 00:11:07.559 --> 00:11:09.879 I said, this team is kind of spunky and in 277 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:12.320 pesky and just a pain in the ass. They're gonna 278 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:15.039 give Oklahoma City a pretty good run. But I said, 279 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:17.120 you know, teams that go or did what they did 280 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:19.440 for TJ. When they came here and physically came here, 281 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:22.240 I'm thinking, the chemistry and this team must be fantastic. 282 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:26.279 Yeah, no, it absolutely is. And and they've they've built 283 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:28.159 that over three years. But I mean, to your point, 284 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:30.879 uh Rick Carlisle has done a great job of just 285 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:34.440 fostering that kind of team building. I mean, basically he's 286 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:36.600 kind of made made a point to make sure everybody's 287 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:39.799 celebrating everybody's milestones and everybody's involved in that. 288 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:41.799 And it goes down to like, you know, they. 289 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:45.200 Sing Happy Birthday for staffers basically like after practice, if 290 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:48.120 it's somebody's birthday, uh, the rookies have to sing to them. 291 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:50.600 And so there's they they gather at half court and 292 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:52.960 do stuff like that. You know last year before you know, 293 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:55.519 before it was McConnell for his Ring of Honor ceremony, 294 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:58.279 they did it for Benanic Maffew last year, you know 295 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:01.039 when he was uh made it for being I think 296 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:02.799 I think it was for being either an All American 297 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:04.240 or being Packed twelve Player of the Year. 298 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:05.399 You know, that's the two reasons. 299 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:07.559 And even when when Masman was inducted, I mean, they said, 300 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:10.480 we're going to be back next year for TJ and 301 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:13.039 so they you know, basically signed up to do that 302 00:12:13.080 --> 00:12:14.799 and made sure, okay, yea, everybody's gonna be there, but 303 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:17.200 it's gonna make this trip. And you know, they do 304 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:19.080 stuff like that for each other and and you know, 305 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:21.799 some of that is really pushed by Carlisle, but you know, 306 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:23.720 some of that the stuff they enjoy doing on their 307 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:24.840 own I mean they. 308 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:25.720 Really go out of the way for each other. They 309 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:26.799 go out of the way for other people. 310 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:28.159 I mean a lot of these guys will make a 311 00:12:28.200 --> 00:12:30.639 point to go to Indiana Fever games or even to 312 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:33.720 see the G League team and see those guys and 313 00:12:33.799 --> 00:12:35.759 cheer them on. It's it's a really big piece of 314 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:37.200 that and that's that's helped them develop a lot of 315 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:38.480 chemistry over the last two years. 316 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:40.000 And that's made in the team that they are. 317 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:41.799 I mean, they are pesky, they are pain and that 318 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:44.159 comes from being a team that's willing to exhaust you, 319 00:12:44.279 --> 00:12:47.000 that goes at you the entire time, and and is 320 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:50.120 willing to play different roles and for guys to be 321 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:51.879 willing maybe if they don't, if they only come off 322 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:53.879 the bench, they only play fifteen, ten, you know, twenty 323 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:56.960 minutes to go all out, and that that's a big 324 00:12:57.000 --> 00:12:58.240 reason why they are where they are. 325 00:12:58.840 --> 00:13:03.399 You know too, Rick Carlisle had those years with the 326 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:05.919 Celtics bec what in the eighties they were kind of 327 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:07.480 like that team too. They were, you know, a bunch 328 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:09.639 of I mean a couple of superstars, a couple of 329 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:13.039 role players, but just the legendary Celtic name on your 330 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:15.240 Jersey was a big deal. How much of that you 331 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:17.000 think carries over to what he's been doing as a 332 00:13:17.159 --> 00:13:19.279 head coach and he's been there a long time. 333 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:21.360 No good but a good amount. 334 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:23.320 I mean, I think I taught I did a story 335 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:26.799 on Rick earlier in these playoffs just about his offense, 336 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:29.120 you know, basically just the way he's changed offensively. 337 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:31.120 And wait, he's kind of embraced. 338 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:33.879 This idea of it being randomized movement, of not calling 339 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:36.559 a lot of plays and not necessarily running a lot 340 00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:38.600 of plays. I mean, you know, obviously Halliburton has the 341 00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:40.240 opportunity to call plays, but in a lot of cases 342 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:41.120 it's not even plays. 343 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:42.240 It's randomized movement. 344 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:44.639 It's just running a pick and roll or just you know, 345 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:47.600 kind of doing sort of basic stuff but being unpredictable 346 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:50.960 so that somebody can't diagnose what you're doing in the moment. 347 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:53.399 You're just kind of problem solving and playing off with 348 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:53.799 each other. 349 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:56.039 And I asked him, what made you trust. 350 00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:57.159 That, because I mean he used to be a guy 351 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:59.639 that called a lot of stuff and was very, very 352 00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:00.440 very hands on. 353 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:02.480 He said, you know, it was playing with the eighties Celtics. 354 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:04.799 It was, you know, being around a guy a lot 355 00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:08.039 of guys that were just high level basketball minds and 356 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:11.600 trusting them to just play through things and just just flow. 357 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:14.320 And he said, like I I developed that from there, 358 00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:16.279 and and you know, I have a couple of guys 359 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:17.879 on this team that I trust to be those kinds 360 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:21.679 of players. 361 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:22.039 And you know, just seeing knowing that he could work. 362 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:24.000 I mean, I think Rick has really come a long 363 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:26.120 way in terms of being able to just just flat 364 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:29.120 trust guys and be willing to delegate, you know what 365 00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:29.600 within his. 366 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:31.399 Coaching staff, but with within his team. 367 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:33.840 And and then I think has created the style of 368 00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:36.759 play that they have. I mean, like he he obviously 369 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:39.440 still is capable of drawing something up in the dirt, 370 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:42.799 you know, at a at a moment's notice and making adjustments, 371 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:45.120 and a lot of what they're doing is him. And 372 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:46.720 you know he does put his thumb on the scale 373 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:49.440 when he has to, but he also just trusts his guys. 374 00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:51.279 It's a big reason why you know, Haliburton hits that 375 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:53.480 game winner in Game one. He doesn't call a timeout, 376 00:14:53.559 --> 00:14:55.919 he doesn't call a play to advance the ball. Uh, 377 00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:58.000 he just believes in those guys to kind of play 378 00:14:58.039 --> 00:14:59.799 through it and that it's going to be harder to 379 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:01.320 cut for them if you don't know what they're doing. 380 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:02.720 Does this say your last name? 381 00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:03.039 Please? 382 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:03.960 Do? 383 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:07.600 Pierre ac do pierrek Okay talking to Dustin Doe Perk 384 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:10.720 from the Indianapolis Star. So before we get to Mathron, 385 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:13.279 there's another coach out there that struck me, and then 386 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:16.519 Dave sent me some information. Is the assistant coach, right, 387 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.799 Jenny Bosik? 388 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:18.320 Is it right? 389 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:19.399 Yeah? 390 00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:21.039 Busick? Just to me. 391 00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:23.519 She's calling place too, and I'm thinking, who is this 392 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:26.120 woman has this impact because she sits right. 393 00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:26.840 Next to TJ. 394 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:28.480 Yeah. 395 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:31.120 No, absolutely, I mean, the the the whole entire staff 396 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:32.879 has a lot of authority. 397 00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:35.000 I mean basically a lot is invested in each of 398 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:35.440 them with us. 399 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:38.759 Jenny Busak or Mike Winer or Lloyd Pierce or Jim 400 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:41.440 Boyle and you know Engineera Parkrom and all of those 401 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:44.039