1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 1: What is of Fellasiko's I Am Valley coming at you 2 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:11,400 with the one, the only, this certified, fantabulous co host 3 00:00:11,519 --> 00:00:15,880 of the most popular podcasting property in the galaxy, mister 4 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:20,519 krant Hues Conference Finals primer time, and we are on 5 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,640 to the Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder. I'm not 6 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:25,480 sure it's a matchup anyone would have predicted at the 7 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,359 start of the season, but I think the Thunder for sure. 8 00:00:28,399 --> 00:00:30,160 The Wolves have been all over the place this year, 9 00:00:30,199 --> 00:00:33,399 but they've they had indicators that showed they were good 10 00:00:33,439 --> 00:00:36,840 against elite teams. Are you ready to dive into this matchup? 11 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 2: Grant, very excited. Great matchup. Let's get to it. 12 00:00:39,719 --> 00:00:41,799 Speaker 1: So for anyone new around these parts, we will start 13 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:44,679 with the tactical questions and then we will get into 14 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:49,439 our biggest storylines X factors and then of course everyone's favorite, 15 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:52,719 the predictions. If you have not drop a comment let 16 00:00:52,799 --> 00:00:54,439 us know your predictions, what we want to hear about 17 00:00:54,439 --> 00:00:56,719 this series, and hey, come join our discord where we 18 00:00:56,759 --> 00:00:59,359 have rooms designated to every team except for the Celtics. 19 00:00:59,359 --> 00:01:02,359 Their room is for TV shows and movies for maybe 20 00:01:02,399 --> 00:01:03,159 not anymore. 21 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:05,159 Speaker 2: Though, Yeah, we may have to who do we nominate 22 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,200 for that now because the Celtics got that distinction, because 23 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:09,599 it's like, what are we going to talk about? They're 24 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:11,400 so good? What do we do now? 25 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:13,599 Speaker 1: You No, I think it should be the Pelicans, like 26 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:16,319 shame on them for like, I just don't like the 27 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:19,000 way that they're not a serious organization. I think it's 28 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:19,680 the Pelicans. 29 00:01:19,799 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 2: Okay, different reason forgetting that that designation, But I don't know. 30 00:01:23,719 --> 00:01:25,640 Maybe we should put it to a vote. I'm sure 31 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:26,879 people would have strong opinions. 32 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 1: Drop a comment which rooms should be dedicated which team 33 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,400 rooms specificum should be dedicated to? Movies, pop culture references, 34 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,319 TV shows, recommendations, all that, But that is not related 35 00:01:35,359 --> 00:01:38,200 to the Wolves and the Thunder grant. I'm gonna throw 36 00:01:38,239 --> 00:01:40,760 it to you here. What is the tactical item that 37 00:01:40,799 --> 00:01:42,480 you're focused on heading into this series? 38 00:01:43,079 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 2: So this was weird. This This was hard for me, 39 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:47,879 or harder than it has been in the past when 40 00:01:47,879 --> 00:01:50,599 we've done the tactical side. The narrative side is like 41 00:01:51,079 --> 00:01:54,439 that just comes comes easily. I think. So from the 42 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,719 Thunders side of things, I think you have to be 43 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:03,000 focused on how they approach Anthony Edwards when he has 44 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,599 the ball, which is a little bit like I think 45 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:08,280 every Wolve series we've had, I've thrown this out as 46 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,960 some version of like the tactical thing, because that is 47 00:02:11,039 --> 00:02:13,520 just like the threshold issue for going against the Wolves, 48 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,599 because it ties into all of the kind of secondary 49 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:20,599 questions we have about Minnesota, like will they turn it 50 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:22,840 over a shit ton if you're sending to it and 51 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,400 he's not reading the defense. Well, he made strides that 52 00:02:25,439 --> 00:02:28,680 way for sure over this postseason run, and if the 53 00:02:28,719 --> 00:02:32,639 turnovers pile up because he regresses, or the Thunder are 54 00:02:32,719 --> 00:02:35,800 just so much faster, more athletic, bigger than any defense 55 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:39,360 they've seen, Like does that just get the Thunder out running? 56 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,159 They get cheap points that way, and then they hold 57 00:02:41,199 --> 00:02:43,280 you to nothing in half court and that's how they win. 58 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,719 So it has to start with what minies or with 59 00:02:45,759 --> 00:02:48,319 what the Thunder do against Edwards? Who guards him as 60 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,800 the primary assignment. Presumably that's just Ludort, Maybe that's I mean, 61 00:02:52,199 --> 00:02:54,719 I don't know what else. Maybe that's Case and Wallace 62 00:02:54,759 --> 00:02:57,479 in certain stretches, maybe that's Cruso. So I think that's 63 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,639 where you start for them. What do you before I 64 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:02,639 go the other way on the Thunder, what do you 65 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:05,960 have for I guess that's Minaci. I guess that's the 66 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:07,960 Thunder's tactical decision. 67 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: So I had the same one. And the only thing 68 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:12,280 that I can really add to what you're saying is 69 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,120 how does the way that Julius Randall's been playing for 70 00:03:15,199 --> 00:03:17,280 like the last I don't know, three or four months 71 00:03:17,719 --> 00:03:20,759 impact your approach to going at Anthony Edwards Because if 72 00:03:20,759 --> 00:03:22,240 you throw two to the ball at him and you're 73 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,639 working with Randall off the catch and like getting down 74 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,240 hill or even out of the short role in those situations, 75 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:30,479 like he's just been making the right decision all the time. 76 00:03:30,599 --> 00:03:33,319 Now it feels like and so if he could punish you? 77 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,120 And I'm wondering, so if you're the Thunder, do you 78 00:03:36,199 --> 00:03:40,159 kind of reserve that approach for maybe only certain lineups? 79 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:42,400 Or is it? And by certain lineups, I don't even 80 00:03:42,439 --> 00:03:45,479 mean the Thunder personnel, even though I do. But it's 81 00:03:45,719 --> 00:03:48,080 when Rudy Gobert is on the floor that's when we 82 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:50,719 are going to do that, because we will put let's say, 83 00:03:50,759 --> 00:03:53,319 a small on Rudy. Or maybe you don't want Chet 84 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:55,360 going on, like you don't want Check going up against Randall. 85 00:03:55,439 --> 00:03:56,800 So if you want to have chet on Rudy to 86 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,280 have him do that. So that's what I'm curious to 87 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,800 see because I think they're gonna my guess would be, 88 00:04:01,919 --> 00:04:04,080 and let me know if you disagree. I think they're 89 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:06,479 gonna be like they have defenders who can play him 90 00:04:06,479 --> 00:04:10,240 straight up, but they're at their best when they're forcing turnovers, 91 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:14,199 and like their offense is just better when they don't 92 00:04:14,199 --> 00:04:16,040 have when the other defense. And this is true of 93 00:04:16,079 --> 00:04:19,120 like almost every defense where you're going up against offense. 94 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:21,279 Excuse me, if you're going up against a set defense 95 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,560 or offense gonna be less efficient. Like when the thunder 96 00:04:23,639 --> 00:04:26,839 generate turnovers are working off these live balls, that's where 97 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:29,519 they're they're at their best, like their absolute best. And 98 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,399 so if I'm Oklahoma City, I'm at least starting the 99 00:04:32,439 --> 00:04:35,120 series by you don't need to throw the kitchen sink 100 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:37,879 it at But like I'm really testing his decision making 101 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:40,199 out of those double teams, those blitzes, those traps. 102 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's pretty it is, like we both kind of 103 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:46,839 brushed up against it, but it's like it's pretty standard. 104 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:51,759 Like let's see if anybody besides the primary threat Edwards 105 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:54,120 can can do anything, because that's been a question over 106 00:04:54,199 --> 00:04:56,839 the course of the season for Minnesota. So you just 107 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,759 you start there, but the way that it spills into 108 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:02,639 all all of the other potential tactical advantages the thunder 109 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:05,480 have is like it makes it even more important. I'm 110 00:05:05,519 --> 00:05:09,000 curious what you have as Minnesota's like tactical angle to cover, 111 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:13,519 because mine is like it wasn't obvious until like a 112 00:05:13,519 --> 00:05:15,800 week or two ago, but now it's like all I 113 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:16,439 can think about. 114 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 1: So I have and I'm actually gonna preface it with 115 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,160 this has nothing to do with his defense. I think 116 00:05:23,199 --> 00:05:26,000 there's like a huge misconception that Rudy Gobert becomes a 117 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:29,920 defense of liability when you downsize. It is possible against 118 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,279 certain matchups. I'm not denying that, but it's more of 119 00:05:32,319 --> 00:05:35,439 a problem on offense if he has to go up 120 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:38,920 against more of a frenetic defense, and especially like if 121 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:41,319 the thundered, they won't they probably won't go no big 122 00:05:41,519 --> 00:05:44,240 unless someone's injured. But like the one big lineups for them. 123 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,959 What happens with Minnesota in that regard, because I think 124 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:50,920 Rudy Gobert is going to be really critical to gumming 125 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,279 up Oklahoma City's half court offense for sure, and so 126 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:56,800 but if this becomes a series where you know what, Okay, 127 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:58,160 so he says we're gonna just run a lot of 128 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,800 one big looks. Is this gonna be like a twenty 129 00:06:00,879 --> 00:06:03,839 three to twenty six minute per game Rudy Gobert series, 130 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:05,920 and then we know how they're gonna fill that, But 131 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:10,399 how does nas Reed perform? And offensively, sure, you want 132 00:06:10,439 --> 00:06:13,079 like he's gonna help stretch the floor, has the floor 133 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:14,480 game as well to put it on the deck and 134 00:06:14,519 --> 00:06:18,319 scorenges a variety of ways, but defensively you just you lose. 135 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,160 He's different, he's more versatile, but Rudy Gobert is a 136 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,560 generational defender and no Red is not. And so what 137 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:28,160 does that look like? Because that's the other question I 138 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:31,759 have for Minnesota is and a shout out to I 139 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:33,720 don't know who had this number. I think maybe it 140 00:06:33,759 --> 00:06:36,480 was was it dunked on or was it might have 141 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:39,040 been Sam Vessini. That the Wolves have played like six 142 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:42,639 possessions of zone all postseason, and I think part of 143 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:44,759 that is if you're Rudy Gobert in a drop like 144 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:48,360 that's kind of like a zone. Yes, yeah, but if 145 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,279 you don't have Rudy Gobert on the floor. Do you 146 00:06:51,519 --> 00:06:53,199 try to go to zone or is that just for 147 00:06:53,319 --> 00:06:56,639 I mean I'm generally asking you is that taboo because 148 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:58,560 we don't play that normally. 149 00:06:59,319 --> 00:07:01,439 Speaker 2: Well, I'm glad you asked that question because that is 150 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:05,199 my tactical focal point for the Wolves. Like you know, 151 00:07:05,319 --> 00:07:09,040 they watched Denver by every possible account, like just a 152 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:14,040 lesser defense than Minnesota, Like from a personnel athleticism size 153 00:07:14,399 --> 00:07:17,759 not Denver's not small, but it's like they just don't 154 00:07:17,839 --> 00:07:22,319 have Like Anthony Edwards is just different than Jamal Murray defensively, 155 00:07:22,399 --> 00:07:25,920 Jade McDaniels is just different than Christian Brown, like you 156 00:07:25,959 --> 00:07:28,959 know what I mean, Like the're so that's the most 157 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:32,439 fascinating thing to because they watched Denver like actually like 158 00:07:32,639 --> 00:07:35,759 give the thunder and shay real like they didn't stop them. 159 00:07:35,759 --> 00:07:38,439 They lost the series, but it was like Denver performed 160 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:42,519 defensively far better than expectations even if they had been healthy. 161 00:07:42,639 --> 00:07:46,000 This was like a pretty surprising defensive performance. How much 162 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:48,439 zone can Minnesota get away with? And to your question, 163 00:07:48,519 --> 00:07:50,079 like will they be like we don't need to do 164 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,720 that because we have the bodies, like and we're not 165 00:07:52,839 --> 00:07:56,519 practiced at it like that's a consideration or if you 166 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,720 incorporate a lot of what the Nuggets did and you 167 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:03,120 all so just happened to have way bigger, better younger athletes, 168 00:08:03,199 --> 00:08:05,959 Like does that supercharge zone and the Thunder really can't 169 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,399 solve it? Like I don't know, I feel like all 170 00:08:08,399 --> 00:08:11,519 that's on the table. I will say, like I'm not 171 00:08:11,639 --> 00:08:14,240 sure that Minnesota is going to go to that a lot. 172 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:18,360 I think they should. I think they really should, just 173 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:23,199 at least as much as Denver did, just just because again, 174 00:08:23,319 --> 00:08:27,000 like I think one concern I would have if I'm 175 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:30,800 the Wolves is that the Thunder are now the Thunder 176 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:34,399 like have emerged from a tough series where they like 177 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,279 had to take lumps and figure stuff out, and like 178 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:40,399 they're comfortable now. Like in a lot of ways, that 179 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:43,840 Nugget series was one that a team like the Thunder 180 00:08:43,879 --> 00:08:46,159 would lose and view as a stepping stone. Oh, we 181 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:49,320 got to seven against the multi time MVP with the title. 182 00:08:49,799 --> 00:08:52,240 Next year, we got it. We like absorbed that lesson, 183 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:54,320 They got the lesson and all that stuff and then 184 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,919 they won. Anyway, so like they don't have to wait 185 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:58,639 till next year to take the next step. They just 186 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:01,360 go to the conference finals now, So if you're the Wolves, 187 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:03,279 I think you have to be concerned that the thunder 188 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:06,480 are like kind of ready for more weird stuff than 189 00:09:06,519 --> 00:09:08,600 they would have been had Denver not thrown it at him. 190 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:10,919 But I still think you try. I still think the 191 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,720 zone is like a worthwhile option for the Wolves. 192 00:09:14,039 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: I don't I guess I just don't see them going 193 00:09:16,039 --> 00:09:18,039 to it because we've seen it so little. But I 194 00:09:18,039 --> 00:09:20,919 guess like we've also seen like if you're gonna go 195 00:09:20,919 --> 00:09:24,159 away from Rudy Gobert. So the other question I had 196 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:26,039 to just oh, go ahead, did you have a comb I. 197 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:28,399 Speaker 2: Was gonna say like that, because as you were talking 198 00:09:28,399 --> 00:09:30,879 about Gobert in a drop is kind of like a 199 00:09:31,039 --> 00:09:34,320 mini zone essentially. I wonder if, like, if you're worried 200 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:36,720 as the Wolves, like, where do we put Gobert because 201 00:09:36,759 --> 00:09:38,639 we definitely want him on the back line if we 202 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,519 can get him there, Like a zone just lets you 203 00:09:41,919 --> 00:09:43,559 a zone, lets you put him where you want him, 204 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,240 Like he just gets to be wherever you want to. 205 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, I don't know where would you put Rudy Gobert in? 206 00:09:49,159 --> 00:09:51,200 And by the way, what makes I don't really read 207 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:53,360 and I'm actually I shouldn't say I don't really, I'm 208 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:56,240 done with the regular season informing like how these matchups 209 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:58,159 are gonna go. And I don't think the regular season 210 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:01,679 is useless. It's just players miss games and coaches save 211 00:10:01,759 --> 00:10:04,519 their best stuff or it's after game one we said, 212 00:10:04,519 --> 00:10:07,120 like you're focused on this one opponent rather than all 213 00:10:07,159 --> 00:10:10,320 twenty nine other teams. But like this this series is 214 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:13,159 in particular, is weird because remember they played like three 215 00:10:13,279 --> 00:10:15,799 times and what was it ten days or something, and 216 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:19,559 like Rudy Gobert and Julius Randall each played in one 217 00:10:19,639 --> 00:10:21,279 game I think, right of this set of four. 218 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 2: So there's no information there, right, what do you. 219 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:25,919 Speaker 1: Do with and so you're not in his zone and 220 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:27,639 maybe you don't want to play, Like would you consider 221 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,799 putting Rudy Gobert on dort and saying like you know 222 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:34,279 what we've seen, Like what does that do to your matchups? Though, 223 00:10:34,279 --> 00:10:36,000 because if Hart and Stint and Holmgrin are then on 224 00:10:36,039 --> 00:10:38,039 the court at the same time as that counterintuitive? 225 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:40,759 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't, I don't know. I think that is. 226 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:45,759 I mean, if you put Gobert on dirt, I think 227 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:50,240 you I mean, best case, you get the thunder to 228 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:52,879 like funnel a lot more offense to Dort than they 229 00:10:52,919 --> 00:10:55,559 otherwise would have, and like you you're comfortable with that 230 00:10:55,759 --> 00:10:59,360 as as as the Wolves because like Dort shooting, you know, 231 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,080 he's gonna go one for nine and then he might 232 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,559 go five for nine. But it's like if that means 233 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:05,840 Shay doesn't have a lot of touches and it's then 234 00:11:05,919 --> 00:11:06,440 that's a win. 235 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: You know, a doub can't get to the basket. 236 00:11:08,519 --> 00:11:10,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, get right, yeah, because Dort's just hanging in, 237 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:12,919 hanging around with a foot in the lane the whole time. 238 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:15,840 That's I you know what, as we talk about all 239 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:21,000 this stuff, it's like they should try everything. So if 240 00:11:21,039 --> 00:11:22,440 you're like do you think they should do this, the 241 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:24,559 answer should be like yeah, Just like the question is 242 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:27,360 like a of percentages, like what percentage of the series 243 00:11:27,519 --> 00:11:29,279 do they do X versus Y versus Z. 244 00:11:29,759 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 1: For my runner up for the tactical question, since we 245 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:34,159 both had the same ones on both ends of the spectrum, 246 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:35,960 let me throw a bonus one. What do you Julius 247 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,759 Randad's been I would say really good defensively, this like 248 00:11:39,799 --> 00:11:42,720 this playoffs, but when you look at the Warriors and 249 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:44,720 the Lakers, it feels and he did hold up against 250 00:11:44,759 --> 00:11:47,080 Luco and it's not like Lebron as easy, but the 251 00:11:47,159 --> 00:11:50,759 Thunder just don't have a traditional Oh put Julius Randall 252 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,519 on this type of player. What are you doing with 253 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:54,279 Julius Randall? 254 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:58,279 Speaker 2: Then, defensively, I means, doesn't he just guard assuming the 255 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:01,879 Thunder start Holmegrin and hard Stein? Isn't he just on Holmgren? 256 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,559 Speaker 1: Like I don't know, is that the matchup you want 257 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:06,919 for him? Well? 258 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:08,799 Speaker 2: Would you rather have him on Hardenstein? You mean? 259 00:12:09,759 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 1: That was kind of my thought, And then I was 260 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:15,360 also kind of wondering, would like if OKC to like 261 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:19,039 cross matching, So if they have Ja Dubb on Julius Randall, 262 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:21,799 they decide, hey, you're gonna get that assignment because we 263 00:12:21,799 --> 00:12:23,919 don't want Chet anywhere near Randall, And I think you 264 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:27,519 need to have Hartenstein like do the go bet stuff? Yeah, 265 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:29,639 on Randall? And then does that kind of force the 266 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:32,480 Wolves to say, oh, you're gonna have to then defend 267 00:12:32,879 --> 00:12:34,720 j Dubb, which, by the way, the way Julius Randald's 268 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:37,200 defended this postseason. But I just thought it was interesting 269 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,039 because I think I looked at even that Laker series 270 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,360 and maybe it was after I started walking Laker series, 271 00:12:42,399 --> 00:12:44,519 but it was even some of the Laker's best lineups. 272 00:12:44,519 --> 00:12:46,360 It's like, oh, like, no, that makes sense for Julius Randld. 273 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:48,360 Then with the Dubs, of course it's oh, Draymond makes 274 00:12:48,399 --> 00:12:50,399 a ton of sense for Random And this one, I'm 275 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:52,919 just like, I guess you'd call it more optionality, but 276 00:12:52,919 --> 00:12:55,600 I'm more curious about what he looks like defensively in 277 00:12:55,639 --> 00:12:56,159 this series? 278 00:12:56,279 --> 00:12:58,159 Speaker 2: Well, what about the other way? Who do you think 279 00:12:58,159 --> 00:13:00,240 the Thunder would prefer to have guard rand Doll? 280 00:13:01,919 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: I think it's it shouldn't be Chet, right, I just 281 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:08,000 don't want so let's let's go down the line. 282 00:13:08,039 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 2: So like you've got uh, you've got dort On Edwards, 283 00:13:12,279 --> 00:13:18,320 I think you probably have uh, well who guards Jaden? 284 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 1: Right? Like that's what? 285 00:13:19,799 --> 00:13:23,039 Speaker 2: Or do you put him on Conley? On Conley? 286 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:23,559 Speaker 1: All right? 287 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 2: I guess then that maybe opens you up to like 288 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:28,200 Shay just has to be involved in more pick and 289 00:13:28,279 --> 00:13:29,879 roll defense. Maybe that's more tiring. 290 00:13:29,919 --> 00:13:32,519 Speaker 1: I don't know if McDaniels will be better because you're 291 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,360 not gonna put Julius on mcdal's. I don't think you're 292 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:38,360 trusting Julius to be like the primary help like that's 293 00:13:38,399 --> 00:13:39,360 not really. 294 00:13:39,159 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, man, there's these matchups. 295 00:13:41,039 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: Are we are wild because like here's gonna be nuts. 296 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 2: I know we like, yeah, everyone's like overstating it a 297 00:13:47,759 --> 00:13:49,840 little bit, but like I just don't know what to 298 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:53,080 expect really, like maybe just matchup wise to down to 299 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:56,399 like have the Wolves really been tested yet? Like how 300 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:59,240 how like or are we underrating the Wolves? Like I 301 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:01,279 don't know how if we're properly raiding the Wolves. 302 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:03,799 Speaker 1: Think about what you just said, and you're right, but 303 00:14:04,039 --> 00:14:05,679 have the Wolves been tested yet? It's like, well, they 304 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:08,120 went through Lebron and Luca and then technically Steph and 305 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:11,799 Jimmy Butler's Warriors and context matters. Luca couldn't move by 306 00:14:11,799 --> 00:14:14,200 the end of that series and Steph didn't play for 307 00:14:14,279 --> 00:14:16,480 most of the other one. But like that's such a 308 00:14:16,519 --> 00:14:19,639 wild thing to say, knowing the team that they was sure. 309 00:14:19,799 --> 00:14:23,279 Speaker 2: And double down the thunder like we all agree, like, man, 310 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:25,360 they got through a war, but it's like Aaron Gordon 311 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:29,000 couldn't walk the last game and you know, Porter Junior 312 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,240 just fought through a shoulder and the Nuggets off the. 313 00:14:32,159 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 1: Westbrook was like, maybe Okayse's fourth best player then right, 314 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:36,679 Westbrooks straight. 315 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 2: Up lost the Nuggets at least one game, So it's 316 00:14:39,039 --> 00:14:43,039 just like we've anointed the thunder of Like I definitely 317 00:14:43,039 --> 00:14:45,200 am falling into the trap of like this was like 318 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:50,000 a like a meaningful series win for them, like in 319 00:14:50,039 --> 00:14:52,000 the big picture of like how good can the. 320 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 1: Arrival is what it felt like? Yeah, you've been here, 321 00:14:54,879 --> 00:14:57,519 but this was the playoffer. That series was the playoff run. 322 00:14:57,639 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 2: Right now, they're like now they can say like they're tested. 323 00:15:00,799 --> 00:15:03,240 That that's I think that's right. But at the same time, 324 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,799 I'm like, I mean, the the Nuggets had like nobody health. 325 00:15:07,279 --> 00:15:09,679 It just like did was that that big of an arrival? 326 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:11,159 I think it is, But you know what I mean, 327 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:13,840 like even they don't come with like one hundred percent 328 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:18,639 you know, conference finals validation, Like I don't know yet the. 329 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: Final thing here. This could be like the series that 330 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:25,519 maybe has the like the wildest three point shooting variants 331 00:15:25,559 --> 00:15:27,559 from game to game. When you look at how Okayse 332 00:15:27,679 --> 00:15:31,799 struggled versus Denver, think about Minnesota's had some real duds, 333 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:34,039 like it was mostly in round one, of course, but 334 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,320 like it would just wouldn't like is there gonna be 335 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:38,240 a game where they're both just like I don't know, 336 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,840 a combined eight of seventy from three or something. 337 00:15:41,639 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 2: Well, and it would be fascinating just the zero and 338 00:15:43,639 --> 00:15:46,039 on edwards like does he take eleven or twelve threes 339 00:15:46,159 --> 00:15:48,159 or is it like, well, I'm getting downhill, like you 340 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:50,159 know what I mean? Because that a lot of that 341 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:52,120 has to do with how the Thunder defend, but it 342 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,080 also has to do with just like what is he 343 00:15:54,519 --> 00:15:57,000 what's his preferred first option? You know? 344 00:15:57,639 --> 00:15:59,759 Speaker 1: Uh So here's the question. I think it applies to 345 00:15:59,799 --> 00:16:02,080 each team. I'll go with okay See first. Do they 346 00:16:02,159 --> 00:16:04,879 go more with dual big setups in this series or 347 00:16:04,879 --> 00:16:05,840 one big setups? 348 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:11,639 Speaker 2: I think okay See will go dul big more because 349 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,840 I still think there's a risk that the Thunder that 350 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,279 I'm gonna mess up so many different teams in players' 351 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:19,320 names and say things wrong. I guarantee I already have. 352 00:16:19,639 --> 00:16:22,039 But I think they're that as a way to like 353 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:25,960 head off maybe just losing on the glass against against 354 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:28,039 the Wolves, because the Wolves are just big, long, athletic, 355 00:16:28,159 --> 00:16:31,080 Like I think you probably need to meet size with size. 356 00:16:30,679 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: And I think that's right, And if you're Minnesota it 357 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:35,360 would be the same question. But it's always kind of 358 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:37,519 it's never just gonna be or very rare. It's gonna 359 00:16:37,519 --> 00:16:39,759 be nas reed and then no Randall, no go bear. 360 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, fascinating into. 361 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:45,399 Speaker 1: How if the Thunder. I think that is best for 362 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:47,559 the Thunder, but it does sort of play into if 363 00:16:47,559 --> 00:16:49,559 they do that, I think it will make it harder 364 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:52,120 for them. I don't Their defense is crazy, so I 365 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:54,200 shouldn't say that. But I think it's better for Minnesota 366 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:56,919 that way too, because I think it diminishes the likely 367 00:16:57,039 --> 00:16:59,440 that Julius Randall's offense becomes super limiting. 368 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree with that. 369 00:17:01,039 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 1: We're ready for some storylines. 370 00:17:02,519 --> 00:17:07,079 Speaker 2: Yes, please give me one grant. All right, So continuing 371 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:10,599 with the ant like giant slayer thing like this would 372 00:17:10,599 --> 00:17:14,599 be a very different but like very meaningful addition to 373 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:17,599 like here comes the face of the league, because I 374 00:17:17,599 --> 00:17:21,319 do think Minnesota is gonna be underdogs. I haven't seen 375 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:23,480 the Lions. I just I mean, I would be shocked 376 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:25,480 if the Wolves, we were favored. 377 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:28,880 Speaker 1: Played a month ago. By the way, right, it's. 378 00:17:28,759 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 2: Been a long time. So this is you've taken down 379 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:37,319 you know, name your star of this previous generation in succession. 380 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,640 Now it's this team that's like build as maybe the 381 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:43,559 best era adjusted defense of all time? Like, what do 382 00:17:43,599 --> 00:17:46,279 you got for this one? And if if he performs 383 00:17:46,279 --> 00:17:49,759 well offensively and that's why the Wolves win, it's just like, well, 384 00:17:49,799 --> 00:17:53,039 now what else? What the answer to what else does 385 00:17:53,079 --> 00:17:54,440 he have to do? Is you finish it off in 386 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:57,359 the finals. But like that would be we would have 387 00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:01,480 to like really readjust where we think Edwards is in 388 00:18:01,519 --> 00:18:04,759 the hierarchy if if he's the reason that they also 389 00:18:04,839 --> 00:18:06,960 just get through this series against this defense. So I'm 390 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:08,680 excited for that to maybe take shape. 391 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, a lot of the whole well how good can 392 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:12,640 the offense be? Was just built around and even if 393 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:14,079 it's not elite, it's like, well it got you to 394 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:15,279 me final. 395 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:17,599 Speaker 2: It beat the best defense ever. I guess it was 396 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:18,240 good enough. 397 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:20,839 Speaker 1: So I have three storylines that I'll go through in 398 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:23,240 quick succession. And these are fun because it allows us 399 00:18:23,279 --> 00:18:25,680 to just go after the low hanging fruit, the one 400 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:28,440 you mentioned. Yeah, of course I'll stick with Anthony Edwards 401 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:30,799 and say I don't like you don't say this about 402 00:18:30,839 --> 00:18:33,480 Shay and then like it's just not like Jokic being 403 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:35,599 a big man. It's not something you're gonna it's not 404 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:37,960 something you would say about him, like when you're going 405 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:40,319 through Superstars now, so doesn't feel like we don't have 406 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:42,519 the conversation of this is a star that would say no, 407 00:18:42,599 --> 00:18:45,039 I want to check this guy in crunch time and 408 00:18:45,079 --> 00:18:47,839 Anthony Edwards, I feel like, will not bey on shake 409 00:18:47,839 --> 00:18:50,160 gilches Alexander a lot of the time, but will he 410 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:52,680 guard him in like the moments that matter. 411 00:18:53,279 --> 00:18:56,599 Speaker 2: I don't know about the Yeah, like if you're thinking 412 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:01,359 thunderneath a bucket, it's the last possession, Like I don't know. 413 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:02,440 I think you probably just. 414 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 1: Going to be the default and maybe even that's the 415 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,279 by the way, that's the other storyline Nikkeil Alexander Walker 416 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:12,039 versus Shay Gilders Alexander. I need the Shay stopper, Yeah, 417 00:19:12,079 --> 00:19:14,799 the Shae stopper. So I know we'll see naw on him, 418 00:19:14,799 --> 00:19:16,440 will see Jane. I like, I just want to see 419 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:18,480 Anthony Edwards versus Shake Gilda Alexander. 420 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 2: What I'm really sure of, uh and excited by is 421 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:25,839 there will be possession like super high tension possessions where 422 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:28,200 Edwards is matched up with Shay and you know he's 423 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:30,599 gonna be like deep in a stance like they're gonna 424 00:19:30,599 --> 00:19:32,720 have zoomed in looks on his face where he's just 425 00:19:32,759 --> 00:19:37,359 like hyper intense. It will happen, definitely, and it'll be 426 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:40,119 really exciting. The crowd will definitely like notice it and 427 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:42,920 like get pretty buzzy. I bet I hope, I hope. 428 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:45,359 I hope it happens late in the games. I hope 429 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:47,440 we see clutch possessions with those two. 430 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:52,119 Speaker 1: Uh, the other two I have this one's like we're 431 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:54,599 already here. So it's not that whoever wins this does it. 432 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,640 But like the the era is changing in the NBA 433 00:19:57,640 --> 00:19:59,240 at this point, but like this is the series that 434 00:19:59,559 --> 00:20:03,039 signals passing of the torch Rich Anthony Edwards Shake in 435 00:20:03,079 --> 00:20:05,559 the West anyway, Shake gives Alexander, Like these are the 436 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:08,559 newer age stars and like Shay Gills, Alexander's been there 437 00:20:08,599 --> 00:20:10,319 for a minute. So it was Anthony Edwards, but we're 438 00:20:10,319 --> 00:20:12,880 so just conditioned to seeing Oh, like even Luca is 439 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,039 only twenty five or whatever, but yeah, he's had these 440 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:18,400 killer playoff games and he's mentioned when it alongside the 441 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:21,319 old heads like Kevin Durant and Steph Curry and Lebron James. 442 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:23,799 Now he's teammates with one of them. Like this is 443 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,759 just this is new, Like this is just like this, 444 00:20:26,759 --> 00:20:29,000 this proves it, Like this is the I mean, it 445 00:20:29,079 --> 00:20:30,799 was going to happen, but it's like, no, we're here, 446 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,359 like the Warriors are gone, the Lakers are gone. Neither 447 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:35,880 of us really expected them to be here anyway, but like, no, 448 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:37,960 this happened. Is here, not even jokicch is here. The 449 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:40,799 thunder took them down while being less than perfect. Kudos 450 00:20:40,799 --> 00:20:43,319 to Denver, of course. That's like I don't want to 451 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,799 say I appreciate all high level basketball and all the storylines, 452 00:20:46,839 --> 00:20:49,319 but it's is it surreals like it feels a little 453 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:51,920 just like oh, like this is it just feels like 454 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:52,920 a landmark moment. 455 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:55,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, right, because Aunt or Shay will be in the 456 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,880 finals like that's and it's not like you don't and 457 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,319 that would feel kind of the same, I think, Whereas 458 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:05,240 if it were uh Jokic or Aunt, it would be 459 00:21:05,279 --> 00:21:08,799 like those are two very different me. I always I 460 00:21:08,839 --> 00:21:10,960 want to see like greats be great and I want 461 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:12,799 to see the dynasties go, and I would just be like, 462 00:21:12,839 --> 00:21:15,640 I hope Yokic makes another finals and like for different 463 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:17,480 reasons that I would want to see Ant make it. 464 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:20,400 But these two it's like either way you're getting like 465 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:24,359 just a giant flashing neon sign that like think things 466 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:26,359 done changed, Like we got we got some new we 467 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:28,119 got some new sheriffs in town. I guess. 468 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:30,799 Speaker 1: The other one I like talk about is about how 469 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:33,839 once a Nick, always a Nick players are really just 470 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:36,880 defining the NBA postseason. So we're gonna have take you 471 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:39,680 twenty minutes to get there. Yeah, Isaiah Hartenstein or Julius 472 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,160 rand will be in the NBA finals. Obi Toppin is 473 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:43,880 in the conference finals in the East. 474 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:46,440 Speaker 2: Can the Knicks get it? Will we have a former 475 00:21:46,519 --> 00:21:47,640 Nick champion? No matter what? 476 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:52,759 Speaker 1: Yeah? Won't. Won't we Obi Toppin Isaiah Hartenstein champion? 477 00:21:52,799 --> 00:21:56,119 Speaker 2: I guess yeah, that's a what a time? What a time? Dan. 478 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:59,279 Speaker 1: Here's my actual main storyline. It's it's the cookie cutter 479 00:21:59,319 --> 00:22:00,680 one that we have to add is just kind of 480 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:04,079 assessing the stakes, like which team would you expect to 481 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:09,079 react more towards a loss here? And it's it's interesting. 482 00:22:09,279 --> 00:22:11,079 It's not Oklahoma City. I think that they could have 483 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:13,039 lost the Denver series and Sam Presti would have been like, 484 00:22:13,079 --> 00:22:16,200 we're not trading every pick to get you, honest or something. 485 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:19,920 The Wolves are interesting because of the financial crunch because 486 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:23,359 of the ownership change. But they've lost ownership at least 487 00:22:23,519 --> 00:22:26,160 has lost cover to play the financial like you could 488 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:28,720 play it. Fans aren't gonna bide in the size, like 489 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:32,559 the Wolves aren't better off without Julius Randal at this point, right, Yeah, 490 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:34,720 very clear, And like that's kind of the other storyline 491 00:22:34,759 --> 00:22:37,599 is they made that was a controversial trade, not for 492 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:40,960 the Knicks, for the Wolves, and now they're here, and 493 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:43,839 so are they gonna They've ripped reaped the fruits of 494 00:22:43,839 --> 00:22:45,400 it so far, but is it gonna get them to 495 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:47,480 the finals? And if it doesn't, what does that mean? 496 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:51,240 How do they look at investing in Nasria, Julius Random, Kae, 497 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:54,400 Alexander Walker specifically, I think ideally, if you're a Wolves fan, 498 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:57,799 I think you root for Randall and reed to opt 499 00:22:57,839 --> 00:23:01,200 in and then extend off those numbers, or you're rooting 500 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,359 for them to opt out and sign longer deals in 501 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:06,759 Randall's case that are worth substantially less on an average 502 00:23:06,759 --> 00:23:09,000 annual basis. Because I don't think reads it about fifteen 503 00:23:09,039 --> 00:23:11,720 million next year. I don't think he's coming in lower 504 00:23:11,759 --> 00:23:12,039 than that. 505 00:23:13,079 --> 00:23:15,519 Speaker 2: I wouldn't think, so. I think you're right that the 506 00:23:15,559 --> 00:23:19,960 Wolves would be the team to react if they were 507 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:22,799 to lose this, but that's almost because they just just 508 00:23:22,839 --> 00:23:25,920 the way that their books are, there's just more opportunity 509 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,359 to react because they have like real decisions and uncertainties 510 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:31,839 just with you guys mentioned all the guys read Randall, 511 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:35,440 et cetera. Whereas the Thunder it would be like, what's 512 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:38,240 our blockbuster trade we're pulling off? You know, like that, 513 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:41,720 And honestly, like, for me, this is something I've kind 514 00:23:41,759 --> 00:23:45,680 of come to feel pretty strongly about in this postseason 515 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:48,640 for some reason. Maybe I'm just like tired of the churn. 516 00:23:49,039 --> 00:23:51,240 But it's like, I don't think either of these teams, 517 00:23:51,319 --> 00:23:56,240 whoever wins, whoever loses, Wolves Thunder, however the loss happens, 518 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:58,039 if it's like a sweep, I don't know, maybe that's 519 00:23:58,079 --> 00:24:00,839 something you think about, but like they're both obviously the 520 00:24:00,839 --> 00:24:03,559 Thunder are like so stupidly good that you almost like 521 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:06,720 if you made them better somehow by through a transaction, 522 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:08,799 it would almost be like accidental, because you like can't 523 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:10,160 there's like no. 524 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:12,960 Speaker 1: There's no shortening their window. It would certainly be right. 525 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:15,519 Speaker 2: It's like che GPT make me a sixty eight win team. 526 00:24:15,559 --> 00:24:18,119 They'd be like impossible. That's as good as a team 527 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:20,759 can be, basically, so there's no changes to be made. 528 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:23,799 The Wolves are a little different, but like the way 529 00:24:23,839 --> 00:24:25,799 they've played. I saw a stet. They're twenty five and 530 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:28,480 five like since at some point in March, and it's like, Okay, 531 00:24:28,519 --> 00:24:29,880 that's the title contender March. 532 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:33,440 Speaker 1: Don't mess it up. It all matters again, Grant, just. 533 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:35,319 Speaker 2: Don't mess it up. In either case, don't mess these 534 00:24:35,319 --> 00:24:35,759 teams up. 535 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:37,839 Speaker 1: I will say I am interested because it kind of 536 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:40,759 already started. I won't not that I'm acknowledging it. I'm 537 00:24:40,759 --> 00:24:42,279 not gonna give it too much credence, but I kind 538 00:24:42,279 --> 00:24:44,799 of saw the should the J Dub Is he really 539 00:24:44,839 --> 00:24:47,440 just a no brainer max extension candidate like start to 540 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:50,599 crop up? The answer is yes, yeah, and especially for 541 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:52,960 the Thunder. I don't mean to invoke this, but the 542 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:56,799 Thunder franchise can't afford to, like, look at what happened 543 00:24:56,799 --> 00:24:58,200 with James Hard And I'm not saying they were gonna 544 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:00,240 trade J Dub, but like, no, you don't. You don't 545 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:02,920 do this again. So I don't think the Thunder think 546 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:05,079 any way. I don't think they're fans or even their 547 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:07,920 media members the one'll calling for, but nationally that started 548 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:09,720 to bubble to the surface. At the surface, I would 549 00:25:09,759 --> 00:25:11,240 just like to pump the brakes, like no Ja dubb 550 00:25:11,319 --> 00:25:15,480 is getting a max extension this summer and that's okay, right, yeah. 551 00:25:16,279 --> 00:25:19,839 Speaker 2: Everyone, it's fine. He's really good. He's not perfect, he's 552 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:23,000 good enough. One other narrative thing for on the thunder 553 00:25:23,039 --> 00:25:25,559 side is, you know, it has to be about the 554 00:25:25,599 --> 00:25:29,279 defense just because of all the hyperbole that's been thrown 555 00:25:29,319 --> 00:25:32,559 around about it all a season. But like I don't know, 556 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:35,440 I you mentioned like the road that they went through 557 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:38,759 to get here. I really feel like this is a 558 00:25:38,839 --> 00:25:43,000 chance for this defense to show that it can, like 559 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:46,640 you know, overwhelm is the word. I think the Thunders 560 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:50,799 defense overwhelms, and I would like to see if that 561 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:54,200 holds true against an opponent that maybe isn't the best 562 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:56,839 offense that they've ever faced or will face, but is 563 00:25:56,920 --> 00:26:01,000 like on the on a similar level just athletically and 564 00:26:01,079 --> 00:26:04,119 like size wise, and it's like, you know, Edwards is 565 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:07,039 as good an athlete as anybody in the league, let 566 00:26:07,079 --> 00:26:09,160 alone on okay, see, and there's just a hint, you know, 567 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:11,680 McDaniels is like can be overwhelming too, and is his 568 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:14,079 own way. Randall just goes went through Draymond Green like 569 00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:17,319 no problem for a whole series. So, like, I'm interested 570 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:20,799 to see if the Thunders defense can look so imposing 571 00:26:20,839 --> 00:26:26,160 and just like just unsolvable against a really big athletic opponent. 572 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:27,400 I think that's that's exciting. 573 00:26:27,519 --> 00:26:29,960 Speaker 1: Are you ready to get to some X factors? Sure, 574 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:32,359 give me which team you want to start with. 575 00:26:33,319 --> 00:26:36,240 Speaker 2: I will go with the I'll go with the Wolves. 576 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:39,119 This is hard because like we're at the stage of 577 00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:42,039 the playoffs where there are no real deep cuts, I 578 00:26:42,079 --> 00:26:43,559 don't think, because like. 579 00:26:43,599 --> 00:26:46,559 Speaker 1: The have like ten guys basically average on least fifteen 580 00:26:46,559 --> 00:26:48,920 minutes a game or something, and they have eight or 581 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:50,640 nine whatever it is. It's up there. Sure. 582 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:53,240 Speaker 2: So I'm just looking at the graphic now for anybody 583 00:26:53,279 --> 00:26:55,680 that's watching on YouTube, I could I have an idea 584 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:58,680 where you're leaning for the Thunder, But like so for 585 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:01,279 the Wolves, I'm gonna go with Randal. And that has 586 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:03,720 more to do with the fact that, like all of 587 00:27:03,759 --> 00:27:05,599 my priors are on Randall, or that he is not 588 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:08,319 a winning player and he comes up the offense and 589 00:27:08,359 --> 00:27:10,279 he does all this stuff, and like the reason I 590 00:27:10,279 --> 00:27:12,519 have that opinion is because it was a fair assessment 591 00:27:12,559 --> 00:27:14,839 of his career for most of it and then he's 592 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:19,440 been but he's also been undeniably awesome in this postseason 593 00:27:19,559 --> 00:27:22,200 and was a huge reason that the Wolves got through 594 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:25,640 the Warriors as easily as they did. So, like, that's 595 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:27,839 the definition of an X factor. Even though he's a 596 00:27:27,839 --> 00:27:30,160 great player, has made all NBA teams, but it's like, 597 00:27:30,559 --> 00:27:33,240 I don't know which guy is gonna show up, and 598 00:27:33,319 --> 00:27:35,880 I think that really matters for a Wolves team that 599 00:27:36,279 --> 00:27:39,759 is gonna need that second creator next to Ant against 600 00:27:39,759 --> 00:27:42,200 the defense that's just gonna I think will do well 601 00:27:42,279 --> 00:27:44,119 in making it hard for him. 602 00:27:44,319 --> 00:27:47,000 Speaker 1: I think that's a good pick for Minnesota. I think 603 00:27:47,039 --> 00:27:49,240 I'm gonna go with nas Reed just because I want 604 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:50,599 to see, like, if they have to go to those 605 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:52,680 change of looks in the front court, what does that 606 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:55,519 do their defense overall? What does that do to their rebounding? 607 00:27:55,559 --> 00:27:58,119 I think? And I wonder if so, let's say the 608 00:27:58,119 --> 00:28:00,240 thunder don't even force this, well, I guess they it 609 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:03,000 would still be then forcing this change. But if Minnesota's offense, 610 00:28:03,319 --> 00:28:05,759 which I still just don't trust, Like, dude, you trust 611 00:28:05,759 --> 00:28:08,400 their defense more in their offense right, Like, that's yeah. 612 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:10,599 Speaker 2: The offense is just you mentioned it. The turnovers and 613 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:12,880 the three point variants is just like it's baked in. 614 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:15,000 That is just part of the Wolves makeup. 615 00:28:15,319 --> 00:28:17,599 Speaker 1: And so like, if you're just struggling against this defense, 616 00:28:17,759 --> 00:28:20,599 if you're trying to tilt Okac in so far as 617 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:23,599 you can even do that, non Asri going to those minutes, 618 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:25,119 what does that look like? And so I see him 619 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:27,799 as kind of that X factor. But I also want 620 00:28:27,799 --> 00:28:30,079 to nominate Dante DiVincenzo because you talk about the three 621 00:28:30,079 --> 00:28:33,359 point variants. That is the only guy on this roster 622 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:36,319 that just bombs threes. Yeah, like, and so you bring 623 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:37,880 him in and that could if you're having a rough 624 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:41,359 offensive night, or if Okac is winning the possession battle, 625 00:28:41,519 --> 00:28:44,119 Dante Devincenzo can single handed to keep you in games 626 00:28:44,119 --> 00:28:45,920 because of the way that he when he's on a heater. 627 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 2: If he gives you like the five of nine or 628 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:50,880 the five of eight night, and you're just like that, 629 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:53,519 that's a game the Wolves gotta win because because you know, 630 00:28:53,559 --> 00:28:55,839 he can make a huge difference in a short stint 631 00:28:56,319 --> 00:28:56,960 for OKC. 632 00:28:57,559 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 1: I ultimately thought I was Galaxy branding it by picking 633 00:29:00,039 --> 00:29:03,200 Cason Wallace, who was just like you ever watched him 634 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:05,519 and we said this after like what he was a rookie, 635 00:29:05,599 --> 00:29:07,200 But I find myself saying it more than the playoffs, 636 00:29:07,319 --> 00:29:09,680 just like yeah, okay, soy did it again. Remember we 637 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:12,200 weren't thrilled about like that Case and Wallace trade down 638 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:12,799 that they did. 639 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:16,799 Speaker 2: And we likely right and the on. 640 00:29:16,799 --> 00:29:18,319 Speaker 1: Ball speed for him. But I was gonna pick him 641 00:29:18,359 --> 00:29:20,440 because I think that they might throw him on Randall 642 00:29:20,799 --> 00:29:23,559 a bunch of this year, just because you want to 643 00:29:23,559 --> 00:29:26,079 insulate chet, especially if it's like a one big thing, 644 00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:28,400 and then like Alex Caruso, will be free to do 645 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:31,160 other stuff. So I was going to pick him, but 646 00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:33,599 I ultimately went with Aaron Wiggins because one, we were 647 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:36,759 both contractually and morally obligated to do so, but also 648 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:39,680 two we just spent a lot of time about talking 649 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:43,519 how Okase's offense did go through these points where they 650 00:29:43,519 --> 00:29:46,559 were struggling a bunch against Denver and even if Jay 651 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:49,720 Dubb is on, like you just need that third guy 652 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:53,119 who can go get a bucket, The only answer to 653 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:55,079 me on this roster is Aaron Wiggins. Like, if you 654 00:29:55,079 --> 00:29:57,400 want shooting, it's Isaiah Joe. And I also find myself 655 00:29:57,440 --> 00:30:00,400 thinking that if I'm Marc Dagno, maybe it's a game 656 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:04,079 by game decision, but I might tether myself to one 657 00:30:04,119 --> 00:30:06,279 of Isaiah Joe or Aeron Wiggins. I know Isaia Joe 658 00:30:06,319 --> 00:30:09,200 wasn't playing like that. The Nugget series wasn't a series 659 00:30:09,279 --> 00:30:11,599 for him. But it's like, don't even eat, Like if 660 00:30:11,799 --> 00:30:14,079 it's Aaron Wiggins getting twenty five minutes a game instead 661 00:30:14,079 --> 00:30:16,279 of like trying to sprinkle in some Isaiah Joe, just 662 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:18,880 lean into that. And so I think because my biggest 663 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:20,839 concern about okay see in this series is what does 664 00:30:20,839 --> 00:30:23,519 the offense look like, especially if Minnesota ends up being 665 00:30:23,559 --> 00:30:25,799 aggressive with Shay or if they just if Jay Dubb's 666 00:30:25,799 --> 00:30:28,640 having a bad night, it's it's gonna be Aaron Wiggins 667 00:30:28,640 --> 00:30:28,880 for me. 668 00:30:29,319 --> 00:30:33,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I think the series will tell Dagnault like 669 00:30:33,279 --> 00:30:36,279 which guy has called for you know, just depending on 670 00:30:36,359 --> 00:30:38,880 how the Wolves are defending, Like do we need spot 671 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:41,559 up shooting and a guaranteed charge drum then we play 672 00:30:41,599 --> 00:30:44,039 Isaiah Joe Or do we need like someone to go 673 00:30:44,079 --> 00:30:47,559 attack the basket because things are getting scrambled, then Jay. 674 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:49,279 Speaker 1: Will to come in and punch somebody or something. 675 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, right, you need to come in and grab people. 676 00:30:53,519 --> 00:30:56,440 So my underthink X factor is just is just Jada, 677 00:30:56,720 --> 00:31:00,759 because like can you can you be the It's it's 678 00:31:00,839 --> 00:31:03,519 the singular question we have about him now, like can 679 00:31:03,559 --> 00:31:05,039 you just be the second scorer? We don't need to 680 00:31:05,039 --> 00:31:07,680 belabor it. We've talked about her all year. He had 681 00:31:07,839 --> 00:31:09,720 was on and off. I think it's fair to say 682 00:31:09,799 --> 00:31:13,400 in the in the Denver series, I think I'm just 683 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:17,720 gonna go Caruso because even he feels like an underthink. 684 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:22,920 But it's just like he changed Game seven, like by 685 00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:25,440 being able to defend Yokich, and I don't want care 686 00:31:25,519 --> 00:31:28,160 to talk about the fouls that were weren't called whatever. 687 00:31:29,079 --> 00:31:31,599 He he is a level of defender that in a 688 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:34,000 certain amount of time can just like wreck a game 689 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:37,440 and like the Thunder over index on those type of guys. 690 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:39,440 But if he can come in and guard Randall, I 691 00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:41,480 don't know, like he prove to me he can't, or 692 00:31:41,519 --> 00:31:43,960 like maybe he is the best guy for Edwards, I 693 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:46,440 don't know, like prove to me that's not true. So 694 00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:49,400 I think how much he plays is really going to 695 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:51,759 be interesting to me. And then who he actually like 696 00:31:51,799 --> 00:31:55,279 who did the Thunder say, like you Okay, we have 697 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:58,359 Alex Caruso. We have this like missile that we can 698 00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:02,000 aim at somebody, Like who's our first target? Right, Like 699 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:04,160 is it just edwards or do you throw them on? 700 00:32:04,279 --> 00:32:07,640 I don't know, I like I think and will he be, Like, 701 00:32:07,759 --> 00:32:10,440 there's no guarantee he's gonna be as impactful as he 702 00:32:10,599 --> 00:32:13,599 was in previous series because like, if Alex Cruso could 703 00:32:13,599 --> 00:32:15,440 do that all the time over large stretches of minutes, 704 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:17,759 he'd be a max player. Like but he right, but 705 00:32:17,839 --> 00:32:20,599 he doesn't, so he's not and that's why he's not getting. 706 00:32:20,359 --> 00:32:22,759 Speaker 1: Freeze and the Thunder offense is off, like that becomes 707 00:32:22,799 --> 00:32:24,000 something that. 708 00:32:24,359 --> 00:32:26,519 Speaker 2: Could he be played off the floor if it's like 709 00:32:26,559 --> 00:32:28,559 we have to play Isaiah Joe because Cruso is not 710 00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:29,640 scoring like we have. 711 00:32:30,559 --> 00:32:33,359 Speaker 1: That's so wild. It's sort of like similar to Rudy Gobert. 712 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:35,200 But it's it's and it's similar too because it's not 713 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:37,359 the defense here, because like Alex Crusso can't be played 714 00:32:37,359 --> 00:32:40,599 off defensively just like Rudy Gobert, but offensively he probably could. 715 00:32:40,799 --> 00:32:42,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean that's that's another key is that if 716 00:32:42,839 --> 00:32:45,839 the Thunder can just run enough and get transition stuff 717 00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:49,160 off the defense. Then it doesn't really matter if Caruso 718 00:32:49,240 --> 00:32:52,119 is not like shooting well from three or whatever, because 719 00:32:52,119 --> 00:32:54,480 they'll just generate points that way. But if the Wolves 720 00:32:54,519 --> 00:32:56,680 defend well and they don't turn it over, then you 721 00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:59,119 are probably gonna need shooting if you're the Thunder. Like 722 00:32:59,160 --> 00:33:02,160 that's a that's a knee that they have. So Crusoe 723 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:03,920 may not be the answer in that hypothetical. 724 00:33:04,119 --> 00:33:06,119 Speaker 1: I will say, I love Alex Caruso on the Thunder, 725 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:08,319 but shame on the rest of the NBA for letting 726 00:33:08,319 --> 00:33:11,599 that happen out ridiculous. 727 00:33:11,079 --> 00:33:13,440 Speaker 2: Talk about overkill the team that needs him least in 728 00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:17,400 the whole world. Grant talk predictions to me, I am 729 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:23,680 gonna go Thunder in seven. Uh, if it's a short series, obviously, 730 00:33:23,759 --> 00:33:25,440 I think I think the Thunder would win it. I 731 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:27,920 don't see the Wolves winning a short series, so I'm 732 00:33:27,960 --> 00:33:30,359 just trying to I think the Thunder it's it's like 733 00:33:30,519 --> 00:33:33,599 six point two games, I think. So I'm just gonna 734 00:33:33,640 --> 00:33:37,720 go seven for the Thunder and give Minnesota like a 735 00:33:38,039 --> 00:33:40,880 like a nice little like hey, acknowledgement, you guys are 736 00:33:40,920 --> 00:33:42,079 are really good. 737 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:44,599 Speaker 1: Right, I'm going Minnesota in seven as well. 738 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:46,799 Speaker 2: I was te Wait, you're going Minnesota in seven? 739 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:50,319 Speaker 1: Sorry? Okay, see in seven. I apologize to it. Honestly, 740 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:52,000 you should just flip what I say because I went 741 00:33:52,119 --> 00:33:54,640 one in three in the second round. I almost went 742 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:56,359 oh and if the Thunder would have lost Game seven, 743 00:33:56,359 --> 00:33:58,200 I would have went oh and four for my two. 744 00:33:58,720 --> 00:33:59,359 Speaker 2: It's fine. 745 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:04,519 Speaker 1: I'm going with seven because the Timberwolves have the stats 746 00:34:04,519 --> 00:34:06,960 have told us all watching them, I feel this is 747 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:08,559 one of the thing where the numbers don't align with 748 00:34:08,599 --> 00:34:10,519 the eye tests and it actually hurts the team. Where's 749 00:34:10,760 --> 00:34:13,800 the numbers say they're better than the eye test does. 750 00:34:14,039 --> 00:34:16,000 But it's like they got up for elite teams. They're 751 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:17,639 now on this tear for the past like two and 752 00:34:17,639 --> 00:34:19,920 a half months, whatever it is. So I could they 753 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:21,800 win this series? Sure, I'm tempted to think that the 754 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:23,800 Thunder could end it in five or six because of 755 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:27,239 the talent and versatility alone. But like relative to what 756 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:30,440 we come to expect from playoff rotations, both of these 757 00:34:30,440 --> 00:34:32,760 teams are deep. Both of them can be versatile and 758 00:34:32,840 --> 00:34:36,000 playing a bunch of different ways. I'm excited. I'm hoping 759 00:34:36,039 --> 00:34:38,000 this series goes to the difference because we just spent 760 00:34:38,079 --> 00:34:40,760 over thirty minutes talking about it, and that wasn't the plan. 761 00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:45,679 Like it's just so fascinating from a matchup and stylistic perspective. 762 00:34:45,719 --> 00:34:47,920 Excuse me, I can't talk, but yeah, I'm gonna go 763 00:34:48,039 --> 00:34:52,199 Thunder in seven. It wouldn't shock me though, like you could. 764 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:54,199 That's the thing about If you told me Thunder in five, 765 00:34:54,320 --> 00:34:55,679 I'd be like, yeah, but like you tell me the 766 00:34:55,920 --> 00:34:58,079 Wolves won this yeraries, I'd also be like, okay, yeah, 767 00:34:58,239 --> 00:35:00,719 like you very rarely, I would have been legitimate and 768 00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:02,320 I was wrong about this. If you were told me 769 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:04,719 the Nuggets were gonna beat the Thunder, I would have 770 00:35:04,719 --> 00:35:07,239 been legitimately surprised by the end of that series. No, 771 00:35:07,480 --> 00:35:09,840 like that was this one you could talk me into, 772 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:12,679 like basically, like with the Thunder's own variants, if you 773 00:35:12,679 --> 00:35:14,239 told me it was like Wolves in five or six, 774 00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:17,280 I'd give pushback, but I'd be like, you know, like 775 00:35:17,519 --> 00:35:19,559 I came out of that Denver series feeling both better 776 00:35:19,599 --> 00:35:20,719 and worse about the Thunder. 777 00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:23,039 Speaker 2: So I agree, Yeah, I agree. 778 00:35:23,159 --> 00:35:26,559 Speaker 1: We're here to talk about the Eastern Conference Finals between 779 00:35:26,719 --> 00:35:30,159 the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks. Neither team 780 00:35:30,719 --> 00:35:33,440 do either of us have any allegiance to luckily. So 781 00:35:33,519 --> 00:35:36,880 this is gonna be a completely unbiased podcast or segment, 782 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:39,719 mini pod whatever. Primer, Grant, how do you feel about 783 00:35:39,719 --> 00:35:40,800 this series before we dive in. 784 00:35:41,239 --> 00:35:43,480 Speaker 2: I just wish we had two teams with a little 785 00:35:43,480 --> 00:35:46,280 more history between them, like maybe some that like were 786 00:35:46,360 --> 00:35:50,719 incredibly formative to my basketball youth. Just too bad that 787 00:35:50,760 --> 00:35:52,039 it's only the Knicks and Pacers. 788 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:54,239 Speaker 1: So when the Knicks went up three to one on 789 00:35:54,280 --> 00:35:56,840 the Celtics, I think it's I don't know what Keshawn 790 00:35:56,920 --> 00:35:58,920 Johnson's on is if Fox is at ESPN, Like, I'm 791 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:01,440 just not consuming those He had this segment where he 792 00:36:01,480 --> 00:36:04,719 was talking about how the Pacers will be intimidated to 793 00:36:04,840 --> 00:36:06,840 win a Game seven at Madison Square Garden if it 794 00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:10,400 comes to that, and so one, I was like, let's 795 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:12,280 not like they haven't won the series yet, and then 796 00:36:12,280 --> 00:36:13,920 they went on to get trucked in Game five and 797 00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:16,360 so like they drinked it. But the other thing was, 798 00:36:16,639 --> 00:36:18,199 and I know the Knicks were banged up, and there 799 00:36:18,199 --> 00:36:20,639 are people that got mad at me on social media 800 00:36:20,679 --> 00:36:22,960 for pointing this out. They already won a Game seven 801 00:36:23,159 --> 00:36:25,800 at MSG and so it's not about I'm not saying 802 00:36:26,159 --> 00:36:29,440 that the Pacers are going to like annihilate the Knicks, 803 00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:32,840 but they're not going to be intimidated. Right, Hey, there's 804 00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:34,840 a place for like that. That's why we do the 805 00:36:34,880 --> 00:36:37,039 storyline part of this. So for anyone who's new, some 806 00:36:37,079 --> 00:36:40,920 tactical questions are storylines, X factors, predictions. But I was 807 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:43,679 just shocked at and I look, I put my fandom 808 00:36:43,679 --> 00:36:45,760 hat on from time to time too, Like there's just 809 00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:47,920 a level of a rationality that even when I was 810 00:36:48,320 --> 00:36:51,320 super nix pilled, that I don't think I ever displayed. 811 00:36:51,360 --> 00:36:53,920 And it was just like, and you're being sensitive because 812 00:36:53,960 --> 00:36:55,760 you're responding to us, and it's like, well, I'm trying 813 00:36:55,800 --> 00:36:57,320 to have a discussion and you're just saying that I'm 814 00:36:57,360 --> 00:37:01,239 sensitive to you disagreeing. So it was it's just that's 815 00:37:01,280 --> 00:37:03,840 that type of series. These teams have histories from the nineties. 816 00:37:04,599 --> 00:37:07,639 I really hope Larry Johnson's in attendance for every single game, 817 00:37:07,840 --> 00:37:09,239 and I just want them to play the four point 818 00:37:09,320 --> 00:37:10,480 play over and over again. 819 00:37:11,760 --> 00:37:14,079 Speaker 2: Well, just let's get into it, because this one is 820 00:37:14,159 --> 00:37:14,880 this one's ripe. 821 00:37:15,079 --> 00:37:18,719 Speaker 1: So let's begin, as always with our tactical questions. Grant, 822 00:37:18,760 --> 00:37:21,480 I will let you begin with whichever side of the offense, 823 00:37:21,519 --> 00:37:22,039 you would like. 824 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:25,320 Speaker 2: I'll, I guess get like a lot of these they 825 00:37:25,440 --> 00:37:28,159 kind of have a half one foot on one team 826 00:37:28,199 --> 00:37:32,320 and one and the other. So from Indies side, it's 827 00:37:32,559 --> 00:37:38,320 very clear that the Pacers can become sort of unmanageable 828 00:37:38,400 --> 00:37:40,880 if they are able to run and get the pace going. 829 00:37:40,920 --> 00:37:43,079 That's both as a transition team, but they you know, 830 00:37:43,119 --> 00:37:45,760 they apply a lot of pressure on defense and they 831 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:48,639 play quickly on offense, make quick decisions, get the ball moving, 832 00:37:48,679 --> 00:37:52,119 all that stuff. It's just like it's almost like ridiculous 833 00:37:52,159 --> 00:37:54,440 that they are the Pacers and pace matters so much 834 00:37:54,440 --> 00:37:57,480 for them just in general. But like the sacrifice is 835 00:37:59,239 --> 00:38:02,960 you're gonna you can't really control the boards if you're 836 00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:06,440 always running, and like that's the goal. So are they 837 00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:10,559 gonna be able defensively to keep the Knicks from getting 838 00:38:10,840 --> 00:38:13,840 three four cracks at it on the offensive glass? And 839 00:38:13,880 --> 00:38:18,119 that's very Mitchell Robinson specific. But I just Indy wants 840 00:38:18,159 --> 00:38:20,920 to play a certain way, and I wonder how easy 841 00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:24,320 that's gonna be if you're also being sort of mindful, 842 00:38:24,679 --> 00:38:26,079 and you're gonna have to be more than mindful. You're 843 00:38:26,079 --> 00:38:30,360 gonna to be very committed to getting defensive rebounds and 844 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:33,119 just sort of I guess that slows the game down too, 845 00:38:33,280 --> 00:38:35,559 But that's kind of the dynamic I think is most 846 00:38:35,599 --> 00:38:38,519 interesting to me because the Knicks don't mind playing fast either, 847 00:38:38,559 --> 00:38:41,199 but they just have this massive advantage of offensive rebounding 848 00:38:41,239 --> 00:38:42,559 that the Pacers got to figure out. 849 00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:46,679 Speaker 1: And I think what's also interesting about the Pacers offense there, 850 00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:50,519 it's not just about them playing fast in the full court. 851 00:38:50,719 --> 00:38:54,159 Their half court offense is really fast. Yeah, And that's 852 00:38:54,719 --> 00:38:56,719 it sort of bleeds into like one of my tactical 853 00:38:56,760 --> 00:38:59,719 questions because we were talking about matchups and like should 854 00:38:59,719 --> 00:39:01,920 the Knick continue to switch because they were able to 855 00:39:01,960 --> 00:39:04,679 do it against Boston and what Indy does And Kaitln 856 00:39:04,719 --> 00:39:06,760 Cooper's written about these a bunch like dating back to 857 00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:09,199 the days of Buddy Heal, which totically wasn't too long ago. 858 00:39:10,079 --> 00:39:12,719 Like the ghost screens that the Pacers do, the Knicks 859 00:39:12,719 --> 00:39:16,519 are just not wired to defend those very well. And 860 00:39:16,559 --> 00:39:19,960 I think in those situations you would probably prefer to switch, 861 00:39:20,280 --> 00:39:21,960 right or no, am I wrong? And it's I guess 862 00:39:21,960 --> 00:39:24,719 it depends on is it happening like from the strong 863 00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:25,960 side corner, whereas it you. 864 00:39:26,199 --> 00:39:30,599 Speaker 2: Just sorry, you just illustrated why the Pacers are hard 865 00:39:30,599 --> 00:39:32,960 to guard because you're not even being screened or got 866 00:39:32,960 --> 00:39:34,480 screened right now, and you're like, should you switch? 867 00:39:34,519 --> 00:39:34,960 Speaker 1: But should you? 868 00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:37,360 Speaker 2: I don't know, Like maybe if you hesitate, your lost 869 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:38,239 if you're there. 870 00:39:38,039 --> 00:39:41,239 Speaker 1: Right, And so that's what makes them so difficult to defend. 871 00:39:41,440 --> 00:39:45,559 And so I don't the Knicks played. Look, Boston misshots 872 00:39:45,679 --> 00:39:47,719 throughout that series that they know, especially at the beginning 873 00:39:47,719 --> 00:39:49,679 before Jason Tatum got hurt. I don't think the Knicks 874 00:39:49,679 --> 00:39:53,039 got that's playoff basketball. And I think what's very interesting 875 00:39:53,039 --> 00:39:56,159 about this matchup, which I think is why this one 876 00:39:56,239 --> 00:39:58,960 more so than Finch versus Dagnault in Okay se Minnesota, 877 00:39:58,960 --> 00:40:01,639 it's not an insult to them. Like Rick Carlyle will 878 00:40:01,679 --> 00:40:04,559 make these offensive adjustments, and I think that Joe Mizzoula 879 00:40:04,920 --> 00:40:07,320 will make a bunch of defensive adjustments, but he decided 880 00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:09,320 that if the Celtics were gonna go down, they were 881 00:40:09,320 --> 00:40:12,440 gonna go down mostly with their tried and true offensive identity. 882 00:40:12,760 --> 00:40:15,280 The Pacers will just try a bunch of different shit, right, 883 00:40:15,599 --> 00:40:18,320 And can the Knicks defense react to more of that? 884 00:40:18,880 --> 00:40:21,000 I do not know. And I think that gets into 885 00:40:21,039 --> 00:40:22,679 I know you said you want to talk about some 886 00:40:22,760 --> 00:40:25,199 of the specific matchups, I'll throw this question to you. 887 00:40:26,159 --> 00:40:28,559 The caveat that the regular season is the regular season. 888 00:40:29,199 --> 00:40:30,920 The Knicks weren't at full strength all the time. I 889 00:40:30,960 --> 00:40:33,039 think the Pacers weren't at full strength some of those matchups. 890 00:40:33,519 --> 00:40:35,920 The Pacers have not gone the route of we are 891 00:40:35,960 --> 00:40:38,880 gonna put let's say, Miles Turner on Josh Hart. But 892 00:40:38,920 --> 00:40:42,000 I'm just kind of like the Knicks when that is, 893 00:40:42,039 --> 00:40:44,320 when a big is guarding Josh Hart, they have Josh 894 00:40:44,400 --> 00:40:47,239 Hart screen. That means Karl Anthony Towns is not. And 895 00:40:47,320 --> 00:40:50,039 I just view that as a fundamental win for their 896 00:40:50,079 --> 00:40:54,039 defense because, like one Kaitlin Cooper of basketballs Road had 897 00:40:54,079 --> 00:40:55,880 the stats on this, if you look at Karl Anthony 898 00:40:55,920 --> 00:40:58,320 Towns as like points in the half court per one 899 00:40:58,400 --> 00:41:01,159 hundred posessons or whatever it was she used, when he's 900 00:41:01,159 --> 00:41:04,480 guarded by a guard, it drops precipitously from when he's 901 00:41:04,480 --> 00:41:06,360 defended by a big, which is wild. I think it's 902 00:41:06,360 --> 00:41:09,079 a confluence of things. It's it's definitely on Towns, but 903 00:41:09,079 --> 00:41:11,880 the Knicks aren't putting him the ball in these advantageous positions. 904 00:41:11,920 --> 00:41:15,400 And also because he's not an actual advantage creator. The 905 00:41:15,480 --> 00:41:18,519 Knicks have one of those everybody campaign doesn't count, but 906 00:41:18,639 --> 00:41:21,480 cal Bridges doesn't count. This version of Ogianninobe doesn't count. 907 00:41:21,519 --> 00:41:25,159 It's Jeleen Brunton. But like, if you're the Pacers, shouldn't 908 00:41:25,159 --> 00:41:27,480 you go to that well more often? Or are you 909 00:41:27,599 --> 00:41:30,039 kind of thinking no, like we're we're not gonna do that. 910 00:41:30,159 --> 00:41:33,079 Speaker 2: Well, I just wonder, like I guess with with the 911 00:41:33,119 --> 00:41:36,039 exception of like Halliburton, you don't want Haliburton on Brunson. 912 00:41:36,079 --> 00:41:39,280 Everybody's like, oh, he's so good. On tied Jerome, It's like, okay, 913 00:41:39,519 --> 00:41:41,960 let's let's let's walk it back a little bit. You 914 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:45,440 figure so that that's like you're not doing that, But 915 00:41:45,559 --> 00:41:48,840 otherwise do you want to just kind of go straight 916 00:41:48,920 --> 00:41:52,199 up positionally? Like is that actually viable? You know? So, 917 00:41:53,119 --> 00:41:56,480 like I guess it's Nie Smith probably that guards Brunson 918 00:41:56,719 --> 00:41:59,119 or I or or maybe it's n M Hard although 919 00:41:59,159 --> 00:42:00,719 like I think I don't know what the numbers are, 920 00:42:00,760 --> 00:42:02,480 but you certainly in running up to this series have 921 00:42:02,519 --> 00:42:04,960 heard plenty about how Brunson like has no issue with 922 00:42:05,039 --> 00:42:07,519 them hart as good a defender as he is, So 923 00:42:07,639 --> 00:42:09,960 maybe that's Niesmith. But then it's like you just have 924 00:42:10,079 --> 00:42:13,360 Kat on Turner and then you just have like just 925 00:42:13,400 --> 00:42:16,360 go down the line siakam guards, I guess og and 926 00:42:16,400 --> 00:42:18,760 then I guess if it's Niesmyth or em Hard that's 927 00:42:18,800 --> 00:42:22,559 your bridges. Guy, Like, I don't know, Like I think 928 00:42:22,880 --> 00:42:26,159 a lot feels very unsettled about how these teams are 929 00:42:26,199 --> 00:42:28,960 gonna match up because to your point, like the smart 930 00:42:29,000 --> 00:42:31,239 move would seem to be, like, yeah, just put Turner 931 00:42:31,320 --> 00:42:34,360 on Heart for example, because then Heart's not gonna shoot, 932 00:42:34,440 --> 00:42:36,440 and then he can sag off and defend the rim 933 00:42:36,519 --> 00:42:38,320 and Okay, so now he's gonna be involved in the 934 00:42:38,360 --> 00:42:41,039 screening action. Like there's a lot of push and pull 935 00:42:41,199 --> 00:42:46,519 matchup wise that I think even independent really right of 936 00:42:46,599 --> 00:42:48,760 like is it Nie Smith or Emhard that gets the 937 00:42:48,840 --> 00:42:51,519 bruntson assignment because and that's a very threshold issue, like 938 00:42:51,559 --> 00:42:54,800 can either of them slow him down limit him somehow? 939 00:42:55,639 --> 00:42:57,719 But but like I just don't know what the what 940 00:42:57,760 --> 00:43:00,000 the what the matchups are gonna look like in this series, 941 00:43:00,159 --> 00:43:02,400 and I don't feel confident in even like guessing. 942 00:43:02,760 --> 00:43:05,480 Speaker 1: Would you agree if I were the Pacers looking at 943 00:43:05,519 --> 00:43:08,400 the Brunton matchups specifically, I think I would put an 944 00:43:08,559 --> 00:43:11,719 Esmith on him, and it's not necessarily because Brunton has 945 00:43:11,760 --> 00:43:14,400 had success in the past against Nemhart even though he 946 00:43:14,480 --> 00:43:17,960 has but I kind of like the idea of Nemhard 947 00:43:18,039 --> 00:43:21,039 being able because then who does Nemhart gonna guard after that? 948 00:43:21,159 --> 00:43:24,760 And I'm gonna tell you it doesn't matter because he'll 949 00:43:24,800 --> 00:43:27,320 just have the like Michale Bridges are og going at 950 00:43:27,360 --> 00:43:29,840 Nemhart if that's what they go, I mean, or if 951 00:43:29,840 --> 00:43:31,679 you put what if you if you're gonna stick big 952 00:43:31,719 --> 00:43:33,840 to big, you put Nemhart on Josh Hart, then all 953 00:43:33,880 --> 00:43:36,119 of a sudden he's the roamer. Yeah, that's kind of 954 00:43:36,199 --> 00:43:36,880 terrifying to me. 955 00:43:37,039 --> 00:43:38,519 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean he could Yeah, that's. 956 00:43:40,119 --> 00:43:40,360 Speaker 1: Yeah. 957 00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:44,320 Speaker 2: I I mean we okay, let's let's let's hammer it out, 958 00:43:44,360 --> 00:43:48,119 like who actually if it's well, who's your first choice 959 00:43:48,320 --> 00:43:50,760 to put on Josh Hart? 960 00:43:51,159 --> 00:43:52,880 Speaker 1: If I'm the Pacers, you're the Pacers. 961 00:43:53,079 --> 00:43:55,000 Speaker 2: What do you think is gonna work best? Give you 962 00:43:55,039 --> 00:43:57,239 the most options, give you the most advantages. 963 00:43:59,639 --> 00:44:02,719 Speaker 1: I think gets Turner on heart because of the trickle 964 00:44:02,760 --> 00:44:06,480 down effect that has on Karl Anthony Towns' offense so far. 965 00:44:06,760 --> 00:44:09,960 Does that make sense? It's not about like, oh okay, now, 966 00:44:09,960 --> 00:44:12,199 Turner can say I go, oh yeah, that's totally part 967 00:44:12,239 --> 00:44:14,599 of it, or maybe you can even decide. But I 968 00:44:14,599 --> 00:44:17,159 mean Karlnthony Towns had some real success against like when 969 00:44:17,159 --> 00:44:19,400 he was being defended by Biggs against the Pacers this year, 970 00:44:20,519 --> 00:44:22,840 I think it's turner. I love the idea of just 971 00:44:22,880 --> 00:44:25,679 like oh Neie Smith is on Brunton and Andrew Nemhart 972 00:44:25,719 --> 00:44:27,559 is like kind of flying all over the place. That's 973 00:44:27,960 --> 00:44:30,960 tantalizing and you could definitely go to it for stretches, 974 00:44:30,960 --> 00:44:34,079 but I think the goal should be like Jalen Brunson, 975 00:44:34,159 --> 00:44:36,000 for the most part is always gonna find a way. 976 00:44:36,039 --> 00:44:37,480 I don't mean that as a cliche, like he will 977 00:44:37,480 --> 00:44:39,360 get to the foul line if he's not making shots, like, 978 00:44:39,400 --> 00:44:42,519 he will find a way. And it's if you can 979 00:44:42,559 --> 00:44:45,039 take Carl Anthony Towns. He's inconsistent as it is, and 980 00:44:45,079 --> 00:44:47,360 if like if you give him more of a series 981 00:44:47,400 --> 00:44:51,400 that he had like against the Celtics offensively, like that's 982 00:44:51,440 --> 00:44:53,400 a huge win for the Pacers. 983 00:44:53,960 --> 00:44:56,880 Speaker 2: My last tactical thing because you just made me think 984 00:44:56,920 --> 00:44:58,960 of it and now I want to mention it is like, 985 00:44:59,639 --> 00:45:01,400 so it's funny. That's like I think I agree with 986 00:45:01,440 --> 00:45:05,000 you that turner on heart makes sense, But I was 987 00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:07,119 also thinking like, could it just be Haliburton and he 988 00:45:07,199 --> 00:45:09,039 just gets to kind of chill and it's like, well, no, 989 00:45:09,159 --> 00:45:11,599 because he's gonna get called into every on ball screen 990 00:45:11,639 --> 00:45:13,320 for Brunston and get switched on to him, and then 991 00:45:13,360 --> 00:45:16,639 Brunson will go at him. So the broader tactical thing 992 00:45:16,719 --> 00:45:19,440 is like what kind of stomach do the Pacers have 993 00:45:19,519 --> 00:45:23,480 for Haliburton getting moved on to Brunson in isolation? Because 994 00:45:23,519 --> 00:45:26,000 you know the Knicks are gonna hunt that. It's just 995 00:45:26,039 --> 00:45:28,480 like how difficult can you make it as Indiana? And 996 00:45:28,519 --> 00:45:32,440 then how much do you trust Haliburton to like withhelp obviously, 997 00:45:32,719 --> 00:45:34,880 but to like hold up for a couple of those 998 00:45:34,960 --> 00:45:37,440 like I don't know like it because you would agree 999 00:45:37,440 --> 00:45:39,559 that the Knicks are gonna look for that, right, Like 1000 00:45:39,639 --> 00:45:42,480 you got to pick at Haliburton however you can, right. 1001 00:45:42,360 --> 00:45:44,199 Speaker 1: But they sometimes I feel like they can get like 1002 00:45:44,239 --> 00:45:47,519 Haliburton's pretty long, and so I feel like sometimes the 1003 00:45:47,599 --> 00:45:50,400 Knicks can get caught up or Brunson specifically, it's like 1004 00:45:50,440 --> 00:45:54,239 it's too mismatch hunting, and like that might play into 1005 00:45:54,239 --> 00:45:56,039 the PACER's hands because the other thing is is that 1006 00:45:56,400 --> 00:46:00,679 if Haliburton ends possessions on Jeleen Brunson, that like there 1007 00:46:00,719 --> 00:46:02,960 could be some cross matching awkwardness then at the other end, 1008 00:46:03,000 --> 00:46:04,960 and if you have because they're I'm sure Haliburton's gonna 1009 00:46:04,960 --> 00:46:06,719 look for Brunton at the other side of the florn 1010 00:46:06,719 --> 00:46:08,639 if you don't even need a ball screen to do it. Yeah, 1011 00:46:08,639 --> 00:46:10,159 that's going to be even better for that. 1012 00:46:10,280 --> 00:46:12,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's really the key is like both of these 1013 00:46:12,400 --> 00:46:14,639 point guards are gonna try to involve the other point 1014 00:46:14,639 --> 00:46:17,079 guard and as many actions as they possibly can on 1015 00:46:17,119 --> 00:46:19,639 both ends because that's just like that's the soft spot 1016 00:46:19,719 --> 00:46:20,840 that that's where you have to go. 1017 00:46:21,320 --> 00:46:24,880 Speaker 1: What do you make of like the big man situation 1018 00:46:25,000 --> 00:46:27,320 in this series? So we know Siakaman Turner play a 1019 00:46:27,320 --> 00:46:30,320 bunch together. If you're the Knicks, does that give you 1020 00:46:31,599 --> 00:46:34,960 more like are you more inclined to then give Mitch 1021 00:46:35,039 --> 00:46:37,719 Robinson and Karl anky Towns, which was a successful bearing 1022 00:46:37,760 --> 00:46:40,559 in the last round run together? Or is it because 1023 00:46:40,599 --> 00:46:43,599 of the nature of those where it's like al Horford's 1024 00:46:43,599 --> 00:46:46,679 older Christos Porsing is like dealing with a major illness 1025 00:46:47,400 --> 00:46:50,039 like Pascal Siakam's almost a guard at points is a 1026 00:46:50,079 --> 00:46:52,280 big and the tear also stretches the floor, so I 1027 00:46:52,320 --> 00:46:55,719 think they just pose there, I would say in net 1028 00:46:55,920 --> 00:46:59,000 right now, especially that version of the Celtics, this front 1029 00:46:59,039 --> 00:47:02,000 court is more dynamic than Boston's. And so does that 1030 00:47:02,039 --> 00:47:04,840 give you like, I mean, we just I'm sure you 1031 00:47:04,880 --> 00:47:07,599 saw the one Mitchell Robinson was fantastic, but the game six, 1032 00:47:07,840 --> 00:47:09,679 can you play like fifteen minutes, but there's that one 1033 00:47:09,679 --> 00:47:12,599 play where he guarded six of the five Celtics. 1034 00:47:12,559 --> 00:47:15,800 Speaker 2: Right right right? Well that so turn Robinson was the 1035 00:47:15,800 --> 00:47:19,480 first guy I thought of as you're talking about like 1036 00:47:19,639 --> 00:47:22,639 the Pacers two front cork guys, is like, I'm not 1037 00:47:22,840 --> 00:47:25,719 super comfortable, like I hope Josh hart Well no, see, 1038 00:47:25,920 --> 00:47:27,119 oh I just did it. I was like, I hope 1039 00:47:27,159 --> 00:47:29,719 Josh Hartson the game. So Mitchell Robinson has somewhere to hide, 1040 00:47:29,840 --> 00:47:32,119 like that would be a guard r ok. 1041 00:47:32,159 --> 00:47:34,880 Speaker 1: If Mitchell Robinson is defending Josh hart I feel like 1042 00:47:34,960 --> 00:47:36,119 that's a win for the Pacers. 1043 00:47:36,199 --> 00:47:38,480 Speaker 2: Then it's then you can fire up the fire tips 1044 00:47:38,559 --> 00:47:41,320 chance because he's lost it. If that's what, no, Like, 1045 00:47:41,440 --> 00:47:44,079 I don't know where Mitchell Robinson goes. And if you 1046 00:47:44,159 --> 00:47:47,039 have Siaka Man Turner on the floor right, because one 1047 00:47:47,159 --> 00:47:49,480 or the other can get him away from the basket, 1048 00:47:49,519 --> 00:47:52,119 and then you're just kind of you lose some of 1049 00:47:52,159 --> 00:47:55,360 your rebounding clout that way. Like, I don't love him 1050 00:47:55,679 --> 00:47:58,320 on either of those guys. Is there of those two? 1051 00:47:59,039 --> 00:48:02,599 I mean, I guess, I guess he guards well if 1052 00:48:02,599 --> 00:48:04,800 it's a one big look, then he just is on Turner, 1053 00:48:04,880 --> 00:48:07,159 I guess. But if if it's Robinson and Kat, what 1054 00:48:07,199 --> 00:48:07,880 do you do with that? 1055 00:48:09,559 --> 00:48:13,159 Speaker 1: I would I'm defaulting to just because them Hard is 1056 00:48:13,159 --> 00:48:15,000 too good on the ball and defaulting to the Turner 1057 00:48:15,039 --> 00:48:17,199 for Mitchell Robinson anyway, And if Turner's gonna end up 1058 00:48:17,199 --> 00:48:19,639 beating you from three, you either suck it up or 1059 00:48:19,639 --> 00:48:21,639 you make adjustments from there, I think, but that would 1060 00:48:21,639 --> 00:48:23,480 be the way to go. But then that leaves you 1061 00:48:23,519 --> 00:48:26,719 with con Anthony Towns on Siakam. I don't, I don't know, 1062 00:48:26,760 --> 00:48:27,079 I don't. 1063 00:48:27,360 --> 00:48:29,800 Speaker 2: I don't love that. I you know what, he just 1064 00:48:29,840 --> 00:48:32,039 fouled him twice as zero saying that. 1065 00:48:33,199 --> 00:48:34,679 Speaker 1: Which makes me think that this could be more of 1066 00:48:34,719 --> 00:48:37,039 a one big series for the Knicks. But I don't know, 1067 00:48:37,400 --> 00:48:39,320 because when Robinson's. 1068 00:48:38,960 --> 00:48:41,960 Speaker 2: So valuable to like the way the Knicks win, right, like, 1069 00:48:42,000 --> 00:48:43,679 doesn't he feel like a key piece. 1070 00:48:43,760 --> 00:48:45,639 Speaker 1: No, I mean there aren't they boarding. I think it's 1071 00:48:45,639 --> 00:48:48,880 like forty percent of their is a stupid number, so 1072 00:48:49,000 --> 00:48:51,079 like by the and that's an advantage because that's another 1073 00:48:51,119 --> 00:48:53,719 sort of tactical question. Is the Knicks are just bad. 1074 00:48:53,800 --> 00:48:56,239 This is true for most defenses, with like the exception 1075 00:48:56,320 --> 00:48:58,599 of the Thunder. I think statistically their defense has been 1076 00:48:58,639 --> 00:49:02,119 better after they've missed shots on offense, which is weird. 1077 00:49:02,960 --> 00:49:04,320 I might be wrong there, but I'm pretty sure. I 1078 00:49:04,360 --> 00:49:05,880 remember looking at I was like, there's no way and 1079 00:49:05,880 --> 00:49:07,239 minu as you look at the Thunder person, I was like, 1080 00:49:07,320 --> 00:49:09,360 that probably just makes a little bit sense. But the 1081 00:49:09,400 --> 00:49:11,679 thing with the Knicks is they need to get their 1082 00:49:11,719 --> 00:49:14,840 defense set. And I almost look at like Karl Anthony 1083 00:49:14,840 --> 00:49:17,119 Town's camp be an X factor because he's too prominent, 1084 00:49:17,440 --> 00:49:20,760 but the things he does that frustrate I think to 1085 00:49:20,920 --> 00:49:25,119 ever live in fuck out of any basketball fan, is 1086 00:49:25,280 --> 00:49:27,920 he misses a three and then we'll like lolly gag 1087 00:49:27,960 --> 00:49:30,079 back in tra and he's his legs are just so long. 1088 00:49:30,119 --> 00:49:32,559 It just it looks like he's struggling to run all 1089 00:49:32,599 --> 00:49:32,960 the time. 1090 00:49:33,039 --> 00:49:35,239 Speaker 2: He's an awkward runner. Can we can call it out? 1091 00:49:35,519 --> 00:49:38,719 Speaker 1: And which that's like a physiological thing he's not responsible 1092 00:49:38,719 --> 00:49:40,960 for when he misses a shot at the rim or 1093 00:49:41,039 --> 00:49:43,400 even makes one and like is complaining about a non 1094 00:49:43,440 --> 00:49:45,079 call or is just slow to get back up the floor. 1095 00:49:45,360 --> 00:49:47,840 The Pacers are gonna push after a make and so 1096 00:49:48,039 --> 00:49:50,280 like you just I'm almost wondering, like this, Karl Anthony 1097 00:49:50,280 --> 00:49:52,159 Towns need to shoot a ton of threes just so 1098 00:49:52,199 --> 00:49:54,760 he's already halfway back by the time the Pacers get 1099 00:49:54,760 --> 00:49:57,000 the ball, and we just know Carlic Towns doesn't really 1100 00:49:57,079 --> 00:49:59,880 like or is it wired to shoot a ton of threes. 1101 00:50:00,079 --> 00:50:02,079 But that's why I think the due a big setup 1102 00:50:02,119 --> 00:50:04,320 has to be important because I think with Mitchell Robinson 1103 00:50:04,440 --> 00:50:07,840 on the court, as counterintuitive as it sounds offensively, I 1104 00:50:07,880 --> 00:50:10,239 think he still gives you the best chance to go 1105 00:50:10,360 --> 00:50:12,639 up against Indy as a set defense. 1106 00:50:12,760 --> 00:50:16,199 Speaker 2: Yep, I think he's a huge I'll just I'll jump 1107 00:50:16,239 --> 00:50:17,840 on it and we can circle back around. He's just 1108 00:50:18,039 --> 00:50:20,440 Robinson is the X factor, like maybe not just for 1109 00:50:20,440 --> 00:50:23,039 the Knicks, but like for the series, like can he 1110 00:50:23,159 --> 00:50:26,360 play at all? And like also does he just swing 1111 00:50:26,400 --> 00:50:28,760 the series? If he like it's it's all on the table. 1112 00:50:28,920 --> 00:50:30,559 Speaker 1: So why would you be worried about him not being 1113 00:50:30,599 --> 00:50:31,719 able to play, I guess is my court. 1114 00:50:31,800 --> 00:50:34,760 Speaker 2: It's just if Indy is too fast, is too spaced out, 1115 00:50:35,079 --> 00:50:38,760 it's just like he he can't leverage his advantages on 1116 00:50:38,800 --> 00:50:42,119 the boards or defensively because he's just when he's tired 1117 00:50:42,239 --> 00:50:44,840 and or I mean to say nothing of like maybe 1118 00:50:44,880 --> 00:50:46,920 they foul him and then that's one reason he can't 1119 00:50:46,920 --> 00:50:48,880 play well. Who knows what percentage he's going to be 1120 00:50:48,880 --> 00:50:51,639 shooting on those hack of free throws, but like it 1121 00:50:52,079 --> 00:50:56,719 just can't. I can see a scenario where the Pacers 1122 00:50:56,880 --> 00:50:59,960 have their way with like just like determining the turn 1123 00:51:00,039 --> 00:51:02,320 ter of engagement, Like we're gonna play at this pace, 1124 00:51:02,679 --> 00:51:05,800 We're gonna spread you out this much, and you just 1125 00:51:05,880 --> 00:51:08,079 are not gonna be able to be like the big 1126 00:51:08,159 --> 00:51:11,760 hulking figure that controls the boards and and like is 1127 00:51:12,119 --> 00:51:14,119 you know, defending the rim like we just we're gonna 1128 00:51:14,119 --> 00:51:16,360 be moving too fast and too much for that to happen. 1129 00:51:16,559 --> 00:51:19,960 Or does is he the one that kind of dictates, 1130 00:51:20,039 --> 00:51:23,320 like you know, the the tone or the pace of 1131 00:51:23,360 --> 00:51:25,519 the game, or like forces Indiana to have to go 1132 00:51:25,599 --> 00:51:27,599 hit the boards instead of run like that kind of thing. 1133 00:51:27,679 --> 00:51:30,119 Like I just I keep circling back to that as like, 1134 00:51:30,360 --> 00:51:32,599 maybe that's overthinking it because it's like it's Mitchell Robinson. 1135 00:51:32,679 --> 00:51:35,280 He's like the sixth most important Knicks player maybe, but 1136 00:51:35,400 --> 00:51:37,400 like in this series it matters. 1137 00:51:37,800 --> 00:51:40,320 Speaker 1: He was the second most important Knicks player last series. 1138 00:51:40,440 --> 00:51:42,239 That's the thing, like it can it can skew that 1139 00:51:42,400 --> 00:51:45,360 much the this isn't This could be an X factor, 1140 00:51:45,400 --> 00:51:47,039 but I don't have a specific name to it. It's 1141 00:51:47,079 --> 00:51:48,519 more of a question to you because I have two 1142 00:51:48,559 --> 00:51:51,280 more notes on the tactical thing. Who needs to if 1143 00:51:51,599 --> 00:51:53,559 If we know that Conty Cows is just going to 1144 00:51:53,599 --> 00:51:56,159 be up and down, which is true of any secondary 1145 00:51:56,199 --> 00:51:58,719 Knicks offensive option, I think it stands to reason he'll 1146 00:51:58,719 --> 00:52:01,199 be even more up and down if the Pacer do decide, hey, 1147 00:52:01,199 --> 00:52:04,079 we're putting Myles Turner on Josh Hart. Who's more important 1148 00:52:04,079 --> 00:52:06,880 to the Knicks offense in this series? McHale Bridges or 1149 00:52:06,880 --> 00:52:07,719 og Ananobi. 1150 00:52:09,199 --> 00:52:13,800 Speaker 2: My gut is a Bridges because I think Anonoby is 1151 00:52:13,800 --> 00:52:15,840 just gonna have Siakam on him, and that's like not 1152 00:52:15,960 --> 00:52:18,559 an advantage matchup, you go at. Although that's fun. Former 1153 00:52:18,599 --> 00:52:21,760 teammates just thought about that storyline. It's storyline. It's not 1154 00:52:21,840 --> 00:52:26,760 even in my narratives file because it seems like I 1155 00:52:26,800 --> 00:52:29,320 guess if Nie Smith is on Bridges, then it's kind 1156 00:52:29,360 --> 00:52:31,039 of like, well, he's got a good defender on him too. 1157 00:52:31,079 --> 00:52:32,880 But if it's nim Hard, there's just like he's got 1158 00:52:32,880 --> 00:52:35,320 a little more size, a little more length, his spacing 1159 00:52:35,360 --> 00:52:38,079 will matter. It's a close question, though I can tell 1160 00:52:38,079 --> 00:52:40,000 you why you asked it, but I would lean Bridges. 1161 00:52:40,599 --> 00:52:43,519 Speaker 1: I think that's right in part because Bridges is and 1162 00:52:43,559 --> 00:52:45,599 I don't necessarily love this all the time because he's 1163 00:52:45,639 --> 00:52:48,280 always going away from the basket after he goes downhill. 1164 00:52:48,679 --> 00:52:51,840 But og Ananoby is if he's taking those types of shots, 1165 00:52:52,159 --> 00:52:54,199 you know it's a win for the Pacers defense, Whereas 1166 00:52:54,199 --> 00:52:57,400 if Bridges is taking them, is the outcome always great? No, 1167 00:52:57,480 --> 00:52:59,440 but it's by design and you feel more comform with 1168 00:52:59,519 --> 00:53:02,000 him doing it. And as Lebron and Steve Nash just 1169 00:53:02,039 --> 00:53:04,119 talked about, like the mid range game, like it becomes 1170 00:53:04,280 --> 00:53:06,679 really important you can drive and pull up. That's a 1171 00:53:06,679 --> 00:53:08,480 really important skill in the playoffs. 1172 00:53:08,599 --> 00:53:11,639 Speaker 2: Remember us analyzing a lot of suns postseason stuff a 1173 00:53:11,679 --> 00:53:13,000 couple of years ago, and it's like, what if the 1174 00:53:13,000 --> 00:53:16,360 mid range stuff is just like that's that's gonna work. 1175 00:53:16,559 --> 00:53:19,639 Math matters, Yes, right the math bottom. 1176 00:53:19,840 --> 00:53:22,119 Speaker 1: By the way, it might matter here because Indy is 1177 00:53:22,199 --> 00:53:24,599 generally like when you're just looking at and this is 1178 00:53:24,679 --> 00:53:26,440 part of the pace at which they play, but when 1179 00:53:26,440 --> 00:53:28,719 you're looking at them being able to win the possession battle. 1180 00:53:29,000 --> 00:53:31,840 So there, they've taken eight hundred and sixty shots in 1181 00:53:31,920 --> 00:53:36,920 the playoffs so far and their opponents have taken Oh wow, 1182 00:53:36,960 --> 00:53:39,719 they've actually lost the shot attempt battle. But if Indy's 1183 00:53:39,719 --> 00:53:42,519 gonna win the possession battle, that brings into question, like 1184 00:53:42,559 --> 00:53:45,199 the Knicks's secondary offense is Okay, you're gonna need Towns 1185 00:53:45,199 --> 00:53:47,840 to shoot more threes, or you're gonna need more consistency. 1186 00:53:47,840 --> 00:53:49,920 Because doesn't it always this is anecdotal, I want to 1187 00:53:49,920 --> 00:53:52,800 make it clear. Does it always feel like the Knicks 1188 00:53:52,920 --> 00:53:56,840 never have three or four of their four best offensive 1189 00:53:56,840 --> 00:54:00,119 players going at once. It's always Jalen Brunson plus may 1190 00:54:00,159 --> 00:54:00,880 be one guy. 1191 00:54:01,159 --> 00:54:03,760 Speaker 2: If that, yeah, well, I think there's just not enough room. 1192 00:54:04,000 --> 00:54:06,559 The way they play offense. It's just like you're gonna 1193 00:54:06,559 --> 00:54:09,079 get one guy maybe if you're lucky, but like Brunson 1194 00:54:09,119 --> 00:54:10,679 has the ball so much that it's like there's just 1195 00:54:10,719 --> 00:54:12,559 not enough, not enough to go around. 1196 00:54:12,920 --> 00:54:15,599 Speaker 1: Natural segue into my final tactical question, Thank you, Grant. 1197 00:54:16,000 --> 00:54:18,199 How much do we see Jalen Brunson off the ball 1198 00:54:18,280 --> 00:54:20,840 this series? And I'm asking that because one, we did 1199 00:54:20,840 --> 00:54:23,440 see it against the Celtics, but two and I do 1200 00:54:23,480 --> 00:54:25,119 think that's a nice little wrinkle to just have in 1201 00:54:25,199 --> 00:54:28,519 your offense. But also the Pacers are just gonna defend 1202 00:54:28,519 --> 00:54:30,480 for a full ninety four feet a lot of the time, 1203 00:54:30,880 --> 00:54:35,079 and that's really taxing on Brunson to go through. Josh 1204 00:54:35,159 --> 00:54:37,679 Hart's basically their second point guard. When you're looking at 1205 00:54:37,679 --> 00:54:39,880 the like, I know campaign and Douce McBride exists, but 1206 00:54:40,400 --> 00:54:42,119 if you look at having him bring up the ball 1207 00:54:42,199 --> 00:54:44,199 more or is it because the Pacers are giving you 1208 00:54:44,239 --> 00:54:46,559 so much pressure? It's not. We'd like to give Jalen 1209 00:54:46,599 --> 00:54:49,599 Brunton a different look and some you know, in game 1210 00:54:49,639 --> 00:54:51,679 breaks so to speak, that don't evolve going to the bench. 1211 00:54:51,880 --> 00:54:53,960 But is that just not an option against the pressure 1212 00:54:54,000 --> 00:54:56,079 that Indy will be able to bring or will bring. 1213 00:54:56,360 --> 00:54:58,599 Speaker 2: I kind of well, I kind of think it's not 1214 00:54:58,719 --> 00:55:02,039 an option to mess around if you're the Knicks with 1215 00:55:02,280 --> 00:55:04,920 having someone else bring it up if Brunson's on the floor, 1216 00:55:04,960 --> 00:55:07,360 with some exceptions, just because like he's gonna have to 1217 00:55:07,360 --> 00:55:09,079 work his ass off to go get it in the 1218 00:55:09,119 --> 00:55:12,000 half court after ten seconds have elapsed because of the pressure. 1219 00:55:12,079 --> 00:55:14,599 And then that just like doesn't feel like a recipe 1220 00:55:14,599 --> 00:55:17,760 for offensive success for the Knicks. Like you know that 1221 00:55:17,840 --> 00:55:20,719 you can see this. You've seen this particular Knicks possession 1222 00:55:20,719 --> 00:55:23,039 a thousand times, and I always talk about it because 1223 00:55:23,039 --> 00:55:25,639 it's like funny whenever it happens. But if Brunson doesn't 1224 00:55:25,679 --> 00:55:28,480 bring it up, like half the possession is devoted to 1225 00:55:28,519 --> 00:55:30,440 him running around trying to get it back so and 1226 00:55:30,480 --> 00:55:33,840 run something. So like I guess maybe if you just 1227 00:55:33,960 --> 00:55:37,599 if you could know that the energy expenditure of bringing 1228 00:55:37,639 --> 00:55:40,440 the ball up against pressure was greater than working to 1229 00:55:40,440 --> 00:55:42,800 get it back in the half court, then okay, don't 1230 00:55:42,840 --> 00:55:44,840 have him bring it up. But like, I don't know 1231 00:55:44,840 --> 00:55:49,239 that there's like unless Indiana is just like not committed 1232 00:55:49,280 --> 00:55:51,400 to this and not conscientious about it and not like 1233 00:55:51,840 --> 00:55:54,360 really disciplined, I don't know that there's gonna be a 1234 00:55:54,360 --> 00:55:56,719 way for Brunson to have like an easy, you know 1235 00:55:56,920 --> 00:55:59,719 quarter in this series, just because like the Pacers have 1236 00:55:59,719 --> 00:56:02,079 to make so that's almost impossible. 1237 00:56:02,079 --> 00:56:04,519 Speaker 1: Is there. And I guess because we talked about Mitchell Robinson, Like, 1238 00:56:04,559 --> 00:56:06,519 could is this a Mitchell Robinson series? There any of 1239 00:56:06,559 --> 00:56:08,920 the pacers? Like when you look at how deep their 1240 00:56:09,000 --> 00:56:12,519 rotation is stretched? Is they have nine guys? Yeah, only 1241 00:56:12,519 --> 00:56:14,960 more than ten minutes a game in the playoffs and 1242 00:56:15,000 --> 00:56:17,039 they have I think eight playing more than fifteen? Are 1243 00:56:17,079 --> 00:56:18,480 there any of like there? And I think you look 1244 00:56:18,519 --> 00:56:20,760 at they're starting five, it's just okay, this is a 1245 00:56:20,800 --> 00:56:23,199 serious for all of them. But when it's Ben mcmatherin, 1246 00:56:23,280 --> 00:56:27,119 TJ McConnell will be topping like and then Ben Sheppard 1247 00:56:27,159 --> 00:56:28,920 and jarifs Walker on the margin of course, Like, are 1248 00:56:28,960 --> 00:56:31,480 any of their regularly used guys do you look at 1249 00:56:31,519 --> 00:56:33,159 them and say, well, maybe this might be a series 1250 00:56:33,159 --> 00:56:34,719 where we see their minutes get chopped. 1251 00:56:35,000 --> 00:56:38,039 Speaker 2: I think of the regulars, I think McConnell's the first 1252 00:56:38,079 --> 00:56:40,440 one that comes to mind, because, like, while he's so 1253 00:56:40,519 --> 00:56:43,760 important to their preserving the pace and like the chaos 1254 00:56:43,800 --> 00:56:46,800 that they want to play with, Like I just as 1255 00:56:46,840 --> 00:56:49,559 a half court defender, I just don't think Brunson's gonna 1256 00:56:49,559 --> 00:56:52,400 feel him. And I think that's just too easy for Brunson. 1257 00:56:52,440 --> 00:56:56,239 And then I think you're the Knicks are pretty big positionally, Otherwise, 1258 00:56:56,280 --> 00:56:59,119 like I don't. I don't love McConnell's fit in the series. 1259 00:56:59,159 --> 00:57:02,079 I think he'll play, but I don't. I think it's 1260 00:57:02,159 --> 00:57:04,360 I think you turn more towards like, Okay, Nemhar is 1261 00:57:04,360 --> 00:57:06,840 gonna play back up point guard when Haliburn's off the floor, 1262 00:57:06,920 --> 00:57:09,760 and you can have like if Kat's on Siakam or whatever, 1263 00:57:09,800 --> 00:57:11,880 just have bring it up like there's there's gonna be 1264 00:57:11,920 --> 00:57:15,840 ways to to backfill what McConnell gave you as long 1265 00:57:15,880 --> 00:57:18,039 as like maybe you need him if things are going 1266 00:57:18,079 --> 00:57:19,960 sideways and you want to just junk the game up. 1267 00:57:19,960 --> 00:57:22,320 And that's why McConnell adds value. But I think as 1268 00:57:22,360 --> 00:57:25,199 like a rotation staple, I don't know that I would 1269 00:57:25,280 --> 00:57:26,320 would see him that way. 1270 00:57:27,639 --> 00:57:29,519 Speaker 1: I will be curious if this is an Obi Toppin 1271 00:57:29,599 --> 00:57:33,079 series series. I think it probably probably can be just be. 1272 00:57:33,199 --> 00:57:35,760 But if I'm wondering if it ever behooves them to 1273 00:57:35,800 --> 00:57:38,239 just say like we're gonna it's gonna be one big 1274 00:57:38,280 --> 00:57:40,960 and it's Siakam or it's just Turner like Obi Toppin 1275 00:57:41,039 --> 00:57:42,239 is in on the floor. I don't think that means 1276 00:57:42,239 --> 00:57:44,840 it's gonna be a Thomas Bryannt even necessarily a Jaris 1277 00:57:44,840 --> 00:57:48,480 Walker series. But I guess if if Jaln Brunton's off 1278 00:57:48,480 --> 00:57:50,320 the court, I guess you could just talk yourself into 1279 00:57:50,320 --> 00:57:52,719 it being an Obie topin series, because that's the He's 1280 00:57:52,760 --> 00:57:54,480 not who else on the Knicks is gonna try and 1281 00:57:54,480 --> 00:57:56,760 pick on Right, if you put him in a situation 1282 00:57:56,800 --> 00:57:59,800 where he would need to defend towns, then that's that 1283 00:58:00,280 --> 00:58:02,239 meat probably for town so. 1284 00:58:02,159 --> 00:58:04,000 Speaker 2: But then I'm just but then you're just doubling in 1285 00:58:04,039 --> 00:58:06,400 towns as liable to make a mistake. So I think 1286 00:58:06,400 --> 00:58:09,480 you're right about top though. Sorry, we've really been picking 1287 00:58:09,480 --> 00:58:13,079 on towns a little bit. Uh. I think like if 1288 00:58:13,119 --> 00:58:16,719 if Topping is in the game and it's Og that's 1289 00:58:16,760 --> 00:58:19,440 going at him, or it's Bridges, I think it's the Pacers. 1290 00:58:19,519 --> 00:58:21,599 You're like, okay, cool, Like, well, we'll live with this 1291 00:58:22,039 --> 00:58:22,800 to keep me out of it. 1292 00:58:22,840 --> 00:58:24,559 Speaker 1: I think the Pacers will be able to play fourteen 1293 00:58:24,639 --> 00:58:25,719 guys in this series. 1294 00:58:26,559 --> 00:58:29,280 Speaker 2: They sure hope. So just because the Knicks, at some point, 1295 00:58:29,320 --> 00:58:30,960 the Nicks will run out of gas, we have to 1296 00:58:31,039 --> 00:58:31,639 keep saying it. 1297 00:58:32,079 --> 00:58:34,639 Speaker 1: Uh, are you ready to move on to storylines? 1298 00:58:34,840 --> 00:58:35,159 Speaker 2: Sure? 1299 00:58:35,760 --> 00:58:38,199 Speaker 1: Uh? Nostalgia that's one of them, right. 1300 00:58:39,039 --> 00:58:42,599 Speaker 2: It's the best I'd like so many of those series 1301 00:58:42,639 --> 00:58:45,559 just matter so much, like all the all the the 1302 00:58:45,559 --> 00:58:48,719 Reggie and Spike stuff eight points nine seconds, the like 1303 00:58:48,800 --> 00:58:52,840 the ewing layup LJ. You mentioned, like it's pretty great 1304 00:58:53,000 --> 00:58:55,159 that that's like, that's really fun. I hope they really 1305 00:58:55,239 --> 00:58:58,000 go to town with like during the series, like in 1306 00:58:58,079 --> 00:59:00,840 cutaways and like the pregame stuff that really should like 1307 00:59:01,119 --> 00:59:04,480 let's just give me like six minutes of just like 1308 00:59:04,519 --> 00:59:08,440 a highlight reel before game one of these teams. Yeah, 1309 00:59:08,519 --> 00:59:13,159 the the nostalgia, the rivalry stuff, that's like that's the best, 1310 00:59:13,199 --> 00:59:15,400 and like, I'm so happy these two teams are playing 1311 00:59:15,400 --> 00:59:18,239 each other. Do you I want one? Like not nostalgia 1312 00:59:18,239 --> 00:59:21,079 based narrative. Thing is like I think if the Pacers 1313 00:59:21,079 --> 00:59:25,000 are successful here and maybe we're already there, but I 1314 00:59:25,039 --> 00:59:27,360 do feel like we would have to then concede like 1315 00:59:27,400 --> 00:59:30,519 we are in the full parody era if the Pacers 1316 00:59:30,559 --> 00:59:34,519 make the finals, because like they were Like if we 1317 00:59:34,559 --> 00:59:37,320 had listed ten title contenders before the season, would the 1318 00:59:37,320 --> 00:59:38,679 Pacers have been on the list. 1319 00:59:39,280 --> 00:59:42,599 Speaker 1: They might have maybe Thanksgiving? They were not. That's the thing. 1320 00:59:42,840 --> 00:59:44,760 Remember I was on this podcast and I said I'm 1321 00:59:44,800 --> 00:59:47,519 out on the right Exactly what I said, I was 1322 00:59:47,559 --> 00:59:48,000 out too. 1323 00:59:48,199 --> 00:59:50,559 Speaker 2: I was just like, well because it was so easy, Like, oh, 1324 00:59:50,599 --> 00:59:53,039 their run last year was injury aided, Like this was 1325 00:59:53,079 --> 00:59:56,400 a fluke that Halliburton looks terrible, like maybe that blip 1326 00:59:56,559 --> 00:59:58,800 when he was a top five MVP guy early last 1327 00:59:58,840 --> 01:00:01,639 year that was that was the anomaly. This is more 1328 01:00:01,639 --> 01:00:05,239 who But like, I mean, have these four teams in 1329 01:00:05,280 --> 01:00:07,679 the conference finals other than the Thunder, I guess, although 1330 01:00:07,719 --> 01:00:09,880 it's not like the Thunder have been you know, on 1331 01:00:09,960 --> 01:00:14,079 the dais or the championship podium very often or since 1332 01:00:14,119 --> 01:00:18,119 whatever it is seventy nine. So like the Pacers more 1333 01:00:18,119 --> 01:00:20,280 so than the Knicks, because the Knicks are like a 1334 01:00:20,400 --> 01:00:24,440 glamour marquee franchise even though they haven't won a million years, 1335 01:00:24,480 --> 01:00:26,760 Like if they go to the finals, it's like all right. 1336 01:00:26,800 --> 01:00:30,039 But the Pacers just feels like this team, like this 1337 01:00:30,119 --> 01:00:32,559 is this is a this is a finalist that would 1338 01:00:32,559 --> 01:00:35,760 that would really drive home the paar anything I would. 1339 01:00:35,800 --> 01:00:38,320 Speaker 1: I guess it's either way. The NBA and this is 1340 01:00:38,440 --> 01:00:40,840 I find it ridiculous. But you know, the league office 1341 01:00:40,880 --> 01:00:44,239 is like it could be Indiana versus Minnesota or okay see, 1342 01:00:44,239 --> 01:00:46,480 and basketball wise, that's fine, but you know that they're 1343 01:00:46,519 --> 01:00:49,239 gonna be that's gonna become a storyline. It will absolutely 1344 01:00:49,280 --> 01:00:53,199 become a storyline. Another storyline. Siakam versus og already kind 1345 01:00:53,239 --> 01:00:56,400 of mentioned it former Raptor shaping the playoff race. If 1346 01:00:56,400 --> 01:01:00,960 you haven't listened to our Timberwolves versus Thunder primer on 1347 01:01:01,000 --> 01:01:02,760 a WI forgot they were playing the Thunder. We already 1348 01:01:02,800 --> 01:01:05,440 mentioned this. There's just going to be someone who has 1349 01:01:05,480 --> 01:01:07,920 played for the Knicks within the past three years in 1350 01:01:07,960 --> 01:01:10,880 the NBA Finals toppins in Indiana. You have, of course 1351 01:01:10,920 --> 01:01:14,079 your current Nicks, then Hartenstein and OKC and Julius Randall 1352 01:01:14,079 --> 01:01:18,400 and Dante Diviongenzo in Minnesota. That's bizarre and also really cool. 1353 01:01:18,840 --> 01:01:22,400 The storyline I might be most interested in, what's the 1354 01:01:22,519 --> 01:01:24,960 Is there like a betting odd for like Tyre's Haliburton 1355 01:01:25,039 --> 01:01:27,480 doing the Jallen Brunson celebration after he makes a shot 1356 01:01:27,519 --> 01:01:31,800 because he's like he's exceeded Trey Young as the NBA's 1357 01:01:31,840 --> 01:01:36,119 most willing villain. Yephrey Young did tweet memory. He was saying, like, oh, 1358 01:01:36,159 --> 01:01:38,119 I think the Pacers crowd or was it the Thunder 1359 01:01:38,119 --> 01:01:40,280 crowd is better than Knicks fans. So Trey Young is 1360 01:01:40,280 --> 01:01:42,800 still trying to be it, but it loses luster when 1361 01:01:42,800 --> 01:01:43,239 you're not. 1362 01:01:43,199 --> 01:01:44,519 Speaker 2: Playing right a little bit. 1363 01:01:45,199 --> 01:01:49,000 Speaker 1: So I love Tyrus Haliburton just wanting to be the villain. 1364 01:01:50,000 --> 01:01:53,039 Speaker 2: Uh. I agree with you. Uh, he's the most lovable 1365 01:01:53,119 --> 01:01:58,480 villain there is. But from the Knicks side, we've I 1366 01:01:58,679 --> 01:02:01,000 feel like I check in with you on this fairly often, 1367 01:02:01,599 --> 01:02:04,400 and I agree with where you're at on it. If 1368 01:02:04,400 --> 01:02:08,119 the Knicks make the finals, can we then say that 1369 01:02:08,199 --> 01:02:10,840 all of the costs and all of the picks and 1370 01:02:10,920 --> 01:02:14,559 all of the moves and thinning the roster, because you like, 1371 01:02:14,800 --> 01:02:16,960 it goes hand in hand that like there are three 1372 01:02:17,079 --> 01:02:19,800 former Knicks on other teams that are in the conference finals, 1373 01:02:19,800 --> 01:02:22,760 Like they sacrificed a lot of depth and talent to 1374 01:02:22,800 --> 01:02:26,079 build this team. If this team does make the finals, 1375 01:02:26,119 --> 01:02:28,880 this Knicks team, do we just have to say that 1376 01:02:28,920 --> 01:02:31,320 the moves were all good and it was all worth it? Like, 1377 01:02:31,719 --> 01:02:34,639 is that the point where it's like I know that, 1378 01:02:34,760 --> 01:02:38,079 like objectively, it's like you should just never trade five 1379 01:02:38,119 --> 01:02:40,280 first round picks for mckail bridges. That's stupid, that's too 1380 01:02:40,360 --> 01:02:43,639 much like that. Yes, we agree, like in a vacuum, 1381 01:02:43,719 --> 01:02:46,199 but like, at this point, don't you then just have 1382 01:02:46,280 --> 01:02:48,719 to be like, I guess it was worth. 1383 01:02:48,519 --> 01:02:54,760 Speaker 1: It, probably, but I was actually this was a storyline 1384 01:02:54,800 --> 01:02:57,400 I was gonna have. I think the fallout we like 1385 01:02:57,440 --> 01:02:59,760 talk about what's the fallout for whoever loses for the 1386 01:02:59,800 --> 01:03:02,119 pay there just is none. They might balance their books 1387 01:03:02,119 --> 01:03:04,199 and dump salary to keep Miles Turner and stay under 1388 01:03:04,239 --> 01:03:07,000 the tax easy, but it's you've just proven that this week. Yes, 1389 01:03:07,239 --> 01:03:09,199 I know the Bucks were injured, but like, you can 1390 01:03:09,280 --> 01:03:10,679 only play the teams in front of you, and this 1391 01:03:10,719 --> 01:03:13,039 has been a good team for like I don't know, 1392 01:03:13,840 --> 01:03:16,000 sixty something games now right, like dating back to the 1393 01:03:16,000 --> 01:03:19,719 regular season with the Knicks. I struggle with this because 1394 01:03:20,320 --> 01:03:22,960 I do this has been as a Knicks fan. And 1395 01:03:23,119 --> 01:03:24,559 you know what's funny is that people don't realize I'm 1396 01:03:24,559 --> 01:03:25,920 a Knicks fan, which makes me feel like I do 1397 01:03:25,960 --> 01:03:26,280 my job. 1398 01:03:26,599 --> 01:03:29,159 Speaker 2: I was gonna say, that's a credit to you, I think, But. 1399 01:03:29,159 --> 01:03:31,480 Speaker 1: As a Knicks fan, I am concerned. And this might 1400 01:03:31,519 --> 01:03:33,360 be the era in which I grew up as a 1401 01:03:33,440 --> 01:03:35,760 Knicks fan just like coming to the surface because and 1402 01:03:35,840 --> 01:03:37,199 I get it, there are a lot of Knicks fans 1403 01:03:37,199 --> 01:03:39,639 that like they've never just one. There's probably a lot 1404 01:03:39,639 --> 01:03:41,840 of Knicks fans right now that don't remember the dysfunctional Knicks. 1405 01:03:41,880 --> 01:03:43,159 But then there's a lot of Knicks fans like me 1406 01:03:43,239 --> 01:03:46,400 where I'm like on the later end of this spectrum, 1407 01:03:45,880 --> 01:03:48,519 but like we just grew up and the teams were 1408 01:03:48,519 --> 01:03:51,719 bad and depressing, right, And I look at this and say, 1409 01:03:51,840 --> 01:03:54,039 just making it to the conference finals even or even 1410 01:03:54,039 --> 01:03:56,360 getting to the NBA Finals and losing in five games 1411 01:03:56,360 --> 01:03:59,599 to Okay See or Minnesota or something, does that reinforce 1412 01:04:00,559 --> 01:04:03,719 like the wrong things here that Thibodeau is the right coach, 1413 01:04:04,039 --> 01:04:06,400 that we're not gonna make any changes over the offseason. 1414 01:04:06,440 --> 01:04:09,239 I think there's value and continuity. But it's similar to 1415 01:04:09,239 --> 01:04:12,119 the Denver Nuggets right now, whereas when you are this 1416 01:04:12,280 --> 01:04:15,760 shallow and your margin for error is so thin, just 1417 01:04:15,840 --> 01:04:19,119 because it broke right for you this year doesn't mean 1418 01:04:19,119 --> 01:04:21,639 you're guaranteed these subsequent years. You can sit here and 1419 01:04:21,639 --> 01:04:23,960 tell me the East is wide open because the Tatum injury, 1420 01:04:23,960 --> 01:04:27,280 what's going on with Giannis. You're absolutely correct, Pacers aren't 1421 01:04:27,320 --> 01:04:29,559 going anywhere, Magic are on the way up, the Calves 1422 01:04:29,559 --> 01:04:33,320 aren't going anywhere. This, I think you can argue, is 1423 01:04:33,400 --> 01:04:35,480 going to be the Nicks's best shot to win a 1424 01:04:35,519 --> 01:04:39,159 title with this core. Oh yeah, and then so that's 1425 01:04:39,199 --> 01:04:41,480 an awkward thing to say, and it's all right, that's fine, Like, 1426 01:04:41,519 --> 01:04:43,599 isn't that the whole point? It's yeah, if you win, 1427 01:04:43,719 --> 01:04:46,360 but if you don't. The trade that you made specifically 1428 01:04:46,400 --> 01:04:48,400 for McHale Bridges, this is not I'm not trying to 1429 01:04:48,440 --> 01:04:52,679 indict mcaal specifically. That trade says you are all in 1430 01:04:52,760 --> 01:04:55,159 on winning the title and if you don't ever get 1431 01:04:55,199 --> 01:04:56,719 back to this point. So I think it buys you 1432 01:04:56,800 --> 01:04:59,599 time to whereas you lost against the Pistons or even 1433 01:04:59,599 --> 01:05:02,719 the ceuth especially after like it looked like when they 1434 01:05:02,719 --> 01:05:05,320 were down with that first twenty point lead in Game one, 1435 01:05:05,480 --> 01:05:07,000 wasn't there a part of you that said, like, this 1436 01:05:07,079 --> 01:05:07,800 series is over? 1437 01:05:08,119 --> 01:05:10,079 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, absolutely. 1438 01:05:09,800 --> 01:05:14,320 Speaker 1: So I'm worried about that, but you can't. Like, the 1439 01:05:14,400 --> 01:05:16,840 Knicks have found a grit that they didn't have during 1440 01:05:16,880 --> 01:05:20,159 the regular season, and you can chastise them for not 1441 01:05:20,159 --> 01:05:22,360 finding it sooner, but they found it when it mattered. 1442 01:05:22,639 --> 01:05:24,960 But I do think that the fallout if they lose, 1443 01:05:25,719 --> 01:05:28,400 there's such a fine line for them between I think 1444 01:05:28,400 --> 01:05:30,719 Timms has saved his job and you know what, that's fine, 1445 01:05:30,760 --> 01:05:33,920 but now you have to Honestly, Mitchell Robinson breaking out 1446 01:05:34,519 --> 01:05:36,719 makes their offseason if they lose here, which we haven't 1447 01:05:36,719 --> 01:05:39,119 gotten a prediction, yets everyone Rex doesn't make their off 1448 01:05:39,159 --> 01:05:42,719 season more complicated because now it's well, what's the expendable salary? 1449 01:05:42,920 --> 01:05:44,960 Speaker 2: Right in the trade there's none that we were trying 1450 01:05:45,000 --> 01:05:47,960 to trade him all summer and like he's an integral now. 1451 01:05:47,880 --> 01:05:50,400 Speaker 1: And even if you think dude McBride's expendable, that dude 1452 01:05:50,480 --> 01:05:52,519 makes like three dollars right, Like, who are you getting 1453 01:05:52,559 --> 01:05:54,039 back in that trade? So it's all of a sudden, 1454 01:05:54,199 --> 01:05:56,960 how do we use the mini mle to make this 1455 01:05:57,000 --> 01:06:01,760 team better? Yeah? I don't know. So I think it 1456 01:06:02,079 --> 01:06:03,920 buys you time, but I don't when you give up 1457 01:06:03,920 --> 01:06:07,039 that many assets, like if the Calves is a good example, 1458 01:06:07,079 --> 01:06:09,320 they're all staying together, so it's like they have time. 1459 01:06:09,760 --> 01:06:12,079 But like you gave up all those picks for Donovan Mitchell. 1460 01:06:12,360 --> 01:06:14,840 Now if you start trading Darius Garland and Jared Allen 1461 01:06:14,960 --> 01:06:17,920 or whatever, like all right, Like there's a different type 1462 01:06:17,920 --> 01:06:21,039 of urgency there. The Nicks didn't have that same infrastructure 1463 01:06:21,079 --> 01:06:24,159 like they gave up. I understand the reality of what 1464 01:06:24,159 --> 01:06:26,400 they did. They didn't send out any real players like 1465 01:06:26,440 --> 01:06:30,280 to them anyway, So it buys you time to where 1466 01:06:30,320 --> 01:06:32,239 I think people were prepared to call this a failure 1467 01:06:32,559 --> 01:06:34,679 from the outset, and now you can say, oh, I 1468 01:06:34,760 --> 01:06:37,400 see the vision, but your margin for error is still 1469 01:06:37,400 --> 01:06:39,159 so thin because the other thing here, Yes, I know 1470 01:06:39,159 --> 01:06:43,400 they've dealt with some injuries like they've been last year 1471 01:06:43,480 --> 01:06:45,760 was a disaster by the end of the playoffs, they're 1472 01:06:45,840 --> 01:06:48,360 relatively like John Brunton missing time by the end. I 1473 01:06:48,480 --> 01:06:51,239 kind of wonder that was a great thing for him, 1474 01:06:51,320 --> 01:06:52,800 just because it was like he got a breather that 1475 01:06:52,800 --> 01:06:54,840 he otherwise wouldn't have gotten. And look at the two 1476 01:06:54,840 --> 01:06:58,119 teams he just went through their defenses in Detroit and Boston. 1477 01:06:58,519 --> 01:07:01,760 So as a Knicks fan, I think that they bought 1478 01:07:01,760 --> 01:07:04,400 themselves time, maybe even the benefit of the doubt. But 1479 01:07:04,519 --> 01:07:06,760 like making the finals. For me, and this is someone 1480 01:07:06,800 --> 01:07:09,760 who hasn't seen I barely remember the Knicks finals in 1481 01:07:09,840 --> 01:07:12,480 nineteen ninety nine and they just weren't supposed to get there. 1482 01:07:12,519 --> 01:07:15,679 That was found money. I'd be ready, even as someone 1483 01:07:15,679 --> 01:07:17,719 who hasn't seen a lot of good basketball over the 1484 01:07:17,719 --> 01:07:20,599 past however many years, I couldn't just say that, Oh, 1485 01:07:20,599 --> 01:07:22,599 it's like, yeah, I see the vision and if they 1486 01:07:22,599 --> 01:07:26,519 win a title, you never have to apologize. But making 1487 01:07:26,519 --> 01:07:29,199 the finals just once, Are they back here next year 1488 01:07:29,239 --> 01:07:31,360 would be my question. If it's continuously getting to the 1489 01:07:31,400 --> 01:07:35,880 conference finals being in that late season discussion, sure, but 1490 01:07:36,360 --> 01:07:38,280 like I also can't like, this is the team that 1491 01:07:39,239 --> 01:07:43,000 fell behind by twenty or more points four times in 1492 01:07:43,079 --> 01:07:46,119 a series they won in six games. This is a 1493 01:07:46,159 --> 01:07:48,719 team that went oh to ten against the best three 1494 01:07:48,760 --> 01:07:51,599 teams in the league during the regular season. This is like, 1495 01:07:51,920 --> 01:07:55,519 there's this is a team where you can't point to 1496 01:07:55,559 --> 01:07:57,719 me on any given night and tell me who their 1497 01:07:57,760 --> 01:08:00,000 second best player is gonna be. And in some case 1498 01:08:00,280 --> 01:08:03,599 that can be endearing. In this case, it's harrowing, right 1499 01:08:03,599 --> 01:08:06,440 because none of the guys they have are actually supposed 1500 01:08:06,480 --> 01:08:08,800 to be the second best player on a title team. 1501 01:08:09,119 --> 01:08:12,639 Like you can stretch it and say, no, Towns are mckailled, No, no, 1502 01:08:12,800 --> 01:08:15,639 there We know enough about Towns in Minnesota to where 1503 01:08:15,920 --> 01:08:17,600 if he was going to be the second best player 1504 01:08:17,600 --> 01:08:21,159 on a title team, you need to have the infrastructure 1505 01:08:21,159 --> 01:08:23,119 that Minnesota did on defense around him. And then I 1506 01:08:23,159 --> 01:08:24,840 think you could argue that Rudy Gobert was like the 1507 01:08:24,880 --> 01:08:27,560 second was important player to that team. So I don't 1508 01:08:27,560 --> 01:08:30,079 mean this to insult the Nicks. They're here, they've played great, 1509 01:08:30,119 --> 01:08:32,239 this has been riveting as hell run, but I'm not 1510 01:08:32,279 --> 01:08:34,199 ready to say like, yeah, they've made all the right movies, 1511 01:08:34,199 --> 01:08:35,359 like I can't wait to run this back. 1512 01:08:35,359 --> 01:08:38,119 Speaker 2: Okay, that's fair, that's what. That's a nuanced answer. I 1513 01:08:38,159 --> 01:08:39,840 was trying to pin you down to like a yes 1514 01:08:39,960 --> 01:08:42,119 or no, and you wriggled out of it. 1515 01:08:42,199 --> 01:08:43,800 Speaker 1: I do want to know if fans feel the same 1516 01:08:43,880 --> 01:08:45,800 in the comments or our discord, So get in there. 1517 01:08:45,800 --> 01:08:47,760 Are you, like, are you beliegued enough to have my 1518 01:08:47,880 --> 01:08:49,119 jaded view of it? 1519 01:08:49,920 --> 01:08:52,319 Speaker 2: Are you never satisfied by any level of success? 1520 01:08:52,479 --> 01:08:55,520 Speaker 1: Honestly, if they win fewer than six championships with this corps, 1521 01:08:55,520 --> 01:08:56,000 I think it's a. 1522 01:08:56,000 --> 01:08:59,079 Speaker 2: Failure, not worth it. I've more, just more, just five, 1523 01:08:59,439 --> 01:09:03,399 So one for every Bridge is picked. We've already tipped 1524 01:09:03,399 --> 01:09:05,720 my hand on Mitchell Robinson's my X factor. I think 1525 01:09:06,279 --> 01:09:10,960 it could just be whoever you want for the Pacers. Well, 1526 01:09:11,039 --> 01:09:13,359 is Mitchell Robinson your Knicks X factor too? I feel 1527 01:09:13,399 --> 01:09:15,199 like he's like the only guy I've talked about. 1528 01:09:15,600 --> 01:09:18,199 Speaker 1: I think he has to be you could go with 1529 01:09:18,359 --> 01:09:20,520 because I can't even get there with Josh Hart just 1530 01:09:20,560 --> 01:09:23,039 because it's like he can go five of seven from 1531 01:09:23,079 --> 01:09:25,640 three every single night and the Pacers will just be like, 1532 01:09:25,720 --> 01:09:28,239 that's fine. So I think it has to be him 1533 01:09:28,279 --> 01:09:31,000 because otherwise it gets too high end, like Conthie Towns 1534 01:09:31,039 --> 01:09:33,760 is technically an X factor and that's kind of a problem. 1535 01:09:33,880 --> 01:09:35,840 Speaker 2: That's all I'm gonna say. That feeds into your Your 1536 01:09:35,880 --> 01:09:38,279 whole deal on the Knicks is like that he can't 1537 01:09:38,319 --> 01:09:40,279 be an X factor. He's got to be like a given. 1538 01:09:41,039 --> 01:09:43,560 Speaker 1: What about the Pacers, Like, do you expect them to 1539 01:09:43,560 --> 01:09:45,760 switch as much against Indiana as they did Boston? 1540 01:09:46,479 --> 01:09:49,159 Speaker 2: I mean normally I would say no, but like, had 1541 01:09:49,159 --> 01:09:51,960 I not seen this like a I don't know what, 1542 01:09:52,359 --> 01:09:54,840 some kind of logical fallacy, but it's like I would 1543 01:09:54,840 --> 01:09:56,560 have said no, and then I saw the Boston series, 1544 01:09:56,600 --> 01:09:59,239 and now I think anything's possible because they switched there. 1545 01:09:59,239 --> 01:10:01,560 It's just like, well, I guess maybe I think they 1546 01:10:01,600 --> 01:10:03,720 probably should. I think we're at the we're officially at 1547 01:10:03,720 --> 01:10:05,920 the stage of the playoffs where like you need to 1548 01:10:06,119 --> 01:10:09,439 go in with your original plan and like scrap it 1549 01:10:09,640 --> 01:10:12,239 in three minutes if it's not working, Like we are 1550 01:10:12,279 --> 01:10:15,800 in full on adjustment territory to figure out what works. 1551 01:10:16,199 --> 01:10:17,399 I think that's the way it's got to go. 1552 01:10:17,640 --> 01:10:19,199 Speaker 1: Who do you have for the pacers? I think we're 1553 01:10:19,199 --> 01:10:20,199 gonna have the same one there. 1554 01:10:20,359 --> 01:10:22,279 Speaker 2: Oh, I doubt it because I had such a hard 1555 01:10:22,319 --> 01:10:24,359 time and I wanted to stay away from the nim 1556 01:10:24,439 --> 01:10:28,279 Hardniesmith thing. We haven't talked about this guy. He's not 1557 01:10:28,319 --> 01:10:31,840 one of my favorite players. I'm gonna pick Benedict Matherin 1558 01:10:32,399 --> 01:10:35,399 because I'm looking your question about, like, which of the 1559 01:10:35,439 --> 01:10:38,239 deeper bench guys can be a factor in this series. 1560 01:10:38,880 --> 01:10:42,600 I'm not convinced Matherin can, but I do think if 1561 01:10:42,600 --> 01:10:46,439 he's playing really well, especially against like whatever passes for 1562 01:10:46,479 --> 01:10:48,880 a nixt second unit, if it's like pain is out there, 1563 01:10:49,479 --> 01:10:53,439 then it's like and Matherin can score. I think maybe 1564 01:10:53,479 --> 01:10:57,119 that could swing things. And also, he really is someone 1565 01:10:57,199 --> 01:10:59,760 I just have no idea how he's gonna play night Tonight. 1566 01:10:59,840 --> 01:11:02,079 Like he's taken on kind of the irritant role too, 1567 01:11:02,199 --> 01:11:05,399 which is very X factor behavior. He might be someone 1568 01:11:05,439 --> 01:11:09,000 that tries to get this series's version of DeAndre Hunter 1569 01:11:09,039 --> 01:11:12,159 to punch him like the punch with quote marks, because 1570 01:11:12,199 --> 01:11:14,079 that was not a punch I didn't feel like, but 1571 01:11:14,720 --> 01:11:16,520 I don't know where else to go other than like 1572 01:11:16,560 --> 01:11:18,600 picking from starters, which if you did, I get it, 1573 01:11:18,640 --> 01:11:20,159 because I was tempted to do that, and I just 1574 01:11:20,159 --> 01:11:22,119 will talk about him in the tactical side. 1575 01:11:22,239 --> 01:11:24,520 Speaker 1: So I went with Nie Smith, but not for the 1576 01:11:24,520 --> 01:11:26,279 reason that I think that you will think to where 1577 01:11:26,319 --> 01:11:28,720 it's he's gonna defend Jalen brunts in a bunch. I 1578 01:11:28,720 --> 01:11:31,520 think he will. I think what's interesting is that the 1579 01:11:31,560 --> 01:11:36,199 Knicks would normally put Jalen Brunton on Aaron E. Smith offensively. 1580 01:11:36,920 --> 01:11:39,119 The way that Aaron Smith has played in the playoffs, 1581 01:11:40,239 --> 01:11:43,399 you can't do that and just expect to emerge Scott Free. Yeah, 1582 01:11:43,439 --> 01:11:45,520 he'll go at him, He's yeah, And it's not it's 1583 01:11:45,520 --> 01:11:47,079 the jump shooting has been through the roof. He's been 1584 01:11:47,079 --> 01:11:49,159 like the most efficient jump shooter in the playoffs basically, 1585 01:11:49,680 --> 01:11:52,319 but like the drives haven't always been efficient. Like he's 1586 01:11:52,359 --> 01:11:54,800 getting your shoulder into you, he's drawing fouls, he's getting 1587 01:11:54,800 --> 01:11:57,640 into the basket. You don't want Jalen Brunton to have 1588 01:11:57,760 --> 01:11:59,159 to go through that. And so now you're all of 1589 01:11:59,199 --> 01:12:01,640 a sudden saying, Okay, I guess it's better than him 1590 01:12:01,840 --> 01:12:05,600 having to defend Tyre's Halliburton. But do the Pacers just 1591 01:12:05,640 --> 01:12:08,079 not like Nie Smith to me, in their best lineup? 1592 01:12:08,479 --> 01:12:10,479 Do you just not have anywhere that you feel almost 1593 01:12:10,520 --> 01:12:12,720 uncomfortable putting jail in Brunton? And that's why I think 1594 01:12:12,760 --> 01:12:14,159 that Ernicemi is an X factor. 1595 01:12:14,359 --> 01:12:16,520 Speaker 2: That's a good one, Yeah, because we didn't really talk 1596 01:12:16,520 --> 01:12:18,720 about we focus on the other side more like they 1597 01:12:18,760 --> 01:12:21,279 got to put brunts in someplace and and the Pacers 1598 01:12:21,319 --> 01:12:22,800 are going to go at it. We've mentioned that a 1599 01:12:22,800 --> 01:12:24,479 little bit, I guess, but like, there's not a safe 1600 01:12:24,520 --> 01:12:26,600 space I don't think for Brunson. 1601 01:12:26,680 --> 01:12:29,000 Speaker 1: Really, no, I don't think there is. I think you 1602 01:12:29,000 --> 01:12:30,880 could argue is their safe space for towns here? 1603 01:12:32,079 --> 01:12:33,720 Speaker 2: Boy? That's I mean, that's been the question for the 1604 01:12:33,800 --> 01:12:36,119 Knicks throughout every playoff series and they just keep winning. 1605 01:12:36,159 --> 01:12:36,640 So I don't know. 1606 01:12:36,760 --> 01:12:38,960 Speaker 1: I mean, look, he had some really good moments against Boston, 1607 01:12:39,000 --> 01:12:42,640 but that was not like it was moments. It wasn't right. Yeah, 1608 01:12:42,680 --> 01:12:44,760 So Grant talk predictions to me. 1609 01:12:44,840 --> 01:12:46,560 Speaker 2: Do I have to go first? I'll go first. I'm 1610 01:12:46,560 --> 01:12:51,840 not afraid I am going. I'm terrified. And I told 1611 01:12:51,840 --> 01:12:53,199 you I was going to try to come up with 1612 01:12:53,239 --> 01:12:55,039 this after we discussed it because I didn't have a 1613 01:12:55,119 --> 01:12:59,279 strong enough feeling beforehand. I'm going to pick the Knicks, 1614 01:13:00,039 --> 01:13:03,399 and I'm gonna pick the Knicks in seven, in seven 1615 01:13:03,439 --> 01:13:07,520 games and four, No, it's seven games. And I feel 1616 01:13:08,000 --> 01:13:12,279 really horrible about it because I just I can just 1617 01:13:12,359 --> 01:13:16,119 see the Pacers making them look really bad and tired 1618 01:13:16,359 --> 01:13:19,399 and they just really go through it. But I'm gonna 1619 01:13:19,399 --> 01:13:21,680 go Nicks. I think I think Brunson is just like 1620 01:13:21,800 --> 01:13:24,319 at a level where there's nothing you can do with 1621 01:13:24,399 --> 01:13:28,640 them defensively, and I think the collective size and the 1622 01:13:28,680 --> 01:13:31,560 offensive rebound I think the offensive rebounding and the second 1623 01:13:31,640 --> 01:13:34,840 chance stuff is really going to factor into the knicks favor. 1624 01:13:34,920 --> 01:13:37,560 So even if they play shitty offense, they're gonna get 1625 01:13:37,560 --> 01:13:41,359 two cracks at it like pretty often. And that's kind 1626 01:13:41,399 --> 01:13:42,279 of swaying it for me. 1627 01:13:43,560 --> 01:13:47,079 Speaker 1: My heart says Nix and seven. My head says Pacers 1628 01:13:47,079 --> 01:13:50,319 in six or seven. I do think they have the 1629 01:13:50,359 --> 01:13:52,479 ability to make more adjustments. I think if you go 1630 01:13:52,560 --> 01:13:56,119 through the list after you go from the second best 1631 01:13:56,119 --> 01:13:58,560 player in Indiana. And I'm not trying to discredit Nem Harder, 1632 01:13:58,600 --> 01:14:02,239 NEI Smith or Turner like O. G. McHale Kronthy Towns 1633 01:14:02,279 --> 01:14:04,359 is like populating your top four vers of the Pacers 1634 01:14:04,399 --> 01:14:07,439 top four. I like it a little bit better. I 1635 01:14:07,479 --> 01:14:10,760 think I'm gonna go Nixon seven, probably catering to the 1636 01:14:10,800 --> 01:14:14,000 heart a little bit. But also I think what's really 1637 01:14:14,000 --> 01:14:16,039 going to help the Knicks here is that while the 1638 01:14:16,079 --> 01:14:18,600 Pacers like are unique in the sense that, especially because 1639 01:14:18,600 --> 01:14:20,920 you mentioned like Benn mcmathm becoming an irritant, you don't 1640 01:14:21,039 --> 01:14:23,359 really see a team aside from the Thunder ever play 1641 01:14:23,399 --> 01:14:26,720 that fast and physical. But the level of physicality is 1642 01:14:26,800 --> 01:14:29,279 just not gonna match what they saw against Detroit, and 1643 01:14:29,319 --> 01:14:31,479 I don't even think Boston. Yeah, And so I think 1644 01:14:31,479 --> 01:14:34,640 that that's kind of prepared them well. And I'm also 1645 01:14:34,800 --> 01:14:38,720 more optimistic about the defense because Tom Thibodeau took too 1646 01:14:38,760 --> 01:14:41,199 long sometimes, like what was that game five where Karnthy 1647 01:14:41,199 --> 01:14:43,119 Towns just decided like, yeah, I'm gonna play like fifty 1648 01:14:43,119 --> 01:14:46,359 feet off of every single like Celtic, and it took 1649 01:14:46,399 --> 01:14:50,199 him forever to adjust. But he seems more flexible than 1650 01:14:50,239 --> 01:14:52,199 even we've even said that he's grown when it comes 1651 01:14:52,199 --> 01:14:54,479 to his rigidity, and he was more flexible, and I 1652 01:14:54,479 --> 01:14:56,439 thought he was gonna be I'm gonna go Nixon seven. 1653 01:14:56,479 --> 01:14:57,960 I think that that might be a little bit of 1654 01:14:57,960 --> 01:15:01,439 me tapping into because I think the Pacers feel like 1655 01:15:01,479 --> 01:15:04,760 the more complete team. The Knicks feel like this season 1656 01:15:04,800 --> 01:15:06,760 they might have the higher ceiling when you look at 1657 01:15:06,760 --> 01:15:09,960 their talent. But you know, even as I'm saying, it's 1658 01:15:10,000 --> 01:15:11,479 just like, I don't know how you look at what 1659 01:15:11,560 --> 01:15:14,600 happened to offensively to the Knicks throughout these playoffs and 1660 01:15:14,680 --> 01:15:16,520 think I feel good. 1661 01:15:16,640 --> 01:15:20,159 Speaker 2: Right, it's like a bet on, well, these games are 1662 01:15:20,199 --> 01:15:23,640 gonna be one in like a messy way, and the 1663 01:15:23,680 --> 01:15:26,680 Knicks just thrive in that. And it's like the Pacers 1664 01:15:26,720 --> 01:15:29,119 are like a finely tuned engine that it's like, oh, 1665 01:15:29,159 --> 01:15:31,199 if you poor a little sand in there, it's just 1666 01:15:31,600 --> 01:15:33,840 it all falls like, which isn't true, but it is. 1667 01:15:34,039 --> 01:15:37,000 There is like a sense to me of the Pacers 1668 01:15:37,239 --> 01:15:40,119 have a lot of talent, and but it's like their 1669 01:15:40,159 --> 01:15:43,319 success is like because their style is so awesome, and 1670 01:15:43,359 --> 01:15:45,359 you know, like there's some part of that and I 1671 01:15:46,039 --> 01:15:48,720 just have this feeling that I could just imagine the 1672 01:15:48,800 --> 01:15:50,640 Knicks being like, we don't have a style. We just 1673 01:15:50,760 --> 01:15:54,359 fucking go and like we we you can mess us 1674 01:15:54,399 --> 01:15:56,399 up and we'll just still get it. To Brunson, and 1675 01:15:56,439 --> 01:15:59,359 we'll still get a half decent shot, especially in the clutch, 1676 01:15:59,600 --> 01:16:02,880 and we're big and like, okay, we'll just you know 1677 01:16:02,920 --> 01:16:04,640 what I mean, Like the Pacers feel like you can 1678 01:16:04,680 --> 01:16:08,279 like tilt the axis and maybe it falls apart. Probably 1679 01:16:08,479 --> 01:16:10,439 that's a that's extreme, but you know what I'm getting at. 1680 01:16:11,239 --> 01:16:13,119 Speaker 1: No, yeah, I know what you're getting at. This isn't 1681 01:16:13,199 --> 01:16:15,399 I don't think if you have a problem with either 1682 01:16:15,439 --> 01:16:16,920 of us picking the next I just think this is 1683 01:16:16,920 --> 01:16:19,960 a series that more so even than Thunder Wolves, this 1684 01:16:20,000 --> 01:16:23,079 feels like more of the coin toss. Yeah, where wouldn't 1685 01:16:23,079 --> 01:16:25,319 you Because if I told you that Wolves Thunder and 1686 01:16:25,319 --> 01:16:27,560 I won't like not even telling you who wins, but 1687 01:16:27,560 --> 01:16:29,600 that it ends in five. I think you'd be like 1688 01:16:29,760 --> 01:16:31,600 if you told me this series ended in five, Like, 1689 01:16:31,600 --> 01:16:35,520 if this series doesn't go seven, I might be mildly surprised. 1690 01:16:35,239 --> 01:16:38,319 Speaker 2: Right right, because they're both teams are imperfect and like 1691 01:16:38,399 --> 01:16:40,560 neither of them. I guess the Pacers have a superpower. 1692 01:16:40,560 --> 01:16:44,600 I guess it's that offense. But like, yeah, I I yeah, 1693 01:16:44,600 --> 01:16:46,920 it would be a thunder in five, that's what happened. 1694 01:16:47,000 --> 01:16:49,600 But if it was this, it'd be like what who like, well, 1695 01:16:49,600 --> 01:16:51,600 how did like who dominated who and how? 1696 01:16:52,239 --> 01:16:54,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, no, I would agree with you there. All right, 1697 01:16:54,279 --> 01:16:57,399 I'm sufficiently terrified. Are you ready to take us out here? 1698 01:16:57,640 --> 01:17:00,079 Speaker 2: That was tiring trying to parse that one. Thanks every 1699 01:17:00,079 --> 01:17:02,640 buddy that went through it with us. Let us know 1700 01:17:02,680 --> 01:17:05,000 what you think. Let us know if this was a 1701 01:17:05,039 --> 01:17:07,199 short series, who would take it and why. 1702 01:17:07,079 --> 01:17:09,159 Speaker 1: And then we will already over by the time you'velicted. 1703 01:17:09,319 --> 01:17:11,640 Speaker 2: If it's right, if it's well explained, we'll just co 1704 01:17:11,680 --> 01:17:13,880 opt that as our own original thought and say we 1705 01:17:13,960 --> 01:17:17,760 never picked to get the nix and seven rate review. Subscribe, 1706 01:17:18,000 --> 01:17:20,079 watch this on YouTube, leave it, leave a comment there, 1707 01:17:20,199 --> 01:17:22,359 thumbs up, Tell your friends, Tell your enemies, join our 1708 01:17:22,359 --> 01:17:24,439 discord at leaks for that in YouTube and podcast description. 1709 01:17:25,119 --> 01:17:26,840 That's gonna do it. Let's get to the conference finals. 1710 01:17:26,840 --> 01:17:31,239 It's very excited, shouts Frank milkein a former nick apologies, 1711 01:17:31,319 --> 01:17:31,840 Jared Allen