WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:03.640 We're back on the Drive with ESPN's Dave mcminnimon joining 2 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:07.879 us for today's NBA Daily Assist Special. Thanks to Timmy 3 00:00:07.879 --> 00:00:10.919 Good Time, Bon Temps for stopping by last segment Live 4 00:00:10.919 --> 00:00:13.359 in Oklahoma City. You know, Porter, I was thinking as 5 00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:17.199 we were talking with Tim, I'm so impressed at the 6 00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:22.359 depth of talent with ESPN's NBA people. I mean, we 7 00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:26.320 got Bon Temps, we got McMahon, we got wind Horse, 8 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:30.640 we got Malika, we got Shane, we got Legs so good, 9 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:33.560 Oh my god. I mean, you know, we've got Jay Reynolds, 10 00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:36.439 We've got Jeremy Wu, We've got Clinton Yates, We've got 11 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:40.119 Chris Herring. Like their depth, it's top heavy, but at 12 00:00:40.119 --> 00:00:44.359 the top it's really good. Oh yeah, Oh there's a 13 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:47.079 well you mentioned a dozen guys. At least I could 14 00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:48.960 I could keep couldn't even use them. 15 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:50.159 I could keep going. 16 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:53.640 But it's just it's remarkable how many talented people they 17 00:00:53.719 --> 00:00:57.359 have at ESPN breaking down the NBA. Our next guest, 18 00:00:57.799 --> 00:01:00.000 Dave mcminnimon, live in Oklahoma City. 19 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:00.960 Oh, Dave, how are you. 20 00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:05.599 Well? I'm not in Oklahoma City. 21 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:07.879 He got out of it. 22 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:11.480 I guess I didn't make that top twelve, I guess, 23 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:14.959 so you know, I'm hanging back in LA until Games 24 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:16.040 three and four in Indiana. 25 00:01:16.200 --> 00:01:17.680 How did you pull that off? 26 00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:20.599 I was praying you were in like a lakina in 27 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:23.159 eating Jimmy John's in Oklahoma City or something. 28 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:24.000 How'd you pull it off? 29 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:29.879 There was to not bore your listeners. There was some 30 00:01:30.519 --> 00:01:34.959 reporting that needed to happen out here. So I am 31 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:38.959 here and then I will go on Monday to Indianapolis, 32 00:01:39.159 --> 00:01:42.159 go to the heartland of America and see where the 33 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:44.599 series stands there. Hopefully we have at Lisa split at 34 00:01:44.599 --> 00:01:45.000 that point. 35 00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:47.799 Let me guess will Lebron opt in or opt out? 36 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:50.439 Nobody knows. 37 00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:54.920 I really I just saw McMahon posting that bon tempst 38 00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:58.319 is zipping around town on a scooter, and I decided 39 00:01:58.319 --> 00:01:59.640 I didn't want to be part of that. 40 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:00.840 You know, okay. 41 00:02:00.519 --> 00:02:04.000 See, I think bird people they call them birds, these 42 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:08.000 scooters out here, they are like the lowest form of humanity. 43 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:12.479 And the fact that Timbonteps would engage in that while 44 00:02:12.759 --> 00:02:14.919 a visitor in okay See is very disappointing. 45 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:16.879 That may have been the best take you've ever had 46 00:02:16.919 --> 00:02:19.039 on the show, because I am completely with you. 47 00:02:19.159 --> 00:02:22.719 Dave all right, let's not bury the lead. Let's start 48 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:23.599 with the local stuff. 49 00:02:23.639 --> 00:02:26.039 As Austin Ainge has been hired as the president of 50 00:02:26.120 --> 00:02:30.240 basketball Operations for the Utah Jazz. During his press press 51 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:34.120 conference media availability, Ryan Smith himself said that Austin is 52 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:36.560 now calling the shots. He said, it's his show. He's 53 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:40.000 the loudest voice in the front office. Meeting Justin Zannik, 54 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:43.159 the general manager, now reports to Austin and Austin's dad, 55 00:02:43.479 --> 00:02:47.080 Danny Ainge, the CEO, also reports now to Austin, his son, 56 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:49.840 which is going to be an interesting dynamic. We'll see 57 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:52.080 how it plays out. But I don't know how well 58 00:02:52.120 --> 00:02:54.199 you know Austin, if at all. Just wanted to get 59 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:56.680 your thoughts on what the Jazz decided to do reshuffling 60 00:02:56.680 --> 00:02:57.680 the front office out here. 61 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:02.439 Actually got to know him a little bit. This past year. 62 00:03:02.639 --> 00:03:06.000 I did a story looking back at the Jason Tatum 63 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:08.960 diraft and how he wanted to be a Laker and 64 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:12.680 the Lakers never worked him out. And I spoke to 65 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:17.759 Austin for that story, and I actually very much enjoyed 66 00:03:17.879 --> 00:03:22.520 kind of his personality, you know, he The crux of 67 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:27.400 the story was, well, Jason Tatum has shifted the balance 68 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:30.879 in terms of the championship chase between the Lakers and 69 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:34.560 the Celtics, and Austin's line was, well, can we even 70 00:03:34.599 --> 00:03:37.800 say that there are only one championship away anyway? Since 71 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:41.759 when are the people Los Angeles celebrating anything? One in Minneapolis? 72 00:03:41.800 --> 00:03:44.439 So I enjoyed that he had that little singer that 73 00:03:44.520 --> 00:03:50.120 he provided going deep into the pettiness of the Lakers 74 00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:54.719 Celtics rivalry. But obviously his reputation, of course is that 75 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:57.879 he's the son of Danny Ainge, but that he's made 76 00:03:57.960 --> 00:04:04.199 shrewd moves and been very smart about creating the pipeline 77 00:04:04.520 --> 00:04:07.439 of the you know, the main red clause system with 78 00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:14.360 the Celtics and using that in order to replenish talent 79 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:20.199 around the margins. And I certainly think he would be 80 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:25.199 a wonderful candidate if his name was Austin Jackson. It 81 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:28.000 just happens to be that he learned from one of 82 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:31.759 the best executives that we've seen, who's his father. And 83 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:35.959 I think it's a very good hire by the Jazz, 84 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:39.199 you know, by my initial thought, and you know, I'll 85 00:04:39.240 --> 00:04:43.759 have to reach out to Justin. Hopefully everything's okay with 86 00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:46.759 him health wise, and this is this isn't a move 87 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:52.879 that was necessitated by the fact that Justin's going through 88 00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:54.360 the health stuff that he has been. 89 00:04:55.480 --> 00:04:57.439 Yeah, and you know, I continue to say, they are 90 00:04:57.480 --> 00:04:59.480 only thirty GM jobs, So if you have one, you 91 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:01.360 love it them out or what I just you know, 92 00:05:01.560 --> 00:05:03.519 Justin at one point was thought to be high speed 93 00:05:03.560 --> 00:05:05.759 ahead to be the main decision maker in Milwaukee. 94 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:06.839 That went to Horst. 95 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:10.040 And then when Dennis Lindsay left here, I think most 96 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:13.600 of us included myself, figured the show was now XANAX 97 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:16.240 and it wasn't then and it isn't now. I just 98 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:18.399 wonder if at some point, and your point about his 99 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:21.560 health probably is the bottom line, because Ryan and Ashley 100 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:24.480 in the organization really rallied behind him, and I'm told 101 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:27.279 he loves living here and has lived here for quite 102 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:29.480 some time. You just have to wonder if a guy 103 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:31.639 is sharp and well respected and it is liked as 104 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.560 jay Z at some point just wants to be the 105 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:36.800 guy that calls the shots to build a roster, or 106 00:05:36.839 --> 00:05:38.279 maybe he's fine where his feet are at. 107 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:39.240 I honestly don't know. 108 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:45.759 Yeah. I mean, generally, when teams are kind of a 109 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:50.879 healthy organism, there is an alignment between ownership coaching staff 110 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:55.319 in the front office. In this case, you know, from 111 00:05:55.399 --> 00:05:57.759 just looking at it, I still view this to be 112 00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:03.160 a healthy situation. And you know it so long as 113 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:07.480 you believe in your ownership, which it appears. You know, 114 00:06:07.560 --> 00:06:11.120 Ryan Smith is someone who's kind of done everything right 115 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:16.160 since taking over that franchise. You can look at it 116 00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:18.879 like we're adding another smart person to the room, versus 117 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:20.279 I need to watch my back. 118 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:22.959 For sure, for sure, And that's why every time I've 119 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:25.439 discussed it, I prefaced it with I honestly don't know, 120 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:27.959 and we'll see how they work in lockstep together. All 121 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:32.079 front offices have multiple voices, you know. We were texting 122 00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:34.399 back and forth about this. One thing that Austin did 123 00:06:34.439 --> 00:06:37.439 say when asked about his philosophy on tanking is we 124 00:06:37.480 --> 00:06:39.279 will not do that this year or you will not 125 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:40.160 see that this year. 126 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:41.160 It was interesting. 127 00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:47.839 So vontep's last segment, I presented the scenario of and 128 00:06:47.879 --> 00:06:49.639 the Jazz probably going to try to move off of 129 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:52.839 Clarkson good luck. They'll probably try to move off of 130 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:55.879 Collins and Sexton as well, and maybe they can now 131 00:06:55.959 --> 00:06:59.360 because all those contracts move into and they'll be expired, 132 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:01.720 be exped deals this year in a way they haven't 133 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:05.240 been prior to. But if we just operate off the 134 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:07.680 roster they have with the addition of the number five 135 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:09.800 pick and maybe the number twenty one pick, maybe they 136 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:11.800 find a couple of players in the second round they like. 137 00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:15.079 And you know, a guy like Lowry Markin and actually 138 00:07:15.079 --> 00:07:17.399 plays seventy to seventy five games, and a guy like 139 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:20.439 Walker Kessler actually plays sixty five to seventy games and 140 00:07:21.079 --> 00:07:24.079 doesn't shoot seven threes in an insulting way to be 141 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:27.279 unserious about competing along with some of the other players 142 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:30.079 that have shown some signs. I'm not saying I see 143 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:32.759 a team that wins forty forty five games and sniffs 144 00:07:32.759 --> 00:07:34.800 the play in, but I'm seeing a team that maybe 145 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:38.519 wins thirty thirty five and that puts them Dave right 146 00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:42.720 in this perilous situation where if they don't finish in 147 00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:45.199 the top eight, that pick goes to the team that 148 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:45.959 I think is about to. 149 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:47.079 Win the World Championship. 150 00:07:47.079 --> 00:07:49.560 And if we're sitting here next spring and the Jazz 151 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:53.040 have won thirty two games and Mark Tatum pulls out 152 00:07:53.079 --> 00:07:56.240 the envelope at nine and it's the Jazz that is 153 00:07:56.279 --> 00:07:59.480 an epic step in the wrong direction. So how do 154 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:01.360 you think they can to dance this dance if they're 155 00:08:01.399 --> 00:08:03.240 not going to manipulate minutes, if they're not going to 156 00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:06.319 tank with the idea of also holding onto that pick, 157 00:08:06.360 --> 00:08:07.319 what do you think that looks like? 158 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:13.279 Yeah, I mean listen, I texted you and Porter having 159 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:16.920 seen some clips from the Intrusty press conference for Austin 160 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:19.879 Age and him declaring, we're not going to tank. It 161 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:25.360 just it doesn't make sense. Now, there is a lesson 162 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:30.079 to be learned that of course need everyone involved, fans included, 163 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:33.360 and those press conferences generally are for messagers to be 164 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:38.720 heard by the fans that the lottery is a lottery 165 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:43.320 and there's no direct correlation between your spot in the 166 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:46.960 standings and the pick that you're guaranteed to get, and 167 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:50.720 so there's a gamble there, and perhaps some of that 168 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:55.120 messaging was a I recognize that this was a gut 169 00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:58.080 punch to go through the year that we just had 170 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:02.559 and not end up with a top three pick, and 171 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:06.159 so I'm not going to say right now that this 172 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:09.279 is our plan for the next year. But we're also 173 00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:14.440 aware that teams quote unquote stealth tank and when we 174 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:17.080 talk about a Western conference is stacked as as is. 175 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:19.559 I think we talked about this last week, the Chris 176 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:22.000 Finch comment that there's to be thirteen teams in the 177 00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:24.960 West buying for the playoffs. If you're one of the 178 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:27.679 two teams that aren't, and the Jazz are one of 179 00:09:27.720 --> 00:09:30.919 the two teams that aren't, it behooves you to be 180 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:34.759 closer to the bottom than closer to the middle. It 181 00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:38.360 just does. And if they are able to be sellers 182 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:40.759 and get off some of those contracts that you suggested, 183 00:09:41.480 --> 00:09:44.639 that's exactly what they will be. They will be taking 184 00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:52.200 back young players and draft picks in order to move 185 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:56.519 off of Clarkston, Sexton Collins. As you mentioned, that would 186 00:09:56.559 --> 00:10:02.360 be the preferred way to do so. Again, saying something 187 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:07.960 in June can very much look a lot different when 188 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:10.120 we start playing games in the second half of the 189 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:12.279 season from January through April. 190 00:10:12.519 --> 00:10:15.960 And I think it probably means Dave that they will 191 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:18.879 kick the tires on moving off of marketing. Who is 192 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:21.960 really good and has been really good here and likes 193 00:10:21.960 --> 00:10:24.399 living here, And as you know, that's an important thing 194 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:26.720 around here to have a really good player that wants 195 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:30.200 to stay here. But he might just be too good 196 00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:33.679 to fit into this plan this year of stealth tanking 197 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:36.440 or whatever calling it. And also I'm laughing as I 198 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:38.600 say a twenty eight year old might be too old 199 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:41.679 for the timeline. But we were talking about this with Bontemps, 200 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:44.080 like the Golden State dual timeline thing that turned out 201 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:46.200 to be a little clunky. So there are a lot 202 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:47.720 of big names that could be on the move. Do 203 00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:51.159 you think Lowry Marketing could be one of them? 204 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:52.159 Certainly could be. 205 00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:58.720 And again, he has really acquitted himself well to that organization. 206 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:05.200 An All Star has proven to be like a reliable player. 207 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:07.919 Obviously he needs to play more than whatever forty seven 208 00:11:07.960 --> 00:11:09.919 games like he did last year, but when he's on 209 00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:14.519 the court, he produces a guy like that could fit 210 00:11:14.679 --> 00:11:18.919 into a variety of teams that are in contention, so 211 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:22.440 that there would be value there. I certainly believe all that. 212 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:26.679 At the same time, then what is kind of the 213 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:32.279 product you're selling? And again, if they truly believe in 214 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:37.600 as a collier in Kathy George Kessler, you know, being 215 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:42.720 a core to move forward with, than sure. If they 216 00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:48.279 don't or are unsure, it's tough to move on from. 217 00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:50.720 You know, a bird in the hand for two in 218 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:54.039 the bush in this case, because he is a very 219 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:59.799 very good player who seems to be very content being, 220 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:02.039 you know, the best player of the jazz franchise. 221 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:05.320 All right, moving off the jazz stuff, let's get over 222 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:09.240 to what Jim Dolan and his Kazoo decided to do 223 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:12.879 this week with their head coach, you know, Dave. One 224 00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:16.279 of the things that kind of irritates me about the 225 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:19.440 media stuff and how many different voices there are or 226 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:21.759 how many people like after the fact, like yeah, I 227 00:12:21.799 --> 00:12:23.840 totally saw this coming, you know this that or whatever, 228 00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:26.519 and look maybe you did. 229 00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:29.240 I don't know. I think this is and I'm biased. 230 00:12:29.320 --> 00:12:31.519 You know, Tom was Jeff's assistant back in the nineties, 231 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:34.279 so I very like, very much like and respect the 232 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:37.200 man outside of him being a coach who I think 233 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:40.080 has done a remarkable job there. I guess the way 234 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:43.159 I'll post it to you is, what's your understanding of 235 00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:46.360 why this decision was made. Is it in a vacuum 236 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:49.320 because of what happened against Indiana? Is it player driven 237 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:52.240 with Cat behind the scenes. Is it an owner who's 238 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:54.559 more interested to being a front man for a hacky 239 00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:58.960 band than anything else, Like what exactly went into this 240 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:00.720 decision as far as high you understand it. 241 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:07.039 Listen, the knicks made or had I should say, so, 242 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:09.720 I can't say with certainty that they made him do this, 243 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:14.240 but they had Leon Rose own this decision with the statement. 244 00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:20.279 In the statement, however, it goes out of his way. 245 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:23.039 Leon Rose, the president of besqu vi Oberrations, goes out 246 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:27.159 of his way to phrase Tom Thibodeaux and say that 247 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:30.799 he's part of our family and always will be. To me, 248 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:35.080 that sounds like the statement of someone who wink wink 249 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:37.960 wants people to be to know that it was not 250 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:42.679 his idea. And I do believe that Leon Rose does 251 00:13:42.759 --> 00:13:46.120 have autonomy over the players. So then that would make 252 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:48.759 me believe it's not a player driven decision, that this 253 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:52.919 was about James Dolan, the owner, and that if you 254 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:55.679 want to talk about head scratching moves, well that is 255 00:13:55.960 --> 00:14:00.080 the mo of what James Dolan has done since being 256 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:04.360 in charge of that franchise. And so that's where it 257 00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:07.799 makes most sense. When something doesn't make sense, you want 258 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:11.080 to have it make sense. Look at James Dolan and 259 00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:15.679 beyond that, certainly, I think the tipping point that would 260 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:18.799 have made it hard for Leon Rose to defend him, 261 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:23.720 and to you know, step in front of any impetus 262 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:29.080 from Dolan is the fact that he benched Cat in 263 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:32.080 Game two of these conference finals. You know, it's a 264 00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:35.720 guy that you traded for. He's perhaps as great as 265 00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:40.639 as Jenn Brunson is. He's perhaps your most talented player. 266 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:46.320 And I spoke to someone who was on the Minnesota 267 00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:52.399 staff when Bibbs coached Kat back then and said, oh, man, 268 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:54.840 as soon as I saw him in Ben's cat, I 269 00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:57.919 knew this could be a problem, because that's what happened 270 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:00.639 back in the day. There was that one game play 271 00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:05.080 in game between Minnesota and Denver was before the Plane 272 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:07.519 Tournament was official. They just happened to be that season 273 00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:09.799 where it was the last game of the year that 274 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:14.080 would determine whether the Nuggets or the Wolves get in 275 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:16.679 in the fourth quarter and crunched down of that game, 276 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:22.759 Tibbeto also benched Kat in favor of TODDH. Gibson. And 277 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:25.600 you know, the person I spoke to who was familiar 278 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:28.200 with that Wolves team said, as soon as I saw 279 00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:32.480 that happened, I thought that would be a problem. However, 280 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:35.480 I supposed to like another league exec who said, listen, 281 00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:41.559 I heard whispers about Thibeteau and whether it just how 282 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:44.840 high the team was on him over the years, and 283 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:48.759 I was still shocked and surprised to see that decision 284 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:51.519 made after the run they just had. So I think 285 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:56.559 my takeaway is that NBA coaching is no longer merit based. 286 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:01.080 It just isn't. It is at the way of the owner. 287 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:05.600 That's why good for the Coaches Association that everything is 288 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:08.960 guaranteed money. And you could say, oh, well, you know, 289 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:11.759 why would they do this. Why is going to give 290 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:14.240 a guy a three year, thirty million dollar extension. He 291 00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:16.159 gets to walk out the door with that, He gets 292 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:18.759 to walk out the door with that, because you took 293 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:22.440 away his dignity. You know, listen, I was. I still 294 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:25.879 think that Michael mulone decision. You know, good for David 295 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:28.639 Adelman to get that team to the second round of 296 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:30.919 the playoffs and force okay see to a game seven. 297 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:35.320 But I think if you have Clint State playoff spot 298 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:38.559 as the coach of a team, you should be guaranteed 299 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:42.279 the chance to coach that team in the playoffs, barring 300 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:45.559 anything off the court that would be untoward and perhaps 301 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:50.679 invoke a moral torpitude clause like I think it's out 302 00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:51.600 of control right now. 303 00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:53.960 Yeah, some good points in there. I was thinking about 304 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:54.639 this today. 305 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:57.200 Is it a sign or maybe it has been a sign, 306 00:16:57.200 --> 00:17:00.480 And maybe I'm just sload of the uptake here, whether 307 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:04.240 it's Michael Malone or even Taylor Jenkins who's younger but 308 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:05.880 appears to be a little bit more of an old 309 00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:08.359 school guy, and Tom is as old school as they come. 310 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:13.039 Is it a sign that the job description has changed 311 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:16.880 where it's more about your And look, I'm arguing with 312 00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:18.880 myself as I asked you this question. It's always been 313 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:22.160 about managing egos, and relationships have always been a part 314 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:25.559 of it. But the days of Greg Popovich and Jerry 315 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:28.119 Sloan and you know, some of these old school guys 316 00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:32.079 that are just more about like results based business approaches 317 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:34.079 as opposed to coddle these young stars. 318 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:36.279 Is that approach simply just out the window now? 319 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:40.920 I think it's harder and harder to do because you 320 00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:43.720 have to establish yourself to be able to do that. 321 00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:48.240 So if you're a young coach coming in, you know 322 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:50.759 one thing is that a lot of times the front 323 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:56.000 offices these days are heavy handed in allowing that new 324 00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:59.240 coach to pick their staff, and so from the very 325 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:02.920 beginning there undercut in terms of having power when they 326 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:05.960 first step into the organization, it's not even their decision 327 00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:09.640 who's going to work for them, and then it only 328 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:14.640 extrapolates from there. And the initial reporting that Scham's Johnny 329 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:17.640 has shared on the ESPN that the Knicks wants someone 330 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:21.079 who is adaptable and someone who's been more willing to 331 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:25.400 play their bench. That doesn't sound like the resume of 332 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:29.599 someone who is established, because established guys say no, no, no, 333 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:31.839 I know what I'm doing. Back out of my kitchen, 334 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:35.519 let me cook. A guy who is just happy to 335 00:18:35.559 --> 00:18:39.160 get the opportunity kind of has no choice but to 336 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:43.039 listen to the front office, to the analytic walks, whatever 337 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:46.920 it may be, in order to take that input and 338 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:50.440 have it affect the way they coach. And so you know, 339 00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:53.920 I am not reporting this name, but you know, considering 340 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:58.359 the way the Phoenix hiring when with Johnny Bryant and 341 00:18:58.599 --> 00:19:01.319 Jordan not being the two final s, Jordan not getting hired, 342 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:06.519 in Johnny Bryant having history with the Knicks organization, I 343 00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:10.279 am very curious to see if someone like him is 344 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:12.359 the guy who gets the job, because that would be 345 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:15.200 the type of person that would kind of have to 346 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:19.400 play the bench and have to be less rigid because 347 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:22.240 there is the idea of well, I am just fortunate 348 00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:23.200 to have this job. 349 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:26.799 Isn't it only fair to point out that there are 350 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:30.000 six and a half maybe seven good players on the roster, Like, 351 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:32.400 if you want your coach to play your bench, maybe 352 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:36.160 don't have campaign Landry Shammitt in a precious at you 353 00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:39.079 as three of the four best options off the bench. 354 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:40.599 This is not a deep roster, Dave. 355 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:46.039 I agree with you completely, But that would require a 356 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:50.799 front office to point the fingers themselves, which that happens 357 00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:55.319 about as often as I get through a radio appearance 358 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:57.359 with you without trying to talk trash on one of 359 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:01.000 my ESPN colleagues is literally never. 360 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:05.240 All right, We'll end with a thought on the finals. 361 00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:08.279 You know, Initially I was like, Yeah, this doesn't feel 362 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:10.119 like it's going to be close. And then I started 363 00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:12.079 digging into some of the stuff about the pace and 364 00:20:12.119 --> 00:20:14.799 the rebound percentage and free throws, and I'm like, no, 365 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:16.759 now I think it's even more of a mismatch. 366 00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:18.640 It's just like everything. 367 00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:21.759 Indiana can do well, Oklahoma City can also do those 368 00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:26.000 things well. I feel like Adam. I respect for Rick Carlisle. 369 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:28.119 I'll give them a game and say it's not as sweet. 370 00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:29.880 But how do you think this goes down? Day before 371 00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:30.599 I set you loose? 372 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:34.519 Yeah, I picked okay See in six as some of 373 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:37.160 that was just hoping that we'd get a six game 374 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:40.200 series after two to five game series the last two years. 375 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:44.400 But as I've looked into, you know, reading materials and 376 00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:47.960 some of the stat packs we've been sharing, it, YESBN, 377 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:50.880 Like there's two numbers that completely are jumping out off 378 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:54.440 the page to me. One, the Pacers have excuse me, 379 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:59.000 the thunder have forty seven wins this year by fifteen 380 00:20:59.079 --> 00:21:02.880 points or more between the regular season and the playoffs. 381 00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:06.599 It's the most all time NBA history. So that would 382 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:11.440 suggest that we may not get close games because they're 383 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:15.119 going to lead by enough so it's not even a 384 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:17.960 question in the fourth quarter. And then the second thing 385 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:21.920 with okay See having home court advantage, they are winning 386 00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:27.359 home playoff games this postseason run by an average of 387 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:30.359 twenty five and a half points per game, So like 388 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:33.640 it's blowout. So the only way we get a good 389 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:37.440 series in my is Indy can split the first two. 390 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:40.880 Those two numbers that I just share with you would 391 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:45.599 suggests that that's very unlikely, and so if it ends 392 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:47.920 up being too okay, See, yeah, I think we're probably 393 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:48.440 going five. 394 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:53.319 All right, my guy, Well, congratulations on manipulating the system 395 00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:55.839 so you could remain in southern California for another few 396 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:57.680 days but enjoy the finals. 397 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:59.039 Thanks for the time and safe travels. 398 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:01.400 But okay, thanks bets, doctor ship. 399 00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:01.720 All right. 400 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:05.000 The Great Dave mcminnimon covers the NBA for ESPN. Get 401 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:07.240