WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:00.800 Right out of the gates. 2 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:03.799 We can welcome to our guy, Tony Jones on a 3 00:00:03.799 --> 00:00:08.199 beautiful Friday afternoon. Do not let us win game six, Tony. 4 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:09.199 That's all I have to say. 5 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:12.320 That's all I have to say. Do not let us 6 00:00:12.439 --> 00:00:17.079 walk into Indianapolis and walk out. Don't let us win 7 00:00:17.120 --> 00:00:20.320 game six. Just don't let us win game six. Finish 8 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:23.120 us off. That's all. That's all I say. 9 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:25.440 I do kind of I do, kind of like porters 10 00:00:25.480 --> 00:00:27.760 angle though on the other side with it's like, please 11 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:29.039 let us win game six. 12 00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:31.679 I mean, you know, no, no, it would be nice 13 00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:32.520 to win game six. 14 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:36.719 No, no, no, don't let us win game six. Okay, no, 15 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:39.799 you let him win game six. Not winning game seven. 16 00:00:40.359 --> 00:00:40.840 I'm with you. 17 00:00:41.079 --> 00:00:43.159 I'll tell you what was weird? Man, Like, if you 18 00:00:43.240 --> 00:00:45.479 had not watched any of the series. Let's say you 19 00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:47.600 were on vacation, you went over to Europe for a 20 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:50.200 few weeks, and you didn't watch any of the first, 21 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:53.640 you know, four games, and then you just watched last night, 22 00:00:53.679 --> 00:00:56.200 you would have been like, how is Indiana up? I mean, 23 00:00:56.759 --> 00:00:59.479 last night was a bloodbath? What were your what do 24 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:01.399 you think was different? Let me ask you that from 25 00:01:01.439 --> 00:01:04.280 your basketball eye, what what made last night different for 26 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:06.599 New York or Indiana either way. 27 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:10.640 Well, remember when we talked last week, and and and 28 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:18.439 and how sad and just miserable I was after Game one. Yep, Well, 29 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:24.239 game one is the difference of the series. Yeah, Game 30 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:27.439 one is the difference of the series. So, you know, 31 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:30.159 But to your point and to your question, in two 32 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:33.519 of the last three games, we have defended Indiana very 33 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:38.599 very very well. Uh uh. Game three we defended them 34 00:01:38.680 --> 00:01:41.560 very well. Game four they kind of got away from us. 35 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:45.159 Game five was our best defensive night of the series. 36 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:47.719 So in two of the three we've kind of figured 37 00:01:47.719 --> 00:01:52.480 them out, you know. So what that means for Game six, 38 00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:57.400 you know, I don't know, because the one thing from 39 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:00.560 covering the first I've I covered the first rounds of 40 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:07.159 this playoffs, you know, through how many teams, five teams 41 00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:10.919 or whatever. And the one thing that that this playoffs 42 00:02:10.919 --> 00:02:14.759 has been defined by is that there's no carryover to 43 00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:20.560 these games. These games are all individual entities unto themselves. 44 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:24.039 So you know, I don't think there's gonna be any 45 00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:26.879 carryover to Game six. I mean, if New York wins, 46 00:02:26.919 --> 00:02:29.960 game six is going to be because you know, they 47 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.520 play a great game six, not because of anything that 48 00:02:32.599 --> 00:02:36.039 happened in game five or anything before, but there are 49 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:39.800 clearly some things that you know, Tom Thibodeau is adjusted to, 50 00:02:40.680 --> 00:02:43.800 and you know, he's kind of thrown some stuff against 51 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:48.680 the wall and they've stuck. You know. Obviously the biggest 52 00:02:48.680 --> 00:02:51.319 thing was he just got sick and tired of cameraon paint. 53 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:56.159 Like if there are there, if everybody on the Knicks 54 00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:59.960 gets hurt, and there's like four guys, uh, five guy 55 00:03:00.039 --> 00:03:03.639 I was on the bench. You know, Tom Tippodau is 56 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:06.400 going to go hoosiers and just play with four rather 57 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:11.960 than play with campaigns. And you know, it's one of 58 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:15.280 those things where I think that there's been some adjustments 59 00:03:15.319 --> 00:03:19.680 made that have worked against this Indiana offense. And now 60 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:22.159 it just comes down to game six whether or not 61 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:26.000 the Knicks can can go and get a big road 62 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:27.479 win in Indianapolis. 63 00:03:27.639 --> 00:03:31.000 So I will say this to me, the main difference 64 00:03:31.080 --> 00:03:33.199 last night, And I don't know how much of this is. 65 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:36.319 And by the way, if the Pacers are playing possum here, 66 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:38.400 if they decided to mail it in, then that's a 67 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:41.240 dangerous approach. So I don't know how much of it 68 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:45.000 had to do with Indiana's inability to execute or get 69 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:46.960 up and down with pace like they've been able to 70 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:50.240 quite frankly since January if you've been watching them. But 71 00:03:50.360 --> 00:03:53.039 last night Tony was the first game in the entire 72 00:03:53.159 --> 00:03:55.960 series where I thought the Knicks actually gave They didn't 73 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:58.000 have to give forty eight minutes because it was basically 74 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:00.240 over in the fourth, But I'll say the next gave 75 00:04:00.360 --> 00:04:04.400 thirty two to thirty four minutes of intense defensive effort, 76 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:07.599 like they were closing out on the perimeter. They weren't 77 00:04:07.639 --> 00:04:10.400 giving as much space to Halliburton, who did not have 78 00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:12.759 a good game, Like when you go back and watch 79 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:16.319 what happened in Indiana when the Pacers hung one thirty 80 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:20.959 on the Knicks in Game four. Yes, give Halliburton a 81 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:23.920 ton of credit for a historically special offensive game, give 82 00:04:23.959 --> 00:04:26.279 the Pacers credit for getting up and down the floor 83 00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:30.319 and knocking down shots. But this is not your grandfather's Knicks. 84 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:34.199 There is no Charles Oakley or Anthony Mason or Anthony Bonner. 85 00:04:34.360 --> 00:04:37.079 If you want to go deep deep cuts there, you know, 86 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:42.879 there's no big physical defensive you know effort. As far 87 00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:45.120 as the way the team plays schematically, this is not 88 00:04:45.240 --> 00:04:47.160 Pat Riley or Jeff Van Gundy. This is one of 89 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:51.560 the better offenses in pro basketball, and their defensive efficiency 90 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:54.160 in the league was around twelve or thirteen if I 91 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:54.959 remember correctly. 92 00:04:55.240 --> 00:04:56.800 If they're going to win two more. 93 00:04:56.600 --> 00:04:59.319 Games, they've got a guard the way they did last 94 00:04:59.399 --> 00:05:03.279 night for the f they have that in them. 95 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:05.839 Well, I think it's gonna be tough because I mean, 96 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:08.639 these series are every other day. The series is every 97 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:11.000 other day all the way through. I mean, so you 98 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:13.160 know it's gonna be tough on the legs, you know. 99 00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:15.120 Last night, I mean I think they had a shot 100 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:19.199 of adrenaline, you know, from from the crowd. You know, 101 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:21.240 but this is gonna be a road game in games six, 102 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:23.879 you know, now, the shot of adrenaline is gonna be 103 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:26.839 come from. Hey, your season ends if you lose this 104 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:29.560 game tonight, and then you have, you know, an off 105 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:33.199 season of questions that you have to say. But you 106 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:35.279 know you're gonna have to. I mean, it's gonna be, 107 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:37.360 you know, one of those things where you're gonna have 108 00:05:37.399 --> 00:05:40.920 to manufacture your own energy and you're not gonna have 109 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:44.720 you know, the garden crowd behind you. Now, you know, 110 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:46.519 the one thing that we both know is that the 111 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:50.560 Knicks have played extremely well on the road during this playoffs, 112 00:05:50.600 --> 00:05:54.000 and you know, down two oh, after losing two in 113 00:05:54.040 --> 00:05:57.199 the Garden, they did go and they they did get 114 00:05:57.199 --> 00:05:59.839 a game, which is what they needed in Indiana, and 115 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:01.839 had to be game three because you know, you're not 116 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:05.279 coming back from a three to zero deficit. So you know, 117 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:08.879 winning a game four after losing a game three wouldn't 118 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:13.879 have meant anything. But what they have done after that 119 00:06:14.360 --> 00:06:18.199 horrific o to start with both of those losses at home, 120 00:06:18.759 --> 00:06:22.319 they have at least given themselves a chance, right, so 121 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:25.519 they knew what the formula was. Okay, you lose both 122 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:29.639 games at home, you know the series is probably over. 123 00:06:29.800 --> 00:06:32.160 So what's the formula. The formula is you have to 124 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:35.000 win game three because you're not coming back from three 125 00:06:35.079 --> 00:06:38.399 zero downs. So they won game three. Obviously they lost 126 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:41.680 game four, but they won game five, so you know, 127 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:45.199 it comes down to can they win the game six. 128 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:47.160 The one thing that I do think is in their 129 00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:50.759 favor is that, you know, for the first time this series, 130 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:53.399 I think Indiana is going to face some series pressure 131 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:56.160 because they know they have to win this game six 132 00:06:56.279 --> 00:06:59.600 because they can't have this go back to a game 133 00:06:59.639 --> 00:07:03.480 seven in New York. You know, so their shots are 134 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:05.639 going to mean something for the first time in this series, 135 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:08.480 and they're just not playing with house money like they've 136 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:11.319 been playing, you know, for for for most of the series. 137 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:14.920 But you know, if if New York doesn't get it 138 00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:18.639 done tomorrow night in game six, man oh man, oh man, 139 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:21.839 oh man, are they going to rule game that game 140 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:28.000 one where they allowed uh that historic rally for for 141 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:28.959 oh one definicit? 142 00:07:29.319 --> 00:07:31.839 No man, you called it, and I talked about it 143 00:07:31.879 --> 00:07:34.319 on the show as well, and then privately with you know, 144 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:36.959 Nick fan buddies of mine. That's just it's hard to 145 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:39.000 come back from. You know, It's one thing just to 146 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:41.839 lose home court. It's another thing to have your soul 147 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:45.319 snatched from you after losing a game where you clearly 148 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:48.040 were in the driver's seat. But to me, I'm gonna 149 00:07:48.040 --> 00:07:49.519 come back to I'm gonna come back to a couple 150 00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:51.680 of things as far as how I believe the Knicks 151 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:53.879 can actually get this done, because I do feel like 152 00:07:54.680 --> 00:07:57.120 the way some people have talked about this series isn't 153 00:07:57.120 --> 00:08:00.519 necessarily true. I think these two teams are very evenly matched, 154 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:04.600 and I think it's a close situation. I could see 155 00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:08.639 Indiana dump trucking New York on Saturday and winning in six. 156 00:08:08.680 --> 00:08:11.000 I could see the next winning on Saturday and losing 157 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:13.000 Game seven of the Garden. And I could see either, 158 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:15.879 you know, I could see any of the three scenarios 159 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:18.480 left on the table actually happening. This is going to 160 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:20.680 come down to effort on defense for New York to 161 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:22.920 close out to get back in transition. Then it's going 162 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:25.800 to come down to possessions, meaning you have to offensive rebound, 163 00:08:26.199 --> 00:08:27.879 and then you have to take care of the basketball, 164 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:30.360 which leads me to a couple of players. Okay, so 165 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:34.519 I love Josh Hart and Josh's you know, his attitude 166 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:37.720 and embracing the role that he's been asked to embrace, 167 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:39.360 coming off the bench and being a bat out of 168 00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:42.480 hell has been awesome. But sometimes he makes passes that 169 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:45.279 remind me of like the kid in the neighborhood whose 170 00:08:45.320 --> 00:08:47.720 mom forced him to play junior jazz to make friends 171 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:49.679 and he doesn't know how to play. Josh makes some 172 00:08:49.720 --> 00:08:52.639 of the dumbest passes that I've ever seen in my life. 173 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:55.720 And there are moments where Carl Towns just forgets how 174 00:08:55.799 --> 00:08:57.919 to play defense, so he grabs onto somebody and just 175 00:08:57.960 --> 00:09:01.039 commits fouls. And I hesit to go too hard on 176 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:04.120 Kat because I actually think he's been great and Indiana 177 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:06.679 does not having a matchup for him. He's eating Miles 178 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:11.080 Turner's lunch and your boy Tony Bradley, your boy, Tony 179 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:14.399 Tony Bradley. You know he's not the answer, and neither 180 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:17.720 is Neither is Thomas Bryant. They have nobody to guard Kat. 181 00:09:18.039 --> 00:09:21.639 But Caad has to realize, like, let the dude go, 182 00:09:21.879 --> 00:09:25.159 don't grab him, don't commit stupid fouls. You're too important. 183 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:27.039 You need to be on the floor. And there are 184 00:09:27.080 --> 00:09:29.600 just some Josh Art passes that leave me scratching my head. 185 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:32.320 This to me, Tony comes down to some simple things 186 00:09:32.360 --> 00:09:34.559 for New York, and it's the way Tom coaches, which 187 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:37.039 is good news. You've got to guard, you have to 188 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:38.720 close out on the PERIMETERI you have to get back 189 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:42.600 in transition, and then it is a possession matchup offensive rebound, 190 00:09:42.600 --> 00:09:45.080 which is where Mitchell, Robinson and Cat have the advantage, 191 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:49.200 and then take care of the basketball, do not turn 192 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:51.440 it over. If they can do those things, I still 193 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:53.200 think there's a world where New York wins this. 194 00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:57.879 Series taking care of the basketball. Tomorrow night for me 195 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:01.600 goes to the top of the line by leads and bounds. 196 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:07.039 If Indiana is able to get in transition, force, the pace, force, 197 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:10.000 the tempo, get up and down, the series is over. 198 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:13.320 There's not a road that New York can win that game. 199 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:16.759 So the Knicks are gonna have to take care of 200 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:19.360 the basketball. They're gonna have to get a shot up 201 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:23.000 every possession. They're gonna have to defensive rebounds, and when 202 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:25.200 they defensive rebound, they're gonna have to go and make 203 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:28.840 those guys guard for twenty four seconds of possession. And 204 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:31.320 they're gonna have to do it without turning the ball over, 205 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:36.679 without giving up turnovers, for touchdowns, without giving up turnovers, 206 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:41.799 and allowing them to play ninety four feet. They want 207 00:10:41.879 --> 00:10:47.320 Indiana to have to play forty seven feet, not ninety 208 00:10:47.320 --> 00:10:50.559 four feet. They want that game in a half court. Tomorrow. 209 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:52.559 They got the game in a half court for the 210 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:54.879 first time this series. Even in the Game three that 211 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:58.600 they won, that game was still played in the full court. 212 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:01.799 New York just played, I mean well, kat just played 213 00:11:02.039 --> 00:11:05.320 a historic fourth quarter and they they came back and 214 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:09.000 got that one. But other than Game five, Game five 215 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:11.679 was the first game of the series where New York 216 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:15.399 was actually able to slow the pace down and get 217 00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:18.200 this game to where get that game to the speed 218 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:22.840 where they wanted it. And that's going to be really 219 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:26.559 important tomorrow, trying to get that game out of the 220 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:29.240 ninety four feet because you know it's going to be 221 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:31.679 in Bainbridge and it's you know, those guys are gonna 222 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:33.320 get up and try to get up and down the floor, 223 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:36.080 you know, So they have to do that. And the 224 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:38.240 one one subtle thing that they have to do that 225 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:41.159 not many people are talking about. When New York makes 226 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:45.399 a basket, they have to bust back on defense because 227 00:11:45.559 --> 00:11:47.519 any end of the best team in the league at 228 00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:50.840 taking that ball out of the net and running off 229 00:11:50.919 --> 00:11:53.879 of makee And they've done it over and over and 230 00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:57.159 over again this series and figured out ways to get 231 00:11:57.159 --> 00:12:01.960 open shots. And you know when Jalen Bronson or Karl 232 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:04.960 Anthony Towns they go to the basket, you know, when 233 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:09.240 they flail and they get on the floor, whether they 234 00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:11.480 make that shot or miss that shot, they got to 235 00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:15.039 get up and they got to get back because Indiana's 236 00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:17.559 coming back and playing five on four and they've done 237 00:12:17.559 --> 00:12:21.039 it over and over and over again in this series. 238 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:24.559 So you know, I agree with every single point that 239 00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:27.960 you say. The turnovers to take care of the ball. 240 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:29.879 If they if they can figure out a way to 241 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:33.240 take care of the ball and get a shot on 242 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:36.480 ninety percent of their possessions, I think they actually have 243 00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:36.879 a chance. 244 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:39.000 Come on that, all right? 245 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:41.080 Moving over to the West, and I'll just ask the 246 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:44.360 question simply, does it really matter who wins out of 247 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:46.519 the Knicks and the Pacers because it just feels like 248 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:49.840 Oklahoma City. Well, if we're honest and if we're fair, 249 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:52.159 they've had this level all year long. I think people 250 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:54.480 are waiting to see if they had the level in 251 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:58.679 the postseason. So Tony Okase is eighty and eighteen this year, 252 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:03.360 they are twenty nine and one against the East. 253 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:06.200 The only game they lost was at Cleveland. 254 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:10.879 Maybe we should just acknowledge that this team is historic. 255 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:13.440 They're great now, They're gonna be great for a long time. 256 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:16.120 Do either of the Knicks or the Pacers have a 257 00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:19.120 shot in hell of making the finals? 258 00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:21.559 Interesting, I don't think. 259 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:23.440 The Knicks too. I think the Knicks lose in five, 260 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:29.440 if not a sweep. I think Indiana can get it 261 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:34.399 to six, maybe seven if they play above their heads 262 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:37.360 because I think in the styles make fights, and I 263 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:41.240 think Indiana plays a style that had the chance to 264 00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:47.960 give Oklahoma City some issues. I don't think that Knicks 265 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:53.360 have a chance in hell because you know they play, 266 00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:58.279 you know, Jalen Bronson plays a lot of isolation basketball, 267 00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:03.200 and you just can't do that against Oklahoma City. You know, 268 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:06.200 you saw what they did against Anthony Edwards. You saw 269 00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:09.000 what they did did against John Morant in the first 270 00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:15.279 in the first in the first round. The the difference 271 00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:17.960 in the second round, and one of the biggest reasons 272 00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:21.519 why Denver was able to take that series to seven 273 00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:25.600 is because Denver doesn't Denver doesn't play isolation basketball. You know, 274 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:27.759 they run a lot of gebel handoffs, they run a 275 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:30.759 lot of movement. All five guys handle it, all five 276 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:34.919 guys shoot it. Obviously, you know there's from Nicola Jokish factor. 277 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:37.440 He's the best player in the world. But you know, 278 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:40.399 they play a brand of basketball to where you know, 279 00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:44.519 Alex Carusso and Cason Wallace and Lou Dort just can't 280 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:48.480 key on one ball handler. You know, Minnesota plays a 281 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:52.080 lot of isolation basketball and that just wasn't gonna work. 282 00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:57.799 And so you know, The point is Indiana doesn't do that. 283 00:14:57.879 --> 00:15:01.320 Indiana moves the ball. They play you five guys. And 284 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:05.799 the one thing that the Tyreese Halliburton's superpower is that 285 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:12.960 he never ever turns the basketball over and against Oklahoma City. 286 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:18.080 You know, if if that rings true, then you know 287 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:21.519 that's that's a matchup that you know. Okay, So he 288 00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:25.720 just hasn't seen so far in this playoffs. Now there's 289 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:28.600 still a better team, and they'll probably still figure it 290 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:30.720 out as the series goes on, and they'll probably still 291 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:33.320 win that series in six. But at least that series 292 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:37.679 will be to me, will be interesting. Uh, Oklahoma City 293 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:39.639 in New York is going to be a mismatch. I 294 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:44.519 think it ends in five, if not four. So the 295 00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:47.360 the answer is if we want to see the finals, 296 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:50.480 that we actually want to watch, rufe for Indiana to 297 00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:51.200 win this series. 298 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:54.240 All right, moving over to Little Jazz before I set 299 00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:57.399 you loose, you know, we are a few weeks away. 300 00:15:57.399 --> 00:16:00.360 We'll turn our calendars to June coming up on day, 301 00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:02.240 and then we've got about three and a half weeks 302 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:03.120 until the draft. 303 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:05.559 So let's just talk a big picture. 304 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:08.320 There's not a lot of individual specific things that I 305 00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:10.559 can ask you about that we haven't already discussed, so 306 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:14.240 Jazz with two first rounders two second rounders at least 307 00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:17.120 that's what they have now, And just wondering what you're 308 00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:21.159 hearing about the overall approach. And then I'll actually add 309 00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:24.600 a second question just because our listeners will be curious 310 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:27.320 to what your take is. Have you changed your opinion 311 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:30.080 on who best case scenario is at number five as 312 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:31.120 we approach Draft night? 313 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:35.039 No, I mean best case scenario to me in my 314 00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:38.159 opinion is who's ever left out? As you know VJ 315 00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:42.600 asked from Trey Johnson or Ace Bailey. You know, I 316 00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:45.519 know that you know there's some Conker Nipple talk out there. 317 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:50.559 I know that there's some Jeremiah Fears talk out there. 318 00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:54.519 But for me, you know, I think that the Jazz 319 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:58.799 has to take somebody at five that has the outcome 320 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:02.200 of a star or superstar. To me, that's not continental. 321 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:05.680 I think Continentple is going to score fifteen to eighteen 322 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:09.079 points a game for ten years in the NBA and 323 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:11.640 he's not going to be a superstar or a star. 324 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:15.039 So even if you know with you know the floor 325 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:18.680 that Ash Bailey has, which I think he has, you know, 326 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:21.279 a really low floor, but I also think he has 327 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:23.640 a super high ceiling. You know, I think that the 328 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:26.279 Jazz just have to go ahead and swing if he's 329 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:29.359 the guy that's there at five, and take that chance, 330 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:34.200 because you know, they went and lost sixty five games 331 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:37.079 this year. You know, you go and you lose sixty 332 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:40.200 five games, and you know you pretty much that's your 333 00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:44.119 intentional outcome. You better take somebody that you can develop 334 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:48.680 into a superstar level player or a star level player. 335 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:51.920 And I think that you know, Ah Bailey has you know, 336 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:56.440 a star level outcome at one hundred percent of his ceiling. 337 00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:59.319 I think the same of VJ. Askham. I think the 338 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:02.920 same was Trade Johnson. I don't think vjstem will be 339 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:06.240 there at five. I think that he goes either three 340 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:11.000 or four. And you know, I think that VJ is 341 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:14.799 probably the safest of those three in that tier because 342 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:20.359 of because of his athleticism. I mean, he is a very, 343 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:24.240 very very gifted athlete and he's a very very gifted 344 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:29.880 defender as well. So I think that he's probably my 345 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:31.799 bet to be the first one of those three off 346 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:34.440 the board. And I think that my bet is that 347 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:38.640 Aces is the one that's available to the Jazz at five. 348 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:41.759 So if I were, if I were the Jazz and 349 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:43.839 I were handicapping this thing, and this is just me 350 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:47.359 talking and not the Utah Jazz, I would be taking 351 00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:51.319 Ace Bailly with the fifth pick of the June of 352 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:53.640 the twenty twenty five NBA Draft. 353 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:55.200 One more thing, I'll set you loose. 354 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:58.079 Tim McMahon hopped on this week, and I don't know 355 00:18:58.200 --> 00:19:02.720 if this was solid intel or Tim just pontificating Kyrie 356 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:06.839 Irving's injury. He floated Colin Sexton out as a potential 357 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:10.119 target for the MAVs to utilize while Kyrie's getting well. 358 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:14.079 The Jazz actually, ironically enough, even though the books are clean, 359 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:16.640 moving forward, they probably will not have a lot of 360 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:19.880 space cap space this summer. I'm going to go out 361 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:22.319 on a limb and say John Collins picks up his thirty. 362 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:23.200 Million dollar player option. 363 00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:26.920 Now if John doesn't, first of all, wow, Second of all, 364 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:28.960 the Jazz actually have a little flexibility, but I don't 365 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:33.359 think he's going to opt out. So any thoughts on 366 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:35.880 potential moves other than the draft. 367 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:37.720 They're not in a spot. 368 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:39.480 To sign a bunch of free agents even if they could, 369 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:41.640 they don't have the cash. So well, they kick the 370 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:45.000 tires on a Colin Sexton, a John Collins, a Jordan Clarkson, 371 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:48.799 the usual suspects. Are there any other avenues to potentially 372 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:51.279 add a little bit of talent outside of the draft 373 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:52.720 capital the Jazz having their back. 374 00:19:52.599 --> 00:19:57.880 Pocket, Well, they'll they'll explore Jon Collin straight for sure. 375 00:19:58.839 --> 00:20:01.759 And I would not be surprised John is traded this 376 00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:05.480 summer because he'll he'll pick up the player option, but 377 00:20:05.559 --> 00:20:08.039 he's going into the last year. It'll be it'll be 378 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:12.359 an expiring and you know, frankly, he had a really 379 00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:15.559 good year last year. Uh and yeah, it's just a 380 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:16.559 terrific shooting year. 381 00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:16.759 Act. 382 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:20.839 So you know, I think that there are teams out 383 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:29.079 there that will give value for a an expiring John Collins. 384 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:33.039 We'll see what happens with Jordans. My guess is that 385 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:36.920 he probably doesn't have uh that kind of value on 386 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:39.519 the market this summer because I don't think he had 387 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:42.240 a great season last year, you know. And we'll see 388 00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:45.920 what happens with with Colin section as well. You know, 389 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:48.240 I don't think that the Jazz are averse to trading 390 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:51.319 any of the three or all of the three. I 391 00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:53.920 don't think that they're verse to having those guys on 392 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:57.519 the roster uh going forward. But you know, I do 393 00:20:57.599 --> 00:21:00.000 think that John is probably if I had to get 394 00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:02.799 that's the most likely to go, just because of the 395 00:21:02.839 --> 00:21:06.000 season that he had last year. And then they'll you know, 396 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:09.000 I think the big thing. I think they'll go out 397 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:11.200 and they'll get a veteran point guard this sure, no 398 00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:14.440 matter what happens in the draft. You know, I don't 399 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:18.880 think that they'll go into next year, you know, without 400 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:22.839 giving Isaiah Callier some some some competition at that spot. 401 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:26.640