April 26, 2024 • 24 mins
Sarah and NBA senior writer Steve Aschburner react to the Joel Embiid 50-point performance and possible ejection in the Sixers win vs the Knicks and the Lakers humbling defeat vs the Nuggets as they fall to 0-3 in the series. Plus they preview the Suns must win game vs the Timberwolves and the Pacers trying to take command of the series vs the Bucks in Indianapolis on Friday.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome into NBA pulsa production of iHeartRadio in the NBA.
I'm Sarah Custack, NBA analyst for the Yes Network, and
today is Friday, April twenty sixth from our extraordinary core
group of NBA journals were joined now by NBA dot
Com Senior writer Steve Ashberger. And Oh, we asked, we're
in it. We are in it. We've got some series
that are starting to become just that. I'm going to
(00:25):
take a look at what happened last night, what's about
to happen tonight. But it's great to see you. You've
been on the move, You've been on the move. You're
on the move. And we're going to get into a
couple of these, a couple of these fun, fun games
that you have had an opportunity to cover and see.
Let's begin, though, with the big one that occurred last night.
A fifty point masterpiece I'll call it from Joel Embiid,
(00:49):
though a lot of it took place at the free
throw line. First time in NBA history in a playoff
game that a player scored fifty or more points on
fewer than twenty field goal of attempts. He went thirteen
of nineteen from the field, nineteen of twenty one from
the free throw line. But most importantly, it helped Philly
really stay in this series. After a couple of heartbreakers
(01:11):
at Madison Square Garden for the seventy six er side
of the things and some big time wins by the
New York Knicks seventy six ers now make this a
two to one series after a one to twenty five
one fourteen win. There's a lot of things that happened
talking about Joel Embiid's numbers and how he had played. Also,
you look at the fact that it looked like Jalen
(01:31):
Brunson got going a little bit familiar with that arena.
For as much as we talk about the Villanova Knicks,
the Wells Fargo Center is a place that they spent
a lot of time playing throughout their collegiate career. But
Brunson did have thirty nine points thirteen assists in still
the contributions of Josh hard O, g Annobi, Isaiah Hartenstein
was efficient on the offensive end, but man tough to
(01:53):
deal with a player like Joel Embiid. A lot of
things occurred in this game. So tell me what stood
out to you most in this one and intrigued you
as you kind of stepped away from it.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Yeah, Hi, Sarah. Before I do that, I just want
to go on the record that I'm a skeptic when
it comes to the phraseology, and I'm not picking on
you because it's widespread about you know, he scored fifty
points on only nineteen shots. Well, did those twenty one
free throws come from bonus situations where he was just
(02:27):
standing around with the ball? No, he was shooting the ball.
He took more shots than nineteen shots. And they always
talk about oh, it's efficiency, it's this, it's the guy
probably took twenty five, twenty six shots to get those
fifty points, so which is great, that's great, But he
is the first guy in history to do fifty and
fewer than twenty. And it's like he got nineteen free throws.
(02:50):
It's nineteen free throws out of twenty one items. He
took more shots, So I try to stay away from
that stuff. Nonetheless, they needed this game from Joel Embiid.
He came very close to not giving them this game
because he presumably might have spent the end of that
game in the locker room, depending on how a couple
(03:11):
of calls had gone. There was a flagrant follow one
that easily could have been a two in my opinion,
when he when he Robinson by the legs.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Briefly, let's get into that ash dig in your thoughts
on that, because that was early in the game and
obviously that would change the entire complexion of it. He's
on the ground and pulled the legs of Mitchell Robinson
down while you know, Mitchell Robinson kind of fell over him.
The later explanation by Joel was that he was just
trying to make sure that he didn't get stepped on.
(03:44):
Do you think in that situation, circumstance scenario that it
should have been a flagrant too.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I think it could certainly could have been ruled that.
I mean, I'm going to give the officials benefit of
the doubt now to me, if you if you just
sort of stick an arm up, like with a forearm,
to make sure that Robinson, who had who had receive
the ball, if he if he jumps up, he doesn't
land on you or you kind of turned to avoid
him landing on you. Okay, that's fine, But the idea
(04:16):
that you took both arms on both sides of his
legs and uh, you know, it seemed like you wanted
to stop him from going up to score that ball. Yeah,
that seemed fairly intentional. So he didn't, he didn't sort
of trip him and cause him to crash to the floor.
But it was, it was, it was shaky. I thought
(04:38):
it could have gone with a two, but it ended
up as a one. But then there's the one where
he Draymond greened Robinson with his uh, with one of
his legs as he as he took a jump shot
and he caught Robinson, you know, between his own legs
and uh, nope, nothing, no harm, no foul. So I
think Philadelphia caught a break on a couple of those,
(05:01):
and let's face that they needed because ha ha Embeedd
gone out early in that game. You know, it was
going to be very, very difficult, and a three to
zero series between these teams would have would have dropped
dramatically in interest. I still think, you know, Philadelphia has
a big hole from which to climb. I just wonder.
(05:21):
I found myself watching that game and thinking Tobias Harris
and Nicholas Batoum have good games at the same time.
You know, it seems like Batom's best games and when
Harris hasn't been around or vice versa. But I mean
Tobias Harris, he needs to score more. They cannot get
by and Maxi and Embiid alone, and you know right now,
(05:44):
I mean his his claim to NBA fame is essentially
he's made you more money than anybody who's you know,
not been an All Star or things like. He's done
tremendously financially in this league. But in terms of stepping up, now,
this is the time, this is Tobias Eros needs to
take it to another level. And if I'm in, or
(06:07):
if I'm Maxi or if I'm Nick Nurse, that has
to be you know, the messaging inside that locker room.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Yeah, and I think it's been the messaging for quite
some time. I think it even felt that way in conversations,
you know, going back to the time when Embiid was
out throughout the course of the regular season. He finishes
which is eight points, five rebounds. You mentioned Maxi twenty
five points for him. Nick Nurse did make a change
in the rotation, Buddy Heel playing just four minutes and
(06:37):
those minutes went to Cameron Payne who came in and
hit some big shots early. It felt like it kind
of changed the juice in the momentum for the seventy
six ers. Eleven points on four to seven shooting. Okay,
ask more importantly, though you mentioned this, Philadelphia does win one.
I think health is going to factor in a large
part with Joel Embiid also revealed that he is playing
(07:00):
with Bell's palsy. What do you think in Game four
at Philadelphia? Do they have Do they have a chance
here to tie up this series?
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Well, shure they do. You know, I picked the Knicks
to win this series, but I thought it would take
seven games, so that would almost require a six or
victory in Game four. I can't see a three to
one series going all the way seven. Now, I've been
wrong plenty of times, not just with the number of games,
but who wins. So they don't listen to me. It's
(07:30):
a yeah, of course. I mean after what we saw
the first two games and the New York's resiliency, you know,
I don't have any reason to doubt that the Knicks
are the better team. I just think that that Philadelphia
is going to get the MAXI can out of home court,
and you know, indeed is probably feeling better about himself
than he did at the end of that game too,
(07:53):
and you know we'll see, well, we'll see who steps up.
I mean, the too was tremendous in that that playing
game where you know, he had like six threes or something,
and so you know it's somebody to do that. And
that's where I mean, he's a veteran. But but in fact,
all the you know, many of their role players are veterans.
But you know at home is where the role players
(08:14):
are expected to step up. So sure, I could see
this being two two, I could see this being three one.
I really I think both teams are are extremely capable
of winning this game.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Ash, I should have asked you who you think would
is going to win game four, so so you're not
not having the opportunity to cut the difference of both teams.
But I am with you. I think, just as a
fan of basketball, I'm hoping that Philadelphia does win because
I do want to see this be a nice.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Long sime that's right, I like sees.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
I'm enjoying, and I do think that finally getting a
win obviously just changes the feel for the seventy six
ers group and hopefully to that point about the role
players playing better at home, some of the maybe pressure
has been relieved a little bit. I do still love
the opportunity to see both Nick Nurse and and Tom
(09:04):
Thibodogo kind of move move the chess pieces with one another.
So so yeah, I will say the seventy six ers,
but I think a large part of that I love
this next team. I love how they play. Glad to
see Jalen Brunston kind of get things going. But but
I want a nice long series, so I'm gonna go
with the seventy six ers. Denver in Los Angeles, Oh Ash,
(09:26):
I think the game last night might have buried these
Los Angeles Lakers. Denver comes away with a one to
twelve one oh five win. And Nikola Jokica is a
surgical player. It's extraordinary to watch how he operates no
matter what the defense is doing, his ability to just
push all the right buttons. But it also helps to
have the compliments of an extremely extremely talented roster, which
(09:49):
you look at, four starters are all scoring twenty or
more points. You got three of those in double figures
or a double double. Michael Porter Junior rebounds Aaron Gordon
fifteen rebounds, Jokic with fifteen rebounds nine assists to go
along with those twenty four points. And then on the
other side of things, Anthony Davis another big game for
(10:11):
him with the Lakers thirty three points, fifteen rebounds, Lebron
James did struggle from the three point line, but twenty
six points nine assists just hasn't been enough for the Lakers.
And after feeling like they may have had a chance
or good runs or obviously blowing a lead but still
played well throughout the course of those first two games,
it just felt different in this game last night. What
(10:34):
did you make of just the Nuggets continuing to have
the number of this Lakers team.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Yeah, to me, it almost feels like the Nuggets are
using the Lakers as a sparring partner. You know. It's
as if they they've had them now two years in
a row and it's just sort of a laboratory for
them to work on things. You know. Okay, let's you know,
(11:00):
let's see how we can come back from what we
should be an insurmountable you know, lead or deficit. Let's
deal with with you know, Anthony Davis when he's got
to going out for three quarters you know, he had
big numbers again, but it's fourth quarter. I mean, three points,
I believe. You know, you can't do that. You cannot,
(11:20):
you cannot disappear, and they can. They can say, well,
other guys shouldn't be taking the shots they're taking. Well,
you know, first of all, if you're trying to catch up,
you are gonna end up with more threes rather than
you're gonna feed Anthony Davis. But that's on him. I mean,
to be more assertive. I was. I was not impressed
with the with the Lakers. They seemed engaged in Games
(11:41):
one and two, even as they lost, But last night
it seemed awfully quick to spit out the bit and
I'm wondered, at some point, you know, we get a factored,
we got affected this stuff into you know, Lebron, I
mean to lose potentially two sweeps at this stage of
(12:01):
his career, you know, to one opponent. You know, yeah,
it was later last season, but you know now in
the first round. I mean, there are certain things that
all time greats you don't think of, particularly when they're
advanced in their wisdom and basketball IQ and all of this.
Nobody can complain the Lakers don't get benefited a doubt
(12:25):
on whistles, so you know it goes to something else.
I just you know, I think we're seeing Lebron's ability
to carry a team where he wants to take it.
You know has waned and he can put up a
lot of numbers. But you know, this is not a
this is not a good look. I try to think of,
(12:46):
you know, all time greats and granted guys retired younger,
so you didn't see sort of the other end of
the bell curve with them. But I think that's what
we're seeing with Lebron as far as teams success.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Right now, no question, there's going to be a lot
of questions for the Lakers this offseason, even just kind
of looking at the complimentary pieces before you even start
to question, you know, what happens with Lebron James, will
he still continue to remain a Laker?
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Well, I don't know. You know, people are quick to
blame the complimentary players in LA. You know, it's frustration
with the Angelo Russell and depending on the game, Ruyachim
or or Austin Reeve. You know, those guys get looked at,
you know, sideways. But you're got to wonder what Lebron
(13:38):
on that roster and his dominant personality and what that
does to the relationship within the players, and also you know,
the disconnect apparently with Darvin Ham and the coach and
with other players seeing that, you know, does that he
rode the coach's authority within the team. I mean there's
some real chemistry issues there, and it just seems as
(14:00):
if Lebron is so dominating a personality that that trickles
down through a lot of aspects of that team.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
I feel what you're saying. But where I would point
to that Dangelo Russell zero points, really Murra five points.
I mean, gave Vincent and give him, give him a
pass because he was injured for the better part of
the season, but he was supposed to be this big
pickup for the Lakers this offseason coming and he has
four points and you know, twenty minutes Austin reeves a
(14:34):
solid game. I part of me and I understand and
obviously a lot of questions with Darvin Ham, And that's
another area to point to. But I think we have
seen Lebron. James is nearly forty and he's in his
twenty first season. You've seen and you know who he is,
you know, the way that he is built and constructed,
(14:55):
and he has found success year after year after year
getting the final you know, whether it's a championship or
we're getting to that point. And so you know, part
of it is you're with a franchise that expects to
win championships, So bring in players build that can handle that.
And that's where I think you know their shared responsibility
(15:16):
all the time, especially if you're looking at a potential
another suite. But I do think the context of building
a roster with players not only a fit on the
court in terms of skill set, but also personality. I
think that's what makes all of these jobs so extremely difficult.
That's what makes winning so extremely difficult. And I think
that's why we are so impressed with the organizations that
(15:39):
figure out how to piece things together. And I also
he said this is going into the postseason, this is
a bad matchup for the Lakers. I don't know if
the Denver Nuggets are a good matchup for anyone, but
they just they continue to show their excellence in so
many different areas. And I do think to your point,
it's also the personality of Nikola Jokic and how well
he's been able to fit that in. But Darvin Ham,
(16:01):
I think the questions on if he will be do
you think he will be the.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Head coach of the Lakers next year, I would be surprised.
I don't think so. I don't think they can have
the sort of exit two years in a row, especially
in the first round, and justify. I mean, even even
if they had a sort of a kumba to spirit
around that team, you know, the result itself is enough.
(16:25):
And then with all the lingering and the champion from
the crowd, you know, that's that's hard for any coach
to overcome.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Yeah, potential, potential movement in a lot of different areas.
But nonetheless, they still will have one more game that
they need to play, and we have a break we're
going to take and get to some of these games
that are going to play be played here.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
The Semen.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Book back to m They pulse Sarahusak, joined by the
great Steve Ashberner, and asked this, this is I know
your year on tap all of these games taking place
in the playoffs across the league, but you've been You've
been on the circuits of the early part of the
Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns games, both games at Minnesota
(17:17):
in which the Timberwolves they have been fun to watch.
They have handled this Phoenix Suns team. It was a
two to seven matchup that I think some were potentially
picking the Suns early on and there this is a
long long way from over, but it's been a really,
really impressive performance by Minnesota early on. They lead the
series too. Oh and they will play tonight at Phoenix
(17:39):
ten thirty pm Eastern on ESPN. AS what's been your
perspective about the way the Timberwolves have been playing and
your expectations of what you think are going to happen
here this evening in Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Well, Minnesota has been terrific. And what I really like
about them is that first off, they lost all three
meetings with Phoenix and the regular scenes and they lost
rather badly. But now they're locked in. Chris Finch is
able to sort of dissect that Phoenix attack. You know,
you're not worried about well the next night you're playing
(18:12):
Sacramento or in the edit, you know it's it's one
opponent over and over and they are flexing their defense.
They were the number one team in the league defensively
this year, and that is their star right now. I
mean we talk about Anthony Edwards and and you know
how how he's blowing up in terms of achievement and
(18:35):
popularity and awareness, But right now, I mean on a
consistent basis, it's the way they play defense, and they
have really locked in. They've got a very difficult team
to defend against with, you know, three tremendous scorers and
Durant and Booker and Bradley Beal, but they've been able
to do it. And they've prioritized Devin Booker. You know,
he's the guy trying to be a point guard when
(18:57):
that's really not his his his actual position. Phoenix has
kind of gone without that because they built themselves a
super team that didn't allow for much depth, a lot
of salary going to three guys. So they they have
they have totally frustrated Devin Booker. I don't think that
that necessarily is a wingering series long thing. I would
(19:19):
expect Devin Booker to have a pretty big Game three. However,
Frank Googel and the and the rest of that crew
can can spring him loose. But I mean, he was
he was funkified in game two. I mean, he he
was frustrated. He was shoving, you know, back and forth
with Jane McDaniels. The uh he foul out of that game.
(19:43):
It's looked like he was ready to leave Minnesota, you know,
about an hour or two before the rest of the team.
So you know that to me, now, critic goes to
uh Minnesota Durant, you know, he's fine. He just he
at least against this A and he doesn't seem to
have that take over a game potential. And Bradley Beal,
(20:06):
I think has gotten so adapted in the time he
had in the regular season with being the third guy
that you know, it's a little out out of his
nature now to sort of have to take over a
game like that. So I think Minnesota has been great.
They've really coalesced around Rudy Gobert, who I expect to
be named the defensive player of the year. And and
(20:29):
I think Phoenix then after that first game in Game two,
they were they were spooked in terms of when Anthony
Edwards is going to go off, and he never really did,
but they didn't need him to. So yeah, I think
I think Phoenix will do better, But but I don't
I don't see the Sun's solving enough of those challenges
(20:49):
from Minnesota to to be able to turn the series
around completely.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Yeah, And it's just confounding with the Sun sometimes watching
them and just looking like there's so many avenues of
which you think they would be able to better exploit
a team and just have not really been able to
do that. And you set up on Minnesota their defense,
they just look their length, their size, their physicality, all
of that has just seemed smothering for the Suns team.
So I'm really interested to see what happens here tonight
(21:18):
in Phoenix. I do think Phoenix starts to put the
pieces together back at home, and I could see them
getting here tonight. The other series, we got to get
you with a car to drive down to Indianapolis, make
that trip over Milwaukee Bucks playing the Indiana Pacers. The
series is all tied up when one is it now
moves to Indiana five thirty pm Eastern on ESPN. We
(21:41):
got a nice early game. I like these early games.
The late ones start to get me. Who wins in
this one? Ask? Because we've seen very different looks out
of Game one and Game two from these teams.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Yeah, this five thirty Eastern time tip off. I don't
know whether that's a Happy Hour game or a Blue
Hair special. It's an odd start time, but I know
there are three games to squeeze in tonight, and so
they want to minimize overlap, which is nice for the
people that really want to watch as much NBA playoff basketball.
I'm switching series here. I hope that it's intriguing. I
(22:16):
think part of the planning and having me switch was
perhaps to see Jannisandra Gumbo come and play his first
playoff game. I don't know that that's going to happen. Reportedly,
he did not participate in any real on court activity, nothing,
you know, nothing, maybe beside getting up some shots. And
(22:37):
now they face the situation where Chris Middleton had sprained
his ankle late in Game two, and he also was
held out. Both those guys are on the injury list
at this stage heading towards Game three. There's no way
I can see Milwaukee surviving, you know, a second injury
(22:58):
like that, and even so ving you know, without without
Giannis's return pretty pretty quick here. I just think that
in the end, it is a bad matchup for them.
It showed that during the regular season the Pacers are
too quick, they're young, they pushed the pace. Milwaukee is
old and they are athletically challenged, but they particularly look
(23:19):
that way against the Pacers. And yeah, I think the
Patients are going to grab control of the series unless
something dramatic willis Reid life happens with with Giannis yea,
And that's a really old reference, I know, but hopefully people.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
No, we all know, we all we all know that one.
I don't know if everyone knows you're the brat functified
reference from earlier, but yes, we're we're all in it.
And Pascal Siakam has been tremendous and Chris Middleton too,
just how he looked after getting a little hobbled in
the last one. So it's going to be fun. It's
going to be very interesting, and it's a great slate
because we keep mentioning this early tip. That's because after
(24:00):
Milwaukee Indiana game you got an APM Eastern tip between
the Clippers who now the series moves to Dallas. You
got it all tied up as well. So an excellent,
excellent run of games here tonight and ash. As always,
we appreciate your insight, your time, and safe travel. Safe
drive into you don't don't get a ticket there on
your way.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Yeah, I know, I gotta get ice sixty five. This
is this is crazy. I lose an hour too, So
I will look forward to talking to you later and
hopefully you're right. I won't I won't lose time on
the side of the road with the life flashing.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
No no Way. NBA Pulse Sarahoustock is a production of
the NBA and iHeart Radio. Please rate, review, and subscribe
on the iHeart Radio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Welcome into NBA pulsa production of iHeartRadio in the NBA.
I'm Sarah Custack, NBA analyst for the Yes Network, and
today is Friday, April twenty sixth from our extraordinary core
group of NBA journals were joined now by NBA dot
Com Senior writer Steve Ashberger. And Oh, we asked, we're
in it. We are in it. We've got some series
that are starting to become just that. I'm going to
(00:25):
take a look at what happened last night, what's about
to happen tonight. But it's great to see you. You've
been on the move, You've been on the move. You're
on the move. And we're going to get into a
couple of these, a couple of these fun, fun games
that you have had an opportunity to cover and see.
Let's begin, though, with the big one that occurred last night.
A fifty point masterpiece I'll call it from Joel Embiid,
(00:49):
though a lot of it took place at the free
throw line. First time in NBA history in a playoff
game that a player scored fifty or more points on
fewer than twenty field goal of attempts. He went thirteen
of nineteen from the field, nineteen of twenty one from
the free throw line. But most importantly, it helped Philly
really stay in this series. After a couple of heartbreakers
(01:11):
at Madison Square Garden for the seventy six er side
of the things and some big time wins by the
New York Knicks seventy six ers now make this a
two to one series after a one to twenty five
one fourteen win. There's a lot of things that happened
talking about Joel Embiid's numbers and how he had played. Also,
you look at the fact that it looked like Jalen
(01:31):
Brunson got going a little bit familiar with that arena.
For as much as we talk about the Villanova Knicks,
the Wells Fargo Center is a place that they spent
a lot of time playing throughout their collegiate career. But
Brunson did have thirty nine points thirteen assists in still
the contributions of Josh hard O, g Annobi, Isaiah Hartenstein
was efficient on the offensive end, but man tough to
(01:53):
deal with a player like Joel Embiid. A lot of
things occurred in this game. So tell me what stood
out to you most in this one and intrigued you
as you kind of stepped away from it.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Yeah, Hi, Sarah. Before I do that, I just want
to go on the record that I'm a skeptic when
it comes to the phraseology, and I'm not picking on
you because it's widespread about you know, he scored fifty
points on only nineteen shots. Well, did those twenty one
free throws come from bonus situations where he was just
(02:27):
standing around with the ball? No, he was shooting the ball.
He took more shots than nineteen shots. And they always
talk about oh, it's efficiency, it's this, it's the guy
probably took twenty five, twenty six shots to get those
fifty points, so which is great, that's great, But he
is the first guy in history to do fifty and
fewer than twenty. And it's like he got nineteen free throws.
(02:50):
It's nineteen free throws out of twenty one items. He
took more shots, So I try to stay away from
that stuff. Nonetheless, they needed this game from Joel Embiid.
He came very close to not giving them this game
because he presumably might have spent the end of that
game in the locker room, depending on how a couple
(03:11):
of calls had gone. There was a flagrant follow one
that easily could have been a two in my opinion,
when he when he Robinson by the legs.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Briefly, let's get into that ash dig in your thoughts
on that, because that was early in the game and
obviously that would change the entire complexion of it. He's
on the ground and pulled the legs of Mitchell Robinson
down while you know, Mitchell Robinson kind of fell over him.
The later explanation by Joel was that he was just
trying to make sure that he didn't get stepped on.
(03:44):
Do you think in that situation, circumstance scenario that it
should have been a flagrant too.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I think it could certainly could have been ruled that.
I mean, I'm going to give the officials benefit of
the doubt now to me, if you if you just
sort of stick an arm up, like with a forearm,
to make sure that Robinson, who had who had receive
the ball, if he if he jumps up, he doesn't
land on you or you kind of turned to avoid
him landing on you. Okay, that's fine, But the idea
(04:16):
that you took both arms on both sides of his
legs and uh, you know, it seemed like you wanted
to stop him from going up to score that ball. Yeah,
that seemed fairly intentional. So he didn't, he didn't sort
of trip him and cause him to crash to the floor.
But it was, it was, it was shaky. I thought
(04:38):
it could have gone with a two, but it ended
up as a one. But then there's the one where
he Draymond greened Robinson with his uh, with one of
his legs as he as he took a jump shot
and he caught Robinson, you know, between his own legs
and uh, nope, nothing, no harm, no foul. So I
think Philadelphia caught a break on a couple of those,
(05:01):
and let's face that they needed because ha ha Embeedd
gone out early in that game. You know, it was
going to be very, very difficult, and a three to
zero series between these teams would have would have dropped
dramatically in interest. I still think, you know, Philadelphia has
a big hole from which to climb. I just wonder.
(05:21):
I found myself watching that game and thinking Tobias Harris
and Nicholas Batoum have good games at the same time.
You know, it seems like Batom's best games and when
Harris hasn't been around or vice versa. But I mean
Tobias Harris, he needs to score more. They cannot get
by and Maxi and Embiid alone, and you know right now,
(05:44):
I mean his his claim to NBA fame is essentially
he's made you more money than anybody who's you know,
not been an All Star or things like. He's done
tremendously financially in this league. But in terms of stepping up, now,
this is the time, this is Tobias Eros needs to
take it to another level. And if I'm in, or
(06:07):
if I'm Maxi or if I'm Nick Nurse, that has
to be you know, the messaging inside that locker room.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Yeah, and I think it's been the messaging for quite
some time. I think it even felt that way in conversations,
you know, going back to the time when Embiid was
out throughout the course of the regular season. He finishes
which is eight points, five rebounds. You mentioned Maxi twenty
five points for him. Nick Nurse did make a change
in the rotation, Buddy Heel playing just four minutes and
(06:37):
those minutes went to Cameron Payne who came in and
hit some big shots early. It felt like it kind
of changed the juice in the momentum for the seventy
six ers. Eleven points on four to seven shooting. Okay,
ask more importantly, though you mentioned this, Philadelphia does win one.
I think health is going to factor in a large
part with Joel Embiid also revealed that he is playing
(07:00):
with Bell's palsy. What do you think in Game four
at Philadelphia? Do they have Do they have a chance
here to tie up this series?
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Well, shure they do. You know, I picked the Knicks
to win this series, but I thought it would take
seven games, so that would almost require a six or
victory in Game four. I can't see a three to
one series going all the way seven. Now, I've been
wrong plenty of times, not just with the number of games,
but who wins. So they don't listen to me. It's
(07:30):
a yeah, of course. I mean after what we saw
the first two games and the New York's resiliency, you know,
I don't have any reason to doubt that the Knicks
are the better team. I just think that that Philadelphia
is going to get the MAXI can out of home court,
and you know, indeed is probably feeling better about himself
than he did at the end of that game too,
(07:53):
and you know we'll see, well, we'll see who steps up.
I mean, the too was tremendous in that that playing
game where you know, he had like six threes or something,
and so you know it's somebody to do that. And
that's where I mean, he's a veteran. But but in fact,
all the you know, many of their role players are veterans.
But you know at home is where the role players
(08:14):
are expected to step up. So sure, I could see
this being two two, I could see this being three one.
I really I think both teams are are extremely capable
of winning this game.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Ash, I should have asked you who you think would
is going to win game four, so so you're not
not having the opportunity to cut the difference of both teams.
But I am with you. I think, just as a
fan of basketball, I'm hoping that Philadelphia does win because
I do want to see this be a nice.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Long sime that's right, I like sees.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
I'm enjoying, and I do think that finally getting a
win obviously just changes the feel for the seventy six
ers group and hopefully to that point about the role
players playing better at home, some of the maybe pressure
has been relieved a little bit. I do still love
the opportunity to see both Nick Nurse and and Tom
(09:04):
Thibodogo kind of move move the chess pieces with one another.
So so yeah, I will say the seventy six ers,
but I think a large part of that I love
this next team. I love how they play. Glad to
see Jalen Brunston kind of get things going. But but
I want a nice long series, so I'm gonna go
with the seventy six ers. Denver in Los Angeles, Oh Ash,
(09:26):
I think the game last night might have buried these
Los Angeles Lakers. Denver comes away with a one to
twelve one oh five win. And Nikola Jokica is a
surgical player. It's extraordinary to watch how he operates no
matter what the defense is doing, his ability to just
push all the right buttons. But it also helps to
have the compliments of an extremely extremely talented roster, which
(09:49):
you look at, four starters are all scoring twenty or
more points. You got three of those in double figures
or a double double. Michael Porter Junior rebounds Aaron Gordon
fifteen rebounds, Jokic with fifteen rebounds nine assists to go
along with those twenty four points. And then on the
other side of things, Anthony Davis another big game for
(10:11):
him with the Lakers thirty three points, fifteen rebounds, Lebron
James did struggle from the three point line, but twenty
six points nine assists just hasn't been enough for the Lakers.
And after feeling like they may have had a chance
or good runs or obviously blowing a lead but still
played well throughout the course of those first two games,
it just felt different in this game last night. What
(10:34):
did you make of just the Nuggets continuing to have
the number of this Lakers team.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Yeah, to me, it almost feels like the Nuggets are
using the Lakers as a sparring partner. You know. It's
as if they they've had them now two years in
a row and it's just sort of a laboratory for
them to work on things. You know. Okay, let's you know,
(11:00):
let's see how we can come back from what we
should be an insurmountable you know, lead or deficit. Let's
deal with with you know, Anthony Davis when he's got
to going out for three quarters you know, he had
big numbers again, but it's fourth quarter. I mean, three points,
I believe. You know, you can't do that. You cannot,
(11:20):
you cannot disappear, and they can. They can say, well,
other guys shouldn't be taking the shots they're taking. Well,
you know, first of all, if you're trying to catch up,
you are gonna end up with more threes rather than
you're gonna feed Anthony Davis. But that's on him. I mean,
to be more assertive. I was. I was not impressed
with the with the Lakers. They seemed engaged in Games
(11:41):
one and two, even as they lost, But last night
it seemed awfully quick to spit out the bit and
I'm wondered, at some point, you know, we get a factored,
we got affected this stuff into you know, Lebron, I
mean to lose potentially two sweeps at this stage of
(12:01):
his career, you know, to one opponent. You know, yeah,
it was later last season, but you know now in
the first round. I mean, there are certain things that
all time greats you don't think of, particularly when they're
advanced in their wisdom and basketball IQ and all of this.
Nobody can complain the Lakers don't get benefited a doubt
(12:25):
on whistles, so you know it goes to something else.
I just you know, I think we're seeing Lebron's ability
to carry a team where he wants to take it.
You know has waned and he can put up a
lot of numbers. But you know, this is not a
this is not a good look. I try to think of,
(12:46):
you know, all time greats and granted guys retired younger,
so you didn't see sort of the other end of
the bell curve with them. But I think that's what
we're seeing with Lebron as far as teams success.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Right now, no question, there's going to be a lot
of questions for the Lakers this offseason, even just kind
of looking at the complimentary pieces before you even start
to question, you know, what happens with Lebron James, will
he still continue to remain a Laker?
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Well, I don't know. You know, people are quick to
blame the complimentary players in LA. You know, it's frustration
with the Angelo Russell and depending on the game, Ruyachim
or or Austin Reeve. You know, those guys get looked at,
you know, sideways. But you're got to wonder what Lebron
(13:38):
on that roster and his dominant personality and what that
does to the relationship within the players, and also you know,
the disconnect apparently with Darvin Ham and the coach and
with other players seeing that, you know, does that he
rode the coach's authority within the team. I mean there's
some real chemistry issues there, and it just seems as
(14:00):
if Lebron is so dominating a personality that that trickles
down through a lot of aspects of that team.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
I feel what you're saying. But where I would point
to that Dangelo Russell zero points, really Murra five points.
I mean, gave Vincent and give him, give him a
pass because he was injured for the better part of
the season, but he was supposed to be this big
pickup for the Lakers this offseason coming and he has
four points and you know, twenty minutes Austin reeves a
(14:34):
solid game. I part of me and I understand and
obviously a lot of questions with Darvin Ham, And that's
another area to point to. But I think we have
seen Lebron. James is nearly forty and he's in his
twenty first season. You've seen and you know who he is,
you know, the way that he is built and constructed,
(14:55):
and he has found success year after year after year
getting the final you know, whether it's a championship or
we're getting to that point. And so you know, part
of it is you're with a franchise that expects to
win championships, So bring in players build that can handle that.
And that's where I think you know their shared responsibility
(15:16):
all the time, especially if you're looking at a potential
another suite. But I do think the context of building
a roster with players not only a fit on the
court in terms of skill set, but also personality. I
think that's what makes all of these jobs so extremely difficult.
That's what makes winning so extremely difficult. And I think
that's why we are so impressed with the organizations that
(15:39):
figure out how to piece things together. And I also
he said this is going into the postseason, this is
a bad matchup for the Lakers. I don't know if
the Denver Nuggets are a good matchup for anyone, but
they just they continue to show their excellence in so
many different areas. And I do think to your point,
it's also the personality of Nikola Jokic and how well
he's been able to fit that in. But Darvin Ham,
(16:01):
I think the questions on if he will be do
you think he will be the.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Head coach of the Lakers next year, I would be surprised.
I don't think so. I don't think they can have
the sort of exit two years in a row, especially
in the first round, and justify. I mean, even even
if they had a sort of a kumba to spirit
around that team, you know, the result itself is enough.
(16:25):
And then with all the lingering and the champion from
the crowd, you know, that's that's hard for any coach
to overcome.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Yeah, potential, potential movement in a lot of different areas.
But nonetheless, they still will have one more game that
they need to play, and we have a break we're
going to take and get to some of these games
that are going to play be played here.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
The Semen.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Book back to m They pulse Sarahusak, joined by the
great Steve Ashberner, and asked this, this is I know
your year on tap all of these games taking place
in the playoffs across the league, but you've been You've
been on the circuits of the early part of the
Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns games, both games at Minnesota
(17:17):
in which the Timberwolves they have been fun to watch.
They have handled this Phoenix Suns team. It was a
two to seven matchup that I think some were potentially
picking the Suns early on and there this is a
long long way from over, but it's been a really,
really impressive performance by Minnesota early on. They lead the
series too. Oh and they will play tonight at Phoenix
(17:39):
ten thirty pm Eastern on ESPN. AS what's been your
perspective about the way the Timberwolves have been playing and
your expectations of what you think are going to happen
here this evening in Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Well, Minnesota has been terrific. And what I really like
about them is that first off, they lost all three
meetings with Phoenix and the regular scenes and they lost
rather badly. But now they're locked in. Chris Finch is
able to sort of dissect that Phoenix attack. You know,
you're not worried about well the next night you're playing
(18:12):
Sacramento or in the edit, you know it's it's one
opponent over and over and they are flexing their defense.
They were the number one team in the league defensively
this year, and that is their star right now. I
mean we talk about Anthony Edwards and and you know
how how he's blowing up in terms of achievement and
(18:35):
popularity and awareness, But right now, I mean on a
consistent basis, it's the way they play defense, and they
have really locked in. They've got a very difficult team
to defend against with, you know, three tremendous scorers and
Durant and Booker and Bradley Beal, but they've been able
to do it. And they've prioritized Devin Booker. You know,
he's the guy trying to be a point guard when
(18:57):
that's really not his his his actual position. Phoenix has
kind of gone without that because they built themselves a
super team that didn't allow for much depth, a lot
of salary going to three guys. So they they have
they have totally frustrated Devin Booker. I don't think that
that necessarily is a wingering series long thing. I would
(19:19):
expect Devin Booker to have a pretty big Game three. However,
Frank Googel and the and the rest of that crew
can can spring him loose. But I mean, he was
he was funkified in game two. I mean, he he
was frustrated. He was shoving, you know, back and forth
with Jane McDaniels. The uh he foul out of that game.
(19:43):
It's looked like he was ready to leave Minnesota, you know,
about an hour or two before the rest of the team.
So you know that to me, now, critic goes to
uh Minnesota Durant, you know, he's fine. He just he
at least against this A and he doesn't seem to
have that take over a game potential. And Bradley Beal,
(20:06):
I think has gotten so adapted in the time he
had in the regular season with being the third guy
that you know, it's a little out out of his
nature now to sort of have to take over a
game like that. So I think Minnesota has been great.
They've really coalesced around Rudy Gobert, who I expect to
be named the defensive player of the year. And and
(20:29):
I think Phoenix then after that first game in Game two,
they were they were spooked in terms of when Anthony
Edwards is going to go off, and he never really did,
but they didn't need him to. So yeah, I think
I think Phoenix will do better, But but I don't
I don't see the Sun's solving enough of those challenges
(20:49):
from Minnesota to to be able to turn the series
around completely.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Yeah, And it's just confounding with the Sun sometimes watching
them and just looking like there's so many avenues of
which you think they would be able to better exploit
a team and just have not really been able to
do that. And you set up on Minnesota their defense,
they just look their length, their size, their physicality, all
of that has just seemed smothering for the Suns team.
So I'm really interested to see what happens here tonight
(21:18):
in Phoenix. I do think Phoenix starts to put the
pieces together back at home, and I could see them
getting here tonight. The other series, we got to get
you with a car to drive down to Indianapolis, make
that trip over Milwaukee Bucks playing the Indiana Pacers. The
series is all tied up when one is it now
moves to Indiana five thirty pm Eastern on ESPN. We
(21:41):
got a nice early game. I like these early games.
The late ones start to get me. Who wins in
this one? Ask? Because we've seen very different looks out
of Game one and Game two from these teams.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Yeah, this five thirty Eastern time tip off. I don't
know whether that's a Happy Hour game or a Blue
Hair special. It's an odd start time, but I know
there are three games to squeeze in tonight, and so
they want to minimize overlap, which is nice for the
people that really want to watch as much NBA playoff basketball.
I'm switching series here. I hope that it's intriguing. I
(22:16):
think part of the planning and having me switch was
perhaps to see Jannisandra Gumbo come and play his first
playoff game. I don't know that that's going to happen. Reportedly,
he did not participate in any real on court activity, nothing,
you know, nothing, maybe beside getting up some shots. And
(22:37):
now they face the situation where Chris Middleton had sprained
his ankle late in Game two, and he also was
held out. Both those guys are on the injury list
at this stage heading towards Game three. There's no way
I can see Milwaukee surviving, you know, a second injury
(22:58):
like that, and even so ving you know, without without
Giannis's return pretty pretty quick here. I just think that
in the end, it is a bad matchup for them.
It showed that during the regular season the Pacers are
too quick, they're young, they pushed the pace. Milwaukee is
old and they are athletically challenged, but they particularly look
(23:19):
that way against the Pacers. And yeah, I think the
Patients are going to grab control of the series unless
something dramatic willis Reid life happens with with Giannis yea,
And that's a really old reference, I know, but hopefully people.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
No, we all know, we all we all know that one.
I don't know if everyone knows you're the brat functified
reference from earlier, but yes, we're we're all in it.
And Pascal Siakam has been tremendous and Chris Middleton too,
just how he looked after getting a little hobbled in
the last one. So it's going to be fun. It's
going to be very interesting, and it's a great slate
because we keep mentioning this early tip. That's because after
(24:00):
Milwaukee Indiana game you got an APM Eastern tip between
the Clippers who now the series moves to Dallas. You
got it all tied up as well. So an excellent,
excellent run of games here tonight and ash. As always,
we appreciate your insight, your time, and safe travel. Safe
drive into you don't don't get a ticket there on
your way.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Yeah, I know, I gotta get ice sixty five. This
is this is crazy. I lose an hour too, So
I will look forward to talking to you later and
hopefully you're right. I won't I won't lose time on
the side of the road with the life flashing.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
No no Way. NBA Pulse Sarahoustock is a production of
the NBA and iHeart Radio. Please rate, review, and subscribe
on the iHeart Radio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
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