Stephen A's Take: Stephen A breaks down NBA Playoffs | The Mistakes | Tyrese is not consistent | OKC's lineupLi

Stephen A. Smith is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Executive Producer, host of ESPN's First Take, and co-host of NBA Countdown. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Now let's get to the NBA Finals, where the Pacers
stole Game one against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pacers
were down by fifteen with a little over nine minutes
in the fourth quarter, nine minutes left in the fourth
quarter and managed to take a one point league courtesy
of this late bucket from Tyrese Halliburton with zero point
three seconds left.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
And talk about an improbable victory.

Speaker 1 (00:23):
The Pacers became the first team to win an NBA
Finals game win trailing by at least nine points in
the final three minutes.

Speaker 2 (00:29):
Of the game, all other teams with zero and one
eighty two.

Speaker 1 (00:34):
In addition to that, the Pacers have a five and
three record this postseason. Went trailing by fifteen or more points,
Ladies and gentlemen, I was surprised.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
By the comeback.

Speaker 1 (00:44):
I'll tell you that Tyrese Halliburton, he's a young rising
star in this league. I don't label him a superstar
because for me, a superstar is somebody that's the number
one option that carries the load, that is the face
of a franchise from start to finish, and you know
they have that level of responsibility on their shoulders. The
Indiana Pacers are a collection of really really good parts

(01:06):
that could end up winning an NBA championship. Shay Gil
Just Alexander was sensational last night with thirty eight points,
but not when it counted. That was Tyrese Halliburton who
was not good. He was jittery and shaky, looked like
a DNA a lights in the first half. Through the
third quarter he wasn't much better. But then as the
game waned, he came on and let you know that
his presence needed to be felt. Nemhard really showed up

(01:30):
and showed out and created shots for himself and did
some things.

Speaker 2 (01:34):
Nie Smith made sure he was formidable as well.

Speaker 1 (01:37):
Even Myles Turner hit a bank shot three, Pascal Siakam
hit a corner three from the right. You know, the
Pacers were ten of sixteen from on corner threes last
night in game one.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
Give credit where credit is due. They came back.

Speaker 1 (01:50):
They scored sixty six points in the second half on
better than fifty percent shooting against the number one defense
in the NBA. That's saying something. Solahoma City, who has
a problem closing out close games. Their record is underfivinger
like three and six when you know within three point games,
you know, droughing the regular season and one and four

(02:11):
in the playoffs. This is who they are. This is
who Oklahoma City has been. And so Shaye Gilgers Alexander's
gonna have to be that superstar at League MVP Jalen
Williams is gonna have to show up and help them.
If you get average twenty two points a game or
forty nine percent shooter from the field forty six percent
shooter from three point range in the conference finals, you
can damn sure do it in the NBA Finals against Indiana.

(02:31):
Oklahoma City is in a tough matchup now, and I
couldn't be happier because walking into the finals, I had
Oklahoma City in six.

Speaker 2 (02:41):
I still have Oklahoma and the City in six. But
a lot of.

Speaker 1 (02:44):
People believed that the Pacers could get swept. I never
believed that. I believe the Pacers were good to win
two games, possibly even force a game seven. But I
knew they would have to win game one to have
a chance to do that because I don't see OKC
losing Game two. And I think that if they had
gone back to Indiana or going to Indiana the games three.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
And four up to oh in the series.

Speaker 1 (03:06):
Of this NBA Finals, I think that Indiana would have
been in trouble. But now that Indiana has won, Oklahoma
City's gotta get its stuff right, and I think that's
gonna make things very interesting.

Speaker 2 (03:16):
So I'm happy I got a good finals. That's what
I'm happy about.

Speaker 1 (03:19):
I'm happy that the Indiana paces has showing the basketball
world this is a series to pay attention to, because
don't think for one second that they can't beat OKC.

Speaker 2 (03:27):
I like this. I like this.