April 23, 2025 • 16 mins
Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press joins the show to talk all things Pistons, as they spar with the New York Knicks in round one of the NBA Playoffs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Before we get rolling, let me just thank Amri Sankov
for the second and a lot of the Pistons writers,
because what they've done is they've entertained us, they've informed us,
and they've really helped sports talk show hosts throughout the
state and I would guess throughout the country as well,
to have the really good ideas in talking Pistons basketball.
(00:21):
And he joins us here on exus and bros. Omari,
thanks again, great work all season long and it continues
in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
How are you this morning?
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Oh? I appreciate that. Thank you, and I'm doing good.
Hope you're good as well.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah, really excited to talk to you about this, and
I know, look, you're getting inundated every single.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Day, Amari.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Tell me more about the Pistons, and you're probably at
some point read my article, man. I mean, it tells
you as much as you possibly can. Go back and
look at it. But I did like your article regarding
the sixth Man, and the reason of the reason I
liked it is because the automatic thought from people in
Detroit is it's got to be Malik Beasley. He's averaging
more points than Peyton Pritcher. You said, you know, Pritcher
(00:59):
put to the other hell of a season and he did,
I mean efficiency and everything else. But just the fact
that Malique Beasley is in that conversation and rightfully so,
tells you something about how good of a job Trajan
Langdon has done in putting this roster together. What's impressed
you most about Langdon's vision and how it's come to fruition.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Yeah, I think I think a big thing for Langdon
just outside of nothing guys who fit on the floor
was office flow obviously as well. And I think Bleak
Beasley's coming and he's really embraced every aspect of being
in betrayed. Like you talked about the three franch shooting
(01:44):
and he was only five players of fIF three hundred
threes in a season. He's one of them, which has
been good. But he's really embraced the locker room. His
mom's from betrayed, so I think it's a little bit
more personal for him and the other best to Tha Tobias,
they've really come in a stabilized things here.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Yeah, it's a beautiful thing. It really is.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
And I like Malik Beasley a lot, not just because
he's a really good player, but he seems like he's
the right fit a one year deal. We're probably getting
too far ahead of ourselves. How important do you think
it'll be when the season does end that they make
a decision on him long term and do so quickly.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
I think it'll be pretty important. They don't have a
lot of big priorities of SAFT season, but you know,
I think that League Beasley will certainly be one of
them to get him back.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
What do you like most about this team in general?
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Uh? No, I think they're very mentally tough, you know,
And I think that stood out for most of the
season and stood out especially just given that, you know,
I think that's something that the scenes lacked in the past.
Is just that that that mental justice and ability to
shake things off and move on. You know. I think
(02:58):
we just saw it in the playof They played a
good forty minutes once Saturday, last eight minutes kind of
sol apart and let that become the fighting moment of
the series. Brom came back and you know, one game too.
But you know, this is a team I've always figured
out way. It's the bounce back from lossuits. You know,
(03:19):
there's always problems solved on Lie and I think we're
seeing that carry over into the playoffs as well.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
He does an outstanding job covering the Pistons and entertaining
us through his writing for The Free Press. Amari san
Covid the second joining is here on Exus and Bros.
Follow him on Twitter at on Mari Sankova. When you
look at the first two games of this series, I
argued the other day, I think Detroit has been the
better team in at least six and a half of
(03:46):
the eight quarters agree disagreeing of so why I agree?
Speaker 3 (03:53):
I think really, if you take away the last eight
minutes of the game Saturday, then you get a pretty
complete his performance. I think they were up like eight
or nine, and nine really just kind of fell apart
once they've been on that swety want to run. But like,
dating's actually the regular season. You know, the Pistons have
not played this mixed thing and it's a really good
(04:14):
that's a forum, uh, you know, and I think actually
a couple of nights ago, you know, they've proven that
they can recreate that regular season formula in the playoffs,
so you know, it's a good matchup and we'll see
how they respired for game three.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Well, why do you think it's a good matchup for Detroit.
I really like New York starting lineup. I like Mike
kel Bridges, I like Karl Anthony Towns. I've always liked
o Gannobi. Jalen Brunson is a star, a flopper, but
a star. What is it about the matchup? Do you
think favors Detroit so heavily, if at all?
Speaker 3 (04:49):
New York is not a team that gets a lot
of threes up. They prefer to play inside and from
mid range, and I think that kind of plays into
the distance defensive strength. They haven't always been able to
defend the perimeter, but they're really good in the paint,
and uh, you know, they're better in the interior. So
that's part of it, you know. I think part of
(05:10):
it is that anybody that can really start down Kate
and I mean case, I mean likely he's going to
be all in the NBA. That's true for for for
most teams, but you know, it seems like Kate is
especially a good I guess this six team, and he
kind of slices through their defenders, you know, especially as
we saw in Games two, And you know, I think
(05:33):
some of them is just identity too, you know, depends
like they played extremely hard. They're physical, you know. I
think they embraced the style of basketball that uh no,
good NICK teams have also been known for. But just
in this aspect, uh, you know, I think just the
physicality as really favors the pistons and how they embraced
that aspect of the game.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
I've been so impressed with Kid Cunningham in so many
different ways, not just the scoring, the ability to get
his own show, uh, the ability to keep others involved,
his handling of the basketball. A little concerned about the
turnovers overall, but when you have a guy who handles
the ball as much as he is, you've got to
live with that. How do you think he's grown most
this year with his game?
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Uh? Yeah, I think with Kay and I think a
lot of it is just I don't know if he's
doing anything new person, but I think he's got a
less better understanding of what he can do U night
in and night out. You look at the playmaking g
average nine assist game. Uh you know, that's somebody who
understands how defenses are going to play him and how
(06:35):
that impacts his teammates. Sense you know how that gets
certain guys open. Uh So, I think I think with
overall is just it's just overall game processing. You know,
this year four really year three, you know, after the
SIM surgery and games starting to slow down, and he
understands what he can do and how teams are going
(06:55):
to try to limit him, and and how to overcome
that aspect of it too.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
It's interesting, Amari. People view the Pistons, and I tweeted
this out the other night. I get the narrative that
they're young and inexperienced, but I think many people, not you,
but many people outside of the Pistons world have forgotten
just the experience of Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Junior,
and Dennis Shrewder, who I think has been a very
(07:22):
important pickup for Trajan Langdon company, and the amount of
series in which they've played, in the amount of playoff
games in which they've played, and yet we view them
as inexperienced and a team that you know could succumb
to playoff pressure. I haven't seen this team overwhelmed at all.
Is that because of JB. Bickerstaff, the team in general,
(07:43):
or what do you tune that to.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
I think they be deserves a lot of credit, you know,
just the way he's come in and I think, just
give it a see a backbone, you know, I think
not think last season we just got to sell them
Bonsered down stressful lot and Jab not just it's interesging,
but also what he's done for them defensively, I think
(08:07):
has been really key as well. You know where they
finished the regular season top ten in defensive rating, and
they were top five over the vast fifty games or so,
so you know, I think Jab has really given his
team and identity. They've really embraced like a quote unquote
Piston style of basketball, and he's just been a great
(08:31):
personality fit for the scene. You know, the guys love him.
They advocated for him to win Coach of the Year.
You know, he startedly had one of the best coaching
performances of anyone this year.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Yeah, I love him. I said that when they hired him.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
I thought he's the perfect coach for this team because
I think he has a proven track record of developing,
specifically developing younger players. I love and I called the
game and I saw you there. I called the game
between the Pistons and the Raptors earlier this year in
Toronto for FanDuel Sports, And what I noticed it is
(09:03):
shoot around, is that other coaches were involved. Like when
I covered and called games for stan Van Gundy, it
was just him talking. Dwayne Casey loved the guy. Other
coaches were involved in the coaching JB. Bickerstaff, same thing.
Other coaches on his staff are implementing or help implement
the game plan. It's not just one voice. I think
(09:24):
that's a really important aspect. His communication ability, I think
has been vital to this team's growth. What else besides
that do you think has made him such an NBA
Coach of the Year candidate?
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Yeah? Yeah, I mean I think his staff has been
really good for this team. You know, he's got a
pretty big coaching stense with a lot of assistants that
they walk them in and really embrace their rose and
check several boxes. So his spirit is a big aspect
of it. You know, I think defensively or like on
both ends, just putting players in rows where they can thrive.
(09:59):
You know, I think he's really put Isaiah Stewart intraditions
to succeed defensively this season. And even this is the
meaning on the sideline, uh, like He's probably one of
the coaches who's hardest on the rest as far as
their cause, and uh, you know, I think that that
really kind of galvanizes the scene to have a coach
who's going to fight for them and do everything possible
(10:22):
to try to find every every reason for them to win.
So I think it's a lot of things with jab,
but it's just this day to day and moments the
moment energy that I think stands out the most.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Yeah, such a good coach. You mentioned Isaiah Stewart. What's
his status for tomorrow night?
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Do you know?
Speaker 3 (10:39):
We'll see, Uh, you know, I think I think he's
going to be day to day for the rest of
the season. Uh, tested area with the right d information
which has been bothering them just the end of the
regular season. So we'll see obviously situation, and you know,
I think that they're going to miss him out there
if you can't play.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
So you mentioned Kay Cunningham being an NBA performer, and
rightfully so so is Jalen Brunson. I'm not taking anything
away from him. I've always liked him. I liked him
at Villanova. I called the National Championship between Michigan and Villanova.
I thought he was fantastic and I think he's been
a hell of a pro. However, what took place the
other night was borderline embarrassing, not just for him, not
(11:19):
just for the Knicks, but for the NBA. The flopping
that he did the other night was uncalled for and
unnecessary at what point? And then Tom Thibodau, of course afterwards,
was complaining about the referees because of the free throw discrepancy.
How much effect do you think Tom Thibodeau calling referees
out after the game and Jalen Brunson's flopping will will
(11:42):
matter for Game three?
Speaker 3 (11:44):
I don't think it will. I think the thing with
Marcell is that he's somebody who tend to get calls anyway,
and he said we didn't have an issue getting caused,
you know, as we are in game two, and a
lot of his strategy really revolved around filing a star out,
you know, just because you know, sorry a great defender
and uh, you know Bruss like I'm not like he
(12:06):
pretty much decided I'm not even going to try to
shoot him when we were around you, I'm gonna just
make sure you get your six files so I could
go off in the fourth quarter, so uh, you know, like,
well we'll see. I think the main thing is just
not allowing him to, you know, kind of get those
borderline CAFs in real time. But but that's rusted up
(12:27):
the same sign. You know, he's a file version, he's
going to some contact. So that's something that the Pistons
are trying to solve. But like we all saw it,
like he certainly was trying to get to the line
as offen as possible, and I think the referees ultimately
just have to do a better job of not rewarding
Some of them were egregious examples of it.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
You're not just a Pistons writer for the Free Past,
but you are also a basketball junkie. So I want
to quick take before I let you go on a
few other things. Indiana's a two zip on Milwaukee, and
it has become to use a hockey term chippy. Tyres Halberton,
who I think is a very good player, had a
double double last night and yet was voted most overrated
only by fourteen percent, but still he still holds that title.
(13:13):
What's your take on that series so far?
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Any other of the good thing, Like they really kind
of hit this stride down the stretch, especially at March
and April. They're a balanced team, they can defend just
a really well built theme and I think that's also
true for Milwaukee in some ways. But from a death standpoint,
Indiana's really just got great depth. And I think with Milwaukee,
(13:36):
especially with Damian Lillar scenario, you know, it would be
tough for them to lose in the first round again.
But I mean this Indiana teams is really really good,
Like they could score them on anybody, and you know,
I'm curious to see how far they're able to go.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Yeah, Milwaukee's out. I would guess Doc Rivers would be
out to two more for you O case he blows
out Memphis. Are they the best team in the league,
not just because they have the best record, but are
they the best team in basketball?
Speaker 3 (14:07):
I think so. You look at the regular season they
had and you know, they had an historically great defense,
obviously an offense. You have a leading MVP candidate you
know will probably the MVP carendidate and Shay and they're
just a phenomenal team. You know, they're a team full
of guys pretty much, but they've drafted, you know, they
(14:28):
player developments and crazy and you've got great defenders up
and down the roster and Caruso and lou Dort and
I see a Hartenstein Jalen Williams. So they're tough, like
they've got deaf like, they've got talent, and they could
be to in a lot of different ways. So yeah,
I mean the West is going to be a battle too.
(14:50):
They're good. But the Warriors that play extremely well since
the trade deadline. It's a really good teams. So we'll see.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
But I think Okay See clearly is number one. This
is why you have them on. I love that you
brought up all those different players for Oklahoma City. And
sure you mentioned Shay Gilgis Alexander, but the other guys
you knew right away. I would say you have to
be a basketball junkie to know who those guys are.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Not many people. You didn't even mention chet Holmgram.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
I think most people identify with Shay Gilgess, Alexander and
chet Holgrim, but need to educate themselves on those other
plays because they're really good, all right. Last thing, Boston
is a team that many people feel, even though they
didn't have the best record in the East, is still
the best team in the East. Would you concur it
if so?
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Why?
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Yeah, I think they still deserved the minisot of the doubt.
I think a lot of times when really good teams
like Boston win a championship and then they come back
the following season, the regular season just doesn't have the
same pazzazz. And I think these teams in the might
still be good in the regular season, but you know,
obviously they're not. You know, they understand that they're good.
(16:01):
They understand it DA haven a long season. They head
that they're going to go to the finals again. So yeah, yeah,
I mean, Cleveland had a better record, and Cleveland's a
great team, but Boston returned essentially the exact same team
they had last year, and they're built for the playoffs.
They're here, you know, I think they just had sort
of a championship below this season then that I mean,
(16:24):
that team is still just as good as they were
last year. So it wouldn't be shocking if they want
to go.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
It's been a long season, but it's been a fun
ride and we've been able to enjoy it primarily because
of your articles.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Thanks for the time today. Keep up the great work.
Tomrio hope to talk to you again sometime soon.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
No, absolutely thanks for having me
Before we get rolling, let me just thank Amri Sankov
for the second and a lot of the Pistons writers,
because what they've done is they've entertained us, they've informed us,
and they've really helped sports talk show hosts throughout the
state and I would guess throughout the country as well,
to have the really good ideas in talking Pistons basketball.
(00:21):
And he joins us here on exus and bros. Omari,
thanks again, great work all season long and it continues
in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
How are you this morning?
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Oh? I appreciate that. Thank you, and I'm doing good.
Hope you're good as well.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah, really excited to talk to you about this, and
I know, look, you're getting inundated every single.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Day, Amari.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Tell me more about the Pistons, and you're probably at
some point read my article, man. I mean, it tells
you as much as you possibly can. Go back and
look at it. But I did like your article regarding
the sixth Man, and the reason of the reason I
liked it is because the automatic thought from people in
Detroit is it's got to be Malik Beasley. He's averaging
more points than Peyton Pritcher. You said, you know, Pritcher
(00:59):
put to the other hell of a season and he did,
I mean efficiency and everything else. But just the fact
that Malique Beasley is in that conversation and rightfully so,
tells you something about how good of a job Trajan
Langdon has done in putting this roster together. What's impressed
you most about Langdon's vision and how it's come to fruition.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Yeah, I think I think a big thing for Langdon
just outside of nothing guys who fit on the floor
was office flow obviously as well. And I think Bleak
Beasley's coming and he's really embraced every aspect of being
in betrayed. Like you talked about the three franch shooting
(01:44):
and he was only five players of fIF three hundred
threes in a season. He's one of them, which has
been good. But he's really embraced the locker room. His
mom's from betrayed, so I think it's a little bit
more personal for him and the other best to Tha Tobias,
they've really come in a stabilized things here.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Yeah, it's a beautiful thing. It really is.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
And I like Malik Beasley a lot, not just because
he's a really good player, but he seems like he's
the right fit a one year deal. We're probably getting
too far ahead of ourselves. How important do you think
it'll be when the season does end that they make
a decision on him long term and do so quickly.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
I think it'll be pretty important. They don't have a
lot of big priorities of SAFT season, but you know,
I think that League Beasley will certainly be one of
them to get him back.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
What do you like most about this team in general?
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Uh? No, I think they're very mentally tough, you know,
And I think that stood out for most of the
season and stood out especially just given that, you know,
I think that's something that the scenes lacked in the past.
Is just that that that mental justice and ability to
shake things off and move on. You know. I think
(02:58):
we just saw it in the playof They played a
good forty minutes once Saturday, last eight minutes kind of
sol apart and let that become the fighting moment of
the series. Brom came back and you know, one game too.
But you know, this is a team I've always figured
out way. It's the bounce back from lossuits. You know,
(03:19):
there's always problems solved on Lie and I think we're
seeing that carry over into the playoffs as well.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
He does an outstanding job covering the Pistons and entertaining
us through his writing for The Free Press. Amari san
Covid the second joining is here on Exus and Bros.
Follow him on Twitter at on Mari Sankova. When you
look at the first two games of this series, I
argued the other day, I think Detroit has been the
better team in at least six and a half of
(03:46):
the eight quarters agree disagreeing of so why I agree?
Speaker 3 (03:53):
I think really, if you take away the last eight
minutes of the game Saturday, then you get a pretty
complete his performance. I think they were up like eight
or nine, and nine really just kind of fell apart
once they've been on that swety want to run. But like,
dating's actually the regular season. You know, the Pistons have
not played this mixed thing and it's a really good
(04:14):
that's a forum, uh, you know, and I think actually
a couple of nights ago, you know, they've proven that
they can recreate that regular season formula in the playoffs,
so you know, it's a good matchup and we'll see
how they respired for game three.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Well, why do you think it's a good matchup for Detroit.
I really like New York starting lineup. I like Mike
kel Bridges, I like Karl Anthony Towns. I've always liked
o Gannobi. Jalen Brunson is a star, a flopper, but
a star. What is it about the matchup? Do you
think favors Detroit so heavily, if at all?
Speaker 3 (04:49):
New York is not a team that gets a lot
of threes up. They prefer to play inside and from
mid range, and I think that kind of plays into
the distance defensive strength. They haven't always been able to
defend the perimeter, but they're really good in the paint,
and uh, you know, they're better in the interior. So
that's part of it, you know. I think part of
(05:10):
it is that anybody that can really start down Kate
and I mean case, I mean likely he's going to
be all in the NBA. That's true for for for
most teams, but you know, it seems like Kate is
especially a good I guess this six team, and he
kind of slices through their defenders, you know, especially as
we saw in Games two, And you know, I think
(05:33):
some of them is just identity too, you know, depends
like they played extremely hard. They're physical, you know. I
think they embraced the style of basketball that uh no,
good NICK teams have also been known for. But just
in this aspect, uh, you know, I think just the
physicality as really favors the pistons and how they embraced
that aspect of the game.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
I've been so impressed with Kid Cunningham in so many
different ways, not just the scoring, the ability to get
his own show, uh, the ability to keep others involved,
his handling of the basketball. A little concerned about the
turnovers overall, but when you have a guy who handles
the ball as much as he is, you've got to
live with that. How do you think he's grown most
this year with his game?
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Uh? Yeah, I think with Kay and I think a
lot of it is just I don't know if he's
doing anything new person, but I think he's got a
less better understanding of what he can do U night
in and night out. You look at the playmaking g
average nine assist game. Uh you know, that's somebody who
understands how defenses are going to play him and how
(06:35):
that impacts his teammates. Sense you know how that gets
certain guys open. Uh So, I think I think with
overall is just it's just overall game processing. You know,
this year four really year three, you know, after the
SIM surgery and games starting to slow down, and he
understands what he can do and how teams are going
(06:55):
to try to limit him, and and how to overcome
that aspect of it too.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
It's interesting, Amari. People view the Pistons, and I tweeted
this out the other night. I get the narrative that
they're young and inexperienced, but I think many people, not you,
but many people outside of the Pistons world have forgotten
just the experience of Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Junior,
and Dennis Shrewder, who I think has been a very
(07:22):
important pickup for Trajan Langdon company, and the amount of
series in which they've played, in the amount of playoff
games in which they've played, and yet we view them
as inexperienced and a team that you know could succumb
to playoff pressure. I haven't seen this team overwhelmed at all.
Is that because of JB. Bickerstaff, the team in general,
(07:43):
or what do you tune that to.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
I think they be deserves a lot of credit, you know,
just the way he's come in and I think, just
give it a see a backbone, you know, I think
not think last season we just got to sell them
Bonsered down stressful lot and Jab not just it's interesging,
but also what he's done for them defensively, I think
(08:07):
has been really key as well. You know where they
finished the regular season top ten in defensive rating, and
they were top five over the vast fifty games or so,
so you know, I think Jab has really given his
team and identity. They've really embraced like a quote unquote
Piston style of basketball, and he's just been a great
(08:31):
personality fit for the scene. You know, the guys love him.
They advocated for him to win Coach of the Year.
You know, he startedly had one of the best coaching
performances of anyone this year.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Yeah, I love him. I said that when they hired him.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
I thought he's the perfect coach for this team because
I think he has a proven track record of developing,
specifically developing younger players. I love and I called the
game and I saw you there. I called the game
between the Pistons and the Raptors earlier this year in
Toronto for FanDuel Sports, And what I noticed it is
(09:03):
shoot around, is that other coaches were involved. Like when
I covered and called games for stan Van Gundy, it
was just him talking. Dwayne Casey loved the guy. Other
coaches were involved in the coaching JB. Bickerstaff, same thing.
Other coaches on his staff are implementing or help implement
the game plan. It's not just one voice. I think
(09:24):
that's a really important aspect. His communication ability, I think
has been vital to this team's growth. What else besides
that do you think has made him such an NBA
Coach of the Year candidate?
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Yeah? Yeah, I mean I think his staff has been
really good for this team. You know, he's got a
pretty big coaching stense with a lot of assistants that
they walk them in and really embrace their rose and
check several boxes. So his spirit is a big aspect
of it. You know, I think defensively or like on
both ends, just putting players in rows where they can thrive.
(09:59):
You know, I think he's really put Isaiah Stewart intraditions
to succeed defensively this season. And even this is the
meaning on the sideline, uh, like He's probably one of
the coaches who's hardest on the rest as far as
their cause, and uh, you know, I think that that
really kind of galvanizes the scene to have a coach
who's going to fight for them and do everything possible
(10:22):
to try to find every every reason for them to win.
So I think it's a lot of things with jab,
but it's just this day to day and moments the
moment energy that I think stands out the most.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Yeah, such a good coach. You mentioned Isaiah Stewart. What's
his status for tomorrow night?
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Do you know?
Speaker 3 (10:39):
We'll see, Uh, you know, I think I think he's
going to be day to day for the rest of
the season. Uh, tested area with the right d information
which has been bothering them just the end of the
regular season. So we'll see obviously situation, and you know,
I think that they're going to miss him out there
if you can't play.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
So you mentioned Kay Cunningham being an NBA performer, and
rightfully so so is Jalen Brunson. I'm not taking anything
away from him. I've always liked him. I liked him
at Villanova. I called the National Championship between Michigan and Villanova.
I thought he was fantastic and I think he's been
a hell of a pro. However, what took place the
other night was borderline embarrassing, not just for him, not
(11:19):
just for the Knicks, but for the NBA. The flopping
that he did the other night was uncalled for and
unnecessary at what point? And then Tom Thibodau, of course afterwards,
was complaining about the referees because of the free throw discrepancy.
How much effect do you think Tom Thibodeau calling referees
out after the game and Jalen Brunson's flopping will will
(11:42):
matter for Game three?
Speaker 3 (11:44):
I don't think it will. I think the thing with
Marcell is that he's somebody who tend to get calls anyway,
and he said we didn't have an issue getting caused,
you know, as we are in game two, and a
lot of his strategy really revolved around filing a star out,
you know, just because you know, sorry a great defender
and uh, you know Bruss like I'm not like he
(12:06):
pretty much decided I'm not even going to try to
shoot him when we were around you, I'm gonna just
make sure you get your six files so I could
go off in the fourth quarter, so uh, you know, like,
well we'll see. I think the main thing is just
not allowing him to, you know, kind of get those
borderline CAFs in real time. But but that's rusted up
(12:27):
the same sign. You know, he's a file version, he's
going to some contact. So that's something that the Pistons
are trying to solve. But like we all saw it,
like he certainly was trying to get to the line
as offen as possible, and I think the referees ultimately
just have to do a better job of not rewarding
Some of them were egregious examples of it.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
You're not just a Pistons writer for the Free Past,
but you are also a basketball junkie. So I want
to quick take before I let you go on a
few other things. Indiana's a two zip on Milwaukee, and
it has become to use a hockey term chippy. Tyres Halberton,
who I think is a very good player, had a
double double last night and yet was voted most overrated
only by fourteen percent, but still he still holds that title.
(13:13):
What's your take on that series so far?
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Any other of the good thing, Like they really kind
of hit this stride down the stretch, especially at March
and April. They're a balanced team, they can defend just
a really well built theme and I think that's also
true for Milwaukee in some ways. But from a death standpoint,
Indiana's really just got great depth. And I think with Milwaukee,
(13:36):
especially with Damian Lillar scenario, you know, it would be
tough for them to lose in the first round again.
But I mean this Indiana teams is really really good,
Like they could score them on anybody, and you know,
I'm curious to see how far they're able to go.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Yeah, Milwaukee's out. I would guess Doc Rivers would be
out to two more for you O case he blows
out Memphis. Are they the best team in the league,
not just because they have the best record, but are
they the best team in basketball?
Speaker 3 (14:07):
I think so. You look at the regular season they
had and you know, they had an historically great defense,
obviously an offense. You have a leading MVP candidate you
know will probably the MVP carendidate and Shay and they're
just a phenomenal team. You know, they're a team full
of guys pretty much, but they've drafted, you know, they
(14:28):
player developments and crazy and you've got great defenders up
and down the roster and Caruso and lou Dort and
I see a Hartenstein Jalen Williams. So they're tough, like
they've got deaf like, they've got talent, and they could
be to in a lot of different ways. So yeah,
I mean the West is going to be a battle too.
(14:50):
They're good. But the Warriors that play extremely well since
the trade deadline. It's a really good teams. So we'll see.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
But I think Okay See clearly is number one. This
is why you have them on. I love that you
brought up all those different players for Oklahoma City. And
sure you mentioned Shay Gilgis Alexander, but the other guys
you knew right away. I would say you have to
be a basketball junkie to know who those guys are.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Not many people. You didn't even mention chet Holmgram.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
I think most people identify with Shay Gilgess, Alexander and
chet Holgrim, but need to educate themselves on those other
plays because they're really good, all right. Last thing, Boston
is a team that many people feel, even though they
didn't have the best record in the East, is still
the best team in the East. Would you concur it
if so?
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Why?
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Yeah, I think they still deserved the minisot of the doubt.
I think a lot of times when really good teams
like Boston win a championship and then they come back
the following season, the regular season just doesn't have the
same pazzazz. And I think these teams in the might
still be good in the regular season, but you know,
obviously they're not. You know, they understand that they're good.
(16:01):
They understand it DA haven a long season. They head
that they're going to go to the finals again. So yeah, yeah,
I mean, Cleveland had a better record, and Cleveland's a
great team, but Boston returned essentially the exact same team
they had last year, and they're built for the playoffs.
They're here, you know, I think they just had sort
of a championship below this season then that I mean,
(16:24):
that team is still just as good as they were
last year. So it wouldn't be shocking if they want
to go.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
It's been a long season, but it's been a fun
ride and we've been able to enjoy it primarily because
of your articles.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Thanks for the time today. Keep up the great work.
Tomrio hope to talk to you again sometime soon.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
No, absolutely thanks for having me
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