June 5, 2025 • 34 mins
The legend returns as PJ Carlesimo joins the show to talk about the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and OKC Thunder, the return of the Sonics! MJ also decides to give listeners a chance to win some cash, Bet w/ MJ!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Nobody's giving Indiana any chance, but they're there for a reason.
They were able to get through. The Knicks beat them handily,
I would say. In game six back in Indiana, they
won three games on the road in Cleveland against the
Cavaliers to upset the number one seed in the East.
(00:22):
And joining us right now on the Beacon Plumbing hotline
is one of Seattle's finests, the last coach of the
Seattle SuperSonics, a man who's gonna be calling the NBA
Finals on ESPN radio, and a former NBA head coach,
you know as well Portland, Golden State and the Brooklyn Nets,
(00:45):
and of course Oklahoma City Thunder PJ. Carlssimo joining us
right now, Coach, we appreciate you making time. Let's talk
before we get into Sonics talk. Let's talk about the finals.
And it's a small market, but there's a lot of
stars in these finals. And OKC is the biggest favorite
(01:06):
in the NBA Finals in twenty one years since the
Lakers versus the Pistons in four and in that series,
the Lakers were upset. So, coach, when you look at
this series, what kind of chance do the Indiana Pacers have,
if any at all to be able to pull off
this monumental upset.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Oh Mark, First of all, Mark, good to be with you.
Good morning. They got a chance, for sure, you don't
get to the finals. They got through the Eastern Conference there.
They have a lot of experience back. They got twelve
guys that were on their playoff roster last year. Obviously,
Tyreese Halliburton and Pascal Siakam are playing as well as
(01:47):
anybody in the playoffs right now. So I like the
team a lot, but I mean it's on paper, we're
talking just a night and day difference. Oklahoma City has
had one of the best US years in NBA history,
you know, not just the fact that they accept a
bunch of records that any standard you're gonna use to measure.
(02:09):
They won sixty eight games in a Western conference that
was one of the deepest and I think most competitive
Western conferences we've ever had. They're a balanced team. They're
one of i'd say the best two offensive teams in
the entire league. They are the best defensive team in
the league. They played defense like no other team. They've
(02:30):
got the MVP and shake Gil just Alexander. They got
a guy at Jalen Williams that I think a lot
of people still don't realize how good a player Jalen Williams.
There's two Jalen Williams, j Dubb Santa Clara, who's a
third team All NBA player, a second team All Defensive player,
and were he not on a you know, a roster
(02:51):
with shake Gil just Alexander more, people would even be,
you know, talking about him. They shoot the threes well.
If they had a weakness last year they were young,
they're still very These are two of the youngest teams.
It's one of the youngest matchups we've had since I
think seventy seven when Portland played Philly when Doctor Jacks
Portland team won the championship. It's one of the youngest
(03:13):
matchups ever. You got Oklahoma City's average ages under twenty
six and Indiana's is barely twenty seven. So it's incredible
how many talented young players there are on these two rosters.
But they're so good. The defense. Okasees defense is historic,
it really is that good. They've got six or seven
(03:34):
wing defenders that just can stay in front of whoever
has the ball. They can overplay. They're really quick, closing
out to three point shooters. They have a unique combination.
They turn it over themselves the fewest of any team
in the NBA, fewest turnovers for any team in the NBA,
and they forced the most turnovers of any team in
(03:56):
the league. So they have this ridiculous possession advantage every
time they play. They weren't quite as good last year
up front on the grass. Part of it was injuries,
part of it was just they needed to address that,
and they did. They pick up Isaiah Hartenstein to go
with Ched Holmgren. Now they have one of the best
big combinations in the league in terms of rebounding, shot blocking,
(04:20):
the ability to run the floor. And they pick up
Alex Caruso, who's just the heck of a You know,
he's a blue collar player, but he does so many
good things, and he's somebody that thrives in the playoffs.
He's so much better in the playoffs that he is
in the regular season. And of course he's got some pedigree.
He won a championship with the Lakers back in the
bubble in twenty twenty. So if anything, they're an improved team.
(04:43):
They're both young, but I mean, on paper, Okase should
win it. Indiana because of the style they play. You know,
they play so quickly, they'll shoot it quickly, and they
have a lot of talent. Both teams are deep, Both
coaches are more than willing to use their bet. Mark
Dagnalk goes deep in his bench at Okcuh and Rick
Carlisle the same way with the Pacers. So I do
(05:06):
the Pacers have a chance. Yeah, I do think they
have a chance, But it would be a huge up set,
not a little upset. It would be a huge up set. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Coach, PJ Carlismo joining us here on MJ in the
Midday and become plumbing hotline coach. You were part of
three NBA World titles with Greg Popovich and three five
o seven, so you know what it takes to win
on this level. And when I look at OKAC coach,
you look at the fact that the Jalen Williams from
(05:34):
Santa Clara is still under a rookie contract, so is
chet Holm Grin. Obviously SGA is going to get the
biggest super Max contract in NBA history. I've asked this question.
I want to get your thoughts. Now, they got to
win it first, so they actually have to win it.
But let's hypothetically say that in this thing, just like
Chock held up in the Final four, what you were
(05:56):
calling on. You did a great job on Westwood one
and it held up the last two years with Yukon
with Dan Hurley. Is this the start of a potential
dynasty with the Thunder?
Speaker 2 (06:11):
It could be you know, you hit it right in
the head. They got to win one first, right, You
just don't know what's going to happen. I don't. It's
not the only way they use would lose. But I
mean there's been injuries in the finals before that have
changed the outcome of NBA finals. So health is a
big right now, both these teams are healthy. You usually
have to be really fortunate, lucky is the word with
(06:33):
health to get to the NBA Finals, and you got
to get through it. I mean, you know, potentially it
could be seven games. You know, we've seen injuries to
Kevin Durant, to Klay Thompson. We've seen some big injuries
going back to the Cleveland Golden State matchup. So health
is going to be the first thing. But if they're
able to win it, Okay, see when you look at
(06:54):
their roster going forward, how young this team is, how
well positioned they are with draft picks. They may have
to make a big move. Sam press to He's not
going to hesitate to do that. He's done it in
the past. You know, maybe you know, can can They
have three max players. That doesn't seem to, you know,
financially to be able to work. But they have so
many draft picks. They're set up so well to tweak
(07:17):
the roster in the future if they have to. They
don't have to do very much right now in the
immediate future. They're very, very young, They're very talented. They
do literally do everything on the floor. They make trees,
they can score in the paint. We talked about the turnovers.
They're incredible turns, turnover points, fast breakpoints, all especialty points categories.
(07:38):
They're one or two UH in the NBA. So there's
no weaknesses with this team. Now. Having said that, they
went seven games with Denver. Denver is a unique team
with Joki, Indiana is a little bit different because of
how quickly they play, but Okase's comfortable. You know, you
talked about the Spurs when Pop's team won three like
(07:59):
in three H five and oh seven. It wasn't a dynasty,
but it was close. They're you know, knocking on the
door every year. It was a balanced team. It was
a really good offensive team and a really good defensive team.
That's what OKAC is. Okaysee can beat you in the
half court with execution. They're not a good they're a
great half court defensive team, but they're an incredible full
(08:21):
court team, forcing turnovers and running you know, number one
in the league in fast break points and points off turnovers.
So they can beat you in a high scoring game.
That Indiana would be a really tough matchup for some
other teams that can't play at that pace. Okay see
can they can play quick, they can play slowly. You know.
(08:41):
The one thing, neither of these teams are great rebounding teams. Now,
you know, maybe that cancels out, maybe if one of
them can do a better job, but they're not two
of the best rebounding teams in the NBA. It' fact
they're not even top eight of the sixteen teams in
the playoffs. But it almost, you know, cancels out because
neither one is. It's not that's something that either one
really excels at. So I just like the balance that
(09:04):
OKC has. The fact that they can play so many
different styles. That was a huge key for San Antonio.
It was I thought a big key for Boston last year.
Boston never got credit for how good a defensive team
they were. You know, you talked about Jakes and Jason
Tatum and Jaylen Brown and the three point shooting and
all the other things they did. You didn't realize how
(09:26):
good a defensive team they were. That's what this OKC
team is, and that's frankly, that's not what right now.
Indiana is defending better. They defended better in the playoffs
than they have in the regular season. But there's no
comparison between these two teams. You know. OKAC is literally
the best defensive team in the league and Indiana is
not in their even close to their category on the
(09:48):
defensive end.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
PJ.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Carlosenal joining us here on MJ and the Middale'll be
calling the nb Finals on ESPN Radio and coach a
gentleman that you worked with Sonics last year in Seattle,
he was named he was the second youngest general manager
in NBA history. Sam Presty Here he is coach after
(10:10):
eighteen years and after his first draft pick, which everybody
around here knows Durant. He followed that up a year
later with Westbrook and the year after that with Harden,
and now here he is with the new rendition of
the Thunder and a team who's on the precipice of
winning their first ever NBA title. You look at a
(10:34):
guy like Sam Presty coach and you know, because you
worked with him, isn't an amazing just to sit back
and look at this guy that here he's doing this
eighteen years later? And because you know, like anybody else coach,
when you get jobs like that, you're usually only hired
to be fired, even when you don't deserve to be fired,
like Tom Thibodeau. But here Sam Presty is he's one
(10:57):
of the best, if not the best, in the business.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
But you know, it's a you made a great point,
mark because it's eighteen years he's been on a job, right,
so I could has Sam done a good job? No,
he's done a great job, But as you said, he's
been there for eighteen years. Play Bennett and the front
office people of franchise in Seattle first and then in
OKC they hired Sam and they've stayed with him for
(11:23):
eighteen years and I'm not saying that they should. They
certainly should not have made a change, but it's a
heck of a lesson for some of these other teams
to like, when you have somebody good, to let him
do his job. And that's what happened. And it's on
the verge of really paying off. And it's not like
they've struggled. They've had other really good years. They've been
to the finals one other time. But again, the goal
is to win a championship. And yeah, maybe it's taken
(11:46):
a little while eighteen years, but Sam's done an incredible job.
They were fortunate and he'll be the first to tell
you Kevin Durant fell to them, But you know, thank
God for Seattle for a year and for OKC for
a number of year. Is that KD ended up falling
to Seattle with the number two pick when U Portland
chose Greg Odin And but the moves they've made since then.
(12:09):
We talked about Jalalen william Santa Clara Jalal Jalen Williams earlier.
They have so many talented young guys trading for shake
Yodris Alexander when some people just didn't realize, you know,
quite how good shake Yogris Alexander is. So yeah, the
moves have been incredible. I commend uh, I really commend
the front office for staying with their their leadership. Rob
(12:34):
Henninggen is now back. Rob was with us in Seattle
went he was the GM or president, I don't know
what his title was with Orlando for a number of years.
Now he's back with Sam in the front office. So
there's no question how smart they've been and how well
positioned they are right now. But in this league, it's
about winning, uh and they you know, they got they
(12:54):
got to get that first NBA title. Uh And then
you then you can start talking about you know, last year,
a lot of people after Boston once said, man, this
team is going to be cooking for a long time.
And obviously people thought they were the team that was
going to come out of the East this year. It
didn't happen, So you never know. There's no guarantees in
this business. But everybody in the league would be envious
(13:17):
of the roster that OKAC has right now, the way
they are positioned financially in terms of being able to
make some moves, and the ton of draftknicks they have
going forward. That they're going to be able to be
flexible and change up their roster when it's necessary.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
All salient points by you, Coach, PJ Cosmo here on
MJ in the Midday, And how about this, and I
this can't be overstated enough, coach, this is kind of
like the Paul George Finals. He was in Indiana, Okay,
he gets traded to okac all right, Ola Deep owned Sabonisco.
There Sabonis develops into be a pretty good player. He
(13:56):
gets traded to Sacramento for Halliburton, and then Okase pulls off. Coach,
what you know, everyone will talk about that famous herschel
Walker trade that got the Cowboys three Super Bowl titles
in the nineties.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Well, this might not be far behind. It might even
eclipse it.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Where they not only did they trade Paul George Oklahoma
City to the Clippers, they get Shay Gildis, Alexander Danilo Gallinari,
and five first round picks, one of those, coach Jalen
Williams from Santa Clara. So this is the Paul George Fund.
They should almost call it the Paul George Trophy. At
(14:35):
the end of this, whoever wins.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
It, well, there's no question. Pg's fingerprints are all over
both of these teams, that no question about it. And
Kevin Pritchard and Chad Buchanan have done a great job
also with the roster in Indiana, So you know, it's
it's really normally you're gonna see that. But this isn't
like guys, just like with the money grab like signing
(14:58):
free agent, spending a boat of money and changing their team.
These are rosters that were put together in a very
very thoughtful way. And you know the same way that
Sam and Rob Hennigan deserve a ton of credit on
the OKC side, Kevin Pritchard and Chad Buchanan deserve a
lot of that credit for the other side. And as
you mentioned, Paul George was in the middle of a
(15:20):
number of those deals.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
It's unbelievable the teams who traded Paul George away benefited
more than the teams who received Paul George gets crazy,
but hey, sometimes life comes out you Strangeways coach. There's
nobody more fitting and all the PNW for than PG.
Carlstimo to ask this question, you were the last coach
of the Sonics, and what do you say to all
(15:46):
the people here throughout Seattle and the PNW who are
right now, you know how much it hurts after this
franchise was ripped away the week after Russell Westbrook was
drafted out of UCLA in two thousand and eight, and
you know Softy better than anybody, and all the fine
folks here at kJ R and and everybody throughout Seattle
(16:08):
that what do you say to them that, I mean,
this hurts. It's like you know your ex girlfriend marrying
you know Jeff Bezos, right, You're never going to be
more successful than Jeff Bezos.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Right, Let's just be honest.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
I mean, so it's just and now you see it
and it's just like, oh man, this hurts. So what
do you say to everybody out there who's this is
gonna be a really tough finals for everybody here in
Seattle to watch?
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Well, it is. I still think that, you know, we
share in it. I mean, you know, I'm I was
only in the case for a little bit that first year,
but I was in both places. Nick Collinson is still
an executive with the team. I love seeing Nick at
every game and it's it's great. So there's no question
that these two franchises are are linked. I think more importantly,
(16:55):
and I hate to keep saying that we need to
be patient, but I believe sincerely we're gonna see expansion.
It's not coming as quickly as I thought it was
going to. I think, honestly, I think there are some
owners in the league that kind of like it at
thirty They like divideing the booty by thirty instead of
by thirty two. But I think Adam Silver is committed
(17:16):
to it. I think the majority of the owners in
the league believe in it. I think it's going to happen.
I think when it does happen, we're going to get
a franchise back in Seattle. We never should have lost it.
Mark the things that went wrong for us to lose
that franchise. I mean, a week doesn't go by to me,
like especially now when the whole NBA world will be
(17:36):
here and in Indianapolis for the next couple of weeks.
You know that somebody doesn't say, like, I can't believe
we're not back in Seattle. We missed Seattle. We haven't
been there in so long. But you know, I still think, Hey,
the roots of this franchise are there. It's okay. See,
it's not Seattle, there's no question about that. But we
you know, we can't. We can't control it anyhow, and
(17:59):
there's there are very few people. There are a lot
of people that work behind the scenes. I still see
a whole bunch of people, some of whom moved down
here from Seattle with the franchise, and others who just
you know, started in okay See and have been with
this franchise forever. Nothing's ever going to change the way
that people in Seattle feel. The way we lost that
(18:20):
team was really unfortunate, and you know, people in Seattle
are good at blaming everybody. We were a big part
of the mistakes, the city government, the state government, of
some of the previous ownership. So I mean we shared
in that. It wasn't like everybody makes it sound like,
okay See just came in stole it, and there was
(18:40):
nothing we could have done. There were a lot of
things we could have done and didn't do. So, you know,
we lost the franchise. We kind of mishandled the situation unfortunately,
but it is what it is, and it's gonna be
a great finals. I know. The way people feel like,
I mean, a week doesn't go by that I'm in
a restaurant or the supermarket there somewhere that somebody doesn't say,
(19:02):
you know, they want to stick kids in the dolls
the root to catch. I know it's going to be
a tough finals, but it's going to be a really
entertaining finals. You know, it truly is, and hopefully they
can enjoy it for the basketball because hopefully it's going
to be competitive. I'm really hoping that Indiana can step
(19:23):
up and play the way they were playing in the
in the Eastern Conference playoffs and make it competitive.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
No question about it.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
I appreciate how well you articulate that and you understand
the pain.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Coach.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
I've only been here four months, and you know I've
said this before. There was a guy in Atlanta one time.
He said, you know, you can know a city's history.
He gave Chicago for example, and he said, you could
know the Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks, Cubs, and White Sox like
the back of your hand, but you don't know the
pain that those Cubs fans went through all those years
(19:56):
and lost a lot of their you know, pair instant
grandparents who never got to see twenty sixteen. And I
you know, I don't know the pin. I only looked
at it from afar, but I've watched Sonics Gate enough
to know that this this city deserves to have the
Sonics back. I just really hope, like you said, coach,
and I know you're you, you got a little Jeremy
(20:18):
shapp in your coach, if you can find out anything
and talk to the commissioner. We're all waiting with baited
breath to get something. Just give us something. Is there
gonna be an announcement this summer. Just give us something
out of Silver.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
You know, I don't know, but I do know this.
I firmly believe Adam Silver watched a franchise back in Seattle.
There's no doubt in my mind. Every time I drive by,
you know, Lenny Wilkins Way or Sue Bird Way over there,
and you know it's still it's Climate Pledge. It's a
beautiful building. To me, it still feels like Key. I live,
like you know, basically across the street from it. So
(20:52):
we're gonna get We're gonna get a team back there,
and you know, hopefully, hopefully it's soon. I'm tired of
telling people would have to be patient, because I really
did think it would have happened by now, but I'm
still very confident. Uh, And there's no doubt in my
mind how Adam Silver feels about that.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Well, thanks to you and your better half for staying
in Seattle, even when the songs that you guys stayed
here and you had the funniest line that you ever
told me with you you just said to your wife, Hey,
we're getting ready to move O.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
She goes, No, I'm staying here. You're going to be fired.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Soon, right, But you know it's been great and almost
eighteen years now, and we love Seattle and we're gonna
we're gonna like it even more when when we get
when we get a team back.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Yeah, I just want to nominate PJ.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Carlos Simo to be the president of basketball Operations for
the next Sonics. I don't maybe you don't want the job,
but I just want to nominate you, coach.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
I want hey, hey, listen.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
I'll just be happy to be able to go to
the games the climate pledge.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
It'd be great, all right. I got too real quick.
And I know you love one guy.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
I talked talk to you about this guy that he's
NBA ready to me and I even said to him
I said to him at the Final four and radio
row Nate Oates and Hey, Tom Thibodeau's getting thirty million
dollars the next three years to not coach basketball. Maybe
he'll be available by the time Adam Silver makes that
announcement for the Sonics to come back.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Oh, there's They're gonna be coaches available. There's no question
about that. And unfortunately our league is just insane. But
that's that's the way it is. Tims knows that better
than anybody, but that that's really unfortunate because he did
such a good job in New York, but he is
what it is.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
You have a great call tonight and throughout the entire series.
Thank you very much. The coach PJ. Carlos Simo here
on MJ in the Midday, Kid and I have our
thoughts on how tough it's gonna be for everybody here
to go through it. Uh oh well, maybe I'll just
(22:56):
maybe I'll just kind of, you know, talk about that,
or you know, we'll get to something about that coming
up next right here on MJ in the Midday Sports
Radio ninety three to three KJRFM. Interesting texts on the
text line the free agent text line four nine four,
five to one. I honestly feel that no case he
calls them being in the finals is good for the
(23:16):
return of the Sonics. Gonna be a little talk about them.
And you know there'll be people rocking the colors on
national TV.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
That's true, that's true. They there could be.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
You know, I want to see somebody there with a
Gary Payton, Sean Kemp, Jersey Debt of Shrimp, Frank Perkowski,
you know, somebody, Nate McMillan.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
That would be cool.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
That would be cool if somebody's wearing those in the
uh in the audience. But it'd be nice if this
was and here's the thing about it, even if the
Knicks were in the finals, the Knicks would have no
chance against Okac either the Pacers have. If anybody, the
Pacers have a better chance to maybe win a game,
maybe two.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
I would be.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
Surprise if this game gets to if this series goes six,
I'd be surprised. I think it's okay. Thunder and five,
I think it's a pretty safe bet. And it's minus
seven hundred and seven fifty depending on where you place
your action on the Thunder to win at all. I
don't usually recommend placing that kind of money just to
(24:24):
win one hundred dollars. But if you've got some money
to spare, they're not going to lose. They will not
lose that that's for sure. They will be the twenty
twenty five NBA World Champions. So I can you know,
it's pretty close to a guarantee. And the only way
that Indiana could pull this off if they win not
(24:46):
one but the first two games on the road at OKAC.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
I don't see that happening. I just don't.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Sorry to quote Rick Patino, Reggie Miller's not walking through
that door, folks. Rick Smith's isn't walking through that door, folks.
Antonio Davis isn't walking through that door, folks. And if
they do, they're going to be gray and old. So
it doesn't matter. I think in this series even let's
(25:15):
just say that Pacers Okac because this is the Paul
George Finals, right. Both teams are built on trading Paul
George away, and they built up to get to where
they are now, especially OKC Paul George. You could give
the Pacers Paul George. They have no chance at winning
this series, zero zero. It just is what it is.
(25:38):
But it will not happen unfortunately, So I'll be thinking
about everybody out there and what you're going to be
going through and everything. But just remember forty one glorious
years here in Seattle. Not all of them were glorious,
especially towards the end. They have seventeen in Oklahoma City.
It's different franchises, and I will always look at it
(25:59):
like that. I hate when ESPN says that Oklahoma City
is in their fifth NBA Finals going for their second
world title. No, they're in their second NBA Finals going
for their first world title. So no, not at all
on that. Well, the commissioner spoke and admitted to what
(26:22):
we all knew and suspected. Next on mjan in the
Midday Sports Radio ninety three to three KJRFM, all right,
(26:44):
I'm gonna get to the commissioner, Rob Manford, who just
admitted what we all suspected. And kudos, I don't really
say this much, kudos to Rob Manford on looking to
implement the automated ball strike zone next year.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
It's just you gotta do it.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
I told you, I told you how much I would
like it in other sports, but you laughed at me
when I first got here. I said, I would rather
have that, but this, to me is a step in
the right direction. You hear that music because it's time
to win some money and a lot of you out there.
I hope you're listening to my bets because I'm like
(27:22):
seventy three percent throughout these playoffs. NHL and NBA combined
Tonight's kid the over under on Tyrese Halliburton points seventeen
and a half Take the over all day long. You
know why because when Halliburton scores over twenty, the Pacers
(27:47):
this season are something to the extent of like thirty
three and four including the playoffs. Over Tyrese Haliburton seventeen
and a half points. That's my wrongest play of the day.
Bet it now, wait for it, wait for it, Thank
(28:09):
me later. Tyree Saloburton, Hella Burton, Hella Burton over seventeen
and a half points. L FG. I'm not saying they're
gonna win the game, but if they have any desire
(28:30):
to try and steal one on the road, he's gonna
have to score over twenty. He might need to score
over twenty five. They're gonna need him big time. Seventeen
and a half points, way too low, Way too low,
so I like that. Also, one more thing, the total
on the game. Yes, I looked at this one.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Now.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
I actually think Indiana is gonna come out. We had
Rob Parker on the other day. I think Indiana's gonna
come out and they're gonna come out swinging tonight. And
I think they're gonna come out not rusty because Oklahoma
City has been off for a little bit. Indiana got
just enough rests and oh dude, I'm not touching that. No, no, no, no, no,
(29:17):
can't do that one. I'm gonna I'm gonna pause on
that one. The over runners two thirty and a half.
I would if I had to bet, I'd go over.
But I'm gonna steer clear, stare clear of the total
two thirty and a half. If it was two twenty
and a half or to eighteen and a half, I'd
say go over.
Speaker 3 (29:35):
Two thirty. That's a lot.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
I mean, it can happen, but I feel stronger on
Halliburton going for eighteen or more. So that's that's your pick,
right there, Hallo Burton, Let's go tonight, Let's go man
Let's do it.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
Rob Manford has come out and he has admitted that
he is considering. One of the major factors where he
decided that last month he was going to lift the
permanent bands of Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson was
(30:14):
due to his talk with the President of the United
States Donald Trump. Rob Manford said, quote, yesterday, the President
was one of a number of voices that was supportive
of the idea that this was the right decision. Obviously,
I have respect for the office and the advice he
gave I paid attention to, but I had a lot
(30:35):
of other people that were weighing in on the topic
as well.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
End quote.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
He goes on, Well, before we get to anything more,
I don't have an issue with this commissioner. My issue
is that why couldn't you have done this while Pete
Rose was still alive? And you don't know, but maybe
him having that permanent ban in that scarlet letter on
(31:06):
him since nineteen eighty nine with the late A. Bartlett Giamatti,
the father of the great actor Paul Giamatti, maybe that
would have kept Pete Rose's will to live going, And
maybe it would have I just now it feels shallow,
it feels superficial, it feels hollow, and that's great it's
(31:31):
just to me, it's too little, too late. Jilis Joe
jacksonn't care. He's been dead for a long time. Pete
Rose just died.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
You know.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
He died on September thirtieth. Why do I know that
date because my dad died on that date two years
prior to that, So that date will I will hate
September thirtieth forever. And Pete Rose died two years after
my father. My father was a big Pete Rose fan too.
Got a chance to hang out with him during the
two thousand and four Western Conference Final at the Pete
(32:00):
Rose Ballpark Cafe in Boyton Beach, Florida.
Speaker 3 (32:03):
He couldn't have been nicer.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
And he's one of those guys too that when you
meet him right away, he he makes you feel like
he's no. Well, he made me feel like I knew
in my whole life. He kept grabbing my arm, but
he's like, you know what I mean, you know what
I mean. He kept grabbing my arm, and I'm like, yeah, Pete,
I know what you mean. Man, I know what you mean.
And yeah, it's too little, too late, Commissioner, too little
too late.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
I if I'm.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
Sure his family And that's great for the Rose family
and all his fans, but you wanted to do it
while he was still breathing above ground. Now just falls
short from me, just really falls short.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
That's all. That's it.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
I mean, I you know, I guess better late than ever,
But to me, no, no.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
One.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
NFL analyst explains why he's not buying Mike mc donald's
comments on the Seahawks quarterback situation. Find out who it
is in what he said next on MJ and the Midday.
Oh and by the way, we've got two hundred dollars
(33:14):
to give out at the top of the hour EQC
note Thursday after a certain someone from Lakewood didn't call
in within five minutes, so be texting right now. Four
nine four five one, I call your name out. You
got five minutes coming up after the top of the hour.
You have five minutes to claim two one hundred dollars.
(33:38):
Don Caesar, you snapped our winning streak on this, but
you got two hundred dollars now, so that's coming up
EQC note Thursday.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
Right here.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
Thanks to the fine folks at Emerald Queen Casino, the
betting Capital and entertaam and Capital of the Northwest, don't
go anywhere? Who said this? Someone doubting the Seahawks QB situation.
The comments made by Mike McDonald next on MJ in
the midday Sports Radio ninety three to three kJ r
FM
Nobody's giving Indiana any chance, but they're there for a reason.
They were able to get through. The Knicks beat them handily,
I would say. In game six back in Indiana, they
won three games on the road in Cleveland against the
Cavaliers to upset the number one seed in the East.
(00:22):
And joining us right now on the Beacon Plumbing hotline
is one of Seattle's finests, the last coach of the
Seattle SuperSonics, a man who's gonna be calling the NBA
Finals on ESPN radio, and a former NBA head coach,
you know as well Portland, Golden State and the Brooklyn Nets,
(00:45):
and of course Oklahoma City Thunder PJ. Carlssimo joining us
right now, Coach, we appreciate you making time. Let's talk
before we get into Sonics talk. Let's talk about the finals.
And it's a small market, but there's a lot of
stars in these finals. And OKC is the biggest favorite
(01:06):
in the NBA Finals in twenty one years since the
Lakers versus the Pistons in four and in that series,
the Lakers were upset. So, coach, when you look at
this series, what kind of chance do the Indiana Pacers have,
if any at all to be able to pull off
this monumental upset.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Oh Mark, First of all, Mark, good to be with you.
Good morning. They got a chance, for sure, you don't
get to the finals. They got through the Eastern Conference there.
They have a lot of experience back. They got twelve
guys that were on their playoff roster last year. Obviously,
Tyreese Halliburton and Pascal Siakam are playing as well as
(01:47):
anybody in the playoffs right now. So I like the
team a lot, but I mean it's on paper, we're
talking just a night and day difference. Oklahoma City has
had one of the best US years in NBA history,
you know, not just the fact that they accept a
bunch of records that any standard you're gonna use to measure.
(02:09):
They won sixty eight games in a Western conference that
was one of the deepest and I think most competitive
Western conferences we've ever had. They're a balanced team. They're
one of i'd say the best two offensive teams in
the entire league. They are the best defensive team in
the league. They played defense like no other team. They've
(02:30):
got the MVP and shake Gil just Alexander. They got
a guy at Jalen Williams that I think a lot
of people still don't realize how good a player Jalen Williams.
There's two Jalen Williams, j Dubb Santa Clara, who's a
third team All NBA player, a second team All Defensive player,
and were he not on a you know, a roster
(02:51):
with shake Gil just Alexander more, people would even be,
you know, talking about him. They shoot the threes well.
If they had a weakness last year they were young,
they're still very These are two of the youngest teams.
It's one of the youngest matchups we've had since I
think seventy seven when Portland played Philly when Doctor Jacks
Portland team won the championship. It's one of the youngest
(03:13):
matchups ever. You got Oklahoma City's average ages under twenty
six and Indiana's is barely twenty seven. So it's incredible
how many talented young players there are on these two rosters.
But they're so good. The defense. Okasees defense is historic,
it really is that good. They've got six or seven
(03:34):
wing defenders that just can stay in front of whoever
has the ball. They can overplay. They're really quick, closing
out to three point shooters. They have a unique combination.
They turn it over themselves the fewest of any team
in the NBA, fewest turnovers for any team in the NBA,
and they forced the most turnovers of any team in
(03:56):
the league. So they have this ridiculous possession advantage every
time they play. They weren't quite as good last year
up front on the grass. Part of it was injuries,
part of it was just they needed to address that,
and they did. They pick up Isaiah Hartenstein to go
with Ched Holmgren. Now they have one of the best
big combinations in the league in terms of rebounding, shot blocking,
(04:20):
the ability to run the floor. And they pick up
Alex Caruso, who's just the heck of a You know,
he's a blue collar player, but he does so many
good things, and he's somebody that thrives in the playoffs.
He's so much better in the playoffs that he is
in the regular season. And of course he's got some pedigree.
He won a championship with the Lakers back in the
bubble in twenty twenty. So if anything, they're an improved team.
(04:43):
They're both young, but I mean, on paper, Okase should
win it. Indiana because of the style they play. You know,
they play so quickly, they'll shoot it quickly, and they
have a lot of talent. Both teams are deep, Both
coaches are more than willing to use their bet. Mark
Dagnalk goes deep in his bench at Okcuh and Rick
Carlisle the same way with the Pacers. So I do
(05:06):
the Pacers have a chance. Yeah, I do think they
have a chance, But it would be a huge up set,
not a little upset. It would be a huge up set. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Coach, PJ Carlismo joining us here on MJ in the
Midday and become plumbing hotline coach. You were part of
three NBA World titles with Greg Popovich and three five
o seven, so you know what it takes to win
on this level. And when I look at OKAC coach,
you look at the fact that the Jalen Williams from
(05:34):
Santa Clara is still under a rookie contract, so is
chet Holm Grin. Obviously SGA is going to get the
biggest super Max contract in NBA history. I've asked this question.
I want to get your thoughts. Now, they got to
win it first, so they actually have to win it.
But let's hypothetically say that in this thing, just like
Chock held up in the Final four, what you were
(05:56):
calling on. You did a great job on Westwood one
and it held up the last two years with Yukon
with Dan Hurley. Is this the start of a potential
dynasty with the Thunder?
Speaker 2 (06:11):
It could be you know, you hit it right in
the head. They got to win one first, right, You
just don't know what's going to happen. I don't. It's
not the only way they use would lose. But I
mean there's been injuries in the finals before that have
changed the outcome of NBA finals. So health is a
big right now, both these teams are healthy. You usually
have to be really fortunate, lucky is the word with
(06:33):
health to get to the NBA Finals, and you got
to get through it. I mean, you know, potentially it
could be seven games. You know, we've seen injuries to
Kevin Durant, to Klay Thompson. We've seen some big injuries
going back to the Cleveland Golden State matchup. So health
is going to be the first thing. But if they're
able to win it, Okay, see when you look at
(06:54):
their roster going forward, how young this team is, how
well positioned they are with draft picks. They may have
to make a big move. Sam press to He's not
going to hesitate to do that. He's done it in
the past. You know, maybe you know, can can They
have three max players. That doesn't seem to, you know,
financially to be able to work. But they have so
many draft picks. They're set up so well to tweak
(07:17):
the roster in the future if they have to. They
don't have to do very much right now in the
immediate future. They're very, very young, They're very talented. They
do literally do everything on the floor. They make trees,
they can score in the paint. We talked about the turnovers.
They're incredible turns, turnover points, fast breakpoints, all especialty points categories.
(07:38):
They're one or two UH in the NBA. So there's
no weaknesses with this team. Now. Having said that, they
went seven games with Denver. Denver is a unique team
with Joki, Indiana is a little bit different because of
how quickly they play, but Okase's comfortable. You know, you
talked about the Spurs when Pop's team won three like
(07:59):
in three H five and oh seven. It wasn't a dynasty,
but it was close. They're you know, knocking on the
door every year. It was a balanced team. It was
a really good offensive team and a really good defensive team.
That's what OKAC is. Okaysee can beat you in the
half court with execution. They're not a good they're a
great half court defensive team, but they're an incredible full
(08:21):
court team, forcing turnovers and running you know, number one
in the league in fast break points and points off turnovers.
So they can beat you in a high scoring game.
That Indiana would be a really tough matchup for some
other teams that can't play at that pace. Okay see
can they can play quick, they can play slowly. You know.
(08:41):
The one thing, neither of these teams are great rebounding teams. Now,
you know, maybe that cancels out, maybe if one of
them can do a better job, but they're not two
of the best rebounding teams in the NBA. It' fact
they're not even top eight of the sixteen teams in
the playoffs. But it almost, you know, cancels out because
neither one is. It's not that's something that either one
really excels at. So I just like the balance that
(09:04):
OKC has. The fact that they can play so many
different styles. That was a huge key for San Antonio.
It was I thought a big key for Boston last year.
Boston never got credit for how good a defensive team
they were. You know, you talked about Jakes and Jason
Tatum and Jaylen Brown and the three point shooting and
all the other things they did. You didn't realize how
(09:26):
good a defensive team they were. That's what this OKC
team is, and that's frankly, that's not what right now.
Indiana is defending better. They defended better in the playoffs
than they have in the regular season. But there's no
comparison between these two teams. You know. OKAC is literally
the best defensive team in the league and Indiana is
not in their even close to their category on the
(09:48):
defensive end.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
PJ.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Carlosenal joining us here on MJ and the Middale'll be
calling the nb Finals on ESPN Radio and coach a
gentleman that you worked with Sonics last year in Seattle,
he was named he was the second youngest general manager
in NBA history. Sam Presty Here he is coach after
(10:10):
eighteen years and after his first draft pick, which everybody
around here knows Durant. He followed that up a year
later with Westbrook and the year after that with Harden,
and now here he is with the new rendition of
the Thunder and a team who's on the precipice of
winning their first ever NBA title. You look at a
(10:34):
guy like Sam Presty coach and you know, because you
worked with him, isn't an amazing just to sit back
and look at this guy that here he's doing this
eighteen years later? And because you know, like anybody else coach,
when you get jobs like that, you're usually only hired
to be fired, even when you don't deserve to be fired,
like Tom Thibodeau. But here Sam Presty is he's one
(10:57):
of the best, if not the best, in the business.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
But you know, it's a you made a great point,
mark because it's eighteen years he's been on a job, right,
so I could has Sam done a good job? No,
he's done a great job, But as you said, he's
been there for eighteen years. Play Bennett and the front
office people of franchise in Seattle first and then in
OKC they hired Sam and they've stayed with him for
(11:23):
eighteen years and I'm not saying that they should. They
certainly should not have made a change, but it's a
heck of a lesson for some of these other teams
to like, when you have somebody good, to let him
do his job. And that's what happened. And it's on
the verge of really paying off. And it's not like
they've struggled. They've had other really good years. They've been
to the finals one other time. But again, the goal
is to win a championship. And yeah, maybe it's taken
(11:46):
a little while eighteen years, but Sam's done an incredible job.
They were fortunate and he'll be the first to tell
you Kevin Durant fell to them, But you know, thank
God for Seattle for a year and for OKC for
a number of year. Is that KD ended up falling
to Seattle with the number two pick when U Portland
chose Greg Odin And but the moves they've made since then.
(12:09):
We talked about Jalalen william Santa Clara Jalal Jalen Williams earlier.
They have so many talented young guys trading for shake
Yodris Alexander when some people just didn't realize, you know,
quite how good shake Yogris Alexander is. So yeah, the
moves have been incredible. I commend uh, I really commend
the front office for staying with their their leadership. Rob
(12:34):
Henninggen is now back. Rob was with us in Seattle
went he was the GM or president, I don't know
what his title was with Orlando for a number of years.
Now he's back with Sam in the front office. So
there's no question how smart they've been and how well
positioned they are right now. But in this league, it's
about winning, uh and they you know, they got they
(12:54):
got to get that first NBA title. Uh And then
you then you can start talking about you know, last year,
a lot of people after Boston once said, man, this
team is going to be cooking for a long time.
And obviously people thought they were the team that was
going to come out of the East this year. It
didn't happen, So you never know. There's no guarantees in
this business. But everybody in the league would be envious
(13:17):
of the roster that OKAC has right now, the way
they are positioned financially in terms of being able to
make some moves, and the ton of draftknicks they have
going forward. That they're going to be able to be
flexible and change up their roster when it's necessary.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
All salient points by you, Coach, PJ Cosmo here on
MJ in the Midday, And how about this, and I
this can't be overstated enough, coach, this is kind of
like the Paul George Finals. He was in Indiana, Okay,
he gets traded to okac all right, Ola Deep owned Sabonisco.
There Sabonis develops into be a pretty good player. He
(13:56):
gets traded to Sacramento for Halliburton, and then Okase pulls off. Coach,
what you know, everyone will talk about that famous herschel
Walker trade that got the Cowboys three Super Bowl titles
in the nineties.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Well, this might not be far behind. It might even
eclipse it.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Where they not only did they trade Paul George Oklahoma
City to the Clippers, they get Shay Gildis, Alexander Danilo Gallinari,
and five first round picks, one of those, coach Jalen
Williams from Santa Clara. So this is the Paul George Fund.
They should almost call it the Paul George Trophy. At
(14:35):
the end of this, whoever wins.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
It, well, there's no question. Pg's fingerprints are all over
both of these teams, that no question about it. And
Kevin Pritchard and Chad Buchanan have done a great job
also with the roster in Indiana, So you know, it's
it's really normally you're gonna see that. But this isn't
like guys, just like with the money grab like signing
(14:58):
free agent, spending a boat of money and changing their team.
These are rosters that were put together in a very
very thoughtful way. And you know the same way that
Sam and Rob Hennigan deserve a ton of credit on
the OKC side, Kevin Pritchard and Chad Buchanan deserve a
lot of that credit for the other side. And as
you mentioned, Paul George was in the middle of a
(15:20):
number of those deals.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
It's unbelievable the teams who traded Paul George away benefited
more than the teams who received Paul George gets crazy,
but hey, sometimes life comes out you Strangeways coach. There's
nobody more fitting and all the PNW for than PG.
Carlstimo to ask this question, you were the last coach
of the Sonics, and what do you say to all
(15:46):
the people here throughout Seattle and the PNW who are
right now, you know how much it hurts after this
franchise was ripped away the week after Russell Westbrook was
drafted out of UCLA in two thousand and eight, and
you know Softy better than anybody, and all the fine
folks here at kJ R and and everybody throughout Seattle
(16:08):
that what do you say to them that, I mean,
this hurts. It's like you know your ex girlfriend marrying
you know Jeff Bezos, right, You're never going to be
more successful than Jeff Bezos.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Right, Let's just be honest.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
I mean, so it's just and now you see it
and it's just like, oh man, this hurts. So what
do you say to everybody out there who's this is
gonna be a really tough finals for everybody here in
Seattle to watch?
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Well, it is. I still think that, you know, we
share in it. I mean, you know, I'm I was
only in the case for a little bit that first year,
but I was in both places. Nick Collinson is still
an executive with the team. I love seeing Nick at
every game and it's it's great. So there's no question
that these two franchises are are linked. I think more importantly,
(16:55):
and I hate to keep saying that we need to
be patient, but I believe sincerely we're gonna see expansion.
It's not coming as quickly as I thought it was
going to. I think, honestly, I think there are some
owners in the league that kind of like it at
thirty They like divideing the booty by thirty instead of
by thirty two. But I think Adam Silver is committed
(17:16):
to it. I think the majority of the owners in
the league believe in it. I think it's going to happen.
I think when it does happen, we're going to get
a franchise back in Seattle. We never should have lost it.
Mark the things that went wrong for us to lose
that franchise. I mean, a week doesn't go by to me,
like especially now when the whole NBA world will be
(17:36):
here and in Indianapolis for the next couple of weeks.
You know that somebody doesn't say, like, I can't believe
we're not back in Seattle. We missed Seattle. We haven't
been there in so long. But you know, I still think, Hey,
the roots of this franchise are there. It's okay. See,
it's not Seattle, there's no question about that. But we
you know, we can't. We can't control it anyhow, and
(17:59):
there's there are very few people. There are a lot
of people that work behind the scenes. I still see
a whole bunch of people, some of whom moved down
here from Seattle with the franchise, and others who just
you know, started in okay See and have been with
this franchise forever. Nothing's ever going to change the way
that people in Seattle feel. The way we lost that
(18:20):
team was really unfortunate, and you know, people in Seattle
are good at blaming everybody. We were a big part
of the mistakes, the city government, the state government, of
some of the previous ownership. So I mean we shared
in that. It wasn't like everybody makes it sound like,
okay See just came in stole it, and there was
(18:40):
nothing we could have done. There were a lot of
things we could have done and didn't do. So, you know,
we lost the franchise. We kind of mishandled the situation unfortunately,
but it is what it is, and it's gonna be
a great finals. I know. The way people feel like,
I mean, a week doesn't go by that I'm in
a restaurant or the supermarket there somewhere that somebody doesn't say,
(19:02):
you know, they want to stick kids in the dolls
the root to catch. I know it's going to be
a tough finals, but it's going to be a really
entertaining finals. You know, it truly is, and hopefully they
can enjoy it for the basketball because hopefully it's going
to be competitive. I'm really hoping that Indiana can step
(19:23):
up and play the way they were playing in the
in the Eastern Conference playoffs and make it competitive.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
No question about it.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
I appreciate how well you articulate that and you understand
the pain.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Coach.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
I've only been here four months, and you know I've
said this before. There was a guy in Atlanta one time.
He said, you know, you can know a city's history.
He gave Chicago for example, and he said, you could
know the Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks, Cubs, and White Sox like
the back of your hand, but you don't know the
pain that those Cubs fans went through all those years
(19:56):
and lost a lot of their you know, pair instant
grandparents who never got to see twenty sixteen. And I
you know, I don't know the pin. I only looked
at it from afar, but I've watched Sonics Gate enough
to know that this this city deserves to have the
Sonics back. I just really hope, like you said, coach,
and I know you're you, you got a little Jeremy
(20:18):
shapp in your coach, if you can find out anything
and talk to the commissioner. We're all waiting with baited
breath to get something. Just give us something. Is there
gonna be an announcement this summer. Just give us something
out of Silver.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
You know, I don't know, but I do know this.
I firmly believe Adam Silver watched a franchise back in Seattle.
There's no doubt in my mind. Every time I drive by,
you know, Lenny Wilkins Way or Sue Bird Way over there,
and you know it's still it's Climate Pledge. It's a
beautiful building. To me, it still feels like Key. I live,
like you know, basically across the street from it. So
(20:52):
we're gonna get We're gonna get a team back there,
and you know, hopefully, hopefully it's soon. I'm tired of
telling people would have to be patient, because I really
did think it would have happened by now, but I'm
still very confident. Uh, And there's no doubt in my
mind how Adam Silver feels about that.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Well, thanks to you and your better half for staying
in Seattle, even when the songs that you guys stayed
here and you had the funniest line that you ever
told me with you you just said to your wife, Hey,
we're getting ready to move O.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
She goes, No, I'm staying here. You're going to be fired.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Soon, right, But you know it's been great and almost
eighteen years now, and we love Seattle and we're gonna
we're gonna like it even more when when we get
when we get a team back.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Yeah, I just want to nominate PJ.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Carlos Simo to be the president of basketball Operations for
the next Sonics. I don't maybe you don't want the job,
but I just want to nominate you, coach.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
I want hey, hey, listen.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
I'll just be happy to be able to go to
the games the climate pledge.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
It'd be great, all right. I got too real quick.
And I know you love one guy.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
I talked talk to you about this guy that he's
NBA ready to me and I even said to him
I said to him at the Final four and radio
row Nate Oates and Hey, Tom Thibodeau's getting thirty million
dollars the next three years to not coach basketball. Maybe
he'll be available by the time Adam Silver makes that
announcement for the Sonics to come back.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Oh, there's They're gonna be coaches available. There's no question
about that. And unfortunately our league is just insane. But
that's that's the way it is. Tims knows that better
than anybody, but that that's really unfortunate because he did
such a good job in New York, but he is
what it is.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
You have a great call tonight and throughout the entire series.
Thank you very much. The coach PJ. Carlos Simo here
on MJ in the Midday, Kid and I have our
thoughts on how tough it's gonna be for everybody here
to go through it. Uh oh well, maybe I'll just
(22:56):
maybe I'll just kind of, you know, talk about that,
or you know, we'll get to something about that coming
up next right here on MJ in the Midday Sports
Radio ninety three to three KJRFM. Interesting texts on the
text line the free agent text line four nine four,
five to one. I honestly feel that no case he
calls them being in the finals is good for the
(23:16):
return of the Sonics. Gonna be a little talk about them.
And you know there'll be people rocking the colors on
national TV.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
That's true, that's true. They there could be.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
You know, I want to see somebody there with a
Gary Payton, Sean Kemp, Jersey Debt of Shrimp, Frank Perkowski,
you know, somebody, Nate McMillan.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
That would be cool.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
That would be cool if somebody's wearing those in the
uh in the audience. But it'd be nice if this
was and here's the thing about it, even if the
Knicks were in the finals, the Knicks would have no
chance against Okac either the Pacers have. If anybody, the
Pacers have a better chance to maybe win a game,
maybe two.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
I would be.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
Surprise if this game gets to if this series goes six,
I'd be surprised. I think it's okay. Thunder and five,
I think it's a pretty safe bet. And it's minus
seven hundred and seven fifty depending on where you place
your action on the Thunder to win at all. I
don't usually recommend placing that kind of money just to
(24:24):
win one hundred dollars. But if you've got some money
to spare, they're not going to lose. They will not
lose that that's for sure. They will be the twenty
twenty five NBA World Champions. So I can you know,
it's pretty close to a guarantee. And the only way
that Indiana could pull this off if they win not
(24:46):
one but the first two games on the road at OKAC.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
I don't see that happening. I just don't.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Sorry to quote Rick Patino, Reggie Miller's not walking through
that door, folks. Rick Smith's isn't walking through that door, folks.
Antonio Davis isn't walking through that door, folks. And if
they do, they're going to be gray and old. So
it doesn't matter. I think in this series even let's
(25:15):
just say that Pacers Okac because this is the Paul
George Finals, right. Both teams are built on trading Paul
George away, and they built up to get to where
they are now, especially OKC Paul George. You could give
the Pacers Paul George. They have no chance at winning
this series, zero zero. It just is what it is.
(25:38):
But it will not happen unfortunately, So I'll be thinking
about everybody out there and what you're going to be
going through and everything. But just remember forty one glorious
years here in Seattle. Not all of them were glorious,
especially towards the end. They have seventeen in Oklahoma City.
It's different franchises, and I will always look at it
(25:59):
like that. I hate when ESPN says that Oklahoma City
is in their fifth NBA Finals going for their second
world title. No, they're in their second NBA Finals going
for their first world title. So no, not at all
on that. Well, the commissioner spoke and admitted to what
(26:22):
we all knew and suspected. Next on mjan in the
Midday Sports Radio ninety three to three KJRFM, all right,
(26:44):
I'm gonna get to the commissioner, Rob Manford, who just
admitted what we all suspected. And kudos, I don't really
say this much, kudos to Rob Manford on looking to
implement the automated ball strike zone next year.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
It's just you gotta do it.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
I told you, I told you how much I would
like it in other sports, but you laughed at me
when I first got here. I said, I would rather
have that, but this, to me is a step in
the right direction. You hear that music because it's time
to win some money and a lot of you out there.
I hope you're listening to my bets because I'm like
(27:22):
seventy three percent throughout these playoffs. NHL and NBA combined
Tonight's kid the over under on Tyrese Halliburton points seventeen
and a half Take the over all day long. You
know why because when Halliburton scores over twenty, the Pacers
(27:47):
this season are something to the extent of like thirty
three and four including the playoffs. Over Tyrese Haliburton seventeen
and a half points. That's my wrongest play of the day.
Bet it now, wait for it, wait for it, Thank
(28:09):
me later. Tyree Saloburton, Hella Burton, Hella Burton over seventeen
and a half points. L FG. I'm not saying they're
gonna win the game, but if they have any desire
(28:30):
to try and steal one on the road, he's gonna
have to score over twenty. He might need to score
over twenty five. They're gonna need him big time. Seventeen
and a half points, way too low, Way too low,
so I like that. Also, one more thing, the total
on the game. Yes, I looked at this one.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Now.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
I actually think Indiana is gonna come out. We had
Rob Parker on the other day. I think Indiana's gonna
come out and they're gonna come out swinging tonight. And
I think they're gonna come out not rusty because Oklahoma
City has been off for a little bit. Indiana got
just enough rests and oh dude, I'm not touching that. No, no, no, no, no,
(29:17):
can't do that one. I'm gonna I'm gonna pause on
that one. The over runners two thirty and a half.
I would if I had to bet, I'd go over.
But I'm gonna steer clear, stare clear of the total
two thirty and a half. If it was two twenty
and a half or to eighteen and a half, I'd
say go over.
Speaker 3 (29:35):
Two thirty. That's a lot.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
I mean, it can happen, but I feel stronger on
Halliburton going for eighteen or more. So that's that's your pick,
right there, Hallo Burton, Let's go tonight, Let's go man
Let's do it.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
Rob Manford has come out and he has admitted that
he is considering. One of the major factors where he
decided that last month he was going to lift the
permanent bands of Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson was
(30:14):
due to his talk with the President of the United
States Donald Trump. Rob Manford said, quote, yesterday, the President
was one of a number of voices that was supportive
of the idea that this was the right decision. Obviously,
I have respect for the office and the advice he
gave I paid attention to, but I had a lot
(30:35):
of other people that were weighing in on the topic
as well.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
End quote.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
He goes on, Well, before we get to anything more,
I don't have an issue with this commissioner. My issue
is that why couldn't you have done this while Pete
Rose was still alive? And you don't know, but maybe
him having that permanent ban in that scarlet letter on
(31:06):
him since nineteen eighty nine with the late A. Bartlett Giamatti,
the father of the great actor Paul Giamatti, maybe that
would have kept Pete Rose's will to live going, And
maybe it would have I just now it feels shallow,
it feels superficial, it feels hollow, and that's great it's
(31:31):
just to me, it's too little, too late. Jilis Joe
jacksonn't care. He's been dead for a long time. Pete
Rose just died.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
You know.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
He died on September thirtieth. Why do I know that
date because my dad died on that date two years
prior to that, So that date will I will hate
September thirtieth forever. And Pete Rose died two years after
my father. My father was a big Pete Rose fan too.
Got a chance to hang out with him during the
two thousand and four Western Conference Final at the Pete
(32:00):
Rose Ballpark Cafe in Boyton Beach, Florida.
Speaker 3 (32:03):
He couldn't have been nicer.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
And he's one of those guys too that when you
meet him right away, he he makes you feel like
he's no. Well, he made me feel like I knew
in my whole life. He kept grabbing my arm, but
he's like, you know what I mean, you know what
I mean. He kept grabbing my arm, and I'm like, yeah, Pete,
I know what you mean. Man, I know what you mean.
And yeah, it's too little, too late, Commissioner, too little
too late.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
I if I'm.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
Sure his family And that's great for the Rose family
and all his fans, but you wanted to do it
while he was still breathing above ground. Now just falls
short from me, just really falls short.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
That's all. That's it.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
I mean, I you know, I guess better late than ever,
But to me, no, no.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
One.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
NFL analyst explains why he's not buying Mike mc donald's
comments on the Seahawks quarterback situation. Find out who it
is in what he said next on MJ and the Midday.
Oh and by the way, we've got two hundred dollars
(33:14):
to give out at the top of the hour EQC
note Thursday after a certain someone from Lakewood didn't call
in within five minutes, so be texting right now. Four
nine four five one, I call your name out. You
got five minutes coming up after the top of the hour.
You have five minutes to claim two one hundred dollars.
(33:38):
Don Caesar, you snapped our winning streak on this, but
you got two hundred dollars now, so that's coming up
EQC note Thursday.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
Right here.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
Thanks to the fine folks at Emerald Queen Casino, the
betting Capital and entertaam and Capital of the Northwest, don't
go anywhere? Who said this? Someone doubting the Seahawks QB situation.
The comments made by Mike McDonald next on MJ in
the midday Sports Radio ninety three to three kJ r
FM
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