Steve Hartman, Ryan Hollins & Martin Weiss Talk Tyrese Haliburton's Clutch Gene, Aaron Rodgers to Pittsburgh & More!

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio Radio.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
Living the dream once again here on a fully loaded
Sports Saturday. This is Fox Sports Saturday and we're broadcasting
live from the Fox Sports Radios studios. Are in the
process of getting all hooked up with Ryan Hollins right
now as we get ready for a very big show
today tomorrow course Game two of the NBA Finals. The

(00:25):
Ineana Pacers may look like a full in Game one.
I honestly thought that the Pacers would be lucky to
win a game in this matchup against OKC. But it's
it's beginning to dawn on me right now. I'm opening
my eyes to the fact that maybe, just maybe the
Indiana Pacers are a team of destiny. And this is

(00:50):
something that is always hard for me as someone that's
been around the sports scene as long as I've been around.
There are always these teams that emerge out of nowhere
like they're a team of destiny. Like you look at
a team and you're like, how are they doing? What
are they doing? And I you know a lot of

(01:11):
people say, well, destiny and things like that. It's not
even about destiny, it's about the the sports gods are
smiling on a franchise. So I'm looking at the Indiana Pacers.
And by the way, let's remind ourselves again, first game
upsets are not unprecedented to be followed up then by

(01:32):
a complete collapse, and the team that should win usually
does win. I go back to two thousand and one
NBA Finals. You might remember in the middle of the
three year run the Lakers had with Shaq and Kobe,
they played the Philadelphia seventy six Ers. Remember Alan Ifferson
goes off in Game one at Staples Center does the
walkover on Tylo. I had a friend of mine who

(01:55):
hated the Lakers texted me right after the game Sixers
are going to take it. I texted him back, they
won't win another game. And that was back in the
two three to two format, so the Lakers would have
to win Game two at home and then go and
win three straight in Philadelphia. I said, they will not
win another game, and guess what they didn't. I don't

(02:17):
know if that's going to happen in this series. I
still believe Oka se should win. You want a stat
that is a good stat going into Game two tomorrow,
So the games that Oklahoma City has lost in the
postseason they've won the next game. They have lost consecuted
games in this postseason. But not only have they not
lost consecutive games the game after have loss, they have

(02:39):
won by an average of more than twenty points. So
I fully expect okay Se to bounce back in a
big way in Game two. But that being said, I
wanted to take a little step back on Indiana the Pacers.
I don't know if you understand the Pacers' history, because
it's traced back to the very first season of the

(03:01):
American Basketball Association. And here's an interesting little tidbit for you.
You know, I love going down memory lane. The first
year of the ABA was the nineteen sixty seven sixty
eight season. There were eleven teams. The very first year
of the ABA, there were only two teams, two franchises

(03:21):
that started their run in the ABA and ended the
run in the ABA, which was a nine season run
with the same name. Through all nine years, only two franchises.
One was the Kentucky Colonels that did not make the
cut when the ABA merged with the NBA. The other
team the Indiana Pacers. They've always been the Indiana Pacers,

(03:45):
and they won three of the nine championships. During the
ABA run, more than any franchise, they were the most
successful team in the history of the ABA. They had
three championships, two other trips to the ABA Championship final.
But since they came to the NBA, they've been pretty
much forgettable. They had some good teams and obviously with

(04:07):
Reggie Miller, they were able to get to one NBA
Finals where they were dominated by the Lakers. You know,
they lost that series in five back in two thousand.
But there's it really hasn't been a whole lot when
we think about the history of the Indiana Pacers. So
why now? Why now? Why why now? I mean, you
can make the argument, well, hey, they were in the

(04:28):
Eastern Conference Finals a year ago, Yeah, but barely. The
Celtics blow them out of that series, So it was
it wasn't like they were really looking like they're knocking
on the door of a championship. So why now? And
I think there's a couple of factors with this Pacers
team and why the basketball gods might be smiling on

(04:48):
this franchise. One of them is their coach, Rick Carlisle.
If you haven't caught on, Rick Carlisle has always been
since he began his head coaching career with the Detroit
Pistons for a couple of years. I went to Indiana,
of course, had that long run with Dallas, won the

(05:09):
championship in twenty eleven. But Rick Carlisle is a really
good coach. He's a really good coach that understands the moment.
I don't know if you watched postgame sound from Rick
Carlisle after they pulled off this miracle winning game one
where they had their first lead of the game when
Tyre's Halliburn hit the shot with point three seconds left,

(05:33):
and he made some comments about the fact that his
Pacers team had twenty four turnovers in the game nineteen
and a half. He goes, He goes, I don't know
if that's some kind of record, but we got to
be close, RIGHTM tongue in cheek, Like we had twenty

(05:53):
four turnovers, they had six. We were a minus eighteen
and the turnover margin on the road against a sixty
eight win team and we won the game. And then
he went on to sort of I love this. He
started talking about the defense of OKC. Other defense is good.

Speaker 3 (06:16):
Oh they're good.

Speaker 2 (06:18):
They're really good. Like that, Like man and I'm like, really,
did you see their OKC defense? Do you see how
many open looks the Pacers got, Especially in the second
half of the game. The difference was Indiana actually started
knocking down their shots and that's how ultimately they won
the game. So they have a great coach, a really

(06:40):
great coach of mccrlob I dare say, one of the
top two or three coaches currently in the NBA. But
on top of that, they have a roster of rejects.
They have a roster of some big name players who
were deemed expendable by other franchises. And so when you

(07:03):
have a Halliburton, when you have a Siakam, when you
have players that have had success elsewhere and they're part
of deals that bring him to Indiana, you have a
team that collectively has a chip on their shoulder, something
to prove, and also nothing to lose. So as you
watched OKAC unravel late in that game and just doing

(07:26):
some really stupid things. And by the way, their coach dagnauld, well,
I'll get into him a little bit later on, but
that those are two things going in Indiana's favor in
the series. Now, I, like I said, I'm not about
to say I'm flipped. I'm going with the Pacers in
the series because I still believe that OKAC is considerably

(07:48):
the better team. But Chat Holmgern better show up. Jayleen
Williams needs to show that he is a is a
true All NBA player. He maybe the All NBA team
look like it. They're in game number one. The biggest
stat that really stuck out to me that was a
negative stat for the thunder You know, you look at

(08:10):
Shake Gilsis Alexander and he had thirty eight points. That's great, right,
the league's MVP thirty shots. That's not his game. If
he's taking thirty field goal attempts in the game, that's
bad news for OKC. They have to have other guys
step up, and in particular, Jayalen Williams and check Holngkerm.

(08:34):
Those are your two guys that are projected to be,
you know, franchise players, you know, the nucleus for this
OKC moving forward. So we'll see how this plays out
tomorrow game number two of the NBA Finals. And you know,
by the way, I mean, we've had a phenomenal finish
obviously the game one of the NBA Finals, and let's

(08:54):
not forget the Stanley Cup Final. Two overtime games, double
overtime last night and Emonton did it again. Corey Perry.
I forgot that Corey Perry was still in the league.
We know him in southern California. He was a second
year player when the Ducks they had just changed their

(09:16):
name from the Mighty Ducks of the Ducks, won the
Stanley Cup in two thousand and seven. So he ties
it up, goes into double overtime. I dare anybody if
you haven't, if you're not a hockey fan, you need
to watch playoff hockey, especially the Stanley Cup Final, because

(09:40):
when he goes to overtime, it doesn't get much better,
it just does it. I mean you are literally on
the edge of your seat waiting for a game winner,
and it happened. And so that series is now even
Evonton Panthers rematch last year's Stanley Cup Final. I expect
this series to go the full seven it is. It

(10:02):
just has the look of that kind of series for
the Stanley Cup Finals. So the Stanley Cup Final outstanding
so far. We're gonna see what happens with this NBA
Finals and whether OKC can get it right, and even
up the series heading back to Indiana. All right, so
we're gonna cover those subjects. We're gonna hook up a
Ryan Hollins, and also we're going to talk about the

(10:23):
big news out of the NFL. Aaron Rodgers to the
Pittsburgh Steelers. Is that a game changer or is it
going to be a big wasted time in Pittsburgh. We'll
break it down. This is Fox Sports Saturday.

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subscribe so you always have instant access to our Fox

(11:10):
Sports Radio videos on YouTube. All Right, we had one
huge story this week in the NFL. It finally happened.
Worst kept secret around I guess Aaron Rodgers is officially
now a Pittsburgh Steeler and joined us right now to
tell us exactly what went down and where we go
from Here is the best of the best. He is
our NFL insider here at Fox Sports Radio, the great

(11:33):
Adam Kaplan. All right, So before we take a look
ahead on what his presence will mean for the Steelers,
tell us exactly what you've heard on why now? What
was the timing on now for Aaron Rodgers to say, Okay,
I'm coming to Pittsburgh, I'm making a deal, signs a contract.

(11:57):
Why now?

Speaker 5 (11:59):
So, Steve, they wanted, they really wanted him to be
here for this mandatory camp. It's actually a three day camp.
That's as long as you can do a mandatory camp.
And and you get him in your off season program.
He gets to meet everybody. Yes, you know d k Mtcaffe,
he worked out with him in the spring, and he's
known Mike Tom a little bit over the years, and
Mike certainly had influence on this decision to sign Rogers,

(12:21):
though it's on his call, but part of it is
why they wanted.

Speaker 3 (12:24):
Him in now.

Speaker 5 (12:25):
They wanted him to meet the players, get around the coaches,
because you know, you wait till late July and you've
already missed their entire off season program, and it's just
you're behind and and he's look, he's this is not
this is this offense, by the way, it's kind of
different from anything he's been in. It's not your typical
West Coast offense. It's different that Arthur Smith runs. So

(12:49):
timing I know that for them. I was texting with
someone from the Steelers last night about this. You know,
they they they did all they could too. They didn't
want to. They did not want to pressure him, Steve
because they knew like they didn't have any choices here.
If Rogers decided to retire, then they were going to
have to add a veteran, which and that was gonna
be vibe. Their plan was to at a veteran via trade.

(13:10):
By the way, that's what they're going to do if
they didn't do this, So that that's something they didn't
want to do. This is this is their off season move.
They wanted this badly. We you and I could debate
whether it's his good decision or not. A ready did
television yesterday. I've done like three TV spots on this.
I know from behind the scenes. I'll leave you with
this though it didn't work out for the Jets. Obviously,
he he struggled with injury. You know, you and I

(13:32):
have talked about to see two injuries which over lap
last season. And he didn't miss a game. You didn't
have twenty eight passing touchdowns. Uh, physically, you worry about it,
But I'll tell you behind the scenes, they did like that.

Speaker 3 (13:44):
He did hold people accountable.

Speaker 5 (13:45):
He brought a veteran presence to their their their locker
room and to their building and that soone high up
with the Jets told me that that was probably the
best thing they got out of him, is that he
set the standard of the way you've gone to act as.

Speaker 3 (14:01):
A veteran quarterback.

Speaker 5 (14:02):
And quite frankly, they just have had such poor quarterback
play Steve over the years with the Jets, and they've
had you know, obviously, ownership has been a problem. So
the least he left. Look, it didn't work out like
they wanted. We all know that did win at all, really,
quite frankly, but he did. He did the best that
he could on a trying circle.

Speaker 3 (14:21):
All right.

Speaker 2 (14:21):
So Mike Tomlin began his coaching career with the Steelers
way back in two thousand and seven, It's well documented.
He has never had a losing season. And I'm hearing
a lot of my cohorts saying, well, this is gonna
be it. He's gonna have a losing season, Aaron Rodgers,
and I'm like, slow down a little bit here, Let's
let's let's really look at the last four years, because

(14:43):
Roethlisberger's last year, his arm had fallen off, like he
he couldn't get cat all down the field. I mean,
he just look right, I mean he was basically crawling
to the finish line. And they still made the playoffs
that year, nine to seven and one.

Speaker 3 (14:58):
And then the.

Speaker 2 (14:59):
Next year with Kenny Pickett, you go nine to eight,
didn't make the playoffs but had a winning record. You
got Pickett again, ten and seven, snuck into the playoffs.
And then last year with the Justin Fields Russell Wilson
revolving door, ten wins again. And it's not like they're playing.

Speaker 5 (15:15):
A weak division, I know.

Speaker 2 (15:17):
And so I'm thinking, okay, so you had roth the
last four years since they expanded to a seventeen game schedule,
four straight winning seasons, playing in one of the better
divisions in the NFL, with literally no quarterback of any
note and somehow they had a winning record. I gotta believe.

(15:39):
And you know, I'm not a big Aaron Rodgers guy,
and you know I've been one of those guys that
is insisting on people look at him over the last
three years, his last year in Green Bay. Obviously you
missed the year with the I mean, there's no resemblance, obviously,
so they gather went Beckett back MVP wars not being said,
he's still better than those guys. He's better than Kenny Pickett,

(16:00):
He's better than Ben Roethlisberger on his last legs, and
he's probably going to be more efficient than the combination
we saw a year ago from Fields to Wilson. So
if everything else sort of holds together with Pittsburgh, namely
their defense, it's going to be interesting. Now with Najee
Harris gone. He wasn't a breakaway guy, but obviously was.
He never missed a start at Craigzy, you know, sixty

(16:21):
consecutive starts at running back. But if they can do
what Pittsburgh does and get any level of efficiency beyond
what they had over the last four years, how are
they going to be worse?

Speaker 3 (16:33):
All Right?

Speaker 5 (16:33):
A couple of things here, so lots of unpacked from
what you were talking about. First of all, and this
surprised me a little bit. I tracked this stuff. I
find this interesting. So they're still stuck on the over
unner total from the odds makers. Almost every sports book
has the over. Believe it or not, eight and a
half would go against what you said at plus one hundred.

(16:54):
So if you're sticking to your guns there, you think
they're going to be a nine or ten win team,
well you're getting money. You're going to plus money. Good
bet for you. So now look, it's very this can change,
by the way that trust me when I say this,
it's coming.

Speaker 3 (17:08):
The hype is going to happen. I think. I don't think.
I know.

Speaker 5 (17:11):
We had Aaron Rodgers burnout. People were sick and tired
of talking about it. There's could be a point where
he looks healthy because I fell four two years ago.
Because I remember talking to one of their high ranking
offensive coachesse, boy, what you saw today he does every day.
I'm like, okay, because you guys need a competent quarterback play.
But he didn't physically didn't last. But the under is
Monus won twenty. So the money, the heavy money right

(17:33):
now is on the under eight and a half. So
now a couple of things that Tomlin does not want
a playoff game since twenty seventeen. There's a reason for it,
right And you've mentioned in passing the quarterback play has
been horrendous since Rothsberger retired. For the most part, Pickett
never worked out. Russell Wilson didn't work out. Has ever
reported back in January, Arthur Smith was told he could
not bench him. He could not bench Wilson. He wanted to.

(17:54):
He Tomlin knew this and Thomas said no, they should
have went to justin fields. Russell Wilson fell off. And
this is Steve to move this forward. Here, This is
where we are at the league, if you like, think
about this right, Russell Wilson was so far down on
the list. They never eliminated him from list, but he's
so far down on it. But the Giants who are
fighting not to get fired sign Russell Wilson. This is

(18:16):
where we are at a league with quarterbacks.

Speaker 2 (18:17):
It's terrible. But I want to get back to some
you said organizations. The Jets are a losing organization. They've
had a revolving door. They've taken quarterbacks high in the
draft by the way quarterbacks as we saw with Sam
Darnold this past year in Minnesota, right system, guess what,
he can be a better than average quarterback. He can
be appropraate who is phenomenal for a year. I mean,

(18:40):
you're lying out of the bloke. The Jets basically dumped
this guy a couple of years ago, and so now
you have to recognize the Dealers certainly is one of
the steadiest organizations. Three coaches since nineteen sixty nine. This
is a really good organization. This is how with the

(19:01):
lack of a quarterback that they've been able to not
crater and completely fall by the wayside, which so many
organizations do. And we've seen great organisms. Look at the
Patriots completely fell off the map. Remember the forty nine
Ers after their extended run, they completely fell off the map. Steelers,

(19:21):
haven't you know why? Because it's a really well run organization.
They know what they're doing.

Speaker 5 (19:26):
Good head coach, right, But I would say this though, Okay, okay,
when you miss that quarterback, it's extremely hard to recover.
Why do you think they haven't won a playoff game
since twenty seventeen, eight years man?

Speaker 2 (19:37):
Yeah, but they're not got cratering, They're not going five
and twelve.

Speaker 3 (19:40):
But is it?

Speaker 5 (19:42):
See it's funny Scott Farrell, who's a host on Sports Squat.
So Scott's a huge Steelers fan. Yes, he and I
had a very big debate and he very respectful, but
I got kind of heated. I'm like, this is this acceptable?
And what in what world would a head coach keep
his job if he hadn't won a playoff game in
eight years?

Speaker 3 (19:59):
Nowhere the National.

Speaker 2 (20:00):
Footballer No, I'll give you a guy. His name was
Chuck Noll. Noel after winning How long ago is that, Steve?

Speaker 5 (20:07):
That's my point?

Speaker 2 (20:08):
Well, I mean, you know today's either way, you're not
keeping your job. By the way, you know who holds
the NFL record for most consecutive years coaching a team
without winning a Super Bowl. The answer is Don Shula.
Don Shula did not win a Super Bowl in his
last twenty two years with the Miami Dolphins, but he
kept his job there. There it's not I mean, if

(20:29):
you're there a Steeler fan and look at I'm I'm
I'm victim ized by this being a UCLA guy, right,
we talked about UCLA's won more national championships in basketball
than anyone else. Well, coach Woodin's last year was fifty
years ago. That was ten of them, and they had
twenty years later in nineteen ninety five they won another one.
So when we talk about relevance, like where's the bar

(20:51):
for you? We argue with the Laker fans all all
the time, like what is your bar right now?

Speaker 3 (20:56):
Well, it's great, did you make that play?

Speaker 2 (20:57):
I mean, I mean if the Steeler bar win or loose,
I mean, it's it.

Speaker 5 (21:01):
But you gotta But okay, let me ask you this question.

Speaker 3 (21:04):
Yeah, is it the head coach or is at the quarterback?
Is it just the quarterback? Is it the only problem? Well?

Speaker 2 (21:09):
No, I mean they're better teams.

Speaker 5 (21:12):
I mean, and when there's a reason why they don't
win the playoffs, there's something. It's like Matt Laflord, by
the way, who's one of the best.

Speaker 2 (21:19):
But who did they lose to that they should have beaten?
If you look at their I mean they've now lost
what four wild card games in the last five seasons.

Speaker 3 (21:27):
It sucks very good.

Speaker 2 (21:29):
No, but there's a lot of franchises that aren't in
the playoffs. It would take that.

Speaker 5 (21:35):
The problem is we're accepting mediocrity.

Speaker 3 (21:37):
Is that is that?

Speaker 2 (21:38):
Nobel? I don't know if it's a reality check for
the Steelers. I mean, let me ask you this. Let's say,
let's let's get a positive spin on this er. Let's
say for a moment here that Aaron Rodgers pulls it
off and not only do they make the playoffs, but
they maybe win a playoff game, you know, first time,

(21:58):
you know, and a decade you know that they actually
win a playoff game. Does he stay as the Steelers
quarterback for another I don't think so.

Speaker 5 (22:07):
I'd be surprised. Here's why. One of the big reasons.
Someone told me who knows him because he work with
him as a coach over the years, so that he
said he told me at the at I don't know,
February March. Because he's not going to retire. Trust me
on this. He's not going to go out like this.
I'm like, why do you say that. It's like he
was broken down physically. He wants to go out on
his own terms. He knows he could still play, but

(22:28):
he's got to get his body right, he's got to
get his mind right. And I'm like, okay, all right,
And there's someone who would know and to me, based
on what you just said, this scenario that you just said,
that's perfect. You take a team that won a playoff
game since seventeen, you win a playoff game, you're the quarterback,
and you stayed healthy. And by the way, he's probably
going to be a big reason why they won that
playoff game or got their playoffs.

Speaker 3 (22:49):
Go out, go out like that, man, that's the way
you go out.

Speaker 5 (22:51):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (22:52):
I love this look.

Speaker 5 (22:53):
I have nothing against Rogers. I don't care about his
political beliefs or what he blaves or doesn't believe. It
doesn't matter to me. My job is to evaluate report
of what I know about him. With you, I would
love to see it. I think it'd be great for football,
all right, But that's that.

Speaker 3 (23:05):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (23:06):
I just my only problem is covering to Bins twenty
seven years is when you just accept, you know, it
just okay to make the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (23:12):
I think that's not well. I'm with you, look at
it inacceptable. I worked with Al Davis, you know, you know,
oh good, but.

Speaker 3 (23:19):
We we you know.

Speaker 5 (23:21):
I wish we had a second seven because I would
love to just talk five minutes about you and I've
talked probably about some of this stuff. But the folks
need to hear Steve's stories about the bizarreness.

Speaker 3 (23:30):
I don't know how see, I.

Speaker 5 (23:31):
Don't know how much you've told over the years, but
you've told me a couple of stories that my hair
was on fire.

Speaker 2 (23:36):
Well, I mean again, I was well working without in
his crime was even the man was in his fifties.
I mean he was in his time at that time,
and so it wasn't you know the crypt keeper that
you saw late in his life. I mean he was
still in his absolute prime.

Speaker 5 (23:49):
Todd Christiansen was there.

Speaker 2 (23:50):
It was to Todd was I mean, the characters we had,
Matt Miller, Matt Millan was my scapegoat because really, so
here was the deal. I was literally told this is
a true story. The day I was higher Al locusl
long time head of the front office of the Raiders
said your job, your job is to not help the media.

(24:12):
That's that's what he said. This your job is to
not help the media.

Speaker 3 (24:18):
Martin, Were you a pr guy.

Speaker 2 (24:19):
Yes, that was the point I was. It's funny because
you look at the media guys said publications. They just
made up titles like Senior a minute. There was no
directors of anything.

Speaker 5 (24:28):
Mike Taylor, the former director, Mike have Yeah, all these
they had, all these other teams had directors of everything, right,
but we had none of that.

Speaker 2 (24:35):
We didn't want to have titles like you know, locas
How's title was executive assistant. I'm like, what are your secretary?
I mean it was crazy, very odd title. But anyway,
and so, but my deal was I couldn't keep my
mouth shut, right, I mean and so and then I
I was, oh and so, I you know, I knew
the media people obviously, the guys that covered us on

(24:57):
a daily basis, and they protect me because I could
give them information. But it's something leaked out. If something
leaked out, you know, Locus now would charge me and
you know, come into me. And I'm like, it wasn't me.
It was Millan because Matt Miller as a player would
not stop talking.

Speaker 5 (25:16):
Oh I know Matt a little bit. Yeah, I've watched tape.

Speaker 2 (25:19):
With big blabber. Matt and I have same age. So
he was like a big blabber and he was my
scapegoat every time. Don't look at me. I didn't say anything.
He was milland Millan's the ones talking all the time.
Did they buy it something? Most of the time they
did because they knew Matt Millan. I mean, Matt couldn't
get out of his own way. He probably cost himself
a few Pro Bowls because he was always yapping away
on everything. Uh yeah, I I could almost break it

(25:42):
down player by player. It was one of the most
incredible collections of next week.

Speaker 5 (25:46):
Since we're now in the off season, yes, will be
over this coming week.

Speaker 3 (25:49):
Can we talked about Jackson?

Speaker 2 (25:51):
I will tell you the whole story. Please do about
when we I was in the draft room with dol
Davis and Ron Wolf and Flores when they made the pick,
and then when we signed him, and then when he
showed up, and then I will tell you the story
about Al Davis making a phone call to me that
I did not expect. Oh man, I'm gonna leave you

(26:16):
hanging all right, Well, we'll share another day. Great stuff
is so glad.

Speaker 5 (26:20):
I know your career, man.

Speaker 3 (26:21):
See, I know your career, dude, I know.

Speaker 2 (26:23):
I know it's a it's a good job. Adam. We
always appreciate the time. We'll talk to you next week.
There he is Adam Kaplan R, Fox Sports Radio, NFL Insider.
All right, let's find out what is a trending right now.
By the way, before we find out what's going on, Martin,
can I put out a request for you to hang
out with me the rest of the show.

Speaker 6 (26:44):
Only if you tell me at least a ten you
gotta give me a little more bo Jackson, a little more.

Speaker 2 (26:49):
I will give you a little bit of a tease.
I will give you a little bit of a teas
all right, I'll hang out for that. Otherwise, don't don't
double cross me. I'm not going to double cross you.
I'll give you a little on the whole. Bo Jackson
to the Raiders.

Speaker 6 (27:02):
Here yea top of the seventh enning. The Reds open
it up on the Diamondbacks thirteen to one. Astros and
Guardians tied three apiece bottom of the eighth inning.

Speaker 2 (27:10):
Wow, this was been a barnburner.

Speaker 6 (27:12):
The Marlins and the Rays ten up bottom of the
seventh right now, and then that's all the games that
we have live. Earlier today, we saw the Cubs beat
the Tigers six to one. PI Crow Armstrong had his
seventeenth home run of the season. Blue Jays with a
five to four win over the Twins. Cardinals beat the
Dodgers two to one. Pirates double up to Phillies two

(27:32):
to one, but Schwarber did hit a home run. Rangers
five to nothing over the Nationals. Giants get the Braves
three to two. When White Sox beat the Royals four
to one, we saw Bryce Harper go to ten day
I l with right wrist inflammation. Same story for a
Dodgers pitcher, Tony Gonsol and he's got elbow discomfort. Craig
kimberrel Atlanta Braves relief pitcher designated for assignment. Twenty one

(27:53):
year old American Cocoa Golf won the French Ladies Singles
title golf second career Grand Slam championships. He also won
the US Open at twenty twenty three. And Memphis Grizzly
center Zach e Edi reinjured his left ankle in and
off season workout. He's gonna need surgery that's going to
likely cause him to miss the start of next season.

Speaker 2 (28:13):
Back to you, all right, Well, thank you very much, Martin,
and yes, I will share a story with you in
a moment here quicker Minder. Once again, we're live from
the Fox Sports Radio studios. Now you can stream this
show and all of our Fox Sports Radio shows live
twenty four to seven and the new and approved iHeartRadio app.
Just searchs Fox Sports Radio in the app to stream
us live. And one of the newest features in the
app is that you can select Fox Sports Radio is

(28:35):
one of your presets. You don't like the presets on
your radio dial, so be sure to preset Fox Sports
Radio on the iHeartRadio app. It will always pop up
at the top of your scream. All right, let me
share you one story here about Bow so again in
nineteen eighty seven. You have to understand the situation. Bow

(28:57):
was the very first pick in the nineteen eighty six
draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after winning the Heisman
Trophy at Auburn, and he passed signed on with the
Kansas City Royals and said his football days were over.
He was now a full time Major League baseball player.
So technically the Buccaneers held his rights until the first

(29:19):
pick of the next year's draft was made. And there
was zero buzz from anybody of taking Bo Jackson the
draft none zero because he had now committed himself to
major League baseball and that was that. So as we
sat in the draft room that year, and this is

(29:40):
back when we had twelve rounds in the NFL Draft,
back in nineteen eighty seven. Mister Davis, of course, was
not just the owner. He was also the general manager
of the franchise, Ron Wolf, who became a Hall of
fame general manager of the Packers, was the head of
player personnel, Top Floris, our hall of fame coach. And
then in the seventh round, mister Davi looked up and said, okay,

(30:01):
we're going to We'll take Bo Jackson Auburn, And everybody
in the room is like, what are you doing. He's,
first of all, they have a baseball he has a
baseball season the last time we checked doesn't end until October,
the binga of October. He's got his job. He's got

(30:22):
a job. But that being said, so I'm gonna give
you one quick story. And it was his very first
practice with the Raiders, very first practice. So our practice
facilities were in El Segundo, which is not far from
Lax used to be the local junior high school, converted

(30:43):
into the Raider headquarters. So Bow's season with the Royals
head ended. We're into October. We're well into the season already.
It's not been a good season. It was a weird
year because it was the year of the replacement players.
So we're coming out of that debackle and we need
a spark. So Bo Jackson, who had not played football

(31:07):
in two years two years, shows up for his first
actual practice with the Raiders, and of course Al Davis
had everything shut down. You know, was part of one
of my many jobs is to make sure that there
are no eyeballs, you know, trying to look in or
hitting hit the media. Yeah, exactly. So I'm watching Bo

(31:30):
Jackson run around on the field and he looks really
good to me, but you know, I'm not playing, so
I got to wait for somebody to start of give
me the insight. So practice ends how he long, of course,
one of our great players Hall of Famer is walking
off the field. I run up to how I go,
so what do you think? He looks at me and

(31:52):
goes that guy speaking of Bo Jackson is from another planet.
You're talking about a two hundred and thirty pounds running back,
by all accounts, ran a four to two forty. He
was such a freak. It was evident from the very

(32:14):
first practice. And then of course you saw what happened
when we had that Monday night game against Seattle a
few weeks later when he ran ninety one yards for
a touchdown and the rest was history. Ran over Boz
you know, on that Monday night game. So yeah, I
mean he was. It was evident to everybody from the
very first second he walked on the field with the Raiders.

(32:37):
And this is a team that had Marcus Allen. We
had Marcus Allen. She was still in his prime at
that point. Believe me, when Al Davis got one load
of Bo Jackson, he forgot about Marcus Allen.

Speaker 6 (32:48):
It goes to show you the difference in team building
ideas in the in that day and age as opposed
to now. Imagine having two running backs of that stature
on one roster.

Speaker 2 (32:58):
Everybody would lose their mind in the end of the community.

Speaker 6 (33:01):
But Steve, I have a take that we might want
to debut next segment.

Speaker 2 (33:06):
Okay, but it relates to bo Jackson. Now now you've
now you've out teased me. That is phenomenal. All right,
Let's let's find this because I just stepped in. I
didn't even know Martin was going to step in, and
here he is, as always, there you go whenever we
need somebody who can we count on mart Weiss every

(33:31):
single time. All Right, you heard the tea's We'll find
out what it's all about. This is Fox Sports Saturday.

Speaker 1 (33:39):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Speaker 2 (33:42):
Steve Harbin and yes, Martin Weiss, Fox Sports Saturday. We're
coming alive from the Fox Sports Radio studios. So after
sharing a brief Bo Jackson story, Martin just double down
and said, I've got the ultimate on the other side,

(34:04):
teased it like crazy, and somehow is going to tie
Bo Jackson into what's happening right now in the NBA Finals.
So let me let me hear what you got here, Martin.

Speaker 6 (34:13):
What is happening right now in the NBA Finals is
something that I've noticed over time, and it really crystallized
with Jason Tatum, but it starts with Bo Jackson. Bo Jackson,
if you look at his actual professional career, right, is
not one that if you were just reading through the

(34:33):
history books of baseball or reading through their history books
of football, that it would not necessarily stand out. Right,
It's the story around Bo Jackson, the legend of Bo Jackson.
He almost has a for your age, a Paul Bunyan
type where people will talk about Paul Paul Bunyan could
do this or like Chuck Norris was the joke as
I was a kid. I don't know who it is now, right,

(34:55):
but like a larger than life, bigger than he's.

Speaker 2 (35:00):
A super human Ma. Bo Jackson hit that ball seven
hundred feet, you know, and you just believe it because
they said it was about Bo Jackson.

Speaker 6 (35:08):
And I think a lot of that had to do
with the fact that Bo Jackson is one of the
most successfully marketed athletes in the history of sports marketing.
Bo knows right, Bo knows and you know what that means.
Bo Jackson almost better than all this was at an
all professional of Kyle's I'm not saying, but professional level.

(35:32):
He was way cooler than he was, like superstar for
the longevity of the bo Jackson was unequivocally cool.

Speaker 2 (35:43):
And what made him cool.

Speaker 6 (35:45):
Was not only his feats on the field and on
the diamond, but also the marketing surrounding him, the shoes.

Speaker 3 (35:52):
All of it.

Speaker 6 (35:52):
Oh yeah, And it hit me when Jason Tatum was
basically copying every iconic moment that we had seen in
finals history when he won the Finals. I think what
we're seeing now in the NBA, we do not have
nearly enough cool players and as a result, and I

(36:16):
think it's all fact of like the fact that now
we have cable is less than it's ever been. Now
people are streaming, you end up seeing the same four
commercials for Progressive Insurance and Scoop. There it is Tostitos
as opposed and maybe Jimmy Butler singing about Michelo Blite.
But it's not necessarily in the same way that it
cut through the noise of the gotta be the shoes

(36:38):
or the jay, you know what I'm saying, those commercials,
and I think that has a major impact of the
way that we view professional especially professional basketball today.

Speaker 2 (36:48):
Well again, when you you can market cool, it doesn't
make it cool. In other words, to me, it's sort
of like a nickname.

Speaker 3 (37:00):
You know.

Speaker 2 (37:00):
It always bothered me about Kobe that he essentially gave
himself his nickname Black Mamba. Same thing with Lebron. Nickname
is given to you. That's how nickname works. I'll never forget.
I had a friend of mine named Stan and we
had a roommate of ours who was brought some girl

(37:20):
along with six of us sitting around in an altered
state of mind, and she walked in the room and
he's introducing everybody to everybody, you know, like never going
to see her again. Right about a month later, same group,
we're all sitting room and he comes back with the
same girl. He goes, you remember everybody, She goes, I
remember you. You're Stu, pointing at Stan. Literally for the

(37:43):
rest of his life, he's Stu. He became Stu. Sorry,
I mean it was like, that's it.

Speaker 3 (37:49):
You're Stu.

Speaker 2 (37:49):
You're not Stan anymore. You're Stu. And so when when
you think about cool again, you can mark it. Cool
doesn't make you cool. And I'm really as soon as
you talk about the lack of coolness in the NBA,
so you think about it, okay, not asking you who
the best player is in the NBA, who is the
coolest player in the NBA. One of the things about

(38:13):
Michael Jordan was is that not only was he the
best player in the NBA, he was the coolest player
in the NBA. That could be a knock against Lebron
great player, not as cool. Certainly was Kobe cool.

Speaker 6 (38:29):
I think Kobe made you feel something and I think
that's really important as well.

Speaker 2 (38:32):
Certainly he registered with Laker fans, But on the whole,
I don't know if he was as cool.

Speaker 6 (38:37):
But the thing is, if the close cousin of cool
is being a lightning rod and that, like you had
an opinion, would you say that, Ran? I think that's
what matters when you talk about great great players.

Speaker 2 (38:47):
Bird and Magic were cool.

Speaker 6 (38:49):
Magic was cool. I would not say Bird was Bird
had his own thing going. I would say, but that
was that's what made him cool.

Speaker 2 (38:55):
Okay, I'm with you, see what I'm saying. Like in
other words, yeah, he wasn't trying to be anything other
than who he.

Speaker 6 (39:01):
Was stereotypically cool, but his personality, the way, yeah, the
way he carried.

Speaker 2 (39:05):
Himself right, and then by the way he's become cooler
with time, like you can hear now all the guys
went up against him.

Speaker 6 (39:10):
But I think, like even though Halliburton is he cool,
He's got personality out the wazoo, right, He's got so
he's his game when the shots he makes at the
end of games are larger than life, And I.

Speaker 2 (39:23):
Think, is he Reggie Miller cool?

Speaker 3 (39:26):
That's the thing I.

Speaker 6 (39:26):
Think with the right marketing campaign behind Tyre's Halliburton, he's
a good looking guy smiles and saying good hair, like
he's He's the type of guy that like, we should
be behind in the NBA Finals and be like this
guy is awesome, and I think with a better campaign
behind him, he would be.

Speaker 2 (39:43):
Well think about it. He has done something that I'm
sure has never been done. He's had a game winning shot,
game winning shot in all four series that the Pacers
have been in.

Speaker 6 (39:53):
One of the producer, Shay is texting me what the
kids call it now is aura?

Speaker 2 (39:58):
That's what it is. Kolbe had aura. How he has aura?
Does that make you cool?

Speaker 6 (40:02):
I think that cool is Well, we're saying cool because
we're too old in the eyes of these guys. So
what they're saying the new phrasing what we should be saying,
is aura.

Speaker 2 (40:10):
So the new cool is aura, is what he said.
There you go, all right? Well it is an interesting
question though, like who is the coolest? Who has the
most r in the NBA? Much more coming up on
Fox Sports Saturday.

Speaker 1 (40:22):
You're listening to Fox Sports.

Speaker 2 (40:23):
Radio Radio rolling along here on another busy sports Saturday.
This is Fox Sports Saturday, and we are broadcasting live
from the Fox Sports Radio studios. I always had faith,
I always had faith. My fellow UCLA bruin would jump
on when he deemed fit. He wanted to get us

(40:47):
a warmed up where he came on and made his
big appearance. Today, the great Ryan Hollins is here.

Speaker 3 (40:55):
Ryan.

Speaker 2 (40:55):
How are you? Ryan?

Speaker 3 (40:56):
I'm doing good. Steve, how you doing, brother.

Speaker 2 (40:58):
I'm doing great. You know, we've just been kicking around
a few things. In the first hour. We had an
extended conversation with Adam Kaplan, our NFL insider, about the
Aaron Rodgers, the signing with the Steelers, and obviously we're
talking about these NBA finals Before we get to the
basketball though, I want to get your thoughts on something

(41:20):
we were talking about this. You know, Mike Tomlin has
never had a losing season in as many years as
the coach of the Steelers, and some people are predicting
that Aaron Rodgers will hand him his first losing season.
I'm thinking, I mean, this is the same Aaron Rodgers
who did start all seven games seventeen games for the
Jets a year ago. And if you remember Roethlisberger's last year,

(41:42):
he could barely throw the ball ten yards down the field.
Then he had Kenny Pickett. You have justin Fields. He
had Mason Rudolph, you had Russell Wilson. He's got to
be better than those guys, right. I'm not so quick
to dismiss the idea that this impressive street that Mike
Tomlin has had of non losing seasons is going to
end with Aaron Rodgers. I would think that Aaron Rodgers

(42:04):
could at least win nine games this year.

Speaker 3 (42:07):
What are your thoughts, Well, it wouldn't be about talent.

Speaker 7 (42:11):
It would be that there are other issues, you know,
with commitment or you know, the drama. But I think
that the Steelers have a pretty good vision of what
Aaron Rodgers is. And with the Jets, the mindset was
he was going to have the same success that Tom
Brady and Tom Brady had it. Aaron Rodgers is just
as talented, just as good. He shouldn't be able to

(42:31):
play into his forties, no big deal. Unfortunately he wasn't.
Then there was the power struggle with the Jets, and
you know, you had kind of Aaron's team and then
the coaching and the general manager and it just ended
up being a mess there and it was the biggest
story in football. But I think it's safe to say
that the Steelers are going to build around their defense,
which is really good, their run game, and they're going

(42:54):
to simplify the packages that they give to Aaron Rodgers.
So I think they will be better. Now Roger proceeds
to get Mike Tomlin fired this season, and it just
has a you know, falls off a cliff. You know
this will not be because of his talent. Steve, I'm sorry,
I didn't mean to laugh.

Speaker 3 (43:13):
Well, I mean, looking at it, I mean, it's just absurd.
If he does that, it.

Speaker 2 (43:16):
Would be And again I'm not saying it's impossible because
maybe you know, everything's about timing. But here here's the point.
I mean, the Jets are a losing organization. They're losers.
They've been losers with a lot of quarterbacks long before
Aaron Rodgers showed up. Steelers are winners. I mean, think
about this point I make about the Steelers. Yeah, they're

(43:37):
not knocking on the door of a super Bowl right now.
But to maintain this, you know, streak of not having
a losing season without a quarterback, you know, because we
saw the Patriots, they fell off the cliff. I remember
the forty nine Ers after their long extended run in
the eighties and nineties, they fell off the cliff. This
team hasn't fallen off the cliff. You know, They've been

(43:58):
able to at least keep their head above water. So
you know, this is a very different organization than he
played for last year. Very different. It's a winning organization.
So we'll see how it all plays out. But yeah,
I'm going to side on caution people that are really
to bet the bank that somehow the Steelers are going
to have a I mean, the over under is eight

(44:19):
and a half wins and that has not changed, by
the way since he signed. So again, if you're going
over and that means nine to eight, I'm gonna go
over right now. Are you going to over under eight
and a half? Right?

Speaker 3 (44:31):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (44:32):
Eight and a half?

Speaker 7 (44:35):
Look, man, I'll go I'll go over the eight. I'm
an Aaron Rodgers fan. I hope he does well.

Speaker 3 (44:42):
Yeah.

Speaker 7 (44:42):
I would just hate for that to end with Aaron Rodgerson.
Maybe this year, you know, he decides to hang him
up after this season. I'm not sure, but.

Speaker 2 (44:50):
They really Here's the thing, Ryan, Look, you play for
a number of organizations in the NBA. Some are winners,
summer losers. You could tell the difference right.

Speaker 7 (44:59):
You can tell the difference. You're right, you can tell
the difference. The biggest difference, Steve, that I'll say is culture.
And some people may say, what's culture? Let's just simplify
culture like this, we're all on the same page.

Speaker 3 (45:15):
We are.

Speaker 7 (45:17):
The Lakers have a culture of being the biggest stars,
okay in the league. There's a there's a swagger with
being a Laker. Hey, san Antonio was the blue collar workers,
you know, who just came to work every day.

Speaker 3 (45:32):
They did not care about being cool.

Speaker 7 (45:35):
That's what they are, you know, like, like you build
your culture, how do you identify?

Speaker 3 (45:39):
You know what the Steelers are and for teams.

Speaker 7 (45:42):
That I played for, you knew what it was and
you can feel you can feel it from.

Speaker 3 (45:47):
Ownership on down.

Speaker 7 (45:48):
It's just the energy that buzzers through the arena and
it's the echo that you could say the ball club.
So Aaron Rodgers, there's already a culture there with the Steelers.
They know who they are, they know what's built. Steve,
I think it's absurd when people want to fire Mike
Tomlan Am I crazy.

Speaker 2 (46:03):
No, No, you don't, I mean I understand. Look, the
idea is they've lost four times in the last five
years in the first round of the playoffs. And this
is the Steelers six Super Bowl championships, tied for the
most of any franchise in the NFL six Super Bowl championships.
And I'm not saying to lower the bar because this
is the argument as UCLA guys, right, you know, the

(46:24):
idea that they're like, well, come on, coach would have
left fifty years ago. Since then, UCLA has won one
national championship. And I'm like, okay, look, Ryan Hollins was
one of the key members of a UCLA team that
got all the way to the National Championship game in
two thousand and six. Is there a banner for that team? No? No,

(46:48):
I mean almost any other university would have a banner
like you know, you know NCAA finalists, you know that
kind of thing. They're not at UCLA. And then so,
you know, when you're the Steelers, when you're you CLA basketball,
when you're the LA Lakers, to me, it's about championship
or nothing. Yeah, and so, and that's that's that's the

(47:10):
argument for Steeler fans with Mike Tomlin is like, you know,
he won one championship and that was in his second
year back in two thousand and eight.

Speaker 3 (47:18):
Well, here's my thing, though, Steve, what did he mess up? Like?
Like did he get you know, a loaded team? Okay?
Like like what did he mess up? Like?

Speaker 7 (47:29):
Like now, if if Tomlin got a group that he
couldn't coach, that he couldn't get the potential out of them,
I'd sit back and say, Okay, yeah he messed that up. Okay,
it didn't work. But if he didn't have that, how
did get what you asked for? And I would challenge, like,
what team is winning the Super Bowl? Like if he

(47:50):
had a Super Bowl roster which starts with the quarterback.

Speaker 3 (47:54):
And it didn't work out? Cool? Did he did he
ruin Patrick Mahomes? Did he mess that up? Like that's
how you get fired.

Speaker 7 (48:01):
So I don't see it as if they've gotten you know,
these these big time players. And football is much different,
you know with with basketball. You know, I don't like
to say the word. It's the T word, Steve, you know,
the yeah yeah, where you just kind of you just
you just lose on purpose.

Speaker 3 (48:18):
Okay. It makes sense in basketball because the number one.

Speaker 7 (48:21):
Pick can do wonders for you. You know, Cooper Flack can
do wonders for you. Teams want to get them. You know,
when you have a player like that in a deep
draft football, not quite so much you get a first
round or that. That's a valued position. Obviously, if you
get a quarterback that works for you, you can do it.
But other than that, it's it's pretty even. So I
don't know the expectations with the Steelers, like they just

(48:42):
have this this team that should have won the super
Bowl year after year after year. That puts Tomlin on
the hot seat.

Speaker 2 (48:48):
Right, I mean, the question is who did they lose
to that they were expected to beat Nobody. I mean,
in all they when they in these playoff games, they
were playing against better teams. By the way, yeah, you
don't have to worry about tanking when everything is fixed
in the NBA. Let's see they want so you went
to the Mavericks and he said, all right, we need
some help right now. We got no buzz after the
All Star break. We need a big trade. We need

(49:09):
to help out the Lakers. Lakers need to be relevant.
You got to give them donches for next to nothing.
But here's the guarantee. Even though you're only gonna have
a one point eight percent chance to have it the
number one were more like, sure you got that number
one overall pick and then you can get Cooper flag
and build a new dynasty. Well, all worked out beautifully. Okay,
I'm not gonna just you know, even for those that

(49:30):
doubt it. Sometimes there are so many things that happen
in the NBA. You're like, gee, really, how did how
did Wimby end up with Saninto? I don't know, just
interesting how that works out. All right, We're gonna break
a little early because coming up on the other side,
I actually have a line of questioning that Martin Weiss
asked a little bit earlier, talking about what I used

(49:52):
to in my generation term is someone that is cool,
But now I'm not found out that's not the term anymore.
It's who has the aur ara?

Speaker 3 (50:02):
Arera?

Speaker 2 (50:03):
Are you hearing that now? I mean, is the term
aura as opposed to like, you know, who's cool?

Speaker 3 (50:09):
I got a good one for you. Okay, you want
to now? You want to later?

Speaker 2 (50:13):
Uh do it. On the other side, also, we're gonna
be checking in with our NBA insider, Mark Medina. This
is Fox Sports Saturday. Steve Harvey, Ryan Hollins. Here Fox
Sports Saturday. We are live from the Fox Sports Radio
studios for the best pregame show every week, and be
sure to tune into Fox Sports Radios Countdown presented by

(50:33):
bet MGM, every Saturday and Sunday morning from nine am
to noon Eastern six to nine am Pacific. We're gonna
countdown all the biggest games. No better place to prime
you for all the postseason games that are going on
right now. Tune into Countdown presented by bet MGM, every
Saturday and Sunday morning, right here on Fox Sports Radio

(50:53):
and the iHeartRadio app. All right, we're gonna be joined
shortly here by Mark Medina, our MEBA insider. But first
I have a question wish for you, Ryan, and then
you want to reciprocate. Apparently, So the thing we were
talking about, I think Martin brought up was the idea
of cool. Uh would I term cool? But now I've
been informed by some of the younger guys around here,
it's more about aura, Like which player in the NBA

(51:15):
has the most are So obviously you're around the NBA
all the time. Now, Ryan, who is the a coolest
slash player with the most are currently playing in the NBA?

Speaker 3 (51:28):
Ooh, most aura?

Speaker 2 (51:30):
Yeah, in the NBA currently right now, who is the
coolest in my what the coolest player in the league?

Speaker 3 (51:36):
Uh, Shay is up there, SGA.

Speaker 7 (51:41):
Jalen Green, our guy Jalen Green in Houston is up
there with aura?

Speaker 3 (51:47):
Who else has aura?

Speaker 2 (51:48):
Like real or I'll give you an answer that they're
all telling me and you haven't mentioned.

Speaker 3 (51:52):
Him yet, talk to me.

Speaker 2 (51:55):
They are saying the younger generation, it's a Anthony Edwards.
They think he is the coolest or has the most
aura of any current player in the NBA.

Speaker 7 (52:06):
Well, I'm thinking more, I think his energy is there.
I'm thinking more of the way.

Speaker 3 (52:12):
You dressed, if that makes sense.

Speaker 7 (52:15):
Like aura is kind of like it's swagger, is the
way you dressed?

Speaker 3 (52:20):
Now?

Speaker 7 (52:20):
Ant has the charisma, but the aura and Steve were Dayton.
You know, you're we're stepping into a different realm that
we're not really a part of. But the the aura
is there. Kyle Kouzma has aura. Jordan Clarkson has aura.
You know when he's on the floor, h Ant Scott charisma.

(52:43):
We're going charisma there with Aunt. Who else has aura?
I mean, yeah, it's there's a difference though.

Speaker 2 (52:52):
All right, Well, save what you got for me coming
up because joining us right now to give us a
little inside on what is currently going on the Pacers.
Are they for real? I mean, are the Pacers going
to actually win an NBA championship. Mark Mendin, our NBA insider,
is joining us right now. So Mark, we've seen this before,
right we saw I was relating back in two thousand

(53:13):
and one when Ai Allen Iverson won off on the
Lakers in Game one of the NBA Finals. Had a
friend of mine that was a Laker hater texted me
immediately saying it's over, Lakers are going down. My retort was,
the Lakers will not lose another game, and they didn't,
including three straight in Philadelphia. So when you look at

(53:33):
the results, Pacers are up one game to none. Was
it an aberration or is it a sign of things
to come as we continue on with these NBA Finals.

Speaker 8 (53:43):
Well, I don't think it's an aberration. The Pacers have
shown that they're the comeback Kings. Tyrres halburn sits for
three pointers. So they've gone to the stage for reasons
beyond the fact that New York and Boston weren't fully healthy.
They're the real deal now. I think it's a larger point.
I don't think that this means that they're going to
win the series. I still think the Thunder will do that.

(54:04):
They're the best team in the West. Shake Gildess Alexander's
been consistent. I think that the low hanging fruit, when
you're looking at you know what to do for game two,
go back to their traditional starting line of number one,
number two. I think that Chet Holmgern and Jail Williams
will shoot the ball better. But I think when you're
looking at game one specifically, it wasn't just a matter

(54:25):
of oh, the Thunder choked the game away. It was
that the Pacers are a very resilient team, and they
also have a really good young player, Tyres Halberd, who
knows how to make clutch plays.

Speaker 7 (54:38):
If we were going to say there's a cause for
alarm with the Thunder from after watching Game one, I
heard you just say you didn't feel like they choked
the game away. But what would be something that would
make you look and question, hey, we need to fix this.
What would it be if you're the Thunder Mark Dagnell, Yeah.

Speaker 8 (54:56):
Well, I think it's the three things. I think they
got to go back to starting Isaiah Installment. That's the
lineup that got them to where they are now. I
think number two they got to cut down the turnovers
the Pacers if they're able to force turnovers. As you know, Ryan,
they're a very fast paced team in the open floor,
so you've got to shut that fauted off. And then
three they got to get shut Homegern and Jane Williams

(55:19):
to make more shots. I mean, when you're looking at
the Thunder on taper, they have more depth in the Pacers.
The Pacers have a lot of depth. The Thunder have more.
But there's always an important X factor when you're looking
the fact that Shay you assume that he's going to
put up high twenty points, thirty points, but they have
to have a consistent X factor and that honor used

(55:42):
to belong to Jane Williams, but he did not shoot
the ball well. He's been more consistent this season with
moving off the ball gaining a three point shot going.
But he has to hit shots because when you're looking
at the Pacers, they have the ultimate X factor and
probably a bigger X factor in Pascalcia. I mean he
won that Eastern Conference Finals MVP for a reason. Because

(56:05):
he's so efficient, he's so good at playing off with
tyrish Aalburn. So when you're looking at both teams, it
doesn't just start with their two play their star players.
They have to have a dependable secondary guy that you
know what you're going to get out on a night in,
night out.

Speaker 2 (56:20):
Basis, when you look at Rick Carlisle, you say to yourself, man,
he's been around a long time and he's had success
everywhere he's been. That started in Detroit, Indiana obviously wins
a championship in Dallas. I loved his postgame comments, harping
on the fact that their team had to set some
sort of record for most turnovers in the first half

(56:41):
in an NBA Finals game. He also was had high
praise for Okse's defense, which I found pretty hilarious because
the fact was Pacers got some open looks and knock
down their shots. But I mean, somehow Rick Carlisle flies
under the radar. In my opinion, He's already got a
ticket for the Hall of Fame. But what, in your

(57:02):
opinion is his greatest asset as a coach.

Speaker 8 (57:07):
Yeah, I think that you know, he knows his stuff,
number one, But number two, I think he is very adaptable.
I mean, he was a coach in previously that believed
in a lot of structure, and you know that was
because of the personnel that he had. But now he's
allowing Tyres Talburn to do his thing. And that was
indicative when that he didn't call time out in that

(57:29):
final play. Now hear me out, you might do a
double take and laugh, especially from the source, but it
did make sense. I was talking to you know, Ron
Arts Tests Standiford art Tests about this Pacers team because
of the fact that he was on the previous Pacers
team that once in the two thousand and four East Finals,
and he likened Rick Carlisle to Nas because of just

(57:51):
their longevity, how they've been innovative, creative. It does make sense.
I did a double take because I didn't when you're
looking at compare and I would not think of Rick
Carlisle being like Knas. But it does make sense. And
I think what Meta's main point is is that he's
evolved a lot. And the point that you made, Steve

(58:11):
about Rick Carlo Carlisle being in the Hall of Fame
is dead on. And Metta himself said, you know what,
if it wasn't for me like he would have won
a lot more rings because of the fact that, you know,
he was involved with the Palace brawl and all that.
He also took ownership for their shortcomings against Detroit in
the two thousand and four playoffs. So I think it

(58:32):
shouldn't be lost on anyone that when the Miami Heat
super team formed that first year, you know who was
the coach on the other end, Rick Carlisle, and he
played a huge factor in Dirk Nvitski and that strong
supporting cast of the Dallas Mavericks having enough to beat
a super loaded Heap team with le Bron and Dwayne
Wade and Chris Bosh.

Speaker 7 (58:52):
Why were the Pacers so slept on? Why didn't nobody
believe in them?

Speaker 3 (58:56):
Why? Why did nobody picked them? Why is Tyree's Halliburton
the most underrated star that we have in our league?

Speaker 1 (59:06):
What?

Speaker 3 (59:06):
Why is that?

Speaker 7 (59:07):
Why is everybody just looking just completely Is it? Is
it their success because, I mean they went to the
Eastern Conference finals last year?

Speaker 3 (59:16):
Right? Is it?

Speaker 7 (59:17):
Is it because they're in Indiana, like like they don't
have TV games?

Speaker 3 (59:21):
What is it?

Speaker 4 (59:22):
Yeah?

Speaker 8 (59:22):
I think it's a combination of a lot of things.
Here's what's fair I think what's fair is that playoff
last playoff. Yes, the teams that they faced, they weren't
fully healthy. They had a rough start to the beginning
of the season, most notable with Tyres Auburn going up
and down as far as his play his health. But
what isn't fair is that they've always been a resilient team.

(59:45):
Tyree's has always been the best passing point guard in
the NBA the past two seasons, and they've had a
lot of depth, and them getting Pascal Siakam in that
pre trade deadline deal really put them over the top
because they have now another all star caliber that knows
how to playoff of Tyres, and they are just very

(01:00:06):
well coached and everyone knows their role. And so yeah,
when you're looking at the playoff landscape, there's always external
factors that explain why they're there. But they're not there
because they're just the last team standing. They're there because
they're very, very good. And so when you're looking at
Tyres yess he deserves some questions about, Okay, why does

(01:00:27):
he have some games where he doesn't shoot the ball well,
not aggressive enough, But the reality is he's usually putting
double digit assists to night basis, and even if he's
not scoring the ball a lot, he's getting other guys involved.
But when it comes crunch times, he has had a
trek record that he takes over the game and he

(01:00:47):
knocks down those shots. And so not surprising the way
Game one ended with him because it literally has happened
three other times this postseason.

Speaker 2 (01:00:56):
All right, one final thing here, Mark is we get
ready for Game two to tomorrow. So okay See has
yet to lose back to back games in these playoffs.
Their rebound game has been won by an average of
twenty point five points, although that's a little deceiving because
they had a two point win to five point win.
What do you see? I mean, are we going to
see a big bounce back in Game two okay See

(01:01:19):
obviously been a dominant team most of the year at home,
or are we going to see another game go down
to the wire where Okase fans are going to hold
their breadth that it doesn't happen again. How do you
see this happening tomorrow?

Speaker 3 (01:01:31):
Well?

Speaker 8 (01:01:32):
See, But I think what's fascinating I think is both
scenarios happen. The thunder have a bounce back game, they
reduce the turnovers, they have, Jaylen Williams and chet Holmger
improve their game, Shay Gilgess Alexander maintain hit excellent spot.
This is still going to be a close game. I
still favor the Thunder to win Game two and to
win the series. But any idea that this is a

(01:01:53):
lopsided series haven't been watching the Pacers. I think every
game of this series is going to go down to
the why So even if I still favor the Thunder,
I think they wrapped this up in six. It's not
going to feel like this was a blowout series. This
is going to feel like, you know what this made
for competitive basketball, And even if the ratings wind up

(01:02:13):
not being what they were if they had traditional powerhouses
with generational stars, you know what, the quality of basketball
is still good. And you know that's the league's problem
or that they either care about or not. It's all
them to handle. But from a pure basketball fan perspective,
these games are going to be really fun to watch
from now to the end.

Speaker 2 (01:02:34):
Well, if you get more games like we did in
Game one, believe me, people will be watching because people
are talking, and that's how you get interest in the
NBA Finals. Great stuff as always Mark. We'll check in
with you next week, Steve.

Speaker 8 (01:02:46):
Appreciate you as well as Ryan Stave, if you don't
mind me saying. Jim Hill says hi, And he also
passed along, Hey, when can he join the show.

Speaker 2 (01:02:56):
Jim anytime? Are you kidding me? I mean he's got
an open invite. I'll call Jim and bring him on
the show. Great stuff is always Mark, Thanks so much.

Speaker 8 (01:03:06):
Appreciate you guys.

Speaker 2 (01:03:07):
That is the great Mark Medina Johnnius right there. Yeah,
my longtime partner in crime, Jim Hill. Way back in
the day.

Speaker 3 (01:03:14):
Ryan, you know, oh legendary days one.

Speaker 2 (01:03:16):
Yeah, twelve twelve years we sat side by side when
you were there. I mean it was like when you're
at UCLA. I will never forget this I was doing.
I was in studio when you guys played that infamous
game against Gonzaga on your way to the you know
finals there and the incredible comeback, the crying Adam Morrison

(01:03:38):
and everything else. And I was on the set with
my dear friend, the great Sonny Vicaro, And it seems
like just yesterday, we'll have to do the Jim Hill
thing at some point, bring him on us a guest.
But right now we need to find out what is
a trending. A man that has done it literally all
today in a very short amount of time. Hard for
the course, for the great Martin Weiss. What's happening, Martin Steve.

Speaker 6 (01:04:00):
So when you're called to duty, you know, with great
power comes great responsibility.

Speaker 2 (01:04:04):
Great pinch hitter, the great Manny Motive back in the
day when I was a kid, the greatest pinch hitter
of all time with the Dodgers. Yeah, you can do that.

Speaker 6 (01:04:11):
Let's get into some Major League Baseball had a barn
burner in Florida. Today it's in Tampa as the Marlins
beat the Rays eleven to.

Speaker 2 (01:04:19):
Ten in ten innings.

Speaker 6 (01:04:20):
White Sox beat the Royals four to one, five to
three the score and extras, as the Astros beat the Guardians.
The Reds beat the Diamondbacks twice today. Thirteen to one
was the one scheduled for today, but Friday's game was
postponed due to rain and resumed today four to three
the score and that one that one extra innings. Cubs
beat the Tiger six to one. Pete c Armstrong had

(01:04:40):
a seventeenth home run. Blue Jays beat the Twins five
to four, Cardinals two to one over the Dodgers, Phillies
two to one over them I'm sorry, Pirates two to
one over the Phillies.

Speaker 2 (01:04:49):
Kyle Schwarber did hit a.

Speaker 6 (01:04:51):
Home run, though, tier the Rangers five to nothing over
the Nationals. Giants beat the Braves three to two and
also saw the Bryce Harper go to the ten day
injured list with right wrist information. The Dodgers plays Tony
Gonsolin on the injured list with elbow discomfort. The Braves
sent Craig Kimbrill down to Triple A for assignment, and

(01:05:12):
tennis to a twenty one year old American Coco Golf
won the French Open Ladies Singles title, golf second career
Grand Slam championship. She also won the US Open at
twenty twenty three. Memphis Grizzly center Zach edy reinjured his
left ankle and an offseason workout this week. He needs
surgery that will likely cause him to miss the start
of next season.

Speaker 2 (01:05:31):
And this just in. Ryan Hollins needs an alarm clock.
Oh oh well, I mean, let's see, So you're are
you in Houston right now?

Speaker 3 (01:05:44):
Ryan? I am in Houston?

Speaker 2 (01:05:45):
Okay, So let me see there would be what is
about six thirty there?

Speaker 3 (01:05:52):
Yeah, it's six thirty, six thirty.

Speaker 2 (01:05:54):
Oh, I mean, you know, you never know when you're
gonna take you get a few z's, you know, so happens, Steve.

Speaker 7 (01:06:00):
I was here and I was prepared, I had I'm like,
I know it worked today, I know I'm here, but I'm.

Speaker 3 (01:06:08):
Like, when what time do I do? I don't know.

Speaker 2 (01:06:11):
Listen, it's it's a weird start, right in other words,
we only do a couple hours and where you are,
that would be a five o'clock start. Are you one
of those Do you take naps? Are you a napper?

Speaker 3 (01:06:24):
I'm a napper now, yeah. But I couldn't find the time,
and I couldn't.

Speaker 7 (01:06:28):
I had a feeling in my and my bones and
my gut was saying I just was off the time
and apparently I laid down at the absolute worst time possible.

Speaker 2 (01:06:37):
Well that's okay, because you're back stronger than ever. By
the way, a couple of things. We're live from the
Fox Sports Radio studios, and don't forget after the show,
the podcast is going up. We've got everything today, So
if you miss any of today's show, check out the
podcast just for search Fox Sports Radio wherever you get
your podcasts, and then follow review the podcast. Just search
Fox Sports Radio wherever you get your podcasts. You see

(01:06:58):
today's show posted right after do we get off the air?
All right, so there was something before we had Mark
Medina on that you wanted to throw back at me.

Speaker 7 (01:07:05):
Right, Well, for one, I want Martin to know that
if I had his voice, I'd make a whole lot
more money and it would have had a lot more
opportunities on the broadcast side.

Speaker 2 (01:07:15):
You hear that, Martin, We've had a lot.

Speaker 3 (01:07:17):
I've had a lot more money.

Speaker 7 (01:07:19):
It's like hands, that's his voice is like an NBA
player having big hands, like like that would have been
two or three more rebounds a game for me.

Speaker 6 (01:07:28):
Okay, if I had that voice, my voice for your height,
The height pays more, buddy.

Speaker 3 (01:07:37):
It'll comes somewhere in between. Okay, it's I have big hands,
I had little hands, got little hands. I love it.

Speaker 2 (01:07:42):
I love the mutual respect air, no question all So yeah.

Speaker 7 (01:07:45):
Okay, here we go, Here we goes. This is what
I got to say, is that we were talking about
and Martin loves this. It's called Aura. Yeah, so I
can't it's it's like it's become a thing.

Speaker 3 (01:07:58):
And it's like Mike brain right.

Speaker 7 (01:08:00):
And I think the other day how the Burton hits
the game winner and he goes it was a two point.
I couldn't say bang for that like I had, like
those bangs don't come out. But when our guys, if
we get a big performance, and this is with the kids,
this is the big one, Steve. We're teaching lesson right now.
It's called ara maxing when.

Speaker 3 (01:08:19):
You are on a whole different level.

Speaker 7 (01:08:22):
And Martin knows this. Martin knows that Martin's young enough,
he knows this. Okay, Steve, I'm teaching me and you
are learning. I'm called or maxing, and against the right
when I learned it, where our guys are playing against
the Celtics hadn't won there in Boston in some time,
and Amen Thompson's going off and I go, he's oor maxing,
and oh boy, the fan base, the under twenty one

(01:08:45):
fan base lost it, and they have not let me
live it down to this day. Maxing and I tell them,
they're like, say it again. I'm like, no, we don't
just thought or maxing anytime.

Speaker 2 (01:08:57):
Wow, I love that. And you just came up with that.

Speaker 3 (01:09:00):
It just no no, no, no no, no, asked Martin.

Speaker 7 (01:09:02):
I didn't come up with it, no no, no, no
a maxinge.

Speaker 2 (01:09:07):
But that made you more relatable to your audience, is
what you're saying with the under twenty arming? Ian get
in on this conversation right now, So our producer, Ian,
who is all of what twenty four five, twenty five? Now,
I don't have a short change you. So you you
came running in talking about this are a thing as
I was, you know, throwing out the uh, you know,
very very very worn out term cool. You know how

(01:09:31):
we got on this. We were talking about Bo Jackson
way back in the day that he was you know,
he had a relatively short sports career, but his coolness
never left. He was cool. Everyone Bo knows. So what
do you make What do you make of what Ryan's
saying here, Ian about are a maxim?

Speaker 9 (01:09:48):
Yeah no, I I'd heard that too, But but I
was wondering if you guys had heard aora farming too,
because that's another term that's kind of growing among the US.

Speaker 7 (01:09:57):
So there's the deal where Steve, this is going to
get kind of complicated, all right? If I walk by you,
right and I drop a paper, right, and Steve, you're
a gentleman, right, you pick up your paper.

Speaker 3 (01:10:12):
You go to hand me the paper.

Speaker 7 (01:10:13):
Yeah, and then I pull out a sharp and I
sign it like an autograph.

Speaker 3 (01:10:17):
That's or a farm wow thing, that's that. It would
be yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:10:23):
Manufacturing your own aura. That is wow. That would be.
That's something that I got to do something like that.
Sometimes you did that every time you come in the studio.
You put me aura. You're all max I am or
a maxed Wow, some of my advanced stage that I

(01:10:45):
guess that's a cool thing, is it? Is it cool?
I don't know? Okay, cool, you're him? Hashtag him. That's
Mary mac who's all of twenty are you twenty two?

Speaker 3 (01:10:59):
She gets it very good gets it.

Speaker 2 (01:11:00):
Yeah, she gets it. Wow. Okay, Yeah, that's Curl. I'm
like that. Yeah, I mean just remember this. I was
sports editor of the Daily Bruin when we got to
the championship game in nineteen eighty.

Speaker 3 (01:11:16):
Ryan, oh wow, nineteen eighty I was four years old.

Speaker 2 (01:11:20):
Yeah, that was Larry Brown. And by the way, somebody
sent me a video of the semi final game when
UCLA be Purdue, led by the great Joe Barry Carroll
not so great, and he's most infamous because he was
traded in a Golden State deal where Golden State ended
up giving the Celtics Robert Parrish and the third overall

(01:11:40):
pick in the draft that turned out to be Kevin McHale.
How's that for a trade?

Speaker 3 (01:11:43):
Wow?

Speaker 2 (01:11:44):
But anyway, I was actually on the court as Brian
Gumbel for NBC was interviewing coach Brown, and I just
happened to be standing there right behind Coach Brown. Next
time you're in studio with me, Ryan, I'll show you.
You'll be like blown away, Like Wow, that's really going back.
I had the cool long hair though buck in the day,
and that's how that works back then. All right, we're

(01:12:06):
gonna get everybody set now for what exactly is going
to go down tomorrow. We got game two Pacers and
the OKC Thunder. Will it be a bounce back game?
Whereas Tyree Halliburton a player of destiny? Are the Pacers
a team of destiny? We'll break it down. This is
Fox Sports Saturday. Steve Harbin and Ryan Hollis here Fox

(01:12:31):
Sports Saturday Live from the Fox Sports Radio Studios. Want
to thank our crew today, Martin Weiss doing it all today.
I mean just literally wore every single imaginable hat during
the course of the show today. Mary Mac, I love
Mary Mack. She's just she's special. She's special, and I

(01:12:53):
appreciate it. Thank you so much for the kind words.
And Ian, thanks for bringing me up today. This is
what I really lean on with Ian, our producer. I
need to, you know, sort of as people in my
generations say, get hip, you know, back.

Speaker 3 (01:13:06):
In the day.

Speaker 9 (01:13:07):
I take pride in bridging the gap for you, Steve.
I desperately need that, so desperately need that. By the way,
I was thinking about this, Ryan, so I mentioned the
nineteen eighty final four. Of course, we were there in
two thousand and six, the only time the UCLA ever
lost a championship game. We're in those two final fours.
Both were in Indianapolis, and both were in arenas that

(01:13:28):
don't exist anymore. I saw the final four at the
Old Market Square Arena and you were at the RCAA Dome.

Speaker 2 (01:13:35):
They don't exist anymore.

Speaker 3 (01:13:37):
Done, that's a I didn't want to think about that, Steve,
but you're right.

Speaker 2 (01:13:41):
I mean, it's amazing, isn't it amazing? How many because
I think back to my days working with the Raiders
back in the eighties. Almost none of the places that
I went to exist anymore, just only in sports.

Speaker 5 (01:13:53):
Right.

Speaker 2 (01:13:53):
We were the teardown stadiums, teardown arenas, you know, like
twenty years I tear that thing down. Let's build the
new one. It's very unique in sports.

Speaker 3 (01:14:03):
Yeah, no it is. And we're going into new times.

Speaker 7 (01:14:07):
And yeah, I mean I still get the Hey, I
remember back in Indianapolis. I was there at the Final
four when you win, and you know, to get those,
get those every once in a while.

Speaker 2 (01:14:18):
Yeah, that that RCAA Dome, it's a gunner. So all right,
let's let's get up today where we are here in
twenty twenty five. You know, I was thinking, I said
the very top of the show that you know, when
when you have a team do the inexplicable like the
Pacers have done in this postseason. I mean, Tyre's Halliburton
has now had a game winning shot in all four
series they've played in. And I keep thinking, like, why

(01:14:40):
would the Pacers be like a team of destiny? You
know I mentioned at the top there the ABA. When
the ABA started there were eleven franchises, only two of
which kept the exact same name and city through all
nine years of the ABA. One was the Kentucky Colonels
that folded when the ABA play teams merged with the NBA,

(01:15:02):
and then the Indiana Pacers, and so they won three
ABA championships, but since coming to the NBA, they had
one finals run with Reggie Miller and company back in
two thousand. But overall, I mean, the Pacers are just
like a team. So why would the basketball God say,
you know what, twenty twenty five, that's gonna be the
Pacers year. I don't know. I'm still trying to figure

(01:15:25):
it out. I mean, when you think about it, Rick
Carlisle certainly one of the best coaches in the league,
and they have a team of rejects. Think about it, Halliburton,
Siaka min These guys are great players, but other franchises
felt they were expendable. They got a lot of players
on this team, and that I think is sort of
carrying that collective chip on their shoulder. Plus they've also

(01:15:48):
got sort of that what do we have to lose?
No one's expecting us to win, and I think we
really saw that in that fourth quarter a Game one.
So what are your thoughts Ryan as we head into
game two you tomorrow. Is it possible that Indiana could
win back to back games on the road.

Speaker 3 (01:16:06):
It's super possible. And I have no idea why people
are overlooking that.

Speaker 7 (01:16:13):
I think they wanted. They just don't want their picks
to be wrong at this point. That's what I see,
because they didn't.

Speaker 3 (01:16:19):
Play well, they didn't shoot it well.

Speaker 7 (01:16:22):
And I think the way that Oklahoma City finished the game,
and seeing that they've already kind of switched up what
they do, like Dagnall already switched the lineup and said
we got to go smaller. I could see if they
said we're gonna start and play the exact same way
we've been playing. If that doesn't work, we'll adjust from there.
They made their small adjustment and it did not work,

(01:16:43):
and Indianapolis finishes strong. I'll give let's be smarter here.
When you look at the next game, what you're gonna
look at is that down the stretch the Pacers do
what they move the basketball. It's nim Hart, it's a
Nie Smith, it's Topping, it's Halliburton, it's Siakam. They move

(01:17:05):
the ball and find the hot hand. They're aggressive, they
play together. They have what you call basketball IQ. So
you say, how these rejects supposedly get to this pole.
They went for the IQ. Where a lot of teams
go for just the shooting or the height, or the
versatility or the athleticism, there's IQ. They play at least
two point guards on the floor at all times. They

(01:17:26):
run their sets, they get a piece of the paint
and kick. They're a very smart basketball team that makes
you have to work. They move it the best that
I've probably seen ball movement in the NBA in a very,
very long time. They have guys that get it. Okay,
Oklahoma City is the best on ball defensive team that
we've seen. So what they want to do is match

(01:17:48):
up with the speed of Indiana, and I thought they
took away from what they do best. And what you're
gonna see is a lot of one on one with Shade.
Shade drops thirty eight points. Was isn't two shabby takes
at the shots. That's kind of how they play. They
had the lead based on turnovers steven the second half.
They only turned the ball over five times. Those things
got shared up. And guess what the thunder struggle to

(01:18:11):
score the basketball? How do they score if they're not
manufacturing points off turnovers.

Speaker 2 (01:18:17):
One of the arguments about OKC going in was they
had the superior bench. Really their bench got outscored thirty
nine to twenty eight in Game one by that Indiana bench.
And where the hell was chet Holmgren two of nine
shooting five at six point six rebounds, no assists, one block,
a zero factor in this game. So when we talk

(01:18:40):
about sort of the three headed monster that nucleus for
the future of OKC, your MVP showed up, but Jalen
Williams was six to nineteen. That cannot happen again, and
Cheded Holmgren has got his he's got to show up.
Bottom line is the Pacers all five of their starters
were in double digits. They all can contribute it. I

(01:19:01):
think coaching has a lot to do with this. But
any team that is a minus eighteen in turnover ratio
on the road and still finds a way to win
the game, I'm with you. Look, I'm all in on
OKC winning this, but I do think and I'm going
to be with Mark Madina said a little bit earlier,

(01:19:23):
I think it's going to be a very close game
too tomorrow and who's gonna be who's going to take
that big shot. We know who's gonna take it for Indiana.
The guy doesn't miss is Sga gonna make that big
shot if he needs to late in the game.

Speaker 7 (01:19:36):
I think the challenge is this getting to that position.
And I heard people say, you know, why don't you
just run and get the ball out of his hands.
You know, he gets to those points and he's shooting
the ball. He ain't passing because he passes all game long.
And they're a team that is you. You feel like
if you run off nim Hard, he's gonna make that shot.
Oh yeah, you know, you run off one of those guys,
you're gonna give up a bucket and they're ready or

(01:19:59):
another other positions or other teams you can throw that
help and it won't be there.

Speaker 2 (01:20:04):
All right. So your prediction right now for Game two
and the balance of the series, how it's gonna play out.

Speaker 7 (01:20:09):
Indy wins it, bro and then okay, see it gets
won and they end up losing in what five?

Speaker 2 (01:20:14):
I would say, you're you're taking Indy in five?

Speaker 3 (01:20:18):
I will probably say six. Yeah, we'll say six. Wow.

Speaker 2 (01:20:22):
If the Pacers win it. What a story that's going
to be people are gonna be watching. Thanks so much, right,
keep it here. Much more coming up on Fox Sports
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