June 2, 2025 • 55 mins
This Episode of the NBA Playoff Banter Podcast Features Quick Recap for the Western & Eastern Conference Title Series! Plus, Preview and Predictions for THE FINALS Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers! -Key To The Player Matchups! -Indy Limiting Turnovers! -Who's Guarding SGA? -Can Indy Score on Elite OKC Defense? -Indy Must Hit Corner 3's! -Who Wins Series? -Will The Series Go 5, 6, or 7? Listen to the NBA PLAYOFFS BANTER PODCAST All the way to the Finals and Draft/Free Agency! Available under The ROPE A DOPE RADIO Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, Spreaker, Google Podcast, & More! Follow on Twitter @RopeADopeRadio
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
NBA basketball fans, Welcome, Oops, welcome back to the NBA
Playoff Banter Podcast. He's Marshall, I'm Chris, and we're here
to talk about the NBA Finals. We'll do a little
quick recap. Of course, we did have you know, one
of the series at least go game six, even though
(00:24):
you know, come fourth quarter it pretty much was out
of reach. So we'll talk a little bit about that,
and just both Okac and Indie how you know, how
their paths came. Just in general, it is kind of
funny how Paul George Playoff aka Playoff p is involved
in all this as far as trades and whatnot. We'll
(00:48):
look at the regular season a little bit, but as
we know, you know, that really doesn't add up. Oops.
Gotta keep hitting that to too much anyway. So yeah,
then we'll preview our per usual preview and predict. Yeah,
this thing keeps coming unplugged. You know, we'll previewing, predicted,
(01:08):
and then you know, we'll kind of play it by ear.
When the next time we'll be back to do the show,
maybe it'll be Monday. Maybe not though, just because that'll
be only two games done. So we'll kind of we'll
play it by ear like we normally do. But if
this is your first time listening to the NBA Playoff
Banter podcast, welcome, It's stream got this thing. I don't
(01:33):
know what is going on anyway. It's streams under Ropeodope
Radio podcast, which can be found on Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio, Spotify,
Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spricker, and more. While you're at it,
head on over to the Gruelingtruth dot Com and Sports
News twenty four One more thing from direct TV streams.
(01:54):
Start streaming DirecTV for only fifty nine ninety nine for
the first month. Whether you're streaming on the goat with
your smartphone or watching with your smart TV, direct TV
gives you the access to the entertainment you want, when
you want it, wherever you want it. They have that
five day free trial. The entertainment package starts at eighty
(02:16):
four to ninety nine a month that locks you in
for two straight years. That choice package that I just
mentioned fifty nine ninety nine for the first month, that
includes FanDuel on the SEC network and the ultimate is
eighty nine ninety nine and that includes over one hundred
and sixty channels. That's direct TV stream Okay, I'm gonna
(02:36):
go ahead and bring in my co host Marshall. What's
going on, Marshall? How the hell are you? And we
finally got here to the finals. Luckily we had a
you know, some sort of drama at least go on
in the other series, unlike the OKC Minnesota unfortunately. But
first and foremost, how you're doing, and then we'll start
(02:59):
to kind of wrap up somewhat quickly anyway that the
OKC close out, which really was closed out game four,
you know, in a sense.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Yeah, I'm a I'm doing pretty good.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Brother.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
I hope you're you're doing good backup in Minnesota. I'll
be there in a couple of weeks. That should be
fun to get together. Uh, and hey, yeah we have
the so I will say this. I was talking to
the fiance and the cars. She's like, I kind of
like that.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
It's like not regular teams.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
So yeah, and obviously I'm sure like the ESPN and
like the news, like the market, people always want like
Lebron or Curry or you know, the top not seams
like the Celtics. But like, just from like a true
basketball standpoint, it is kind of fun just to have someone different,
Like I don't think at the start of the year,
maybe people thought the Pacers would have made the finals,
you know, like, I mean, they're a good team, They're
(03:47):
not a joke. But if you'd ask everyone to pick
their finals predictions, okay see could have been a pick.
But the Pacers, like no, and okay see, might be
a team that's gonna be there for a handful of
the next upcoming years, but this their first year or
this cruise. So it is kind of cool to have
just like new blood because we had a stretch there
where it was either going to be Lebron or Curry,
(04:08):
and I was a guarantee. Now I enjoyed it being
a Curry fan, but you know, there is something to
be said for hey, different teams, someone new's going with
this year and maybe, I mean, we could get a
repeat next year.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
You never know.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
But it's just kind of fun to see just a
different blood in the finals. And it maybe won't be
the best range of the small markets, but I think
just for a sport fantom standpoint, it's kind of.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Nice to have something different.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
I guess you could say, yeah, and I you know,
on paper it's not the best matchup, I guessed, but
you never really know, so you actually get on the court.
But you know, for all the the major market big
market conspiracy theories that go on in the NBA, they
sure do a shitty job and getting those big markets
in the fucking finals. You know, if you think about
(04:51):
it lately, it's kind of funny how that it's like, well,
these are pretty small markets here, so why would are
you sure? It's because why wouldn't they Why wouldn't the
Knicks been in the finals? Then? You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah,
so yeah, it's just it's just kind of funny how
people always go with that. Of course you're gonna want something,
(05:14):
but but yeah, it is kind of cool, you know,
seven straight years now with the new champ. Oh and
these are first time champs. Whoever wins this one is
gonna be a first time champ, So I think, yeah,
part of it's really cool too, and on the surface.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
And Michael Jordan, Kevi, Regie Miller forgetting a couple.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Yeah definitely, I mean more than Reggie, you know what
I mean?
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
There's a long line of them actually, you know, going
back to that sometimes I look back and just because
remember during COVID we would do shows on Classic College
Basketball and all that, and then you know, the Jordan
documentary came out at a time where people really needed
some form of sport, at least sports fans needed it,
(06:07):
and it was a big thing because remember we would
do weekly things on it, and we watched two episodes,
do a show, watch two episodes, do a show. And
I always think back to the the Houston Rockets in
that time. Man, I remember doing a breakdown segment of that,
and god, it always wanted to see that matchup, but
it just never quite happened back in the nineties.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
But anyway, yeah, yeah, you know, really Game four first
of all, the only competitive fourth quarter game we got
in the whole series.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Great game, though, high level game, and that was the
game that Timwolves needed to have a chance in the series. Obviously,
even up you kick their ass and then you and
then you beat them in a tight game go back
home too too. You never know exactly what's gonna happen.
Even if that Game five played out where it was
(07:02):
twenty seven to six or whatever right away, you'd still
have to go Game six, so you never really know
what happened at that point. But it really came down
to them being the better team, the deeper team, the
just all around better finisher. But yeah, it really came
(07:23):
down to that game four man, which was one of
the better games in general, phenomenal game, but my Timberwolves
came up short. So there wasn't really much drama to
speak of on the OKC Minnesota side of things.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Yeah, you know, I was that was just a really
you said, just a really good competitive basketball game. I
think that that did show that when Minnesota plays in
our a game, they're on par with them. But also
I just think it is kind of like a tip
of the cap to OKC. Obviously not I'm not a
die here Wolves fans you, so you obviously a little
(08:01):
different perspective, and I feel for you, But like that,
like that's a game where like normally the road team
doesn't win. Like I'm not saying that was Minnesota's best
effort forever, but that was like a really good home game,
and normally, if you get those types of efforts in
an NBA home playoff game, the home team wins. So
I hate saying it because I want you and all
(08:22):
my bikes to see the Wolves win, But it's like, damn,
like this OKC team mate and I think maybe part
of it simply is the fact that they're from a
Oklahoma city, because if you look at the year they've
had just from a win loss record perspective, like it's
really not far off of the Golden State Durant year
just from wins and losses. So if this was a
(08:43):
team that was located in Atlanta or New York or LA,
I think there'd be more media just attention and love.
Not I'm not saying the media makes thinks of them
in a joke, but like, I do think we kind
of slipped them in a little bit this year, christ
just because it is a smaller market team and SGA
is a one oz guy without like a now Courier
(09:04):
broad So in roundabout way, I just think that I've
probably something a little bit. Myself was like, yeah, their
record was that freaking good. They beat however, me Pet
by almost like ten points the game of the whole year.
I just think that that game kind of showed him like, damn,
like that's a game that the Wolves price. If they
play lu one else lead, they win that game four.
It's two to two. So I don't know, just to
wrap it up that that was an incredible before of us. Unfortunately,
(09:26):
I wish I had gotten that way, but that was
just something or the teams don't do.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Yeah, I mean their point differential, their record this year.
Technically they were back to back first seeds now you
know in the West. Yeah, and maybe that was that
they were a first scene and got beat the year before,
and they were a young team, and you did have
questions in the playoffs in a sense, you know, because
(09:52):
you needed to see the other guys around him step up.
And then coming out that game seven, you thought, I
don't know, maybe you know, yeah, your seven games, you know,
and so whereas it seemed like maybe, okay, see, you
could say played down a little bit in that series, maybe,
(10:12):
but I think Denver definitely played up compared to the
last twenty thirty games of the season. You know. Yes, yeah,
styles make fights, matchups and all that. So that had
to do with it obviously too, because for sure, you know,
the Timberwves match up much better with that team. So
I just think it's uh. I do have to say
(10:33):
as a Timbrelf fan, though, I do feel further away
from them, okay see than I did Dallas last year
because if you look at the first three games, they
were all winnable. They were all right there on the table,
and it was the side of the Timberwolves that wasn't executing,
(10:53):
whereas this it's only that one. Yeah, we kicked their ass,
but you can make an argument that that actually like
pissed them off and embarrassed them, and they came back
and won a game four. You know, maybe if you
only beat them by sixteen or something, they don't have
that same fuck you dude, what the fuck was that
forty two points?
Speaker 5 (11:11):
Then they tried to put out that that stat about
no team is one of finals if you lost by
forty two in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
But you and I know both that there's been a
thirty seven and thirty nine, So you're like, dude, that's
a couple of points away. That's a yeah, that looks
good on Twitter. Yeah, Like shit, dude, that probably means
you're not gonna win it. You know, it's like, well,
not necessarily yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But overall, they really
put it all together, and it's something they've been building
(11:45):
the last few years. Obviously, they were patient. They struck
it when it was hot. We'll see if they keep
it together. Of late, they weren't paying a bunch of
tax because they had you know, young players, but they
did pay the tax a trunk of years ago, like
a lot of it. So, yeah, be able to keep
this team, and I don't see why that owner, you know,
(12:09):
wouldn't do it now. On the indie New York side
going into it, you know, we're thinking about the nineties
and the six out of like eight or nine years
that they met and it was tied three to three,
and that in the nineties, I think one of them
snuck into the two thousands. But you know, we had
such a drama way to start game, won the series
(12:31):
in general, and and then you kind of felt like, ah,
it's too zip now, you know, that's pretty this is
this isn't gonna go far. And credits to the Knicks man.
They they had their own crazy comeback and you know,
ended up winning Game three and then and then they
really played a great Game five. In fact, they kept
him under one hundred, kept any and one hundred. And
(12:54):
we were talking about how first time since like February
fourth or February second, that the Pacers had put up
one hundred points and that's you know, we saw the
Knicks much like we were just talking about Denver get
better on defense, you know, in the playoffs. But still,
you know it's not They're not a juggernaut obviously defensively.
So that that was It was still a really interesting
(13:18):
series with you know, multiple games that were right there,
probably three, three or four, probably four out of six
were could have been either either side win the game.
So it was a fun series. It was entertaining, what
you think, overall, Like I said, at least, you know,
(13:39):
we talked about it last time, where this is the
first time we actually got past three to h H
in a conference final on either side in a couple
of years. So it was finally nice to get the
game six because most of them have been Game five
or Game four.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
You know, I do think so to flip the script on,
I think that people kind of slightly over underlooked, okay,
c I do think there was kind of just an
ESPN hoping that, hey, dude, let's put the Knicks in
the finals. You know, like big Market, it's been a
min since they've been good. Like they they beat they
you know, they beat the celt like, you know, let's go.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Nixt you know.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
But yeah, but okay, like but Indiana. They just didn't
give a shit, Like there's something be said for that team.
It'd be kind of fun if they did like a
one year documentary, just because not many teams can consistently
win games. Were down by so much. It's kind of
like they're like the cardiac kids. But that's certainly more
of like a college football college basketball.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
They lateral.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
They don't have this NBA team who just like never quits,
never quit. It's like that's not really an NBA thing.
Now you can say, why the hell are the team's
ball leads, which I don't know, but they're just a
fun team. And I didn't look at who all the
ESPN people picked for that series, but I'm sure it
was obviously Vegas favorite Knicks.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
I'm sure a lot of people picked the Knicks. I'm
sure something did pay as well.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
But I think it's just a kind of a series
where like Indiana, people are sleeping on maybe just a
little bit because it's in New York City and they
got home court. But then you have the crazy Game one,
but then they don't take them off the gas for
Game two. That that's the big one, like Game one,
helibertson due they got some ballers, but for New York not.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
An emotional thing. That happened too, you know, easily just
to be like, hey, dude, our job is done. Let's
get to game three one and one.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
You know, yes, And we saw that happen a couple
of times here, not as much this year, but well
actually not a lot, but in a regular Chris, if
you would Game one on the road, dude, take for
off the gas for game two, go home split. We're
happy that we actually had a lot of two o's
this year, which is weird but normally, yeah, hey, you
had an emotional win. Halibertson had the premature choke celebration.
(15:48):
They still won the game. And then but then the
win game two, it's like, dude, like these boys ain't playing,
so then you have that d in your head of
like this next thing win front of five No, so
uh Krant's and Haliburton credits Kretsur it is, you know,
said a couple of times and we've said it too.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
They are a selfless team.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Like when you watch them move the ball, it's kind
of beautiful because yes, Haliburton is a stud, but he's not.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
You can watch it.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
It doesn't have to touch his hands every time, Like
they're kind of fun just to watch because the ball
moves around, they play fast, they play at temple and
they just never stopped. And that's part of the reason
why they do win. Like they they probably never feel
their out of the games because hey, was gonna have
a night. Turs get hit a couple of shots like
the the the dude from Vandy Naysmith who helped him
(16:40):
win Game one when he just went duicular like he
did his version of Stephen Curry, which probably cry.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Weird last second shot without five threes and like how long?
Not long, you know, But I do.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Feel if you you go through like the last two
teams he had left, like you know, Denver goes, as
Jokic goes, Timberleves go kind of is like Aunt goes
like sgakad of controls. Okay, see you can say that
about Pacers, but not really like they kind of they're
just a team now who's maybe are one more round
to go? But I think it's just a little bit
different because so many times in the NBA it's like, well,
(17:15):
you got your one star and everywhere else kind of
feeds off. I know, hell Bird's the guy, but they
just they passed the ball I think better than I've
used to seeing in basketball. I'm sure statistically you might
be able to rip part what I'm saying, but they
share the ball really well, more so than other teams
I've used to watching.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
And he's closer to more of a true point guard
than he is a scoring slash. I'm gonna get some assists.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Good call, Yes, yeah, yeah, he will.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Get those assist And like you said, he gets off though,
especially with any any sense of a double, he gets
off really quick. But something that he's gotten better at though,
is hey, it's my time now, Gotta take everybody off
the dribble because I can you know what I mean.
(18:04):
All yeah, we know that, but yeah, I think just
finding that that timeframe of of when to go and
when not to Yeah, you know, that's that's that's tough.
And like I said, most of it's combo guards, most
of its playmakers, uh scores slash playmakers, it's not true
(18:24):
point guard. So and we went over it, you know,
first second round a couple of times, saying, you know,
from like eight or nine points, how they had all
those dudes that were in the teams, you know, and
Siakam actually did did lead them in scoring so far
in the playoffs, so Halliburton doesn't have to be the
(18:46):
number one score all the time. Yeah. And speaking of
when you said documentary, right, sure, do you remember last
year the Netflix documentary where they chose like four or
five players and they went through the whole thing and
then they played in the fall. This year it was
with Aunt It was Lebraun Tatum and I can't remember. Okay,
(19:13):
Well anyway, that was Netflix. Yeah, that was last year.
So they followed all those players and then in the
fall they showed what had happened throughout that year. Right, Well,
I don't know if it's four players like last time
or what, but what I do know is Sga and
hal Burton are in this one.
Speaker 6 (19:34):
Oh okay, so it's exactly pretty close anyway, not exactly
pretty close to So we're going to see this journey
get to the finals this year, you know, and people involved,
we're going to play each other.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
You know, because Tatum got to the finals obviously and
won it, but to have both in there, so you're
gonna kind of get your wish anyway. Yeah. Yeah, and
then just we've ever kind of caught up every once
in a while on ratings, and you know how this
was a through two rounds, it was a crazy ratings
(20:10):
did really good. The Western Conference Finals. You kind of
knew was gonna be an issue. I did notice though,
in the first round they gave OKAC, even though you
knew they were gonna beat Memphis ass they kept giving
them the prime primer spot rather than putting them on
(20:32):
NBA TV and having the better, more more competitive game.
So the NBA did actually do their due diligence when
it comes to uh showing off the OKC, even though
it pissed some people off because it's like, dude, that
game's a blowout, why would you put that on ESPN
or TNT put that on NBA TV and put the
(20:55):
Clippers in uh Denver on Yeah. Yeah, And I can't
remember the other games, but they did get him the
lead in that, so that was kind of cool. But
so just kind of catching up with the ratings. Game
free was the largest Game three of the Eastern Finals,
was the largest rated on TNT since twenty fifteen, which
(21:17):
was the Hawks Cavaliers. And then Game four was the
largest Eastern Conference Game four since the Celtics Calves, which
is just so happens to be, you know, when the
last conference final Lebron was in, because in twenty nineteen
he dipped out of the conference, so it was basically
(21:41):
the finals itself up until that point had been a
seven year high. So and you know, obviously the some
of the rivalry, some of the New York market of course,
but also the way that Game one started must have
really helped the ratings too, just because they're like, oh shit, dude,
(22:03):
this is this is crazy. So we'll see how Game
five did. I don't know how Game five did. We're
gonna find out how Game six did tomorrow. And usually
the person that I follow that's been in the industry
for a long time for ratings, he they'll post tomorrow.
So at least Indy comes in hot off of a
(22:28):
really fun series and a highly rated one, so we'll
see exactly where that goes. It's kind of funny Game four.
I believe Game four, the highest rated one is Game
four with the the Lakers and Timbrels still of the series,
(22:50):
which you know, you got Lebron and got Ant and
so yeah, all right, so you know, New York. I
gotta say, like I keep hearing people say they gotta
blow it up. They gotta fire to the coach, they
gotta people still, like I think the last two series,
there's times in certain games where you could be very
(23:13):
critical of Cat, but honestly, dude, he averaged almost twenty
five points in this series and had twelve, and they
would have won the game without him. They would have
had a five game series without him, So like in that,
you know, having twenty points in the fourth.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
So I like.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Kat's whistle is horrendous, just because as as a younger player,
he did complain too much. But he gets so many
offensive falls and dumbfouls that I think that goes into
that as well as whistle. But I don't know the
whole blow it up. It goes back to like like
(23:55):
the video game era, where you're like, I don't like
how the season's going, Marshall, gonna turn the fucking game
off and restart everything. It's just so you're gonna fire
TIBs and then you're gonna blow your team up. Now,
if you can get Yannis, hey fucking trade the ship,
that's fine. But other than that, just to trade like
you're obviously still like we did last year, we did
(24:17):
trade Cat on a high. But the odds, Marshall, if
you don't get Yannis, the odds that you're gonna get
a good ass trade for Cat Again. Yeah, it was
a pretty fair trade now that we're a year or
not even a year from it. But you know, for
both sides if you look at it turned out. But like,
(24:40):
I don't know, what are your thoughts on that? Man?
They hadn't made the goddamn conference final since two thousand.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
All right, well, you know.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Under a great contract.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
Oh, I think it's kind of an NBA training thing
because I've been hearing the same thing from the Minneapolis
sport Rado station. We've always listened to Kat and there's
been guys that show that just mentioned about how well
the Wolves gott to look for a big move. You know,
it's like I do get if you're a Wolf from
office person, Hey we lost to Okay, see like okay,
like what can we do to make our team better?
But does like I'm torer man because.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
I think the one matchup in the whole conference.
Speaker 4 (25:23):
You know, it can it can backfire on you, Like
what if the Knicks or the Wolves do make a
big splash or trade, but then next year, what if
you what if you get knocked out first round?
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Like was it worth? Like if you are the Wolves,
for example, just gotta build that team more better than
the Nickson.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
Like I've been hearing the same things, like you made
the Western Conference finals two years ago. Yes, I'm frustrated
out to make some the finals, but your team is
close now you could argue that, Okay, we're still far behind. Okay,
see what do we do now? Does what do we
do mean? We have to make a huge deal? I
don't know if that's necessarily the case, Like what huge
deal are you?
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Jones?
Speaker 1 (26:00):
You know, I could be a great ball handler right there,
Like it may not have to be a big move.
You never know, you know, yeah, yeah, Like there it's there.
I get it. But yeah, like I have.
Speaker 4 (26:12):
To the rumor of like if the Wolves want to
go for Durant, Like I think that'd be an awful decision,
Like you you would kind of have to see well
yeah yeah, but again because if.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Someone's gonna leave and you sign and trade them to
get him, that's different.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
But yeah, I do think it's kind of that you're
you're being the video game GM personal like we got
to blow it up. Well, yeah, if you're the Necks.
You got Brunst, you got cat, you got you got heart,
like you.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Gotta you gotta get squad.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
So like, what is your big splash gonna beat? I'll
get Hell. If I was the MAVs, I would trade
the number one pick. I would say, Cooper Flag. You
see you're gonna Milwaukee.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Boy. I'm freaking you know, because you prove it.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
But yeah, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
So I just I do think.
Speaker 4 (26:58):
That we we become very quick to judge what But hell,
if you look at like just quickly, like if you
look at how uh soccer and hockey like, dude, they
love to fire their coaches so fast, but then they're stupid.
They bring you guys who've are ey been fired before.
It's like they never had any circle like hery, we're
not doing too good. Hell the this basketball. But there
(27:19):
was a thing last two years ago in hockey, the
three coaches who were up for the Coach of the
Year award were out of their jobs the next within
the next two years. So you're telling me the three
best ahl coaches of his team that.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Could have wont coach the year.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
We're no longer with those teams and within two years
after coachmore. Sorry, shit, yeah, you know, so, so I
think and I think hockey and soccer are the worst,
but basketball's baby coming in the NBA.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
NBA is right there with NHL. Yeah, twenty games in
the day. You get fired after twenty games, which is ridiculous,
you know.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
So you know, yeah, so I now, if you make
a big change, could it work, yes, but you have
to make a big splash, not necessarily, No, and don't
force it.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
That's that's it. Don't force it. Because the way people
talk about Cat, it's like he fucking averaged twenty five
and twelve in the like, come on, dude, like what
are we doing? Like I've always been critical in some
spurts with him, no doubt, but at some point you
gotta get over your own bias, like come on, what
(28:30):
are we doing? Just like you know, someone who cheers
for a team has to get over there. Oh no,
my guy's better than Jordan or some shit. You know.
Speaker 7 (28:37):
But yeah, yeah, yeah, so I don't know.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
I mean, like I said, Yiannis is a great example.
And basically, besides Brooklyn, nobody has money, so it has
to be a sign in trade. So when you look
at this free agency from moving on in the in
the coming future, like it's gonna be a bunch of
sign in trades. That's how you're good that free agency
(29:00):
right now, signing trade. So yeah, if someone's gonna give
Randall a bigger contract, then we we feel like we're
gonna give them. Well, then, all, if you brought in Durant,
you know, if you had if you had Rudy Nas
and Durant, Well, now you're saying, so now I can
now I'm looking at it differently. So I just to
(29:22):
blow it up if anything, you know, here's here's my example. Right,
so the the Dallas team doesn't exist anymore. That beat
us last year, it's gone, yeah, right.
Speaker 3 (29:35):
And.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
Wonder if Denver trades trades Porter for two just solid players,
just role players, and they get better depth, and maybe
they can beat them, and then we can beat them.
You know, Wonder if the Knicks go against Indy and
Halliburton fucks up his ankle in game one. You know,
you never fucking know, you know, So I just especially
(30:02):
when you made such as like timberwolfs wise in next
wise you made such a big trade just and you
didn't have any practice time at all, basically because you
made it right at the opening of camp, but it
took a week to just finalize the damn deal. Yeah,
neither of them could practice until you finalized it. So yeah,
it's just it's just kind of weird. But anyway, let's
(30:24):
get to it. It starts Thursday. You know, both these
teams are definitely fun to watch. I think it is
gonna be an entertaining series during the regular season. Okay,
see won this, you know the regular season series two
zip Chet was not in either one of those games.
(30:46):
I was kind of surprised, obviously. The first when you
talk okay, see, the first thing, yeah, I to talk
about is turnovers, you know, because they're gonna turn you over.
And I was kind of surprised that I went back
and looked in at they lost twice. One was close,
one was a blowout, but neither game featured a lot
of turnovers. The highest turnover game in the last series
(31:11):
against the Knicks for Indy was twenty game five, but
other than that, they didn't really go crazy with it.
If they would have had another eighteen and a sixteen
or something, I'd be a little more worried because the
Knicks aren't the okay, se on defense, you know, but
(31:32):
another thing that kind of came out of it. Haliburton
just in two games, you know, nothing crazy. He didn't
really play all that well. He had like his lowest
usage I think of the season. Lou Dorton company really
made him get off the ball pretty quick, exactly what
they did to Aunt. But like I said, Chet didn't
(31:53):
play and you know they're the turnovers are key and
then pace you know, we talked about this before we
hit record and you know pace wise even on made baskets.
How far like right, when the person with the ball,
which it doesn't have to be Haliburton, right, many guys
(32:15):
can bring the ball up for them. Will they meet
him at half court? Will they make you know, forced
Haliburton to get rid of the ball like they did
with Aunt. But turnovers, But then again, if you like
to play fast and you have this pace, like okay,
so he's like cool, man, let's have pace, then let's
(32:36):
do this. This is what this is what we like
to do too. You know, they cause turnovers. Indiana does too,
and both of them cash in because it seems like
multiple guys on okay, see can cash in off of
a steal and then you know, all you gotta do
is throw the ball deep to Siakam who's like a
tight end, and he gets the easy buckets off of it.
(32:59):
In that series the whole, So, you know, obviously a
clear favorite in this one, one of the largest favorites.
I think it's it goes back to Detroit beating a
Lakers squad that had like the old dudes, you know,
Peyton and Malone and all that. I think that would
be the big I think that was a plus four
(33:20):
fifty or plus five hundred, which was a little crazy
at the time. But you know, people just it's a Lakers,
They're gonna win again, you know, that type of thing.
But what are your thoughts, you know, kind of heading
into this matchup, because it seems like a fairly uphill climb,
you know, for Indy to be able to even push
(33:43):
this thing to six or seven.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
I agree.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
I think you obviously make a fair and valid point
about how the season series went and the turnovers weren't
that bad. But now you have time to prep. Like
obviously he played the Pacers today, give a ship, but
like that, do that that could have been a back
that could have been a back to back doubleheader. Maybe
the team went out partying the night at the club
the night before, maybe getting late, like who who in
(34:09):
the f No is what those matchups were on the
calendar for when they played. Now, Okay, so he's like, dude,
we want to get a ring. So and I think
I'm thinking, like, because what would they do versus ant
at the Edwards and he is again a terrific I
think he's gotta a little more mature, but he's a
terrific basketball player, and they really made him struggle a lot.
(34:34):
They did, and they made Randall work really hard after
those first couple of games.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
So like if but now now they have time.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
So Hallibert did like, he's obviously not do a little
different player than a but he's not nearly as explosive
and might have the quickest first step in the league.
Speaker 2 (34:50):
So if you can't contain Anthony Edwards or make him.
Speaker 4 (34:53):
Pass the ball because you're really good at double teaming,
you know what is the Pacers back? Because the Pacers
are not quite as uh as deep of a team,
and I don't think they shoot the three balls quite
as well as Minnesota. So and I realized I'm just
making a like a to B two c here, but
with with how they play defense, like what are you
gonna do to like find a way to contend? Because
(35:17):
but the first thing I wanted, the the one bet
I'll probably make for the series Chris is gonna be
is that I bet the series goes two to one. Okay, see,
because they've shown that every round is okay, defend their
home court game. Yeah, in game three, they take them
front the gas like they did with the Wolves, like
they did with.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
Memphis, and again they would lost John as a Buss's wrists.
Speaker 4 (35:39):
So I think, okay, see, he's gonna come out hot
and Pacers will obviously Okay, see, it takes the front
the gas, pat the home court. So I think that's
my initial lead. But yeah, I think with the time
to fill the prep, they're that defense is nasty. Man
Like Jokic is a special dude to take a beat
up team that he had as far as they did,
(36:00):
but like that dude's different. But they would have a Jokics, right,
They have Hallibers, they have heard, they have Siakam, they
have you know. But it's like I I really think, okay, okay, see,
his defense is gonna clamp down and make their life miserable.
Speaker 1 (36:15):
Yeah, it does. It does feel that way, you saw,
like I said, shades of it at times. There's an
interesting status on Twitter from Evans Sidery. The Pacers are
twelve and oh in the playoffs this season when they
scored one hundred and ten at least one hundred and ten.
When they've scored less than one hundred and ten, they're
(36:35):
oh of four. So you know, scoring one hundred and
ten's obviously not an easy task against, okay see. Heading
into it, they're both averaging right around one seventeen okay
see rebounding a little bit more. Assists per game is
twenty eight to twenty five in favorite Indy both uh.
(36:58):
And then you look at one o six three three
points allowed, one oh six point three okay see in
one thirteen point three. So, like I said, Pascal is
their leading score. Halliburton like at nine point eight assist.
So and you know through the conference finals, thirty one
(37:20):
point four was SGA. But also so if you look
at the conference finals, it goes thirty one point four SGA.
You have brunts of at thirty set thirty point seven,
Town's at twenty four point eight Siakam at twenty four
point eight, so basically twenty five. That's why I didn't
(37:41):
think it was a big deal that he won the
you know, first of all, playing two ways, Edwards was
twenty three. To your point, they did contain him, But
then here's the kicker, and Haliburton was twenty one, but
the kicker Williams was twenty two point two and home
Groom was eighteen, and those are the guys that you're
looking at. Random was seventeen when we went into the
(38:04):
thing like, you know, can those guys get over the
hump and can they help SGA? And they definitely did.
They definitely did. Now transition points and pace tells you
it is going to be an up and down type
of type of series, and things like like Chet versus Siakam,
(38:31):
or would they put them on Turner? You know, more
likely if they're both out there and Chet has when
they have two bigs. Okay, see, I would say that
he'd be on Siakam and probably keep them in the
paint more because that's the thing about Cover and Turner.
Then you're not in the paint as much, and you
clearly want them in the paint, especially you know when
(38:51):
he's the only big which there's plenty of times doing that.
I would give Indie. I don't think this is controversial.
I'd give in Indianapol or Indiana the the coaching advantage.
You know, yes, I think that's fair. I do want
to see that with Halliburton and Turner, the pick and
roll and the pick and pop. I think that'll be key.
(39:14):
And then speaking of Halliburton, will okayse see you know
hunt Halliburton, like Boston did last year in the Conference finals,
they've done a pretty good job of hiding him. Indiana
as a whole is a better at defense. This year
they made a sizeable jump compared to last year because
(39:34):
last year it was bad, you know, like it just
looked like shit. So they haven't made a jump. And
then beyond themhard you know, s g a like I
think you gotta do it kind of like Game three
where you have someone on him, your best defender, but
you also bring that second guy over there and hope
(39:56):
that he can scramble back to his guy. But you
have to you can't just give him the mid range.
If you give him the mid range, that's gonna be
a problem. And then we're gonna find out how good
Indy is at zone defense because the timber Rowls weren't
good at a game winning game two because they're just
not that great at it. Yeah, but that all goes
back to how Denver did it, and Denver kind of
(40:19):
had to do that with their team, you know, because
they're not a great defensive team, but it looked out
for that. So a couple of questions there, and I'm
kind of wondering how that plays out. But what are
some of the keys you think, just in general beyond
what we're you know, kind of the surface stuff.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
I So one thing we talked about for the show.
Speaker 4 (40:46):
I'm really surprised and this dude don't get like a
lot of hype because he really doesn't eat so much,
but that hearts and stide, like he kind of reminds
me of like of Andrew Bogan because like people said,
Bogo's like, well the dirtiest savvage players they but never
got a foul trouble.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
I'm not saying that hearts and sides up to that level,
but like, okay, see doesn't give up like easy layups
like that dude's bill truck. He doesn't have to do shit.
He'll he'll get his couple of dunks.
Speaker 4 (41:13):
But whenever you see, like whenever one dribbles, if someone
dribbles the ball and the paint, like when the Wolves did,
like dude, they're on you, and that dude does get
shoved around like Rudy had a couple of like dunks
as he's tall. But like a lot of times like
Rudy or Randall, like drove it to the lane. Dude,
arms are up, they're bumping you, but they never get
called for the fouls. As you said, that's kind of
(41:34):
the style they played. A ref can't call the foul
all the time. But I'm really just impressed with how
they cover the paint. I know that Miles Turner is
more of like a Spot of Shooter guy, but like Turner,
you know, if he goes away legit bigs.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
You know that they don't have to play both of
them at one time either. That's where they're really good,
you know.
Speaker 4 (41:54):
Yeah, so I'm just curious to see, you know, like
Pacers gonna have to really live and die by the
three because they would have a guy like a Rando
or a Cat or a like dude like okay, see
owns the paint.
Speaker 2 (42:05):
And when they owe the paint. That's hard to do.
So if you're if your Knights a little bit off
of the three point line shit like you know, because.
Speaker 1 (42:13):
See that corner three they almost give it up.
Speaker 2 (42:16):
Yeah yeah no.
Speaker 4 (42:18):
And so if guys like you know, Yokich and Anthony
Edwards can't drive and lane and kill you, what makes
you think someone in the pacer gonna be able to?
Speaker 1 (42:25):
You know?
Speaker 4 (42:26):
So, uh, they just play scrabby defense. Caruso scrappy. He
probably gets with more than he should, but just team
defensive wise, it's like damn, you know, they make you
earn it. Uh, at least if they want to run. Uh,
they they surprise their their role players are like these,
like I think collectively like the Minnesota probably had a
(42:46):
more talented bunch for like one to eight. But like
those role players that they need to or hit a
lot of big shots, like they're not really household names
like Nasred is a really popular guy. People love the dude,
like so Devin Chenzel, Like they're a little more well known,
but something is like lesser known. Dude's okayc Like when
Gillott was SGA passing the ball, they hit their threes
and obviously they're gonna get a lot open looks Chris,
(43:08):
because like you said, you're gonna have to double team
SG and little Bitter he's gonna owe you, you know.
Speaker 1 (43:12):
Yea.
Speaker 2 (43:12):
So their role players are working their way up and
also but they're also a damn young team. So that's
that's unfortunate part. So I do Now, obviously Pacers aren't
scared they're ever gonna quit. You know, I could see
maybe one of those comebacks coming this in this series.
Speaker 4 (43:28):
But I really think that, uh, with the way they
play defense, pacers have their hands full and they get
okay the city. Besides their Game three where they like
to kind of maybe take the front off the gas
a little bit, uh man I, I guess.
Speaker 2 (43:44):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (43:45):
Normally we like to do the the give and take
of like, uh, check a boxer who has the advantages
here and there. Besides the Pacers have the coaching advantage.
I can't give the advantage to the Pacers on offense
or defense or like the bench Like maybe I'm missing
something like if you had to check a box like offensively, I.
Speaker 1 (44:06):
Think it's it's closer than it is defensively, Yeah, you.
Speaker 2 (44:10):
Know, defensively it's a big check to the to the left.
Speaker 1 (44:14):
Yes, it's a gap for the bitch, like.
Speaker 4 (44:19):
You know, the I think you'd have to give it
to Okay, see just because they've they got a better
win last record there, I think their bitch maybe more
of a unity team, you know, Pacers, we we really
haven't been talking about their uh and Turner and Halbert.
I know they obviously have a bitch, but I think
you probably to check the box with the Okay see
beatch too.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
Yeah that McConnell is that McConnell.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
But yeah, yeah he needs to.
Speaker 1 (44:45):
Play better because he wasn't that effective this last series.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
True. Oh yeah, yeah, he's got to step up for sure.
Speaker 1 (44:52):
So check this out. This is from Hardwood or HP Basketball.
Indiana has the second best five man lineup in the
playoffs by net rating. It has to be at least
fifty minutes together. They have the second best. Right, OKC
has the second, third, fourth, seventh, eighth, and tenth best
(45:13):
three man lineup in the playoffs minimum fifty minutes played.
Speaker 2 (45:18):
Jesus.
Speaker 1 (45:19):
Now, what's crazy is even though they didn't play a
lot together, Minnesota had the number one, but it wasn't
their starting lineup. As they're small. It was Randall, Reid, Dante,
at and McDaniels. But you're also going against not starters,
so you know it's it's not the same sure. Speaking
(45:41):
of bench that Mathron the last couple of games he
had in two games stretched in thirty seven minutes, he
had forty three points. He because he was playing like shit. Yeah,
but he started coming on. So that's something to look at.
If you look at Turner, only five centers in the
NBA history have made seventy five playoffs or at least
(46:03):
seventy five playoff threes, and two of them were in
the last series. Cat in the Turner. So Turner's gonna
have to definitely knock that down.
Speaker 4 (46:11):
Yeah, he's got to show up big time, yup, and
then you know, nemhard.
Speaker 1 (46:17):
The last three games, uh, the Pacers were were outscored
by fifteen points per one, almost sixteen points per one
under possession when he's on the court. So he's got
to turn that shit around.
Speaker 4 (46:30):
Well, and you know, you know who SGA drops fouls,
but then he wanted Statistically that pisses off a lot
of people. But if he gets if he gets it
hard and foul trouble.
Speaker 1 (46:39):
Are two fowls go a bench? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (46:42):
What what?
Speaker 4 (46:43):
What is the Pacers backup playing for what? Nim hard
hat gets a foul trouble? They big, You're really big.
You're probably trend for water.
Speaker 1 (46:51):
Yeah. And over the last two years, the Pacers are
thirteen to three in the playoffs when Tyrese Haliburton attempt
at least fifteen shots when he's when he shoots less
than ten, they're one in six. So it tells you,
you know, he's gotta he's gotta make sure you know
(47:12):
the timing of everything. Like we said, when to take
over when your team needs you, when you know, when
you don't have to force it. That'll be something to
keep an eye on. So far, Chet who was kind
of a let's see how he does because he's young
and didn't play all that great in the playoffs last year,
he averaged sixteen point four points, eight eight point six
(47:35):
rebounds in two blocks. And it's under thirty minutes per
game too, So that's something to say. I did put
for MVP. I got a plus ninety ten on Halliburton.
Didn't have to put much money on that. And let's
see here. So so Shay has over the last three
(47:58):
season thirty points playoff games. Shay has seventeen, Brunson has
twenty one, Tatum has nineteen, Jokic has eighteen. Shay who
didn't go as far two years or three years ago,
he got knocked out of the first round. So that's
just really these last two years, which is pretty impressive.
But you know, he is kind of the main score Now,
(48:19):
I will say this Brunson in Towns. Their top two
scorers did go off in the series. Now, they didn't win,
but there was a stat that popped up the first
teammates since Kobe Shack twenty twenty two to each average
twenty points in the first five games of the Eastern
(48:40):
of the conference final. Something to look at. Yeah, and
then I think I already said the biggest odds since
two thousand and four Pistons win the transition. Oh, we're
talking about the corner threes, right, because that's what they
Og and Michale Bridges combined for twelve to fifty from
(49:02):
the left corner in the playoffs. And so they didn't
do good in that series either. Obviously, you know, not
that they're like OG's not the guy you want taking them,
but sometimes you don't have a choice. They just give
it to you and you gotta take it. Sure, And
that was a problem all the way till somewhere in
(49:24):
game three for the Wolves too. You know, yeah, they
just they just fucking can't knock it down. So let's
see here, so I see, okay, so here's some here's
some bets.
Speaker 2 (49:43):
Right.
Speaker 1 (49:43):
Oh, here's a cool little thing. Final starters by draft position. Okay, okay,
See has a second pick eleven twelve, forty third and undrafted.
Indiana has eleventh, twelve, fourteen, twenty seventh to thirty first.
Oh okay, so you know, not a lot of stars,
but it's like, hey, they turned out to be they
(50:05):
drafted well obviously, so well, i'll get to the odds
after we do the prediction. I mean it obviously, I
think both of us are gonna pick. Ohs k see,
it's just a matter of, like, you know, the matter
by what. Well, here's some of my bookie, So, okay,
(50:26):
see four to one is plus two forty eight. Okay,
see four to two is plus four fifty a sweep
of okay, see, just straight up sweep, which I don't
think either of us think that'll happen plus two sixty Oklahoma,
which is like huh Okay, Oklahoma City. Uh for three
(50:50):
plus five hundred. So if you had to make a
prop bet, would you go forour to one plus twenty
four or plus two forty eight, four to two plus
four fifty or plus five hundred four to three, or
just take that sweep at plus two sixty.
Speaker 4 (51:10):
I really I'm gonna go gentlemen sweep. I'll take the
plus two forty eight. I do think that Pacers would
Game three and the Okay Sea bounce back Game four.
So if I if I had to bet, I would
bet four to one first, four to two second before
I do either seven or a true sweep.
Speaker 1 (51:30):
Yeah, I think a gentleman, you know, I was thinking
about betting on four to one and four to two.
Speaker 7 (51:36):
Yeah, I'm with you. Yeah, no, just bet them both.
And that's probably well that I haven't done it yet.
Like I said, the only bet I have is Haliburton,
just because I think, you know, they'd be a miracle
and plus it's nine fucking tens. I mean, yeah, true,
you know, so I am gonna go gentlemen's sweep.
Speaker 1 (51:56):
I wouldn't be shocked at games you know, going to
game six, in wonder if it does. Though, you know,
let's say we get the next time we do a show,
all of a sudden game six, you start to go, dude,
game six is an indie.
Speaker 2 (52:12):
Dude, hold on, hold on, you start to get all.
Speaker 1 (52:15):
Excited about it. I mean, obviously we don't know until
we get there, right, but it does kind of because
because maybe they got lucky in their only win or something,
you know, like someone had a bunch of foul problems
or something. Yeah, whatever, So yeah, I wonder that that
(52:37):
that is kind of interesting how that all plays out.
But I think I'm hoping for a six or seven
game series because I really think that that's the only
way this thing is going to draw attention. In fact,
I remember the the Spurs Pistons, right, A lot of
people didn't like the Pistons because oh they're too dirty
(52:58):
and all that, and I don't like Rashia and all
that shit, right, yeah, in their style of play, and
then a lot of people didn't A lot of people
got bored by the Spurs, right just defense, you know,
slow offense, you know, just break you down. Right. Yeah,
I like both of them, but you know, a lot
of people didn't in that series. It was like, I
(53:18):
think the Spurs got up Tuesday, then Detroit got won
the next two games, so it's two two. But all
four of the games were like no drama at all.
So they're like, see, dude, this is But then five, six,
and then all of a sudden, from five through seven,
everyone's like, oh shit, this is a good series and
you know all that stuff. So I wonder how that's
(53:39):
gonna play.
Speaker 8 (53:40):
So so Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, Monday, so Sunday game two.
Speaker 1 (53:53):
I mean, I guess we could do one on Monday.
But and you're gonna be coming in on Thursday the twelve,
right or no, you're gonna be coming in earlier than that,
but you're gonna be in the cities by that time.
Speaker 2 (54:05):
Yeah, yes, I'll be in the city.
Speaker 1 (54:07):
Yeah, okay, So we'll figure it out. If it's let's
put it this way, if it's one one, we're gonna
do a show on Monday, you know what I mean,
Because if it's one one, it's like, oh shit, hold on,
you know, like yes, series now, you know. But yeah,
(54:28):
we'll just kind of play it by ear like we do,
just kind of letting the audience know that whether we
let it go to game three or game four, or
like I said, if it's one one all of a sudden,
it gives you a different viewpoint of the series. So
we'll just kind of play it by ear and just
you know, keep in touch with the audience so they
(54:49):
know when the next show is.
Speaker 4 (54:51):
Get on that note, Hey, college football, it's August thirtieth,
Like day one, there's like four incredible games. So we
will take a break after our DA season is over.
But college football Week one, there's some good stuff and
that ain't that far away, man, So the boys are out.
Have good night, stay safety, were outside, Joyce and Golf
have good night.
Speaker 2 (55:11):
Piece
NBA basketball fans, Welcome, Oops, welcome back to the NBA
Playoff Banter Podcast. He's Marshall, I'm Chris, and we're here
to talk about the NBA Finals. We'll do a little
quick recap. Of course, we did have you know, one
of the series at least go game six, even though
(00:24):
you know, come fourth quarter it pretty much was out
of reach. So we'll talk a little bit about that,
and just both Okac and Indie how you know, how
their paths came. Just in general, it is kind of
funny how Paul George Playoff aka Playoff p is involved
in all this as far as trades and whatnot. We'll
(00:48):
look at the regular season a little bit, but as
we know, you know, that really doesn't add up. Oops.
Gotta keep hitting that to too much anyway. So yeah,
then we'll preview our per usual preview and predict. Yeah,
this thing keeps coming unplugged. You know, we'll previewing, predicted,
(01:08):
and then you know, we'll kind of play it by ear.
When the next time we'll be back to do the show,
maybe it'll be Monday. Maybe not though, just because that'll
be only two games done. So we'll kind of we'll
play it by ear like we normally do. But if
this is your first time listening to the NBA Playoff
Banter podcast, welcome, It's stream got this thing. I don't
(01:33):
know what is going on anyway. It's streams under Ropeodope
Radio podcast, which can be found on Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio, Spotify,
Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spricker, and more. While you're at it,
head on over to the Gruelingtruth dot Com and Sports
News twenty four One more thing from direct TV streams.
(01:54):
Start streaming DirecTV for only fifty nine ninety nine for
the first month. Whether you're streaming on the goat with
your smartphone or watching with your smart TV, direct TV
gives you the access to the entertainment you want, when
you want it, wherever you want it. They have that
five day free trial. The entertainment package starts at eighty
(02:16):
four to ninety nine a month that locks you in
for two straight years. That choice package that I just
mentioned fifty nine ninety nine for the first month, that
includes FanDuel on the SEC network and the ultimate is
eighty nine ninety nine and that includes over one hundred
and sixty channels. That's direct TV stream Okay, I'm gonna
(02:36):
go ahead and bring in my co host Marshall. What's
going on, Marshall? How the hell are you? And we
finally got here to the finals. Luckily we had a
you know, some sort of drama at least go on
in the other series, unlike the OKC Minnesota unfortunately. But
first and foremost, how you're doing, and then we'll start
(02:59):
to kind of wrap up somewhat quickly anyway that the
OKC close out, which really was closed out game four,
you know, in a sense.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Yeah, I'm a I'm doing pretty good.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Brother.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
I hope you're you're doing good backup in Minnesota. I'll
be there in a couple of weeks. That should be
fun to get together. Uh, and hey, yeah we have
the so I will say this. I was talking to
the fiance and the cars. She's like, I kind of
like that.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
It's like not regular teams.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
So yeah, and obviously I'm sure like the ESPN and
like the news, like the market, people always want like
Lebron or Curry or you know, the top not seams
like the Celtics. But like, just from like a true
basketball standpoint, it is kind of fun just to have someone different,
Like I don't think at the start of the year,
maybe people thought the Pacers would have made the finals,
you know, like, I mean, they're a good team, They're
(03:47):
not a joke. But if you'd ask everyone to pick
their finals predictions, okay see could have been a pick.
But the Pacers, like no, and okay see, might be
a team that's gonna be there for a handful of
the next upcoming years, but this their first year or
this cruise. So it is kind of cool to have
just like new blood because we had a stretch there
where it was either going to be Lebron or Curry,
(04:08):
and I was a guarantee. Now I enjoyed it being
a Curry fan, but you know, there is something to
be said for hey, different teams, someone new's going with
this year and maybe, I mean, we could get a
repeat next year.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
You never know.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
But it's just kind of fun to see just a
different blood in the finals. And it maybe won't be
the best range of the small markets, but I think
just for a sport fantom standpoint, it's kind of.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Nice to have something different.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
I guess you could say, yeah, and I you know,
on paper it's not the best matchup, I guessed, but
you never really know, so you actually get on the court.
But you know, for all the the major market big
market conspiracy theories that go on in the NBA, they
sure do a shitty job and getting those big markets
in the fucking finals. You know, if you think about
(04:51):
it lately, it's kind of funny how that it's like, well,
these are pretty small markets here, so why would are
you sure? It's because why wouldn't they Why wouldn't the
Knicks been in the finals? Then? You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah,
so yeah, it's just it's just kind of funny how
people always go with that. Of course you're gonna want something,
(05:14):
but but yeah, it is kind of cool, you know,
seven straight years now with the new champ. Oh and
these are first time champs. Whoever wins this one is
gonna be a first time champ, So I think, yeah,
part of it's really cool too, and on the surface.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
And Michael Jordan, Kevi, Regie Miller forgetting a couple.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Yeah definitely, I mean more than Reggie, you know what
I mean?
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
There's a long line of them actually, you know, going
back to that sometimes I look back and just because
remember during COVID we would do shows on Classic College
Basketball and all that, and then you know, the Jordan
documentary came out at a time where people really needed
some form of sport, at least sports fans needed it,
(06:07):
and it was a big thing because remember we would
do weekly things on it, and we watched two episodes,
do a show, watch two episodes, do a show. And
I always think back to the the Houston Rockets in
that time. Man, I remember doing a breakdown segment of that,
and god, it always wanted to see that matchup, but
it just never quite happened back in the nineties.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
But anyway, yeah, yeah, you know, really Game four first
of all, the only competitive fourth quarter game we got
in the whole series.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Great game, though, high level game, and that was the
game that Timwolves needed to have a chance in the series. Obviously,
even up you kick their ass and then you and
then you beat them in a tight game go back
home too too. You never know exactly what's gonna happen.
Even if that Game five played out where it was
(07:02):
twenty seven to six or whatever right away, you'd still
have to go Game six, so you never really know
what happened at that point. But it really came down
to them being the better team, the deeper team, the
just all around better finisher. But yeah, it really came
(07:23):
down to that game four man, which was one of
the better games in general, phenomenal game, but my Timberwolves
came up short. So there wasn't really much drama to
speak of on the OKC Minnesota side of things.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Yeah, you know, I was that was just a really
you said, just a really good competitive basketball game. I
think that that did show that when Minnesota plays in
our a game, they're on par with them. But also
I just think it is kind of like a tip
of the cap to OKC. Obviously not I'm not a
die here Wolves fans you, so you obviously a little
(08:01):
different perspective, and I feel for you, But like that,
like that's a game where like normally the road team
doesn't win. Like I'm not saying that was Minnesota's best
effort forever, but that was like a really good home game,
and normally, if you get those types of efforts in
an NBA home playoff game, the home team wins. So
I hate saying it because I want you and all
(08:22):
my bikes to see the Wolves win, But it's like, damn,
like this OKC team mate and I think maybe part
of it simply is the fact that they're from a
Oklahoma city, because if you look at the year they've
had just from a win loss record perspective, like it's
really not far off of the Golden State Durant year
just from wins and losses. So if this was a
(08:43):
team that was located in Atlanta or New York or LA,
I think there'd be more media just attention and love.
Not I'm not saying the media makes thinks of them
in a joke, but like, I do think we kind
of slipped them in a little bit this year, christ
just because it is a smaller market team and SGA
is a one oz guy without like a now Courier
(09:04):
broad So in roundabout way, I just think that I've
probably something a little bit. Myself was like, yeah, their
record was that freaking good. They beat however, me Pet
by almost like ten points the game of the whole year.
I just think that that game kind of showed him like, damn,
like that's a game that the Wolves price. If they
play lu one else lead, they win that game four.
It's two to two. So I don't know, just to
wrap it up that that was an incredible before of us. Unfortunately,
(09:26):
I wish I had gotten that way, but that was
just something or the teams don't do.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Yeah, I mean their point differential, their record this year.
Technically they were back to back first seeds now you
know in the West. Yeah, and maybe that was that
they were a first scene and got beat the year before,
and they were a young team, and you did have
questions in the playoffs in a sense, you know, because
(09:52):
you needed to see the other guys around him step up.
And then coming out that game seven, you thought, I
don't know, maybe you know, yeah, your seven games, you know,
and so whereas it seemed like maybe, okay, see, you
could say played down a little bit in that series, maybe,
(10:12):
but I think Denver definitely played up compared to the
last twenty thirty games of the season. You know. Yes, yeah,
styles make fights, matchups and all that. So that had
to do with it obviously too, because for sure, you know,
the Timberwves match up much better with that team. So
I just think it's uh. I do have to say
(10:33):
as a Timbrelf fan, though, I do feel further away
from them, okay see than I did Dallas last year
because if you look at the first three games, they
were all winnable. They were all right there on the table,
and it was the side of the Timberwolves that wasn't executing,
(10:53):
whereas this it's only that one. Yeah, we kicked their ass,
but you can make an argument that that actually like
pissed them off and embarrassed them, and they came back
and won a game four. You know, maybe if you
only beat them by sixteen or something, they don't have
that same fuck you dude, what the fuck was that
forty two points?
Speaker 5 (11:11):
Then they tried to put out that that stat about
no team is one of finals if you lost by
forty two in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
But you and I know both that there's been a
thirty seven and thirty nine, So you're like, dude, that's
a couple of points away. That's a yeah, that looks
good on Twitter. Yeah, Like shit, dude, that probably means
you're not gonna win it. You know, it's like, well,
not necessarily yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But overall, they really
put it all together, and it's something they've been building
(11:45):
the last few years. Obviously, they were patient. They struck
it when it was hot. We'll see if they keep
it together. Of late, they weren't paying a bunch of
tax because they had you know, young players, but they
did pay the tax a trunk of years ago, like
a lot of it. So, yeah, be able to keep
this team, and I don't see why that owner, you know,
(12:09):
wouldn't do it now. On the indie New York side
going into it, you know, we're thinking about the nineties
and the six out of like eight or nine years
that they met and it was tied three to three,
and that in the nineties, I think one of them
snuck into the two thousands. But you know, we had
such a drama way to start game, won the series
(12:31):
in general, and and then you kind of felt like, ah,
it's too zip now, you know, that's pretty this is
this isn't gonna go far. And credits to the Knicks man.
They they had their own crazy comeback and you know,
ended up winning Game three and then and then they
really played a great Game five. In fact, they kept
him under one hundred, kept any and one hundred. And
(12:54):
we were talking about how first time since like February
fourth or February second, that the Pacers had put up
one hundred points and that's you know, we saw the
Knicks much like we were just talking about Denver get
better on defense, you know, in the playoffs. But still,
you know it's not They're not a juggernaut obviously defensively.
So that that was It was still a really interesting
(13:18):
series with you know, multiple games that were right there,
probably three, three or four, probably four out of six
were could have been either either side win the game.
So it was a fun series. It was entertaining, what
you think, overall, Like I said, at least, you know,
(13:39):
we talked about it last time, where this is the
first time we actually got past three to h H
in a conference final on either side in a couple
of years. So it was finally nice to get the
game six because most of them have been Game five
or Game four.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
You know, I do think so to flip the script on,
I think that people kind of slightly over underlooked, okay,
c I do think there was kind of just an
ESPN hoping that, hey, dude, let's put the Knicks in
the finals. You know, like big Market, it's been a
min since they've been good. Like they they beat they
you know, they beat the celt like, you know, let's go.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Nixt you know.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
But yeah, but okay, like but Indiana. They just didn't
give a shit, Like there's something be said for that team.
It'd be kind of fun if they did like a
one year documentary, just because not many teams can consistently
win games. Were down by so much. It's kind of
like they're like the cardiac kids. But that's certainly more
of like a college football college basketball.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
They lateral.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
They don't have this NBA team who just like never quits,
never quit. It's like that's not really an NBA thing.
Now you can say, why the hell are the team's
ball leads, which I don't know, but they're just a
fun team. And I didn't look at who all the
ESPN people picked for that series, but I'm sure it
was obviously Vegas favorite Knicks.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
I'm sure a lot of people picked the Knicks. I'm
sure something did pay as well.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
But I think it's just a kind of a series
where like Indiana, people are sleeping on maybe just a
little bit because it's in New York City and they
got home court. But then you have the crazy Game one,
but then they don't take them off the gas for
Game two. That that's the big one, like Game one,
helibertson due they got some ballers, but for New York not.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
An emotional thing. That happened too, you know, easily just
to be like, hey, dude, our job is done. Let's
get to game three one and one.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
You know, yes, And we saw that happen a couple
of times here, not as much this year, but well
actually not a lot, but in a regular Chris, if
you would Game one on the road, dude, take for
off the gas for game two, go home split. We're
happy that we actually had a lot of two o's
this year, which is weird but normally, yeah, hey, you
had an emotional win. Halibertson had the premature choke celebration.
(15:48):
They still won the game. And then but then the
win game two, it's like, dude, like these boys ain't playing,
so then you have that d in your head of
like this next thing win front of five No, so
uh Krant's and Haliburton credits Kretsur it is, you know,
said a couple of times and we've said it too.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
They are a selfless team.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Like when you watch them move the ball, it's kind
of beautiful because yes, Haliburton is a stud, but he's not.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
You can watch it.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
It doesn't have to touch his hands every time, Like
they're kind of fun just to watch because the ball
moves around, they play fast, they play at temple and
they just never stopped. And that's part of the reason
why they do win. Like they they probably never feel
their out of the games because hey, was gonna have
a night. Turs get hit a couple of shots like
the the the dude from Vandy Naysmith who helped him
(16:40):
win Game one when he just went duicular like he
did his version of Stephen Curry, which probably cry.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Weird last second shot without five threes and like how long?
Not long, you know, But I do.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Feel if you you go through like the last two
teams he had left, like you know, Denver goes, as
Jokic goes, Timberleves go kind of is like Aunt goes
like sgakad of controls. Okay, see you can say that
about Pacers, but not really like they kind of they're
just a team now who's maybe are one more round
to go? But I think it's just a little bit
different because so many times in the NBA it's like, well,
(17:15):
you got your one star and everywhere else kind of
feeds off. I know, hell Bird's the guy, but they
just they passed the ball I think better than I've
used to seeing in basketball. I'm sure statistically you might
be able to rip part what I'm saying, but they
share the ball really well, more so than other teams
I've used to watching.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
And he's closer to more of a true point guard
than he is a scoring slash. I'm gonna get some assists.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Good call, Yes, yeah, yeah, he will.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Get those assist And like you said, he gets off though,
especially with any any sense of a double, he gets
off really quick. But something that he's gotten better at though,
is hey, it's my time now, Gotta take everybody off
the dribble because I can you know what I mean.
(18:04):
All yeah, we know that, but yeah, I think just
finding that that timeframe of of when to go and
when not to Yeah, you know, that's that's that's tough.
And like I said, most of it's combo guards, most
of its playmakers, uh scores slash playmakers, it's not true
(18:24):
point guard. So and we went over it, you know,
first second round a couple of times, saying, you know,
from like eight or nine points, how they had all
those dudes that were in the teams, you know, and
Siakam actually did did lead them in scoring so far
in the playoffs, so Halliburton doesn't have to be the
(18:46):
number one score all the time. Yeah. And speaking of
when you said documentary, right, sure, do you remember last
year the Netflix documentary where they chose like four or
five players and they went through the whole thing and
then they played in the fall. This year it was
with Aunt It was Lebraun Tatum and I can't remember. Okay,
(19:13):
Well anyway, that was Netflix. Yeah, that was last year.
So they followed all those players and then in the
fall they showed what had happened throughout that year. Right, Well,
I don't know if it's four players like last time
or what, but what I do know is Sga and
hal Burton are in this one.
Speaker 6 (19:34):
Oh okay, so it's exactly pretty close anyway, not exactly
pretty close to So we're going to see this journey
get to the finals this year, you know, and people involved,
we're going to play each other.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
You know, because Tatum got to the finals obviously and
won it, but to have both in there, so you're
gonna kind of get your wish anyway. Yeah. Yeah, and
then just we've ever kind of caught up every once
in a while on ratings, and you know how this
was a through two rounds, it was a crazy ratings
(20:10):
did really good. The Western Conference Finals. You kind of
knew was gonna be an issue. I did notice though,
in the first round they gave OKAC, even though you
knew they were gonna beat Memphis ass they kept giving
them the prime primer spot rather than putting them on
(20:32):
NBA TV and having the better, more more competitive game.
So the NBA did actually do their due diligence when
it comes to uh showing off the OKC, even though
it pissed some people off because it's like, dude, that
game's a blowout, why would you put that on ESPN
or TNT put that on NBA TV and put the
(20:55):
Clippers in uh Denver on Yeah. Yeah, And I can't
remember the other games, but they did get him the
lead in that, so that was kind of cool. But
so just kind of catching up with the ratings. Game
free was the largest Game three of the Eastern Finals,
was the largest rated on TNT since twenty fifteen, which
(21:17):
was the Hawks Cavaliers. And then Game four was the
largest Eastern Conference Game four since the Celtics Calves, which
is just so happens to be, you know, when the
last conference final Lebron was in, because in twenty nineteen
he dipped out of the conference, so it was basically
(21:41):
the finals itself up until that point had been a
seven year high. So and you know, obviously the some
of the rivalry, some of the New York market of course,
but also the way that Game one started must have
really helped the ratings too, just because they're like, oh shit, dude,
(22:03):
this is this is crazy. So we'll see how Game
five did. I don't know how Game five did. We're
gonna find out how Game six did tomorrow. And usually
the person that I follow that's been in the industry
for a long time for ratings, he they'll post tomorrow.
So at least Indy comes in hot off of a
(22:28):
really fun series and a highly rated one, so we'll
see exactly where that goes. It's kind of funny Game four.
I believe Game four, the highest rated one is Game
four with the the Lakers and Timbrels still of the series,
(22:50):
which you know, you got Lebron and got Ant and
so yeah, all right, so you know, New York. I
gotta say, like I keep hearing people say they gotta
blow it up. They gotta fire to the coach, they
gotta people still, like I think the last two series,
there's times in certain games where you could be very
(23:13):
critical of Cat, but honestly, dude, he averaged almost twenty
five points in this series and had twelve, and they
would have won the game without him. They would have
had a five game series without him, So like in that,
you know, having twenty points in the fourth.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
So I like.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Kat's whistle is horrendous, just because as as a younger player,
he did complain too much. But he gets so many
offensive falls and dumbfouls that I think that goes into
that as well as whistle. But I don't know the
whole blow it up. It goes back to like like
(23:55):
the video game era, where you're like, I don't like
how the season's going, Marshall, gonna turn the fucking game
off and restart everything. It's just so you're gonna fire
TIBs and then you're gonna blow your team up. Now,
if you can get Yannis, hey fucking trade the ship,
that's fine. But other than that, just to trade like
you're obviously still like we did last year, we did
(24:17):
trade Cat on a high. But the odds, Marshall, if
you don't get Yannis, the odds that you're gonna get
a good ass trade for Cat Again. Yeah, it was
a pretty fair trade now that we're a year or
not even a year from it. But you know, for
both sides if you look at it turned out. But like,
(24:40):
I don't know, what are your thoughts on that? Man?
They hadn't made the goddamn conference final since two thousand.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
All right, well, you know.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Under a great contract.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
Oh, I think it's kind of an NBA training thing
because I've been hearing the same thing from the Minneapolis
sport Rado station. We've always listened to Kat and there's
been guys that show that just mentioned about how well
the Wolves gott to look for a big move. You know,
it's like I do get if you're a Wolf from
office person, Hey we lost to Okay, see like okay,
like what can we do to make our team better?
But does like I'm torer man because.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
I think the one matchup in the whole conference.
Speaker 4 (25:23):
You know, it can it can backfire on you, Like
what if the Knicks or the Wolves do make a
big splash or trade, but then next year, what if
you what if you get knocked out first round?
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Like was it worth? Like if you are the Wolves,
for example, just gotta build that team more better than
the Nickson.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
Like I've been hearing the same things, like you made
the Western Conference finals two years ago. Yes, I'm frustrated
out to make some the finals, but your team is
close now you could argue that, Okay, we're still far behind. Okay,
see what do we do now? Does what do we
do mean? We have to make a huge deal? I
don't know if that's necessarily the case, Like what huge
deal are you?
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Jones?
Speaker 1 (26:00):
You know, I could be a great ball handler right there,
Like it may not have to be a big move.
You never know, you know, yeah, yeah, Like there it's there.
I get it. But yeah, like I have.
Speaker 4 (26:12):
To the rumor of like if the Wolves want to
go for Durant, Like I think that'd be an awful decision,
Like you you would kind of have to see well
yeah yeah, but again because if.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Someone's gonna leave and you sign and trade them to
get him, that's different.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
But yeah, I do think it's kind of that you're
you're being the video game GM personal like we got
to blow it up. Well, yeah, if you're the Necks.
You got Brunst, you got cat, you got you got heart,
like you.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Gotta you gotta get squad.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
So like, what is your big splash gonna beat? I'll
get Hell. If I was the MAVs, I would trade
the number one pick. I would say, Cooper Flag. You
see you're gonna Milwaukee.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Boy. I'm freaking you know, because you prove it.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
But yeah, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
So I just I do think.
Speaker 4 (26:58):
That we we become very quick to judge what But hell,
if you look at like just quickly, like if you
look at how uh soccer and hockey like, dude, they
love to fire their coaches so fast, but then they're stupid.
They bring you guys who've are ey been fired before.
It's like they never had any circle like hery, we're
not doing too good. Hell the this basketball. But there
(27:19):
was a thing last two years ago in hockey, the
three coaches who were up for the Coach of the
Year award were out of their jobs the next within
the next two years. So you're telling me the three
best ahl coaches of his team that.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Could have wont coach the year.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
We're no longer with those teams and within two years
after coachmore. Sorry, shit, yeah, you know, so, so I
think and I think hockey and soccer are the worst,
but basketball's baby coming in the NBA.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
NBA is right there with NHL. Yeah, twenty games in
the day. You get fired after twenty games, which is ridiculous,
you know.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
So you know, yeah, so I now, if you make
a big change, could it work, yes, but you have
to make a big splash, not necessarily, No, and don't
force it.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
That's that's it. Don't force it. Because the way people
talk about Cat, it's like he fucking averaged twenty five
and twelve in the like, come on, dude, like what
are we doing? Like I've always been critical in some
spurts with him, no doubt, but at some point you
gotta get over your own bias, like come on, what
(28:30):
are we doing? Just like you know, someone who cheers
for a team has to get over there. Oh no,
my guy's better than Jordan or some shit. You know.
Speaker 7 (28:37):
But yeah, yeah, yeah, so I don't know.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
I mean, like I said, Yiannis is a great example.
And basically, besides Brooklyn, nobody has money, so it has
to be a sign in trade. So when you look
at this free agency from moving on in the in
the coming future, like it's gonna be a bunch of
sign in trades. That's how you're good that free agency
(29:00):
right now, signing trade. So yeah, if someone's gonna give
Randall a bigger contract, then we we feel like we're
gonna give them. Well, then, all, if you brought in Durant,
you know, if you had if you had Rudy Nas
and Durant, Well, now you're saying, so now I can
now I'm looking at it differently. So I just to
(29:22):
blow it up if anything, you know, here's here's my example. Right,
so the the Dallas team doesn't exist anymore. That beat
us last year, it's gone, yeah, right.
Speaker 3 (29:35):
And.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
Wonder if Denver trades trades Porter for two just solid players,
just role players, and they get better depth, and maybe
they can beat them, and then we can beat them.
You know, Wonder if the Knicks go against Indy and
Halliburton fucks up his ankle in game one. You know,
you never fucking know, you know, So I just especially
(30:02):
when you made such as like timberwolfs wise in next
wise you made such a big trade just and you
didn't have any practice time at all, basically because you
made it right at the opening of camp, but it
took a week to just finalize the damn deal. Yeah,
neither of them could practice until you finalized it. So yeah,
it's just it's just kind of weird. But anyway, let's
(30:24):
get to it. It starts Thursday. You know, both these
teams are definitely fun to watch. I think it is
gonna be an entertaining series during the regular season. Okay,
see won this, you know the regular season series two
zip Chet was not in either one of those games.
(30:46):
I was kind of surprised, obviously. The first when you
talk okay, see, the first thing, yeah, I to talk
about is turnovers, you know, because they're gonna turn you over.
And I was kind of surprised that I went back
and looked in at they lost twice. One was close,
one was a blowout, but neither game featured a lot
of turnovers. The highest turnover game in the last series
(31:11):
against the Knicks for Indy was twenty game five, but
other than that, they didn't really go crazy with it.
If they would have had another eighteen and a sixteen
or something, I'd be a little more worried because the
Knicks aren't the okay, se on defense, you know, but
(31:32):
another thing that kind of came out of it. Haliburton
just in two games, you know, nothing crazy. He didn't
really play all that well. He had like his lowest
usage I think of the season. Lou Dorton company really
made him get off the ball pretty quick, exactly what
they did to Aunt. But like I said, Chet didn't
(31:53):
play and you know they're the turnovers are key and
then pace you know, we talked about this before we
hit record and you know pace wise even on made baskets.
How far like right, when the person with the ball,
which it doesn't have to be Haliburton, right, many guys
(32:15):
can bring the ball up for them. Will they meet
him at half court? Will they make you know, forced
Haliburton to get rid of the ball like they did
with Aunt. But turnovers, But then again, if you like
to play fast and you have this pace, like okay,
so he's like cool, man, let's have pace, then let's
(32:36):
do this. This is what this is what we like
to do too. You know, they cause turnovers. Indiana does too,
and both of them cash in because it seems like
multiple guys on okay, see can cash in off of
a steal and then you know, all you gotta do
is throw the ball deep to Siakam who's like a
tight end, and he gets the easy buckets off of it.
(32:59):
In that series the whole, So, you know, obviously a
clear favorite in this one, one of the largest favorites.
I think it's it goes back to Detroit beating a
Lakers squad that had like the old dudes, you know,
Peyton and Malone and all that. I think that would
be the big I think that was a plus four
(33:20):
fifty or plus five hundred, which was a little crazy
at the time. But you know, people just it's a Lakers,
They're gonna win again, you know, that type of thing.
But what are your thoughts, you know, kind of heading
into this matchup, because it seems like a fairly uphill climb,
you know, for Indy to be able to even push
(33:43):
this thing to six or seven.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
I agree.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
I think you obviously make a fair and valid point
about how the season series went and the turnovers weren't
that bad. But now you have time to prep. Like
obviously he played the Pacers today, give a ship, but
like that, do that that could have been a back
that could have been a back to back doubleheader. Maybe
the team went out partying the night at the club
the night before, maybe getting late, like who who in
(34:09):
the f No is what those matchups were on the
calendar for when they played. Now, Okay, so he's like, dude,
we want to get a ring. So and I think
I'm thinking, like, because what would they do versus ant
at the Edwards and he is again a terrific I
think he's gotta a little more mature, but he's a
terrific basketball player, and they really made him struggle a lot.
(34:34):
They did, and they made Randall work really hard after
those first couple of games.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
So like if but now now they have time.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
So Hallibert did like, he's obviously not do a little
different player than a but he's not nearly as explosive
and might have the quickest first step in the league.
Speaker 2 (34:50):
So if you can't contain Anthony Edwards or make him.
Speaker 4 (34:53):
Pass the ball because you're really good at double teaming,
you know what is the Pacers back? Because the Pacers
are not quite as uh as deep of a team,
and I don't think they shoot the three balls quite
as well as Minnesota. So and I realized I'm just
making a like a to B two c here, but
with with how they play defense, like what are you
gonna do to like find a way to contend? Because
(35:17):
but the first thing I wanted, the the one bet
I'll probably make for the series Chris is gonna be
is that I bet the series goes two to one. Okay, see,
because they've shown that every round is okay, defend their
home court game. Yeah, in game three, they take them
front the gas like they did with the Wolves, like
they did with.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
Memphis, and again they would lost John as a Buss's wrists.
Speaker 4 (35:39):
So I think, okay, see, he's gonna come out hot
and Pacers will obviously Okay, see, it takes the front
the gas, pat the home court. So I think that's
my initial lead. But yeah, I think with the time
to fill the prep, they're that defense is nasty. Man
Like Jokic is a special dude to take a beat
up team that he had as far as they did,
(36:00):
but like that dude's different. But they would have a Jokics, right,
They have Hallibers, they have heard, they have Siakam, they
have you know. But it's like I I really think, okay, okay, see,
his defense is gonna clamp down and make their life miserable.
Speaker 1 (36:15):
Yeah, it does. It does feel that way, you saw,
like I said, shades of it at times. There's an
interesting status on Twitter from Evans Sidery. The Pacers are
twelve and oh in the playoffs this season when they
scored one hundred and ten at least one hundred and ten.
When they've scored less than one hundred and ten, they're
(36:35):
oh of four. So you know, scoring one hundred and
ten's obviously not an easy task against, okay see. Heading
into it, they're both averaging right around one seventeen okay
see rebounding a little bit more. Assists per game is
twenty eight to twenty five in favorite Indy both uh.
(36:58):
And then you look at one o six three three
points allowed, one oh six point three okay see in
one thirteen point three. So, like I said, Pascal is
their leading score. Halliburton like at nine point eight assist.
So and you know through the conference finals, thirty one
(37:20):
point four was SGA. But also so if you look
at the conference finals, it goes thirty one point four SGA.
You have brunts of at thirty set thirty point seven,
Town's at twenty four point eight Siakam at twenty four
point eight, so basically twenty five. That's why I didn't
(37:41):
think it was a big deal that he won the
you know, first of all, playing two ways, Edwards was
twenty three. To your point, they did contain him, But
then here's the kicker, and Haliburton was twenty one, but
the kicker Williams was twenty two point two and home
Groom was eighteen, and those are the guys that you're
looking at. Random was seventeen when we went into the
(38:04):
thing like, you know, can those guys get over the
hump and can they help SGA? And they definitely did.
They definitely did. Now transition points and pace tells you
it is going to be an up and down type
of type of series, and things like like Chet versus Siakam,
(38:31):
or would they put them on Turner? You know, more
likely if they're both out there and Chet has when
they have two bigs. Okay, see, I would say that
he'd be on Siakam and probably keep them in the
paint more because that's the thing about Cover and Turner.
Then you're not in the paint as much, and you
clearly want them in the paint, especially you know when
(38:51):
he's the only big which there's plenty of times doing that.
I would give Indie. I don't think this is controversial.
I'd give in Indianapol or Indiana the the coaching advantage.
You know, yes, I think that's fair. I do want
to see that with Halliburton and Turner, the pick and
roll and the pick and pop. I think that'll be key.
(39:14):
And then speaking of Halliburton, will okayse see you know
hunt Halliburton, like Boston did last year in the Conference finals,
they've done a pretty good job of hiding him. Indiana
as a whole is a better at defense. This year
they made a sizeable jump compared to last year because
(39:34):
last year it was bad, you know, like it just
looked like shit. So they haven't made a jump. And
then beyond themhard you know, s g a like I
think you gotta do it kind of like Game three
where you have someone on him, your best defender, but
you also bring that second guy over there and hope
(39:56):
that he can scramble back to his guy. But you
have to you can't just give him the mid range.
If you give him the mid range, that's gonna be
a problem. And then we're gonna find out how good
Indy is at zone defense because the timber Rowls weren't
good at a game winning game two because they're just
not that great at it. Yeah, but that all goes
back to how Denver did it, and Denver kind of
(40:19):
had to do that with their team, you know, because
they're not a great defensive team, but it looked out
for that. So a couple of questions there, and I'm
kind of wondering how that plays out. But what are
some of the keys you think, just in general beyond
what we're you know, kind of the surface stuff.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
I So one thing we talked about for the show.
Speaker 4 (40:46):
I'm really surprised and this dude don't get like a
lot of hype because he really doesn't eat so much,
but that hearts and stide, like he kind of reminds
me of like of Andrew Bogan because like people said,
Bogo's like, well the dirtiest savvage players they but never
got a foul trouble.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
I'm not saying that hearts and sides up to that level,
but like, okay, see doesn't give up like easy layups
like that dude's bill truck. He doesn't have to do shit.
He'll he'll get his couple of dunks.
Speaker 4 (41:13):
But whenever you see, like whenever one dribbles, if someone
dribbles the ball and the paint, like when the Wolves did,
like dude, they're on you, and that dude does get
shoved around like Rudy had a couple of like dunks
as he's tall. But like a lot of times like
Rudy or Randall, like drove it to the lane. Dude,
arms are up, they're bumping you, but they never get
called for the fouls. As you said, that's kind of
(41:34):
the style they played. A ref can't call the foul
all the time. But I'm really just impressed with how
they cover the paint. I know that Miles Turner is
more of like a Spot of Shooter guy, but like Turner,
you know, if he goes away legit bigs.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
You know that they don't have to play both of
them at one time either. That's where they're really good,
you know.
Speaker 4 (41:54):
Yeah, so I'm just curious to see, you know, like
Pacers gonna have to really live and die by the
three because they would have a guy like a Rando
or a Cat or a like dude like okay, see
owns the paint.
Speaker 2 (42:05):
And when they owe the paint. That's hard to do.
So if you're if your Knights a little bit off
of the three point line shit like you know, because.
Speaker 1 (42:13):
See that corner three they almost give it up.
Speaker 2 (42:16):
Yeah yeah no.
Speaker 4 (42:18):
And so if guys like you know, Yokich and Anthony
Edwards can't drive and lane and kill you, what makes
you think someone in the pacer gonna be able to?
Speaker 1 (42:25):
You know?
Speaker 4 (42:26):
So, uh, they just play scrabby defense. Caruso scrappy. He
probably gets with more than he should, but just team
defensive wise, it's like damn, you know, they make you
earn it. Uh, at least if they want to run. Uh,
they they surprise their their role players are like these,
like I think collectively like the Minnesota probably had a
(42:46):
more talented bunch for like one to eight. But like
those role players that they need to or hit a
lot of big shots, like they're not really household names
like Nasred is a really popular guy. People love the dude,
like so Devin Chenzel, Like they're a little more well known,
but something is like lesser known. Dude's okayc Like when
Gillott was SGA passing the ball, they hit their threes
and obviously they're gonna get a lot open looks Chris,
(43:08):
because like you said, you're gonna have to double team
SG and little Bitter he's gonna owe you, you know.
Speaker 1 (43:12):
Yea.
Speaker 2 (43:12):
So their role players are working their way up and
also but they're also a damn young team. So that's
that's unfortunate part. So I do Now, obviously Pacers aren't
scared they're ever gonna quit. You know, I could see
maybe one of those comebacks coming this in this series.
Speaker 4 (43:28):
But I really think that, uh, with the way they
play defense, pacers have their hands full and they get
okay the city. Besides their Game three where they like
to kind of maybe take the front off the gas
a little bit, uh man I, I guess.
Speaker 2 (43:44):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (43:45):
Normally we like to do the the give and take
of like, uh, check a boxer who has the advantages
here and there. Besides the Pacers have the coaching advantage.
I can't give the advantage to the Pacers on offense
or defense or like the bench Like maybe I'm missing
something like if you had to check a box like offensively, I.
Speaker 1 (44:06):
Think it's it's closer than it is defensively, Yeah, you.
Speaker 2 (44:10):
Know, defensively it's a big check to the to the left.
Speaker 1 (44:14):
Yes, it's a gap for the bitch, like.
Speaker 4 (44:19):
You know, the I think you'd have to give it
to Okay, see just because they've they got a better
win last record there, I think their bitch maybe more
of a unity team, you know, Pacers, we we really
haven't been talking about their uh and Turner and Halbert.
I know they obviously have a bitch, but I think
you probably to check the box with the Okay see
beatch too.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
Yeah that McConnell is that McConnell.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
But yeah, yeah he needs to.
Speaker 1 (44:45):
Play better because he wasn't that effective this last series.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
True. Oh yeah, yeah, he's got to step up for sure.
Speaker 1 (44:52):
So check this out. This is from Hardwood or HP Basketball.
Indiana has the second best five man lineup in the
playoffs by net rating. It has to be at least
fifty minutes together. They have the second best. Right, OKC
has the second, third, fourth, seventh, eighth, and tenth best
(45:13):
three man lineup in the playoffs minimum fifty minutes played.
Speaker 2 (45:18):
Jesus.
Speaker 1 (45:19):
Now, what's crazy is even though they didn't play a
lot together, Minnesota had the number one, but it wasn't
their starting lineup. As they're small. It was Randall, Reid, Dante,
at and McDaniels. But you're also going against not starters,
so you know it's it's not the same sure. Speaking
(45:41):
of bench that Mathron the last couple of games he
had in two games stretched in thirty seven minutes, he
had forty three points. He because he was playing like shit. Yeah,
but he started coming on. So that's something to look at.
If you look at Turner, only five centers in the
NBA history have made seventy five playoffs or at least
(46:03):
seventy five playoff threes, and two of them were in
the last series. Cat in the Turner. So Turner's gonna
have to definitely knock that down.
Speaker 4 (46:11):
Yeah, he's got to show up big time, yup, and
then you know, nemhard.
Speaker 1 (46:17):
The last three games, uh, the Pacers were were outscored
by fifteen points per one, almost sixteen points per one
under possession when he's on the court. So he's got
to turn that shit around.
Speaker 4 (46:30):
Well, and you know, you know who SGA drops fouls,
but then he wanted Statistically that pisses off a lot
of people. But if he gets if he gets it
hard and foul trouble.
Speaker 1 (46:39):
Are two fowls go a bench? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (46:42):
What what?
Speaker 4 (46:43):
What is the Pacers backup playing for what? Nim hard
hat gets a foul trouble? They big, You're really big.
You're probably trend for water.
Speaker 1 (46:51):
Yeah. And over the last two years, the Pacers are
thirteen to three in the playoffs when Tyrese Haliburton attempt
at least fifteen shots when he's when he shoots less
than ten, they're one in six. So it tells you,
you know, he's gotta he's gotta make sure you know
(47:12):
the timing of everything. Like we said, when to take
over when your team needs you, when you know, when
you don't have to force it. That'll be something to
keep an eye on. So far, Chet who was kind
of a let's see how he does because he's young
and didn't play all that great in the playoffs last year,
he averaged sixteen point four points, eight eight point six
(47:35):
rebounds in two blocks. And it's under thirty minutes per
game too, So that's something to say. I did put
for MVP. I got a plus ninety ten on Halliburton.
Didn't have to put much money on that. And let's
see here. So so Shay has over the last three
(47:58):
season thirty points playoff games. Shay has seventeen, Brunson has
twenty one, Tatum has nineteen, Jokic has eighteen. Shay who
didn't go as far two years or three years ago,
he got knocked out of the first round. So that's
just really these last two years, which is pretty impressive.
But you know, he is kind of the main score Now,
(48:19):
I will say this Brunson in Towns. Their top two
scorers did go off in the series. Now, they didn't win,
but there was a stat that popped up the first
teammates since Kobe Shack twenty twenty two to each average
twenty points in the first five games of the Eastern
(48:40):
of the conference final. Something to look at. Yeah, and
then I think I already said the biggest odds since
two thousand and four Pistons win the transition. Oh, we're
talking about the corner threes, right, because that's what they
Og and Michale Bridges combined for twelve to fifty from
(49:02):
the left corner in the playoffs. And so they didn't
do good in that series either. Obviously, you know, not
that they're like OG's not the guy you want taking them,
but sometimes you don't have a choice. They just give
it to you and you gotta take it. Sure, And
that was a problem all the way till somewhere in
(49:24):
game three for the Wolves too. You know, yeah, they
just they just fucking can't knock it down. So let's
see here, so I see, okay, so here's some here's
some bets.
Speaker 2 (49:43):
Right.
Speaker 1 (49:43):
Oh, here's a cool little thing. Final starters by draft position. Okay, okay,
See has a second pick eleven twelve, forty third and undrafted.
Indiana has eleventh, twelve, fourteen, twenty seventh to thirty first.
Oh okay, so you know, not a lot of stars,
but it's like, hey, they turned out to be they
(50:05):
drafted well obviously, so well, i'll get to the odds
after we do the prediction. I mean it obviously, I
think both of us are gonna pick. Ohs k see,
it's just a matter of, like, you know, the matter
by what. Well, here's some of my bookie, So, okay,
(50:26):
see four to one is plus two forty eight. Okay,
see four to two is plus four fifty a sweep
of okay, see, just straight up sweep, which I don't
think either of us think that'll happen plus two sixty Oklahoma,
which is like huh Okay, Oklahoma City. Uh for three
(50:50):
plus five hundred. So if you had to make a
prop bet, would you go forour to one plus twenty
four or plus two forty eight, four to two plus
four fifty or plus five hundred four to three, or
just take that sweep at plus two sixty.
Speaker 4 (51:10):
I really I'm gonna go gentlemen sweep. I'll take the
plus two forty eight. I do think that Pacers would
Game three and the Okay Sea bounce back Game four.
So if I if I had to bet, I would
bet four to one first, four to two second before
I do either seven or a true sweep.
Speaker 1 (51:30):
Yeah, I think a gentleman, you know, I was thinking
about betting on four to one and four to two.
Speaker 7 (51:36):
Yeah, I'm with you. Yeah, no, just bet them both.
And that's probably well that I haven't done it yet.
Like I said, the only bet I have is Haliburton,
just because I think, you know, they'd be a miracle
and plus it's nine fucking tens. I mean, yeah, true,
you know, so I am gonna go gentlemen's sweep.
Speaker 1 (51:56):
I wouldn't be shocked at games you know, going to
game six, in wonder if it does. Though, you know,
let's say we get the next time we do a show,
all of a sudden game six, you start to go, dude,
game six is an indie.
Speaker 2 (52:12):
Dude, hold on, hold on, you start to get all.
Speaker 1 (52:15):
Excited about it. I mean, obviously we don't know until
we get there, right, but it does kind of because
because maybe they got lucky in their only win or something,
you know, like someone had a bunch of foul problems
or something. Yeah, whatever, So yeah, I wonder that that
(52:37):
that is kind of interesting how that all plays out.
But I think I'm hoping for a six or seven
game series because I really think that that's the only
way this thing is going to draw attention. In fact,
I remember the the Spurs Pistons, right, A lot of
people didn't like the Pistons because oh they're too dirty
(52:58):
and all that, and I don't like Rashia and all
that shit, right, yeah, in their style of play, and
then a lot of people didn't A lot of people
got bored by the Spurs, right just defense, you know,
slow offense, you know, just break you down. Right. Yeah,
I like both of them, but you know, a lot
of people didn't in that series. It was like, I
(53:18):
think the Spurs got up Tuesday, then Detroit got won
the next two games, so it's two two. But all
four of the games were like no drama at all.
So they're like, see, dude, this is But then five, six,
and then all of a sudden, from five through seven,
everyone's like, oh shit, this is a good series and
you know all that stuff. So I wonder how that's
(53:39):
gonna play.
Speaker 8 (53:40):
So so Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, Monday, so Sunday game two.
Speaker 1 (53:53):
I mean, I guess we could do one on Monday.
But and you're gonna be coming in on Thursday the twelve,
right or no, you're gonna be coming in earlier than that,
but you're gonna be in the cities by that time.
Speaker 2 (54:05):
Yeah, yes, I'll be in the city.
Speaker 1 (54:07):
Yeah, okay, So we'll figure it out. If it's let's
put it this way, if it's one one, we're gonna
do a show on Monday, you know what I mean,
Because if it's one one, it's like, oh shit, hold on,
you know, like yes, series now, you know. But yeah,
(54:28):
we'll just kind of play it by ear like we do,
just kind of letting the audience know that whether we
let it go to game three or game four, or
like I said, if it's one one all of a sudden,
it gives you a different viewpoint of the series. So
we'll just kind of play it by ear and just
you know, keep in touch with the audience so they
(54:49):
know when the next show is.
Speaker 4 (54:51):
Get on that note, Hey, college football, it's August thirtieth,
Like day one, there's like four incredible games. So we
will take a break after our DA season is over.
But college football Week one, there's some good stuff and
that ain't that far away, man, So the boys are out.
Have good night, stay safety, were outside, Joyce and Golf
have good night.
Speaker 2 (55:11):
Piece
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.