Trysta kicks things off with a quick take on the Knicks forcing a Game 6 against the Pacers before being joined by NBA insider and cap expert Keith Smith from Spotrac and The Front Office Show. Trysta and Keith dive into why OKC is built to last, what makes SGA so special, Celtics' big-picture decisions ahead, and what the second apron means for these front offices. Plus, a quick NBA Draft preview as Keith and Trysta dive into Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton Jr. and more!
A sharp, smart convo on the postseason, roster-building, and the league’s future.
Follow Keith on Twitter/X and checkout his work on @spotrac & @FrontOfficeShow
Subscribe to the Heat Check YouTube and follow Trysta here.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
On this episode of the Heat Check.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
One series is over, another is headed to game six
and Indie, Yes, the Knicks took care of business in
Madison Square Garden and maybe, just maybe, and he's getting
the case of the meat sweats with Okay, see waiting
the winner.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
There's a lot to break down.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
So we have Keith Smith, the genius from spot Track
and I thought it was fow Track for a very
long time. So just very really really today to give
us all the details on the finals as well as
all the tea from around the league.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Keith is the best.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
So Wyatt's dropped that motherfucking beat that should be Rihanna.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
You're listening to the Hottest the Hottest Indy a podcast
out here. I said what I said, it's the heat
Check check which stop.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Crit So the Knicks you were dying scut check game cut.
The Pacers lead in the Eastern Conference Finals now to
three to two.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
It was so ugly.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Immediately you could tell the Knicks had come to play.
They were desperate, bloodthirsty, physical, intense, focused in a way
that normally they have these lapses. A lot of out
of control plays on both sides, particularly from the Pacers,
and it has been a hot minute since the Pacers
(01:21):
played a game with this many turnovers, which is nineteen
nineteen turnovers for the Pacers, not the type of thing
that they normally do. But the funny part was at
various times in the second half the Knicks were up
twenty and yet Madison Square Garden has seen enough of
these games that they treated it like it was a
three point game. That is how traumatized they are, and
(01:45):
that's how traumatized they've been over time by the Pacers.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
But they had two things tonight that they absolutely needed.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
One with Karl Anthony Town's very aggressive in a monster
game despite playing with a little bit of a knee contusion.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
The big Perr, the.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Kitty cat was unstoppable. He was an a grown main coon,
a grown man that was a big aggressive cat. We
got it again from Karl Anthony Towns in one second
quarter sequence. He had a smooth three sprinted back on
defense and he was the first knick back, then helped
defend the paint, led to a turnover, ran down to
(02:22):
the other end and scored a two three possessions that
he dominated in less than a minute, resulting in.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Five Knicks points.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
He ended the game as the second leading scorer for
the Knicks. What did he have in terms of his points?
Karl Anthony Towns had twenty four, Jalen Brunson thirty two.
Very interesting stuff. The other thing that the Knicks had
Jalen Brunson.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
I tried to.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Tell the folks that I was on right after the
game in the live stream. We should have known that
Jalen Brunson was gonna have one hell of a game
because it was a law in order game. Baby done,
don unduh. And like Mariska Haggerty from Waterer sdu if
you don't know her, she's like Jalen Brunson's idol. He
said that he's she's the only celebrity on Celebrity Roll
(03:13):
that he gets excited about seeing.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
And he puts up thirty.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Two to five and five on a night that almost
every veteran the met in America had played his under
thirty and a half. He was four to seven from deep,
just looked incredible, unstoppable, unguardable, immediately hot from three, and
I think when Jalen Brunson is hitting step back three
splashed in your face, this team is very hard to beat.
(03:39):
And he only played thirty four minutes and for Tibbs
and a TIBs coach team. When are we getting that?
When do we get a thirty four minute game from
any star on a team that Tibbs coaches. No, Nick
Starter actually had more than thirty six minutes. We got
Precious che Chulia minutes, we got Landry Schamet chance, we
(04:01):
got Delawn right minutes.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
It was insane. The Pacers were also ice cool, terrible.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Halliburton had seven shots Turner and nem hard Nie Smith
top and all were negative twenty or worse on Net ratings.
Halliburton slash line was eight two and six, and two
of those shots that he took were in the fourth
quarter when the game was already over. I told Dan
I was on the Dan Levatard stream right after the game.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
I told Juju, Tony and Dan. I thought maybe the
Pacers just knew they didn't.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Have it and said, we're just not gonna expend this
much energy trying to get back into the game.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
We don't have it.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
That's not a punt, but it's kind of a punt.
How bad was it?
Speaker 3 (04:45):
It was?
Speaker 2 (04:45):
We had Johnny Murphy minutes, Johnny Furfey minutes, excuse me.
We had Jeris Walker minutes, we had Ben Shephard offensive fouls.
We had just insane amount of players that you should
not ever see for this many minutes, like our man
Ben Mathurn was the leading scorer. Some Knicks fan on
(05:06):
Reddit hired a witch on Etsy to place a hex
on the Pacers and use the sixty percent off coupon
to do so. Must have been saving up for some
pizza and some some sort of beer champagne after the
Knicks win.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
It worked, and.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
She's about to be the richest witch on the west
in the planet right now because Knicks fans are jumping
on board trying to put another He's on the Pacers. Now,
we have an unreal Game six in Indiana on Saturday night,
and I for one cannot wait.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
The Knicks are still alive.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Their championship's odds dropped from plus twenty five hundred twenty
five to one to sixteen hundred, but the Pacers still
have two more chances to put a stake in their heart.
And if they don't, we got a Game seven in
the Garden on Monday night and.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
All bets are off up next.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Keith Smith from spot Track, All right, Welcome to the show.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
My guy.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Keith smith Man host the Front Office Show podcast, The
Man at Spoke Track, the Guy and the place that
everybody goes to break down the dollars, to break down
the sense. With this new CBA, it's more important than
ever to get the download. And you and Trevor Lane
(06:28):
together are just electric.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Keith, I appreciate that. Yea, we have a lot of fun.
Who would think a Celtics guy and a Lakers guy
could come together and have a pretty fun podcast, But
I think we managed to pull it off.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
That just shows you piece, give piece a chance.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
It's it basketball universal language.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
I want to start off with the teams in the
West Okase finishing off Minnesota in five games, and there
was really only one close good game to me. And
then you saw also the Thunder blow out the Nuggets
one game. You saw them blow out the Grizzlies one game,
(07:08):
And to that, I kept going back to how skeptical
people were all year of the Thunder and I just
couldn't really understand it other than we haven't seen it before.
What about you, like, what do you make of the
fact that even NBA teams were hoping to draw the
Thunder because they weren't afraid of them.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah, the NBA is a weird sport in that unless
you've done it, no one really believes you can. It's
it's a lot of other sports don't really feel that way.
It feels like in baseball or football, if you have
a good regular season, they're like they're the best team
maybe this year, and off we go. But in the NBA,
you could win seventy games and the Thunder almost did
(07:51):
and people are like, yeah, prove it to me in
the playoffs. And it's part of that is the nature
of it, right, it's seven game series. You gotta calm,
you gotta bring it. You're gonna be tested. Nobody he
gets super lucky. I don't think in the NBA. Every
once in a while you get lucky with matchups. But
you got to be healthy yourself. You got to win
four times four times to win a title, and that's
(08:11):
that's huge. So I think when you get into it
with the Thunder, that was just it. People needed to
see it. But I now's they making the finals better
if removed all doubt. If anybody still has Deubt left,
I don't know what to tell them at this.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Point, it's kind of insane.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Do you think it's also because it's a different type
of game in the postseason, right, Like there's more disparity
between what a regular season NBA game looks like and
a postseason NBA game looks like than say NFL or
college football or any other sport.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
I think there is. I think games get more physical.
Pace slows way down in the playoffs. The thunder were
they're They're clearly ready for the physical part of it.
They love to play a physical game. The pace. I
don't think they're super worried about the games slowing down
a little bit. They're gonna do what they do, and
I think that was some of the doubt there. They
(09:06):
also extremely young team. They only have two guys that
are over the age of thirty, that's Alex Crusoe and
Kenrick Williams. So I think when you're relying on so
much of your rotation and your key guys as young guys,
I think there's a fact question of are they ready
for this or are they gonna be ready? What are
they gonna do when it's a close game late. I
(09:27):
think some of the way they remove those questions are
I don't really let them be close late. They're the
best team I can ever remember, and I've been watching
the NBA for a very long time at flipping games
from a five point deficit to a fifteen point lead happens.
And like I said, this morning, you walk to the
fridge to get a drink and you come back and
like what happened? Like where did this go? You know?
(09:49):
They're just so good with the way they do that
to start forcing the turnovers when they're at home, the
crowd gets rocking and everybody's going, so yeah. Just a really,
really good team.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Defensively, the thing that I'm impressed about is that they
basically just create these ten oher runs just off their
defense alone.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
It's pretty nuts.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
I also thought it was interesting that the Thunder could
go from losing by forty to winning by forty in
the same series.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
What explains that to you?
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Yeah? I think that was Mark Dagnall basically very early
in the loss saying it's not happening tonight. I am
not putting any more miles on my guys. I'm pulling
the plug and that's it. Like he didn't mess around
at all. I don't know that anybody really even got
to twenty five thirty minutes in that game, because that's
something a lot of coaches they'll they'll kind of keep going,
(10:44):
keep going until there's seven eight minutes left in the
fourth quarter, and then maybe they'll finally give up. And
then he was like, it doesn't matter in the playoff
we lose by one hundred, it doesn't matter. It's one game,
y know, we'll come back and play again tomorrow. We
still have a good series lead, and let's go. And
I think that's huge. I think too often coaches are like, no,
let's chase, we don't want to get embarrassed. Let's keep going,
(11:07):
keep going. And it's just not the way to handle it.
I don't think I think you want to. You'll pull
the plug early. And then yeah, like you said, they
get these runs in these games and it's like an avalanche.
They start turning you over live ball turnovers leading to
runout baskets, and the next thing you know, it's the
lead is expanded and you're kind of out of the
game and you're standing around looking around like what just happened?
(11:28):
Like where did this come from? So yeah, they're just
a really really good team.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
So Shae MVP, I've been really excited about Shay since
probably I mean when Chris Paul came over to the
Thunder and we saw what he could be, and even
back when they got Pokashvski and everybody's excited about him,
and Shae felt like he was kind of the next
man up even back then. But what I find to
(11:53):
be so fascinating about Shay's ascent I've never heard maybe
Jalen Brunson, but again, he kind of came out of
quote unquote nowhere as well, the foul merchant controversy, the
asterisk around him being the scoring champion and the MVP
(12:13):
Doris Burke saying the words foul merchant. Why do you
think it's becoming such a storyline with him when so
many great NBA players of the course of history have
been quote unquote also foul merchants.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Yeah, That's the thing that's been kind of bothersome to
me is a lot of great scorers have been guys
who pile up, pile up free throws, and I think
with with like, even if we go back more recent history,
James Harden was that way with the Rockets when he
was winning the MVP, and in that conversation he was
getting the free throw line of time. And I think
(12:49):
there's two parts. One is nobody really likes free throws,
right that they're kind of the worst part of the game,
Like it just everything stops. It's one guy and you
watch for a minute he takes two free throws and
then we move on with the rest of the game.
It's like that part annoys people. And then I think
a lot of it is the thunder are there. It's weird.
(13:09):
It usually takes winning a couple of times for this
to happen. But they're kind of already flipping the script
where people like, I don't really like this team, like
some of it is. They're kind of brash, right, they'll
talk trash, they'll they'll you know.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Like a better version of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Exactly. Yep, yeah, exactly. And I think I think people,
you haven't wont anything yet, you know, shut it, shut up,
we don't want to watch it. But I think the
reality is like you have some of that. And then
I think there are some questionable calls in there, but
I'm not gonna scream and yell at about it, yell
about it. It's what happens, you know. It's fine I
think for shake Yo, just Alexander in particular. The issue
(13:44):
with him is he moves like like one of I
compare him to when you go buy a car dealership,
they've got that blow up guy and he's kind of
like winking all over and stuff like that's what it
looks like to me with him, Like he's just like
one of those blow up things, and it's like he
gets these angles and I say, he's slithery, like that's
what he reminds me of it. And there's times he
(14:05):
just draws fives that other guys wouldn't draw, but more
often than not, they're there. And my overarching thing with
this point is the less folks worry about the officiating
in games, the more you'll enjoy the game. Like just
watch the game, like it's it's I see so many
people there and it's the same people on social media
(14:26):
every game it's that's a bad call, that's a bad call.
That's a bad call, and it's like, what, like is
that why you watch to call bad calls? Like just
you know, I don't know. I have a hard time
with that much complaining about the refs.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Yeah, the referee police, they want to like the free
throw disparity police. The Laker fans are big free throw Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
I tell you that.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
It's it's incredible too, because maybe it also is because
the thunder are so physical themselves, and then you see
Shake get so many touch fouls.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Do you think that that has anything to do with
it either, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
I think so. I think there's definitely some of that
in there as well. And I think, you know, for
all of the things that the thunder uh do really well,
they gave up a lot of free throws in their games.
I think they were, Yeah, I just looked it up.
They were twenty six in free opponent free throws this
year for free throws per you know, per field goal attempt.
(15:29):
So that's really not good. And but that's part of it.
Then when you play that physical defense, you're kind of
in a way daring the referees call all the files right,
like we're gonna do what We're going to challenge you
with this, and that gets to be a little bit
tricky with that.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
I want to get your thoughts on Jalen Williams J
DUB because man, if you juxtapose the Denver series outside
of Game seven, he was I mean there were legit
pundits being like, can Jada be your second score on
a championship team?
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Do we have to rely on chets development more?
Speaker 2 (16:09):
What do you have in game six, six, seven, and ten,
shot three for sixteen from the field, And then you
juxtapose that with Game four against Minnesota where they needed
these points from.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
Him in a game that could have been in Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Win thirty four, three and five on thirteen for twenty four. Like,
what's your take and your thoughts on him and kind
of what we've seen blossom before our very eyes and
his impact on this team and offensively and defensively.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Yeah, I think when you look at his full body
of work regular season plus playoffs, he's terrific. And that's
why he made All NBA. That's why he made all defense.
Really versatile defender. There were moments I think people have
kind of forgotten because it was so long ago. Chet
Holmgren out and as a Hardenstein out, he was playing
the five for them. You're starting games at center, and
(17:04):
he's like, I think they list him at six's eight,
but he's like six' six at, best and did they
were holding up and doing what they do and playing
hyper aggressive and and all. That he's you, know arguably
one of the more versatile defenders we have in the entire.
League and then, offensively his his game is really rounded out.
Nicely he came in as a pretty good playmaker and
(17:26):
a guy who could, score but he's really turned into
a terrific score. Now AND i think what's unfortunate is
if this was the middle Of march and he was
going through a slump like he was going, through we
do always just kind of, know whatever he's in a,
slump what happens in the? Playoffs it, starts, well he's
not clutch and he can't. Win he's not going to.
Perform AND i think what we're really looking at is
(17:47):
already he just went through it a little bit and
now he's you, know kind of back on. Track AND
i think that's that's important context to bring into it
of sometimes guys just go through. Slumps things.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Happen, yeah it's tough if you get in slumps during
multiple playoff series or multiple years of playoff. Series AND
i think that was what people were, wondering, Was, man
when the lights are bright and the let leverage is,
high is JDub going to rise to the, occasion and
(18:16):
then you see the game six Against denver and you're, like,
whoh we've seen these moments where he shrunk before and
is this a slump or is this like who he?
Is kind of like what we think About James, harden,
right like so, talented but when the lights get, bright
we haven't seen a lot of really Great James harden.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Performances, yeah absolutely, Right AND i think the for, ME
i would need to see it. More this is really
this team's second real, run, right so like let's see
what it looks. Like AND i think the fact that
and he does that big games and then people kind
of want to excuse, him, Right it's, like YEAH i had,
thirty but they won by, forty so who? Cares, well
(18:57):
well that still, counts, Right it all still, Matter like
it's it's. There and a lot of teams are front.
Runners like that term's always made me laugh a little
bit when it's, like you know all the teams are front? Runner, well,
yeah of course they are when things are going really.
Good of course you know teams are front. Runners but,
YEAH i think he's really. GOOD i THINK i think
too That Mark diagnal just sticks with, him right and
(19:19):
just keeps going with him and doesn't try to do
anything where it is all, right we're, gonna you, know
take him off the, court like he just trusts his,
guys even Like Lou door we've seen go through some
really awful shooting slumps throughout the course of these, playoffs
but he just keeps rolling with him because it's, like
that's my, guy, Right i'm gonna trust that when it's
when it's really, needed it'll be. There and that goes
(19:40):
a long way with players to have when their coach
has their back like.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
That from a cap standpoint or just a transactional, STANDPOINT
i want to get your thoughts on this because you've
probably seen the the meme going around or the graphic
going around where It's Richard Lewis Sam presty Turning Richard
lewis into this whole thundered like the paper clip into the,
(20:08):
house right with the trade exceptions and Turning Paul george
Into shay and five first.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Round all this from all of the.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Experience that you've had analyzing THE nba on a transactional,
level can you put how impressive this GMing is historically
from what you've seen in your.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Career, yeah it's way way way up, there because this
is a team, that outside of a couple of years
which were very intentional down, years from the Time Sam
pressy has taken, over hasn't really been. Bad The seattle
team was starting, over they GOT, kd they Get Russell,
(20:51):
westbrook the team, moves then they're. Good they're good for
a number of years In Oklahoma. City then POST Kd,
westbrook as they started to move into a little bit
of a different, error it was, like all, right, well
we've Got Chris paul and we're still pretty. Good and
then they were good into the. Bubble then coming out of,
That presty was, like all, right but we're not good.
Enough we don't want to be just a playoff, Team
(21:13):
So i'm Gonna i'm gonna strip it, right But i'm
not getting rid OF. Sga we're gonna build around. Him
got him on a good, contract and they just kept adding,
pieces adding. PIECES i like TO i have a MEME
i created in post all the. Time whenever they make a,
trade it's like it's the guy walking with his girlfriend
looking at the other girl and it's Like Sam presty
with draft, picks but he's, like oh more draft. Picks
(21:35):
cause that's just you know how these things seem to
go for years in his, trades like it's it is
incredible that he's built. This and the great thing is
everybody's the discussion point since, yesterday AND i think some
of it is it's people trying to cope with the
fact of, like all, right, well this team won't be
around for too, long, right because how are we gonna
deal with these? Guys they're set up really.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Well it kind of kills like a long Time keith,
yeahs like sixty six years or.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
So, yeah it really, is because you HAVE i tweeted
it out last night in the aftermath of them winning
fourteen of fifteen players through twenty, six twenty seven or
under team control either they're, signed they have The thunder
of an option for, them or they have their restricted
free agent. Rights they're going to get, Expensive there's no
doubt about. That but the nice thing for The thunder
(22:24):
is as they get, expensive when they Extend williams and
they extend Home grin and then they have to do
a new deal WITH, sga the cap will continue to go.
Up it's not going to go up ten percent every,
year but it'll go. Up that'll make those contracts more.
Palatable and then the other thing that comes in, is,
yeah they may Lose Aaron wiggins Or Isaiah joe or Even,
hartenstein but they still have all these extra draft picks
(22:46):
that they can start to, replenish and that's going to
be how they'll build it. Up and in these next
couple of years where they probably don't have roster spots
for all the draft picks they, Have Sam presci will, say, hey,
Well i'll take one And i'll turn it into two later,
Ya i'll take take one this, Year i'll turn it
into one down the, line and that's gonna be how
they're going to keep backfilling those rotation spots around the
(23:07):
three main, guys and that's why they should be able
to extend this window out for a.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
While. Yeah, yeah it's pretty, impressive especially considering it's a small.
Market and we'll talk About indiana as, well because they
did something similar but in a totally different. Way BUT
i do want to just get your thoughts On minnesota
because again a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Were not sold on this.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Team posts, Uh Karl Anthony towns trade And Julius rendall
kind of seemed like he was just there temporarily as
a salary, match and he's sort of turned some things
around outside of this last series AGAINST okc and they
found their.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Rhythm you.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Know obviously The Julius randall injury was a, blow but
he came back so much. Better if you're A wolves
fan knowing what's, coming knowing about the cap situation and
the new ownership and what they're probably going to have
to do make, change he's got multiple guys that are
now free. Agents is but you're also coming off of
(24:05):
Two Western Conference finals appearances back to. Back is this
a glass, full half full or a glass half empty?
Speaker 3 (24:12):
SCENARIO i think it's half, full mostly Because Anthony edwards
is that. GOOD i know he had a little bit
of a Rough West, finals BUT i kind of liked
what he was saying coming out of that of, like,
Hey i'm gonna be better next year AND i want
to get back here again AND i want to go
further next. Time and then you're talking to somebody who
(24:33):
was The celtics, guy you, know covering the team. Forever
i've been a fan my whole. Life they beat their
heads against the wall in The East finals a million
years in a. Row it felt like and then finally
broke through AND i have faith With edwards that'll get.
There AND i love that he's talking about, like, HEY
i want to do this For Mike, conley, RIGHT i
want to get him over the hump and get get.
Further AND i think they're set up fairly well with.
(24:56):
Things they're, again very expensive, team but we've got a
little bit of. Flexibility we'll see what happens With randall
And reed in their. Options they may end up Losing Ni,
Kile Alexander. Walker we'll see. That it really comes down
to how deep into the second apron do they want
to go? Again do They are they okay with that
because now that the ownership transition is moving, forward are
(25:17):
they gonna kind of put the brakes on things or
is it just gonna Be Tim connolly in the front office, saying,
hey we got to back off because we can't do
a lot to improve the. Roster we'll see where it.
Goes but it's a really forward thinking group there In.
MINNESOTA i like the way they kind of just they
do things in a little bit of a different way
and that that's that's been fun to see. Them LIKE
i thought The Rob dillingham trade a year ago at the,
(25:40):
draft was really inspired of a way to let's add
some high level talent when we don't have a lot
of assets inability to do. SO i thought they were
smart with doing that so AND i like that they're
also saying they're gonna play their kids. More get let's
get dealing him And channon in the fold next. Year
let's really try to work them in the rotation so
then you're you're not as relying on, five, six seven.
(26:00):
Guys you can go ten deep when you need to
in the.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Playoffs what do you think the future looks like For?
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Rudyobert because when he had his contract, extension it kind
of looked like it was in albatross then and now
thirty five million.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Dollars doesn't look that bad at.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
All and he's such a such a firebrand and like
a controversial player in the, playoffs specifically because he'll have
these epic games like he did against The, lakers and
then he'll disappear and pretty much be on a milk
carton like he did In game one against the Thunder,
(26:37):
like what do you think this team feels about?
Speaker 3 (26:40):
Him, YEAH i think they're. Committed that's why they gave
him the, extension and you're absolutely. Right this is the
thing with these, contracts and IT'S i, Mean i'm not
turning down thirty five. Million if everyone wants to throw
it my. Way if people watch this way to contact.
Me it's in My twitter. Bio let me. Know if
you got millions laying, around, WELL i think With Rudy,
gobert the thing is anybody on those kind of, contracts
(27:04):
as the cap continues to go, up it's just about
percent of cap, Now like that's what you really have
to focus on versus just the raw dollar amount because
the raw dollar amounts they're, staggering, Right they're gonna be.
Crazy Kate Kate cunningham's contract is. Huge the CONTRACT sga
can sign, for it's gonna be. Ridiculous you, know we're
we're closing in on five hundred million dollar contracts here
(27:25):
pretty soon over you're gonna have one hundred million dollar
a year player within probably the decade like. That but
that's just where things are. Going SO i, think now
what what we look at is when we look in
percent a, cap it's pretty. Good now With, GOBART i
think this is why it's important to Keep bake nas
reed in the, fold because you want to have somebody
else to turn to on those nights When gobart is
(27:45):
just he just doesn't have. It he's not. There he's you,
know a zero on, offense and the defense isn't exactly
what you. Need but more often than, not you, know
even with the offensive, challenges you're gonna have somebody can
really be a game changer on, defense and that's. Huge so,
YEAH i think they're pretty happy to have him and
have him at the number they got him.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
At, yeah we'll see what happens With nasried because if
they lose, him boy oh, boy that makes things a
lot more problematic for. Sure let's turn to The knicks
and The, Pacers. Keith there's a lot of chatter About
brunston right.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
NOW i Love.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Brunson he's probably one of my top five favorite players to,
watch especially in the fourth. Quarter and there's a lot
of chatter about whether The knicks can win with them
on the highest level with him as their ONE. A
and there's also now conversations about whether you can win
With brunson and kat together because of the defensive deficiencies
(28:38):
that they both. Have what are your thoughts as you
watch the game and analyze it about that.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Notion, yeah clearly their hope was putting together the perimeter
trio Of Bridges anenobian heart would be enough to cover
For towns And. Brunson but once you get into the
higher levels of the, playoffs you're going against teams that
they're just they're gonna wait and work to get you
to a spa where it just doesn't matter how good
(29:05):
three of your five defenders. Are if there's one guy
that can't hold, up they're gonna find them and they're
gonna go after, them and they're gonna try to, really you,
know make it. Happen SO i think with The, knicks
it's just gonna have to be a conversation around what
can you do. SCHEMATICALLY i thought they did a better
job Against boston than they've done Against indiana of kind
of baiting The celtics, into, hey you know, what you
(29:27):
want to attack, this and then it's but as you're Attacking,
towns we're gonna have somebody else digging in on the
weak side to. Help we're gonna do these. Things we're
gonna make it, Harder we're gonna we're gonna press you
out to half court or even beyond where by the
time you finally get to the matchup you, want there's
four seconds left on the shop clock and you have to.
Go problem, is Against indiana that doesn't work because they
(29:48):
just race the ball up the floor and they're getting
into their stuff with seventeen seconds on the shop, clock
and then then it is all, right you you maybe
stop the first thing we want to go, to but
we'll just a second action and move forward with. That
so that's a little bit of a challenge. There SO
i don't want to throw it all, away but it
sounds crazy to say it because it's A TIBs coach,
team but you almost gotta lean into your offense a
(30:08):
little bit more and really, say all, right you know,
what we we can't stop these. Guys not that means
you don't try, defensively but let's go with a little
bit more. Offense let's try, to you, know pick up
our own. Pace that's the one ISSUE i have With Jalen.
BRUNSON i love him, too but, man he wants to
play slow and play in the half. Court and there's
times with that knicks and it was Against, boston it
(30:30):
stood out at times in Against indiana where just get
the ball up the, floor get. Going there's easier offense
then you're having to work so deep into the shot.
Clock but, yeah it's, tough but not impossible to build
around A bruns And towns led.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Team you're right, too because the thing that you see
sometimes at the end of games is just a lot
of dribbling by bruntson and it's a lot of we
know exactly what you're gonna. Do you're telegraphing that It's
brunton and Only. Brunson if they could get a little
bit more chaotic Like, indiana a little bit more whack
a mole where you don't know who's gonna have the hot,
(31:03):
hand then it almost Makes brunton even more.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Potent when you do go to.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
Him, yeah, move, Move just get into your stuff quicker like.
That that's my biggest thing.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
With, them push the pace off of makes Is Tom
dibbodeau underrated or overrated as a.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
Coach he's rated properly, rated you. Know IT'S i think
he's done a really good job of getting teams to
a level where it is better than what they were
before he came. IN i don't know that he is
a true championship level. COACH i do have some. Doubts
(31:40):
one of my big things and it's minutes police sound the, siren,
right is his team's d often worn down by the
time they get deep into the playoffs because he pushes
them so hard in the regular. Season but on the flip,
side that comes with a really good regular season. Results
so it really, is you, know where are we trying
to go when the goal is win a whole lot
in the regular season and in the, Playoffs but it
(32:01):
doesn't always work out that, way SO i. Think but
he's by no means a bad. Coach i've heard some
people suggesting, like this guy's not even. Good it's you,
know the matter of the talent that he, has AND
i don't think that's true at. ALL i think he's
does what he, does AND i think this PARTICULAR nixt
team they don't have the talent to play the way
he wants to. Play that's WHY i think you've seen
(32:22):
him go To Mitchell. Robinson that's a lot more the
defensive style he, wants or it is let's press out,
high let's hedge, hard, recover get back to, it and
he can't do that with talents because he's just not
that kind of.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
Defender, yeah he has a style of a play he
wants to institute that may or may not be twenty
twenty five championship. Caliber The, pacers, Though, keith they're kind
of like a mix Between okac in the sense that
the GMing that got this team here is just so fucking,
(32:55):
Impressive like you just look at, it and, You i'm
sure know all About Aaron nesemith from the time he
was buried at the back of the bench For Romeo
langford back in the, day and both of, them both
of them were buried. Together you're, right but you were, wondering,
okay like what Was indiana thinking Moving Malcolm brogden for For?
(33:16):
Aaron Meet Nei smith and and the list kind of
goes on and on in terms of the moves that they've.
Made but the way that they were also remind me
a little bit of The wolves in the sense that
they went to the conference finals the year before and
had a horrible first start to the year where we, thought,
oh my, god, like Is tyree's haliburt not that? Good
like or is he still working through that hamstring injury
(33:38):
that he was working on the year? Before are they
a for real team or did they just get fluky
to get to this place and they've shown that they
are they are no fluke and they actually look more
impressive this year than they did last. Year can you
talk a little bit about just juxtapose the the GMing
between WHAT okc did and and What indiana, did and
like Why indiana maybe even more or impressive or at
(34:00):
least equally.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
Impressive, yeah okaysee built a lot of theirs through draft and,
development And i'll Include sga in. That they did not draft.
Him they acquired him via, trade but they developed him
into this through through their, process Where indiana was a
little bit more Of they definitely did some draft in,
development but there's a lot more of smart trades to
(34:24):
get their. Guys Getting haliburton For, Sabonis i'm Not i'm
still not going to kill The kings BECAUSE i think
there's a little too much of forgetting where the teams
were at at the time that trade was. Made but,
yeah obviously The pacers have come out ahead on. That
haliburtons now you, know regular L nba guy And sibonis
is merely a very GOOD nba center WHO i happen
(34:46):
to like quite a bit as a. Player but then
The siakam trade last, year which was just a perfect,
fit right that we need a power. Forward it can
go out and score and do some stuff for. Us
we can get. Him let's go get, him let's get this.
Done just amazing trade. There and then like you, say
Getting Nee smith in a trade where The brogden deal, was,
(35:07):
well we Have. Halbard now we like this nem hard, Kid,
like we don't really Need Malcolm brogden, anymore let's move him.
Off Innee smith was the guy they. Got they also
got to pick in that, deal and In Nei smith's
big problem With boston was every time he was like
already starting to come, along he get hurt. Again and
then it was like all, right and then it became
very clear he's never gonna have a very big role
(35:28):
With Tatum brown in the fold because he's just not
gonna be how it. Goes so now he glenns, there
he's been very. Good and then the rest of their, GUYS.
Tj McConnell really underrated acquisition when they went out he got,
him and he's just he's just a pest like AND
i mean that is a complete, compliment but he's just,
Yeah he's just always up in you and doing stuff
where it's, like, man, like would you get away from? Me,
(35:49):
like you, know just annoying out there the way he,
plays and it's so. Good but then he Drafted, mathern
WHO i Think matherin gives them another level of like
kind of chaotic. Energy you never kind of know what
he's gonna. Do and there's times when even in this,
series he had a game the other day where it
wasn't going so, good So Rick carlile just pulled him.
OUT i was, Like i'm not gonna play you because
(36:10):
you're a little out of. Control and Then Ben, sheppard you,
know got the minutes. Instead and then the other Night
mathen was out there doing his thing and looked really
good and he Played he's scored like twenty points in
like twelve minutes or. Whatever it, was so, like, hey
it's just a really smartly constructed. Roster and THEN i
Think Rick carlile as the coach so key Because Rick
carlile doesn't necessarily want to play super fast and up.
(36:32):
Tempo that's never been his. Style BUT i think he's
a smart enough coach to know this is what works
for the. GUYS i have let's, go let's get after
it this.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Way, yeah he really has adapted his team's scheme to
the personnel that he. Has he's almost the inverse Of Tom,
thibodeau Where Tom thibodau' is, like this is What i'm
running regardless of the personnel THAT i, have And Rick
carlile has done a really great job of doing the.
Opposite more coaches need to do that is, like that's
(37:02):
kind of what being a coach is is using the
ingredients that you have in the kitchen and chaffing it.
UP i do Think Tyrese halliburton as good as he
was last, year especially in The Ntason tournament and some
of the moments that we've seen with. Him he talked
to a bunch of high, end you, know greats in
terms of point guard. POSITIONS i know that something came
(37:24):
out recently that he was talking to super just about
how to balance the.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
Scoring load with the facilitating.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
Load and it FEELS i don't know about, you but
it feels like he's taken a huge.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
Leap in the last two.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
Series just the moments that he's given us and the
presence of, mind for, example to miss that free throw
intentionally and shoot the three and you, know the fake
the jab step and hit it right in the. Face
there was just so many of. Those oh my, god
this is now etched in. History i'm kind of stunned
that people Thought Tyrese haliburton in the. League his peers
(38:00):
thought he was the most overrated.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
Player, yeah that's a little, crazy and THAT i think
often in those surveys that they, do there's a lot
of that's rooted in jealousy of, like, MAN i should
have been On TEAM usa and he didn't even. Play
he was at the end of the bench and all
the things got that get said about. Him But i'm with.
(38:22):
YOU i think he is now as a point guard.
Mastered for, me arguably the most important skill a point
guard can, have which is controlling the pace of the.
Game and it is not just game to. Game it's
possession of. Possession if it is the best thing for
us is to fly down the. Floor he gets that
(38:42):
going and the keys it and off they. Go if
it is, nope we're gonna slow it down And i'm
gonna find the matchup we need to go. To not
always for, himself it might be the best thing for
me to do is pull the defense defender over, here
get it over To nemhar to get it To, sam
And siakam attacks because he's got. It my my job
is keep the other defenders out of there by pulling
(39:03):
them off to the other side of the. Floor he
is really good at, that and that those are the
things that the very best point guards, do the Magic
johnson back in the, day Or Steve nash Or Chris.
Paul for, YEARS i always said With Chris, paul you
play the game of whatever Speed Chris paul wants to play.
That if he wants to play, fast we're all playing fast.
Today if he wants to play, solow we're all playing.
Slow And Tyres alburn's now there, too and he does
(39:26):
just such a good job of varying it within. Games
it's everybody thinks of the pacers as all they do
is run and run and. Run but like watch when
they play play The, knicks or if they make the,
finals there'll be moments where it Is, nope the best
thing to do now is slow it, down lead the
clock a little bit and. Go and he's equally as
good at.
Speaker 2 (39:42):
That how do you assess the matchup BETWEEN i think
obviously you know it might not be done. Tonight obviously
we're recording this earlier than the show's coming. Out but
how do you assess AN Okac pacer final like matchup?
Wise do you think that that looks, like.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
Yeah give the advantage To okay, See BUT i think
it's going to be closer than people think because they
kind of counter each other in ways that are really.
Good The pacers are actually fairly solid in interior defense
With Miles turner kind of lurking as a help. Guy
that helps when you've Got sga And Jalen williams who
just want to get downhill over and over and over.
(40:23):
Again they've got good athletes Because siakam's pretty good, Athlete
Nie smith good. Athlete then you've Got Obi topping good
athlete coming off the. Bench so some of those drives
and lobs and those, things they're gonna be competitive on,
Those they're not just gonna give them Up ah with.
Ease and THEN i Think indiana they control the. Ball
they don't throw the ball away very, often and the
(40:44):
thunder we talked about it. Before they feed so much
off turnovers and really getting that ball and getting it
running the other way and all those. Things that's so
huge for, them AND i don't know that that's gonna
be there quite as. EASY i just think it's gonna
be an overall depth of options that will Wear they
will just Wear indiana down. Eventually BUT i do, think you,
know if that's the series we, get AND i think
(41:05):
that's where we're probably, ADDED i think it's gonna be
a really fun, finals a lot better THAN i think
a lot of people, are, like, Well i'm not watching.
This who cares about these two? Teams you're gonna miss
out on some really good.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
Basketball, yeah, fun, competitive high level. Firework anything's bound to
happen type of. BASKETBALL i. DO i can't let you
go without talking about The. Celtics just a rough way
to end the season in so many, ways the catastrophic
leads that they let slip away In game one And game. Two,
(41:39):
obviously The Jason tatum injury now extends past this.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
Year another team that's been.
Speaker 2 (41:45):
Very clear everyone's reporting is that they're gonna get less.
Speaker 1 (41:50):
Expensive what does that mean to?
Speaker 2 (41:53):
You because that could mean we get rid of Kristavs
porzingis and we bring on some you, Know south expirings
and then we maybe call. Them that could mean we
get rid Of Drew holiday AND kp all the way
to oh, well maybe we explore reloading and moving on
From Jalen, brown WHICH i don't think would, happen but
(42:15):
those rumors are out here.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
Too, Yeah i'm ready for anything this. Summer part of
the wild card is it is a new ownership group coming.
In one of the things That i've said for months
before obviously their run, ENDED i didn't think if they
were in the finals, again or obviously if they won
the finals, again that the first steps for a new
(42:37):
ownership group was going to be let's start trading guys
because we need to get. CHEAPER i Know celtics, fans
they wouldn't stand for. It they would have rioted if
that was the case, NOW i, think and it's not
the right exact term to, use but they have a
little bit of cover on doing that BECAUSE i think
most folks are, like, eh it's probably gonna be a
little bit of a gap. Year and that's WHAT i
think it's gonna, be is just a step, back as
(42:59):
they kind of said a little. BIT i think there's
a good chance someone Like Drew holiday gets, Moved Chris
porzingis maybe gets. MOVED i Think Sam hauser is maybe
the most logical guy to get. Traded It's Sam houser
being a really good bench shooter on a team that's
not a title. Contender it's like having a really good
closer on a bad baseball. Team what's the, Point like
(43:19):
it doesn't really. Matter and they've got a guy Like
Baylor shireman in the fold now where it's, like just
give him those minutes and see what he can. Do
SO i think what we're really looking at with them
is it's probably gonna take a series of transactions to get.
There there's not gonna be one big transaction because that
would mean dealing with the nets and be, like, hey
you want to eat this one contract for holiday or For,
(43:41):
portzingis and that would clear everything they need to. Clear
BUT i don't think that's gonna be how it, goes
BECAUSE i don't think they think they're excited about the
idea let's give up draft capital to do. That BUT
i think a series of transactions over a couple, cycles so,
offseason trade, deadline the next, offseason that's how they're gonna
get themselves under the second. Apron i'm with. YOU i
(44:01):
don't think they'll Trade Jalen. BROWN i don't know that
it's completely off the. Table, clearly they've had him in
trade talks previously that you, know he felt a certain
way about, that but it didn't end up, happening and
he came back great and won a. Title but he's
also dealing with a knee, injury so he'll take a step.
Back the good news is The Eastern cofford, stinks so
they can be a little worse and still probably be
(44:23):
a playoff. Team and the good news With Jason tatum
is all the reports that are coming out is he
had this surgery very, early very, quickly basically within twenty
four hours of it, happening and all the indications are
if you get it done very quickly and in the
manner that they repaired the, injury you can return quicker
and better then most guys have from These achilles tears that,
(44:46):
said they're not gonna rush him. Back they're not gonna be,
like get back on the floor and by the trade
deadline or by The All star break or anything like.
That BUT i think if he's, ready they'll bring him.
Back it might look a little bit Like Brandon clark
did a couple of seasons ago with The, griz where
it was at the end of a lost. SEASON a
lot of, people why are they Bringing Brandon clark? Back they,
stink they're, Terrible but it was get them back out,
(45:07):
there let him go, through all. Right they can play in.
TRAFFIC i could play in a. CROWD i got knocked,
down somebody fell into my. Leg it's not the end
of the. World i'm. Good so that, way when we
start the next, season you just started free and clear
and you're ready to, Go so that that's kind of
be how that might might might play out.
Speaker 1 (45:24):
Here, yeah so you expect major. MOVES i.
Speaker 3 (45:28):
Do, yeah it's it would be at this point in my. Opinion,
IRRESPONSE i don't care about the luxury, tax But i'm
not paying, It like what pay pay it half a
billion dollars if you want. To that's. You you bought the,
team don't you know you need to pay that PART
i don't care. About WHAT i care about is the
roster restrictions that come from being a Second apron, team
(45:49):
And boston's now starting to feel the weight of those
where becomes a lot harder to make moves and becomes
a lot harder to improve the. Team and you have.
Holiday he's thirty. Five porzingis is NOW i think he's,
thirty but he misses a lot of time every. Year
this year was a lot with this mystery, illness which
hopefully gets resolved over the offseason and he's healthy and,
(46:10):
okay but you know it's gonna be something else he's
gonna miss some. Time SO i think this is a
good chance to reset a little bit and see where it.
GOES i know Some celtics fans are, like, hey IF
i gonna watch a year At Peyton pritchard And Derek,
white you, know shooting contests for forty minutes a, night that's.
FINE i can do. It you, know there's a lot
of people, like we want a. Title we're still one
(46:31):
up on The. Lakers it's all, Right, like let's keep
going because that's a major goal For celtics fans at this. Point.
Speaker 2 (46:39):
YEAH i THINK i interviewed you the day that the
NEW cba came out and we had no idea really
even what to make of it at that. Point now
that we've seen the ramifications of, it The celtics obviously
being example number one in terms of how it affects
what you can and can't do and even if you're
(47:01):
a title, team what you can do with your roster
and what you're forced to. Do do you think this is,
now looking at it and holistically this is a good
thing for the, LEAGUE i don't know.
Speaker 3 (47:14):
YET i think so is Where i'll say It's AND
i tend to be a lot more conservative with these,
things like we. Weren't we were days into the NEW
cba rules and effect and people are, like this is.
Ruining it's ruined to THE, nba and then no trades
will ever get made. Again and then we just had
(47:34):
the craziest trade deadline we've ever. Had this summer is
gonna be. Wild there's more big names available than. Ever
teams will find a, way you, know it's Like Jurassic, park,
right life finds a, Way like they'll they'll figure it.
Out they're gonna make things happen for. ME i. THINK
i think parody is, good BUT i don't like it
if we start breaking teams up too, Quickly like if
(47:57):
we get to a position where the thunder like we
just we got to move one of our three best,
players that's not. Good like in THAT i don't think
they're gonna have, to but if they have, to that's not.
Great you want trades to be made out of basketball,
reasons not just true financial. Reasons and it's rare that
trades are made solely just about on court. Reasons it's
(48:19):
always for one team or another about the salary cap
in the cap. Sheet so BUT i think it's okay
as long as we can still get some teams that
it's like AND i know that team like The. Warriors
part of the fun with The warriors was we all
loved the first couple of seasons with The, warriors then
everybody hated them two seasons, later, right because it's, well
(48:42):
what do they, Say you become the, hero then live
long enough to become the. Villain like that's that's what
happened with The. Warriors and you know, what. Dynasties you
either want to root for them or you want to
root against. Them AND i think those are good for,
for you, know sports in general. Anyway and so, Yeah
I'M i let's, see you, know let's let it play
out for a couple more years and then then we'll
have a better handle on.
Speaker 2 (49:02):
IT a Team keith that maybe made a trade for financial,
reasons but they told us that they made them for basketball.
Speaker 1 (49:12):
Reasons he's A Dallas mavericks.
Speaker 2 (49:14):
Who got absolutely dragged all season long after the, deadline
only to be a playing team and fuck around and
get the first White american born player to go number
one since LIKE.
Speaker 1 (49:32):
I don't even.
Speaker 2 (49:32):
REMEMBER i, know it's BEFORE i was, born AND i,
REMEMBER i know it's a name THAT i don't really
even have stuck into my. Cerebellum and that's Not Larry.
Bird so now they're messing around and they Get Cooper,
flag what do you see for them this? Offseason, like
we've got The kyrie? Injury any chance he doesn't sign With?
Dallas like do you think that the pr disaster has
(49:54):
been mitigated By? Flag are there some people still kind
of a little suspicious about what this franchise is doing or?
Speaker 3 (50:01):
What, yeah and this is. TIMELY i just posted their
offseason preview on spot track. TODAY i it's what an
incredible you, know uh luck to have that happen in the.
Lottery AND i don't buy into conspiracy theories or any of.
That you you've worked in the media a long, time So,
vie there's media members in the, room and we would
(50:22):
love nothing more than to break that, story right it's,
rigged AND i saw how you, know good luck getting
all those people plus thirty teams to all. Agree, yeah
the best thing for our league is to Give Dallas Cooper.
Flag why do The pelicans want?
Speaker 2 (50:37):
That?
Speaker 3 (50:37):
Right, like that's not a. Thing so that, said it's
funny because this always happens at draft when you're a
month out from the draft. Book maybe you, know could
they draft somebody? Else, no, like take that out of the.
Mix It's Cooper. FLAG i had a chance because he
went To Montvert academy for the last couple of, years
right down the road from my, house SO i saw
him play a. LOT i think the thing that gets
(50:59):
forgotten with how good of a prospect he. Is this
kid is. Eighteen he should be a high school senior right.
Now he should be graduating high school like this week
here in the state Of, florida and and here we
are he's prepping for the draft and prepping to go
to The. Mavericks all that, SAID i think they're gonna Resign.
KYRIE i think they're gonna keep. HIM i think they're
gonna do what they need to to have him in the.
(51:19):
Fold and THEN i think we're going to see them,
basically go get another point guard that can play For
kyrie un til he's ready to. Go kyrie has been
very adamant he's gonna be back earlier than people. THINK
i think there's a good chance that. Happens kyrie's not
trying to protect ten more years of a. Career he
probably knows he's got four or five years left that
(51:41):
on the top end, Anyway so why not come back
a little. Early i'm not trying to protect an entire career,
here AND i think they got a chance to be pretty.
GOOD i think they can flip this very. Quickly they've
now got front court depth that they didn't have. Before
you can trade some of. It gonna be a little
careful because he gets. Hurt derek G liively's been hurt
his first couple of years, too so you don't want
to sell all of it off to get your guard
(52:03):
that you, need but you can do some of. IT
I i think they're gonna turn it around very very.
Quickly as far As MAVs fans, GO i think the
true fans of the, TEAM i think a lot of
them have kind of for you, know forgive and forget.
Right it's, like now we Have cooper, flag let's go.
That you, know obviously they've sold a ton of season tickets,
now so they feel pretty good about. THAT i think
(52:24):
where they've lost is like the the, uh the people
Became MAVs fans because they Were luca, fans like a
lot of The european, fans they're never ever coming, Back
like that's, Done you're You're. Finnah you need to get
the Next Dirk oh for that to bring those guys.
Speaker 1 (52:38):
Back and no longer A MAVs Fin, yeah.
Speaker 3 (52:40):
Exactly, yeah that's been not great. Either so, yeah so
they're they're they're they're in trouble, there but, YEAH i
think they'll trade that that off for Having cooper in
the fold and feeling pretty good about.
Speaker 2 (52:50):
That speaking of the, draft before we let your, ROLE
i would love to get your. OPINION i, mean it
feels like it's just It's, cooper It's Yellen, harper and
then who the hell, Knows and a lot of it
could be team specific for, you who's your sleeper in this,
Draft like who's the kid that rises and who's the
(53:13):
kid that that, sinks like like we saw with With
cam and The Houston rockets a couple of years.
Speaker 3 (53:20):
Ago oh, Yeah Kim, Wbmore, yeah we'll know he's gonna
be a top ten pick and went in the. Twenties,
yeah it's he's not gonna fall that. Far he may
not even fall past. Three i'm a little worried About Ace,
bailey Like i'm just not when he he didn't, measure you,
know like big at the, combine that's that's a little
worrisome for. Me if he'd come in AND i know
(53:42):
they do it without shoes and all that, silliness which
Is i've never, understood we don't play. Barefoot who? Cares but,
anyway when he didn't come in at six nine without,
SHOES i think that was a little more. Worrisome the
kid's never seen the top shot he won't, take which
can be, good but it's also not. RIGHT i think
he's gonna be a good, player BUT i am a
little worried about. HIM i kind of have him AND.
(54:05):
Vj edgecombe as the next two guys kind of almost
in a tier of their, own Behind flag Than, harper
than those two sleepers THAT i really kind of. Like
i'm a, big big fan Of Jani broom out Of.
AUBURN i have him way higher than most people. DO
i think he should be a mid to late first round.
PICK i think he's really. GOOD i think he does
(54:28):
things that help teams. Win there's just not a lot
there as far as like super athleticism or those kind of.
Things but he's a good, rebounder he's a smart, defender
he can pass the ball quite. WELL i Like A'san
newell quite a, bit as is just a, bouncy athletic
forward WHO i think is going to really help. Teams
kind of reminds me a little bit of What jayden
McDaniels is for The. WOLVES a little bit worse of a,
(54:50):
shooter but a little bit better of an. Athlete so
he's SOMEBODY i really. LIKE i like their queen, too you,
know if anybody's noticed singing, Trend, YES i do like
some of the kids who went to Mont Vert, academy
but they just had a loaded group that. Year But
queen's gonna be a be a good fun player as.
Well so those are some of the guys THAT i
like in the like first round area outside Of broom
(55:12):
who may end up slipping into the second round.
Speaker 2 (55:14):
Just falling up On Ace, Bailey did it bother you at?
All outside of his size stuff that in his. Measurements
that some of the things that he said at the,
combine LIKE i have no, WEAKNESSES i need to not
work on.
Speaker 1 (55:26):
Anything i'm.
Speaker 3 (55:27):
Good, yeah as long as he knows that's not, TRUE
i don't really care very much if you, know wherever
he gets drafted, to whether It's philly Or charlotte or
you know somebody, else you, Know, Utah, washington if he
slips a little further than we, think as long as
the day one when he gets the training camp he
(55:48):
kind of. KNOWS i guess summer league, camp, like, yeah
you're not, Perfect, like, like, yo what are we. Doing
these guys come in so confident, Now AND i think
that comes from when you're really, good like he. Is
you've been playing against pro level guys for probably since
he was fourteen years. Old he's probably been in gyms
against other, pros and he probably does feel really. Good
(56:10):
and that's part of what makes these guys really, special
is they believe in, that you know so. Much SO
i don't have a huge issue with, it but, yeah
it WAS i let's have a little bit more, humility
like you, know because now what you've done is you're
gonna come in the league and everybody's gonna be, Like, okay,
kid let's let's show.
Speaker 2 (56:27):
You, yeah let me show you how you're welcome to
the rookie welcome to the league moment really. QUICK i
want to get your thoughts On Walter Clayton, junior BECAUSE
i think what we saw from him in the tournament
six to. Three maybe he's less than sixty three and
Just wikipedia tells me he's six to.
Speaker 1 (56:43):
Three but this kid can get. Buckets, Key yeah you.
Speaker 3 (56:47):
Can't so you, Know, Tristan i'm not that. Tall he
if he's six to, three Then i'm like six feet
tall And i'm not anywhere near six feet, Tall so
he's HE'S i think he's a lot closer to like
six foot or six to. One but he does. SCORE i,
mean this kid is. Tough talk about, confidence but in
the right. Way if there's the right way to have,
confidence he you, know every SHOT's gonna go in like
(57:08):
he wants the ball in the big. Moments we spent
some time talking About Jalen. Brunsay he reminds me a
little bit of A Jalen brunson style, player where it's
Like i'm gonna go out here And i'm gonna do my,
thing And i'm gonna supreme. Belief his big question will
be can he hold up. Defensively if he can hold up,
defensively he can be a really really GOOD nba. Player at,
worse think he's gonna be a really good bench. Guard
(57:29):
and that you know clearly has. Value we've seen a
lot of guys turn that into really good. Stuff like
people get critical about like six, men BUT i always
remind People Lou williams And Jamal crawford had twenty year
careers as six, Men like you can be awesome in
that role for years and years and. Years and if
that's all it turns into for, Him, okay that's not
(57:49):
the end of the, world BUT i think it might
even be. More I'm I'm i'm excited to see what
happens with him. Now THAT uf team was was tough
and they got after. IT i, mean and he was
a huge part of why the one of the national.
Title AND i can't wait to see what happens with
him in THE.
Speaker 2 (58:02):
Nba huge buckets Against, houston huge buckets Against, yukon contested
buckets falling to his right and backwards from deep in the,
corner just ridiculous stuff from From Walter Clayton.
Speaker 3 (58:16):
Jr Those aliburton shots right where it's like, yes, wait,
wait drive and, No i'm gonna, yeah turn it. Around yeah,
Yeah i'm Gonna i'm gonna go one hundred miles an
hour to the free throw. Line Then i'm gonna turn
around and go back and shoot a step back three
and it's gonna go in and And i'm already jogging
back on defense before it's through the. Rim like day he.
(58:36):
SUPREME i, mean confidence pours out of that.
Speaker 2 (58:38):
Kid, yeah awesome, Stuff, Keith thanks so much for coming.
On we'll have to have you on in the off
season as. Well and, Uh i'll see you In vegas
if you.
Speaker 3 (58:47):
Go, Yeah i'll be. There i'll be there hoping up
WITH Us Sports business classroom this, year So i'm super,
excited so we'll definitely catch up.
Speaker 2 (58:54):
Then, awesome, fine Fine keith The Front office show along
With spots WHICH i always mispronounced the spo, track BUT
i Think i'm not the only. One definitely follow him
to break down all the dollars and cents of the,
sports but his actual basketball takes her fucking fire as.
Speaker 1 (59:10):
Well that's all the time that we have for this
episode that he.
Speaker 2 (59:13):
Checked come Back monday for an all new episode and
check out the feed for past episodes that unexpectedly come,
back like THE ufc In.
Speaker 1 (59:20):
Vegas if you do, not forget to follow the heat check
all playoffs long that means. Down let's subscribe and take
your friends
Speaker 2 (59:25):
And follow us on TikTok and at this heat check
AND i trist To crick On, Twitter instagram and Threats
met his new social media platform OR i host every
day
On this episode of the Heat Check.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
One series is over, another is headed to game six
and Indie, Yes, the Knicks took care of business in
Madison Square Garden and maybe, just maybe, and he's getting
the case of the meat sweats with Okay, see waiting
the winner.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
There's a lot to break down.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
So we have Keith Smith, the genius from spot Track
and I thought it was fow Track for a very
long time. So just very really really today to give
us all the details on the finals as well as
all the tea from around the league.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Keith is the best.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
So Wyatt's dropped that motherfucking beat that should be Rihanna.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
You're listening to the Hottest the Hottest Indy a podcast
out here. I said what I said, it's the heat
Check check which stop.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Crit So the Knicks you were dying scut check game cut.
The Pacers lead in the Eastern Conference Finals now to
three to two.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
It was so ugly.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Immediately you could tell the Knicks had come to play.
They were desperate, bloodthirsty, physical, intense, focused in a way
that normally they have these lapses. A lot of out
of control plays on both sides, particularly from the Pacers,
and it has been a hot minute since the Pacers
(01:21):
played a game with this many turnovers, which is nineteen
nineteen turnovers for the Pacers, not the type of thing
that they normally do. But the funny part was at
various times in the second half the Knicks were up
twenty and yet Madison Square Garden has seen enough of
these games that they treated it like it was a
three point game. That is how traumatized they are, and
(01:45):
that's how traumatized they've been over time by the Pacers.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
But they had two things tonight that they absolutely needed.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
One with Karl Anthony Town's very aggressive in a monster
game despite playing with a little bit of a knee contusion.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
The big Perr, the.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Kitty cat was unstoppable. He was an a grown main coon,
a grown man that was a big aggressive cat. We
got it again from Karl Anthony Towns in one second
quarter sequence. He had a smooth three sprinted back on
defense and he was the first knick back, then helped
defend the paint, led to a turnover, ran down to
(02:22):
the other end and scored a two three possessions that
he dominated in less than a minute, resulting in.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Five Knicks points.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
He ended the game as the second leading scorer for
the Knicks. What did he have in terms of his points?
Karl Anthony Towns had twenty four, Jalen Brunson thirty two.
Very interesting stuff. The other thing that the Knicks had
Jalen Brunson.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
I tried to.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Tell the folks that I was on right after the
game in the live stream. We should have known that
Jalen Brunson was gonna have one hell of a game
because it was a law in order game. Baby done,
don unduh. And like Mariska Haggerty from Waterer sdu if
you don't know her, she's like Jalen Brunson's idol. He
said that he's she's the only celebrity on Celebrity Roll
(03:13):
that he gets excited about seeing.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
And he puts up thirty.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Two to five and five on a night that almost
every veteran the met in America had played his under
thirty and a half. He was four to seven from deep,
just looked incredible, unstoppable, unguardable, immediately hot from three, and
I think when Jalen Brunson is hitting step back three
splashed in your face, this team is very hard to beat.
(03:39):
And he only played thirty four minutes and for Tibbs
and a TIBs coach team. When are we getting that?
When do we get a thirty four minute game from
any star on a team that Tibbs coaches. No, Nick
Starter actually had more than thirty six minutes. We got
Precious che Chulia minutes, we got Landry Schamet chance, we
(04:01):
got Delawn right minutes.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
It was insane. The Pacers were also ice cool, terrible.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Halliburton had seven shots Turner and nem hard Nie Smith
top and all were negative twenty or worse on Net ratings.
Halliburton slash line was eight two and six, and two
of those shots that he took were in the fourth
quarter when the game was already over. I told Dan
I was on the Dan Levatard stream right after the game.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
I told Juju, Tony and Dan. I thought maybe the
Pacers just knew they didn't.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Have it and said, we're just not gonna expend this
much energy trying to get back into the game.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
We don't have it.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
That's not a punt, but it's kind of a punt.
How bad was it?
Speaker 3 (04:45):
It was?
Speaker 2 (04:45):
We had Johnny Murphy minutes, Johnny Furfey minutes, excuse me.
We had Jeris Walker minutes, we had Ben Shephard offensive fouls.
We had just insane amount of players that you should
not ever see for this many minutes, like our man
Ben Mathurn was the leading scorer. Some Knicks fan on
(05:06):
Reddit hired a witch on Etsy to place a hex
on the Pacers and use the sixty percent off coupon
to do so. Must have been saving up for some
pizza and some some sort of beer champagne after the
Knicks win.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
It worked, and.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
She's about to be the richest witch on the west
in the planet right now because Knicks fans are jumping
on board trying to put another He's on the Pacers. Now,
we have an unreal Game six in Indiana on Saturday night,
and I for one cannot wait.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
The Knicks are still alive.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Their championship's odds dropped from plus twenty five hundred twenty
five to one to sixteen hundred, but the Pacers still
have two more chances to put a stake in their heart.
And if they don't, we got a Game seven in
the Garden on Monday night and.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
All bets are off up next.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Keith Smith from spot Track, All right, Welcome to the show.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
My guy.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Keith smith Man host the Front Office Show podcast, The
Man at Spoke Track, the Guy and the place that
everybody goes to break down the dollars, to break down
the sense. With this new CBA, it's more important than
ever to get the download. And you and Trevor Lane
(06:28):
together are just electric.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Keith, I appreciate that. Yea, we have a lot of fun.
Who would think a Celtics guy and a Lakers guy
could come together and have a pretty fun podcast, But
I think we managed to pull it off.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
That just shows you piece, give piece a chance.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
It's it basketball universal language.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
I want to start off with the teams in the
West Okase finishing off Minnesota in five games, and there
was really only one close good game to me. And
then you saw also the Thunder blow out the Nuggets
one game. You saw them blow out the Grizzlies one game,
(07:08):
And to that, I kept going back to how skeptical
people were all year of the Thunder and I just
couldn't really understand it other than we haven't seen it before.
What about you, like, what do you make of the
fact that even NBA teams were hoping to draw the
Thunder because they weren't afraid of them.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah, the NBA is a weird sport in that unless
you've done it, no one really believes you can. It's
it's a lot of other sports don't really feel that way.
It feels like in baseball or football, if you have
a good regular season, they're like they're the best team
maybe this year, and off we go. But in the NBA,
you could win seventy games and the Thunder almost did
(07:51):
and people are like, yeah, prove it to me in
the playoffs. And it's part of that is the nature
of it, right, it's seven game series. You gotta calm,
you gotta bring it. You're gonna be tested. Nobody he
gets super lucky. I don't think in the NBA. Every
once in a while you get lucky with matchups. But
you got to be healthy yourself. You got to win
four times four times to win a title, and that's
(08:11):
that's huge. So I think when you get into it
with the Thunder, that was just it. People needed to
see it. But I now's they making the finals better
if removed all doubt. If anybody still has Deubt left,
I don't know what to tell them at this.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Point, it's kind of insane.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Do you think it's also because it's a different type
of game in the postseason, right, Like there's more disparity
between what a regular season NBA game looks like and
a postseason NBA game looks like than say NFL or
college football or any other sport.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
I think there is. I think games get more physical.
Pace slows way down in the playoffs. The thunder were
they're They're clearly ready for the physical part of it.
They love to play a physical game. The pace. I
don't think they're super worried about the games slowing down
a little bit. They're gonna do what they do, and
I think that was some of the doubt there. They
(09:06):
also extremely young team. They only have two guys that
are over the age of thirty, that's Alex Crusoe and
Kenrick Williams. So I think when you're relying on so
much of your rotation and your key guys as young guys,
I think there's a fact question of are they ready
for this or are they gonna be ready? What are
they gonna do when it's a close game late. I
(09:27):
think some of the way they remove those questions are
I don't really let them be close late. They're the
best team I can ever remember, and I've been watching
the NBA for a very long time at flipping games
from a five point deficit to a fifteen point lead happens.
And like I said, this morning, you walk to the
fridge to get a drink and you come back and
like what happened? Like where did this go? You know?
(09:49):
They're just so good with the way they do that
to start forcing the turnovers when they're at home, the
crowd gets rocking and everybody's going, so yeah. Just a really,
really good team.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Defensively, the thing that I'm impressed about is that they
basically just create these ten oher runs just off their
defense alone.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
It's pretty nuts.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
I also thought it was interesting that the Thunder could
go from losing by forty to winning by forty in
the same series.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
What explains that to you?
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Yeah? I think that was Mark Dagnall basically very early
in the loss saying it's not happening tonight. I am
not putting any more miles on my guys. I'm pulling
the plug and that's it. Like he didn't mess around
at all. I don't know that anybody really even got
to twenty five thirty minutes in that game, because that's
something a lot of coaches they'll they'll kind of keep going,
(10:44):
keep going until there's seven eight minutes left in the
fourth quarter, and then maybe they'll finally give up. And
then he was like, it doesn't matter in the playoff
we lose by one hundred, it doesn't matter. It's one game,
y know, we'll come back and play again tomorrow. We
still have a good series lead, and let's go. And
I think that's huge. I think too often coaches are like, no,
let's chase, we don't want to get embarrassed. Let's keep going,
(11:07):
keep going. And it's just not the way to handle it.
I don't think I think you want to. You'll pull
the plug early. And then yeah, like you said, they
get these runs in these games and it's like an avalanche.
They start turning you over live ball turnovers leading to
runout baskets, and the next thing you know, it's the
lead is expanded and you're kind of out of the
game and you're standing around looking around like what just happened?
(11:28):
Like where did this come from? So yeah, they're just
a really really good team.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
So Shae MVP, I've been really excited about Shay since
probably I mean when Chris Paul came over to the
Thunder and we saw what he could be, and even
back when they got Pokashvski and everybody's excited about him,
and Shae felt like he was kind of the next
man up even back then. But what I find to
(11:53):
be so fascinating about Shay's ascent I've never heard maybe
Jalen Brunson, but again, he kind of came out of
quote unquote nowhere as well, the foul merchant controversy, the
asterisk around him being the scoring champion and the MVP
(12:13):
Doris Burke saying the words foul merchant. Why do you
think it's becoming such a storyline with him when so
many great NBA players of the course of history have
been quote unquote also foul merchants.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Yeah, That's the thing that's been kind of bothersome to
me is a lot of great scorers have been guys
who pile up, pile up free throws, and I think
with with like, even if we go back more recent history,
James Harden was that way with the Rockets when he
was winning the MVP, and in that conversation he was
getting the free throw line of time. And I think
(12:49):
there's two parts. One is nobody really likes free throws,
right that they're kind of the worst part of the game,
Like it just everything stops. It's one guy and you
watch for a minute he takes two free throws and
then we move on with the rest of the game.
It's like that part annoys people. And then I think
a lot of it is the thunder are there. It's weird.
(13:09):
It usually takes winning a couple of times for this
to happen. But they're kind of already flipping the script
where people like, I don't really like this team, like
some of it is. They're kind of brash, right, they'll
talk trash, they'll they'll you know.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Like a better version of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Exactly. Yep, yeah, exactly. And I think I think people,
you haven't wont anything yet, you know, shut it, shut up,
we don't want to watch it. But I think the
reality is like you have some of that. And then
I think there are some questionable calls in there, but
I'm not gonna scream and yell at about it, yell
about it. It's what happens, you know. It's fine I
think for shake Yo, just Alexander in particular. The issue
(13:44):
with him is he moves like like one of I
compare him to when you go buy a car dealership,
they've got that blow up guy and he's kind of
like winking all over and stuff like that's what it
looks like to me with him, Like he's just like
one of those blow up things, and it's like he
gets these angles and I say, he's slithery, like that's
what he reminds me of it. And there's times he
(14:05):
just draws fives that other guys wouldn't draw, but more
often than not, they're there. And my overarching thing with
this point is the less folks worry about the officiating
in games, the more you'll enjoy the game. Like just
watch the game, like it's it's I see so many
people there and it's the same people on social media
(14:26):
every game it's that's a bad call, that's a bad call.
That's a bad call, and it's like, what, like is
that why you watch to call bad calls? Like just
you know, I don't know. I have a hard time
with that much complaining about the refs.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Yeah, the referee police, they want to like the free
throw disparity police. The Laker fans are big free throw Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
I tell you that.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
It's it's incredible too, because maybe it also is because
the thunder are so physical themselves, and then you see
Shake get so many touch fouls.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Do you think that that has anything to do with
it either, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
I think so. I think there's definitely some of that
in there as well. And I think, you know, for
all of the things that the thunder uh do really well,
they gave up a lot of free throws in their games.
I think they were, Yeah, I just looked it up.
They were twenty six in free opponent free throws this
year for free throws per you know, per field goal attempt.
(15:29):
So that's really not good. And but that's part of it.
Then when you play that physical defense, you're kind of
in a way daring the referees call all the files right,
like we're gonna do what We're going to challenge you
with this, and that gets to be a little bit
tricky with that.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
I want to get your thoughts on Jalen Williams J
DUB because man, if you juxtapose the Denver series outside
of Game seven, he was I mean there were legit
pundits being like, can Jada be your second score on
a championship team?
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Do we have to rely on chets development more?
Speaker 2 (16:09):
What do you have in game six, six, seven, and ten,
shot three for sixteen from the field, And then you
juxtapose that with Game four against Minnesota where they needed
these points from.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
Him in a game that could have been in Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Win thirty four, three and five on thirteen for twenty four. Like,
what's your take and your thoughts on him and kind
of what we've seen blossom before our very eyes and
his impact on this team and offensively and defensively.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Yeah, I think when you look at his full body
of work regular season plus playoffs, he's terrific. And that's
why he made All NBA. That's why he made all defense.
Really versatile defender. There were moments I think people have
kind of forgotten because it was so long ago. Chet
Holmgren out and as a Hardenstein out, he was playing
the five for them. You're starting games at center, and
(17:04):
he's like, I think they list him at six's eight,
but he's like six' six at, best and did they
were holding up and doing what they do and playing
hyper aggressive and and all. That he's you, know arguably
one of the more versatile defenders we have in the entire.
League and then, offensively his his game is really rounded out.
Nicely he came in as a pretty good playmaker and
(17:26):
a guy who could, score but he's really turned into
a terrific score. Now AND i think what's unfortunate is
if this was the middle Of march and he was
going through a slump like he was going, through we
do always just kind of, know whatever he's in a,
slump what happens in the? Playoffs it, starts, well he's
not clutch and he can't. Win he's not going to.
Perform AND i think what we're really looking at is
(17:47):
already he just went through it a little bit and
now he's you, know kind of back on. Track AND
i think that's that's important context to bring into it
of sometimes guys just go through. Slumps things.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Happen, yeah it's tough if you get in slumps during
multiple playoff series or multiple years of playoff. Series AND
i think that was what people were, wondering, Was, man
when the lights are bright and the let leverage is,
high is JDub going to rise to the, occasion and
(18:16):
then you see the game six Against denver and you're, like,
whoh we've seen these moments where he shrunk before and
is this a slump or is this like who he?
Is kind of like what we think About James, harden,
right like so, talented but when the lights get, bright
we haven't seen a lot of really Great James harden.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Performances, yeah absolutely, Right AND i think the for, ME
i would need to see it. More this is really
this team's second real, run, right so like let's see
what it looks. Like AND i think the fact that
and he does that big games and then people kind
of want to excuse, him, Right it's, like YEAH i had,
thirty but they won by, forty so who? Cares, well
(18:57):
well that still, counts, Right it all still, Matter like
it's it's. There and a lot of teams are front.
Runners like that term's always made me laugh a little
bit when it's, like you know all the teams are front? Runner, well,
yeah of course they are when things are going really.
Good of course you know teams are front. Runners but,
YEAH i think he's really. GOOD i THINK i think
too That Mark diagnal just sticks with, him right and
(19:19):
just keeps going with him and doesn't try to do
anything where it is all, right we're, gonna you, know
take him off the, court like he just trusts his,
guys even Like Lou door we've seen go through some
really awful shooting slumps throughout the course of these, playoffs
but he just keeps rolling with him because it's, like
that's my, guy, Right i'm gonna trust that when it's
when it's really, needed it'll be. There and that goes
(19:40):
a long way with players to have when their coach
has their back like.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
That from a cap standpoint or just a transactional, STANDPOINT
i want to get your thoughts on this because you've
probably seen the the meme going around or the graphic
going around where It's Richard Lewis Sam presty Turning Richard
lewis into this whole thundered like the paper clip into the,
(20:08):
house right with the trade exceptions and Turning Paul george
Into shay and five first.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Round all this from all of the.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Experience that you've had analyzing THE nba on a transactional,
level can you put how impressive this GMing is historically
from what you've seen in your.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Career, yeah it's way way way up, there because this
is a team, that outside of a couple of years
which were very intentional down, years from the Time Sam
pressy has taken, over hasn't really been. Bad The seattle
team was starting, over they GOT, kd they Get Russell,
(20:51):
westbrook the team, moves then they're. Good they're good for
a number of years In Oklahoma. City then POST Kd,
westbrook as they started to move into a little bit
of a different, error it was, like all, right, well
we've Got Chris paul and we're still pretty. Good and
then they were good into the. Bubble then coming out of,
That presty was, like all, right but we're not good.
Enough we don't want to be just a playoff, Team
(21:13):
So i'm Gonna i'm gonna strip it, right But i'm
not getting rid OF. Sga we're gonna build around. Him
got him on a good, contract and they just kept adding,
pieces adding. PIECES i like TO i have a MEME
i created in post all the. Time whenever they make a,
trade it's like it's the guy walking with his girlfriend
looking at the other girl and it's Like Sam presty
with draft, picks but he's, like oh more draft. Picks
(21:35):
cause that's just you know how these things seem to
go for years in his, trades like it's it is
incredible that he's built. This and the great thing is
everybody's the discussion point since, yesterday AND i think some
of it is it's people trying to cope with the
fact of, like all, right, well this team won't be
around for too, long, right because how are we gonna
deal with these? Guys they're set up really.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Well it kind of kills like a long Time keith,
yeahs like sixty six years or.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
So, yeah it really, is because you HAVE i tweeted
it out last night in the aftermath of them winning
fourteen of fifteen players through twenty, six twenty seven or
under team control either they're, signed they have The thunder
of an option for, them or they have their restricted
free agent. Rights they're going to get, Expensive there's no
doubt about. That but the nice thing for The thunder
(22:24):
is as they get, expensive when they Extend williams and
they extend Home grin and then they have to do
a new deal WITH, sga the cap will continue to go.
Up it's not going to go up ten percent every,
year but it'll go. Up that'll make those contracts more.
Palatable and then the other thing that comes in, is,
yeah they may Lose Aaron wiggins Or Isaiah joe or Even,
hartenstein but they still have all these extra draft picks
(22:46):
that they can start to, replenish and that's going to
be how they'll build it. Up and in these next
couple of years where they probably don't have roster spots
for all the draft picks they, Have Sam presci will, say, hey,
Well i'll take one And i'll turn it into two later,
Ya i'll take take one this, Year i'll turn it
into one down the, line and that's gonna be how
they're going to keep backfilling those rotation spots around the
(23:07):
three main, guys and that's why they should be able
to extend this window out for a.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
While. Yeah, yeah it's pretty, impressive especially considering it's a small.
Market and we'll talk About indiana as, well because they
did something similar but in a totally different. Way BUT
i do want to just get your thoughts On minnesota
because again a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Were not sold on this.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Team posts, Uh Karl Anthony towns trade And Julius rendall
kind of seemed like he was just there temporarily as
a salary, match and he's sort of turned some things
around outside of this last series AGAINST okc and they
found their.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Rhythm you.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Know obviously The Julius randall injury was a, blow but
he came back so much. Better if you're A wolves
fan knowing what's, coming knowing about the cap situation and
the new ownership and what they're probably going to have
to do make, change he's got multiple guys that are
now free. Agents is but you're also coming off of
(24:05):
Two Western Conference finals appearances back to. Back is this
a glass, full half full or a glass half empty?
Speaker 3 (24:12):
SCENARIO i think it's half, full mostly Because Anthony edwards
is that. GOOD i know he had a little bit
of a Rough West, finals BUT i kind of liked
what he was saying coming out of that of, like,
Hey i'm gonna be better next year AND i want
to get back here again AND i want to go
further next. Time and then you're talking to somebody who
(24:33):
was The celtics, guy you, know covering the team. Forever
i've been a fan my whole. Life they beat their
heads against the wall in The East finals a million
years in a. Row it felt like and then finally
broke through AND i have faith With edwards that'll get.
There AND i love that he's talking about, like, HEY
i want to do this For Mike, conley, RIGHT i
want to get him over the hump and get get.
Further AND i think they're set up fairly well with.
(24:56):
Things they're, again very expensive, team but we've got a
little bit of. Flexibility we'll see what happens With randall
And reed in their. Options they may end up Losing Ni,
Kile Alexander. Walker we'll see. That it really comes down
to how deep into the second apron do they want
to go? Again do They are they okay with that
because now that the ownership transition is moving, forward are
(25:17):
they gonna kind of put the brakes on things or
is it just gonna Be Tim connolly in the front office, saying,
hey we got to back off because we can't do
a lot to improve the. Roster we'll see where it.
Goes but it's a really forward thinking group there In.
MINNESOTA i like the way they kind of just they
do things in a little bit of a different way
and that that's that's been fun to see. Them LIKE
i thought The Rob dillingham trade a year ago at the,
(25:40):
draft was really inspired of a way to let's add
some high level talent when we don't have a lot
of assets inability to do. SO i thought they were
smart with doing that so AND i like that they're
also saying they're gonna play their kids. More get let's
get dealing him And channon in the fold next. Year
let's really try to work them in the rotation so
then you're you're not as relying on, five, six seven.
(26:00):
Guys you can go ten deep when you need to
in the.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Playoffs what do you think the future looks like For?
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Rudyobert because when he had his contract, extension it kind
of looked like it was in albatross then and now
thirty five million.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Dollars doesn't look that bad at.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
All and he's such a such a firebrand and like
a controversial player in the, playoffs specifically because he'll have
these epic games like he did against The, lakers and
then he'll disappear and pretty much be on a milk
carton like he did In game one against the Thunder,
(26:37):
like what do you think this team feels about?
Speaker 3 (26:40):
Him, YEAH i think they're. Committed that's why they gave
him the, extension and you're absolutely. Right this is the
thing with these, contracts and IT'S i, Mean i'm not
turning down thirty five. Million if everyone wants to throw
it my. Way if people watch this way to contact.
Me it's in My twitter. Bio let me. Know if
you got millions laying, around, WELL i think With Rudy,
gobert the thing is anybody on those kind of, contracts
(27:04):
as the cap continues to go, up it's just about
percent of cap, Now like that's what you really have
to focus on versus just the raw dollar amount because
the raw dollar amounts they're, staggering, Right they're gonna be.
Crazy Kate Kate cunningham's contract is. Huge the CONTRACT sga
can sign, for it's gonna be. Ridiculous you, know we're
we're closing in on five hundred million dollar contracts here
(27:25):
pretty soon over you're gonna have one hundred million dollar
a year player within probably the decade like. That but
that's just where things are. Going SO i, think now
what what we look at is when we look in
percent a, cap it's pretty. Good now With, GOBART i
think this is why it's important to Keep bake nas
reed in the, fold because you want to have somebody
else to turn to on those nights When gobart is
(27:45):
just he just doesn't have. It he's not. There he's you,
know a zero on, offense and the defense isn't exactly
what you. Need but more often than, not you, know
even with the offensive, challenges you're gonna have somebody can
really be a game changer on, defense and that's. Huge so,
YEAH i think they're pretty happy to have him and
have him at the number they got him.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
At, yeah we'll see what happens With nasried because if
they lose, him boy oh, boy that makes things a
lot more problematic for. Sure let's turn to The knicks
and The, Pacers. Keith there's a lot of chatter About
brunston right.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
NOW i Love.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Brunson he's probably one of my top five favorite players to,
watch especially in the fourth. Quarter and there's a lot
of chatter about whether The knicks can win with them
on the highest level with him as their ONE. A
and there's also now conversations about whether you can win
With brunson and kat together because of the defensive deficiencies
(28:38):
that they both. Have what are your thoughts as you
watch the game and analyze it about that.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Notion, yeah clearly their hope was putting together the perimeter
trio Of Bridges anenobian heart would be enough to cover
For towns And. Brunson but once you get into the
higher levels of the, playoffs you're going against teams that
they're just they're gonna wait and work to get you
to a spa where it just doesn't matter how good
(29:05):
three of your five defenders. Are if there's one guy
that can't hold, up they're gonna find them and they're
gonna go after, them and they're gonna try to, really you,
know make it. Happen SO i think with The, knicks
it's just gonna have to be a conversation around what
can you do. SCHEMATICALLY i thought they did a better
job Against boston than they've done Against indiana of kind
of baiting The celtics, into, hey you know, what you
(29:27):
want to attack, this and then it's but as you're Attacking,
towns we're gonna have somebody else digging in on the
weak side to. Help we're gonna do these. Things we're
gonna make it, Harder we're gonna we're gonna press you
out to half court or even beyond where by the
time you finally get to the matchup you, want there's
four seconds left on the shop clock and you have to.
Go problem, is Against indiana that doesn't work because they
(29:48):
just race the ball up the floor and they're getting
into their stuff with seventeen seconds on the shop, clock
and then then it is all, right you you maybe
stop the first thing we want to go, to but
we'll just a second action and move forward with. That
so that's a little bit of a challenge. There SO
i don't want to throw it all, away but it
sounds crazy to say it because it's A TIBs coach,
team but you almost gotta lean into your offense a
(30:08):
little bit more and really, say all, right you know,
what we we can't stop these. Guys not that means
you don't try, defensively but let's go with a little
bit more. Offense let's try, to you, know pick up
our own. Pace that's the one ISSUE i have With Jalen.
BRUNSON i love him, too but, man he wants to
play slow and play in the half. Court and there's
times with that knicks and it was Against, boston it
(30:30):
stood out at times in Against indiana where just get
the ball up the, floor get. Going there's easier offense
then you're having to work so deep into the shot.
Clock but, yeah it's, tough but not impossible to build
around A bruns And towns led.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Team you're right, too because the thing that you see
sometimes at the end of games is just a lot
of dribbling by bruntson and it's a lot of we
know exactly what you're gonna. Do you're telegraphing that It's
brunton and Only. Brunson if they could get a little
bit more chaotic Like, indiana a little bit more whack
a mole where you don't know who's gonna have the hot,
(31:03):
hand then it almost Makes brunton even more.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Potent when you do go to.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
Him, yeah, move, Move just get into your stuff quicker like.
That that's my biggest thing.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
With, them push the pace off of makes Is Tom
dibbodeau underrated or overrated as a.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
Coach he's rated properly, rated you. Know IT'S i think
he's done a really good job of getting teams to
a level where it is better than what they were
before he came. IN i don't know that he is
a true championship level. COACH i do have some. Doubts
(31:40):
one of my big things and it's minutes police sound the, siren,
right is his team's d often worn down by the
time they get deep into the playoffs because he pushes
them so hard in the regular. Season but on the flip,
side that comes with a really good regular season. Results
so it really, is you, know where are we trying
to go when the goal is win a whole lot
in the regular season and in the, Playoffs but it
(32:01):
doesn't always work out that, way SO i. Think but
he's by no means a bad. Coach i've heard some
people suggesting, like this guy's not even. Good it's you,
know the matter of the talent that he, has AND
i don't think that's true at. ALL i think he's
does what he, does AND i think this PARTICULAR nixt
team they don't have the talent to play the way
he wants to. Play that's WHY i think you've seen
(32:22):
him go To Mitchell. Robinson that's a lot more the
defensive style he, wants or it is let's press out,
high let's hedge, hard, recover get back to, it and
he can't do that with talents because he's just not
that kind of.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
Defender, yeah he has a style of a play he
wants to institute that may or may not be twenty
twenty five championship. Caliber The, pacers, Though, keith they're kind
of like a mix Between okac in the sense that
the GMing that got this team here is just so fucking,
(32:55):
Impressive like you just look at, it and, You i'm
sure know all About Aaron nesemith from the time he
was buried at the back of the bench For Romeo
langford back in the, day and both of, them both
of them were buried. Together you're, right but you were, wondering,
okay like what Was indiana thinking Moving Malcolm brogden for For?
(33:16):
Aaron Meet Nei smith and and the list kind of
goes on and on in terms of the moves that they've.
Made but the way that they were also remind me
a little bit of The wolves in the sense that
they went to the conference finals the year before and
had a horrible first start to the year where we, thought,
oh my, god, like Is tyree's haliburt not that? Good
like or is he still working through that hamstring injury
(33:38):
that he was working on the year? Before are they
a for real team or did they just get fluky
to get to this place and they've shown that they
are they are no fluke and they actually look more
impressive this year than they did last. Year can you
talk a little bit about just juxtapose the the GMing
between WHAT okc did and and What indiana, did and
like Why indiana maybe even more or impressive or at
(34:00):
least equally.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
Impressive, yeah okaysee built a lot of theirs through draft and,
development And i'll Include sga in. That they did not draft.
Him they acquired him via, trade but they developed him
into this through through their, process Where indiana was a
little bit more Of they definitely did some draft in,
development but there's a lot more of smart trades to
(34:24):
get their. Guys Getting haliburton For, Sabonis i'm Not i'm
still not going to kill The kings BECAUSE i think
there's a little too much of forgetting where the teams
were at at the time that trade was. Made but,
yeah obviously The pacers have come out ahead on. That
haliburtons now you, know regular L nba guy And sibonis
is merely a very GOOD nba center WHO i happen
(34:46):
to like quite a bit as a. Player but then
The siakam trade last, year which was just a perfect,
fit right that we need a power. Forward it can
go out and score and do some stuff for. Us
we can get. Him let's go get, him let's get this.
Done just amazing trade. There and then like you, say
Getting Nee smith in a trade where The brogden deal, was,
(35:07):
well we Have. Halbard now we like this nem hard, Kid,
like we don't really Need Malcolm brogden, anymore let's move him.
Off Innee smith was the guy they. Got they also
got to pick in that, deal and In Nei smith's
big problem With boston was every time he was like
already starting to come, along he get hurt. Again and
then it was like all, right and then it became
very clear he's never gonna have a very big role
(35:28):
With Tatum brown in the fold because he's just not
gonna be how it. Goes so now he glenns, there
he's been very. Good and then the rest of their, GUYS.
Tj McConnell really underrated acquisition when they went out he got,
him and he's just he's just a pest like AND
i mean that is a complete, compliment but he's just,
Yeah he's just always up in you and doing stuff
where it's, like, man, like would you get away from? Me,
(35:49):
like you, know just annoying out there the way he,
plays and it's so. Good but then he Drafted, mathern
WHO i Think matherin gives them another level of like
kind of chaotic. Energy you never kind of know what
he's gonna. Do and there's times when even in this,
series he had a game the other day where it
wasn't going so, good So Rick carlile just pulled him.
OUT i was, Like i'm not gonna play you because
(36:10):
you're a little out of. Control and Then Ben, sheppard you,
know got the minutes. Instead and then the other Night
mathen was out there doing his thing and looked really
good and he Played he's scored like twenty points in
like twelve minutes or. Whatever it, was so, like, hey
it's just a really smartly constructed. Roster and THEN i
Think Rick carlile as the coach so key Because Rick
carlile doesn't necessarily want to play super fast and up.
(36:32):
Tempo that's never been his. Style BUT i think he's
a smart enough coach to know this is what works
for the. GUYS i have let's, go let's get after
it this.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Way, yeah he really has adapted his team's scheme to
the personnel that he. Has he's almost the inverse Of Tom,
thibodeau Where Tom thibodau' is, like this is What i'm
running regardless of the personnel THAT i, have And Rick
carlile has done a really great job of doing the.
Opposite more coaches need to do that is, like that's
(37:02):
kind of what being a coach is is using the
ingredients that you have in the kitchen and chaffing it.
UP i do Think Tyrese halliburton as good as he
was last, year especially in The Ntason tournament and some
of the moments that we've seen with. Him he talked
to a bunch of high, end you, know greats in
terms of point guard. POSITIONS i know that something came
(37:24):
out recently that he was talking to super just about
how to balance the.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
Scoring load with the facilitating.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
Load and it FEELS i don't know about, you but
it feels like he's taken a huge.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
Leap in the last two.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
Series just the moments that he's given us and the
presence of, mind for, example to miss that free throw
intentionally and shoot the three and you, know the fake
the jab step and hit it right in the. Face
there was just so many of. Those oh my, god
this is now etched in. History i'm kind of stunned
that people Thought Tyrese haliburton in the. League his peers
(38:00):
thought he was the most overrated.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
Player, yeah that's a little, crazy and THAT i think
often in those surveys that they, do there's a lot
of that's rooted in jealousy of, like, MAN i should
have been On TEAM usa and he didn't even. Play
he was at the end of the bench and all
the things got that get said about. Him But i'm with.
(38:22):
YOU i think he is now as a point guard.
Mastered for, me arguably the most important skill a point
guard can, have which is controlling the pace of the.
Game and it is not just game to. Game it's
possession of. Possession if it is the best thing for
us is to fly down the. Floor he gets that
(38:42):
going and the keys it and off they. Go if
it is, nope we're gonna slow it down And i'm
gonna find the matchup we need to go. To not
always for, himself it might be the best thing for
me to do is pull the defense defender over, here
get it over To nemhar to get it To, sam
And siakam attacks because he's got. It my my job
is keep the other defenders out of there by pulling
(39:03):
them off to the other side of the. Floor he
is really good at, that and that those are the
things that the very best point guards, do the Magic
johnson back in the, day Or Steve nash Or Chris.
Paul for, YEARS i always said With Chris, paul you
play the game of whatever Speed Chris paul wants to play.
That if he wants to play, fast we're all playing fast.
Today if he wants to play, solow we're all playing.
Slow And Tyres alburn's now there, too and he does
(39:26):
just such a good job of varying it within. Games
it's everybody thinks of the pacers as all they do
is run and run and. Run but like watch when
they play play The, knicks or if they make the,
finals there'll be moments where it Is, nope the best
thing to do now is slow it, down lead the
clock a little bit and. Go and he's equally as
good at.
Speaker 2 (39:42):
That how do you assess the matchup BETWEEN i think
obviously you know it might not be done. Tonight obviously
we're recording this earlier than the show's coming. Out but
how do you assess AN Okac pacer final like matchup?
Wise do you think that that looks, like.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
Yeah give the advantage To okay, See BUT i think
it's going to be closer than people think because they
kind of counter each other in ways that are really.
Good The pacers are actually fairly solid in interior defense
With Miles turner kind of lurking as a help. Guy
that helps when you've Got sga And Jalen williams who
just want to get downhill over and over and over.
(40:23):
Again they've got good athletes Because siakam's pretty good, Athlete
Nie smith good. Athlete then you've Got Obi topping good
athlete coming off the. Bench so some of those drives
and lobs and those, things they're gonna be competitive on,
Those they're not just gonna give them Up ah with.
Ease and THEN i Think indiana they control the. Ball
they don't throw the ball away very, often and the
(40:44):
thunder we talked about it. Before they feed so much
off turnovers and really getting that ball and getting it
running the other way and all those. Things that's so
huge for, them AND i don't know that that's gonna
be there quite as. EASY i just think it's gonna
be an overall depth of options that will Wear they
will just Wear indiana down. Eventually BUT i do, think you,
know if that's the series we, get AND i think
(41:05):
that's where we're probably, ADDED i think it's gonna be
a really fun, finals a lot better THAN i think
a lot of people, are, like, Well i'm not watching.
This who cares about these two? Teams you're gonna miss
out on some really good.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
Basketball, yeah, fun, competitive high level. Firework anything's bound to
happen type of. BASKETBALL i. DO i can't let you
go without talking about The. Celtics just a rough way
to end the season in so many, ways the catastrophic
leads that they let slip away In game one And game. Two,
(41:39):
obviously The Jason tatum injury now extends past this.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
Year another team that's been.
Speaker 2 (41:45):
Very clear everyone's reporting is that they're gonna get less.
Speaker 1 (41:50):
Expensive what does that mean to?
Speaker 2 (41:53):
You because that could mean we get rid of Kristavs
porzingis and we bring on some you, Know south expirings
and then we maybe call. Them that could mean we
get rid Of Drew holiday AND kp all the way
to oh, well maybe we explore reloading and moving on
From Jalen, brown WHICH i don't think would, happen but
(42:15):
those rumors are out here.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
Too, Yeah i'm ready for anything this. Summer part of
the wild card is it is a new ownership group coming.
In one of the things That i've said for months
before obviously their run, ENDED i didn't think if they
were in the finals, again or obviously if they won
the finals, again that the first steps for a new
(42:37):
ownership group was going to be let's start trading guys
because we need to get. CHEAPER i Know celtics, fans
they wouldn't stand for. It they would have rioted if
that was the case, NOW i, think and it's not
the right exact term to, use but they have a
little bit of cover on doing that BECAUSE i think
most folks are, like, eh it's probably gonna be a
little bit of a gap. Year and that's WHAT i
think it's gonna, be is just a step, back as
(42:59):
they kind of said a little. BIT i think there's
a good chance someone Like Drew holiday gets, Moved Chris
porzingis maybe gets. MOVED i Think Sam hauser is maybe
the most logical guy to get. Traded It's Sam houser
being a really good bench shooter on a team that's
not a title. Contender it's like having a really good
closer on a bad baseball. Team what's the, Point like
(43:19):
it doesn't really. Matter and they've got a guy Like
Baylor shireman in the fold now where it's, like just
give him those minutes and see what he can. Do
SO i think what we're really looking at with them
is it's probably gonna take a series of transactions to get.
There there's not gonna be one big transaction because that
would mean dealing with the nets and be, like, hey
you want to eat this one contract for holiday or For,
(43:41):
portzingis and that would clear everything they need to. Clear
BUT i don't think that's gonna be how it, goes
BECAUSE i don't think they think they're excited about the
idea let's give up draft capital to do. That BUT
i think a series of transactions over a couple, cycles so,
offseason trade, deadline the next, offseason that's how they're gonna
get themselves under the second. Apron i'm with. YOU i
(44:01):
don't think they'll Trade Jalen. BROWN i don't know that
it's completely off the. Table, clearly they've had him in
trade talks previously that you, know he felt a certain
way about, that but it didn't end up, happening and
he came back great and won a. Title but he's
also dealing with a knee, injury so he'll take a step.
Back the good news is The Eastern cofford, stinks so
they can be a little worse and still probably be
(44:23):
a playoff. Team and the good news With Jason tatum
is all the reports that are coming out is he
had this surgery very, early very, quickly basically within twenty
four hours of it, happening and all the indications are
if you get it done very quickly and in the
manner that they repaired the, injury you can return quicker
and better then most guys have from These achilles tears that,
(44:46):
said they're not gonna rush him. Back they're not gonna be,
like get back on the floor and by the trade
deadline or by The All star break or anything like.
That BUT i think if he's, ready they'll bring him.
Back it might look a little bit Like Brandon clark
did a couple of seasons ago with The, griz where
it was at the end of a lost. SEASON a
lot of, people why are they Bringing Brandon clark? Back they,
stink they're, Terrible but it was get them back out,
(45:07):
there let him go, through all. Right they can play in.
TRAFFIC i could play in a. CROWD i got knocked,
down somebody fell into my. Leg it's not the end
of the. World i'm. Good so that, way when we
start the next, season you just started free and clear
and you're ready to, Go so that that's kind of
be how that might might might play out.
Speaker 1 (45:24):
Here, yeah so you expect major. MOVES i.
Speaker 3 (45:28):
Do, yeah it's it would be at this point in my. Opinion,
IRRESPONSE i don't care about the luxury, tax But i'm
not paying, It like what pay pay it half a
billion dollars if you want. To that's. You you bought the,
team don't you know you need to pay that PART
i don't care. About WHAT i care about is the
roster restrictions that come from being a Second apron, team
(45:49):
And boston's now starting to feel the weight of those
where becomes a lot harder to make moves and becomes
a lot harder to improve the. Team and you have.
Holiday he's thirty. Five porzingis is NOW i think he's,
thirty but he misses a lot of time every. Year
this year was a lot with this mystery, illness which
hopefully gets resolved over the offseason and he's healthy and,
(46:10):
okay but you know it's gonna be something else he's
gonna miss some. Time SO i think this is a
good chance to reset a little bit and see where it.
GOES i know Some celtics fans are, like, hey IF
i gonna watch a year At Peyton pritchard And Derek,
white you, know shooting contests for forty minutes a, night that's.
FINE i can do. It you, know there's a lot
of people, like we want a. Title we're still one
(46:31):
up on The. Lakers it's all, Right, like let's keep
going because that's a major goal For celtics fans at this. Point.
Speaker 2 (46:39):
YEAH i THINK i interviewed you the day that the
NEW cba came out and we had no idea really
even what to make of it at that. Point now
that we've seen the ramifications of, it The celtics obviously
being example number one in terms of how it affects
what you can and can't do and even if you're
(47:01):
a title, team what you can do with your roster
and what you're forced to. Do do you think this is,
now looking at it and holistically this is a good
thing for the, LEAGUE i don't know.
Speaker 3 (47:14):
YET i think so is Where i'll say It's AND
i tend to be a lot more conservative with these,
things like we. Weren't we were days into the NEW
cba rules and effect and people are, like this is.
Ruining it's ruined to THE, nba and then no trades
will ever get made. Again and then we just had
(47:34):
the craziest trade deadline we've ever. Had this summer is
gonna be. Wild there's more big names available than. Ever
teams will find a, way you, know it's Like Jurassic, park,
right life finds a, Way like they'll they'll figure it.
Out they're gonna make things happen for. ME i. THINK
i think parody is, good BUT i don't like it
if we start breaking teams up too, Quickly like if
(47:57):
we get to a position where the thunder like we
just we got to move one of our three best,
players that's not. Good like in THAT i don't think
they're gonna have, to but if they have, to that's not.
Great you want trades to be made out of basketball,
reasons not just true financial. Reasons and it's rare that
trades are made solely just about on court. Reasons it's
(48:19):
always for one team or another about the salary cap
in the cap. Sheet so BUT i think it's okay
as long as we can still get some teams that
it's like AND i know that team like The. Warriors
part of the fun with The warriors was we all
loved the first couple of seasons with The, warriors then
everybody hated them two seasons, later, right because it's, well
(48:42):
what do they, Say you become the, hero then live
long enough to become the. Villain like that's that's what
happened with The. Warriors and you know, what. Dynasties you
either want to root for them or you want to
root against. Them AND i think those are good for,
for you, know sports in general. Anyway and so, Yeah
I'M i let's, see you, know let's let it play
out for a couple more years and then then we'll
have a better handle on.
Speaker 2 (49:02):
IT a Team keith that maybe made a trade for financial,
reasons but they told us that they made them for basketball.
Speaker 1 (49:12):
Reasons he's A Dallas mavericks.
Speaker 2 (49:14):
Who got absolutely dragged all season long after the, deadline
only to be a playing team and fuck around and
get the first White american born player to go number
one since LIKE.
Speaker 1 (49:32):
I don't even.
Speaker 2 (49:32):
REMEMBER i, know it's BEFORE i was, born AND i,
REMEMBER i know it's a name THAT i don't really
even have stuck into my. Cerebellum and that's Not Larry.
Bird so now they're messing around and they Get Cooper,
flag what do you see for them this? Offseason, like
we've got The kyrie? Injury any chance he doesn't sign With?
Dallas like do you think that the pr disaster has
(49:54):
been mitigated By? Flag are there some people still kind
of a little suspicious about what this franchise is doing or?
Speaker 3 (50:01):
What, yeah and this is. TIMELY i just posted their
offseason preview on spot track. TODAY i it's what an
incredible you, know uh luck to have that happen in the.
Lottery AND i don't buy into conspiracy theories or any of.
That you you've worked in the media a long, time So,
vie there's media members in the, room and we would
(50:22):
love nothing more than to break that, story right it's,
rigged AND i saw how you, know good luck getting
all those people plus thirty teams to all. Agree, yeah
the best thing for our league is to Give Dallas Cooper.
Flag why do The pelicans want?
Speaker 2 (50:37):
That?
Speaker 3 (50:37):
Right, like that's not a. Thing so that, said it's
funny because this always happens at draft when you're a
month out from the draft. Book maybe you, know could
they draft somebody? Else, no, like take that out of the.
Mix It's Cooper. FLAG i had a chance because he
went To Montvert academy for the last couple of, years
right down the road from my, house SO i saw
him play a. LOT i think the thing that gets
(50:59):
forgotten with how good of a prospect he. Is this
kid is. Eighteen he should be a high school senior right.
Now he should be graduating high school like this week
here in the state Of, florida and and here we
are he's prepping for the draft and prepping to go
to The. Mavericks all that, SAID i think they're gonna Resign.
KYRIE i think they're gonna keep. HIM i think they're
gonna do what they need to to have him in the.
(51:19):
Fold and THEN i think we're going to see them,
basically go get another point guard that can play For
kyrie un til he's ready to. Go kyrie has been
very adamant he's gonna be back earlier than people. THINK
i think there's a good chance that. Happens kyrie's not
trying to protect ten more years of a. Career he
probably knows he's got four or five years left that
(51:41):
on the top end, Anyway so why not come back
a little. Early i'm not trying to protect an entire career,
here AND i think they got a chance to be pretty.
GOOD i think they can flip this very. Quickly they've
now got front court depth that they didn't have. Before
you can trade some of. It gonna be a little
careful because he gets. Hurt derek G liively's been hurt
his first couple of years, too so you don't want
to sell all of it off to get your guard
(52:03):
that you, need but you can do some of. IT
I i think they're gonna turn it around very very.
Quickly as far As MAVs fans, GO i think the
true fans of the, TEAM i think a lot of
them have kind of for you, know forgive and forget.
Right it's, like now we Have cooper, flag let's go.
That you, know obviously they've sold a ton of season tickets,
now so they feel pretty good about. THAT i think
(52:24):
where they've lost is like the the, uh the people
Became MAVs fans because they Were luca, fans like a
lot of The european, fans they're never ever coming, Back
like that's, Done you're You're. Finnah you need to get
the Next Dirk oh for that to bring those guys.
Speaker 1 (52:38):
Back and no longer A MAVs Fin, yeah.
Speaker 3 (52:40):
Exactly, yeah that's been not great. Either so, yeah so
they're they're they're they're in trouble, there but, YEAH i
think they'll trade that that off for Having cooper in
the fold and feeling pretty good about.
Speaker 2 (52:50):
That speaking of the, draft before we let your, ROLE
i would love to get your. OPINION i, mean it
feels like it's just It's, cooper It's Yellen, harper and
then who the hell, Knows and a lot of it
could be team specific for, you who's your sleeper in this,
Draft like who's the kid that rises and who's the
(53:13):
kid that that, sinks like like we saw with With
cam and The Houston rockets a couple of years.
Speaker 3 (53:20):
Ago oh, Yeah Kim, Wbmore, yeah we'll know he's gonna
be a top ten pick and went in the. Twenties,
yeah it's he's not gonna fall that. Far he may
not even fall past. Three i'm a little worried About Ace,
bailey Like i'm just not when he he didn't, measure you,
know like big at the, combine that's that's a little
worrisome for. Me if he'd come in AND i know
(53:42):
they do it without shoes and all that, silliness which
Is i've never, understood we don't play. Barefoot who? Cares but,
anyway when he didn't come in at six nine without,
SHOES i think that was a little more. Worrisome the
kid's never seen the top shot he won't, take which
can be, good but it's also not. RIGHT i think
he's gonna be a good, player BUT i am a
little worried about. HIM i kind of have him AND.
(54:05):
Vj edgecombe as the next two guys kind of almost
in a tier of their, own Behind flag Than, harper
than those two sleepers THAT i really kind of. Like
i'm a, big big fan Of Jani broom out Of.
AUBURN i have him way higher than most people. DO
i think he should be a mid to late first round.
PICK i think he's really. GOOD i think he does
(54:28):
things that help teams. Win there's just not a lot
there as far as like super athleticism or those kind of.
Things but he's a good, rebounder he's a smart, defender
he can pass the ball quite. WELL i Like A'san
newell quite a, bit as is just a, bouncy athletic
forward WHO i think is going to really help. Teams
kind of reminds me a little bit of What jayden
McDaniels is for The. WOLVES a little bit worse of a,
(54:50):
shooter but a little bit better of an. Athlete so
he's SOMEBODY i really. LIKE i like their queen, too you,
know if anybody's noticed singing, Trend, YES i do like
some of the kids who went to Mont Vert, academy
but they just had a loaded group that. Year But
queen's gonna be a be a good fun player as.
Well so those are some of the guys THAT i
like in the like first round area outside Of broom
(55:12):
who may end up slipping into the second round.
Speaker 2 (55:14):
Just falling up On Ace, Bailey did it bother you at?
All outside of his size stuff that in his. Measurements
that some of the things that he said at the,
combine LIKE i have no, WEAKNESSES i need to not
work on.
Speaker 1 (55:26):
Anything i'm.
Speaker 3 (55:27):
Good, yeah as long as he knows that's not, TRUE
i don't really care very much if you, know wherever
he gets drafted, to whether It's philly Or charlotte or
you know somebody, else you, Know, Utah, washington if he
slips a little further than we, think as long as
the day one when he gets the training camp he
(55:48):
kind of. KNOWS i guess summer league, camp, like, yeah
you're not, Perfect, like, like, yo what are we. Doing
these guys come in so confident, Now AND i think
that comes from when you're really, good like he. Is
you've been playing against pro level guys for probably since
he was fourteen years. Old he's probably been in gyms
against other, pros and he probably does feel really. Good
(56:10):
and that's part of what makes these guys really, special
is they believe in, that you know so. Much SO
i don't have a huge issue with, it but, yeah
it WAS i let's have a little bit more, humility
like you, know because now what you've done is you're
gonna come in the league and everybody's gonna be, Like, okay,
kid let's let's show.
Speaker 2 (56:27):
You, yeah let me show you how you're welcome to
the rookie welcome to the league moment really. QUICK i
want to get your thoughts On Walter Clayton, junior BECAUSE
i think what we saw from him in the tournament
six to. Three maybe he's less than sixty three and
Just wikipedia tells me he's six to.
Speaker 1 (56:43):
Three but this kid can get. Buckets, Key yeah you.
Speaker 3 (56:47):
Can't so you, Know, Tristan i'm not that. Tall he
if he's six to, three Then i'm like six feet
tall And i'm not anywhere near six feet, Tall so
he's HE'S i think he's a lot closer to like
six foot or six to. One but he does. SCORE i,
mean this kid is. Tough talk about, confidence but in
the right. Way if there's the right way to have,
confidence he you, know every SHOT's gonna go in like
(57:08):
he wants the ball in the big. Moments we spent
some time talking About Jalen. Brunsay he reminds me a
little bit of A Jalen brunson style, player where it's
Like i'm gonna go out here And i'm gonna do my,
thing And i'm gonna supreme. Belief his big question will
be can he hold up. Defensively if he can hold up,
defensively he can be a really really GOOD nba. Player at,
worse think he's gonna be a really good bench. Guard
(57:29):
and that you know clearly has. Value we've seen a
lot of guys turn that into really good. Stuff like
people get critical about like six, men BUT i always
remind People Lou williams And Jamal crawford had twenty year
careers as six, Men like you can be awesome in
that role for years and years and. Years and if
that's all it turns into for, Him, okay that's not
(57:49):
the end of the, world BUT i think it might
even be. More I'm I'm i'm excited to see what
happens with him. Now THAT uf team was was tough
and they got after. IT i, mean and he was
a huge part of why the one of the national.
Title AND i can't wait to see what happens with
him in THE.
Speaker 2 (58:02):
Nba huge buckets Against, houston huge buckets Against, yukon contested
buckets falling to his right and backwards from deep in the,
corner just ridiculous stuff from From Walter Clayton.
Speaker 3 (58:16):
Jr Those aliburton shots right where it's like, yes, wait,
wait drive and, No i'm gonna, yeah turn it. Around yeah,
Yeah i'm Gonna i'm gonna go one hundred miles an
hour to the free throw. Line Then i'm gonna turn
around and go back and shoot a step back three
and it's gonna go in and And i'm already jogging
back on defense before it's through the. Rim like day he.
(58:36):
SUPREME i, mean confidence pours out of that.
Speaker 2 (58:38):
Kid, yeah awesome, Stuff, Keith thanks so much for coming.
On we'll have to have you on in the off
season as. Well and, Uh i'll see you In vegas
if you.
Speaker 3 (58:47):
Go, Yeah i'll be. There i'll be there hoping up
WITH Us Sports business classroom this, year So i'm super,
excited so we'll definitely catch up.
Speaker 2 (58:54):
Then, awesome, fine Fine keith The Front office show along
With spots WHICH i always mispronounced the spo, track BUT
i Think i'm not the only. One definitely follow him
to break down all the dollars and cents of the,
sports but his actual basketball takes her fucking fire as.
Speaker 1 (59:10):
Well that's all the time that we have for this
episode that he.
Speaker 2 (59:13):
Checked come Back monday for an all new episode and
check out the feed for past episodes that unexpectedly come,
back like THE ufc In.
Speaker 1 (59:20):
Vegas if you do, not forget to follow the heat check
all playoffs long that means. Down let's subscribe and take
your friends
Speaker 2 (59:25):
And follow us on TikTok and at this heat check
AND i trist To crick On, Twitter instagram and Threats
met his new social media platform OR i host every
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