Thunder 2, Pacers 2 & KD Rumors

On this episode of The Drive & Dish NBA podcast, hosted by Justin Cousart (@JustinContheAir) and Kevin Rafuse (@rafusetolose), the guys open up the show by discussing the latest Kevin Durant trade rumors. Minnesota, Miami, New York, San Antonio and Houston are all said to be in the mix. We discuss which sides can make the best offers and which make the most sense for Phoenix. Next, the duo dives into all things NBA Finals. The series is tied at 2-2 headed back to OKC for a crucial game 5. Who has shined this series for each squad and what they expect over the next 2 games. Is it do or die for both teams in Game 5? In Who's Ballin Who's Fallin, Wemby's training to be a monk, some love for the Thunder and Pacers fans, the Knicks get rejected by every franchise as they try to interview their coaches and Stephen A plays Solitaire. Finally, another round of Immaculate Grid. Listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts and watch the show on YouTube.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is the Drive and Dish podcast, The Drive. Welcome
to start it off, and let's go.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
We have ourselves four games in the NBA Final. But
who wants to talk about that? Zach Lowe said that
right now, the Timberwolves are the first in the Buzz
rankings for Kevin Durant. So that's what we're going to
talk about. Who wants to talk about actual basketball?

Speaker 1 (00:32):
Well, you got to hit it with some actual warm
up jumpers eventually. I mean, that's what we're talking about. Like, obviously,
we got plenty of we got plenty of two to
four to break down, like the more that's gonna be
the meat of the episode. But yeah, you guys gotta
start with something there a little bit. I mean, we
were we're gonna I thought about for a second talking
about how the Knicks are trying to you know, we'll save.

Speaker 3 (00:50):
That for balling and fall anybody and everybody.

Speaker 1 (00:52):
Your sister coach, Yeah, you are eligible to be interviewed
by the New York Knicks. No, but right, KD.

Speaker 2 (01:01):
But but before we go any further, I just want
to put it out there. So the Knicks got rid
of Thibbs, Tibbs whatever without a plan.

Speaker 1 (01:14):
No, I don't. I mean, to be fair, I think
there was somewhat of a plan.

Speaker 2 (01:17):
Sure, but now we're trying to interview everyone and their sister.
It's like, Bro, this guy got you the furthest you've
been in like twenty five some years, like, and now
you're out here just trying.

Speaker 3 (01:27):
To interview anybody and everybody. You didn't have an idea
of who you wanted to go for.

Speaker 1 (01:32):
Oh no, I think they had an idea. It's just
they all have jobs currently and I think they thought
they were gonna be able to pry one of them.
And it's like, uh, I want you too far into
it back. Kevin Durant, he's not really rumored to go
to the Knicks here at all. There's a list of
different teams. I mean, he has been brought up with
New York at times, but a lot of them are
the ones you'd expect. Houston, San Antonio, Miami, Minnesota who

(01:56):
apparently has jumped out, which again super intriguing fit him
and Anthony Edwards. We said this off the mic, but
just an all time trash talking duo between those two.
I love to That's an essential miked up content there.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, and and we well you know when we were
talking about is like Kevin Durant and Aunt obviously have
from Team USA some chemistry there, so maybe there's some
familiarity I'm telling you. I think depending on how this
series finals still works out, I think that definitely changes
where KAD would potentially go. I know you've already alluded

(02:32):
to it before in the past, but like, if Oksey
doesn't win.

Speaker 1 (02:35):
I love it, push in, get KD. I love you, Yeah,
push in now. I mean, because you have so many
picks that you probably wouldn't even have to like really
get that weird with it and make a drastic, substantial change,
Like you're obviously not moving SGA. You probably don't have
to move Chet to get KD with all the with
all the stuff you have, like worst case you have
to move Jalen Williams, which is like that's not a

(02:58):
light decision, but right again, that's that's huge. If if
OKC whins the finals, nothing is happening, and we'll get
into that a little bit. But yeah, it's an intriguing destination.
I mean some of these again, Houston should be in
the conversation, but it's also weird with Houston because it's
like well, who do you want? Do you want Katie
or do you want y honest, Like, if Yannis is
still available, like that's the crown jewel you go all

(03:19):
in for. Like Giannis is the guy I want. He's
younger and the injury risk is frankly a lot lower
with Giannis than it is with Kevin Durant. I do
like this from I mean, we talked about Minnesota and
it's funny because I feel like when they got bounced
from the conference finals or whole big talk was, yeah,
they have some decisions to make, but they're not probably
not going to do anything crazy. And then, oh, by

(03:40):
the way, trading for Kevin Durant would be a massive
swing for them. Yeah, obviously, you're right, Like it's more
of what do they give up a lot of what
they have? Like you know, they burn a lot of
their compensation to go get Rudy a few years ago.
Now you got some of it back for kat But
that's good.

Speaker 2 (03:57):
That's my point is like anytime Kadi has on to
a team, I feel like, you know, Nets, obviously Suns
potentially Timberwolves would be the same issue is like you
immediately run into a depth issue and it's because the
team has to give so much up to get you.
It's like, how many times are we going to do

(04:17):
this where like you go to a team but they
have to give up all their depth to get you,
and we run back the same issue. Yeah, a team
like OKAC wouldn't have to worry about that as much,
like you said, because of all the assets that they have,
Like they would still be able to keep that depth
because of how much they have now and would be
able to get with draft picks. Like I get what

(04:40):
you're saying. I love the idea of Ant and KD
together and maybe Rudy. It just depends on what they
would have to give up to get them. I just
think we could run into the same problem with a
depth issue.

Speaker 1 (04:53):
Yeah, I mean it's realistically, like, so what are you
gonna put up if you're in Minnesota And I don't
think given Katie's age, it would be the like, you know,
the absurd hall that you achieve. You know, when when
Phoenix made the trade, for example, you know, now you're
probably looking at like, I mean, I'm not saying you're
giving up nothing, like you're probably giving up Gobert. You know,

(05:16):
maybe like Devincenzo a Rob Dillingham, like a younger player
or something like that. And yeah, you're right, like you
do take a step back there potentially, but like you
still have bigs at that point, like you've got Read,
You've got Randall. I don't know though, I mean, you're
still giving up Gobert. Like I think your ideal situation

(05:37):
would be if you have Aunt, Gobert and.

Speaker 3 (05:39):
KD that's your three. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (05:42):
I also just like I don't know. If I'm Phoenix,
I look around and I go, Houston's probably got a
better offer, right, Like you can have picks that you
can have young players if you're Houston, Like I don't
think Phoenix is gonna be in a situation you know,
they don't want to totally creater. You still have Devin Booker,
like you want to make the most of books prime,
but like you're not really in a position to start
winning immediately right now or not contending at least, And

(06:04):
so you know, I wonder if you don't go for
a more lucrative offer there, Like I think Minnesota, if
Kevin Durant wants to win Minnesota, of all these situations
or Houston right now, it's probably the best case scenario.
I mean, I know Houston had an exit this year,
but again los into a tough Golden State squad and

(06:25):
with all the youth they have, like Kadi gives them
that kind of puts them over the top. Like it's
still makes if Houston isn't gonna get you honest and
Yianness isn't available, which again I said it earlier, like
that still kind of hangs over all of this if
you want to go with the save around KD though,
Like that does make the most sense to me, as
I think Houston right now can win immediately with Kevin Durant.

(06:47):
I think you know san Antonio again, same sort of deals,
Like the thing with him and Wemby is very intriguing.
You have Daron Fox now as well, you just brought
in from Sacramento and there you know, you give up.
It's probably gonna cost you cast and a bunch of picks,
which is like not an insignificant haul, but you're more
kind of equipped to win now and like, look, your
long term is still wide open as long as you

(07:07):
got Wemby. Yeah, you know, I don't know Miami's offer.
They keep mentioning in Miami, They keep mentioned in the Knicks.
The Knicks would just be interesting if they blew it up, like,
you know, are you gonna move McHale Bridges and you know,
ex younger players or picks to go get Kevin Durant,
Like that would be intriguing, But again, you moved a
lot of picks to get Bridges last summer. Like yeah,

(07:28):
but I think.

Speaker 3 (07:29):
And I know the.

Speaker 2 (07:32):
Conversation around the Knicks is like get depth, and so
again I don't think that kind of move really fixes
the Knicks issue. Where again, the perceived reason you moved
on from Thibbs is to get a few more people
into the rotation and have more depth so that you
guys aren't gassed by the end of games or by
the end of seasons. And like I just obviously adding

(07:54):
Kevin Durant changes the whole dynamic, but like that doesn't
fix that issue, which is why you got rid of
Thibs so, or at least in my opinion, what you
got rid of Thibs.

Speaker 1 (08:03):
So.

Speaker 2 (08:05):
I don't know the the proposed trade obviously, like we
kind of were alluding to, Rudy Gobert, Devincenzo Dillingham would
be in a package. There was some potential to have
to flip Joyce Randall, Mike Connolly. This is all according
to the bright Side of the Sun. So like, oh wait,
you can't Raindall. You also can't trade right now like
he used to opt in. That's the biggest thing.

Speaker 1 (08:27):
Like if Randall opts in, then sure, but that has
to happen before you can't even put him on the
tape yep.

Speaker 2 (08:32):
And and they're saying he would have to be included
just to make the salaries match part as well. So
I just none of that really screams go to the
Suns in terms of, you know, you need some younger talent.
Those guys aren't really younger talent. I think Rudy Gobert
would be an awesome addition in general, just because he
could be a defensive anchor for them. Devincenzo's got some scoring.

(08:53):
I'm about that, but but yeah, the rest is like cool,
Dillingham's young, promising, promising play. But then Randall and Mike
Connelly are like that's and you know, to Randall's point,
has to opt in.

Speaker 3 (09:05):
So I don't like it as much.

Speaker 2 (09:09):
Again, it just goes back to a depth conversation, And
I mean, maybe it's just because it's top of mine
because the two teams in the finals right now have
an insane amount of depth, you know.

Speaker 1 (09:19):
Yeah, for sure. I mean we don't really talk about Miami.
I mean, Miami is the other team that gets mentioned
in here too, you know, which we always say all
the time, like Miami's gonna be one of those teams
who always gets a look from free agents. And it
feels like, obviously that's situation. I mean, no matter what post,
Jimmy Butler, you got to start it over. I guess, like,

(09:40):
do you like that for Miami? Of course it would
boost this core right now. But I'm also just like
Kevin Durant is thirty seven years old. It feels like
Miami needs a lot more than Kevin Durant right now.

Speaker 3 (09:51):
Right, Yeah, I think it would.

Speaker 2 (09:54):
Yes, I would say, you want someone that fits the time,
like Kevin Durant's a win now, which is why I
get the tw ever, Wolves would be in contention, and
you know, like, okay, see we joke about and the
Rockets we talk about, but I feel like the Heat
are a few more steps behind those teams that have
shown flashes of being ready to go, and that's not no.
I guess it is the Heat's doing. But you know,

(10:15):
it's like Jimmy Butler was just traded, and so that
definitely changes a lot of where your timeline is perceived,
at least around the NBA.

Speaker 1 (10:24):
Well, and you're not going to trade if you're trying
to contend with Kevin Durant, You're ideally not going to
trade Tyler Hero or bam Anebio.

Speaker 3 (10:31):
You need them both.

Speaker 1 (10:32):
Yeah, and so at that point, it's like, what are
you giving them? What is Phoenix getting from Miami that's
any bit better than what Midsotte, Thunder Houston can offer.
And that's just kind of what my holdup is with
Miami right now.

Speaker 2 (10:43):
I wonder if you know, like a third team gets
involved for any of these deals to kind of make sense,
you know, on a Sun's side or on a whatever side.
I do wonder if that ends up happening a team
that needs to unload or off float or is willing
to take on some salaries to kind of start getting

(11:04):
some more assets as well. So it would be interesting
to see what third teams potentially are floating around there
to try to you know, help themselves as well.

Speaker 1 (11:13):
Yeah, no, no doubt about it. I would Yeah, I
wouldn't be surprised at all if a third team got
in to try to make some of the salary work.

Speaker 3 (11:19):
But yeah, yeah, you.

Speaker 1 (11:19):
Know, everybody keeps saying around KD is imminent, and again,
you know, kind of surprising just because we thought there
would maybe be a hold up there. But I mean,
we know Phoenix wants to get it done too, Like
there's been you know, they've all been working together. Like
there's no animosity with Phoenix right now, like this is
very much a mutual process. So well, you know, we'll
see maybe, you know, hopefully we get some help with

(11:41):
the timing. Gods, it doesn't drop immediately after we record
this podcast, but I do think it may very well
be in the time where, yeah, we could have a
KD destination here sooner later.

Speaker 2 (11:51):
It is worth mentioning Reddit's talking about how the Heat's
odds to acquire on draft kings and went from plus
one thousand to plus two fifty last night, So maybe
there's something to it. I mean, listen, the books always know,
so so here we are, you know.

Speaker 1 (12:08):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, hey, you know we're uh, we're top,
Like you said, we went from five teams. It feels
like the leash shams report was down to three, so
I guess we'll see if any of those are true.
Vegas does tend to know these things. Welcome everybody the
driving this NBA podcast. My name is Kevin Raefuse, joining
me as always my co host Justin khus Art.

Speaker 2 (12:27):
I took this year to reflect on my career in life,
and I realized that if that if I've gotten to
where I am today, it's not because of the assists
I've given, but it's because of the assists I receive.
This isn't goodbye, it's thank you for all the people
who have helped me along the way.

Speaker 1 (12:44):
Okay, all right, who we got? That's that's pretty nice.
That's a very nice retirement note. I gotta be honest,
I don't know if who retired this week, so who
did her?

Speaker 3 (12:55):
So that's what I'm saying.

Speaker 2 (12:56):
That's what got me curious, because I don't know if
it's like it's got to be the official retirement announcement,
I assume, but it's still very vague. And then everybody else,
at least the stories that came off of this, we're
talking about how it was vague and kind of not
not clear. If this person was going to retire. Your
hint is played for Minnesota, played for the Jazz, played

(13:19):
for the Suns, back to Minnesota and Cleveland in that order.

Speaker 3 (13:25):
Really of the career.

Speaker 1 (13:28):
Soda, Jazz, Son's Jazz back. Oh is this Rubio?

Speaker 3 (13:35):
This is Rubio?

Speaker 1 (13:36):
Wait brought the Rubio retired agents.

Speaker 3 (13:39):
I thought so too.

Speaker 1 (13:41):
Wait, wait what Ricky Rubio retired? Like we we talked
about this on the podcast. How what what else did
he retire from?

Speaker 2 (13:48):
That's I don't know, you know, I'm not sure. He's
just uh, he put out a whole page ad and
it's it's it's you know, he he talks about all
the teams that he went to, but but that's really
all he got out of it. So I'm with you.
I thought he already retired, But here we are.

Speaker 1 (14:07):
Yeah, I guess, like, yeah, he put out so this
full page ad in the Minnesota Star Tribune. Because I'm
looking at this now and right like he played it.
He's been playing in the Spanish League, like he hasn't
been playing in the NBA since the middle of twenty
twenty four, like he was right he was with Cleveland
last time. Yeah, I mean he did he because he

(14:31):
released I'm reading this now on Yahoo, and he released
a fourth full statement to clarify that he's not retiring.
He just wants to thank people. So like, that's very
sweet of Ricky Rubio. Thank you. I mean, we appreciate that.
But I'm just right, I'm kind of baffled, like I'm confused.

Speaker 3 (14:48):
Now.

Speaker 2 (14:48):
Yeah, I know I thought when I saw it, and
that's why I didn't bring it up to you off
the mic, is because I figured it was good to
just talk about this on the mic. As I saw it,
I was like, oh, I didn't realize he hadn't retired yet.
So then I google to be like, see what else
people have, Like maybe they pulled up all his stats
or something like that to kind of look at it,
and everyone's like, did you retire?

Speaker 3 (15:07):
Like oh wait, no, he said he didn't.

Speaker 1 (15:09):
I'm like, okay, yeah, yeah, no, I I guess not.
I mean, like I said, playing overseas, he's been playing
in Spain, So uh well, all right, there we go.
I mean, shout out some positivity. I guess we all
need some positivity these days.

Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (15:25):
Yeah, I don't know if I should even try to
attempt the uh Spanish though, the grassiest, poor lace.

Speaker 1 (15:35):
Yo, that is gross. You live in Florida, your Spanish
should not be that gross. I know it's Jacksonville, but.

Speaker 3 (15:41):
Like I failed out of Spanish too. The teacher.

Speaker 2 (15:44):
The teacher literally asked me to leave and told me
I probably shouldn't shouldn't take the class anymore.

Speaker 1 (15:48):
That's crazy, Like my.

Speaker 3 (15:50):
Brain just can't do it. I guess I don't know, oh, I.

Speaker 1 (15:54):
Mean yeah, I mean, look, learn another language, especially if
you get older, it's harder, Like that is one thing
I couldn't do. I don't have many like heavy regrets,
and I don't really this isn't a heavy one, Like
I don't regret taking French for all my classes, but like, man,
I really should have taken Spanish. That would have been
way more useful in America. I mean, let me tell you,
I would have got way more use out of that. Yeah,

(16:15):
all not as much now living up up in back
in Philly area compared to Florida, obviously, Like, but why
was it Orlando. I'm gonna used the hell out of
that Spanish.

Speaker 2 (16:23):
There were there were a few kids that always took
like a different language, like like Latin and stuff like that,
And I get it because a lot of our language mostly.

Speaker 1 (16:31):
Taken Latin twenty twenty five. Get a life, dude, that
language is with you.

Speaker 3 (16:36):
I'm with you. It's a dead it's a quote unquote.

Speaker 1 (16:39):
Do you preach with the Vatican, then why are you
learning Latin if you're not.

Speaker 3 (16:42):
No, but it's good to know.

Speaker 2 (16:43):
It's it's good to know, like certain you see trends
because you understand get it.

Speaker 1 (16:48):
I'm kind of hating a little bit.

Speaker 2 (16:50):
Well no, because I'm hating too because I remember back
then being like what when are you ever going to
use this, like you know, like.

Speaker 1 (16:56):
Take time, there's Latin in the law. I just cried,
just roll my eyes.

Speaker 3 (16:59):
Every time, just go take pig Latin at that point, like.

Speaker 1 (17:02):
Well, it's just like talk like a normal person.

Speaker 3 (17:04):
It's twenty twenty five, Like what way Shakespeare over here?

Speaker 1 (17:08):
Well, it's just like no, it's like don't don't write
in your brief like, don't start using parents, PATRII like,
I get it, but like there are just other ways
to say that. Yes, shouts Professor Goldfard. By the way,
great family teacher, she's a real one.

Speaker 2 (17:23):
I would I wonder what like uh, some NBA headlines
in Latin.

Speaker 1 (17:33):
It's just like, it's not a like I understand that
it was heavily important, and it is. It's the baseline
for a lot of different languages. But I'm also just like,
go learn the current languages, like it's way more hew whatever, whatever,
There's gonna be somebody that's corrected me. Be like, no,
if you do, you just don't. There's gonna be some
linguist out there. It's gonna be like Latin is the
reason that I know these fifteen different languages. I'm gonna

(17:55):
feel bad.

Speaker 3 (17:57):
There is I would butcher all this. I asked.

Speaker 2 (18:00):
I asked chat at NBA head lucked in Latin, and
it did not disappoint.

Speaker 1 (18:08):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (18:11):
Yeah, there's just no chance, I get I will butcher
this whole thing. There's just no way I can try to.

Speaker 1 (18:17):
I mean, I guess if you can't do, uh, struggle
with Spanish and the Latin a little harder.

Speaker 2 (18:24):
Lebron James triumphant again the Lakers are victorious would translate
to Lebron James triumphant interim Lakers victorious.

Speaker 1 (18:32):
Sunt Okay, I mean, all right, that actually wasn't as great.
I mean, basically it's the same thing more or less.
I didn't feel like it was that differently.

Speaker 2 (18:40):
That's what I'm saying, a lot of it is, you know,
Yiannis a monsterrum in Arena, Duplex, Triple Consensus, s ST
triple Double.

Speaker 3 (18:49):
I don't know.

Speaker 2 (18:50):
I'm sure, all right, I'm gonna stop. I'm gonna stop.
I'm gonna offend somebody by accident, all right. So yeah,
Kevin Durant on the Move.

Speaker 1 (19:00):
Serve you on iTunes, Battle reading on the podcast if
you're Inhine, Apple user, Google Play, stoor speakers, Spotify, tune
in Amazon Music player FM. Hey, where you find a podcast,
you can find.

Speaker 2 (19:09):
Us, and we're on YouTube. Just find us driving this
sh NBA podcast on YouTube. You can subscribe. You'll get
notifications when the video versions coming out. Obviously there's some
visual elements with immaculate grid and all.

Speaker 1 (19:21):
That now work for our sponsors.

Speaker 2 (19:25):
So we're all tied up. It's uh, it's two two.
We're heading back to OKC.

Speaker 3 (19:30):
Now.

Speaker 2 (19:32):
Just to quick recap the four games. Pacers won the
first one one eleven to one. Ten Thunder put it
on the Pacers in game two one twenty three to
one oh seven. Pacers again win Game three one sixteen
to one oh seven, and then thunder one last night,
which I thought was over when I went to bed,

(19:54):
Pacers had a pretty good lead. I thought it was
donezo and I thought we were going into Game five
three to one. But here we are too too, And
I'll tell you what, man, I've been hammering lou Dort
under parlays and it has been paying off.

Speaker 1 (20:08):
I'm not disrespectful when lou Dort's playing good in this series,
Like that's crazy. How are you gonna start it with
the by slamer?

Speaker 3 (20:16):
Listen, I'm not slandering lou Dort. I love it.

Speaker 2 (20:18):
It's you know, it's like the unders, like four and
a half, threes, two assists, one steal. You just hammer
the under on all of it as a parlay and
you make some money. It's a fun time. But yeah,
I would I would say significantly more. Uh I don't
think the words entertaining is not the word I'm looking for.

Speaker 3 (20:40):
Uh More.

Speaker 2 (20:43):
I guess the word is close because I kind of thought, okay,
see was going to come in here initially and just
blow the doors off it. I Like I said, I
thought it was only going to go five games. At
this point, I'm willing to say it's probably going seven.
I'm kinda though it seems to be a curse these days.
I'm kind of leaning on the Pacers. Man, they have
been so impressive yet again surprising everybody. But my overall

(21:08):
thoughts is I think it goes seven. But at this
point the Pacers have won me over.

Speaker 1 (21:14):
Yeah, I mean, look, there's I've been high on the Pacers.
I've been consistently high on the Pacers. My pick for
this series was okay See and six, And we podcasted
about Game one last week, like it is. It was like, man,
the Pacers just keep pulling these off, like that's crazy.
But I think Game two went kind of how we expected,
like okay See and that's the only game that was

(21:36):
pretty one sided for the most part, Like okay See
was firmly in control of Game two the entire time,
bounce back the way we thought they would Indy like,
and when that happens, like, you're right. Like even with
Indie winning Game one, there was a part of me
that saw many scenarios where okay See ran Indy out
of the gym and just kind of like, oh, you
lose the first game, you come back, you win the

(21:57):
next four to row because you're you're the better team here,
and so like in that sense, for me as a
basketball fan, I'm thrilled that this is two too. And
I was thrilled that Indy won Game three the way
they did because it just meant, right, like we're just
gonna get more. It's not gonna be this short, five game,
one sided series. And it's funny because I mean Game
three in Game four essentially it was just the opposite storylines, right.

(22:19):
It was like, okay see was winning most of Game
three and then okay See or Indie excuse me, comes
out great fourth quarter really just you know, get it
done when they need to dominate that frame and come
out with a two to one lead. Then you flip
it in game in game four, right like you've got
Indy who's in control for most of this game. OKAC
knows exactly what it is like feeling the pressure. OKAC

(22:42):
could have gone down three to one, like the series
is over the down three to one, and I know
we've seen the comebacks, but like I just I don't
think they would have had it here. But you know,
give them credit, like SGA MVP having his MVP moment
like he was crucial in that final frame. I think
he fifteen points in the final five minutes, like just
hit multiple big shots on they had to. I mean
the Pacers again, four point lead, and we've seen how

(23:06):
unsafe leads are, especially in games involving the Pacers, but
like they were up in this game late, like they
had a four point lead with about three twenty left
for Okac to find a way. Like even with it
being too too and even with it as feisty as
the Pacers have been, I still think you feel pretty
good and you would want to be okay, see in
this situation now because we go, hey, this is a
best of three series, and no matter what, we've got

(23:28):
two games at home potentially, like I do think, I mean, look,
it's I don't feel like we need to say this.
This isn't some like grandiose take, but Game five feels
like the series right, Like it's so crucial for both
of these teams. If Indie wins Game five, you're going
back to Indianapolis four Game six with a chance to

(23:49):
win your first title in franchise history on your home floor.
Like both of these arenas have been electric the whole time.
I mean, hats off, to the fans and like I'll
miss me with all that small market stuff. Like I'm
just I'm so over that dialogue because these because both
these crowds have been shown out in every single one
of these games, in Oka See and in Indie. And yeah,

(24:09):
I mean we're we're at the point now where you know, Indie,
you in game five, you feel pretty good about going
back to game six and if you're okayc at that point,
and I mean, yeah, no matter what, then you've got
two cracks at closing this deal. Even if you lose
game six, god forbid, you still have another shot, okay, see,
you know you in game five, your worst case scenario is, hey,

(24:30):
we're going back home, Like we're going back home for
game seven. Like even if we lose game six at Indy,
we can go back. We've got to We've got a
shot at this. We've already won a Game seven against
Nver earlier this year pretty convincingly. Like it's gonna be
on our home floor like it was in that series.
Like they have the blueprint for this, like they've kind
of been in this scenario before, and like that's that

(24:50):
has been impressive about Oka See is it's like look,
they've been punched twice and they pulled themselves off the mat.
Like that's what good teams do. You know. The question is,
it's like that's also now question for Indy is every
time Okasees bounced back and it looks like, hey, this
is the better team. This is kind of what we expected.
You know, they came out in Game three and found
a way to win, like you know, they know they
know what's at State two. But this Game five is

(25:12):
setting up to be absolutely incredible, because yeah, there's certainly
the quality of play has certainly been strong so far
in the.

Speaker 2 (25:20):
Series, and and it's definitely on the stars obviously Hallie
and Siakam and Sga and and Chet, Like we're definitely
talking about these guys and they're definitely a big part
of the games and they're a huge need for the
teams when they do win. But I would also say

(25:42):
there's a few guys that I've kind of flagged as
like fully showing up and out doing at least what
they did in the in the in the regular season,
and just to name, like, I guess three of them
off the top of my head. Obi Toppin has been phenomenal.
I know we play. He's great during the season, but
these playoffs have been awesome. And even in Game four,

(26:05):
there was a part where he had a wide open
shot and he didn't take any passed it and it
ended up being a contested three or something like that.
Then you just saw the next two times he had
an open shot, he still took it. Now, the counter
to that is he was zero for three from three,
so I understand why he probably passed it, But like,
you got to take those wide open shots and you
got to do those things, and so to that. In

(26:27):
game four, obviously seventeen points. Obi Toppins defense was really
good too. But on top of that, on the other side,
we have to bring up Alex Caruso, who is now
like the third leading, the third scorer on the team moment,
third or fourth has got to be at this point,
I think he was ninth on the list. I saw
a stat saying he was like ninth on the charts

(26:50):
for Oka see in terms of scoring this season. But
but even last game, right, he was seven for nine
fifty percent from three, seven free throws, made five of them,
you know, twenty points hed y steels, yeah, five steals.
And then on the other side who obviously we got

(27:12):
to talk about his legacy and if he does win
a ring, if he'll be higher than Chris Paul, because
I think we do need to have this conversation. TJ McConnell.
I mean, he had a ten five and five man
like and and and I know the running joke obviously
with us is how much we hype up TJ McConnell
because of the Sixers connection and all that stuff. But

(27:33):
in Game three, TJ McConnell was the spark. Anytime it
felt like the Pacers started to slow up or fall
into a rhythm, TJ McConnell was catching it in bounds
pass and you know, quick turnaround offense for them or
something like that, or making some crazy layup and flexing
on everybody like TJ McConnell in Game three was the

(27:57):
spark the Pacers really needed, which is surprising because of
how fast they play.

Speaker 1 (28:02):
Well, it's the effort, like TG's effort is just contagious,
like he's he's a dog. You will give you one hundred
and twenty percent every time he's on the floor. That's
why he grinded into a roster spot with the Sixers.
That's why he's worked so well in Indy and like, look,
he plays winning basketball, like he's a guy you want
on your team at this time of year. I mean,
and the bench was the story for the game in Indy,
right because like we got you got to talk about

(28:24):
Benedict Batht too, Like a guy who wasn't one of
the better last year, got hurt, didn't play in the
conference finals. Has you know, been on the bench, But
you know, talk about like stepping up and getting your
moment when you need it, right, Like leading all scores
with twenty seven points like that was absolutely crucial. They
needed that guy in Game three. See, you're right, a

(28:44):
lot of credit for them. I mean, going back to
Caruso twenty points in both those wins, I think that's huge.
I Mean we already know what he does on the
defensive end, but you're right, like if he can give
you that punch offensively too, Like that really has been big.
The encouraging sign for OKC for me the last two
games has been not just SGA, but it's been Jalen
Williams too. Like Jalen Williams is the guy where you

(29:06):
know you kinda he needs to be that number two guy. Yeah,
like that offensive punch, especially when Chet's kind of been
struggling a little bit these series. You know, he's been
the last two games, even with the loss in game three,
you know, Game four and the win twenty seven points
eight of eighteen from the field Game three and the loss,
he's still had twenty six points. Like he's being aggressive.

(29:28):
He's taken the shots he needs to. You're gonna feel
good about your shot if that's what he's given you
with what SGA has been given every night too. And
I mean, look, give SGA a lot of credit. Like
I think down the stretch of Game three he just
didn't really deliver, Like he had twenty four points, but
like it took twenty shots to get that. It was
pretty inefficient overall. You know, this was kind of again

(29:49):
an MVP. This is his team, you know, really late
in the fourth quarter, you know, when again the spotlight's
been on. Good for him for stepping up. Like you said,
he was the he was the superstar that they needed
him to be at the end of Game four the
other night, And I think that that was the big
story for me for Oka.

Speaker 2 (30:05):
See, yeah, I agree, the one that is I guess
you know from an Okac. Side that I guess you
could say has been a little disappointing has been the
efficiency from Chet. Obviously, rebounds are still there, but but yeah,
I mean the the shooting hasn't been great. You know,
in game four he only attempted one three didn't make it.

(30:26):
But game three he tried six, he didn't make one.
You know, I'm curious to see where he's out of
game two because that would start to be Okay, he
was one for three, so you know, maybe it's just
finals jitters and and I don't know, but like, yeah,
we definitely need to see a little bit more efficiency
from Chet in the scoring side of things. Now again,

(30:49):
I think to your point, Jayleen Williams has stepped up
in those moments and been that that person that they
need him to be. I would say Alex Caruso as well.
So yeah, not like not like a glaring thing. I mean,
if if Chet's still grabbing you fifteen boards and and uh,
you know, only shooting nine attempts and given you know whatever,

(31:11):
forty four percent field goal percent, like you'll still take that,
Like you know, that's that's fourteen points, fifteen rebounds, Like
I'll work with that. But I mean it's definitely been
a little less sufficient than maybe preferred. No, I mean
he has been I will put this out there too.
I've seen a few times when the Pacers go to
box out Chet and man, he just gets pushed out

(31:32):
of the way, and I'm like, he just needs a
little more weight on him. I think, like you know
what I mean, Like it just seems like like Turner
just gets him out of the way, like he can
really just push him.

Speaker 3 (31:43):
Oh so at least from the running.

Speaker 1 (31:45):
Yeah. Well, when he came to the league, that was
always like one of the bigger concerns as it was like, hey,
and again I think some of that will come again
he's so very very young at this point and coming
off injury.

Speaker 3 (31:55):
Yep.

Speaker 1 (31:55):
But you're right, like and I mean, okay, so he's
gone back with a double big lineup like we've seen.
You know, originally they had Casein Wallace in the starting lineup.
You know, now they've they've moved Hartenstein back into that
role and so you know, we'll see if they stick
with that the rest of the way. That was their
starting lineup for the majority of the season. I mean,
one more Caruso point, Like you know, you look at
the minutes in game four, he's basically getting starters minutes.

(32:18):
I mean he played more minutes than anyone not named Chet,
Jalen Williams, SGA and lou Dort. Like that's you know,
he's an important player, Like he's the most important players
in the series on that team. You know, both these
teams depth have been on display. The defense has been
on display. I mean that was the other thing last
night with OKC too, is it's like, look, their defense
has gotten them here largely, and like their defense came

(32:40):
through when they needed to, Like at the end of
game three, Indy just got anything they wanted, Like OKC
didn't let that happen at the end of game four,
and like Indy, again, who's been so masterful in these
clutch situations, they finally didn't just you know, they got
out done in the clutch for the first time. And
so yeah, you're interested to see, like when when Indy

(33:00):
was so close to having OKAC on the ropes, Like
you do wonder now if that shifts a little bit,
Like you gotta feel good of your OKAC. It's like, hey,
we're going back home, Like we can put them on
the ropes despite you know, all the moments where it
feels like we've been the better team and we've let
opportunities slip, like we've still got a shot right in
front of us.

Speaker 2 (33:17):
And if they do win on Monday, which is the
next game for anybody wondering, if they do win on Monday,
that will quite literally feel like the first time where
the OKC Thunder, other than before the whole series started,
would have the upper hand, if that makes sense. Obviously,
Pacers won the first game, and ever since that it

(33:40):
has really felt everyone is honed in on the Pacers.
Even when the Thunder one game two, it still felt
very Pacers centric. Everyone's talking about what can Halle be
doing to win more? It wasn't It wasn't wow, they
they the Thunder came in there, or they were efficient,
they blew the doors off them. It was like, what
else can Halle do? Holle needs to be more aggressive?

(34:01):
Holl is this, Holly that? And like if the people
to Thunder win game five though, because it's at that
point you need one more. I think it finally feels
like the shift to OKAC finally happens where it's like, Okay,
we might be there.

Speaker 1 (34:17):
I gotta be honest, just I think it's already happened.
Like I think that Game four was the shift, like
I think when in that Game four late was the shift,
And like again many people are identifying with Indy because
it is it's such a great story, like this is
the this is such a fun underdog story. Again going
for the first one, nobody expected them to be here,
like they play. It just a wonderful style of basketball

(34:39):
to watch, and you're right, like when they when they've
won all these improbable games that it feels like they
shouldn't have to an extent. I again, I look back
at the East that I go, is that true necessarily?
But you know with here though, like with Okac, like
we know Okac is the better team. I mean, I
think Indy would tell you that Okac is the better team.

(34:59):
But you know, I think you start to buy into
that underdog story, especially too, when they go up two
to one, it's like, hey, they really might do this,
but then they know when okay See wins that all
of a sudden, going get back to game five, it's like, right,
did that switch just flick? Because if they win game five,
like I don't know, like I I keep wanting to

(35:20):
find and again me as a neutral, I'm rooting for
this to be a seven game series, Like that's what
I want to happen, no matter what, I hope it
goes seven. Sure, I keep wanting to find ways for
this indie team to win, and they definitely do. But
like I'm also sitting here and going, hey, Okayc's got
two out of three at home now, Like I just

(35:41):
feel like I don't think the Pacers have two more
wins in them and maybe this gets clipped next week
and I look like a fool. And if and if
Indie wins game five, I'm gonna feel the exact opposite,
Like I will say that, like if if Indie wins
game five and OKAC I think they're winning, like I
feel like they're gonna close it home, then I feel

(36:02):
like at that point you will have gotten to them
and just like that crowd, the way it will be
with the opportunity they have, like I feel like the
but like I just can't shake this vision of Oka
See winning game five and then at that point I
just feel good about it overall, Like I think because
even if OKC wins five, I definitely think Indy could
win on their home floor, win that game six, Like

(36:23):
I could very much see Indy winning Game six and
fourth and seven, But it's like, do I think Indy
is gonna win a Game seven in Oklahoma City? God,
I just have such a hard time in visioning that.
And if there's a team that would pull it there,
it's them. But it's like that's such a I mean,
the only time we've ever seen that is when Lebron
did it. That was Lebron like.

Speaker 2 (36:44):
That though like a like a game winner Hallie shot
Game seven in okac would be very Halley thing to happen.

Speaker 1 (36:54):
It would be It would be the cap of maybe
one of the coldest individual playoff runs I've ever seen.
And regardless of how this goes down, like Halle is
still he's got it. It's still one of those runs
like I look at Halle if they don't end up winning,
I look at this Halle run the way I look
at like Jimmy Butler during the Bubble where it was like, look,
I know they lost. It ain't Jimmy Butler's fault, Like

(37:15):
I'm not going out of this going you know there?
They left something on the table. He hasn't left anything
on the table for sure. I don't feel like they're
missing opportunities.

Speaker 2 (37:23):
It's It's interesting though, because the Jimmy Butler side of
it is Jimmy was leading the team in points. I'm
almost positive of it. He had to have been where
Hallie's not. In some cases he is, but it's mostly
Siakam who's leading the team if they are.

Speaker 1 (37:38):
Halle still the guy though, like at the end of
the day, like you know, he's the engine that makes
this work. And you're right, like the team is like
that's been the story of India's is their depth. It's this,
It's all these guys. It's it's Nie Smith, it's Nembard,
it's Miles Turns.

Speaker 2 (37:51):
You're getting all these blocks on chet. It's like, dang dude,
Like it was.

Speaker 1 (37:54):
Cold, but then the game three, I was cold. That
was a really and you know what, good for Miles
Turner because Miles Turner struggled most of that game, like
he really just wasn't in any sort of rhythm, but
you know, find a way to be find a way
to make an impact. He found a way to make
an impact there. It's been a look series, been great.
It's been a lot of fun. Like I said, I
am rooting for this to go seven. I still think

(38:16):
even if OKC wins five, it's going seven. I do
think Indy is not gonna go out and there you know,
I think Indy's gonna find a way, even though that
goes against my OKAC and six pick, but I am
I'm sitting here. I feel like it flipped. I feel
like Indy had their shot last night to really knock
them off, and okayse knew it. Sga said it as

(38:38):
much in the post game. He was like, we know
what this looks like. If it's three to one, it's
not impossible. But I don't think they're gonna beat this
indie team three times in a row. Like I am
pretty firm about that. So you know, credit to OKAC
for getting it done like that. That was my big takeaway, saying, man,
it feels like that was Indie shot to win it

(39:00):
last night. It does feel like Okay see is back
in the driver's see now and we'll see what happens
in game five. Like obviously this is this is the
pivotal game here at this point, but they.

Speaker 3 (39:11):
Had what they had.

Speaker 2 (39:12):
They had a ten point lead I think was the
biggest one that uh that Indy had on him last game,
and it's like, man, you really needed to close that
out and really shut the door almost what you were saying,
which is wild. Wow, I didn't realize that Okac was
shooting eighteen percent from three last game.

Speaker 1 (39:31):
Yeah, that's what I mean. And that's where you look
back and you go, man, that was a winnable game.
Yeah oh yea from the indie positive perspective, I go, hey,
if we're okay, see, like we should have won some
of these games too. We should have won game one,
we should have won Game three, and they did it. So,
like you know it, it does go back and forth.
I do trust this indie team to again get themselves

(39:53):
off the bat. Like that's the big thing too, is
it's like I don't think they take the mental blows.
Like their response in game three wasn't pressive to me
after the way Game two went, Like there hasn't been
a single other than Game two. All these games have
been close for the most part, and so I think
you got to feel good about that as well. You know,
you got it. I trust their mentality.

Speaker 3 (40:12):
I guess the game four.

Speaker 2 (40:14):
Game four almost immediately goes back to what we talked
about before the series even started, is the big man,
the height difference, the points in the paint. I mean,
Indy was outscored points in the paint. Okaysee he had fifty,
they had twenty three second chance points. Indy only had thirteen.
They only had thirty five points in the paint. Like

(40:34):
that is where some of that size is starting to
come through, and you know, you go back, you talk
about some of the bigger guys that they were trying
to bring into to help with that. Thomas Bryant is
one that that I know, okay, so he has found
a way to make kind of you almost have trouble
playing him at times because they're essentially just fouling him
or you know, putting him in a spot where he's

(40:54):
not going to be able to help. So I'm interested
to see if the Pacers are able to adjust with
that and try to combat the height difference.

Speaker 1 (41:04):
In Game five, Yeah, no, one hundred percent, like you said, Okay,
see going back to the to the double big lineup,
seems like they you know, like it's worked from most
of the season.

Speaker 3 (41:14):
So yep, yep.

Speaker 1 (41:16):
Well we'll see if they continue to stick with that,
which I think they will. All Right, Who's ballin? Who's falling?
Our NBA version of the stock market. We always like
start with the good before we start with the bad.
Uh So justin I'll start with you this week. Who
is Ballin'.

Speaker 3 (41:28):
Ballin for me?

Speaker 2 (41:29):
Is going to go to ok See fans who stayed
up until three thirty eight m last night, So they're
probably still sleeping as of recording this podcast, which I hope.
So they stayed there to greet Okay See home. Shout
out to them. That's awesome because I was telling Kevin
off the mike, there's very little to almost nothing that

(41:49):
would get me to stay up till three am at
this point in my life, quite literally, nothing like it
could be a finals run for the seventy six ers,
and I'm not staying up till three thirty eight.

Speaker 1 (42:00):
Six sixers got me. I'm stay up till three thirty.

Speaker 2 (42:02):
For the same watch that I would watch a game.
I'm not staying up for them to come home on
a team flight.

Speaker 1 (42:09):
To No, I agree with that. Yeah, no, I'm not
shout shout to the guys, but like I'm not I'm
not going out with three thirty. Oh dude, shout to
the fans, like I respect, sure, I said, like I
said earlier, the Indian and the OKAC fans have showed out,
Like I'm really impressed with both of these fan bases.
And you're right, like it is the first time they've
been there in a little bit. But I mean in
a little five years for Indy. I mean it's been

(42:32):
thirteen for Okay. See though okayc he's played a lot
more meaningful basketball in that time. But I mean, so
is Indy. Like Indy wasn't like all those Paul George years,
or you were in conference finals multiple years, like you're
in the conference finals last year. The Holy Depot year
was fun anyway, Uh yeah, shout to those fans. I
respect dedication. But you're right, I'm with you. There's no

(42:53):
planet where I'm going to greet the plane. At three
thirty in the morning, the game is on. Listen, I'm
watching the game. It doesn't matter what time six are
in the finals, bro, I'm watching the game if it
starts at four in the morning, Like if it starts
at two in the morning, I'm up. I'm watching it.
Like that's just you don't know when you're gonna be
in those situations again. But yeah, yeah, I mean, I mean, shoot,
since two thousand and one for us, like it's been

(43:15):
quite a long time.

Speaker 3 (43:16):
I don't really even remember it, Honestly.

Speaker 1 (43:19):
I remember I remember portions of it. I do remember
Vince Carter missing the shot at the end of Game
seven with the Raptors. Sure wish Kawhi had missed that
shot too, but Vince Ditt missing.

Speaker 3 (43:32):
You do you remember that? I do remember that.

Speaker 2 (43:34):
I was getting on a train to drive home, well,
to ride home from Raleigh, and yeah, I had it
streaming on my phone, and yeah, that sucked.

Speaker 1 (43:43):
I remember Vince missing. I mean I remember like bits
and pieces of the Bucks, like I remember of the
Bucks series, Like I remember you know that that Bucks
of the Big Three at the time of Ray Allen
and Glenn Robinson, Ye, Sam Cassell, I remember that going
to seven, Like I remember Ai having a bunch of points.
They won Game seven by zillion points, And I do
you remember I remember Ai stepping over tylu I. Bet

(44:03):
I truly remember that from when I was in fourth grade.
I remember that game because they just again they had
no business winning it. And when people forget meause AI
hit that cold shots step over Tylou Ai was horrible
that game, like it was the word it's a miracle
they won that game when you look at it, like
you go back and it's like, dude, Eric Snow had
the game of his life, Like what was happening? And

(44:23):
then of course obviously like the Lakers didn't lose the
rest of the way. Yeah, and I've never seen them
play in the conference finals of the finals since, so yeah,
it's been. It's been a little bit. I was in
fourth grade, then thirty four.

Speaker 3 (44:37):
Now yep, yep.

Speaker 2 (44:39):
Yeah, then here we are still apparently fans of them
for whatever reason.

Speaker 1 (44:44):
Anyway, thank god for the Eagles. Man all right. Balling
for me is Victor Wehmanyama, who is on a great
NBA off season side quest right now. He's over in
China at the Shaolin Temple going through like monk training.
He's on a retreat, is what they're calling it. I don't.
I feel almost like disrespectful calling it monk training, so

(45:07):
like I don't know how to explain it. But yeah,
Wemby's over there. I mean he's he's doing it. He's
living the lifestyle. He's you know, he shaved his head.
He's you know, immersing himself, and he's gonna be concentrating.
This is all part of his like concentrating on his training.
You know, he shaved his head like I said, just well,

(45:29):
I mean, obviously, if you're the first bade, you gotta
be soaking this up. You gotta be like man, his
mentality's gonna be so elite. He's dominated wants his discipline.

Speaker 2 (45:36):
His discipline is gonna be off the charts when he
comes back. I'll have to watch it and check back.
There's a there's a guy who did a YouTube video
in two thousand and twenty one where he did uh
training with these same monks, it looks like for for
a month, and so he did a bunch of like

(45:58):
YouTube like here is what I learned, Here's how you
do it. And he talks about obviously combat skills, martial
arts training, but like you know, Buddhist philosophy and personal
growth and discipline, mindfulness practice like being repetitive and staying
to yourself. Like I'm interested to watch this video and

(46:19):
kind of see and be like, man, if if if
Wemby gets any of this, we're in trouble.

Speaker 1 (46:24):
Yeah, I mean, it's like a it's a ten day retreat.
But I just like I love the video too because like,
you know, he's out running and it's just again where
it's just like, you know, here here's Wendy running with
these monks and he's just like say, he's like eight
feet tall basically, and it's like always he always people
jogging and you just see Wemby. It's like what what is?

Speaker 2 (46:41):
And he shaved, He shaved his head. He's got the
whole look going. Yeah man, it's it's a good time.

Speaker 3 (46:48):
Good for him.

Speaker 1 (46:49):
Yeah, but I either way, Yeah, shout out to Wenby.
Love loved the offseason sidequest Who's falling for you? This week?

Speaker 2 (46:56):
I feel like I feel like, sorry, this is a
WASTEI iem. I feel like sports person is really the
only person that could like disappear to a retreat with
monks have their head fully shaved, and it'd be like
good for them, because if I didn't, you'd be like
are you good like you?

Speaker 1 (47:14):
Oh? Oh my god? Or if we went to go
train with the monks for ten days and shall win,
they would think we're having an existential crisis and.

Speaker 2 (47:23):
Like the old life crisis, Like you, good man, do
we need to send you to therapy to get do you
need to talk to some.

Speaker 1 (47:29):
It's like, oh, the thirty four year old white dude
went to China to study with the Buddhist. Wow, he's
really going through it right now.

Speaker 2 (47:36):
Right, That's what I'm saying. Like people would check on you.
I think anybody you heard your boss was doing that,
you'd be like, is the company being sold?

Speaker 3 (47:45):
Like what's going on?

Speaker 2 (47:46):
Like you wouldn't go well, So either way.

Speaker 1 (47:49):
This just doesn't help either that. Like I watched Silicon
Valley recently, and I just have the image of like
Gavin Belson and Erlick being over there. It's like going
through a retreat where it's obviously it's like yeah, yeah,
these people right now right.

Speaker 2 (48:02):
It's like the last time I saw somebody from from
not an NBA or a sports standpoint go train with
the monks, was freaking uh what's his name?

Speaker 3 (48:12):
Doctor Strange? And he became a superhero.

Speaker 1 (48:17):
Oh my god?

Speaker 2 (48:18):
So either way, all right? Fallen for me goes to
Steven A. Smith, who was playing Solitaire on his phone
during game four, and of course people want to be
like he claims he could talk ball, but he's out
here doing this, Like honestly, I don't care.

Speaker 3 (48:34):
I get it.

Speaker 2 (48:35):
Most people watching the game half the time on their
phones tweeting anyway. It's not like you're watching the whole
damn thing anyway, So I don't care about that part.
It is a very Steven A. Smith thing to be
playing the Solitaire. I do wonder if it's the one
that I've been getting like hounded commercials for that apparently
I could pay my mortgage off by playing Solitaire.

Speaker 1 (48:52):
Jesus Christ, Oh my god. All right, there's gonna be
this is too long of a podcast for me to
like go into that whole conversation, but like, can we
like how is that legal?

Speaker 3 (49:03):
Right?

Speaker 2 (49:04):
Those commercials are crazy. It's like the one girl sitting there,
she's like, what's wrong. She's like, I can't pay my mortgage.
She's like, oh, you should play Solitaire?

Speaker 1 (49:11):
Right? Like what? On the other hand, though, shout Solitaire.
I love solidaire. It's a great boomer game too. I
feel like I feel like Solitaire free sale or like
what they have the Spider Solitaire for a little bit
on the whole Microsoft computers back in the day. So like,
I kind of respect playing Solitaire. I ain't even mad
at that. Yeah, I mean again, it's Stephen A. I. Weirdly,

(49:34):
I don't have the like insane take about this you
would think I will, like, yeah, you should be watching
the game. But ESPN's also decided that they need Stephen A.
Smith at literally everything that's ever existed, and so when
you're at every sporting event that's ever existed, a part
of me is also like, yeah, I might not be
watching every event either the way I would like.

Speaker 2 (49:56):
Need a break man, Like you just need a second
to like not think and turn the brain off and
play some solitaire.

Speaker 1 (50:02):
Like yeah, it's just also like maybe we shouldn't have
stephen A. Smith, like go everywhere, you know what I'm saying,
Like again, it just goes back to the greater conversation
of like what is ESPN doing as a whole? Like
it doesn't really make sense. But again, longer, longer podcast.
We could go on for a long time there. Falling

(50:23):
for me is something we briefly talked about the intro,
and that is the Knicks coaching search. Because the Knicks
have decided that they are going to speak to any
and every uh, you know, basically active coach that there
still is, so uh, they requested permission to speak with
Quinn Snyder and Word and I. They requested permission to

(50:44):
speak with em Udoka and they were denied. They requested
permission to speak with Chris Finch, and they were denied.
They requested the permission to speak with Jason Kinden, Word
and I and it, just like I respect the consistency
of trying to bry every active head coach out there,
I am still baffled that Jason Kidd is high on
anybody's coaching radar to be their head coach like that

(51:06):
just it's the prime example of like I look at
that lineup of Udoka, Finch, Schneider and Jason Kidd, and
I'm going one of these things is not like the other.
But I don't know, man, I know, I know, I
know it's not Jason Kidd. Jason Kidd, especially after the
Luca thing, Like, I don't Jason Kidd is not a

(51:26):
good NBA Playoffs. He did a terrible job with the Nets,
He did a terrible job with the Bucks. He is
arguably not even really been that great with Dallas. I
know they got to the finals, but like, I don't know,
Dallas fans are exactly throw with Jason Kidd. The rest
of them, I get like Doka is a good coach
for sure. I mean, the only reason I don't get
fired is because he just like you know, could could

(51:49):
be appropriate in the workplace for a little bit. It
was because he was a bad coach in Boston. I mean,
certainly did great the first.

Speaker 3 (51:55):
He might need to go train with the Monks.

Speaker 1 (51:58):
He bro fumbled me along. I feel like he already
his punishment is already pretty brutal. Plays all about that,
like you got one of the time greats out there,
and anyway, I digress. They finally, since then have moved
on to a little more like traditional coaches that are available.
So like they've talked to Mike Brown and they've talked
to Taylor Jenkins, and I'm like, wow, that makes a
lot of sense.

Speaker 3 (52:19):
Wow. Yeah, Finally, Mike Malone.

Speaker 1 (52:21):
Is still a guy that I would wonder too if
he doesn't get an interview, like I think obviously that's
the big kind of coach that's hanging out there right now.
But Taylor Jenkins is too, Like I don't want to
like Mike Malone getting fired later in the season took
away from the drama of Taylor Jenkins, but it was like, dude,
Taylor Jenkins I thought did a pretty good job at Memphis,
would all a said it done? Like even he had
like he made adjustments to their offense and it just

(52:43):
you know didn't kind of work. But that felt like
it was more of a personality even personnel thing than
it was a Taylor Jenkins being a bad coach thing. Now.

Speaker 2 (52:49):
But if I'm Mike Malone, I am definitely intrigued by
the Knicks game because of how close they were. It's like, man,
you make a few tweaks like again depth and we're
rolling here. So yeah, I think I think that would
be an interesting plug for him.

Speaker 1 (53:03):
So Mike Mike Brown is okay. I feel like we
kinda like, I don't know, like Mike Brown's a good coach,
but it's like we've I feel like we've done this before.
Like I think he's a better assistant than a head
coach at this point. I know he won Coach the
Year with the Kings a few years ago, but like
he also wasn't doing a great job towards the end
in Sacramento. I would if I'm between Mike Brown and

(53:25):
Taylor Jenkins, I'd probably take the Taylor Jenkins swing there.
Sure we'll see, but regardless, they're not getting any of
the four guys we first named it. And I just
think it's hilarious. I'm like, how do you let it
publicly leave that you're trying to get every active NBA
and why would they an NBA franchise, Like let you
just pry their coach like that, Like there really have
to be something going on, an active desire for the

(53:47):
coach to leave for because otherwise it's like it's one
of those where like I just get that phone call,
Like if I'm Houston and I get that phone call
and it's the Knicks and you know, you know, hello,
we want to talk to Ime Udoka right now, I'm
just laugh and hang out. I would bang hang up
on that, Like that'd be one of those where I
wish you could like literally physically just slam the phone
down the way.

Speaker 3 (54:07):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (54:08):
The day it's like what are you talking about?

Speaker 2 (54:10):
Nick's like what, like, what are we doing again? It
just to me, it gives off again. It gives off
they didn't have a plan after they got rid of
their coach, And to me, that's weird because that coach
has got you the furthest you've been in a very
long time.

Speaker 1 (54:25):
So I'm still conflicted about that, and so like that's
kind of my thing is. Yeah, so like I don't
think fire and Tims is the worst thing in the world.

Speaker 3 (54:32):
Maybe you keep it, he thinks though, right, keep them on.

Speaker 2 (54:36):
And if you can't go get whoever you know, duka
o docoh my god, or or whoever you know, you can't.

Speaker 1 (54:44):
You can't have a head coach and then actively be
trying to recruit head coaches. But while he's still employed,
you just.

Speaker 3 (54:49):
You just poke around a little bit.

Speaker 1 (54:51):
Yeah you poke around. Yeah, you poke around a little bit. Yeah,
I'm sure, Oh I hear you. All right, should we
play some vaculum here? Sure?

Speaker 3 (55:02):
Thing boom, we.

Speaker 1 (55:06):
Got some heavy we got some heavy stats this week
or what? Yeah? Yeah, but all right, we got a
few new ones and ten points. The game is hilarious.
You really can't get like pretty like low ten is
not that many, so you know, they kind of get
unique with it a little bit. All right. For the
podcast listeners, again, you can always watch a Macula grid
on YouTube. Just search driving to your NBA podcast. If

(55:28):
you are not a YouTube watcher and a podcast listener,
So our columns from left to right this week are
the Clippers, only one team and ten thousand career rebounds
are rows from top to bottom the Sixers, the Lakers,
and ten points a game per season. So justin I
will start with you, do you have any to jump

(55:49):
out off the page?

Speaker 2 (55:51):
So a little strategy here and you can tell me
to get off the ledge if you think it's it's
a bad move.

Speaker 1 (55:56):
Uh huh.

Speaker 2 (55:57):
The obvious one team seventy six er is Maxi. So yeah,
for sure, I think we do one team ten points
per game Maxi, because he's already gonna be used and
nobody else is probably gonna think about him in that category.

Speaker 1 (56:13):
No, you're right, I mean, dude, there's oh god, there's
so many. I mean, only like only one team for
the Sixers. The obvious answers are, well, there's three big ones.
It's EMBIID, it's Maxie, and it's probably Jered McCain at
this point.

Speaker 2 (56:26):
Honestly, McCain's a I would I would say McCain would
probably be third, like third on those that people would use.

Speaker 1 (56:34):
I mean, dude, if you want the lowest percentage, like
you got to do some of the second rounders who
they have this so like I'm thinking of like Adam
Bona for example, or I'm thinking of like Justin Edwards,
who the Sixers picked up as an undrafted free agent
this year and he's only played with us, Like, those
are the guys that, like, you know, the guys that

(56:56):
honestly they played this year. Like at that point, I
would I would go Justin Edwards over Bona only because
Bona was a second round pick, So I think he
might just like Justin Edwards played more meaningful minutes. I guess,
but I don't know. You gotta do it. He's gonna
be ye, oh definitely.

Speaker 2 (57:13):
So then you want to run MAXI ten points per game.

Speaker 1 (57:16):
I'm super fine with that because I think it's gonna
be I mean, there's obviously a plenty of options. Do
we do?

Speaker 3 (57:20):
Jared McCain.

Speaker 1 (57:23):
Jared Tennegan he had to have.

Speaker 3 (57:25):
Had ten he was dropping like twenty something.

Speaker 1 (57:28):
No, it's just he played in so few games and
it's like, I but no, you're right, I feel like
he had to have ten games. There. Yeah, I'm fine
with that. I thought it'll be super low.

Speaker 3 (57:42):
I am, yeah, yeah, there he is.

Speaker 1 (57:44):
Okay, Yeah, he's gonna bell. He'll be lower than Maxie.

Speaker 3 (57:47):
Is I point nine?

Speaker 2 (57:48):
That's good. Yeah, let's keep it in seventy six ers.

Speaker 1 (57:51):
Oh my god, only well, I mean, shoot, if we
want to knock out all the sixers ones, I mean
ten k rebounds for the Sixers. The two obvious ones
are Moses Malone and uh shoots, I say obvious Barkley
and Charles Barkley.

Speaker 3 (58:10):
Drum there for a second.

Speaker 1 (58:11):
Yeah, rumbon was Drum's still there now? Yeah, he's still
drums back drums say we should.

Speaker 2 (58:18):
I say, Drummond would be an easy one, probably less
thought about.

Speaker 3 (58:21):
Yeah, Drummond Dwight, Dwight would be a good one.

Speaker 1 (58:26):
Drummonds Drummonds probably.

Speaker 2 (58:27):
Though honestly, Dwight Howard at ten k rebounds for Lakers
could also work.

Speaker 1 (58:32):
Yeah you could.

Speaker 2 (58:34):
So you want to go, let's go Drummond Sixers.

Speaker 1 (58:37):
Yeah, I'm fine going Drummond there.

Speaker 2 (58:40):
Because people don't I don't think they associate. Yeah, I
don't think they.

Speaker 1 (58:43):
I mean three percent, No, I mean he's been all
over but yeah, ten k rebound I mean definitely. Like
I said, Barkley is well known as one of the
best rebounders the game. The Tumbo, one Defensive Player of
the Year with the Sixers most SMALLO. It's a Hall
of Famer, multiple time MVP. Like and I have say,
wil Chamberlain also works for Lakers.

Speaker 3 (59:02):
Oh yep, yep, I mean Lakers.

Speaker 1 (59:04):
A bunch of Lakers, obvious Lakers. The obvious ones are
Will Kareem. Wait what, oh Shack? I thought I thought
you said. I thought you said Jack. I'm like, who
the hell is Jack?

Speaker 3 (59:17):
Shack? Yeah, yeah, Shack? Maybe uh.

Speaker 1 (59:24):
Gasol, Yeah, Gasol definitely does they have so Oh Rodbin?
Dennis Rodbin played for the Lakers. He would they have
another big? I feel like I'm missing, Like I'm trying
to think of the guy. Well, I guess Kareem was
with Magic too. I'm like trying to think of the
guys who were Magic. They had a bunch of good bigs,

(59:46):
but I don't know if any of them as ten
I mean, yeah, my my initial indications at Last doesn't
have it right nowhere near her ten thousand career he has.

Speaker 3 (59:57):
I'm curious.

Speaker 1 (59:58):
Timothy moscov Is five thousand, I would be stunned.

Speaker 2 (01:00:02):
Let's see, hold on, hold on, I'm pulling up. This
is going to take him off the board if he
has it. Uh, do War's totals. Let's see mosgov totals rebounds. Yeah,
not even close. Eight years two five rebounds.

Speaker 1 (01:00:23):
Right, Yeah, like I said, he would have It would
have been a miracle if he had that many.

Speaker 3 (01:00:29):
All right.

Speaker 2 (01:00:30):
So so then if we want to finish the Sixers line,
since we have Sixers Clippers as our last one, we
could go Covington, we could go Dario, we could go.

Speaker 3 (01:00:48):
Harden.

Speaker 1 (01:00:50):
Harden is the obvious one.

Speaker 3 (01:00:51):
Yeah, Paul George.

Speaker 1 (01:00:53):
Elton Brand, Paul George, Yeah, Paul George obvious to. Yeah,
alten Brand for sure.

Speaker 3 (01:00:58):
Williams Williams does work.

Speaker 1 (01:01:01):
No, it works, I would argue Louvi. Does Sarage work?
What did Sarage play for the Clippers? Comingson? Definitely works.
But I don't think Daria play for the Clippers.

Speaker 2 (01:01:09):
Dude, who am I thinking of that? It was not
Maybe it wasn't Dario. Then we had another six Ers
three point shooter guy go out there?

Speaker 1 (01:01:19):
No, well it's not he. I mean, I don't think
it's who you're thinking of. Eric Gordon works too.

Speaker 2 (01:01:24):
No, Eric Gordon works. No, who went out there? Schmid
uh sham?

Speaker 3 (01:01:31):
It is there? It is.

Speaker 1 (01:01:31):
Okay, shammit does work. He's been everywhere, honestly, probably a
good one.

Speaker 3 (01:01:38):
So I say we do this, we do we do say.

Speaker 1 (01:01:41):
Works too, but I think we've used it before. There.

Speaker 2 (01:01:43):
Let's do sham it at sixers Clippers, and then and
then do Lou will at ten points per game Clippers.

Speaker 1 (01:01:51):
Yeah, I'm cool with that. That works. Oh no, who
else works there? Tres Montres Harrow works there. I don't
think we should use him, but like I think he
works there. Dre Jordan works there. There's a lot low
key actually just kidding. Yeah, I'm good with Lou there.
Lou Williams definitely a tenning game for the Clippers.

Speaker 2 (01:02:09):
Two percent. We are we are staying low baby.

Speaker 1 (01:02:13):
I mean's got a ten's like, there's so many options.
But you're right because with the well with the Clippers too.
You think of like you know, Kawhi, you think of
Chris Paul, you think of Blake, oh dude, six or Clippers.
There's so many. JJ Reding works.

Speaker 3 (01:02:27):
Oh, JJ would be a good one.

Speaker 1 (01:02:28):
Yeah, Clippers Lakers the first one that comes to my mind.
And maybe it's been such an immaculate Grid Dartling because
I don't use him enough in the past.

Speaker 3 (01:02:38):
As Matt Barnes, what about them?

Speaker 2 (01:02:41):
Is he still the center on the y Yeah?

Speaker 3 (01:02:47):
Yeah, definitely works one to do.

Speaker 1 (01:02:49):
He started his career with the Lakers. That's he he's
in the.

Speaker 3 (01:02:52):
Trade yep, should we go? Do you think that'd be low?

Speaker 1 (01:02:56):
No, because I think he currently plays for the Clippers.

Speaker 3 (01:02:58):
But yeah, that's fair.

Speaker 1 (01:03:01):
Trying to think of like other guys who did both.
I think did Rondo play for the Clippers? I feel
like Rondo seated both? Yeah, Russ definitely works. Russell be high.

Speaker 3 (01:03:10):
Yeah, yeah, rust might be number.

Speaker 1 (01:03:14):
One, honestly, just because of how recent it was. Yeah, hmmm,
try to Yeah, beyond.

Speaker 2 (01:03:25):
That, Rondo didn't end up with the Clippers at any point, right,
I don't think.

Speaker 1 (01:03:30):
So, And that's what I'm If he did, it was
for one season.

Speaker 3 (01:03:34):
No, I don't even think he was there.

Speaker 1 (01:03:36):
I know, I know, I think I think the Marcus
Cousins works.

Speaker 2 (01:03:43):
Boogie does work. Boogie does work, and Boogie would be
a really interesting one to throw at ten thousand bounds
for the Lakers.

Speaker 1 (01:03:51):
Yeah, low key, But he just got thrown out of
the Puerto Rican Basketball League. I don't know if you
saw that.

Speaker 2 (01:03:57):
That was actually gonna be my falling at one point.
But that's genuinely hilarious to me, Like that whole situation
so wild wild, What should we do? Boogie at ten
thousand rebounds?

Speaker 1 (01:04:12):
Yeah, he has it right.

Speaker 3 (01:04:14):
There's no way he doesn't have ten thousand.

Speaker 1 (01:04:17):
The only reason I'd be worried is just because he
had a bunch of like injuries at the end of
his career, like a lot, like more than I'd feel
better with him at Lakers Clippers than I would.

Speaker 3 (01:04:28):
All right, all right, I'll go boogie Lakers Clippers.

Speaker 1 (01:04:31):
Well, he played for the Lakers, right, or did he
get hurt?

Speaker 3 (01:04:38):
I mean he was on the Lakers. I assumed he.

Speaker 1 (01:04:40):
I think he got hurt because and then it's White
got picked up. Now I'm thinking about it, and I'm like,
wait a minute, I don't know I ever played for them.
He signed with them, but I'm like, did he ever
play a game with them?

Speaker 3 (01:04:50):
M I mean I just assumed he did. I don't.
I don't know. I was just gonna assume.

Speaker 1 (01:04:55):
You know, you know what, I'm gonna assume. No. I
don't feel good about it, only because we have better
options there.

Speaker 3 (01:05:03):
Like i'd rather go, I do we want to do
back and.

Speaker 1 (01:05:08):
Forth on rondo? Man, I'm fine with Dwight at ten
k there. Yeah, I think Dwight will be I mean,
Dwight will be lower than Shaq will Kareem. Yeah, yeah,
Pow might have been lower. But that's about the only
one I can think of where I'm like, oh, yeah,
that definitely would have been lower. If you want to
do Pow for ten k rebounds in ten points per
game of season.

Speaker 3 (01:05:28):
That works, that'd be a good one.

Speaker 1 (01:05:30):
I think he's low. I can't. I mean, yeah, I don't.
I don't think yeah, hell yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:05:37):
All right, Lakers one team and Lakers Clippers.

Speaker 1 (01:05:41):
I mean Lakers one team. That the three that come
to mind are Kobe Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West, Like
those are the the like Lakers, I mean magic is
magic too obviously.

Speaker 3 (01:05:58):
Well, and then and.

Speaker 2 (01:05:58):
Then they're they're younger guys who haven't gone anywhere well and.

Speaker 1 (01:06:01):
So that's where I think the money's at if we
want to have a younger percentages. It's like, yo, right,
you think of the younger guys who you know they've drafted,
but it's so like Austin Reeves, for example, Austin Reeves.

Speaker 3 (01:06:11):
Currently, I think be a good one.

Speaker 1 (01:06:13):
Yeah, Like trying to think of guys that they draft.
I'm trying to think of their rookies. Oh do no works? No,
we should do dude, this is so bad, but no,
we should do to Bronny.

Speaker 3 (01:06:21):
Bron Bronnie.

Speaker 1 (01:06:27):
The two ends.

Speaker 2 (01:06:28):
Uh Yep, there he was. I saw him, Bronnie James.
But why just be like.

Speaker 1 (01:06:34):
Yeah, I mean honestly like, yeah, I mean he certainly
has a lot of potential for it. All right, what
do we want to do here for Lakers and Clippers?
Do we want to do Barnes? We want to do Zubats?
Do we want to do.

Speaker 3 (01:06:46):
My first thought was was.

Speaker 1 (01:06:49):
I'm fine with n close it out? Do you be it? Yeah?

Speaker 3 (01:06:54):
There he is.

Speaker 1 (01:06:58):
Nice? Wow, it was too really twelve Oh okay, I
would say only because like, like Lakers were first thing.
I mean, he's still in the roster. That's why I'm surprised,
because seventy four Sixers and Clippers we weren't kidding there.
Lord Rondo does work for Lakers Clippers. He briefly played
for the Clippers for eighteen games.

Speaker 3 (01:07:16):
DeAndre Jordan would have been another one.

Speaker 1 (01:07:18):
Yeah, No, I said that.

Speaker 3 (01:07:19):
Yeah, I said that bought back Ben Simmons. Oh my god.

Speaker 1 (01:07:23):
Oh Ben's current. Yeah, you're right, that would have its Wow. PJ. Talker,
Oh yeah, tombs a good one. Marcus Reggie, Wow, we
have a lot recently. Yeah, wow bite Scott classic bias
at bed time. Yeah to why you're right to buy
some bos like men. I think Spencer most states would

(01:07:43):
have been crazy. Spencer Haws had been crazy. JJ. We
said Byron Bowlin's Ye, swaggy, come on, I didn't know
that Matt Matt Barnes for the Lakers and the Clippers.
He would work for us. They're right, Oh man, forgot
about that. It's a good list, all right. Do we
want to go back to the grid. Let's see the

(01:08:04):
most popular answers for everybody if you can just scroll
down justin yil, all right. The most popular answers for
Sixers and Clippers. James Harden for Sixers one team, Joel
Embiid for Sixers, ten k rebounds career, Moses Malone that
genuinely stuns me over Barkley, but hey, Shalton Moses Lakers
and Clippers was Russell Westbrook Lakers one team, Kobe Bryant

(01:08:26):
Lakers ten k rebounds, Kareem abdul Jabbar Clippers ten a
game per season, Kawhi Leonard ten a game per season,
only one team, Larry Bird and ten a game per season,
ten thousand career rebounds, Saquille O'Neill. If we want to
go back our grid one last time, we have Landry
Shammit for Sixers and Clippers. Justin Edwards for Sixers only

(01:08:46):
one team. Andre Drummond Sixers, ten k rebounds, Ivika Zubats
Clippers and Lakers. Ronnie James Lakers, only one team, Dwight
Howard Lakers ten k rebounds, Clippers ten a game per season,
Lou Williams only one team in ten a game per season,
Jared McCain and ten thousand career rebounds and ten a
game per season. Palgasol. Thank you everybody for listening to

(01:09:09):
this episode of the Driving Dish NBA podcast. Appreciate you
guys as always leave us a review on iTunes, good
a battle read them on the podcast. If you're not
an Apple user, anywhere you can find a podcast, you
can find us.

Speaker 3 (01:09:19):
We're on YouTube.

Speaker 2 (01:09:20):
Driving Dish NBA on YouTube. That way you can watch
along When we play Immaculate Grid and obviously subscribe, you'll
get notifications when new episodes are coming out.

Speaker 1 (01:09:31):
I think we've done my dancer for today, so why
don't we dance Wednesday? See your star, Sidney you are.

Speaker 3 (01:09:46):
I think they get