The Mismatch - Have the Thunder Broken the Wolves? Plus: A Must-Win Game 2, and Enjoying the Haliburton Experience.

Episode Date: May 23, 2025

The Thunder continue their dominance to take a 2-0 series lead over the Timberwolves, as Verno and Jacoby recap Game 2 and debate what it’ll take for the Wolves to try to make this a series. They discuss how the Thunder’s Big Three of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren performed, Julius Randle’s disappearance, Mike Conley’s influence, and how the Thunder exploited the Wolves defense. Next, Jacoby shares his feelings after Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers came back to take Game 1 from the Knicks. Did the Knicks collapse, or was it a matter of a hot shooting stretch from Aaron Nesmith? Is Game 2 a must-win for the Knicks? (00:00) Welcome to The Mismatch!(01:17) Thunder Defeat T-Wolves: 118-103 (OKC 2-0)(14:19) Expectations for the T-Wolves at Home(24:30) Have the Thunder Broke the T-Wolves?(31:35) Comeback or Collapse: Knicks Lose to the Pacers: 138-135 (IND 1-0)(45:11) How Are the Pacers Still Surprising Us?!(49:54) Game 2: Pacers vs. Knicks [-6] Leave us a message on our Mismatch Voicemail line! [phone] The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Hosts: Chris Vernon and David JacobyProducers: Jessie Lopez and Tucker TashjianSocial: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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You must be 21 and present in select states. Gambling problem, call 100 Gambler or visit RG-dash-Halt.com. Welcome to the mismatchap, I'm Chris Vernon. And join the me as he does every week from the ringer.com is Dave Jacoby. Yerner. We're starting with tonight's game, right? Yes, Oklahoma City just won. 118 to 103 in game two over the Minnesota Timberwolves. And I think you are going to be surprised at what I have to say.

Really? Are we going to celebrate the Thunder? I think that was the most impressed I have been with them the entire playoffs. And I don't feel like most people will feel that way. That is a Minnesota team whose your backs are against a wall. drop game one. You need to, I know everybody can do the whole. A series doesn't start until you lose it home.

I hate that. Okay. Here's what you know. You're playing against a 68 win team that's mangled its first two opponents during the playoffs. Okay. They're not mangled the nuggets. Okay. They went to seven with the nuggets.

Yeah. Yeah. They mangled your grizzlies. Even that was a little sketchy, to be honest with you. But they have had big, big wins at home. Even against the nuggets. you had some big monster wins sprinkled in there, right? Understand they would be more susceptible on the road.

That being said, you are in a position where, yes, you have not played a home game yet, but if you drop the first two, you put yourself in a position where you have to win four out of the next five games against the team that won 68 games and then mangled its first round opponent. and then took care of business with its second round opponent, though it went seven games, obviously were spectacular in the home games throughout that series. Okay. And so you are in a really bad way. So, first of all, psychologically, you think you're getting a home run effort.

You also think you are going to be making adjustments for game two that will make things much easier for you. you. And the reason I say I was probably most impressed tonight is because I just watched a team search for 48 minutes. theoretically, you've watched the tape from game number one. You played them four times during the season. You saw a team search for 48 minutes and find very few answers. You can say they found answers in the fourth quarter, but at that point, point Oklahoma City had totally taken their foot off the gas. They were running away from them. They're up 24 going into the fourth, okay?

And so you're benching one of your best players in Julius Randall. You can't do anything with Di Vinciutto. He was rendered virtually unplayable. So now you're down to seven guys that you might trust. Nikila Alexander Walker is the only one that's really stepped up because Nas Reid The first shot he makes will be the first shot he makes. And like I said, Gobert's been rendered useless. And then you've rendered Julius Randall useless.

And so to me, it was watching how it all unfolded for Minnesota tonight that made me most impressed maybe with Oklahoma City because I'm watching a team search for 48 minutes with no answers. Meanwhile, all three of the best players on Oklahoma City, all three of them were great simultaneously. You're getting Chet great? Chet Holmgren had 22 points, ended up four rebounds to assist. I'll say this about the game that I just watched. This is that first half, I felt like the Minnesota, everything broke Minnesota. his way. The Thunder couldn't hit a three.

They didn't turn the ball over. And they had Jaylen McDaniels knocking down corner three after corner three. They were hitting their shots. It just felt like everything, if you were to write down adjustments they needed to make from game one to game two, they made them. And they're still down. And they're still losing the game. The end of the first half was an absolute debacle.

I thought that Dante, the Dante foul was just a huge mistake. It's one play. It's one possession. that was a huge mistake. You've got that game. That game's at three. That's what the number's on right then. Gilgis Alexander hits a step back three.

So now you're at six. He's not that guy. But now you're at six, okay? The worst thing that can happen is you're down six. You're probably going to get a bucket. You've been able to get buckets. So you're probably going into half time down three or four. Okay.

If you can get a bucking. bucket on your last possession. And Devinchenzo Shot clock is off. Yeah. David Tenzo throws the illegal screen on door. It's a bad one too. Just his arms on a screen. Like usually they lean in with a shoulder, but he uses his,

he extends his arms. It's weird. Oklahoma City goes from, and now they convert. So now it's three to eight in the span of, I mean, and there's absolutely no reason for it to be. And then, of course,

they just ran rough shot over them in that third quarter. I just thought when you're talking about Gildes Alexander, who was awarded MVP before this game and how great he was, and then Williams and then Chet, they only played seven, really. They didn't go very deep into their bench in this one. It was like Dagnol was playing this as a must win, right? They didn't go to their nine.

They didn't go to their 10 guys for like real minutes. They played seven. They had Wallace played 27 minutes. Caruso played 20. I didn't see Jay Will. I didn't see him out there. He didn't play at all. And look, how about this?

Wallace played 27 minutes. Caruso 24 minutes. Wiggins played nine entirely forgettable minutes. I was about saying. I think it's all in the first half. Isaiah Joe played three and Kendrick Williams came in for one minute. And that was it. So they played seven guys for all intents of purposes in this game.

And two great results. and I just thought the way it felt like Minnesota had no answers. It's like, do we play Gobert? Do we not play Gobert? And then he just abandoned Randall. I think he was just, you know, Randall had, I told you, I told you, I know, stick to your guns. There's going to come and die.

I backed off the take. Because he had been, he was like, he had gone all the way up in the second banana rankings. And then he showed his head tonight. Two for 11 had four turnovers and two made field goals. And I'll tell you. I don't know if it was the last time he played, but I can imagine it was the one where he caught it low and then threw his shoulder down in.

And you've got like a flop slash bump with the whatever. And then he just runs down the court like smiling ear to ear. And they're getting their ass kicked. then I'm like, okay, you may not get to play anymore. I've seen my share of Randall stinkers in the playoffs. This was probably the worst, honestly. Oh, I mean, this is probably the worst. Abysmal.

I've seen some stinkers. This was really bad. And there are certain players that you just like, and I think I'm not alone in this, and there's certain players that you don't. Everybody likes Nasreid. Everybody likes Nasreid. Everybody likes Nasre. He's just got this cue score that is so high,

and no one can explain why. He's like a seven footer that just like cross. is over and pulls up and sometimes he looks like the best player in the world and he's just he's just disappeared the last year. Make a shot bro. Like make a shot. Like disappeared the last two games. I thought he would bounce back in game two. What it felt like and I text you in the first half I'm like bro, they are jet and maybe maybe what we're going to find out is they always say role players play better at home. Maybe they're going to go back to Minnesota and all of a sudden Dante DiVicheno and Nasrin or

making open threes because they are generating open threes for them and they can't make them. I will say this. Just to say, like, I don't think this series is over. Obviously, I think the Thunder will win. They won the first two games handily. Sure. But they were hanging around. You know what I mean?

It wasn't like... Until the third. They were hanging around. You know, even in the fourth, they got it down to like nine. And after what we all went through the previous night. Right. who knows what can happen but they're hanging around

and they have Edwards and when you have a guy like Edwards you always have a chance you have a puncher's chance when you have Anthony Edwards who I thought played well tonight I really did. Well here's the thing yeah he was mega aggressive

he'd gotten fined for the post game comments after the first game where he said you know I've got to take more effing shots because he only had 13 field goal attempts in game number one. So you could tell right off the bat

he was going to be much more aggressive. He doubled. Yeah. But one for nine from three is tough, dude. Rough. Tough. And look, the others beyond him, he's gaining so much attention

that the others have to be able to step up. And there are so many possessions where it's like he, he generates it, it collapses, you kick out wide open three. Open. It's a maker miss league, dude.

I mean, you've got the guy that's hitting the attention. You've got guys. shoot 40% in the regular season. Knock it down, Dante. Knock it down, Nasreed. Like, the reason you're Nasreed is because you shoot 40%.

So knock down 40% of your threes. Well, and... Please. The only one of the others that really showed up, look, McDaniels. McDaniels did, for sure, but I was going to mention Alexander Walker, right?

We talk about they've got eight solid guys. Well, if Reading DeVincenzo. Two-way guys. If Reed and DeVincenzo aren't helping me, at least me won. And Alexander Walker obviously played, he played well tonight. The crazy thing is, looking at these box scores, you know, one of my favorite, not only basketball players, but people in the world, is Mike Conley. So I have a rooting interest in him, right?

I always want him to do well. I got some texts about Mike Connolly. And I was like, you just love Mike Connolly. Okay, here's what I'll tell you. He's not swinging this series, Chris Vernon. I didn't tell you they're swinging. I just don't understand. They can't do anything without.

It reminds me of the Rockets without Van Vleet. When we went through that month that we were talking about it. And it's like this rudderless ship. And it's like, why can't you run offense? Why he, they lost the first game of this series by 26 points, Jacoby. Mike Conley was a plus five. Explain it to me.

They lost tonight by 15 and Mike Conley was a plus 14 in 28 minutes. But in those Mike Conley minutes is he that effective? Is he doing that much? Is he even assisting or scoring? I am telling.

Or defending or rebounding or doing anything? To act like he's not involved, of course, he's the point guard of the team and he's obviously a guy that has to be honored, at least, has to be guarded. They got a problem with guys that don't need to be guarded. Rudy Gobert runs 30 feet away from the basket and sets that stupid screen, and nobody even, nobody cares.

Looks at him. Okay, cool, nice screen, bro. Because they've got, because nobody gets hung up on the screen. So they just fight through it. And then it's like, where are you going? What are we going to do? Short roll to you so you can peer a wet or so you could chuck it against a backboard. He sucks. He sucks. And all these nerds used it as a field day when he had the

huge game against the Lakers. And they don't say shit when this happens. They don't say anything. You've watched it for two games. This guy can't do anything. What can he do? What is he doing? Do you remember the Rudy gober block shot you've seen so far? Because I don't. Has he blocked a shot? When was the SWAT that you remember? What about the big rebound? I remember which which one? I can't think of it. Come on.

But they didn't play him in the fourth quarter. They didn't play. Here's my thing, though. I do feel like Minnesota, this is not over to me. You've got Randall stinker. Nasri, two just stinkers. Like, I just can't see this continue. Bro, you look, they were.

You've got Anthony Edwards. Anthony Edwards has, it's been really interesting to see what's happened with Edwards is this year. His new thing was, I can shoot threes now. I make the most threes. I take the most threes. This is my new weapon that I'm going to use.

And it does feel like in these two games and even in some of the previous series, he's learned, do you know what else I can do? Take it to the basket and no one can stop. There are some possessions where it's just like, I'm a better athlete and better score than anything you can put in front of me, best defense in the NBA. And I think that when you have that, you have a chance.

And I think it'll be much more competitive in three and four. I will say that Kendrick Perkins, I'm going to give him credit. I know he gets himself in hot water about a lot of things, but I believe it was him right before the game was about to start. And they were having this like discussion. And Mike Malone was, Michael Malone was there and Bob Myers and Stephen A and Malickie. Malika Andrews and Kendrick Parkins.

And he always calls him Gobert. Gobert. He said, I think they need to play Gobert and Randall less together. That's what I think

Finch should do. He goes, you've got to give the guy driving lanes. And man, there are so many times where you're watching and you're going,

where is the driving lane coming from? Because these guys are not honored away. They're not spacing the floor, right? And when you ask me about, what is Mike Conley doing? Is he impactful?

You have to have guys that create space. You have to have guys that create space. And the only way you could create space is by being away from the basket and being able to pull a defender away from the basket. And knocking down your shots. And when you're Nas Reid and you're not knocking down your shots, you're Dante DiVichenzel, you're not knocking down your shots. You don't create space. Right. And therefore, and you also have, and I think that's why you saw a little less of, you know, Randall and Gobert.

And it's hard to play those guys together because now we're just boxes and elbows, right? We're just boxes and elbows. And it's like, fine. We'll close out. We'll close out late and try to spook you when you're trying to shoot one of these threes or whatever. But we'll give you some open threes. But what you're not going to do is make hay in the paint. and Anthony Edwards,

you get no driving lanes. None. Like, you're going to ask. You've got to sift through, you've got to sift through everybody to try to get this. I thought they over-relied on the zone in the first half as well.

I thought, it's like, it's so funny, you know, like, what is Gaubert's purpose in that too? Or why is, Chad Hungrens can hit

100 out of 100, six-footers. A hundred out of 100. And so can Caruso. It's like, oh, we went to the middle of the zone. Like, I was about to say this. Like, anyone who listens to this podcast played like fifth grade basketball at the lowest level possible.

And everyone will tell you, where's the soft spot in the zone right in the middle? And they just eat from passing the ball to the middle. And Isaiah Hartinstein, he actually missed a bunch of those stupid floaters, but he hit a couple too. And then he gets it, collapse the zone, kick to the baseline, the quote-unquote dunker spot. And then you've got Caruso hitting a little six-footer. Chet hit the little six footer. I understand the zone, but the zone is like a, it's a switchup. It's like a, it can't be your go-to.

And it's just too easy to break down. Too easy. Look, I thought, I know you're saying that, and look, I fully expect Minnesota is not going to lay down. They should be able to win a game. Maybe they could win two in Minnesota. It's the big picture thing that I'm talking about, which is winning four. out of five against that team. And more importantly,

it was the scramble mode that they were in and gave to. Now, maybe just maybe, Chris Finch will have a revelation and say, you know what, we were able to figure some stuff out. And here's how we want to attack this. And here's how we want to attack this. And it took us two games.

But I think we kind of found something because we got our ass kicked. We're down 24. We cut it to 10. And more of what cut it to 10 and less of, What got it to 24 is what we need to do, and we did find something. But when you came in in a game two after you theoretically made your adjustments,

after getting your ass kicked in one, when you get your ass kicked in one, you can't turn around and be getting your ass kicked in two. That's what I'm saying. And they were down 24 before they took their foot off together. or before they were up 24 before they took their foot off the gas. And they couldn't do anything with Gildes Alexander. He killed them. It's worth mentioning that, like, I thought that he looked like the MVP tonight.

And I also felt that remember Game 6 J. Dub? He was terrible. It was like, you're not winning this series. You're not winning the Western Conference when your second banana plays like that. And I thought he played great tonight. And this may be. This may be what we find. This may be what we find.

And I think it might have been a true fool's errand for them to not have done it sooner. You saw when they were cutting into that lead. And again, I am one that saying that team took the foot off the gas. They did. The run two at Gildes Alexander and live with the result of the rest is your chance. Like they had too much ego thinking they can guard this guy straight up. too much. No, they ran two at him to get the ball out of his hands and now let's scramble.

And if Luz-Dorpe makes... I got it. But if Looddorpe makes threes and if Chet does this and whatever, but it was best of both worlds for OKC tonight. Gilded's Alexander. One of these things can't be true. Either Gilded's Alexander has 38 and you've done well on the other guys. Or you've shut down Gildes-Alexander. Alexander and the other guys have eaten, right?

But what you can't have is all of them. That's why I told you this is maybe the most impressive to me because all those guys ain't, all of them. Who wasn't good for the Thunder? It's a happy, it's a happy locker room. It's a happy locker room right now. Who was? It's a happy locker room. The guy got the MVP and they all have Rolexes.

Yeah. And those candy boost jackets are expensive too. but I'd say that when you've got SGA 12 for 21 and J. Dub 12 for 20, like you're just, you're not going to beat that efficiency. You're not going to beat that efficiency. And the foul stuff with SGA, like I'm kind of tired of hearing about it. It's like, yeah, man, stop, stop putting your hands on him. He's going to take advantage of it.

All right, no, all right. Stop putting your hands on. You're putting your hands on them. This has become a cottage industry. So don't make me mad at you too. this new cottage industry of, you know what, actually,

he's not a foul merchant. Oh, no, he's a foul merchant. And so Shailen Brunson. Actually, he's not a foul merchant. Oh,

no, he is. He leads the league in drives. No, blah, no, no, no, I'm not saying that.

No, but what I'm not saying that is, as you mentioned, you guys watch the tape of game one. Yeah. Change the way

you play defense against him. Here's what I will say. Yes, he is a foul merchant, but understand that when he is driving towards you. He leads the league in drives. He does this. He does that.

And that's become the thing. It's now become like the counterpoint. The Zach. It's now. Oh, yeah. That's the most popular thing. As if I'm not watching this on TV. Look, let me explain for all the nerds out there that want to be counterpoint guy.

He actually leads the league and drives. And actually, he doesn't go to the line as many of his peers. And shut up. Look, we're watching it when the object of the play is to, Get foul. That's what we're talking. That is a foul merchant. I don't give a shit how many free throws he takes.

I don't care about all the, you know, how many drives he has. We're watching basketball if the intention of my play is to get fouled and then I just throw the ball up at the rim. Maybe get the bucket in. Right. Like, Brunton does it. Brunson does it. And it drives me crazy. And think about if we were, if me and you were, think about it like this.

You talk about basketball. Me and you, we're going to play. one-on-one in my backyard. You've got an advantage obviously. I would never play one-on-one against you. Yeah, I would never play one-on-one. You've got advantage. But if I if I just kept taking the ball at you and then bump-faking you getting in the air and then

waiting and then throwing it up and then I'd just say, foul, check up. I mean, at some point, you're like, this is ridiculous. It's ridiculous. That's not even, like, why are you doing this? Why are you doing this? That's exactly what you'd say to me. Why are you doing this? And I would say, I would say,

what, foul. Fow. you're just trying to get you off your game. Like it's like, okay, I got it. Hey, I got it. It's effective, but it's also mega annoying. We'll be out there for 20 minutes. It'll be zero, zero. It's mega annoying.

You know what I mean? Like, the point of the play is to score, not for you to foul me. Do you see McDaniels just push him over? He got so sick of it. McDaniels just like, because it was, and SGA did, I don't know why we're using the term hook or whatever, but he grabbed them and tried to draw a foul. And then McDaniels just got tired of it. They're losing by 13

and he's two hand pushing to the ground. Like, fuck you. That's what he said. But he's arms. He's like, fuck you. I'm tired of this. Then I've done the same thing. This is why I started this by saying

this was the most impressive of the games to me. No, they broke him. They broke them. Randall's over there with a frigging towel on his head. Chris, smiling. No,

Chris Finch is trying literally any lineup he can find. Devin Chanto's unplayable. Gobert's unplayable. Randall's unplayable. It's like, bro, you don't have any other players. You better dust off Terrence Shannon or somebody. And I'm like, and McDaniels, who's out there, he's pushing. He's pushing St. Gild's Alexander to the ground because he's so frustrated with the whole thing.

And he just took the flagrant. That was not like a, oh, let's review it. Let's take a look at it. Was it excessive? He pushed him to the ground because he was mad. Nasry bricks literally every wide open three he takes. It's crazy. And it's like, I'm sorry.

Like, and the other team, they're just plug it away, plug it away, plug it away, plug it away, plug it away, plug it away. And all three of their, you know, Gildes Alexander, 38, J. Will, 26, Chet, 22. It's like, I mean, that is one team has got literally three of its major players sitting on the bench with towels on their head and a coach being like, just keep taking it to the basket. gnaw and de keel alexander walker's like out there playing a one on five well i'm like okay all right you're you're in a world you're in a world of shit it's tough i mean step be said they were still in it man they were not in it they were still in no no you are in it look everybody was absolutely traumatized by the events of last evening that is how you hold on to the lead you let it get to 10

and then you bust it back up that's how that happens you don't let it go from 10 to 4 to 3 to 1 to I just don't understand not playing Gobert in the 4th yesterday and then not playing Randall in the 4th today like it just go down swinging

go down with your guys like just benching Randall in the 4th like that's I was pretty surprised by that to be honest with you he's been so good this postseason he's going to decide oh he doesn't have it tonight so now I'm going to put them out there. He was two for 11.

Two for 11. I should, I should have stuck to that take. I told you. I tried to tell you. You did. You tried to walk me off of that. I tried to tell you. You did.

I said, I got to get it to you. I said, just stick with it. You never know. I do stick to takes. You never know. He's been playing so well. He had like seven assists in games. I've never seen to have one assist with the Knicks.

Not a single assist. It's all career. And here's the big thing. We talked about going into this series. I said, we talk about the Greg Popovich thing, and I said, forget about threes, even though threes would be a good indicator, too, because the stupid wolves can't make a three to save their life. They're 28% in this game. I mean, they're good neither. I got it.

But, I mean, they shoot such a high volume. They shot 51. They have shot 93s, and they're shooting like frigging 20%. How'd that work out for the Celtics? And I said, the points off turnovers thing. So far. they limited the turnovers. I got it. But still,

Jacoby, still, they score off all of them. I know. And through two games, Oklahoma City has 53 points off turnovers. Do you remember? Do you remember, I think it's, I want to say it's Randall's posting up like, I think it's like Caruso or Wallace and whoever's trying to throw the inbound pass. It's like you cannot just lob it over the top against this team. Like, what are you thinking?

You, the passes need to be lasers and they need to be decisive. You can't just lob it over the top of somebody and then Dorr just smashes the ball out of his hands the second he touches it. How about when, uh, you can't do that? What are the other thing? How about the Nas Reed cross quarter straight to Caruso? What are you doing? When it was like a 10 point game at the end, it's like, what are you doing? Have you seen that?

You watch game one. Yeah. It's like, you saw you, you, this, this team is fast and they get in passing lanes. I don't know if you've seen the last, I don't know, 90. two games that they played. Well, and that is when when we talk about the whole Conley thing,

the turnovers are low when he's out there. That's what I tell you. Forno. I understand he played for the Grizzlies. I understand that you might have a personal relationship with this man. But Mike Conley's not swinging this series. They weren't like a Mike Conley away from winning these two games, okay? You explain to me how you get your ass kicked in two games

but have a starter who's in the positives. How? How does that happen? You think it's random? Everybody else is in the negatives. All of them. All of them. All of them. I'm saying because he can dribble,

I'm not telling you he's individually making a massive difference. Because he's not. No, with your counting stats, what I am telling you is his presence is make a difference because he can dribble because he can move the ball because he doesn't turn it over. Who's a cover? they hide him they constantly hide him but the i mean you put him on caruso or whatever put in that stupid zone the NBA playoffs are finally here and there's no better way to be a part of the action than with Fandul america's number one sportsbook after another competitive season the top teams are ready to battle their way through the playoff bracket in hopes of taking home the championship and we are at the end it is the conference finals and it could not be better if you think you know how it's

going to go down, then make those predictions pay off with Fanduil and NBA profit boosts. Simply make your bet, activate your profit boost, and go for even bigger winnings. I have my eye on game two in MSG. Game one was one of the most impactful, emotional, disturbing, memorable moments of my life and anyone who saw it can't wait for game two. how will the Knicks respond? Can Tyrese Halliburton do this again? Is Neismith the greatest shooter in the history of the NBA?

Who knows? We will find out on Friday night, but I believe in the New York Knickerbockers. I think they're going to walk away with this one easily in game two. The rest of the series, I have no idea. But I feel like game two is the Knicks to lose. That's where I will be putting my money on Fandula. But you don't just be a spectator this postseason.

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Can we talk about the next? I mean, yes. You text me and you said that you were glad we did not do the show last night because now you have had time to digest it all. And that you feel differently now than you did at the time. And I cannot wait to hear this baloney. One of my first most impactful sports memories. I grew up in Amherst, Massachusetts,

I was a Red Sox fan, still a Red Sox fan, even though I'm not a Celtics fan anymore. I loved Bill Buckner. I had a poster of Bill Buckner on my wall for the 1986 World Series. And in game six, we all know what happened. The ball goes through his legs. And he was my guy. He was wearing high top cleats. He had a hurt ankle.

I just loved the guy. I just loved him. And the ball went through his legs. And it was so, and people think that was game seven. That was game six. There was still another game after. it and it was just like it's one of those things that makes you love sports and after the game yesterday i was so disgusted i was so damaged emotionally i was hurt i couldn't i just i couldn't i just wanted

to kick a trash can i even want to go home and you wanted to go sit with the rats outside yes i just wanted to let the rats just crawl over me like willard no one knows that movie and i rewashed it this morning. Honestly, it's like, that's why I love sports. Games like that. No, I'm serious. Games like that are why I love sports. That you really are. You have always turned yourself as a die-easy Knicks fan. I'm a die-easy Knicks fan. But this is disgusting. That I love hating Halliburton. I love the choke gesture. I love the replay.

I love that it was two, two instead of three. I love that it went to overtime. I love everything. about it. I love that game. It made me feel something. You just want to, if you're on this planet, you just want to be stirred emotionally by something. And games like tonight, it's like, whatever, I didn't remember. Do you ever march in the regular season? Like, you don't feel anything when you watch the games. I felt so much. I wanted to cry last night. I was, actually, I never watched games at bars, but we had a rec league game at 8 o'clock. And I was like, all right, we'll go to a bar afterwards and watch it. The other team didn't even show up because the Knicks were playing. So we put our uniforms on.

I put my stupid shoes on. We're warming up. We're looking at the other side of the court. Like, where are these guys? They didn't even show up. So I'm at a bar watching with other people. Is there actually real fans? Yeah.

And we're at a bar watching other people. And the up and down of it all and just how tense it was and how emotional it has been. And rewatching it this morning, I was like, honestly, I, because you always say comeback or collapse, that was a comeback. The Knicks were getting buckets down the stretch. Like, remember, game one in game two of the Celtics, the Celtics just completely collapsed. The Knicks were getting baskets.

They just weren't covering this guy, Aaron Smith, who had six threes in a row. I loved the experience. I'm happy it happened. Okay. Your Knicks fandom is completely revoked. That's fine. Take it. Yeah.

Just don't even call yourself. Take it. Because there's no, then you're not a real fan, bro. I'm not. Okay. because I like basketball. The traumatizing ones, I'll be honest with you. I would say there's probably three or four sports moments in my life.

I cannot watch back. I can't. That's how bad it hurt. It hurts so badly that I've never watched it again. And if it comes on like a highlight, I either walk away. If it comes on like a video or something, I scan past it. I just don't even look at it.

I don't even look at it. Like it hurts so badly that I can't even, that to me is sports fandom. Sports fandom is I can't even watch that back. I have never, to this day, I have never watched back the 08 NCAA National Championship game where Memphis is up nine with two minutes to go. That was tough. The Chalmers one, I've never watched it back. That was tough.

The worst one of my whole life, I told you, so when I was growing up, me and my father had season tickets to the St. Louis Blues, and that's what we did together. Me and my dad went to the Blues games like that. He bought the tickets and then season tickets every year, and we would go to the games. And my senior year of high school, who's the best team we ever had.

And we traded for Wayne Gretzky. And it was all coming together. And it was the last year, because I'm going off to college. We're never doing this again. We're never doing this. Me and my dad, like, this is it.

He's giving up the season tickets at the end of the year. I cry. I cry easily. Bro. Game seven, double overtime. Double overtime. Steve Eisenman,

the blues turn the puck over at mid-ice and Steve Eisenman, who's a very famous... The Red Wings? Yes. Wines up and takes a slap shot. And it goes over... Our backup goalie was John Casey. He was in because Grant Fierre was hurt.

Goes over his shoulder. Dang! Hits the back of the friggin' net. And I started bawling. I mean, it was... I've never been more heartbroken in my life. Bill Buckner and Aaron Boone. Those are the two that got me.

And if it ever comes on like the screen or something or like, you know, I just, I don't even, I don't even, I can't watch it. I mean, I could watch it now, but I don't want to see it. I don't think last night was that dramatic, honestly. It will be, here's what I'm going to tell you, it will be if I, in 2012, you can go back and one of the worst losses in NBA history in the playoffs is a game. one Grizzlies Clippers in 2012. They were up by over 20 in the fourth quarter. I live in L.A. at that point. It's like Lobb City early, Blake Griffin.

It was the biggest. It was the biggest comeback at the time in a quarter in NBA playoff history. It was over 20. And it was a game won just like this, like last night. and they ended up losing a game seven to the Clippers. All right. That year in that same series, I don't remember anything from the series.

Nothing. It was like the first game is the one I remember. I remember the blown lead. And I remember game seven being it like, because it was like one of these like noon Sunday games. So everything was weird about it and they lost and it was the worst. and whatever. But the rest of that series,

I couldn't tell you one thing that happened in that series. Like, you only remember. So what I'll tell you is, if the Knicks go on to win, all's fine. If they go on to lose, you won't even remember the other games.

Because it's all going to be about game one. But let me make my case. Okay. What is just objectively about sports? We like rivalries. We like passion. We like emotion. we like memorable moments and we like villains.

And last night had all of that in spades. Oh, that's true. All of it in space. I give you that. And like this team, like, they were talking about like the Knicks and the Celtics being rivals. I can't even remember another Nixon Celtics postseason series. But it seems like the Pacers, the Pacers of the Knicks have played nine times in the last

20 years, ending each other's seasons back and forth. Easter Conference finals, first round, second round, last year getting hurt. and Halliburton showing up to the game and Tim's and then doing the choke thing and pointing at Reggie fucking Miller who's there and then you're sitting there at the bar thinking the game's over

everyone's got their head and their hands and then the fans he runs over to the fans and the fans are holding up two fingers because you couldn't really see on the broadcast and you're like oh what is it a two point shot and then it becomes a two point shot did you see the miced up thing he was miced up yeah

And when he said on the bench, I can't believe I didn't get behind the line. It's ridiculous. And then the Knicks run out in overtime. I know. Up by four. And Brunton has this layup. And I honestly, like, I, that was a gold pen. It looked like a gold 10 in the replay.

But to the naked eye in real time, it looks like just like someone pinned it against the backboard. But here's a deal. I would have called it if I was the ref. No, you have to. And then Nemhard hits a three. I got it. It is like, it's a scoring play in football.

See, that's the thing is like, You should be able to review this. It's like a scoring plan football. They'll give you the touchdown because they know they're going to review it. They'll give you the touchdown. That's right. They have to call it. They have to call the goal 10.

It's better to air on that side. It immediately turns into an NEM hard three from the right corner. Immediately. Of course it does. It's a five point turnaround. They could have been up six. I mean, I think there's still like four minutes ago or whatever, but they could have been up six. And then they're down.

There are at least 20 moments from the four. fourth quarter and overtime of that game that I've rewatched three times and obsessed over. Obsessed over. So many moments. Like the Josh Hart just losing Nemhard on a back cut and Halliburton giving him that pass. I'm like, you're giving up an open layup in the end of the game? Do you think,

all right, let me ask you a couple of these things. Do you think that it was, how big of a factor do you think it is that Indiana is just relentless go go go go go go and there was a level of fatigue that set in and that's why all this attention to detail and late closeouts and laziness on defense showed up at the worst possible time against a guy who got pistol high

I will also say that I think fatigue was a factor especially for Jalen Brunson which is so shocking because he got five fouls on a dumb foul against McConnell. And he sat out. He was actually sat more in this game than is normally his rotation, which is why I was surprising he seemed so fatigued. Like remember that when he just dribbles it. It was Siakum actually blew the transition layup, but he just gave the ball to the other team on one possession.

And then another possession, he dribbles it off his foot. It turns into a jump ball. I think it was between Hart and Seaccom. Like he was just uncharacteristically. sloppy poppy at the end of that game. Well, and I do wonder if he would have even forget the five fouls, because I think Tims would probably even play him

with five fouls. The Deuce Mitchell minutes were so good. Like they were cracking until he came back in the game. Like, not only did they. That was them fouling three point shooters, though, to be honest with it. It's not like Debs was like creating offensive possessions

and like, you know, a wizard out there. But the whole thing is just hold down the fort. And not only did they hold down the fourth, they extended the lead. They created the league. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, it was a one point game. Yeah. And then Brunson picks up that foul. They opened it all up.

And there's just so many plays that I look back on. I can't believe it happened the way it happened. Like, I actually don't blame, I've listened to some stuff today and read a bunch of stuff today, just like digest the game. I don't think the defense was that bad.

I just think Nisbitt just got he got white hot, man. he was like eight for nine from three like who's eight for nine from three in the NBA like who is I actually I actually was talking about buddy today and here's what I said to him I said if I'm the Knicks

I said here's what I'm guessing I think I think a young team could get super duper discouraged by that I think that a group of vets like there's a bunch of vets in that locker room they say and totally believe that that was like a one in a million thing it was that will never happen again and it's like we had them

and next time we're going to close the deal that was bullshit i mean what are the chances this guy okay fine if you're right if erin ne smith makes every shot he takes and if we miss You know, if we're splitting free throws, like it, honestly, like a million things had to go wrong. Now, on the other side, you've got this weird Indiana team that is like, yeah, everybody keep being surprised that we do this, but this is like what we do. This is what we do. Like how many times this Indiana Pacers team has put an absolute beat down on Elias Sports Bureau stack. They're like a win. Probability like yeah

You remember I found one I'd have to grab my notebook I found one that we did on It was like May 5th I can't remember what game it was And it was That is gonna be the Bucks game

Okay whatever The Bucks game when they came back from seven down With like 20 seconds left Okay and it was That teams that were down seven With less than 90 seconds to go That's seven with 90 seconds to go, okay?

Were one and three hundred and eighty four. And the one was an Oklahoma City game against the Clippers like 12, 13 years ago, okay? One and three 84. And then we got to the next round and they did it again. So it was three and three hundred and eighty four and or whatever. was I was like, come on, dude. A couple things need to be said about the game.

I just loved it. Honestly, even though we took an L. Last night, I was in, I was in a really rough spot, even this morning. But the more distance I get from it, the more I loved the game and the experience, the ball bounced off the back of the rim. And I was celebrating. It disappeared from the television screen. And then it falls in. And then you think that the game's over.

And then it's not. And they go to overtime. And then I think a lot of people are forgetting this part. The end of overtime, the Knicks are down three. Brunson, again, fatigue is a factor, shoots a fucking air ball. And Josh Hart gets it, kicks it out to Carl Anthony Towns. He might be a step behind the three point line, but that's like Carl Anthony Towns is zone. Like, that's his shot.

They're down three, and he's got a butt naked look at a three from his spot. And he barely grazes the front room. I was shocked that ball didn't go in the hoop. Shocked. I was shocked. I was shocked at the Brunton Airball. Bro, that was Westbrookian. It was, I mean, it was contested.

What was that? What was it? Come on, what was that? That was terrible. It was contested. Bro, hit something. He was, I think he was, I thought he was dramatically fatigued at the end of that game, which is weird because he didn't play for half of the fourth quarter.

He did play. I mean, he was getting buckets in overtime. Oh, the right-handed. I thought was fantastic. Yeah. That right-handed lay-up that he hit. Like, that's the other thing is those Celtics game, there's a bit of like the Knicks kind of deserve this carmically

because of those Celtics comebacks. But those were more Celtics collapses. I felt this was more like the Pacers just hitting shots. Because the Knicks were scoring at the end of the game. This is what the Pacers do, though. It's wild. You know, I have goofed about in the past when there's these teams

that pull crap off like this. I always used to, you remember when we were little kids and the team would win the title and at the end they would say, here's the, you know, the Sports Illustrated DVD. If you ordered your subscription

of Sports Illustrated, you would get like the, you know, the New York Giants. You had a pastor for that one. Yeah, the DVD or whatever. And, you know, these DVDs would always have these moments from the season that, like, led to this moment.

And I'm like, bro, they are putting together, like, if that is a karma thing, like, their DVD is the best. I mean, just the best. This is the second time Haliburton has dribbled backwards to get behind the three-point-five to the shot at the end of the game. They've done it in three consecutive rounds. Like these unheard of victories. Once in a lifetime comeback.

Once in a lifetime. Against all odds seem to happen every two weeks for this team. It makes me so angry. I know. And they really need, like, they need to do some kind of, like, cardiac something or something, play off of that. But yes, sirs is not working for me at all. Who even came up with that?

So, yes, sirs? Lame. Yes, with an apostrophe there? It's lame. Here's a, here's something I had a thought. I'm against it. Here's a thought that I had that you're going to disagree with. Oh.

One of many. So my buddies, game's over. just everyone's just getting the can't get their check fast enough to get out of this bar, right? Like wings be damned, nachos, just leave them on the table. Everyone's just trying to get out of the bar as soon as possible. And my buddy says to me that game two is a must win. And I was like, you know what? Not really.

Yes, it is. I was like, not really. It's a hundred percent of, yes, it is. Honestly, I could just see. I think this is going to be a weird enough series. Now it's such a weird game that I could see the Knicks losing game two and still winning the series. I could. I could.

I am going to, let's see. I'm going to tell you, what do you think has the lowest odds right now? As a finals matchup? No, no, no, no. In this, in this, in Pacers, in Pacer's Knicks, I just pulled it up on Fanduel. What do you think is the most likely, according to the odds? Nick's the seven. X in seven is actually the second most likely.

It is plus 340. Nixon's six. So Pacers in six is the most likely. No chance. Yes, it is. They are favored. Hey, look, they are favored in the series now, Jacoby. So don't tell me.

Yes, they are. They're minus 154. 154. They just stole game one. But like, all right, a couple of things just like strategically about the game. I felt like the same thing in the Celtics. Who can cover cat? Who can cover cat?

I mean, it was funny as hell at the beginning where it was like, are we going to get a cat Miles Turner three point contest? This is going to be awesome. That game was so awesome. Do you know that thing lasted over three hours? And at one point, I tweeted, I never want this to end. Like, I would have watched that game for seven hours.

So don't get mad at me when I say it was a great experience. It was why we like sports. That was one of the best games I've ever seen in my life. But if you're a Knicks fan, that's the worst thing ever. I'm a basketball fan first. I like basketball. I like, I like hating Halliburton. I like Halliburton.

I like the rivalry. I like that there were, I want them to play next year. He's winning you over. I like all of this stuff. It's fun. You hate Halliburton. What are you talking about? You literally said it on the last show.

You hate him. I like hating him. I like hating him. I like hating him. him. I do. I love the choke. The point at Reggie and the choke, do you don't really piss me off though? Spike Lee wasn't there. Come on, Spike. He wasn't? I think he was in Cannes Film Festival. Oh, that cannot have that. Spike. No way. That's, you know, people blame Brunson. They blame Tibbs.

Blame Spike. Come on, Spike. Tibbs did, Tibbs was stupid with that challenge. Stupid. I mean, because it came to Roos, and Carlisle unbelievable use of two challenges that swung the game, truly. Well, they were pretty obvious. The second the ball went off of Brunson, everybody that I was with is like,

that's off Brunson. But he had him at his disposal. I don't understand. You should not be allowed to use a challenge in the first half. It should just be illegal. And then there was nothing anyway. And who's the guy?

Because I always feel bad for the replay guy. Like the one guy who's got the iPad who's in charge of the decision. I always feel so bad for him. It's got to be. so difficult. It's the only thing. Yeah, that guy needs therapy.

Every 30 of those people, men and women in the league, they need all the therapy in Xanax in the world because that's got to be the hardest job. And then 20,000 people being like, what are we going to do here? And you're like, I don't know, man. It's close.

The other thing is, I will say, you're totally under the gun because somehow the iPad guy behind the bench, he gets about five seconds to make his decision. And then the rest take 10 minutes. It's like tonight we're watching that game. And I'm like, bro, do we really need friggin' 10 minutes to find out? Like, we all just watch Jade McDaniels push this dude with two arms.

To the floor. Why do I need to watch the replaying this time? He himself was like, give me the flagrant. Let's move on with this. I did. I flagely pushed him. That was my point. I intentionally fraglately pushed him because I'm mad.

So what are we talking about? Yeah, now go review this for 10 minutes. They want to find out how much time is left on the shot clock. It doesn't take an extra four minutes to figure out how much time is left. The funny is when we all were privy to reviews of Scott Foster's busted nose for five minutes at the very beginning of the game. It's like, hey, we've waited until the game is supposed to start at 7.30, but we got to do this Shaggildes-Alexander thing and we got to do this thing. So now the game's going to tip off at 747. and now we play a minute and 10 seconds.

And then for 10 minutes, we're looking at friggin' Scott Foster bleed out. And it's like, oh, my God. Jalen Brunson loses a leg, goes to the back, and he's back in 90 seconds. John Moran against the Warriors. It looks like he's out for two years, comes back in 30 seconds.

Anthony Edwards, game one, comes back in dunks. But Scott Foster, we got to slow everything down for 20 minutes because he's got a boo-boo. Yeah, they got it. And we've got to watch Lou Dort, you know, pop him in the nose 25 times. Richard Jefferson, God bless him.

I love that guy. But he's like, that was actually a good toss. Oh, my God. We're analyzing the toss on the jump. Shut up. It's just like, we're just trying to fill time. No, no. I actually love Richard Jefferson.

I've sat around that guy in the office. He's hilarious. He's like one of the best people on the planet. He's just filling time. But we don't need to break down the referee's toss on a jump ball. We didn't have anything to do that's not what we need to do. Because there was no, there were no basketball that had been played so far. It's like, okay, now here, let's go, let's break down them sticking this tampon in his nose.

He's going to run around like he's got a friggin't tampon string out of his nose while he's going to rep the game. And they're like, and the backup referees back there we might need to call. I'm like, oh my God. Who wins the next series? It's got to be the next. You know it's the next. You know it's the Knicks. They don't have an answer for Kat.

Here's what I'm telling you, Jacoby. It's a must win. I do think they will win. I don't think it's a must win. I don't. I honestly don't. All right, I'm going to tell you the same thing as when I started this show. The Knicks can absolutely go four and two against that team the rest of the way, and I expect them to.

Okay. I do, too. I don't even think they'll get there. They're not winning four out of five. I think so. No, they're not. That's a pretty dominant game. No.

They're not winning four out of five where they haven't even played a game in Indiana yet. Stop. I'm saying they have to win the next game is what I'm saying. If they don't win the next game, they would have to win four out of the next five games. And that's not happening. That's not happening. So it is a must win. It is a must win if the Knicks are going to win the series.

You have to agree with this. After last night, nothing is off the table. nothing is off the table after last night nothing I mean I nothing is off the table it goes seven games I want it to be back in the garden

do you know here's one thing I want to say about the city today I think we would be very fortunate if I mean it is hard to see West going to six I mean

we would be very fortunate to even get to six. It does feel like the thunder might have some waiting to do. It feels like the thunder going to have some waiting to do. It does. I mean, that's how that one feels. So we need seven out of the east. Here's a unique perspective that I can offer.

Is this in New York City, it's just a, you know, melting pot. You take the train. You just see a lot of people. Like when you live in other cities, you get in your car, you drive to your office. You don't sort of like look into the face. of as many people as you do when you live here. Because you're walking the streets, you're on the train.

Anyone listening to this podcast knows New York City is this sort of like melting pot where you interact, not necessarily verbally, but visually with just thousands of people every day. And one thing that's been so fun about this Knicks run is the amount of enthusiasm in Nix gear that you see on people.

The Nix logo in the last month, I've seen more than I've seen since 99. None today. None. I started noticing right around noon because I had to do some stuff to take my kids play. I had to take my kids places and whatnot. So like I've seen so many Knicks hats, Knicks shirts, Nick stuff. No one was wearing the Knicks logo today.

Nobody. Because then you have to talk about it. Nobody. But it was like. That's why. Because then your conversation becomes, trust me, every time I wear sports gear, your conversation becomes about that team. And today is the last day on earth you want to have that conversation if you're actually a Knicks fan.

But as someone who isn't actually a Knicks fan but does believe in the Knicks winning this series, I feel strongly about the Knicks winning in the series. I really do. That's because you've been down in the Pacers for the whole playoffs. You don't like the Pacers. I don't like the Pacers. You don't respect them. I don't respect the Pacers. I know you don't.

I don't at all. I know, but that's why. It's not because you actually think like you want that to be so. I was, I've been surprised. That Joker hit the frigid choke sign on MSG and game one. And that game was over. That was crazy. That game was over.

So crazy. And I mean, I'm sure people this podcast probably know, but he wore Reggie Miller on a t-shirt doing the choke sign after game seven last year. That's right. Like this was, this was a moment building. And I was, I was shocked that that was a two-point shot. I thought that was a three. Didn't you?

Yes. I thought he missed it. Didn't you think he missed it when it hit the back rim? I didn't know. I didn't know. It disappeared. I couldn't believe that he backtracked like that. I mean,

you just, who drives and then turns around? Turns around, turns his back. Oh, and I don't want to hear about, and I don't want to hear about the double dribble thing. I've seen.

I saw the clip. I saw the clip. I saw the clip. I don't know. And it was in fast motion. In the moment. When we have to phantom cam it? Yeah, it got 120 frames per second to like see if it was a double dribble.

I feel the same way about the goldend. On the replay, it looks like a goal tend. But in the moment, that looked like a block shot to me. In the moment. If I was a referee, I would not have blown the whistle. That's fair. I would not have blown the whistle in the moment. And it's also like there's so many things that happen.

And like the idea like Obie Toppin is in the game instead of Turner and he gets that put back dunk and he gets that other dunk where Bridges obviously fouled him. That's a huge point right there. They missed that call. I think after, look, a couple things. Number one, I don't think they could win four out of five. So that's why I think two is a must win for the Knicks. And the other thing is after a loss like that,

I think it is, it's absolutely essential that you lay the wood to the other team. First quarter. And that's why I say, and then if we're talking for just wrapping this up on that first series, and I started this by talking about how impressed I was in Oklahoma City, you don't have to win to because obviously you're going to be a big underdog as they were but you got to compete in a way that makes it feel like okay you're on to something and you

at least now right you can you can turn the corner when you get back home that's why i didn't feel good about the wolves after night because they were searching by the fourth quarter and they're not they're down 24 going into the fourth bro you're not I make, like, this is supposed to be going the other, if you get, if you get busted up in game one, then the way this goes is I make all my adjustments to make it easier on me. And now I'm competing with you in game two. And now we'll figure out, oh, I've got something that gives you big problems. But when you get your ass kicked again, it's like, oh, buddy.

I talked about the Thunder Lockroom earlier. Like, everybody feels good in the Thunder Lockroom tonight in the Wolves Lockroom, Randall, Nasreid, Dante. Gobert. Gobert. But I would say that the Pacers and the Knicks both have something that they can feel good about going into game, too. I agree with you. I mean, like, Brunson, I'm blaming Brunson for being fatigued and tired and these turnovers.

He had 43 points. You know what I mean? And I'm like, oh, we need some more out of Brunson. The guy had 43 points. He's like 5'8. Like, what do you want from the guy? Well, here's the thing. You can't play these All-Star games with the Pacers.

You can't. That's their dwelling. That's where they, that whole, like, I was born in the dark. You adopted it. Like, that's what that is. You got the third quarter when the Knicks started and then really the fourth, when they start, it's because, I mean, they're getting stops and the things started to slow down a little bit. And they, you know, they go on like a good little spell where they're without a field goal.

And it's like, bro, don't. And the free throws. Don't do this no defense track meet thing with them. Because that's what they live for. game down. Just to make, mucking it up and slowing the game down. And like when they made that run,

it was because they got fouled from shooting threes. But it's like, the more free throws, the more slow, the more reviews, the more just like gross the game is, the better it is for the Knicks. And I'm more than happy to win gross basketball games.

Right. But don't play in these one-thirties and one-twenties games. I mean, that's not, that's what they want. That's what they want. They want the score to be 154 to 152. and the Knicks get duped into it.

They did last year during the playoffs too, where it's like, you know what? This is kind of fun. Run up and down and score. You know what I mean? This is a lot more fun than Tibbs ball. I mean, I'm just glad the real Julius Randall finally stood up.

I did get off the take, but that's the Julius Randall that I know and was happy to trade to the wolves. And I honestly thought when the wolves traded for him, they were like, this guy will be fun for a year. You know what I mean? Like, salary dump.

We'll take him for a year, see what happens. Are you, uh, let's not, let's not bury the wolves yet, but like, no, but that, are they signing him? The, the, the, the spacing thing is the killer. That's why I was all. I was, I was one that never liked it because I thought if you're moving somebody, move go bear. I thought towns was a perfect pairing with aunt. Number one, Aunt Audley loved the guy.

And the wolf's fans liked him. And then more importantly, he's a stretch five. But he's not like, but no, but it's when you, when you have a guy like Anthony Edwards, you're trying to create the maximum amount of space that I can for this guy. Of course. And it's like all Gobert does is get in the way. And Randall operates in the way. And Randall operates from the left block.

So that's not helping you either. And it doesn't show up until now with a team that can really defend like Oklahoma City. The best defense in the league. I mean, yeah. Because as we've said, when you have a good opponent on the other side, your flaws can be exposed tenfold. And so tonight was one of those nights where it's like, bro, all of their flaws were exposed tenfold. I will say, and we'll wrap soon. is I expect Carl Anthony Towns to really, really dominate game two.

I just think he can hit his threes and he can use that close out and get past his man and drive to the basket, and he can post up. He's like a three-level score. I wouldn't be surprised if Carlisle run some doubles at him to try to get him off. No, but just try to get him. Turr can't stop him. Seacom can't stop him.

Who are you going to throw at him? Just to try to get him off of his. And then I live with the result of the other. But what we're not going to do is have him and Brunson simultaneously busting us up. I was looking how much in the game? I'm like, is that Ben Shepard from last year? Because I haven't seen him since last year.

Ben Shepard was playing in like crunch time. I was shocked. And tips put right in the game. You like that you like that mustache? Delon Wright was in the game. I'm like, do you see him checking the game? had like his warm-ups on. He wasn't even like ready.

He had to like take off all of his warm-ups. He's like, wait, me in the game tips? For what? I haven't played since like March 3rd. What are we talking about? This is fun though. This is fun. So what do we get?

We get two games. We'll be after. When do we record again? Monday night. Monday night. That'll be after. Let me look at the schedule. Real quick.

I know that's always great audio podcast. I wonder if we will I'll tell you what it is. Yeah, so it'll be Monday night. That's going to be Thunderwolves Game 4. Well, that's guaranteed. Yeah, and there'll be, yeah, game three Sunday,

so we're doing every other. Huh? Just say it. Say what you're about to say. What? Say what you're about to say about the Oklahoma City fetuses, quote unquote. They were awesome. They're amazing. So what about the battle scars and all the playoff scars

and the whole thing you've been saying all year long how veteran teams win the championship and veteran teams and blah, blah, blah. Have they won the title yet? Oh, they put the, I didn't see it. So I just saw the pregame ceremony. The Chey Gildes thing. Did they give them the Larry O'Brien after it?

Not yet, not yet. Oh, okay, I missed, okay. I just want to make sure I didn't miss it. I mean, I turned off my TV because we were going to record. I'll give you plenty of opportunity to back away from that take, too. I'll give you plenty of opportunity

to back away from that take. We recorded right after the game ended. So forgive me. I didn't realize they gave him the Larry O'Brien trophy after that game. After game two of the West Finals, they did? Wow, they're not even going to make them win the last six, huh? They did not. But you did start the show by saying,

this is the most impressed I've been. They were great. They were great. They really were. When you got three, like, vet players all sitting on the bench, a coach searching for everything and in a game two they bust your ass even worse

because I know the margin wasn't as bad but no but it's if you get that game from Jake's up and Chet was Chet wasn't like he didn't blow me away the way that you felt he did but he but he's scoring and he's he had like a nice thing like post up

on Nasreeb the alley you yeah like it was like you got everything you needed from Chet he hit a three he got everything you needed from check bro he got a tech for telling dante de vincenzo get the f out his way and non-stream just like i don't know i mean we'll see we could be this i think the next missmatch the next mismatch is going to be a very different tone you think so you think minnesota's going to bounce back no oh you did tell you did say that you were like this series isn't over that's what you were saying earlier i'm not saying it's not over no i was

more thing about the Knicks Pacers. I think the Nix will be up to one by the time we talk again. Either way, we're talking on Monday night. Thank you to our executive producer, Jesse Lopez, as always. Thanks to our man Tucker and Jacoby. I'll talk to you next week. Must be 21 and over in present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 over and present in D.C.

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