PMS 2.0 1364 - Juneteenth Thursday LIVE from Gainbridge Fieldhouse with Udonis Haslem, Shams Charania, Coach Calipari, Quentin Richardson

The 2024-2025 NBA season was awesome.

What a wild, heart-pounding, jaw-dropping ride this season has been.

79 years of this league, and somehow it still finds ways to shock us all, to thrill us all, to break our hearts, and lift our spirits all at once.

Let me take you back.

Paint a picture a little bit of what a year has been and what will echo through barbershops and group chats for decades.

Picture this, Oklahoma City, a team that's been building, simmering, explodes into something historic.

SGA, smooth as silk, cold as ice, carves up the league, snatches the MVP, and leads the Thunder to a season that flirts with immortality.

A plus 12.6 point differential, folks.

That's knocking on the door of the 72 Lakers.

They won 29 and one against the East.

14 losses in total.

A wrecking ball in sneakers.

Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, they're not just a supporting cast.

No, no, they're co-stars.

And now they're in the finals.

Locked in a 3-2 dogfight with the Indiana Pacers.

Tyrese Halliburton, kid's a maestro.

Conducting an offense that's pure fire, but he's limping right now.

Calf's a little tight.

And game six is tonight here in Indiana.

It's anyone's guess.

This series, this moment, it's the pulse of the whole damn season.

But let's rewind.

This wasn't just OKC's story.

This wasn't just the Indiana Pacers' story.

The league was a chessboard, pieces flying everywhere.

The Lakers pull off the heist of the century, snagging Lucha Donkick,

Lucha Donchik,

Luca Donchik.

Easy for you to say, to pair with LeBron James.

LeBron, by the way, makes history.

First player ever to hoop as a teenager and in his 40s in the NBA.

And he passed Jordan for the most 30-point games ever.

He's now sitting at 571 30-point games.

Absolute legend.

And had the LeBron Versation this year.

But the Lakers, they were just sold for a record-breaking $10 billion.

And they also crashed out in the first round of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Proof that even super teams can't always gel.

Meanwhile, the Knicks traded for Carl Anthony Towns, St.

Julius Randall packing.

Kevin Durant's name's been swirling around everywhere.

Spurs, heat, rockets circling like sharks.

The trade deadline felt like a soap opera.

Every tweet from Shams mostly, a plot twist.

And the coaches, oh, yeah, they took a beating.

Sacramento fired Mike Brown.

He was a coach of the year candidate during the middle of the season.

Memphis booted Taylor Jenkins.

Denver, the Denver Nuggets, who just won the title a couple years back, cuts ties with Michael Malone after a decade about eight days before the NBA playoffs.

The Knicks sent Tibbs packing, and their coaching search is still a mess.

It was like the league decided to hit a full reset button on half of its sidelines.

Stats for this season, wild.

Three-pointers were up, shots were made at a record-breaking pace.

Victor Wembina is blocking shots like he's swatting flies, setting a whole new standard of efficiency on the defensive end.

And off the court, drama everywhere.

Yannish trade whispers.

TNT's inside the NBA packing up and heading to ESPN.

It's the dawn of a new era.

And here we are,

June 19th, 2025.

Juneteenth, 2025, game six looming this evening.

Oklahoma City, one win away from a title.

Indy, one rally from forcing a game seven.

This season's been a masterpiece.

Trades, firings, milestones, miracles.

It's reminded us why we love this league.

Because it's so damn unpredictable.

Because it's so damn human.

Because it's ours.

Whoever hoists the trophy tonight, one thing's certain: they will be the champion of a season that'll never be forgotten.

Hey,

let's go.

This show sticks.

And the fact that you listen, we are very, very thankful for it.

Maccabee on the line with a gorgeous assist.

The all-time leading tackler for the Green Bay Packers.

You pick.

Do your friends, other friends, something nice to change their life.

Hello, beautiful people and welcome to Feel the Painbridge Game Bridge Fieldhouse host of tonight's NBA Finals Game 6 on this Juneteenth.

This program begins now.

Finals!

Our halving right here in this building, we can't thank you enough for allowing us to do this for the living.

The fact that we are here is insane.

The last time we were in the building of an NBA Finals, we felt like the world was upside down.

We felt like there was no reason for us to be here.

And then the Pacers would go on to lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Then it would go back to Oklahoma City and the Pacers would lose yet again.

And tonight, we're staring down a title game.

We're staring down a potential Larry O presence.

We're staring down a potential Oklahoma City Thunder Championship happening right here in Indianapolis.

All the Pacers have to do is give it a go.

Tyrese Halliburton's game time decision.

All the other boys don't want their season to end.

We can force a game seven tonight here in Indiana.

And the Pacers have already put out a tweet letting Pacers fans know that we need to hear you from beginning to end.

We need this place to be loud.

We need this place to be daunting.

We need this place to be tough.

And whenever we win tonight, game seven in Oklahoma City, we shall see how the cards fall.

But with that being said, this Oklahoma City team is phenomenal.

Why'd you start with that cold open?

Well, the Oklahoma City team was actually doing their shootaround here in this arena, and we were not allowed in the bowl until they were done.

At about 11.47, we said, well, we're going to need about four or five minutes to go ahead and regame this entire thing.

Incredible work by Foxy in the back.

Incredible work by D-Bone and Bruce and everybody in the truck for making that happen.

And also incredible work by the NBA on having a hell of a season thus far.

And tonight, it shall roll on.

We're incredibly thankful to be here.

We're pumped to be here.

There's a lot going on in sports.

We'll talk about it all.

Sean Shirania will join us in about 10 minutes or so.

We'll chit-chat with him about what's going on around the NBA and what's going on with Tyrese Hylaburton.

Coach Calipari of Arkansas now, formerly of Kentucky, will certainly be joining us to chit-chat about what Arkansas baseball team was able to accomplish until last night.

Also, what SGA is doing.

Obviously a big part of the conversation of this entire NBA season.

Cal has a lot to say and we can't wait for his breakdown on what the NBA Finals Game 6 should look like tonight.

And then in the second hour, we'll have front of the show, Q Rich joining us.

And it's not just those guys.

Obviously, I got an incredible group of dudes here.

The Toxic Tables here at Ty Schmidt and at Boston Connor.

Boys, how you doing?

The shark, the Jaws feel.

Is that because the Pacers are banner?

Banner.

Banner.

Banner.

Coming back.

Banner.

Are you saying that's Oklahoma City coming in here to Indiana?

I mean, initially yesterday I said, hey, look, this thing's over.

I'm not doing this whole song and dance about how I have faith in the Pacers winning a basketball game, especially when Tyrese Hall burns her.

But then last night, we have this massive storm.

And I believe you still don't have power.

Still don't have power.

Yeah.

I've been living an Amish lifestyle for the last like 17 hours or so.

Me and Jebediah tilling the land.

Now, I did have my phone, which is certainly nice, but I found myself staring at the sky, staring at the lake, running around outside, fixed my flagpole a little bit, had no power, and everything in the house obviously operates by power these days.

We're still without power, so I mean, certainly a big storm came through last night that we didn't know was coming from.

No, not at all.

It kind of turned out.

But the storm is last night, not tonight.

No, it was last night, not tonight.

And that's because that was kind of the calm before the storm, before the storm, if you will.

I viewed it as.

And I saw a video of a Pacers flag flying in the wind with Free Bird playing behind it.

And now all of a sudden, I'm I'm all the way back.

70 mile-an-hour wins, this Pacers flag go ahead and flapping in the sky.

It's incredible.

We believe is the message, Ty Schmidt.

I need you to get on board with that a little bit more.

No, no, no, I am on board.

I am on board fully.

But, you know, I was just trying not to go in with too much blind optimism.

But, hey, guess what?

It's do or die.

We'll see what these boys got.

They've kind of had their backs against the wall all season.

Nobody's believed in them time and time again.

What's one more?

You know, what's one more?

When no one thinks you can win, when

Larry O's in the building, you know, hey, we don't know what's going to happen with Tyrees, but if there's ever a night where every other player on the Pacers needs to have a career game, tonight's the night.

I think a lot of guys on the Pacers team are going to be thinking about having one tonight, and rightfully so.

And I think they definitely need to.

They need to have one.

If we want to continue and extend this to a seven-game series talks to the table, I'd like to wish you guys a happy Juneteenth.

Also, happy Juneteenth to one half of the hammer.

Dying, Cowboy.

Nailed it.

Nailed it.

That was good.

Nailed it.

Baby.

That's 28 days.

Three-time champion.

happy juneteenth happy

happy champion happy juneteenth and i would like to let you know i wish the talks at table which are two caucasian men down there happy juneteenth as well i wasn't just wasn't just wishing you a happy junetha i'd like to wish everybody happy juneteenth a uh day that i think a lot of us learned about probably within the last five to ten years but certainly a historic day in our country's history uh certainly worthy of being something known by all but one half of the hammer

cowboys nailed it uh what are the odds saying for tonight because i believe the pacers yet again are six and a half point dogs dogs at home.

And the last time they were six and a half point dogs at home, it was the biggest underdog in the history of the finals for a home team.

Yep, exact same thing.

That was last Friday night when you guys were thinking about having one and did have one.

We did have one.

Oh man.

The Pacers were having one for about three and a half quarters before the Thunder decided to lock it down in the fourth quarter.

I believe the Pacers only scored 17 in that fourth quarter.

A couple free throws late and the Thunder covered that one.

That was the first game that the Thunder covered on the road this entire playoffs.

So here we are sitting again back at six and a half.

This actually opened at four and a half.

And then there was a two-point move when the news about Tyrese came about and his injury, whatever it is.

When that news came out, it jumped to six and a half.

So we're sitting right there again.

It doesn't matter tonight, though.

You guys talked about the storm last night.

I'm not sure if you noticed.

There was a lot of wind and a lot of rain and a lot of lightning, but it was a quiet storm.

There wasn't a lot of thunder at all.

No, no thunder.

Super confusing to me.

And then I saw

what shirts they're putting out tonight.

That is good news.

It's not no, sir.

It's yes, sir.

Yes, ladies.

Shams actually sent me a text yesterday and was like, hey, are we running this back tomorrow?

Are you guys going to be live from the arena?

And I responded with, yes, sir.

S-I-R.

And I immediately, sorry, sorry, I got no power.

I'm kind of out of the room.

Yes, sir.

We would love to have you.

Speaking of loving to have you, not in your NFL vet dairy state baller.

Debuss, great to see you.

You weren't in the building the last time we were here doing this show.

Obviously, the finals atmosphere has been electrifying here in Indianapolis, but it does feel like there are certain parts and contingencies of Indianapolis that feel like what Oklahoma City has become in this series is what Oklahoma City has been all season long.

I read it in the open there.

They were a plus 12.6 point differential team, 14 losses all season.

Number one seed in the entire NBA for good reason.

They've been pouring it on a little bit here to Indiana, and obviously that could continue this evening to the chagrin of all of us.

Yeah, very, uh, Thunder's been very dominant both ends of the courts, much like our championship for the Panthers.

I had a few last night, so I'm glad I made it in here this morning.

But

I'm feeling like the boys, man.

I'm on that yes, surge train.

I think they figured it out.

I think Tyrese comes out and gives his team a spark.

I'm not sure how healthy he'll be, but he's going to give them everything they got.

And the rest of the guys are going to show up.

The guys, the others, as Shaq likes to call them, will show up at home and force this game seven.

But I'm excited to be in the building right now.

And I know this shit is going to be rocking later on tonight.

And 20-year vet, we already introduced him, but, you know, why not another time?

Three-time champ, two-time Stanley Cup champion, I guess.

Ladies and gentlemen, Ugonis has him.

What'd you say?

79 years, NBA?

Yeah, 79.

20 of them thing?

Yeah, quarter of the NBA.

That's crazy.

A quarter of the NBA's existence, this man played in it.

And the stat about LeBron being the only player to play as a teenager and in his 40s in the NBA is absurd.

So obviously, there's been some pillars of this league.

And certainly the boys at the Pacers, young team.

They're trying to become a pillar.

Oklahoma City, people are talking about them maybe starting a dynasty here in this entirety because of how young they are and what they got cooking.

UD, how do you see tonight going?

And what have you seen from this Oklahoma City team the last two games that maybe should make us Pacers fans a little bit worried?

Well, for me, I'm starting to see

Oklahoma City start to impose their will.

I'm starting to see those turnovers starting to turn into points on the other end.

I'm starting to see them make adjustments defensively.

The first couple games, they were a little uncharacteristic as far as their defense.

A lot of mistakes, a lot of different things that you just don't see from a top defensive team.

So I think they're starting to impose their will.

But for me, I'm still on the SR train.

I I ain't going to.

Okay.

I'm just still on yesterday.

You said seven.

Yeah, I said seven, and I'm still saying seven.

I'm still saying yes, sir.

Listen, this team has thrived in this role all year, being the underdogs, having the chip stacked against them.

So this is nothing new.

It'd be different if you had a team who had been given everything and now you get into the role where you have to fight with your back against the wall.

This is where they thrive.

This is their norm.

Like, this is when they're their best version.

So I'm not worried about this team at all.

Tyrese Hellenberg, we don't know what he was going to bring, but they've had the power of the Brotherhood all season.

So the best time now is for that to show.

The Brotherhood's going to need to show, especially if Tyrese is going to continue to be embattled, we'll say.

Obviously, his calf, his ankle has been bothering him the last few games, and I think that goes back a little bit more.

So tonight is a game time decision.

And let's say he plays.

We expect Tyrese to play great.

If he doesn't play, there's a lot of guys on that team who have the capability of going off.

I know we've mentioned TJ McConnell.

TJ McConnell could potentially take over this entire game.

He's done that numerous times.

Nemhard, Nismick, Pascal, Miles Turner.

We're waiting on Miles to have a big one here in the finals, which we think can happen.

The depth of the Pacers gives me hope, even if Tyrese can't possibly play.

But without Tyrese, it's a completely different team.

Coach Carlisle said they're preparing for him, and without him, we will see if the Oklahoma City team is probably doing the exact same.

Yeah, and Benedict Matherin, happy birthday.

Yeah, I know.

I've screwed up his name so many times.

It's his birthday.

We have a birthday game all of a sudden in the arena.

I think that's a huge deal.

UG, you can probably speak more to that if it's someone's birthday.

I assume everyone's signed up.

I had a lot of them.

Happy birthday.

Let's get this guy the ball.

If you're on OKC, though, and you hear Tyrese say something like, if this was a regular season game, I probably wouldn't be playing, but it's the finals, it's different.

Are you just attacking Tyrese the whole time?

Like, is that the adjustment to make?

Yeah.

I mean, you're already attacking him on defense anyway.

He's already a guy who you're trying to put in as many actions as possible.

I saw that early in game three.

I thought they should have stayed.

with that because the first couple buckets, whether it was a pick and roll, whether it was a slip screen, he was in the action.

So he is going to be in every single action tonight on the defensive end.

My question is: okay, he starts the game.

What happens when you come out and sit on the bench and then have to go back in when that calf cools down and you've been playing at that fast pace all the time?

Then you try to get back in the game.

That's my question.

So, he's got to be prepared to be put in a lot of actions.

But I tell you one thing, guys, I got hurt in the finals too.

Broke my finger.

So, what?

Yeah.

Like, this is the finals.

Like, this is the finals.

So, Tyrese is going to go out there.

He's going to play.

He's going to give it his best version, but there's no way he misses this game.

And if you're OKC, you're on on the other side, ain't no way in hell you think Tyrese Harleburt is missing this game.

So, coach, where you do not prepare for him not to be in this game.

Don't waste your time with that preparation.

He's gonna be in this game.

He said if he can walk, he'll play in the game.

And uh, I mentioned the Indiana Pacers sending out a message to the fan base beforehand.

This is how it reads as we prepare for Sean Shirania's

arrival.

And I cannot wait to hear what he is talking about today.

The Pacers asked their fan base: hey, one more time, Indiana.

This is it.

The final home game of the season.

One last chance to fight, to believe.

Gainbridge Fieldhouse has been electric all year, but this time we'll be louder, wilder, more relentless than ever.

We bring the chaos from the opening tip to the final buzzer because tonight we leave it all out there.

So get on your feet, wave those towels, be dominant, be deafening, and above all, believe.

We're not done.

Not yet.

Not tonight.

You've been with us every step of the way.

Now be the difference one more time.

Tonight, we fight to see another day.

Let them hear us, Indiana, all game long.

Yes, sir.

As we are joined by Shams Sharon, you know.

Shams, we were just chit-chatting about Tyrese Halliburton and what he's going through.

UD said he's got hurt in the finals.

It was his finger.

There's been a lot of people that have obviously battled through injuries.

Taff ankle seems to be pretty serious for Tyrese.

He said if he can walk, he'll play.

They labeled it a game-time decision.

What are you hearing, Shams, at this exact moment?

And what is the expectation for Tyrese Halliburton tonight and the Pacers?

Pat, Tyrese Halliburton, from my understanding, he has every intention of playing tonight.

And unless the medical team sees him, so the Pacers have a walkthrough this afternoon, so approximately around 5 p.m.

Eastern Time, they're hopeful to know definitively whether Tyrese Halliburton should be able to play or not, unless there's some kind of a setback there, if he shows some signs where the medical team has to come in and step in and say, listen, we can't throw you out there, but he's fully intending to be out there tonight.

He's going to gut it out.

I would expect him to have some padding on that calf.

But listen, it's a calf strain.

UD knows a lot about calf strains, and so he's definitely got to be careful.

But as long as he can get out there,

I would expect Tyrese Halliburton to try to play tonight.

Okay, that's great news.

I love hearing that.

And obviously, we have a deep team.

We have a great team.

Tyrese, for a good reason, Olympic gold medalist, leader of the team.

Pascal Siakam, also NBA All-Star and stud for our team.

We got a lot of those, but Tyree's playing.

The straw that stirs the drink is good news, so I'm happy to hear that.

Now, around the NBA, I hear we potentially have some breaking news.

We do have news.

So I was standing on the side.

I was making phone calls.

You know, I'm getting ready to come on PMS.

We're working.

I do have news.

I do have news.

Okay.

This is in the Western Conference.

Houston Rockets head coach, Ime Udoka, has reached agreement on a long-term contract extension with the franchise.

It makes Udoka one of the highest paid coaches in the NBA right now.

Congratulations, Eme.

This is an eight-figure deal annually, I'm told.

And you think about Tillman and Patrick Vertida, Rockets ownership, their general manager, Ruffel Stone, they went out and hired Eme Udoka in 2023 when we know he got suspended from the Celtics.

They ended up parting ways essentially.

And they scooped him up fast.

They got him.

He obviously is a championship Calbrook coach already.

Showed it in Boston.

And there's a stat I saw.

In his two seasons, there, 93 wins in Houston.

The three years prior to that, they had just 59 wins.

So they've won 52 games this year.

The number two seed, playoffs for the first time since 2020.

And this is a team clearly on the rise with some good young players.

Absolutely.

And obviously, their names being listed for some trade destinations for some potential superstar players.

Which one is that, Kevin?

No, I'm going to have to say it.

Okay.

It sounds like you're saying it, Sean.

You're the one yanking us around.

I was going to finish about Ime Yudoka.

He never, never been questioned about how good of a coach he is, right?

No, never.

Never.

Even in Boston, it was...

Oh, he's such a good coach, though.

That's all everybody kept saying when everything went down.

Finals.

Yeah, we're going to the finals for sure.

Yeah, absolutely.

And when the Knicks call and ask if he's available, does that help for his leverage, or is this already kind of in the works?

This has been in the works for a really long time.

This is ever since the Rockets season ended in that first round of the playoffs.

They've been working on this extension, negotiating this extension out.

And

this type of coach, they wanted to make sure they view Eme Yudoka as a coach for the next decade, the next maybe a decade and a half.

That's the type of run that they want Eme Udoka and Rafael Stone there to have.

UD, how many great young coaches?

I don't know if Eme is considered a young coach, but for me, he's like the next generation of coaches.

How many of these guys stick and how many guys end up stinking?

Does that make sense?

Like, it feels like there's a good hit rate at the coaching position.

Like, I think if you were to ask Utah, they'd be pumped about Hardy.

I think they gave him a new deal.

Obviously, Carlisle's old dog, but it seems like these younger coaches that get in, I mean, Missoula is like 25 years old.

They seemingly have a pretty high hit rate.

Is that accurate or no?

Yeah, I think so.

And I think the way this works in his situation is him being a young coach, having a young team.

So he speaks that language.

He's relatable to those guys.

They follow his leadership.

And he understands.

I'll tell you, when we used to be in those series against Boston, and I've mentioned this before, when I look down to the huddle, It was Emei Adoka leading that charge.

It wasn't Tatum.

It wasn't Brown.

It wasn't Smart.

It was him leading that charge.

He was the leader of that group.

He was the leader of that team.

So you take a young team like this and 15 guys embody his personality.

15 guys embody what he's all about.

Now you got something to work with.

Okay, let's talk about something to work with.

KD there.

Now, I think there are some people that have some KD fatigue at this point.

Not us.

I'm a big Kevin Durant fan, and it also gives us something to talk about.

No, for sure.

It gives us something to talk about.

We are a

talk show, sports talk show, and two and a half, three hours every single day.

So if Kevin Durant trade rumors are are going to happen, would love to continue to talk about Kevin Durant.

With that being said, it feels like there's been a couple different

narratives of this conversation.

I think last week you said it could end soon.

Then, there were some people that say they could reach into this week.

Now, we're into this week.

What are your thoughts on the KD trade stuff?

And are the Rockets is that the next move after they handle EMA?

Yeah, I mean, Pat, the longer this drags out, the more we're going to be talking about it.

Kevin Durant's one of the best players in the league still today.

He's going to go down as, what, top 15, top 20, 40, 90 of all time, top 10 player of all time.

So, and his stats i mean this is what he's doing even at this age is remarkable so he deserves that um yeah i mean there was definitely a feeling last week but at the end of the day the sons know if they're going to trade kevin durant they clearly have a price threshold they want met and i had one team tell me today it's kind of a game of chicken at this point from the rockets to the heat to the Minnesota Timberwolves, it's literally one or two pieces away, either which way that can get a deal done.

But at the end of the day, one of these teams has to meet that threshold to get something done.

The NBA NBA draft is about a week away.

So could this go into the NBA draft?

For sure.

But I don't think the Suns want it to.

I don't think the other teams want it to.

You want to get those deals done.

So my understanding is they're in active conversations with those three teams specifically on trying to get a deal done for Kevin Durant, having their price threshold met.

I would also not be surprised if this has three four-team deal scenarios too.

This is also something that could branch into much more.

This is being a one-for-one trade.

Okay, the NBA, whenever there's like four teams involved so that everybody can get the price right, it's wild.

I don't know how the deal makers get it done.

Good luck to all parties.

There's obviously so many different parts to get a deal done, especially at this level.

Now, I think I read a quote of yours on the first take lower third yesterday that said Phoenix is going to take the best deal, even if it isn't one of Kevin Durant's desired destinations or something like that.

Where'd you say that?

And is that accurate?

Are the Phoenix Suns looking for the best deal right now for Kevin Durant, regardless?

No doubt.

In their mind, they are.

But it's a two-way street, right?

So Kevin Durant's got one year, about 54 million plus left on his deal.

That gives him an amount of leverage because a team that wants him, potentially, one, wants a guy like Kevin Durant to want to be there, two, have the understanding of, listen, we can potentially extend you once you arrive or in a period of moments.

So those are all parts of the equation.

So of course, if there's a team that steps up, doesn't want the commitment, the Suns would love to do a deal like that if that type of deal is out there where it supersedes a deal with his three preferred teams.

So when I reported the three preferred destinations, San Antonio, Houston, and Miami, I also said

the Suns are going to make the best decision for themselves, even if it's outside of that list.

But

the Rockets are on that list, and the Heat are on that list, and they are involved in this, on these final stages.

You want to do any tampering?

No, sir.

I just want to be there if he makes it.

Well,

I just want to be there when he makes it.

If he makes it, I'll pick him up if he makes it.

From your perspective, I'll put it on you.

From your perspective,

take your team hat off.

What would you do if you're Kevin Durant right now?

Well, I can't take my team hat off.

I'm trying to get it.

I'm trying to get it.

I'm not sure.

I mean,

go somewhere where I can possibly win the championship.

Obviously, this is the goal.

I know there's a lot of talk about what ring culture really is and what's important, but I think you go somewhere where you could possibly win a championship.

So that's my conversation.

Miami, like I said, it can work, man.

But, you know, there's other opportunities that can work.

I just sat here and told you how great of a coach Amy Adoka is.

I look at those young young pieces.

That's an opportunity to go over there.

They already have a culture that's being built.

Miami has a culture that's being built.

So, like I said, Kevin Durant is a guy who loves to hoop.

50-40-90, 50% from the field, 40% from 3%, 90% from the free throw line.

That's buckets.

Okay, I'm happy you said that because you said 50-40-90 earlier, and I was like, Yeah.

I was wondering if you guys know what that means.

I was like, Hell yeah, this dude's bald.

I was like, 50 points, 40 shits.

90 referrals.

He's efficient as hell, is basically what I'm saying.

He's efficient as hell.

Go ahead, Debuss.

Jobs, you kind of broke the internet last night again with what's going on with the Lakers and the sale, the majority stake sale with Genie Bus, making that sale to Mark Walters and that group.

I saw you put the valuation out at 10 billion.

10 billion.

That's one of those breakdowns.

How this is going to look and how much, I guess, ownership does the bus family retain.

So right now, the bus family will have about 17%,

just over 15% of the minority share for a period of time.

I'm not quite sure, but usually with deals like this, there's provisions in it where the majority owner, in this case, Mark Walter, will eventually potentially buy that out.

So we'll see when we get the fine print exactly what that looks like, D.B.

Genie Buss will stay on as the governor for a period of time after this sale.

But listen, someone like Mark Walter, you buy this team for $10 billion.

$10 billion.

Every time you say that shit, everybody else is a balance.

That feels like

every time we say $10 billion.

I'm going to say this, and I know it's like the the highest value sale, whatever, that whole conversation.

The Los Angeles Lakers, like in my eyes, brand, name,

everything.

Los Angeles is obviously going to be more expensive regardless of how the city is viewed from everywhere else

outside looking in.

It's like 10 billion, that feels right.

But for me, you know, you had Luca over there too.

You have LeBron there.

Obviously, crypto just signed a big-time deal, even though they're not a company anymore.

Like, it feels like the Lakers.

Yeah, young coach, it feels like the Lakers brand was going to be expensive regardless.

10 billion.

You get Luca and then months later you sell the team for $10 billion.

I don't know what the correlation was there, but Genie Buss, my understanding.

Yeah, we were all talking about it.

My understanding is Jeannie Buss really drove the sale in terms of

getting this arrangement in place, bringing it to her siblings.

She's got five other siblings, so her and five other siblings, they kind of vote and figure out, is this exactly where we want to go?

And so they had the majority of the siblings voted voted to go through with this deal.

It wasn't unanimous, though, from my understanding.

Okay.

So there was at least one member of that sibling family, six siblings that voted no, but

the majority vote was there.

They make the sale.

Everyone's been asking me why.

Why?

Like, why?

10 billion reasons.

A lot of money.

Like, at the end of the day,

for sale for the right price.

If the Lakers are going to sell this team UD, like, they're going to do it when it's this much.

Yeah, it's.

$10 billion.

If you get a billion-dollar valuation and you're a small business, normally you're going going to at least sell a part of it.

You know?

No doubt about it.

That might be a little bit of a teaser

for the offseason here.

Up to something season.

Well, if you get a billion dollar valuation, it is a,

it's why the NFL, when the NFL allowed owners to sell a 10% to groups or investment or competitors.

Well, you're trying to break some news, Pat.

No, I'm not personally.

Maybe you're in a little bit.

There's certainly some snooping around going on by a lot of people with a lot of money.

And I'll certainly be open to those conversations.

But whenever the NFL allowed allowed 10% to be sold to these funds, these mega billion dollar funds, it was like, hey, cash, like you can get 10% worth of your team right now in cash.

You should do that.

So whenever all these teams, I assume, the NBA teams, I assume the NFL teams, NHL teams, I assume there's a lot of mega-rich people.

I think I saw a stat and it was from Wealth's Instagram.

So I don't know if it's true or not.

It was like one in every 22 people in New York or something like that is a millionaire worth like

making hundreds of thousands of dollars.

That's probably right.

I think it's something like one in 222 people in 2020.

Like the amount of money some people have right now in sports franchises are becoming like the, hey, not only is there cash caps.

That's the it thing.

Yeah, it's like everybody is trying to get into it.

So if you're a bus family and you're LA sitting on the Lakers, I couldn't even imagine the amount of funds and money that was trying to get in there for a long time.

As soon as it cracks over 10 billion, at some point, you just got to be like, we bought this thing for what, 40 million or something like that, Dad?

Yeah.

Dad bought this thing for 40-some million.

We can sell this for $10 billion or $67 billion.

Look at that.

$67.50.

$75.

It's time.

Are we saying $10.1 billion?

Because I assume there's been offers at $8 billion.

I assume there's been $8.5, $9, $9.5.

That thing gets a 10, 10.1.

It's like,

when do we...

You got the Lakers and the Celtics in the last few years that have been sold like 90 days apart.

Yeah, that's insane.

Like two of the most iconic franchises in the NBA in sports, two of them, especially American sports.

That's wild.

Well, when we hear all the time, like these family-run businesses, like where it's been in the family for so long, they maybe don't want to sell because it means so much like this Walter like he gets it he owns the Dodgers we've seen what he's been willing to do the Dodgers have won you know 11 of the last 12 you know divisions at the NL West like he's won multiple World Series he's going out and he just gave Shohei Otani 700 million dollars like this guy wants to win he knows how to run one of these organizations so if you're one of the buses it's like okay well at least we're not gonna sell the team and we're gonna see everything that our dad and our family built up for all these these years just go right into the shitter.

That's not going to happen.

Like, this guy knows what he's doing.

Yeah, I appreciate the,

like, Josh Harris had it, right?

Josh Harris had some other stuff, then he moved into it.

It's like you get in with a smaller percentage, learn how the game is operated, then you go.

Yeah, he's been there since 2021.

And the biggest thing there is, he got right of first refusal when it comes to the overall sale.

So, he had the inside track the whole time when he got the whatever, 26% of the team in 2021.

And that gave him every edge.

And quietly, him genie bus people around genie bus to be able to negotiate this deal to 10 billion dollars again that's an astronomical figure i i also would would have to say one thing uh for the aggregators pat actually broke news uh with the news breaker here he said i'm open so let's what's that I don't know, you said I'm open.

I own 100% of my business.

You definitely said that.

I'm open.

I caught that.

Aggregate that, everyone.

And I was here for it.

Now, the aggregators

say Pat McBee thinks he owns his business.

He wants to bury me somehow in that whole thing.

But I'm just telling you how it is.

As a man that owns 100% of my business, if somebody was to show up and say $10.1 billion

valuation,

you're on the west side.

And I'm still the governor.

And I'm still the governor.

The bus family can still negotiate.

Yeah, still have a percentage of the team,

you can still benefit from all the shit of being an owner while getting the cash out.

No, I'm not saying the Lakers are ever going to go down.

I'm not going to say that.

But at $10.1 billion, the buy low sell high thing if you're viewing it as a business that is a pretty high

sale

that is uh that is not a bad decision now with that being said uh always open for business i think people say i'm a good deal maker if you're a good deal maker and uh would certainly love to have that valuation certainly love to have that go ahead how real is that though the the still being a governor still controlling because we we saw that with mark cuban too once he sold and they said he would be doing that and i think he came out like phased out yeah i don't do so how how real is that in this situation Well, I think with this situation, it's a little bit different just because of the relationship that we see here between Genie Buss and Mark Walter.

I mean, clearly the way that they negotiated this deal, this was set up, it was written,

if it's not written in the contract, it's pretty blatant.

And

it seems like both sides are on the same page.

And when I checked in with people around Mark Walter, it's the same thing.

Like, this is positioned for Genie Buss right now.

But again, how long does it go, right?

Like, at the end of the day, when you're buying a team for $10 billion, I don't know how long you're going to be sitting on the sidelines 100% for.

This is the reality.

That's something I'm hearing from the business.

Especially if you're a business person, you probably assume, like, hey, I'm good at business.

I might be able to be good at operating an NBA team too.

And I just paid $10 billion valuation for it.

And we've tried to do the math.

I think you probably maybe gave an answer here, and I wasn't paying attention enough because I was talking to the bad because my TV keeps going out.

So I apologize for that.

Yeah, but

neither here nor there.

Do we know the exact percentage he has?

Is it like 70% of the company?

Do we know the exact percentage?

my understanding?

He's buying over either at or over 50%

initially.

Because he was already at like what 20%.

He was at 26%.

So if they're keeping 17%, I think AEG has a has some percentage as well.

And then he's coming in.

He's buying about 50%.

So 5.1, if we want to say majority.

So he had 5.1 billion bucks he has in this thing.

If Genie's doing a great job, I'm going to assume as well, another note, like whenever the bus family eventually sells their 17%,

it's going to be probably to Mark Walter.

Okay, so that is just, they still are owners, minority owners.

He's now the majority owner.

You're the governor.

Unless I don't like you being the governor anymore, I owe $5.1 billion in this entire thing.

Okay, we'll see you later.

Congrats to the Bus family.

Incredible business.

$67.5 million to $10 billion.

Incredible brand build, too.

And watching that Showtime

show

that everybody said was bullshit with how the characters were, I think it still told a good story about building a brand and how Buss liked doing that and what he thought the show was supposed to be and what the NBA could be.

Obviously, it's a beautiful story of a family business and a family going all in on a brand.

And

I love that type of stuff.

And if you're going to, I mean, how long do you want to be a governor of a team, too?

If you got $5.1 billion to your family over the last couple of years, I don't know either.

You know, how much you've signed up for?

What's the payout?

Does anyone get at math?

What's that payout for each sibling?

So if there's six siblings.

Well, how much is it equal?

Equally distributed?

She's the governor, so I'd assume she potentially has a little bit.

I mean, there is so many conversations to all that shit.

Yeah, I think it's like how much should it have yet.

I think it might be 300, 400, 500 million liquid, potentially.

Oh, terrible deal.

Yeah, that sucks.

What it's not good for the buses.

Good for the buses.

We obviously all hope to do that for our kids someday.

Go ahead, Con Man.

Yeah, Sean, let me just first say, your hair, phenomenal.

It is just, it's perfect.

Hey, good fate.

I'll take it.

I'll take it.

I'll take it.

Good fade as well.

Yeah,

I've been dragging.

We've been on this finals grind.

Yeah, you look at it.

You've been on the KD beat?

Yeah.

Yeah, you look like Shaman.

I've been getting beat up.

I'm getting beat up.

Yeah, people have been beating your ass.

But it looks good.

It looks good.

I appreciate it, beat Peter.

It's the final.

Yeah, it's about time.

It's the finals.

You know, I'm not going to lie.

I said this last time.

UD inspired me.

So I got to give all the credit.

You know, I'm a good teammate.

I'm willing to pass the credit.

UD's setting a high bar right now when it comes to fashion.

It's like 20 years in the NBA.

He's got to say that.

Ring fashion as well.

I'm like you.

I'm trying to get in the right conversation.

Show the ring, UD.

Show the ring.

I'm hoping to have those conversations.

That's the interesting part.

I can't just say that shit.

I got to look like

I'm ready to to have them conversations.

I'm going to get it right there.

Big ring culture,

just in case you need somebody to govern her or own.

I'm going to do a little bit of both.

You know what I'm saying?

But last time you were on the show, you did say something that maybe you didn't mean to say or kind of slipped out.

You said the Spurs,

you know, with KD, of course, they're looking, but they might be looking at a different superstar.

Timeline.

Timeline.

Yeah, they might be on a different timeline.

The internet, especially the Spurs fans, kind of took that and ran with it.

What the hell is Sean's talking about here?

Let's say KD goes to Houston.

What is the Surface?

Or Miami.

Or Miami.

Thank you.

Probably not Miami.

KD was going to get up and just.

Yeah, I got a question out, but I got a question.

Yeah, but what is their timeline, if you will, if KD's off the table in the Spurs mind, what is kind of...

And when's the draft next week?

Next Wednesday, Thursday.

Next Wednesday, Thursday.

Especially with that number two pick.

Like, if they're going to make a move, they kind of need to do that before the draft around.

Number two, I don't see going anywhere.

I think the Spurs feel really good about number two.

I think Dylan Harper, he's already been, I'm told, to the Spurs facilities, met them in San Antonio.

Congrats, Dylan.

Number two overall pick in the NBA.

But you know, you never know with the draft, but that's what that's what it looks right now.

But for the Spurs, Victor Omanyama, Dear and Fox, both in their 20s, in the prime of their career.

My feel right now is that the Spurs, they have interest in Kevin Durant.

They have talked to the Suns, to my understanding, about Kevin Durant, but there's a certain price threshold they'll go to for a guy like Kevin Durant.

And if that price doesn't align with Phoenix's, then clearly there's just not going to be a deal.

And if the Spurs are going to fully go all in,

they've done such a good job there.

Their general manager, Brian Wright, RC Buford, their CEO, they've stockpiled all their picks.

They got Darren Fox in a trade.

They've got Stefan Castle, the reigning rookie of the year.

They've got Victor Wemanyama.

They've got different players that have value like Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, Devin Vessell.

Those are the types of guys where if you're going to go all in, you know,

if there's a player that hits the market, we don't know yet which player could hit the market.

These things could all be fluid.

Luca Dotch has got traded knowing, you know, we didn't know about it until it happened.

So they're way.

Even we didn't know about it.

I didn't know about it till five minutes before.

I'm not going to lie to you.

And then everybody else didn't know until six minutes before.

Yeah.

Six minutes after.

So we're hanging in the pocket there, by the way.

Yeah, you just kept giving a great take with a lot of names, very important stats and facts about what the future is for some people.

And then they wanted to test you a little bit.

That's adversity.

Yeah, yeah.

That's adversity.

We get through it.

That's journalism.

We get through it, Sean.

We get through it.

We get through it.

You know what?

We've been through the heat.

Yes, we certainly have.

Been through the heat.

Yeah.

Nice.

Nice.

There it is.

You got it.

I'm just a corny guy, you did.

You're a bunny son of a bitch.

I'm a corny guy.

That's fair.

But

of course, if a Yonathan Todd Cumpo hits the market, right?

And if there's an interest level there,

but

what they're looking at is someone that hits their timeline potentially that if you are going to go all in for, we feel really good about it.

It's going to be a five, six, seven, eight-year window.

Listen, they're on Kevin Durant's preferred list.

Kevin Durant would like to play in San Antonio potentially like he would in Houston, like he would in Miami.

So, you know, could the Spurs come back for sure?

But as of right now, everything I understand, they're not the most aggressive team in this.

I think the focus over the last several days, the last week, has been Houston, Miami, and Minnesota.

Ty?

My bad.

Sorry, Giannis was the only other superstar you would say?

He wants to know about the Celtics.

That's all the name you think about.

Just about this.

That's the name you think about.

There's a few teams.

Jaw Stan and 901, bro.

We'll see.

I mean, I know what you're trying to get.

You're trying to get Jalen Brown, Derek White.

Listen,

I'm sure teams are throwing crazy offers for guys like Jalen Brown and Derek White, but it'll take a pretty insurmountable package to get those guys out of Boston.

Ty has a lot.

Go ahead, UD.

I wouldn't do it.

I want to see.

This is the opportunity with unfortunate incident to Tatum.

This is the opportunity for us to see Boston to see everybody to see if Jalen Brown can lead your team.

We saw what he was able to do in the Eastern Conference Finals last year, well, two years ago.

We saw what he was able to do against Luca, setting the tone defensively, offensively as well.

But now there's always this back and forth about 1A, 1B.

Now we have the opportunity.

And I do believe

Jalen Brown can do that.

But give him the chance.

Don't trade him now.

This is his chance to show that he can lead the Boston Celtics.

Boston Conner actually thinks we're punting on this year.

What are we doing?

Let's go ahead and figure out what the future is.

I will say this.

How the Celtics are operating in this space right now is that they're looking at next year as a retooling year.

What?

That's what Connor thinks, too.

Me and Brad Stevens, man.

We guys just get balls.

We just know Paul.

Great coach.

But that doesn't mean that.

Just because the organization looks at it like that doesn't mean the players and the guys in that locker room.

That doesn't mean you don't want to stay competitive.

That doesn't mean you don't want to continue.

But listen, realistically, without Jason Tatum, it's going to be tough.

I'm not saying they win a championship, but you see that he has the leadership qualities and he can be the guy.

There's no way to win without Jason Tatum, but he still has a chance to lead that team and be a good team.

Last question here from Ty Schmidt for Yeshams.

Speaking of the NBA draft, there's been a lot of stuff coming out about Ace Bailey, who a lot of people think is going to be the number three overall pick, top five for sure.

He went to Rutgers with Harper.

They didn't make the NCAA tournament.

They actually kind of stunk, which is kind of crazy.

A lot of people are saying he might be a shitbird, but

he's basically refusing to go work out for certain teams.

I'm not saying it.

That's what a lot of people are.

Yeah, exactly.

What is that whole situation like, and how uncommon is this for the NBA?

Because we hear about this in the NFL a lot with players, you know, most recently with Caleb Williams basically saying, hey, I'm not going to Chicago, but more often than not, that's BS, and guys do go where they're drafted.

What is going on with Ace Bailey?

Could this tank where he goes in the draft, or is he still seen as now he's a bona fide top three, top five guy?

It's hard for me to sit here and say that his stock is going to completely tank, that hey, he's going to fall dramatically.

Because for all we know, there might be a promise in place for him.

Clearly, it might not be Philadelphia at three.

So, yeah, he was supposed to go into Philadelphia today,

visit with them all day today and tomorrow.

And Friday, he had a full-on session for him.

He was supposed to be in Philadelphia.

I'm looking at the information I have.

The 19th and the 20th, he was supposed to be be in Philly they had all of his flight arrangements set they had dinner for him set they had breakfast for him set they had

a workout session for him set they had everything arranged for him and he essentially bailed two days prior to the visit yesterday he canceled from my understanding and so the sixers don't quite know what to make of it.

I think people around the league don't really know what to make of it.

To my knowledge, he hasn't gone in and visited with the team.

So yeah, it is unheard of to an extent for a player.

He's the only U.S.-based player not to go visit a team.

And we're, what are we, six days away from the NBA draft.

So yeah, it is uncommon.

But I don't want to throw shade quite yet.

There might be a method to the madness for him.

But this is a player that I think between three and eight, I could see him going.

You said it may be a promise in place.

How often does that happen in the NBA draft?

And who's guiding all this?

Who's his rep?

Is it Rich Paul?

We know Rich.

We know Rich runs the league.

His representative,

he's with someone, Omar Cooper

is his agent of record.

And Omar Cooper is the father of Sharif Cooper, who actually played in college, played a little bit in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks, played in the G League.

And

that's who's been dealing with NBA teams and guiding this process.

And so

promises are pretty typical.

Now, a lot of the times they're hidden.

They're kept under under quiet.

Sometimes you hear whispers about it-secret pinky promise, but you don't know until draft night.

All right, the promise was actually a promise because you also hear whispers, hey, this guy's got a promise here, but then it doesn't happen, right?

So, yeah, but it is common.

I don't want to say it happens like a dozen times every draft year, but there's always at least two to four, you know, every draft year.

I'm sure UD knows about some promises.

I don't know what you're talking about, Shams.

The question was for you, not me.

Cowboys.

I'm trying to test test your loyalty right now.

Cowboys told me,

baby.

They were going to draft me.

They lied.

I assume teams in the NBA have lied.

Oh, they lied to you.

I had that.

Yeah, I had that.

Yeah, I had a team tell me they were going to draft me.

Who told you that?

Seattle Super Sonics.

I never forget.

That's why they sent a team.

Nate McMillan, and I love Nate.

Nate, the OG.

Nate McMillan was coaching the Seattle Super Sonors.

He told me, it's like, if you're available for our pick in the second round, we're taking you.

And I was there every time.

Oh, I never forgot it.

I was like, I never forget that kind of shit.

Oh, no.

He went to the complete opposite side of the country.

Yeah, yeah.

I never forget.

And they took Reggie Evans.

Reggie Evans, my dog, another Florida boy, so we never reached, y'all.

You know what I'm saying?

But they told me to my face, looked me in my eyes, and told me they were going to drive.

Yeah, that happens a lot, I think.

Yeah.

So hopefully, Mr.

Cooper and

old buddy down there

have a solid problem.

Maybe there's a method to the madness.

Only time will tell.

I will hope so.

I will hope.

Only time.

If you're a young fellow with talent coming into this league, you don't want to start off with negative energy with other teams.

You don't know if

teams are perplexed.

They don't know what's going on.

Yeah, but you know, because you don't know if five years from now, this is a team that might want to give you two, $300 million.

You don't know.

So

just keep your face clean, young fella.

That's all.

Keep your face clean out here.

OGUD with a little bit of advice, and Sham Shirani with the info.

We appreciate the hell out of you.

You look incredibly clean today.

Ladies and gentlemen, it's Finals Game Six, and that's Sham Shirani.

And baby, Shams.

Appreciate you, Sean.

As we pivot away from NBA Insider, let's head to.

Yeah, that was better.

Yep, got it.

Oh, you wanted to try to do the Memphis

Hotel Lady?

Doors is the one I saw, the one from like 2020.

Me and the hotel lady.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It was great.

Yeah, it was great.

She was really good.

I think I took somebody else's sound.

Oh, we have no sound.

We need sound on that.

I got you.

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

I got you.

That's me in Memphis having a good time taking somebody else's room reservation.

As you heard it there, I got you, Justin.

She said, that's a white name.

Let me give it to this guy.

And that was not my room reservation, but I definitely took it.

But that was one of the cleanest dabs in history.

A lot of chat about Memphis.

We had great times down in Memphis.

Oh, yeah.

Great times.

We had great times down in Memphis.

I love Memphis.

Now,

joining us now is a college basketball coaching legend.

Great.

Great Memphis.

Great times in Memphis.

Yeah, great times.

Western Pennsylvania legend.

Paison

Supreme.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Arkansas men's basketball coach, national champion, Hall of Famer, Coach Kylapari.

Yes, sir.

How are you doing, Paison?

And

remind them that the Nets fired me.

Yeah.

Please tell everybody that.

Yeah, I was actually looking at the Wikipedia.

I saw the Nets thing.

I saw the Sixers assistant.

And then I saw the overall record.

Then I saw the college record.

Feels like you were more suited for the college game, but you certainly know the NBA game.

A lot of your guys obviously go on to take over the NBA.

Let's talk about SGA.

When he was playing college ball, did you know he was about to become an MVP?

Did you know he's about to put an entire state and a city on his back whenever you were watching him and when you met him?

Well, let me just say this.

I've coached two MVPs, Derek Rose

and Shea.

Both had the same DNA.

Unbelievable teammates.

So Shea won't do an interview unless his teammates are around.

Derek wouldn't take a picture unless his teammates were around.

You'll never hear a player that played with them ever say a bad word because they're great teammates.

They were both wired and driven, one by trying to prove himself better than you think.

The other trying to live up to what he was.

Different players.

Derek with speed would kill you and his quick bounce and floaters and Shay more of a

pace game that just goes and gets buckets but plays a good floor game too.

But it's amazing

Shea did not start for me for

eight games, nine games.

And when I called him in and said, you need to be starting and he said, I'm good, coach.

I trust you.

Just tells you about what he is.

Yeah, he bought Rolexes for the whole team whenever he won the MVP.

They've seen so many of those moments and he's just a bucket getter.

I mean, an insane bucket getter.

Now, it feels like this Oklahoma City team has a college-like vibe whenever you watch it, from the fan base to the way it's coached to the way they play.

Do you agree with that sentiment?

And do you think there's more of that happening in the NBA now?

Well, the NBA goes through cycles of what works and they change.

But I was in Oklahoma City for game three,

or maybe it was game two, whichever game it was, it's a college environment.

And then the way they play,

you talk about come at you so many ways, Caruso.

Look, the game I was there, Williams had three points.

Three, never said a word, and gets 40 in the last game because of how they play.

And they play off of one another.

They seem to really enjoy competing, not just...

They're like, I'm locking you down.

And Indiana's doing the same.

You got to give them credit to be where they are.

That one game, man, took the wind out of their sails.

But it'll be interesting tonight.

Yeah, and I believe there's a story between you and Tyrese Halliburton.

I don't recall.

Yeah, Jenny recruited him.

Yeah, you say you said you thought he was a bum.

You thought he was a bum.

That's, I believe the word.

I did not.

I did not.

But

he went to the right place.

And I'll tell you what.

The things he's doing, I hope he's healthy for this game.

Kason Wallace was starting, played for us.

You still have Jay Well

and Isaiah Joe from Arkansas.

Isaiah Jackson played for me.

He's in

with the Indiana Pacers.

He's hurt right now.

He's recovering from his injury.

But, no, going to the games.

And how about you watch Shea

sign 400 autographs?

After warming up and getting ready for a championship game.

What?

It just shows what he is.

He's different.

He's great.

He's a different soul.

Great superstar.

The future is in a great spot.

Darius Butler has a question for you, Coach Cowell.

Yeah, Coach, you've been coaching dynamic players for a long time going into the draft.

We just had a conversation about Ace Bailey, you know, kind of going unconventional with his route.

What are those conversations like when players reach out and lean on you for advice?

And do you have any stories from the past with a specific player at the top of the draft?

Well, first of all, I can tell you, sitting at that table is the worst thing in the world because you don't know because everybody's lying.

Yeah.

So you don't know where the kids get drafted.

But I've had multiple players say, I'm not being drafted by that team.

I've already told them.

And I'm like, are you nuts?

That's three picks down.

Why would you?

Because I'm not going there.

And you know what?

They were right and I was wrong.

When Carl Towns was getting drafted,

the Lakes wanted him.

The Lakers wanted him and they were the two-pick.

And I said,

you may want to be the two-pick and be in LA and, you know, Minnesota.

He said, nah, I'll wear a coat.

I want to be the number one pick.

And he enjoyed his time there.

But yeah,

there are stuff.

I remember with Keldon Johnson, we waited till the end of the draft.

I'm sick.

I'm on the phone.

I'm calling people.

And you know what?

He ends up in San Antonio, the best place in the world.

It doesn't matter when you're drafted, it's where you go.

And he now is going to have a long career.

He's wearing a cowboy hat, a big boot he wears cowboy boots i mean what the what perfect home perfect home for him you know the universe of god works in magical ways draft nights can be very long especially you say everybody's lying they do that in the nfl as well oh yeah so whenever there's like a promise made in the nfl it's like that's not real in the nba it sounds like the exact same ud has a question for you coach

Hey, Coach, man, just want to give you your flowers, man.

Huge fan of everything you've been able to accomplish in the game of basketball.

But my question is to you, being a guy who's been around so long and had to go through the recruiting process, as we transition into the NIL and different things like that, you having your old school mentality and your old school flavor, how has that transition been for you?

Because you know, it's a little bit more different what guys are looking for now when they're looking for colleges.

At my time, it was just looking for a great coach and somebody who could put me in a position to make it to the next level.

There's other things that come into play now.

These guys are a brand and a lot of different things.

So, how were you able to make that adjustment?

Well, let me say this: there will be coaches that would pay more than I would be willing to pay.

But I'm telling kids, you don't want to trip over nickels trying to get to 200 million.

And you pick the right school.

Don't let it overwhelm you with the money.

Can I throw a humble brag out there?

Absolutely.

Please, yes.

Okay, my guys have made $6 billion in each year.

That's crazy.

Yes.

So, $6 billion.

So when I say that,

if you're willing to take an extra $800,000 to go and you're telling me you want to be a pro, have at it.

I'm not, and I don't begrudge anybody.

Demarcus Cousins told me back in the day, he said, What should I do?

Should I put my name in the draft?

I said, if you want to do what's right for you and your family, you put your name in that draft.

Do you want to do what's right for me and my family?

Why don't you stay for a couple of years?

And so this thing, I just wish they could not transfer.

They should be able to go once, maybe twice without penalty, because the coach lied.

Told him you're shooting every ball.

I'm going to play you this way.

And he didn't tell them the truth.

Then they should be able to leave.

But four times, that means the first sign of trouble, I'm out.

Yes.

And you'd see.

Second sign of trouble.

I'm out.

Yeah.

Third sign of trouble.

I'm out.

Fourth sign of trouble.

I'm out.

That's That's setting a bad precedent for life, I think.

There you go.

If you're a parent, wouldn't you tell your son, no,

you're fighting this out?

You're not, no, you're staying.

You're going to do it.

Now, I understand once or twice without penalty, but after that, don't tell me, well, we'd get sued.

A kid transferred four times.

One, it's not good for him.

Two, he has no chance academically to do anything.

And I think we're still academic institutions.

Take it to court, you can win that.

Yeah.

But if we get that in order, I think the NIL stuff would be fine.

Because right now, you got, you know, the quarterback from Vanderbilt.

Was it on this show?

No, it was on Bussing with the Boys, four and a half million.

To just put his name in it.

Well, that's tampering.

That's tampering.

No.

Put your name in the portal, four and a half million.

We got to get away from that more than the NIL.

Well, Coach, we appreciate your time.

We're coming out.

Hold it.

Hold it.

Adu Thiero.

If anybody misses that, it's going to be like they missed on.

You ready?

Yeah.

Emmanuel quickly.

I've gone through when they missed.

What do you say?

Adu Thierro

is a first-round draft pick, and I'm going to tell you why.

The league, I love the physicalness of the league right now.

Absolutely.

I love it.

Because you got to work to get a basket.

It ain't horse anymore.

Shoot.

It is, you got to get and someone better screen because the guy's holding like that.

No, hold on.

I know all that stuff.

A dude can play in a physical game and athletically be in the top 1%.

He's somebody if you pass on, they'll look back and say, how many people passed on him?

Thank you.

He's that good and a good kid.

From Pittsburgh.

Love that.

Draft them.

You're always recruiting, always selling, always coaching, always sticking up for your guys.

You're the man.

We appreciate the hell out of you.

Hour two on the other side of this break.

Be a friend.

Tell a friend something nice.

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Finals.

Welcome back to 20-year NBA vet, three-time NBA champion, you Donnis Haslam.

Still got the quickness.

Still got the quickness.

I saw him scale eight stairs here and then hover above the stage to get to his seat in less than a second and a half as this show was about to kick off hour two.

We appreciate you, UD.

Nine-year NFL vet, Darius J.

Butler.

The toxic table is here at Boston Conner and at Ty Schmidt.

One One half of the hammer die.

Damned it.

You saying dang?

What are you saying?

I said damn that time.

I don't love that.

I'd have hit it with the dang, the damn.

All of them.

Hammer, hammer, damn.

It's actually polite.

Yeah, that's not bad.

Every once in a while, it's a hammer.

Damn.

Every once in a while, it's a hammer.

Wow.

Every once in a while, it's a hammer that.

Tonight, the Pacers

plus six six and a half at home for game six of the NBA Finals.

The stage has gotten set.

The t-shirts have been handed out and delivered to all of the seats here in Gamebridge Fieldhouse.

The proverbial

ceremonial

game six

feels like it is on the precipice of being iconic.

Dare we all say epic.

Sure.

How do you feel tonight's game goes and what are the betting lines saying about how tonight's game six should go?

Because the sports books, surprisingly enough, over the last few games, have been dead on

with how everything's going to go.

Yeah, it's

Thunder or minus six and a half tonight.

It's the same line as game four,

where the Thunder covered by a point or so based on the free throw competition that happened at the end of that game.

The total for this game is 221.

It's been around that this whole series.

As we know, we've talked about it the last couple weeks or whatever.

This six and a half as a home dog is the biggest.

been in the,

it doesn't say a lot about the respect the sports folks have for the Pacers, but you know, they've been disrespected this entire playoff run, so it's nothing new for them.

I would hammer the Pacers tonight.

You know,

we talked about everything that we saw from the storm last night to flags flying.

We believe signs coming in.

They really spoke to me a bunch coming in.

Something that you got to take, you can't just take what is going to happen on the court in.

You got to take everything else around.

Yeah, we got to let the universe talk to us.

Bingo, bingo, especially in situations like this.

What?

You saw the Pacers flag.

I know, man.

And as Tony's going through all the stuff, all I'm thinking is every time I place bets based on shit that I see

making me think that it affects the basketball on the court, I always

think about the court.

We saw this Pacers team down two, you know, last game, which out of nowhere.

They were, you know, they're getting their asses kicked the entire time, and then they're down two out of nowhere.

And that didn't work out.

I have a question for you, D.

It's Mathrick's birthday.

Let me talk to Timmy.

Talk to me.

I know Tricky Ricky threw a

zone at you guys in the final.

Yes, he did.

Do you think there's a chance with Tyrese's injury potentially tonight so that he's not in so many actions, there's a chance we may see a little zone tonight on the surface?

That is a great question, by the way.

This guy knows his shit.

No ball.

This guy knows ball.

He was going for a 1-3-1 yesterday, I believe.

We're trapping the quarters.

There is definitely going to be some zone to protect Highly out there tonight.

Yeah, just to throw him off pace a little bit, preserve that calf a little bit.

It's a team that likes to get up and down.

He knows they're going to attack him in every action.

So Tricky Ricky's definitely going to come with his own.

What kind of zone?

I don't know.

Is it a 2-3?

Is it a 1-3-1?

Which one would you do if you're playing against SGA, Chad Holmgren, Jalen Williams?

I'm going with a 2-3 because I like two guys at the top of that key there.

So if they do set a screen, you just pass them along to the 2-3.

Maybe a boxing one?

Oh.

That takes a lot.

You got to work on that.

It's hard to throw a boxing one right in the finals if you haven't worked on it.

But I think they can throw a 2-3 out there because if you set a screen for SGA, the other guy is just going to pass him to the...

the other guy.

The problem is, if you set a screen in a 2-3, if he splits and goes down the middle of the two guys.

So you got to have good communication.

You got to have great communication.

People think 2-3 zone is lazy defense.

You actually have to work harder in a zone because of how much communication you have to have against the zone.

That's always a fallback in the men's league.

Somebody's getting cool.

All right, let's go 2-3.

Let's go 2-3.

But why doesn't zone work on real high-level basketball?

You don't see much in a high-level D1 or in the NBA for extended periods of times.

Why is that?

Because everybody just shoots so damn good.

Because after a while,

they get the rhythm of it.

So it's literally only used for a couple minutes just to throw the team off, throw the offensive rhythm off, get them out of the rhythm, then you go right back to a man.

It's kind of like chess.

You know what I'm saying?

You just want to distract them a little bit, throw them a little illusion, make them think we're in a man, but we're really in the zone.

Everybody's still staying in their spots.

And then when they finally figure out the zone, go back to the man.

Is it because everybody can score now?

Not that everybody couldn't score back then.

It's because everybody can't guard now.

When I was came in the league, you had to guard your yard.

If you couldn't guard, you couldn't play.

Because there was no

fast-paced run to the three-point line.

No, it's find the weak link, and we're going to go at him every single time until your coach takes you out.

There was no guys that were just making threes and, oh, he can score, and you're going to just let him score.

No, if you couldn't guard, the old man in that league, Derek Coleman, them kind of guys, they're going to go at your ass every time.

They're going to punish your ass, and your coach go take you out.

Yeah, Milk Chow is that.

Yeah, we do that in the NFL as well.

I mean, there is.

One of my favorite moments.

in my rookie year was watching some shitty number, some shit number, jog onto the field in the fourth quarter and go i think they were playing corner outside or something like that 39 corner corner payton's actual head peyton's gigantic gigantic helmet he always knew everything that was going on soon as this poor soul jogged onto the field you literally watched his head the whole time just watch him jog all the way over and line up and then it was like okay yeah hey uh

And it was just bow, bow, bow, bow.

You guys do that in the NBA as well.

Hell yes.

Okay, is that you asked about this in the first hour?

Tyrese Hallenberg on defensive side, you know, he's not normally known to be a defensive lockdown.

I had a lot of blocks, though.

Starting to pick up some blocks, starting to get some fruits there.

I gave you an interesting statistic about Tyrese Hallenberg.

Okay.

Up until the finals,

he was giving up 40% on individual defensive possessions.

So he wasn't as bad as people thought.

So hold on, is that good or bad?

I don't think I know what normal is.

He's pretty decent.

He was around 38, 39% in ISO situations.

So

39% they were scoring.

Yeah, but what's normal?

Well, I mean, if you're getting cooked, then the guy's scoring on you like 60, 70% of the time.

You got to take your ass out.

But if you're around 38, 39%, I mean, you're pretty much holding your own.

So that's maybe not a good narrative about Tyrese Helliburton.

Yeah, it's not a good narrative.

I mean, he's not the greatest defender, but he's a capable defender.

But if you're looking at that lineup, then he's the guy you want to attack.

You don't want to attack Nimhart.

You don't want to attack Nate Smith.

You don't want to attack Siakam.

You don't want to attack Miles Turner because I think he's giving up crazy numbers in one-on-one.

Like, nobody's really scoring on him.

His offense is struggling, but defensively, he's been on point.

Block party.

So there's none of those guys that you want to attack.

So you look at that and you're like, you know, that's the guy.

That's the duck.

And we like to call it the duck.

Not that Terry's Hallenberg is a duck.

Hallen Burton is a duck at all.

But when you're in the Limbier locker room, you attack the duck.

Yes, yes, yes, absolutely.

And whenever you, do you know the refs?

So like, for instance, Nemhard.

There's a chance Nemhard, like, I mean, he plays.

Sign defense.

Sticky.

Yeah, I mean, he's on there.

But the refs can change.

He gets two fouls early.

All of a sudden, you got to change the entire game plan.

Do you know going into a game how the refs are probably going to call it one defensive end?

I'm going to give you a quote from

Lil Heatism.

Lil' Heatism.

And LeBron James used to say this all the time.

Don't look at the refs.

They can't help us.

They can't hurt us.

We don't even give a damn.

We didn't even look at the...

I don't care who's referring.

It doesn't matter.

Really?

It does not matter.

What they're going to look at the refs to help us win?

Can't do nothing for us.

So it doesn't matter who's referring to us.

So every ref could call a tight game.

Every ref could call a loose game.

Yes, every ref could call a tight game.

Every ref could call a a loose game.

You adjust throughout the game.

But, I mean, at the same time, you come in with your mentality.

The refs can't help us, can't hurt us.

It doesn't matter who's ref in this damn game, fellas.

Don't even let that creep into our mind because there's some refs where you look at it, you're like, oh, we got him tonight.

Already you blew it.

Already your mental has gone far away from where it needs to be.

How long does that take to figure out into a game like, okay, they're calling it, is it the first four minutes?

Yeah, you can usually tell the first couple minutes.

And I'll tell you one thing, and this helped because when I first got into the NBA, I couldn't get a car.

I couldn't buy a damn car.

I don't know if it was the braids or the tattoos.

It definitely wasn't this domesticated.

Coach Riley called me in his office, and he gave me three pages with every official, their face, and their names.

He said, learn every...

effing guy's name and address them as hey such and such instead of saying ref official dearf official he's like they're never gonna give you a damn call you keep calling them ref or official he literally gave me a list and i literally had to learn every single referee's name and when the game started Monty,

whatever it was.

Yeah, Monty, giving them money.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Monty.

Monty.

Monty.

Monty, who I just saw in the airport.

Monty.

I mean, all these different refs.

I address these guys on a first name basis.

Yeah, I feel like in the NBA, it becomes a personal relationship with them.

You know, you're around each other a lot, very close to the action and also a part of the show.

You know, like you guys are,

I mean, the intimacy of the fans with the game is insane.

I mean, you're literally in it.

You're on the stage with everybody.

The refs are a part of it.

The refs are getting it.

The refs are getting booed.

The refs are maybe playing to it a little bit with the way they're doing it.

They're a part of the show.

It feels like they're, you know, a very huge part of the NBA as a whole.

Maybe a casual would know the name Scott Foster.

Like, obviously, would know.

Tony Brothers.

Yeah, Tony Brothers would know these names.

It's like they become stars.

Like in the NFL, obviously, Hockey Lee, Sterator, these guys have been able to get over because of who they're known.

But it's not every ref.

It feels like in the NBA, every ref is pretty well done.

Yes, and I'm gonna tell you something about these refs.

There's a lot of these guys, you talk about the Scott Falls.

Do they work every game?

Tony Brothers.

These guys are working every game.

When you get to this level, and you're looking at the finals and different things, you're gonna see Scott.

You're gonna see Tony Brothers.

Those guys have earned their right to ref these finals.

But these are also guys who have made mistakes in games, and they'll come back and they'll see me like five or six games later, and they'll be like, you know what?

You were right.

I missed that one.

Got it.

And that right there is a whole different.

I respect that.

And then when I, and I went back to Monty one time because I got on his ass.

And I went back to him the next game and I said, you know what?

I I was wrong.

Yeah, I respect that.

Before I said that, he was about to tell me I was wrong.

He was already about to come with me in the same conversation.

But these are the things that can help you slightly just having a conversation and just a relationship.

How frustrating is it though when like early on, and like we saw earlier in the series, it's super physical and they're kind of just letting them play.

And then all of a sudden at some point it's like, yeah, you know what?

This is getting a little too out of hand.

And then it gets super ticky tack.

And it's like, well, you know, like the style we were playing five minutes ago and for the whole first half, like now we can't do it.

Like, is there anything you can do for that?

Or is it kind of just, hey, we got to roll with the punches now?

Eliminate all distractions.

It's too important of a moment.

We can't allow you to be distracted for at least 30 seconds.

You cannot lose focus for at least 30 seconds.

There's going to be so many damn highs and lows, so many things that are out of your control.

Control what you can control.

The team that's going to win is the team that stays even right here.

Stay all the way through.

So when all of that happens, it doesn't matter, man.

Literally, and it's crazy to say this because there's so many things that you think can impact the game.

But if you really just say none of that shit matters, we're going to play the game for 48 minutes and let the chips fall where they may, you'll get through so much every day.

You're going to play your mindset.

I'll tell you what, as a fan watching,

they do matter.

Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, from an attic in Ohio is a man who I assume had a great relationship with the officials.

There was a video of him flipping off the sideline.

Everybody thought he was doing that to an official.

There was also other motions, obviously, that have been done by this man on a football field.

He's the all-time leading tackler for the Green Bay Packers.

Ladies and gentlemen, A.J.

Hawk is here.

Hawker, how you doing?

You're glowing.

How are you?

I'm doing great.

You guys look good.

Obviously, UD is dressed beautifully and looks amazing.

So yeah, he's a very, very classy gentleman.

Yeah, he's super professional.

Are you making fun of the rest of us?

Sounds like that was what that was.

I'm going to give me.

I'm wearing a sweatshirt, UD.

I have no room to speak.

But yeah, I love guys that can put it together.

He sounds great.

Holy hell.

Well, Hawk, I tell you, you don't.

And I was actually, I appreciated it.

Here you go.

Yeah, when he complimented him.

Yeah, that was the first time that happened.

I appreciated that.

Look at A.J.

Hawk and talk of Field of Pain Bridge.

AJ, good for you, man.

Everybody's taking a photo of you just chilling out there.

Big smiles.

Big smile.

Give him a hype speech.

AJ, get him.

AJ, the people are wondering what you have to say about the Indiana Pacers tonight in game six.

Oh, yeah.

You know, I love these.

I love giving these, especially the one-shot.

The old one-shot on the motivational speeches.

Yeah.

Guess what, boys?

Nothing needs to be said.

Their backs are against the wall.

We've heard TJ McConnell, he said, hey, we're going to give everything we have tonight and go bring home a victory take this thing to game seven yes

when tj say it you got to believe it anything else aj keep going off

anything else this one shot on the jumbotron is a little bit uh overkill but you know

we're all here there guys i'm sorry what'd you say ud you you made a good point i'll say if tj said you got to believe it i mean this is a guy who's talking about like look where look look where he's come from and look what he's been able to do and how he's been able to impact this series i mean come on man what's happening aj always hovering Oh,

that wide shot is perfect.

That wide shot.

All right, AJ, let's talk about some NFL news that is happening on this NBA

Finals Game 6.

You're doing a great job.

Thank you for joining us, AJ.

You are glowing on this TV.

I don't know about all the others.

You look magnificent.

Big news, CJ Mosley retiring from the NFL after an incredible career, obviously linebacker.

Yeah, great career.

AJ, your thoughts on CJ Mosley.

And obviously, this is another legend retire.

Every time a legend retires that I remember watching, you know, I'm like, man, i'm getting old yeah you know that's what i especially because i feel like i've experienced his entire career as a fan of his troll bowl with a man yes yeah like like very like i feel like an old man here aj your thoughts on uh cj mosley calling it I mean, this dude was a monster.

From the day he stepped into the league, I feel like he was a premier linebacker making plays all over the place.

I loved watching film of him and what he was able to do.

The guy can move and super physical, a guy that can play, you know, all four downs as well.

And is it true that he was trying to get back to Baltimore, but his neck hit, because of his neck, he couldn't get cleared to play?

Yeah, I guess there was some sort of contact at communications, and then ultimately

they wouldn't pass a physical or something like that.

Yeah, man.

I hate that for him.

Yeah, I hate that for him.

Obviously,

I assume whatever he does next, he will be.

He's one of those guys that I feel like he was a pro from day one.

Like, you looked at him, like, this guy was squared away.

He was a great leader.

And I know the guys that played with him, like, wherever he was, they love this dude.

Obviously, a scary dude roaming the middle, like an old school type dude.

So I have tons of respect for him.

Yeah, thumper.

You know, CJ Mosley, a lot of years in the league.

That Baltimore, I mean,

they're making moves.

They really don't have a ticket deep.

They are making moves.

Obviously, you have a dynamic quarterback, one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

I always say a team don't have a chance if they don't have a quarterback.

They got a great culture from the top down in that building.

And I love when we've seen it, especially more recently, the best team just continue to take shots to get better, whether it's the Bills, whether it's the Chiefs, making these type of moves.

So adding Jair Alexander yesterday to that secondary.

I forgot they even drafted Malachi Starks in the first round, which is a phenomenal talent coming in to the league.

And then you pair him up with Marlon Humphrey, who's one of the best slot defenders in the league.

Nate Wiggins, dynamic young corn on the outside, and Kyle Hamilton, who can do everything in that secondary.

So Chuck Bogano, I know he's happy about it.

I know defense coordinator Zach Orr going into, I believe, his third year as a DC over there.

I know he's happy about it.

I know Baltimore, I know Ravens Flock are happy about it.

And I know,

I would assume that their Super Bowl odds are pretty good right now.

Yeah, Kyle Hamilton actually spoke to the media about Chuck Pagano and gave us a great quote about our coach.

Yeah, I think

every time he says something in the meeting room with all the DBs, it's kind of like

he's just dropping knowledge.

He's forgotten more football than a lot of people know.

So to have somebody in the room like that and Donald, too, who's been doing a great job.

Honestly, he gets through those installs like a pro.

It's impressive.

But no, they're both doing a great job so far.

But back to Chuck, I think he's accomplished everything in this game besides winning the Super Bowl.

So

he's voiced that, and we want to get that not only for us, but for him too, guys like him who haven't been able to reach that pinnacle.

So

just a great guy to have, and I'm really happy about the room right now.

D-Butt, obviously, we were incredibly lucky to be coached by Chuck, but he views himself as a secondary coach, always has.

Obviously, hot-flying safety out of Wyoming himself as a college ball player.

Him not having the Super Bowl ring is what haunts him.

He leaves Baltimore to become the Colts head coach.

Baltimore wins the Super Bowl that next year, so he kind of feels like he misses out with the team that he was with.

Whenever he was talking with us, obviously he had so much respect for the game, but it felt like he was still committed fully to being a coach in the NFL.

Now he's coaching over there and one of his best players, Kyle Hamilton, comes out and talks about him like that.

I love that for Chuck, legitimately.

You love when one of your young studs is singing your praises like that because one of the knocks on older coaches is can they connect with the younger guys?

You know, because the game changes so much.

I think it was Cooper Cup.

He was an interview with somebody talking about just how, in the last few years, he's been in the league, how much defenses have changed.

You mentioned his commitment to it, even not having a headset on, you know, still being with the 33rd team and still being on calls, watching films, being up to date with injuries, guys coming out.

Yeah, so he stays locked in with everything.

And he's a DB guy through and through.

Like, he loves the secondary play.

So I love the versatility.

And when you have a former head coach that's coming back into a position coaching role, like you, you already know that guy is super overqualified for that position.

So everything he says, you're going to take it and run with it.

I appreciate that Chuck Pagano is getting some love.

And I also appreciate the fact that he's back into the grind.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

He's been skipping around.

They had him a mic'd up segment, I guess.

Somebody tweeted me about it and told me about it, where he was mic'd up, and he's just like, you see like a 25-year-old out there flying.

His energy is infectious, AJ.

His energy is infectious.

And I'm happy as hell for him.

And that Ravens team,

yeah, it feels like they're very good.

It's going be a problem.

UD, I see, it sounds like UD's a big fan of the Ravens.

I did not know that was the case.

I mean, South Florida, Lamar Jackson.

You know, I keep up with everything that comes from the South.

Anything that comes out of Florida, I'm a fan.

Boom.

Anything that comes out of Florida, I'm a fan.

Florida Panthers, Standing Cup champions.

Oh, for sure.

Congratulations.

Two of the greatest Ravens, too.

Ed Reed, Ray Lewis.

My God.

You know what I mean?

Willis McGee, McCuddy.

Kyle Bowles.

Man, good.

Yeah, of course.

They got a T-Hawk.

They got glory days, man.

Miami's going to get back to that.

The Hurricanes?

Yeah.

Or the Dolphins.

Bolts.

How come the UM fans don't show up for the games, Judy?

Huh?

How come the Miami fans don't show up?

I heard it's because it's off campus.

Is that why?

I'm gonna tell you, I can't speak now.

When I was growing up, we used to go to the Orange Bowl, and it was a whole experience.

It was a whole experience.

The people cooking outside, you get the Spanish food, it was a whole experience now.

I just don't think the culture is the same as it used to be.

You know what I'm saying?

They moved it, and I think once you moved it from the Orange Bowl, I think things started to change when it came to the hurricanes and the the fan base.

Now, for the Dolphins, they've been in the same damn place the whole time.

I don't have no answer for that.

I'm trying to sit up here.

Maybe D-Buck can help me understand what the hell is going on.

I'm a fan to the court.

I sit at home, and it's weird.

Don't judge me.

I sit at home, I have no shirt on, and I put my helmet.

Yeah.

Watch the game just like this.

Love that.

Love that.

That's unbelievable.

Listen, I got a real Dolphins helmet with a visor.

And I sit down with my helmet and my visor with no no shirt on.

I watch the damn game.

This is how I watch them sit down.

Hell yeah.

So you're doing like helmet up, bottle?

Yeah, I do that.

I take the helmet up, I get a drink, and I put it back down.

And I clipped up, too.

My shit ain't hanging to the side.

Like, I ain't getting in.

That shit clipped on.

Like, I'm finna go in.

Like,

call my number.

Shit, I'm going to hit somebody.

Popping wood with me.

We don't lay wood around here.

We've been waiting a long time.

time.

If you look at the other organizations down there, the Miami Heat, been one, you know, long tradition.

We talk about heat culture um the marlins they have their running and broke up the team or whatever the panthers now you know they're like the dynasty in hockey across sports you look at that team into miami so enter miami bring lessy out there

but i mean you bring it now lightning out there that's tampa bay i'm talking about like i know crib crib so

For the Dolphins to be what, 26 years now until it's without having a playoff win like that, that's tough, especially being in South Florida where, you know, hockey's great, basketball, everything is great, but football is king in South Florida.

So we're waiting to get it figured out.

We'll see if they will.

It's been a long time coming.

Yeah, not to mention what's going on in the division here now.

The Bills are the Bills.

The Pats was Vrabel on the way back up.

The Jets, I'm not going to say they're on the way back up, but Aaron Glenn in there kind of doing his whole entire thing.

I mean, Miami might be all the way back to

like 2000, 2012?

2011 Dolphins.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

They still got a piece of it.

I'm just saying.

All of a sudden, McDaniel will will have him.

McDaniel will be able to do it.

People believe in him still, right?

No, listen, we got pieces, man.

You know what I'm saying?

We bring back Waldo.

We got tours, see if he can stay healthy.

Coach McDaniel, I love the creative that he has offensively.

I think the defense was something

he got a little bit.

Ty ranks real fast, which leads into what's going on, though.

Lyles, hey, what's the deal here?

Yeah, that was crazy.

What's good with that?

You know what happened?

A lot of people said, we hope he's okay.

Obviously, we saw him go through some stuff at the Olympics.

Got COVID

and everything like that.

He still raced, though.

Yes, that's what I'm saying.

So he was going to race Tyreek Hill, I believe, AJ.

I don't know.

This has been years in the making.

Remember, Tyreek and

Bolt were even in conversations with Maybe Racing as, you know, all the track guys talk to

athlete guys as if they're not as fast as track guys.

And then when track guys are actual football guys, they get very comfortable and confident in speaking and talking shit to the track people, which is Tyreek Hill, I believe, in this particular case, actual track guy

who chose football, basically.

And he ran a 10-1-5 right the other day with a GoPro on his chest.

And before he takes off, he actually says,

Let's have fun doing it.

Hey, let's go viral, boys.

Let's have fun doing it.

And then he 10-1-5 out of the gate.

And then all of a sudden, the race is called off.

So a lot of people immediately say, hey, I know a lot of backing off here, but maybe.

I got to say this.

And my wife will kill me if I don't tell the truth.

And I love Tyreek because he's a dolphin.

Noah Laues will blow a 10-1-5 out the water in the 100s.

In 100, he's blowing that shit out the water.

This is where Tyreek has a chance.

They were supposed to run a 50, correct?

50 or 60 or 60.

Tyreek has a chance in a 50 or 60 because Noah Lau's weakness is his start.

As he starts to pick up in 100, this is where his strength is.

But his weakness is his start.

If you watch Noah Laues, the thing that he works on a lot is his start.

So in a 50 or a 60, Tyreek has a chance.

In 100, how much money has a chance to raise some alligators?

They need no grass, too.

How much money, yeah, with spikes?

How many, oh yeah, Cleat, sorry.

How much money you think has to be put up for them to actually race?

$5 million.

$500,000?

I'm certainly no all-what to be a negotiation.

I said a couple hundred thousand.

What's that, AJ?

It's a no-win situation for Noah Lyles.

Like, if he wins, yeah.

People are saying, of course, you should win.

If he loses, like, how do you lose to a football player?

Yeah, forever.

And then football people to track people forever.

This will kind of shut that conversation up forever, though.

Because if you beat, because I would say Tyreek is our fastest.

We call him cheetah.

Best representative.

Yeah, he will be the best representative

for a long time.

So if he goes out there and smokes him, that will put the conversation to bed forever.

Tyreek, if he chose to go the track route, I believe he, you know, could have been an Olympian with how he can run.

But yeah,

I'm with you.

The longer the race, the less chance that Tyreek had.

But I'll watch it.

I'll tune in on you.

Oh, hell yeah.

I'll be front row.

Either way, it's good news.

Why is that?

I mean, he's still fast.

He looks great.

Yeah, he's in great shape.

Didn't look like he was running as fast as he could.

He had a GoPro on his chest.

That's like the casual, just how casual it was.

Yeah, let me go ahead and focus on the content here in the middle of this actual race here.

And then he wasn't even breathing heavy, obviously, and pulls away from these guys.

Who's he racing against?

If Noah's next to him, are they racing each other?

Then it's a little bit different, which I think is a real thing, especially football speed.

Yes.

I think football speed there would actually help Tyreek and also Noah because I guess he has to line up next to people every single time.

But nonetheless, I think there should be some sort of prize.

Obviously, put some money up and then put some charitable donation up to it, then have it happen.

They're going to have to negotiate the distance.

Maybe they'll meet in the middle somewhere like 70.

You know, like maybe it'll be like a 70-yarder where there's still distance, but it's not necessarily as short.

I would love to see it.

I would really enjoy that for the good of like sports because as somebody that's had an opportunity never to race in one of these races of course uh but watch these after like workouts whenever two people are talking to each other yeah about who's faster it's electrifying yes it is absolutely electrifying and i know the olympics whenever they're eight wide or whatever is cool and watching that when it's one-on-one with two people that have been shit talking each other and then there's people gassing it up too from but we just did it

We literally just gassed it up right there.

It is an electrifying event.

That's almost where track should go.

You want to see the best race out?

You want to hear about the best race I've ever seen one-on-one?

Absolutely.

Shaq and Zoe.

Shaq and Zoe.

Okay, how long was this race?

The conversation was always from Shaq.

I went one and you went two in the draft.

So that's everything is a competition from that point on.

And they actually had a race one day in practice.

Full court?

It was about...

Yeah, the full court.

It was a full court race.

Okay, so how long?

It was all lined up with our bets and our popcorn.

Yeah, betting M ⁇ Ms, obviously, not actual money.

Obviously, same with us.

We play a lot of

cards and stuff like that.

The build-up for that.

Was there a long build-up for that for that?

Well, yeah, because it started in the draft night.

The build-up started.

Shaq went one, and Zoe went two.

Never forget.

The build-up started there, and Shaq never missed the opportunity to let Zoe know.

Shaq won the race that was.

What?

Shaq won the race that day.

Shaq was a lumber.

I honestly wasn't sure.

Zoe used to be.

Shaq won the race that day.

Zoe was shredded.

He's big.

Yeah, but let's just talk about Shaq just real quick.

The big Aristotle.

DJ David.

He's something different about that big guy.

The big hat.

That's what I'm saying.

Something different about Big Fellow.

He's bigger than every person you've met.

Somehow, still more athletic.

I think he's 50-something, obviously.

He took a bump off a ring through a table like three years ago.

Crazy bump.

Just got up in this entire thing.

He's shredded.

Everything he does, he seemingly has massive success with.

It's like, yeah, Shaq won the race.

That wasn't even, in my eyes.

How was you?

Because in those races,

that's what it feels like it comes down to.

It's like, that's how it gets treated.

Like, hey, who's the guy here?

Like, that is a real convo.

And the speed thing,

it'd be cool to be a part of those.

Yeah.

That would have been cool to be a part of that.

You never raced it?

That was a great watch.

No.

That was a great watch for me.

Yeah, never got called into any races.

Is there a lot of racing in the NBA world?

Like, after, like, in that, like, football happens a lot.

There's a lot of one-on-one.

Yeah, yeah.

That's how we settle things one-on-one.

Yeah, we settle a lot of things with one-on-one.

And then if it goes too far, then we take it down to the locker room.

That's when James Johnson come in.

You and Paul Pearson to do that, huh?

You and Paul Pearson, you put it one-on-one.

That ain't going to work.

Ain't enough fish in the world to appreciate that.

Before we let you go, AJ,

I hope you guys didn't get hit with that.

Did you guys get hit with that storm last night?

Not really.

I think it's coming our way now, though.

Dude.

Batting down the hatches.

It literally came in like a wrecking ball.

Like, it just came in and then it just was done.

But then you look outside and there's trees down everywhere.

It was like, damn, that was real.

We didn't know it was happening until very late.

That's on us for not paying attention.

I guess they had been predicting it throughout the entire day.

Yesterday, I was literally talking shit on the weather, people saying, there's a big one, there's a big one, and then it's never a big one.

And then big one.

Lo and behold,

it was.

I'm still without power.

I'm still without power at my house because of it.

So Godspeed to everybody that is on the receiving of that end of that coming up.

And also, Godspeed to anybody that's on the roadway, Shador Sanders.

Oh, my God.

He's going 101 miles an hour in a 60-mile-an-hour zone.

Shabar Sanders pulled out.

It feels like a lot of people get speeding tickets in Cleveland.

Okay, something that just comes to my mind.

Feels like that happens out there.

Very flat.

It is a highway.

You know, depending upon car that he's driving, obviously could naturally get up to a higher speed without even knowing it.

Don't want to make too many excuses.

Can't have it.

Go wake up call.

How are you viewing it, AJ Hawk?

Well, I mean, the fact it's it's just a speeding ticket, though.

That's why I'm okay with it.

If it's just a speeding ticket, we're good to go, right?

Like, I understand it's pretty excessive speed, but who knows?

What car was he driving?

Did they say what car in the horsepower?

Because that could have been a three-second situation where he got up to 101.

Yeah, an 04 Corolla.

I don't think it was a Corolla.

It was on a highway, right?

Yeah.

I believe it was a.

No, I think it was a truck of some sort.

Oh, Clambo truck.

It was a Dodge Ram truck, I believe.

Oh, no.

Those can get off.

Soup Duck.

Things go.

Yeah, Soup Duck.

Dodge Rubber Ram.

I mean, if he has a 2,500 Rebel Ram,

That thing's riding on clouds.

Fresh gears 101.

And whenever you hit the, when you hit that gas pedal, you know what it sounds like?

Obviously, should not be speeding in that excess.

Should not.

Dangerous.

But with some of these cars these days, it is very hard to keep track of how fast you're going.

These things are so smooth somehow.

Even with how shitty the

roadways have become seemingly across America, we had a moat right here.

I don't know if if you saw.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, it was a good one.

Got some pavement down up near our house.

Okay.

Quarter mile.

Okay.

Quarter mile.

Fresh black pavement.

Oh, that's true.

So smooth.

I'm like, damn, get some rollerblades out of here.

That's what it was like.

And then right on the other side of that thing,

we're back on the moon there.

But 101, obviously excessive, but $250 fine, speeding.

And now he knows.

Now he knows.

Did I get caught yesterday?

Because I looked and it wasn't sent.

So was Zach Edie going 101 yesterday?

Yeah, they were racing.

Zach Edie got the same thing.

Same exact one.

They were side by side, actually, talking shit.

I thought they might be ready.

I don't think they were talking shit.

I think they were going to replace.

I think Zach Edie's was a little different, too, because he basically said, like, hey, I'm fucking eight feet tall.

Okay, I haven't got a new car yet for my new deal.

Like, there's nothing he could do.

He can't move his foot anywhere.

He's like, I mean, my foot weighs 70 pounds.

What do you want me to do?

Can I be honest with you guys?

Let me just be honest.

And I'm not saying it's right or wrong.

But when we all get it a little drafted, we get a little money in our pocket.

We get a nice little car.

We turn our musical up.

We like might drive a little fast.

I said we're going 101.

But when we get our little money in our pockets, we get our little cars and we turn that shit up loud as hell and we just ride.

It's immature.

It's young.

And he should never do it again.

But he won't be the first young fella that has speed.

You know what I'm saying?

At least he ain't had nothing in the car that got his ass pulled over and locked up.

You know what I'm saying?

Yeah, to your point.

To your point.

Could have been worse.

Could have been riding dirty.

So great.

At least he's been doing that.

You know what I'm saying?

And Shador, all reports out of the building, they love him over there.

They love him over there.

And he was in the community before he even got to rookie boot camp.

Feels like, you know, obviously long road for a fifth-round draft pick to become a starter in one offseason.

But Dylan Gabriel there, Kenny Pickett there, Joe Flacco there.

What's the future look like at the quarterback position?

Are they going to go young early to give him an opportunity?

Or is it going to be a veteran-led Joey Flacco team at the beginning?

And then one of the young guys determines who takes over.

That could be the case.

Or Shador Sanders could get cut from the Cleveland Browns and end up on a different team.

Dylan Gabriel could get cut from the Cleveland Cleveland Browns, end up on a different team.

Kenny Pickett could get traded again.

Joe Flacco could get traded or cut from the Cleveland Browns.

We have no clue what's going to happen with the Cleveland Browns, but we do know if you're going 101 on that particular highway,

you're going to get your ass pulled over.

That's right.

Yep.

That is what we know.

We also know the Browns will most likely make the right decision.

That was a condescending remark from a Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

I was wondering if you were being funny.

What the hell?

What the hell?

Hey, that's a good omen for tonight that that's naturally coming up.

Alas, you guys had the Sixers at a good culture.

All right.

Hey, AJ, we appreciate the hell out of you, man.

You're the best.

We'll see you tomorrow, buddy.

Thank you.

Thank you, guys.

Hey, make your prediction.

Make your prediction for tonight's game.

Oh, yeah.

Okay.

Tonight, I'm going 107-101 Indianapolis Pacers.

Because of your pep talk.

Thank you so much.

Way to go.

I'd say David.

I'm the Pacers, but yeah.

They're in Indianapolis.

He was on that big jumbo tron.

Dave was.

That's great photo.

Hey, can you put our why?

I got got a question.

Hold on.

Hold on one second.

Let's get a photo.

We're going to be up on the jumbo trun right there.

Tony, you got to sneak in a little bit because you're getting clipped off.

We should want to take a photo of this.

Are you taking a Zito?

That's brinkle.

All right, sweet.

All right, now we're done with that.

We've been abusing the right of having that jumbo trunk.

Got to.

We had

Coach Cowell up there talking about $6 billion.

What a moment.

His head in the middle of this arena saying that his guys have gone on to earn $6 billion.

A.J.

Hawk giving a pep talk and now us up there.

It's outrageous.

Big shout out to the NBA and the Pacers for allowing us to do this.

You were about to say something, though, UD, before I cut you off.

Can we get some of them shirts up in here?

Yes, definitely.

We'll get some of them shirts up.

Yes, sir.

Faso!

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

We need some of them, yes, sir.

We need some of them, yes, sirs.

We will grab, yeah.

Yep, Faso said you got it.

What do you got there?

These are also the smackers that come, the Oklahoma City Thunder have at their games.

Oh,

so I was handed a couple of these from the game day crew that's been traveling around kicking ass through these NBA finals setting up all the shit for

the show so we appreciate the hell out of them I spit on these things yeah well damn they're a good they are a good thing I'm confused that remember was it the Angels playoff runner who was using the thundersticks that the thunder aren't using the thundersticks that's a good uh point I believe it was the angels

yeah the um the the bopping there you go I don't want it yes I spit on that so I think is what do they do what do they do so how do these work I think it's like a fan yeah so you makes no noise hit it with another one?

No, do you hit it on your hands?

The ones we got are broken.

That's a bit of a punch.

That feels a bit

fancy.

Oh, yeah.

That's cowbell.

You can go this way, too, here.

Yeah, if it gets too hot, Oklahoma City law of humidity.

It's going to get hot in the kitchen tonight here.

Yeah, it is loud.

And then bang, we're right into it.

Oh, my God.

Yeah, it's loud.

How many thousands of dollars?

That's a good gimmick.

That is a good gimmick.

How big is that arena?

Six, seven thousand.

I don't know, but it feels like 50.

Dude, this is a good idea.

Yeah.

Yeah.

This thing's loud as shit.

Yeah.

Yeah, this is cheap.

It's a great idea.

It's like piercing to the ear, too.

I assume everybody, yeah, we're doing it, and the microphones are pumped that we're doing that.

Probably.

Thank you.

And to the podcast listeners, which there are, sorry, but you got to let them know.

Everything you just said.

Now they felt like they're at OKC State.

I ain't quite got it.

What are you doing?

I don't know.

I ain't quite it, guys.

No, you just had it.

You just fold it up.

You got to fold it opposite, opposite, opposite, opposite.

Every other one is opposite.

You know what I mean?

You got to make it an accordion, if you will.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, exactly.

You can play some tunes.

Yeah, it's according to it.

Okay, I see what we got here.

Yeah, this is dumb.

I'll just clap.

I'll just clap or yell or cheer.

I'm not just going to be a little bit too much.

I don't think you.

No, try this.

Try this one.

Try this.

This is a bit much for me.

Oh, no, I think it's more.

My hands are too big.

I'm getting overstimulated.

So loud.

Yeah.

Okay, that's what we're doing here.

Yeah.

Yeah, but when you got mitts this big.

I was going to say,

this big, you just

thunderous.

Had to work.

Yeah, I could imagine.

Two frying pans.

Have you ever chopped anybody?

The wrestling chop.

Have you ever done that to anybody?

Like a karate chop?

Like open-handed a chest.

How about smack to the face?

We've smacked somebody like mine.

I'm not gonna lie about that.

I've smacked somebody to the face.

You said last time you were on the show: if someone would screw up the locker room, you'd fight him.

Have you ever had to fight somebody in the locker room?

I've seen it on the court.

A lot of times, but

it doesn't never get to that because they always break it up.

But yeah,

it's been times where it's been confrontational in the locker room

but but to to to my to the credit of the guys and my guys we all speak the same language that that that big thing that you see with me and jimmy the next day me and jimmy we was playing dominoes drinking coffee yeah like we all speak the same language like the james johnson situation he whooped somebody ass in the locker room the the next day the him and that same guy went to lunch like listen we're gonna get this shit over with and next and it's over after this point we hash it out and we move on we have that in the nfl i didn't expect that in the nba nfl obviously there's a lot of uh physicality.

Physicality on a regular basis.

Towels.

So we've seen a couple of, yeah, I mean,

two guys fighting with towels on?

That's scary.

No.

That's scary.

That shit is scary because you don't know if you should break it up or not.

Just keep going.

You don't know what to do.

The towels left in the middle of that particular fight, too.

Two guys that I was friends with, both of them.

That was quite a scene in there.

That was quite a scene in there.

I'll tell you what, you don't really know what to do.

That was some bopping wood, or what was going on in there?

A A couple lumberjacks going at it.

Thought he had him in an arm bar.

He didn't.

So did it.

Actual quote.

Actual quote from combatant.

Did it get broken up?

Joining us now.

There was one that carried it.

I mean, I've seen my fair share of fights in that locker room, and I've always tried to.

Hey, hey, hey.

One of the ones was Shaq in that locker room.

And I told him straight up, Big Fellow, I'm not breaking up no fight with your big naked ass.

I'm not breaking that fight up, Shaq.

This is a fact.

Yeah.

Those happen, though, in locker rooms, I think.

Like, it's just going to be natural.

A lot of alpha energy.

Yeah.

Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, is a man who might have either a story or a potential

counter, if you will, to what we're talking about, naked fighting in the NBA.

Jeez, Louise.

Ladies and gentlemen, 13-year NBA back, Q Rich.

Yeah, Q Rich.

Q Rich, obviously.

Yeah.

Getting after it in there every once in a while.

You got to do what you got to do.

Co-host of the Knuckleheads podcast, Q Rich, thank you for joining us here.

It's gone to game six now.

You have been on no horse in a race, obviously.

Not pulling for anybody, but you were for the Knicks.

And this entire series, you've been for Oklahoma City in every single game.

Oklahoma City, the last two games, has seemingly been who everybody thought they were going to be outside of Indianapolis, Indiana.

What are your thoughts on tonight, Q Rich?

Hey, before I say anything, let me just show you something to prove to you that I'm not, I'm not, I told you, I don't have any horse in this race.

And I actually am a very huge fan of Tyrese Halley Burton.

He has not only signed not just one.

he has signed two jerseys for my kids.

Okay, okay,

great guy.

So I rock with Tyrese Halley Burton.

Full support of him.

I'm just telling when I'm answering these questions, I'm just up here being honest with you.

Basketball.

Basketball.

You're talking basketball.

That's it.

That's it.

I don't root against the Pacers.

I don't root for the Thunder or none of that.

It's just, I want to see good basketball, and then I'm going to get my opinion about what I see going on and who I think I'll win.

Okay, so do you think tonight there's going to be good basketball?

Because, I mean, we've all had this.

Seems to be a little bit of a...

Seems to be cheating.

I mean, there has to be.

Why isn't everybody doing this?

I was about to say, why don't we just copy it?

This is genius.

We need

18,000.

What are these?

Thick.

Take cardstock.

Thick card stuff.

Just have one of the employees here run down a CVS at FedEx store.

Yeah, exactly.

Down there, just snag a bunch of school project papers.

Exactly.

And just hand them out to everybody.

Thick construction paper.

This has been going on in inner cities around the the world forever.

You can't trick me.

Not just inner cities.

We grew up in the church.

We've been going on forever.

It's definitely the church.

You're going to see these church.

So we need 18,000 fans

to be delivered to Gainbridge Fieldhouse tonight.

What do you think happens this evening?

You know, Tyrese, obviously, game time decision.

We've talked about potential ducks being labeled, or if somebody's injured, let's attack that person.

Now, not that Tyrese Halliburton hasn't experienced that in the past, but what do you think uh of how tonight's game is gonna go

uh i know y'all hate to hear this man i think okc closed down i i i've been listening to my man ud like everybody said he's fresh to death bro you already said something earlier that that you know kind of stuck with me when you you talked about how it feels more like okc has started to impose their will these last couple games and then when you couple that with Tyrese not being all the way 100%, not knowing what he's really going to give and knowing how much he is the engine engine for this team.

I just think the OKC has hit a stretch where now they're playing so well.

And you got Jalen Williams who showed up to the party and he picked the door through.

And I think the combination of SGA and Jalen Williams playing the way he's playing with the support of, you know, the defense, the chess playing, and the champions and everybody else, I think it's too much at this point.

Yeah, there's a lot of what Oklahoma City has been doing that certainly scares the hell out of Indiana Pacers fans.

You know, the Indiana Pacers, though, feel like, and UD has said this as well, and I think everybody kind of understands the narrative, underdogs counted out.

This is like a Pacer type game, you know, and it feels like Pacers fans are very much understanding that this is the last home game of the season regardless.

You know, this could either be the last game of the season, but it's definitely the last home game of the season.

So I think tonight should be pretty electrifying in here.

Go ahead, McCon Man.

Exactly.

Is there any additional things like that, like factors, you would say, Q Rich, with the crowd, just because it has been so electric.

Two of the best sports environments I've ever been in was game three and game four, and the people really do stand up the entire time.

Is there anything from OKC similar to the Nuggets series where it's, hey, this is game six, we can come and close it out.

It's the finals, but also, like, if we're down, you know, 20 with 10 minutes left in the fourth, we don't have to push it as hard because we can go get it done in seven.

Because I think they beat the Nuggets by, you know, 40 points in game seven in that series.

No,

I think if OKC has any

approach like that, any thought in their mind like, hey, we're going to have to push this or they lose this game.

I don't think they're going to miss anything like that.

And I do.

I think that crowd will play a huge part and will impact the game and will give, if Indiana does anything to give that crowd juice, they'll get some juice back from us.

But at the same time, with that being said, if I'm OKC, we walking in the building knowing, we just tear this crowd down and just beat them and then went back by house and did what they hadn't had happen to them the whole season since March or whenever it was.

They hadn't lost back to back.

And we did that too.

So we walking in with a certain amount of confidence and a certain flag.

And we also, everybody in the building, everybody on both sides, they know that their franchise guy isn't 100%.

So they're keeping that in their mind as well too.

And that's an advantage.

And it's not like it's something that you take for granted.

You say we got this huge advantage.

But you do know that Tyree Reese is their guy and he's not right right now.

So you know that that can play a part.

Not saying that TJ McConnell can't come in and flip the table because we know what he does.

I believe in him and know that he's going to show up.

He's going to be a little pistol starter tonight.

I'm excited for that.

But just knowing that Tyrese isn't 100,

all those things factor in.

And it also factors into some of those patients' minds, too.

All right.

What's your prediction?

Score tonight.

Game six of the NBA Finals, Q.

Rich.

I don't have a score prediction.

I don't know the pluses and all that.

I'm terrible at the betting.

I I don't want anybody to say my point system, so don't do it.

I don't bet.

I just say that the OK team will win.

All right, thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, co-host of the Knuckleheads Podcast.

He has been Ponde Quentin Richards.

Thank you.

Q.

He's picked against the Pacers every game.

He has.

Exactly.

So

that means nothing.

Every game.

Q got the underdog mentality, too.

I know.

You got the underdog.

I'm going to tell you something, though.

And the Pacers have been here before.

You look at last year in the Eastern Conference Finals.

That's right.

And you look at what Nimhart was able to do when I think Hellenberg missed about two games.

Yep.

And the ball handling was going on, and Nimhart was distributing, getting about 28 points a game.

That's what I'm saying.

They've been here before.

Yes, and they have.

This is not like unfamiliar territory to them.

I think we're more worried than the Pacers are.

Amen.

You know what I'm saying?

But there's been a lot of talk.

So, would it be better if Tyrese was just out tonight or Tyrese is at 70%?

No,

it's it's better for him to be at 70%.

I would hate for him to just miss this whole game because regardless if he plays well enough, we saw it last year when Boston when Porzingas came back.

You get a guy that's hurt and he goes out in the game and he just lays it on the line.

You talk about this fan base and this crowd getting behind something like that.

That brings people together.

But that locker room's already together right now rallying around him.

Now everybody's on the rally.

Yeah, but Porzingas is kind of like a role player.

Like Tyrese is the guy that's leading the ship.

At what point does either Tricky Ricky or even a vet come in and say, hey, like, you know, you hurt, you hurt me?

Because he's not going to pull himself out.

You know, and everybody look at him sideways if he did.

But at what point have you ever been in a situation where you had a conversation with a guy like, hey, you know, you kind of hurting us, maybe, especially with this being game six, obviously his winner go home, but we possibly have a game seven.

How does that go from that standpoint, from the coach's standpoints, and then maybe other vets on the team?

That's a great point.

That's a great point.

And

that has to be communication between the coach and the player.

And it has to be that trust.

If you see that guy's out there and he's not able to operate in a way that he's able to help this team because you not have to be 100% at this point nobody's a hundred percent in the season everybody has a dink a doink a little something they're dealing with so if it comes to the point where

everybody's gonna dink in a doink

they do that's a Bob and Wood comment right there that was a little like it got

no no no no yeah that's just basketball talk yeah I agree though I think if it's if it's hurting the team, that's a Rick Carlisle decision or a Tyrese Hallenburton decision.

Between both of those guys, they can make that decision.

If Rick Carlisle feels it first, then he he has to have that conversation.

If Hallen Burton feels it first, he has to have that conversation.

But that is something to watch and keep an eye on because you do not want to hurt the team trying to put your best player out there and even hurt him even worse as well.

Correct.

Yeah.

I think Carlisle and the team have that type of relationship, though.

I think Carlisle probably had that conversation with Tyrese, especially after last game with everything that was being said last game with how it ended, with how he was injured.

It's like,

I'm very intrigued to see how Coach Carlisle handles tonight.

Like, very much so.

Because we all know he's a great coach.

I think here in Indiana, we know that he's a great coach more than maybe anybody else.

Yes.

You're talking about this team from when he got here to now, what the Pacers have become and what the Pacers were potentially going to become.

Now, obviously, Kevin Pritchard, president of basketball operations here, has put together a hell of a team.

They're not even into luxury tax, which is obviously the first time in like 20-some years since a luxury tax was put in, which means they're paying the highest of the salary cap.

This is the first time neither teams are in that luxury tax because they're not overspending or, you know, breaking any cap conversations, first, apron, second conversation.

It's like everything they've done here is right.

And Coach Carlisle has been like the kind of the main driver of it all.

The trade for Tyrese, brilliant.

The trade for Pascal, brilliant.

Signing TJ to long term, brilliant.

It's like every move.

Neesmith coming here, great play.

I think Nemhard's on a great deal.

I think everything they've done with this team has been great.

And Carlisle has been leading the way.

So like it's, I trust Carlisle almost, you know, not that I don't with Daggs.

Yes.

Daggs, great coach in Oklahoma City.

They kind of have the same thing.

They're telling the same exact story over there.

I'm just telling you from a perspective of living in this city and kind of watching it all unfold.

So I'll be excited to see how Coach Carlisle actually decides to go tonight, you know, because it might be a, hey, couple minutes.

Let's see how it is because then we got to make a decision.

Or, you know, it might be, hey, Tyrese, we need you this whole time.

And it's going to be a message to the entire team and to the entire city.

I'm fascinated.

Now, speaking speaking of awesome things happening in sports, the College World Series is taking place, and there's been some electrifying finishes.

Don't look now.

College baseball is having one over there in Omaha.

Go ahead, Ty.

Yeah, without a doubt.

Last night, Arkansas LSU, arguably the game of the tournament.

A lot of people would say the two best teams remaining in the tournament.

And it was full of theatrics and drama.

If we go to the eighth inning here, that's kind of where it all starts.

Arkansas is

they're they're down one to LSU here.

Ryder Helfrick is going to chop one down to third base, and LSU is looking to turn two.

Oh, no.

Oh, no.

Squeaks by.

Two runs are going to end up scoring on this play.

So it's going to be, yeah.

So 3-2

Arkansas going into the bottom of the eighth.

And Jared Jones, a lot of people are saying, hey, this is like the one guy you kind of got to pitch around.

They pitch to him.

He hits a solo homer.

We are knotted up in three.

Casual.

Very casual.

Very casual.

I don't know if he knew if he got all of it, but he did.

So

we're knotted up in three going into the top of the ninth.

He pimps that one a little bit here.

And a lot of people are saying, you know, this LSU team, like, once you kind of concede momentum back to them, it's over because they have a lot of pro prospects up and down the lineup.

But we go back to the top of the ninth, Arkansas.

You know, they're not done yet.

I don't know if we have the clip.

I think we do, but if we don't, yeah, okay, here we go.

So Jared Jones Jr.

hits that, ties it up.

And then Arkansas puts two guys on base in scoring position.

Justin Thomas Jr., two RBI singles.

So they go back up by two in the top of the ninth, 5-3.

A lot of people thinking, okay, LSU had their chance.

And

they kind of blew it.

They conceded all of that momentum back to Arkansas.

Well,

I'll tell you what, baseball is a funny, funny thing.

Luis Hernandez, the cleanup hitter.

Two outs.

Two outs.

Laces won out, and Charles Davilon just couldn't get a read on the ball, maybe.

It's crazy.

He has not committed an error all season.

So it bounces off his shoulder.

LSU scores two runs.

We're knotted up at 5-5.

Still two outs here.

So, hey, we're okay.

You know, we can still move on to extras and maybe

win this thing

in an extra frame.

Unfortunately, the guy who hit a homer earlier, Jared Jones, you know, that lineup turns back over, and he's going to come up.

It's actually a great pitch.

I got it.

But, you know, good hitting beats good pitching.

Second baseman missed times his jump, and then boom, that's a walk-off single.

LSU advances to the championship series, and they eliminate Arkansas.

Jared Jones?

Yes.

He needs to get to the Pittsburgh Pirates now.

You already got away.

No, that's what we need.

We need another LSU guy.

Two Jared Joneses?

Yeah.

Well, and two LSU studs.

What the hell?

That's what we need.

I mean,

this guy hits a single home or a solo shot in eighth, and then he hits a walk-off.

Single next inning.

Please so seem to piss me.

Joe to Pittsburgh.

Just to get traded somewhere else.

And then in the other game, Coastal Carolina.

Coastal Carolina just beat the hell out of Louisville.

And they've been very dominant the entire, well, they've won 27 games in a row.

Yeah, exactly.

But they've been incredibly dominant in the College World Series.

Have you been paying attention, UD?

You've been watching this Coastal Carolina team?

It's his first year coach, right?

This is his first year there?

Yeah.

It's his first year coach.

I watch every goddamn thing.

Pat, I don't have much to do.

I'm retired.

I watch every damn thing.

I don't even know.

Oh, yeah, I retired.

There's been good games, they have really good games.

And I'm a fan of baseball.

I tell people all the time, they say, How the hell do you watch a nine innings?

And I tell them, I just watch a bunch of one-on-ones.

Every time it's a new batter comes up, I watch a one-on-one matchup between that pitcher.

Before you know it, you just watched a thousand one-on-one.

I'm just a competitor, so I just watch these guys play one-on-one all the time.

That was the best part of practice watching people do one-on-ones.

If I start viewing it that way, I mean, that's how I need to watch this.

Yeah, I just one-on-one.

I'm gonna see shit else.

It's these two guys.

Who's gonna win?

That is the entire game.

That's why the Pittsburgh Pirates are in such a hellhole.

Right, because it's not really one-on-one ever.

They're kind of at a disadvantage every single time they get away.

Something Marlins fan.

Don't you start?

Hey, the Marlins, at least, though, they won a World Series not too long ago.

This is true, and then we blow it up every time.

We blow it up.

We win it and we blow it up right in front of your face.

You think you're getting back-to-back in Miami?

Think again.

We'll see.

You know, it'll be the same thing this year.

They're going to trade all their best players at the deadline, and then you guys will have to figure something out, and you'll be shitty next year and trade all your best players again.

And then is that the pirates marvelous same one of them

either way how many of those teams exist because i i always

i always go after tone for being a pirates fan you know which he has been lifelong i certainly would enjoy the pirates to win a game love going to the games sure beautiful party you know beautiful party cheap to get in good party beforehand in the parking lot i mean it was just great to go to and you had no expectations of them winning so literally you're just going to have a festival almost a baseball's happening and if they were to win

great What a day.

Yeah.

Zambelli Fireworks, they just suck.

They just have sucked for so long.

So that's always been the thing.

But I feel like there's a lot of fan bases in baseball that feel that way.

I feel like it's not.

There's probably about five to seven teams that are like that.

Really?

I mean, the Rockies haven't won 20 games yet.

We're almost to July.

The A's have been...

I mean, the A's had to move cities.

Yeah, the A's had to move cities.

The White Sox had the worst record in the history of baseball last year.

And the Rockies are going to break it this year.

The Washington Nationals, they won a World Series.

We went to a World Series game that the Nationals were in.

They won that year.

You fast forward a couple years, they've lost 11 straight games, like, don't really have a superstar.

Same deal.

They're just every deadline: hey, which guys do we have that are good enough that teams that are actually trying to World Series win a World Series are going to come get?

So there's probably about five to seven teams that are in the Pirates' shoes.

All right, well,

yeah, it's a lot.

As we wrap up here on ESPN, we'll

continue on YouTube, ESPN Plus, Disney Plus, and TikTok Live.

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A couple quick things to note here.

Sophie Cunningham, the badass for the Indiana fever,

who is willing to fight.

Sure.

Which we are big fans of for Caitlin Clark.

She was also a kicker in high school

for the brand.

Obviously, the kicker is the biggest badass on the court i love everything about it sophie welcome to indianapolis love that she was a kicker that's a big ball too hey that's a good thought that's a good kick right there obviously she chose basketball became a professional uh but i love that she stepped foot on the field the amount of courage it takes she was a black boat in uh sixth grade or something yeah yeah an absolute dog now she's a member of the fever we're thankful for and tonight The Indiana Pacers will try to extend the NBA Finals in game six on ABC.

We'll be here.

We'll probably be having one.

You should too.

We'll continue digitally.

See you tomorrow.

Goodbye.

Okay, that was a

pretty good little wrap-up there.

Pretty good.

Didn't think I was going to be able to hit the Sophie Cunningham thing.

Wanted to.

She's playing a role, a very key role for this Fever team.

She's playing a very key role for this Caitlin Clark career, I think.

We talked about you.

We talked about JJ.

You know, like I got a chance to see it up close and personal with James Johnson whenever I was here for the Knicks games and the Pacers, Knicks and Pacers game.

And it was like, that is a pivotal thing for stars.

And some of you can get buckets too.

So it's not like, hey, we're just here to fight.

I appreciate that that is the case.

And what are your thoughts?

I don't think we've asked you this, about the WNBA as a whole, the moment they're having right now, and Caitlin and kind of this new era seemingly of women's basketball.

I love it.

I think I love competitiveness.

I think it's great for the game.

I think when people watch basketball and they think of basketball being physical, being competitive, being a little chippy, they think about us.

But I think W is just as competitive and maybe maybe even more chippy.

You know what I mean?

And for Caitlin Clark, I think it's great what she's done for the league.

Has it always been like that?

What?

Chippy.

Yes.

W

or NBA.

W-NBA.

I think so.

I think so because I look at, you know, the history of, you know,

Candace Parker and when she first got in the league.

And I saw a couple clips of how she got treated when she first got in the league and how veterans were treating her.

So this is nothing new.

You know what I'm saying?

So,

but it helps.

So I think there's a lot of new W fans.

I think that is very okay to admit, I think, you know, like the Caitlin Clark College basketball era with obviously Angel Reese at LSU team and Don Down coach Don Staley down there in South Carolina.

Like that era, I think, followed into the WNBA.

Caitlin Clark definitely being the biggest driver.

No questions asked.

We're in Indianapolis, like what she does, she sells out more than like Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift.

There's a couple people that sell out everywhere.

Okay.

Caitlin Clark sells out everywhere.

I mean, she is a bona fide superstar.

Obviously, a lot of eyes.

A lot of new eyes, I think, on the W, which is good for the league as a whole.

And I think everybody's thinking, like, well, they're treating Caitlin different.

And I think if you listen to the people that are in the W, now, granted, obviously, it has been absurd to watch every single thing that they've done to Caitlin.

I mean, last year, in between free throws, girl goes over and they're saying, this is not different than anything.

But I think the chippiness of the league has always been there.

Yes.

And I think that's what people that have watched W are like are trying.

I don't know if they're explaining that enough to the new fans, but like, hey, it's always been this style of basketball.

I think not a lot of people know that debut.

Yeah, it's just more eyes on it.

Like you mentioned, Caitlin Clark being kind of...

Myself included by the time.

Yeah, being that golden goose.

But I went to UConn.

I didn't watch much women's basketball before going to UConn, and they were defending champs at that point, men and women.

So I watched a lot of them, were friends with a lot of the girls on the team.

So we were practicing as football players.

We were practicing.

I got fouled harder playing against them than I did against football players.

That's no bullshit.

a lot of them go into the WNBA and follow their careers there.

So yeah,

this has always been the case, right?

There's been, and obviously, once again, Caitlin Clark is different because of all the different eyes, so all the different opinions.

And how good she is, especially as I say.

Yeah, her play, number one, that's why she's, you know, she was the best college scorer, men's or women's, that you've seen career-wise from wire to wire, as far as the points that she puts up, the way she passed the ball, where she shoots from.

You don't see many men doing this.

Definitely the first woman we've seen play like this.

So that's a huge part of it.

But as far as the chippiness, the aggressiveness, all that has always been there.

You see it with young players.

You mentioned Candace Parker.

I watched Maya Moore go to the W.

I watched Bree Stewart, Tina Charles, all these phenomenal basketball players go to different levels.

When you know, when you, we all competitors.

So when somebody gets up there, the first time I'm going against Odell Beckham, like,

you got to let him know it's a different challenge, too.

And then you say, okay, this Odell's shit different.

So I got to step my game up.

So it's the same thing going on in WNBA.

And I think she'll be better for it.

And she is the ultimate competitor and shit talker as well.

So I like it both ways.

She lets you hear about it when she's cooking your ass.

she lets you know everything she putting in the pot hit a little salt hit a little cover and go take that with you and we give you a little bit of this okay let's talk about shit talking and basketball they talk about larry bird yes i guess he would just tell you what he was about to do yeah legend that's what that's that's so just so we know the talking is something i have never been able to kind of figure out in the nba because i don't talk to nobody how about others though the way i grew up playing a game of basketball the talking shit couldn't go to another level.

Growing and playing at the park and having those conversations, yeah, you don't know where that's gonna go.

So I grew up playing hard as hell, but I never grew up with the shit talking.

So when I got to the NBA, that was an adjustment to me.

And when people used to talk shit, I used to tell them, all y'all motherfuckers got to come to Miami to vacation.

You talk that shit now.

You talk it now.

I'll see your ass in the summer.

But then what are you going to do?

And I actually saw a couple guys in the summer.

Motherfucker acted like they ain't see me.

Now you don't want to see me.

I done pulled up on guys like, hey, what's up?

You good?

Hey, come on, get between the lines.

Just making sure you're all right out here.

You straight?

Okay, cool.

Yeah.

Just to let him know.

I'm here, motherfucker.

He talks a lot.

Did everybody talk?

Was it KG?

Yeah, how prevalent is the shit talking?

Well, yeah, KG talks a lot of shit.

And that's something that I didn't understand because I always had an ultimate respect for KG's game, but I couldn't get down with the shit talking.

Me and KG finally, I'm two, three years into retirement.

He's having many years in retirement.

Finally at a point where we can hash that shit out and we're cool now.

The beef is cooked.

We are.

Okay, good.

How many people are there?

It took a while.

It took a while.

And that shit was personal because

I don't come from a place or or era and my daddy ain't raised no motherfucking punk Yeah, well, you could just say anything Yeah, and think it's okay.

I just I wasn't raised like that.

I wasn't raised where you could just say anything on the basketball court.

There's sports.

Yeah, there's comp I cooked your ass.

Yeah, but when you start calling people names and

now we're in a whole other conversation.

I understand.

Yeah, there's levels and there's lines, you know, and

this seems to happen in a lot of different cases.

Maybe when there's fight buildup or whatever.

Like that guy crossed the line, that guy crossed the line.

There's people that don't see a line though.

Like

it's different regionally too.

You certainly

say to somebody from Cali or from New York, you can't really say in South Florida and vice versa.

So that's always kind of a part of that dynamic.

And then there's like a shit talking culture from some places.

You know, like Northeast is just a shit talking culture.

Yeah.

This generation is a shit talking culture.

I tell my son all the time, son, you have to learn how to fight.

My son talked more shit.

than anybody ever seen in my life.

I would tell him, son, you have to learn.

Sister, I don't know, we're going to take your ass to UFC, karate, because you ain't growing up how I grew up.

So we're going to teach you how to fight because you talk a lot of shit.

You do.

It's going to happen.

Yeah.

Inevitably.

There's a thing in the NBA, it was either this year or last year where someone got called a bitch.

Maybe it was LeBron, maybe it was Russell Westbrook.

I think it was LeBron in MA.

In MAUW.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, it was.

He got called a bitch, and it was a problem because he said bitch.

I had to go to the guy's locker room after a game one time.

Jesus.

And waited for him because he said some shit that was out of line.

I ain't never took a faster shower.

I'm pissed and nuts.

And I'm going.

I will be here when you ask to come out.

And how's that conversation go?

My security came and got me.

No, but so you were going to fight him?

Definitely.

What?

Yeah, okay.

So, what I this is young UD, too.

Once again, not domesticated.

This is young.

Yeah, I understand.

That I don't play.

I understand.

And I also have to set a precedent for everybody else, too, about

what the level is and what the line is for you.

So I understand.

Has

that be an interesting situation for the NBA?

My team security, I waited.

The guy on the one of the guys from the other team came out and he approached me and this was Zebo.

Zebo, I love Zebo.

Me and Zebo, Zach Randolph, one of the real ones in the league.

And Zebo came out.

And Zebo was like, hey, man, I told Zebo what he said.

And Zebo was like, oh, you're right.

You're absolutely right about how you feel.

Yeah, it's, you know, it's a policing of self situation.

And the competitive spirit is the greatest thing on earth in watching it and how different people go about it.

You know, because in the NFL, we talk about about Barry Sanders scores a touchdown and then he just hands-on to the ref.

Yeah.

And everybody's like, that's how you should act.

It's like, I've seen a lot of motherfuckers make a lot of money playing sports, acting very differently and have great careers.

And I enjoy how everybody goes about getting to the point where they can be their absolute best.

There are some artists with that shit talking.

Oh, yeah.

There are some people.

Gary Payton.

Unbelievable, I see.

I played with Gary Payton.

Oh, my gosh.

Gary Payton talked that shit.

Oh, he was great at that.

So I think that's what like Twitter.

I think that's what Twitter has opened up.

The people that aren't like professional level athletes, but professional level shit talkers, their shit can get seen.

You know, like that is that is Twitter in a nutshell, basically.

Because some person you've never heard of puts together an insult that is so fantastic.

Like there's been a lot about me that I'll read.

I'm like, poo.

That's that's well put together.

You know, and it's like the internet obviously spotlights that, but I think it also ultimately spotlights like

sports are the greatest.

Everybody is welcome.

and it unifies all different types of people like what we'll have here tonight.

Tonight is going to be extraordinary.

Everybody in Indiana is going to feel the effects of what happens tonight.

If we extend this to a game seven and win our final home game of the year, the city's right back on top of the world just like we were feeling after game three.

Yep.

Yep.

Just like whenever we were up 2-1.

If we extend this to an improbable Game 7 in everybody's eyes, especially with Tyrese Halliburton being a game time decision, obviously he's the leader, the straw that stirs the entire drink for the Indiana Pacers.

With all those question marks and how the sports books feel about us,

if the Pacers were able to get a big-time win in front of this packed-out Gainbridge fieldhouse, this city would be electrifying.

We would be pumped to be a part of it.

And if the Oklahoma City Thunder win this thing tonight, We will have to applaud their greatness as they potentially start a dynasty and certainly have one of the greatest seasons in the history of the NBA.

14 losses all season, 12.6 point differential.

And then what they do in the playoffs is beat everybody and they blow teams out.

Let's go, Pacers.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Let's go, Miles Turner.

I'm looking at the Turner's block over here.

A section in the arena that Miles Turner, I believe, purchases season tickets for, and they have to try out to make that particular section.

They're the loudest group of people in the entire arena.

I wonder what the Turner's block will look like tonight.

I wonder what Miles Turner will look like tonight.

I wonder what Nam Hard will look like tonight.

She's your boy.

Nee Smith, is he shooting at a big rim tonight?

He better be.

Birthday, boy.

Eat that clip.

Catherine, how's he doing?

Need him.

He's doing great.

TJ McConnell?

Great.

Always.

Pascal?

Great.

That's the one.

Got to have it.

Obi Toppin.

Got to have it.

Obi Taupin.

How about the Sky Hook

off the backboard touched by Obi Taupin?

That guy couldn't get on a court for the New York Knicks.

Gets his name chanted in Indianapolis.

We love him here.

Tough.

Let's go down the line here.

Predictions.

110, 102, Pacers.

At the beginning of the season, we talked about, you know, SGA's going to get his 35.

Jalen Williams can't get 40, okay?

I think the Pacers are going to realize that.

Let SGA get his.

Take care, everybody else.

Pacers, 110, Oklahoma 102.

Big bopping wood night, says 10 diggs.

Ty Schmidt, your thoughts?

I like Pacers 108, 103.

I think they're going to shoot like 45% from three tonight because they have to.

Okay.

They have to.

A lot of whole reaction.

Yeah.

Bingo.

A lot of that tonight.

Bingo.

And what is Shea doing on the other side?

Yeah, I mean, he's going to get his.

That's fine.

You can't have, Caruso can't have a 20-point game.

You know, you can't have somebody.

You can't let these guys come in off the bench who everyone knows like, hey, he can't get open looks from three.

And then, will and behold, he's been in the game for three minutes and he's already got nine points.

Can't let that shit happen.

Yeah, we know Caruso's good.

Yes.

Boston Conner, your predictions for the season?

Oh, man.

Oh, no.

No, I'm going to say I think OKC is going to kind of take it off.

I think it's going to be more of like a 112.93 game

where they're kind of like, hey, sure,

you know, we could...

Fight early.

Well, I think Indy's going to empty the tank.

I think this is it for Indy.

I think it's all bad.

Of course, but you think Oklahoma City is going to fight early, but inevitably Indiana is going to take home.

Yeah, even that.

I could see a wire-to-wire Pacers victory.

I could see it being kind of them controlling the game the whole way.

Like even SGA, what was it, game three?

He had 25 points, 24 points.

Like I could see that type of swarming defense around him.

Hey, if Hal Burton's out, you know, everyone else has to step up.

We also all just have to defend our asses off for four quarters.

So I could see it being more so like Pacers controlling the game victory.

Matherin coming in.

Obviously a quick 20-piece for him.

McConnell, you know, he has eight assists, five rebounds, three steals.

So I think it's more so like Pacers controlled aggression, controlled victory.

Tricky Ricky.

Oklahoma City, look ahead too.

Oklahoma City, hey, that's cool.

Game six, whatever.

Sunday, game seven at Oklahoma City with this fucking bullshit they have clapping.

No, no, I don't think it's, I think it's a good idea.

If this is legal, is that legal?

Yeah, is that legal?

I don't think so.

A lot cheaper than the thundersticks, too.

Yeah.

I mean, it's just a fan, I guess.

Yeah, it is.

Certainly it can operate as a fan because it does get hot in these arenas.

Oh, yeah.

Man, think about how those fans got it.

They got fans, and then they don't even have to really beat their hands up too much.

Or look, that's just a wrist.

Yeah.

It doesn't get loud.

It's kind of soft.

What?

It's kind of soft.

I think it's a good idea if it's allowed.

Smart, but

I'd rather fans have to put in some effort.

You'd rather see palm on palm.

Yeah, I'd rather see some palm on palms.

You know what that this just means?

Like, hey, I don't have to really scream because I have this.

It's like, well, you need, everyone needs to be screaming.

It's an NBA final.

Maybe they're doing both.

Maybe they're not.

Yeah, I'm more of a hand-to-hand guy.

Yep.

There you go.

Yeah, I scale them.

You're talking about popping wood tonight for the Pacers online, man.

Let's go to nine-year NFL vet men's league champion, Darius J.

Butler.

I also, I think it will be a KG affair.

I I think both teams under 100 points tonight.

I think

SGA, he's going to be under 30.

I think it is a big Mathering game.

And I think the Pacers win 99-93

course of game seven.

Old school.

Yeah, KG affair.

Trick or Ricky gonna pull something.

Yeah, I think so, too.

McDagg's gonna have a battle, too.

I don't see us winning a high scoring.

We're over 210.

Like, I don't see that being.

What is he over under under on?

221.

221.

Feels Feels like a lot of people thinking under that.

Three-time NBA champion, a man who has picked the Pacers in seven in this particular series in the past.

Has he seen anything over the last 48 hours that has changed that?

UD, how do you see tonight going?

I'm going Pacers, obviously, but I'm going to go a little bit higher.

I'm going to go 115, 110.

Like that.

Okay.

Like the 115, 110 Pacers.

And the curveball here is

I believe Hallenberg's going to be fine.

I believe he's going to play his usual minutes, and I believe Hallenberg will be fine tonight.

I don't think we're going to have to worry about him.

If you're on the other side, you want the team that you're playing to believe he's more hurt than he probably is.

I think these couple days that he's had, I think we know how we get medicated when we had a couple days to get ready for the game, get on treatment, and do the things we need to do.

Now, after the game, I think he'll have to deal with what he'll have to deal with.

But I think those 48 minutes tonight, I am worried about when he comes out the game with the pace that they play.

Sure.

That calf.

But I think that he's going to be close to 100%.

I think they'll have a good game.

I think Nimhart is going to step up tonight because he's the guy who's been able to step up when Hallen Burton's been out and been able to help with that offense.

Defensively, SGA gets his.

I agree with you.

Stop everybody else.

Okay.

Does NBA have that vitamin T?

Yeah.

Oh, that's a good question.

You got some portal.

Oh, yeah.

I got the pills and we got the shots.

We got it all.

Yeah, Yeah, we talked about that on this show a lot about how there was a time where the NFL and the NFLPA were kind of trying to grandstand on player security.

Each of them were trying to do it.

Bam, bada, bam, bada, bam, bada, bam, bada.

And then they were like, well, we don't know all the research on this tour doll, actually.

We would like to ban it

because we don't know what the future holds for the players.

We would like to do that.

And I believe what happened was the NFL PA was like, bah.

We're going to hold on to that one.

We are going to keep the tour doll half the league here.

That's the secret sauce right there you can't get rid of that

half the league you get rid of that

before going into the season get your blood work done get all these stuff yeah the full full thing before season after the season so you can see if something's you know way off because obviously different people react to different it is wild though how it works yeah so wild

it's interesting yeah i mean you saw his reaction you've heard our reaction yeah hey great wake up in the morning you're like oh damn it see it's so many more games for y'all though like for us we only well well, when I was playing, it was only 16 plus the playoffs.

But, like, so it was once a week.

You play that game on Sunday, feel great Monday, Tuesday is when you kind of get up, like, shit, like, I feel like I just got hit by a bus.

But for y'all, 82 games, like, ooh.

Yeah.

A lot of guys had lived by the motto, you want it now, you want it at 7.30.

That's what a lot of guys do.

So we have a shoot around and we have a practice.

And the famous motto of like the guys, the Wayne Ways and the Greats.

Hey, coach, you want it now?

You want me at 7.30.

Makes sense.

Makes sense.

Yeah, you got to pick and choose.

I ain't ready right now.

It's damn 8, 9, 10 in the morning, but I'll be ready at 7.30.

So fast.

Leave me alone.

Let me sit over here and pop my pills.

And when that damn clock go off, I'll give you what you need.

Yeah, and there's, you know, alternatives and proper guidance through all this.

And these are what people go through.

So they can perform for their teams, for the teammates, for the cities they're representing.

All right, we're going to get out of here as you can feel the anticipation in the building.

More employees of the building are filtering in.

Obviously, more things are starting to happen on the court.

I believe there's a shoot around imminent upon our ending of this particular program.

For tonight's game six, could this be the last game of the NBA season or are we headed towards a game seven?

Can't wait to watch.

8.30 on ABC.

Pacers, OK, C.

We shall see.

Let's go.

How it be.

Tyrese Halliburton, I'm pulling for you, buddy.

Let's go.

Here we go.

Let's go.

Pascal Siakam, I'm pulling for you, bro.

Let's go.

Hello.

SGA, it's been an honor to watch you play basketball, though.

I'm going to be 100% sure.

Out of doubt.

And Chet Holmgren doing this shit.

And their fans.

And Jalen going crazy.

And Hardenstein rocking the ring.

It's like, and then Daggs patrolling the sideline.

It's like, they've been a fun team to watch operate.

They have been a fun team to watch operate.

But the Pacers gone, and the Pacers need a big one tonight.

They do.

They need it.

And I think they'll get it.

I think they'll get it.

I like that.

I like everybody's prediction here.

I don't know how I feel about that.

The Pacers.

No, we didn't didn't do that.

That's right, because every other show is picking Thunder.

Yeah, of course.

Yeah, yeah.

Good point.

Yeah, so now we're acting.

Yeah, we're kind of providing opportunity.

They won't watch us.

They need to watch the ones that say no.

Yes, exactly.

Don't pay attention to us.

Pay attention to everybody that's saying no.

That's the shit that got you here.

Yeah, exactly.

Yeah, keep listening to that.

Let all that shit sink in.

Yeah, and I think that has happened for Tyrese

and the others.

Oh, listen.

A lot of chips.

Four or five points last game.

That shit better sink in.

You better take that shit personal.

You better be ready tonight.

You're right.

You better borrow a calf or buy a calf or whatever you gotta do.

The suit up tonight.

They was on your ass by them four or five points.

He said that.

He literally said that in the press conference.

If I could walk, I can play.

It's game six.

Can't wait to watch.

All right, from everybody in the truck, great work back there, boys.

To the setup crew doing it once again that ESPN pieces together.

Barcode in company.

We can't thank you guys enough.

Great work here.

I mean, this is phenomenal.

How about the execution of the Jumbotron?

That was outrageous that we were up there.

Great work by everybody that was a part of this.

We can't thank you enough.

And shout out to the NBA and to the Pacers for allowing us to be in here for this.

Tonight, game six in Indianapolis, Indiana.

We'll be there.

Let's enjoy the hell out of this.

We'll be back tomorrow.

Be your friend, tell a friend something nice that might change their life.

We're going to sing together.

Team on me,

team on three.

One, two, three.

Team.

Goodbye.

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