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Oh wow, it's a Thursday show. We are live. It's The Herd wherever you may be and however you may be watching or listening. That was an all timer last night. Epics is overrated. It was that plus jet fuel. It's the Herd. That is one of the great playoff games, not just played in New York. Hi, I gotta tell you something. I'm sitting there watching it, and I'm the first half, Like, at one point both teams were shooting like sixty five percent in the first half. I'm like blood him by watching of AAU basketball, nobody wanted to d up. And then in the second half Jmack when they were ding up, it didn't matter. The Pacers caught fire. It's it's one of the craziest things I've ever seen.

Oh wow, it's a Thursday show. We are live. It's The Herd wherever you may be and however you may be watching or listening. That was an all timer last night. Epics is overrated. It was that plus jet fuel. It's the Herd. That is one of the great playoff games, not just played in New York. Hi, I gotta tell you something. I'm sitting there watching it, and I'm the first half, Like, at one point both teams were shooting like sixty five percent in the first half. I'm like blood him by watching of AAU basketball, nobody wanted to d up. And then in the second half Jmack when they were ding up, it didn't matter. The Pacers caught fire. It's it's one of the craziest things I've ever seen.

One that's certainly an all time great playoff game in the NBA and Tyrese Halibert and Collin is he a top ten player at this point with this guy just doesn't miss in the kluts.

One that's certainly an all time great playoff game in the NBA and Tyrese Halibert and Collin is he a top ten player at this point with this guy just doesn't miss in the kluts.

He's unbelievable.

He's unbelievable.

Okay, So the Knicks had a fourteen point lead, wasn't much time left, and they lost in overtime. But I'm gonna defend the Knicks. They did not choke. The Knicks had three baskets and two free throws in the final three minutes. They scored enough. Now, they had some bad turnovers, but they scored enough. The story of the game is give the Pacers credit. That was insane. They couldn't miss in the last six minutes. They shot over seventy percent and they were hard shots. Aaron Nesmith six straight threes, three in the final minute. Now, this team plays with pace and tempo, so they score fast. We know that they've done it all season, and they're a great clutch team because of Halle. They're thirty one and two when they score one hundred and twenty points or more. So you do not want to get into a track meet with the Pacers. That's Milwaukee tried it, Cleveland tried it, The Knicks tried it. Don't they never get tired. I'm like, I'm watching ninth graders, like they never get tired. Charles Barkley said it at halftime. This pace totally favors Indiana. And what's remarkable about Haliburton and Indy is they play at this pace and they don't turn it over. Then seven turnovers on the road against the Knick size and the Knicks tenacity. Seven turnovers, Jalen brunts and a loan ad seven So what you wanted last night? And I said, I think Indy's gonna win the series. This is this is what they did the Milwaukee. This is what they did the Cleveland. They're controlling the tempo. Listen, give the next credit Nix to have one. They shot fifty one percent. They got a bad bounce, And I think last night New York beats every in the league except Halliburton, the Pacers and maybe Okac. Halliburton got the bounce. Nie Smith was unbelievable. How about the gone Zaga kid, Nemhart multiple threes late, Obi topping, I mean, just everything worked for them late. But I'll tell you Halliburton is amazing because he reminds me of Steve Nash Steve Nash won an MVP averaging fifteen a game. The next year he won another MVP, averaging eighteen a game. But Steve Nash, one of the smartest athletes I've ever met, had unbelievable self awareness. And that's Halliburton. What do you need all provide? The guy plays with zero fear, but his self awareness he knows what the clock is is uncanny. The choke sign, I love it, bring it on, but he is an all timer man. He is the aggressor. He can play with physicality and again we can bang on the next but in the last six minutes of the fourth and overtime, they they're twenty four points. The Pacers scored forty four on seventy two percent shooting. That is unheard of. The Knicks should have won. Now, the Knicks had too many turnovers, but I think I think this comes down to Halliburton and the Pacers play with the aggressiveness that I think Celtic fans wish Tatum and Boston did, like they just played Downhill and Lamar Jackson could throw forty eight times a game and win. But that's not how Lamar and the Ravens are built. They're a power football team with Derrick Henry. The Knicks stayed in this game, shot fifty one percent. But this is going to be a six or seven game series. This is not what the Knicks are. And yesterday on this show, I kept saying over and over the Pacers play the fastest pace in the league. What a perfect name for a team. Last three years, Knicks are the slowest team. That's not a bad thing for the playoffs. Half court offense is great. They played the slowest pace. Whoever wins the pace will win this series. And the Knicks almost pulled it off. But if you remember last year when these two teams played, what happened. Indiana played really really quick, up tempo and over time the Knicks swore, wore down, just didn't have the body. So in these got more bodies. They're built for this. Their guys are in their prime. Halliburton controlled it like he did against Cleveland, like he did against the Bucks. The Knicks almost pulled it off. But here's Halley after.

Okay, So the Knicks had a fourteen point lead, wasn't much time left, and they lost in overtime. But I'm gonna defend the Knicks. They did not choke. The Knicks had three baskets and two free throws in the final three minutes. They scored enough. Now, they had some bad turnovers, but they scored enough. The story of the game is give the Pacers credit. That was insane. They couldn't miss in the last six minutes. They shot over seventy percent and they were hard shots. Aaron Nesmith six straight threes, three in the final minute. Now, this team plays with pace and tempo, so they score fast. We know that they've done it all season, and they're a great clutch team because of Halle. They're thirty one and two when they score one hundred and twenty points or more. So you do not want to get into a track meet with the Pacers. That's Milwaukee tried it, Cleveland tried it, The Knicks tried it. Don't they never get tired. I'm like, I'm watching ninth graders, like they never get tired. Charles Barkley said it at halftime. This pace totally favors Indiana. And what's remarkable about Haliburton and Indy is they play at this pace and they don't turn it over. Then seven turnovers on the road against the Knick size and the Knicks tenacity. Seven turnovers, Jalen brunts and a loan ad seven So what you wanted last night? And I said, I think Indy's gonna win the series. This is this is what they did the Milwaukee. This is what they did the Cleveland. They're controlling the tempo. Listen, give the next credit Nix to have one. They shot fifty one percent. They got a bad bounce, And I think last night New York beats every in the league except Halliburton, the Pacers and maybe Okac. Halliburton got the bounce. Nie Smith was unbelievable. How about the gone Zaga kid, Nemhart multiple threes late, Obi topping, I mean, just everything worked for them late. But I'll tell you Halliburton is amazing because he reminds me of Steve Nash Steve Nash won an MVP averaging fifteen a game. The next year he won another MVP, averaging eighteen a game. But Steve Nash, one of the smartest athletes I've ever met, had unbelievable self awareness. And that's Halliburton. What do you need all provide? The guy plays with zero fear, but his self awareness he knows what the clock is is uncanny. The choke sign, I love it, bring it on, but he is an all timer man. He is the aggressor. He can play with physicality and again we can bang on the next but in the last six minutes of the fourth and overtime, they they're twenty four points. The Pacers scored forty four on seventy two percent shooting. That is unheard of. The Knicks should have won. Now, the Knicks had too many turnovers, but I think I think this comes down to Halliburton and the Pacers play with the aggressiveness that I think Celtic fans wish Tatum and Boston did, like they just played Downhill and Lamar Jackson could throw forty eight times a game and win. But that's not how Lamar and the Ravens are built. They're a power football team with Derrick Henry. The Knicks stayed in this game, shot fifty one percent. But this is going to be a six or seven game series. This is not what the Knicks are. And yesterday on this show, I kept saying over and over the Pacers play the fastest pace in the league. What a perfect name for a team. Last three years, Knicks are the slowest team. That's not a bad thing for the playoffs. Half court offense is great. They played the slowest pace. Whoever wins the pace will win this series. And the Knicks almost pulled it off. But if you remember last year when these two teams played, what happened. Indiana played really really quick, up tempo and over time the Knicks swore, wore down, just didn't have the body. So in these got more bodies. They're built for this. Their guys are in their prime. Halliburton controlled it like he did against Cleveland, like he did against the Bucks. The Knicks almost pulled it off. But here's Halley after.

Basketball is fun.

Basketball is fun.

They're all winning his fun and uh Rob, you.

They're all winning his fun and uh Rob, you.

Know, I'm so proud of the resilience of this group.

Know, I'm so proud of the resilience of this group.

We're showing it all year. We had to win in so many different, random, unique ways. I'd today. We just kept kept.

We're showing it all year. We had to win in so many different, random, unique ways. I'd today. We just kept kept.

Going, kept fighting, and uh man, that's that's one.

Going, kept fighting, and uh man, that's that's one.

There's Halliburton's is a lot like Steve Nash, and that everybody that played with Steve Nash was at their best. He'd give you fifteen, but he elevated everybody. James Harden scored a lot of guys that score Halliburton. This is a one star team with a bunch of B plus players. But what's amazing is the B plus players for Indiana. Because of Halliburton and self awareness and movement and pace, they're all playing at an a level like all of Indiana's players are rising to the moment. This is not about the Knicks not playing well. This is about Indiana being on fire and making a remarkable number of big shots. If you did not hear the final call, we'll give it to you from the Pacers Radio network.

There's Halliburton's is a lot like Steve Nash, and that everybody that played with Steve Nash was at their best. He'd give you fifteen, but he elevated everybody. James Harden scored a lot of guys that score Halliburton. This is a one star team with a bunch of B plus players. But what's amazing is the B plus players for Indiana. Because of Halliburton and self awareness and movement and pace, they're all playing at an a level like all of Indiana's players are rising to the moment. This is not about the Knicks not playing well. This is about Indiana being on fire and making a remarkable number of big shots. If you did not hear the final call, we'll give it to you from the Pacers Radio network.

Halliburton driving, he's in the lane, he nearly lost, and he backs up and unloads a three.

Halliburton driving, he's in the lane, he nearly lost, and he backs up and unloads a three.

That did not happen.

That did not happen.

It hit the back of the rim, It popped high into the air.

It hit the back of the rim, It popped high into the air.

And it dropctely through the net and the Pacers and the scoreboard chills.

And it dropctely through the net and the Pacers and the scoreboard chills.

One twenty five to one. It's called a two point shot.

One twenty five to one. It's called a two point shot.

So it's just it's an incredible moment. And I'll get to two things that worry me about the Knicks going forward. Let's now talk about Brunson. So Jalen had forty three points and you say to yourself, that's a great night. But he had seven turnovers. Why because he's playing faster than he's used to. That's the most turnovers Jalen Brunson has had all season. And he also got into foul trouble. Again. We're asking somebody who can type forty words a minute to type sixty. You know, it's just this isn't what he's built for. Brunson and Haliburton are two very different players. Brunson's a score, small, strong. He uses, you know, his leverage, he uses his hips, he does that mid post game. He just plays way bigger than his height. But he is a scorer and a finisher. He sometimes is plotting. He wants to get you in that half court. He wants to work you. He's gonna work his shoulders, he's gonna work his hips. Halliburton's different. He's long, gangly, herky jerki. It's kind of awkward. He's strong and can use it a couple of times on occasion. But what he is, he's the pace car. He is the guy that's gonna okay, I'm gonna tell you how fast we're all gonna play, and you can't stop him because he's just so long and gangly. He's a very awkward player. He's hard to defend. The two things that worry me about New York after last night, First of all, Karl Anthony Towns. That's about as good as he can play in the playoffs. He was efficient. He's not always efficient. He hit his threes, he didn't get in foul trouble. You know, Kat gets in foul trouble. Kat does dumb fouls. He's a really good offensive player, but through his career he drives you nuts. I thought Kat last night was spectacular. I don't know if he can duplicate that. I just don't know if he can play any better than that. It was fun watching it. The second thing is Brunson gonna say, hey, man, I got forty three, I'm gonna play this temple. We're scoring. We should have won the game. They could talk themselves into that. So but again I'll say it last year when these two teams played in the end of the series. I mean, Brunson last night, because of foul trouble, played the fewest minutes of any New York Knicks starter. That is not what you want. I don't care if he scored forty three points and to lose in overtime when you have the shorter bench game one, you blow a pretty big lead at that pace. I didn't love it. That's a game it feels like for the road team to win that game and control the tempo. Didn't love it for New York. Here's Brunson after.

So it's just it's an incredible moment. And I'll get to two things that worry me about the Knicks going forward. Let's now talk about Brunson. So Jalen had forty three points and you say to yourself, that's a great night. But he had seven turnovers. Why because he's playing faster than he's used to. That's the most turnovers Jalen Brunson has had all season. And he also got into foul trouble. Again. We're asking somebody who can type forty words a minute to type sixty. You know, it's just this isn't what he's built for. Brunson and Haliburton are two very different players. Brunson's a score, small, strong. He uses, you know, his leverage, he uses his hips, he does that mid post game. He just plays way bigger than his height. But he is a scorer and a finisher. He sometimes is plotting. He wants to get you in that half court. He wants to work you. He's gonna work his shoulders, he's gonna work his hips. Halliburton's different. He's long, gangly, herky jerki. It's kind of awkward. He's strong and can use it a couple of times on occasion. But what he is, he's the pace car. He is the guy that's gonna okay, I'm gonna tell you how fast we're all gonna play, and you can't stop him because he's just so long and gangly. He's a very awkward player. He's hard to defend. The two things that worry me about New York after last night, First of all, Karl Anthony Towns. That's about as good as he can play in the playoffs. He was efficient. He's not always efficient. He hit his threes, he didn't get in foul trouble. You know, Kat gets in foul trouble. Kat does dumb fouls. He's a really good offensive player, but through his career he drives you nuts. I thought Kat last night was spectacular. I don't know if he can duplicate that. I just don't know if he can play any better than that. It was fun watching it. The second thing is Brunson gonna say, hey, man, I got forty three, I'm gonna play this temple. We're scoring. We should have won the game. They could talk themselves into that. So but again I'll say it last year when these two teams played in the end of the series. I mean, Brunson last night, because of foul trouble, played the fewest minutes of any New York Knicks starter. That is not what you want. I don't care if he scored forty three points and to lose in overtime when you have the shorter bench game one, you blow a pretty big lead at that pace. I didn't love it. That's a game it feels like for the road team to win that game and control the tempo. Didn't love it for New York. Here's Brunson after.

Give them a lot of credit.

Give them a lot of credit.

They closed the game out like they've been doing the all playoffs. Just not really good on our part for all the players, and I know it wasn't a huge number, but for the players that said Haliburton is overrated, check yourself, because when I'm watching and we were sitting there tying, I mean, I look at all I look at the box score, and the difference is Nick's had twice as many turnovers and a couple costly ones in overtime. That's your ballgame. But I'm gonna push back. I'm gonna push back on the choke thing. The Knicks scored six minutes left, they scored twenty four points. That's enough. And by the way, you have turnovers when you're playing above your tempo. But I think what you're seeing with Halliburton here, and I don't know if it's an eight. I don't know if you're born with it. But there are some people that not only does he rise in the moment, but he elevates all his teammates in the moment. I mean, I got nothing against the Pacer squad. It's a really good team, but there's a lot of b guys right now that are playing an a level on the road in New York against the really well coached team. What you're watching with Indiana is we just got to give them credit. We can blame the Knicks on this. You got to give Indiana credit. They are really really and we said this, j Mac, you called it. You picked them over Cleveland. And one of the reasons you did, you fell in love with Halliburton last year. Last year on the show, folks, if you didn't listen, he went crazy on Halliburton. He basically called in the next Magic Johnson, and I don't think that's his style. But I do see a lot of Steve Nash. He can score, he can take the foot off the gas, he can play. But Nash just will you watch Steve Nash? How did Steve Nash win the MVP at fifte in a game? Because he controlled the basketball game. Steve Nash literally controlled every game he was in. People were like, how can you win MVP? You had to watch the Sons play. What Indiana's doing and you caught onto it last year is they are between Caitlin Clark and the Pacers. They are so much to me fun to watch.

They closed the game out like they've been doing the all playoffs. Just not really good on our part for all the players, and I know it wasn't a huge number, but for the players that said Haliburton is overrated, check yourself, because when I'm watching and we were sitting there tying, I mean, I look at all I look at the box score, and the difference is Nick's had twice as many turnovers and a couple costly ones in overtime. That's your ballgame. But I'm gonna push back. I'm gonna push back on the choke thing. The Knicks scored six minutes left, they scored twenty four points. That's enough. And by the way, you have turnovers when you're playing above your tempo. But I think what you're seeing with Halliburton here, and I don't know if it's an eight. I don't know if you're born with it. But there are some people that not only does he rise in the moment, but he elevates all his teammates in the moment. I mean, I got nothing against the Pacer squad. It's a really good team, but there's a lot of b guys right now that are playing an a level on the road in New York against the really well coached team. What you're watching with Indiana is we just got to give them credit. We can blame the Knicks on this. You got to give Indiana credit. They are really really and we said this, j Mac, you called it. You picked them over Cleveland. And one of the reasons you did, you fell in love with Halliburton last year. Last year on the show, folks, if you didn't listen, he went crazy on Halliburton. He basically called in the next Magic Johnson, and I don't think that's his style. But I do see a lot of Steve Nash. He can score, he can take the foot off the gas, he can play. But Nash just will you watch Steve Nash? How did Steve Nash win the MVP at fifte in a game? Because he controlled the basketball game. Steve Nash literally controlled every game he was in. People were like, how can you win MVP? You had to watch the Sons play. What Indiana's doing and you caught onto it last year is they are between Caitlin Clark and the Pacers. They are so much to me fun to watch.

Yeah, I love the Halliburton story.

Yeah, I love the Halliburton story.

You know, Midwest kid grew up under recruited, the big.

You know, Midwest kid grew up under recruited, the big.

Colleges didn't want him.

Colleges didn't want him.

I love the stories of these underdogs coming out of nowhere.

I love the stories of these underdogs coming out of nowhere.

Colin he's emerging right now. Honestly, it's one of the most clutch players.

Colin he's emerging right now. Honestly, it's one of the most clutch players.

In the league.

In the league.

And I mean, I don't see how he's not like an All NBA guy, how he's not like a top ten player. He does everything and like you said, makes everyone around him better.

And I mean, I don't see how he's not like an All NBA guy, how he's not like a top ten player. He does everything and like you said, makes everyone around him better.

Think about that much like Nash. Last two years, we've talked about the Sixers and the Celtics, and we've talked about all these teams, Pacers back to back, back to back Eastern Conference finals.

Think about that much like Nash. Last two years, we've talked about the Sixers and the Celtics, and we've talked about all these teams, Pacers back to back, back to back Eastern Conference finals.

Well, let's be real, the Knicks are not in that much trouble. It took six threes from Nei Smith in the fourth quarter. That's, I believe, an NBA record. Like, listen, we're not gonna see that again. However, the choke by my Knicks has me a little nervous because you know, they go in a game two, can't blow game two, and Pacers have sown a propensity.

Well, let's be real, the Knicks are not in that much trouble. It took six threes from Nei Smith in the fourth quarter. That's, I believe, an NBA record. Like, listen, we're not gonna see that again. However, the choke by my Knicks has me a little nervous because you know, they go in a game two, can't blow game two, and Pacers have sown a propensity.

They stole Game two in Cleveland.

They stole Game two in Cleveland.

Yeah, I mean, the thing about India is they're completely fearless. Homer away doesn't matter, and I think some of that is it's almost like hockey. It's when you play fast the road crowd, you're flying by the crowd. This is not a plodding half court offense where the fans are on you. They're just up and down the floor. It's hard to get your arms around Indiana. They're just breakneck. You know. I'm not comparing them in any way to the showtime Lakers, but the Celtics could do more half court. The Lakers were up and down the floor. Nash's sons were up and down the floor. Jordan's Bulls could do a lot of half court stuff, so it's just it's they just watching Indiana. I you know. I obviously the New York crowd's insane and wonderful. You can't tell where they're playing. Every time the Pacers play, it looks the same that they're a tempo team more than anything else.

Yeah, I mean, the thing about India is they're completely fearless. Homer away doesn't matter, and I think some of that is it's almost like hockey. It's when you play fast the road crowd, you're flying by the crowd. This is not a plodding half court offense where the fans are on you. They're just up and down the floor. It's hard to get your arms around Indiana. They're just breakneck. You know. I'm not comparing them in any way to the showtime Lakers, but the Celtics could do more half court. The Lakers were up and down the floor. Nash's sons were up and down the floor. Jordan's Bulls could do a lot of half court stuff, so it's just it's they just watching Indiana. I you know. I obviously the New York crowd's insane and wonderful. You can't tell where they're playing. Every time the Pacers play, it looks the same that they're a tempo team more than anything else.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and Noone Easter not a em Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and Noone Easter not a em Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Now entering the No Bull Zone sponsored by Incredible Great rates none of the bull. So let's get to the choke gesture. We talked about it regarding the WNBA yesterday in the day before is there is a performative nature to sports. Trash talking, taunting, within reason, flaunting. I'm okay with it. I thought it was funny that Haliverton did the choke signal he thought he'd won, so did I. By the way, it's hard to sometimes relate to six foot nine, six foot ten basketball players, but that was a relatable moment. We've all done that right in the playground. Chest out. Sports makes you feel something, and I don't think it's fair to ask these athletes to train for years to do something, then surround them with twenty thousand people, and then in the biggest shot in the world at that moment, to ask an athlete to be subtle and nuanced. I watched that last night, and I'm like, here we go. If you didn't see the Reggie Miller Spike Lee moment that got a thirty for thirty and Reggie Miller last night is laughing watching Haliburton, you can say what you want. It's iconic. It got documentaries. Even Bill Belichick, as grumpy as he can be. I can remember watching a story a documentary on Belichick. Belichick used to say, guys, celebrate this stuff is hard. Scoring touchdowns is hard. Celebrate. Belichick was furious when you didn't pump your fist, when you didn't play with emotion. So I mean, listen, the choke sign is universal. Sometimes it feels like it's warranted, it's personal. Reggie Miller laughing about it on TV. But I just thought the whole thing, the shot, the moment, the sign. I thought it was all time stuff. Here's Hallie in the moment.

Now entering the No Bull Zone sponsored by Incredible Great rates none of the bull. So let's get to the choke gesture. We talked about it regarding the WNBA yesterday in the day before is there is a performative nature to sports. Trash talking, taunting, within reason, flaunting. I'm okay with it. I thought it was funny that Haliverton did the choke signal he thought he'd won, so did I. By the way, it's hard to sometimes relate to six foot nine, six foot ten basketball players, but that was a relatable moment. We've all done that right in the playground. Chest out. Sports makes you feel something, and I don't think it's fair to ask these athletes to train for years to do something, then surround them with twenty thousand people, and then in the biggest shot in the world at that moment, to ask an athlete to be subtle and nuanced. I watched that last night, and I'm like, here we go. If you didn't see the Reggie Miller Spike Lee moment that got a thirty for thirty and Reggie Miller last night is laughing watching Haliburton, you can say what you want. It's iconic. It got documentaries. Even Bill Belichick, as grumpy as he can be. I can remember watching a story a documentary on Belichick. Belichick used to say, guys, celebrate this stuff is hard. Scoring touchdowns is hard. Celebrate. Belichick was furious when you didn't pump your fist, when you didn't play with emotion. So I mean, listen, the choke sign is universal. Sometimes it feels like it's warranted, it's personal. Reggie Miller laughing about it on TV. But I just thought the whole thing, the shot, the moment, the sign. I thought it was all time stuff. Here's Hallie in the moment.

I mean, I wasn't like plotting out in or anything. I just everybody wanted me to do it like last year at some different point. But it's just gotta feel right, and it felt right at the time. If it would have been if I would have known it was it too, I would not have done so I think I might have wasted it.

I mean, I wasn't like plotting out in or anything. I just everybody wanted me to do it like last year at some different point. But it's just gotta feel right, and it felt right at the time. If it would have been if I would have known it was it too, I would not have done so I think I might have wasted it.

He's having a remarkable postseason. So he's averaging nine and a half assists a game, leads the NBA in the playoffs six games with ten plus assists, and he's a scorer, and by the way his clutch time points, it's really remarkable. There's a fine line between being confident and arrogant, and I think he's an incredibly likable confident player. I don't think it veers into arrogant. I think it's just really confident. They have four wins now trailing. Think about this this postseason. They have four wins when trailing by seventeen points, and I think a lot of it's Haliburton, but I also think it's their pace. When you play fast and you're not sloppy, They're not sloppy. So when you play fast, seventeen points feels like you're down nine. You know, the Knicks get down seventeen points. The way they play a more plotting style, it feels like it's over. But Steph Curry got down seven, the Steve Nash teams got down seventeen. It's different. You're always within a punch and so they're very unique team when being down does not mean being out. I still like Indiana to win this series. I thought the Knicks played well enough to win. And I'm not sure anybody but the Pacers and maybe OKC he could have beaten the Knicks last night in Madison Square. Here's j Mack with the news. Turn on the news.

He's having a remarkable postseason. So he's averaging nine and a half assists a game, leads the NBA in the playoffs six games with ten plus assists, and he's a scorer, and by the way his clutch time points, it's really remarkable. There's a fine line between being confident and arrogant, and I think he's an incredibly likable confident player. I don't think it veers into arrogant. I think it's just really confident. They have four wins now trailing. Think about this this postseason. They have four wins when trailing by seventeen points, and I think a lot of it's Haliburton, but I also think it's their pace. When you play fast and you're not sloppy, They're not sloppy. So when you play fast, seventeen points feels like you're down nine. You know, the Knicks get down seventeen points. The way they play a more plotting style, it feels like it's over. But Steph Curry got down seven, the Steve Nash teams got down seventeen. It's different. You're always within a punch and so they're very unique team when being down does not mean being out. I still like Indiana to win this series. I thought the Knicks played well enough to win. And I'm not sure anybody but the Pacers and maybe OKC he could have beaten the Knicks last night in Madison Square. Here's j Mack with the news. Turn on the news.

This is the herd Line News.

This is the herd Line News.

All right, Colin, let's bust right into it. Brock Purdy, he got paid, big guy. We love it. Seventh highest paid quarterback in the NFL.

All right, Colin, let's bust right into it. Brock Purdy, he got paid, big guy. We love it. Seventh highest paid quarterback in the NFL.

At fifty three million year.

At fifty three million year.

His contract is five years, two hundred and sixty five million, and you know, he spoke to the media. Interestingly, Colin Purty's new deal. He accounts for just under nineteen percent of the Niners salary cap, which you know, again this capologists really made that happen. And I know people here fifty three million and see that number and they're like, oh no, that's too high. It seems to me again, just to me, like this is well structured for the Niners, and this is not going to be an impediment today going forward.

His contract is five years, two hundred and sixty five million, and you know, he spoke to the media. Interestingly, Colin Purty's new deal. He accounts for just under nineteen percent of the Niners salary cap, which you know, again this capologists really made that happen. And I know people here fifty three million and see that number and they're like, oh no, that's too high. It seems to me again, just to me, like this is well structured for the Niners, and this is not going to be an impediment today going forward.

Okay, so like people have been saying this, well, it's only nineteen percent. First of all, to being one fifth of your cap is a number I am not. I don't have a problem with Lamar Burrow Mahomes Allen being twenty to twenty five percent. I don't think pretty is that player. Combined with my concern which is now not arguable, they have missed on too many draft picks. So my take is at some point they are a Kittle or a Trent. These are older players. They are a Kittle or a Trent Williams injury away from needing Brock Purty to carry an incredibly thin roster. If he was making nineteen percent of the roster, little bigger arm, little better athlete, and it was a deeper roster like let's say the Bills or the Ravens or the Lions. It's not you say it's nineteen percent. I can live with that with about six guys in the league, not twelve like Jalen Hurts. I don't know where he is. But Saquon Barkley feels like I could almost live with a running back being fifteen percent. It's not just the money. It's the money with some of his limitations against playoff teams with an old roster, that is going to get hurt. Old players in this league playing seventeen games, somebody's going to get hurt. That's fair.

Okay, so like people have been saying this, well, it's only nineteen percent. First of all, to being one fifth of your cap is a number I am not. I don't have a problem with Lamar Burrow Mahomes Allen being twenty to twenty five percent. I don't think pretty is that player. Combined with my concern which is now not arguable, they have missed on too many draft picks. So my take is at some point they are a Kittle or a Trent. These are older players. They are a Kittle or a Trent Williams injury away from needing Brock Purty to carry an incredibly thin roster. If he was making nineteen percent of the roster, little bigger arm, little better athlete, and it was a deeper roster like let's say the Bills or the Ravens or the Lions. It's not you say it's nineteen percent. I can live with that with about six guys in the league, not twelve like Jalen Hurts. I don't know where he is. But Saquon Barkley feels like I could almost live with a running back being fifteen percent. It's not just the money. It's the money with some of his limitations against playoff teams with an old roster, that is going to get hurt. Old players in this league playing seventeen games, somebody's going to get hurt. That's fair.

I just this whole twenty to twenty five percent is okay.

I just this whole twenty to twenty five percent is okay.

For Allen and Burrow and Mahomes.

For Allen and Burrow and Mahomes.

Are they really five percent better than rot thirty when it.

Are they really five percent better than rot thirty when it.

Comes to the salary?

Comes to the salary?

Oh?

Oh?

Really?

Really?

So if that's the case, well, if you want to say Kittle or are there a Kittle injury or a Trent Williams injury away, well we could play that game with all those guys.

So if that's the case, well, if you want to say Kittle or are there a Kittle injury or a Trent Williams injury away, well we could play that game with all those guys.

If the difference is the difference is the difference is Josh Allen got to an AFC Championship at one point with a bad old line. Burrow got to a Super Bowl with a horrible old line. Kansas City, their receiving corp the last two years has been a mess, and they have two Super Bowl appearances. Purdy isn't getting to a super Bowl with a terrible old line, which if Trent Williams gets heard because they didn't addrive that in the draft is what their O line will be. So it's not just the number. You have to contextualize it. There's about six guys that can carry bad receiving course, bad old Even Matt Stafford can't carry a bad old line. We've seen that. Now he can carry a limited tight end receiving corps, we've seen that. But Matt Stafford, as good as he is, he needs the old line. Lamar doesn't. Alan doesn't. So my take is it's not just the number. It's not that you have to contextualize everything.

If the difference is the difference is the difference is Josh Allen got to an AFC Championship at one point with a bad old line. Burrow got to a Super Bowl with a horrible old line. Kansas City, their receiving corp the last two years has been a mess, and they have two Super Bowl appearances. Purdy isn't getting to a super Bowl with a terrible old line, which if Trent Williams gets heard because they didn't addrive that in the draft is what their O line will be. So it's not just the number. You have to contextualize it. There's about six guys that can carry bad receiving course, bad old Even Matt Stafford can't carry a bad old line. We've seen that. Now he can carry a limited tight end receiving corps, we've seen that. But Matt Stafford, as good as he is, he needs the old line. Lamar doesn't. Alan doesn't. So my take is it's not just the number. It's not that you have to contextualize everything.

But some of that stuff out of Brockberty's control. If he loses an offensive lineman. I mean Patrick Mahoone's offensive line in the Super Bowl got destroyed and he and they got.

But some of that stuff out of Brockberty's control. If he loses an offensive lineman. I mean Patrick Mahoone's offensive line in the Super Bowl got destroyed and he and they got.

Smashed like that happens to everybody.

Smashed like that happens to everybody.

Like I also also, not only does brock Perdy not have the AMMO he had three years ago. When this was the three years ago, nobody disputed it. Niners had the best roster in the league. Now we say it's Philadelphia and now it's Detroit, and then we can argue over the third. But three years ago they had seven Hall of Famers play. Hull Fungo was a star Warner Greenlaw, Bosa Kittle, Williams Christian. I mean three years ago it was a stack roster. It is not a stacked roster. If Bosa goes down, it's an incredibly average defense.

Like I also also, not only does brock Perdy not have the AMMO he had three years ago. When this was the three years ago, nobody disputed it. Niners had the best roster in the league. Now we say it's Philadelphia and now it's Detroit, and then we can argue over the third. But three years ago they had seven Hall of Famers play. Hull Fungo was a star Warner Greenlaw, Bosa Kittle, Williams Christian. I mean three years ago it was a stack roster. It is not a stacked roster. If Bosa goes down, it's an incredibly average defense.

Now listen, if Chris Jones goes down for KC, I mean, their defense is awful.

Now listen, if Chris Jones goes down for KC, I mean, their defense is awful.

Yeah, but the difference is Mahomes has proven he can win shootouts.

Yeah, but the difference is Mahomes has proven he can win shootouts.

He can win some shootouts.

He can win some shootouts.

Yeah, well they all see. Yeah.

Yeah, well they all see. Yeah.

Remember, I think the great equalizer, Colin, is that schedule for Rock Berdie.

Remember, I think the great equalizer, Colin, is that schedule for Rock Berdie.

As you said, one of the easiest, I believe in the last.

As you said, one of the easiest, I believe in the last.

Ten years of so much that helps, no question.

Ten years of so much that helps, no question.

So when they're thirteen and four and I'm out here thumping my chest, You're gonna be so salty.

So when they're thirteen and four and I'm out here thumping my chest, You're gonna be so salty.

That's my guess.

That's my guess.

Let's go on to the Bears, your new favorite team in the league. Obviously, the QB position has been a bit of a quack buyer for Gogo for decades now, but Ben Johnson spoke about it and he's very excited.

Let's go on to the Bears, your new favorite team in the league. Obviously, the QB position has been a bit of a quack buyer for Gogo for decades now, but Ben Johnson spoke about it and he's very excited.

Like's the challenge of the situation.

Like's the challenge of the situation.

I love it.

I love it.

I love it.

I love it.

I love the opportunity and come on in and change that narrative. That's where great stories are written, and so we're looking to write a new chapter here twenty twenty five Chicago Bears and looking forward to the future. It starts with developing a rapport and a trust, and that's earned over time. You don't walk in day one and expect that to be achieved. And so the more time we spend together, he understands that I have his best interest at hearts and vice versa.

I love the opportunity and come on in and change that narrative. That's where great stories are written, and so we're looking to write a new chapter here twenty twenty five Chicago Bears and looking forward to the future. It starts with developing a rapport and a trust, and that's earned over time. You don't walk in day one and expect that to be achieved. And so the more time we spend together, he understands that I have his best interest at hearts and vice versa.

Yeah, I'm already. I'm Here's the other thing to think about. Something has happened, you know how you and I have talked about this. How the NBA basically suddenly it's a point guard led league because you can't stack rosters. And what you have to do is get somebody that can score like Halliburton, but elevate other b players because they're the mores. And the NBA physicality is hurting three pointers. Teams get beat up, they're physically tired, they don't hit their threes. There's something happening in the NFL the NFC, I think we'd both agree. The AFC teams hit on about seven quarterbacks Allan Lamar Burrow, Mahomes, Herbert C. J. Strout. So the AFC is easier to predict because there's so many great quarterbacks at the top. The NFC not as many, but I will tell you now, I would argue the two best rosters in the league are NFC rosters Philly Detroit, and I think Philly by a mile. In Detroit second, I think La is in a argument for third, fourth, or fifth. So I think what's funny about the Bears is last year may have been the last season where you could be okay and make the playoffs. It's going to be hard to be an NFC I think the last two years. That's why I say about Dallas there was about a two to three year window. Aaron Rodgers left the conference, right Russell Wilson, whatever leaves the conference, stafford got hurt. There was about a two or three year window here with the AFC NFC, there was a gap. I think that gap has closed. I think the NFC now is just an inch behind the AFC.

Yeah, I'm already. I'm Here's the other thing to think about. Something has happened, you know how you and I have talked about this. How the NBA basically suddenly it's a point guard led league because you can't stack rosters. And what you have to do is get somebody that can score like Halliburton, but elevate other b players because they're the mores. And the NBA physicality is hurting three pointers. Teams get beat up, they're physically tired, they don't hit their threes. There's something happening in the NFL the NFC, I think we'd both agree. The AFC teams hit on about seven quarterbacks Allan Lamar Burrow, Mahomes, Herbert C. J. Strout. So the AFC is easier to predict because there's so many great quarterbacks at the top. The NFC not as many, but I will tell you now, I would argue the two best rosters in the league are NFC rosters Philly Detroit, and I think Philly by a mile. In Detroit second, I think La is in a argument for third, fourth, or fifth. So I think what's funny about the Bears is last year may have been the last season where you could be okay and make the playoffs. It's going to be hard to be an NFC I think the last two years. That's why I say about Dallas there was about a two to three year window. Aaron Rodgers left the conference, right Russell Wilson, whatever leaves the conference, stafford got hurt. There was about a two or three year window here with the AFC NFC, there was a gap. I think that gap has closed. I think the NFC now is just an inch behind the AFC.

So what's a colin what's a reasonable expectation for Ben Johnson in a first year. I mean, I know we're calling him the savior or an offensive mind, and Caleb with I do feel like the hype train has left the station and people are going to be disappointed if they don't have nine ten eleven games.

So what's a colin what's a reasonable expectation for Ben Johnson in a first year. I mean, I know we're calling him the savior or an offensive mind, and Caleb with I do feel like the hype train has left the station and people are going to be disappointed if they don't have nine ten eleven games.

Yeah, I think nine ten is where I land with that schedule. Yeah, you make way too much. I always just the second time you're talking about the schedule. If somebody can punch up the Bears home schedule, it's just a bunch of doubles. I mean, I mean, I'll give you again trying to.

Yeah, I think nine ten is where I land with that schedule. Yeah, you make way too much. I always just the second time you're talking about the schedule. If somebody can punch up the Bears home schedule, it's just a bunch of doubles. I mean, I mean, I'll give you again trying to.

Reset expectations, Colin, because there's a world where they win eight games, and it was progressed right step.

Reset expectations, Colin, because there's a world where they win eight games, and it was progressed right step.

In the right direction.

In the right direction.

You look at the schedule right out of the gate, they could be zero and two the minute, nota Vikings or they're going to win for our radio audience.

You look at the schedule right out of the gate, they could be zero and two the minute, nota Vikings or they're going to win for our radio audience.

Does this scare you for a radio audience, You can't see this Vikings at home, Cowboys at home, Raiders by Saints at home, New York Giants at home, Steelers at home, Cleveland Browns and Schador Sanders at home. That doesn't scare anybody.

Does this scare you for a radio audience, You can't see this Vikings at home, Cowboys at home, Raiders by Saints at home, New York Giants at home, Steelers at home, Cleveland Browns and Schador Sanders at home. That doesn't scare anybody.

You're glossing over the road games that.

You're glossing over the road games that.

Are brutals, Baltimore's, Joys, Washington's and l But they got to go back to back against Ravens and Bengals. Collins the two of the best four quarterbacks.

Are brutals, Baltimore's, Joys, Washington's and l But they got to go back to back against Ravens and Bengals. Collins the two of the best four quarterbacks.

In the league.

In the league.

Right there, Simpson didn't make the expectations. Cincinnati didn't make the playoffs last year. They're not scary. They're just talented.

Right there, Simpson didn't make the expectations. Cincinnati didn't make the playoffs last year. They're not scary. They're just talented.

Last bone to pick, and I don't want to make this a thing. We've got all summer to ste on it. You keep saying the Detroit Lions have a top ten roster in the LEA or a top five roster in the league. I don't know who they really who go on That defense scares you After Aiden Hutchison and the safety branch.

Last bone to pick, and I don't want to make this a thing. We've got all summer to ste on it. You keep saying the Detroit Lions have a top ten roster in the LEA or a top five roster in the league. I don't know who they really who go on That defense scares you After Aiden Hutchison and the safety branch.

That defense is not great. The roster's not awesome.

That defense is not great. The roster's not awesome.

I think the bigger issue is they lost two great coordinators. Yeah, and when's the Philadelphia lost two great coordinators. They replaced him and it was a disaster. Yeah, you're Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson. You did not hire equals. So and I know nobody wants to talk about this, but a go ask Bill Belichick when you put the wrong guy at OC. Okay, like coordinators win games. Major Brady didn't even deal during the week with Belichick. They would meet once a week. He was He and Josh McDaniel are on the phone or in meetings all week. So I don't think Detroit, I don't think it's possible and go ask Philly to lose. Argue, last year, you could argue they had the best coaching staff in the league if you count coordinators and head coach, the Lions had the best staff. I think it's going to be a downgrade and to me, that's at least a game to two out of the wind total.

I think the bigger issue is they lost two great coordinators. Yeah, and when's the Philadelphia lost two great coordinators. They replaced him and it was a disaster. Yeah, you're Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson. You did not hire equals. So and I know nobody wants to talk about this, but a go ask Bill Belichick when you put the wrong guy at OC. Okay, like coordinators win games. Major Brady didn't even deal during the week with Belichick. They would meet once a week. He was He and Josh McDaniel are on the phone or in meetings all week. So I don't think Detroit, I don't think it's possible and go ask Philly to lose. Argue, last year, you could argue they had the best coaching staff in the league if you count coordinators and head coach, the Lions had the best staff. I think it's going to be a downgrade and to me, that's at least a game to two out of the wind total.

Maybe.

Maybe.

Final story Colin is sad news in the NFL, where the Colts announced the passing of owner Jim Ersay yesterday at the age of sixty five. Ersay became the NFL's youngest owner at thirty seven years old when he inherited the team from his father back in nineteen ninety seven. Colts went on to win two Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl forty one under Ersay's ownership.

Final story Colin is sad news in the NFL, where the Colts announced the passing of owner Jim Ersay yesterday at the age of sixty five. Ersay became the NFL's youngest owner at thirty seven years old when he inherited the team from his father back in nineteen ninety seven. Colts went on to win two Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl forty one under Ersay's ownership.

One of the most charitable people in the NFL, A complex guy who was a huge personality, and one of the things that Jim Ursay did. I was talking to Chris Balder last night the GM one of the things that Ersay did. The Colts always felt like a family, and that is not the case with a lot of NFL teams. You just have a billionaire owner and there's always been The Steelers have always felt like a family the Ravens do and the Colts do. And he could be impulsive, and he could be difficult, and he was incredibly complicated, but he viewed himself as basically a poet and an artist. He had the largest guitar great kadar collection in the world. And I had him on the show one time. And I remember the Colts when I reached out and to have him on the show, They're like, You're gonna really enjoy it. He's just a different cat. And Ballard shared some of those thoughts last night. He loved sitting down with people, his GM, his president. He wanted feedback. We're a family and families fight like and that was Ersay, Like, I really feel like the Colts are one of those organizations. It's not about your win total. Do you feel like family? And if you do, families are imperfect. But the NFL lost an absolute, charitable, genuine, completely authentic rock star last night in Jim Ersay. And with that we take a break.

One of the most charitable people in the NFL, A complex guy who was a huge personality, and one of the things that Jim Ursay did. I was talking to Chris Balder last night the GM one of the things that Ersay did. The Colts always felt like a family, and that is not the case with a lot of NFL teams. You just have a billionaire owner and there's always been The Steelers have always felt like a family the Ravens do and the Colts do. And he could be impulsive, and he could be difficult, and he was incredibly complicated, but he viewed himself as basically a poet and an artist. He had the largest guitar great kadar collection in the world. And I had him on the show one time. And I remember the Colts when I reached out and to have him on the show, They're like, You're gonna really enjoy it. He's just a different cat. And Ballard shared some of those thoughts last night. He loved sitting down with people, his GM, his president. He wanted feedback. We're a family and families fight like and that was Ersay, Like, I really feel like the Colts are one of those organizations. It's not about your win total. Do you feel like family? And if you do, families are imperfect. But the NFL lost an absolute, charitable, genuine, completely authentic rock star last night in Jim Ersay. And with that we take a break.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays and Noone Easter not a Empacific.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays and Noone Easter not a Empacific.

Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich David, and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You could catch us weekdays from five to seven pm Eastern two to four Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and of course the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich. We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture, stories that well other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last twenty years and still work together. I mean that says something, right.

Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich David, and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You could catch us weekdays from five to seven pm Eastern two to four Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and of course the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich. We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture, stories that well other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last twenty years and still work together. I mean that says something, right.

So check us out.

So check us out.

We like to get you involved too, take your phone calls, chop it up.

We like to get you involved too, take your phone calls, chop it up.

As they say, I'd.

As they say, I'd.

Say, the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planetar. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app from five to seven pm Eastern two to four Pacific, And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcasts, and of course on social media, that's Covino and Rich.

Say, the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planetar. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app from five to seven pm Eastern two to four Pacific, And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcasts, and of course on social media, that's Covino and Rich.

In just three days, it's the Vegas Day in motorsports, as the greatest spectacle in racing.

In just three days, it's the Vegas Day in motorsports, as the greatest spectacle in racing.

The one hundred and ninth Indy five hundred comes.

The one hundred and ninth Indy five hundred comes.

To Fox with Joseph Newgarden going for a historic repeat. Coverage begins at ten am Eastern Sunday on Fox.

To Fox with Joseph Newgarden going for a historic repeat. Coverage begins at ten am Eastern Sunday on Fox.

We are fired up for the race.

We are fired up for the race.

We got an authentic Indy five hundred driver helmet and an Indy five hundred milk jug. Of course, the winner Sunday will continue the tradition of drinking milk in victory Lane.

We got an authentic Indy five hundred driver helmet and an Indy five hundred milk jug. Of course, the winner Sunday will continue the tradition of drinking milk in victory Lane.

So SGA won the MVP this week. I would have voted him MVP. It's a regular season award, and I do think how your team finishes matter. Jokicic's Nuggets weren't as good in the regular season. I think Jokich is the best player in the world. But Michael Jordan did not win, nor did Lebron or Magic in his prime, they didn't win the MVP every year. A lot of it is how is your team doing an SGA's team won by an average of twelve point nine points. They were a blizzard, a hot through butter of this league. So and he's a remarkable player. But the other thing is he now is eligible for three hundred and eighty million dollars with a new CBA, and I would have no problem writing that check. Unlike Luca, I don't question his fitness. Unlike Giannis, I want him to have the ball with two minutes left. He'll hit the free throws. Unlike Kawhi r MB, there's no load management. I like Donovan Mitchell, I don't think he elevates teammates quite as much as SGA does, even for billionaire owners. The new CBA makes you pause. You have to consider everything. Seventy six million dollars per season if you're just dropping thirty he used to be in the NBA. Get buckets, you'll get your max. Nope, Nope, not interested. That's why Laker fans now see watch every night. You really know a player when he's yours. He's on your team. Otherwise, nobody outside of Okac's watching Okac every night. They are in okacs. So you know of SGA, you get the whistle, you get elevation. There's no load management. He gets you buckets. He's great in clutch time. That's the easiest check in the league to write. After Jokich, that's the easy one. A lot of these guys that like Jamal Murray I like Jamal Murray. He plays himself into shape. I'm not signing that check. I'm not giving you three hundred million dollars, Luca. That was the concern in Dallas. He's playing himself into shape. Those are the guys that get hurt more so. I think now that you have this, you have this new CBA, if you miss on a player like Trey Young gets buckets. I like Trey I'm not paying that money for trade. I didn't play defense. I don't know if he's a leader. I don't know if he elevates teammates. He gives you some assists. And I like Trey Young. But I think all the stars thought, oh, this new CBA is great. But I'm a billionaire. It's one thing paying Lebron thirty eight million in his prime. I'll sign that check. All paint Lebron's seventy six million in this prime. But Kevin Durant was a little flaky. Kevin Durant had a few injuries. I'm on think about it. And that's why I said, if Nico Harrison would have gotten three firsts and Austin Reeves with a D, I would have defended the move. Not sure I would have made it. I would have defended it. Like I get Yannis, he's had some injuries. You don't want him with the ball late, he's bad at the free throw line. Like that doesn't mean he's not a star. But three hundred and eighty million dollars you get into that area. I have to consider everything. And it's just an incredibly putative new CBA and so it's just not about getting buckets anymore. Here's Sga on winning the award.

So SGA won the MVP this week. I would have voted him MVP. It's a regular season award, and I do think how your team finishes matter. Jokicic's Nuggets weren't as good in the regular season. I think Jokich is the best player in the world. But Michael Jordan did not win, nor did Lebron or Magic in his prime, they didn't win the MVP every year. A lot of it is how is your team doing an SGA's team won by an average of twelve point nine points. They were a blizzard, a hot through butter of this league. So and he's a remarkable player. But the other thing is he now is eligible for three hundred and eighty million dollars with a new CBA, and I would have no problem writing that check. Unlike Luca, I don't question his fitness. Unlike Giannis, I want him to have the ball with two minutes left. He'll hit the free throws. Unlike Kawhi r MB, there's no load management. I like Donovan Mitchell, I don't think he elevates teammates quite as much as SGA does, even for billionaire owners. The new CBA makes you pause. You have to consider everything. Seventy six million dollars per season if you're just dropping thirty he used to be in the NBA. Get buckets, you'll get your max. Nope, Nope, not interested. That's why Laker fans now see watch every night. You really know a player when he's yours. He's on your team. Otherwise, nobody outside of Okac's watching Okac every night. They are in okacs. So you know of SGA, you get the whistle, you get elevation. There's no load management. He gets you buckets. He's great in clutch time. That's the easiest check in the league to write. After Jokich, that's the easy one. A lot of these guys that like Jamal Murray I like Jamal Murray. He plays himself into shape. I'm not signing that check. I'm not giving you three hundred million dollars, Luca. That was the concern in Dallas. He's playing himself into shape. Those are the guys that get hurt more so. I think now that you have this, you have this new CBA, if you miss on a player like Trey Young gets buckets. I like Trey I'm not paying that money for trade. I didn't play defense. I don't know if he's a leader. I don't know if he elevates teammates. He gives you some assists. And I like Trey Young. But I think all the stars thought, oh, this new CBA is great. But I'm a billionaire. It's one thing paying Lebron thirty eight million in his prime. I'll sign that check. All paint Lebron's seventy six million in this prime. But Kevin Durant was a little flaky. Kevin Durant had a few injuries. I'm on think about it. And that's why I said, if Nico Harrison would have gotten three firsts and Austin Reeves with a D, I would have defended the move. Not sure I would have made it. I would have defended it. Like I get Yannis, he's had some injuries. You don't want him with the ball late, he's bad at the free throw line. Like that doesn't mean he's not a star. But three hundred and eighty million dollars you get into that area. I have to consider everything. And it's just an incredibly putative new CBA and so it's just not about getting buckets anymore. Here's Sga on winning the award.

I always thought that I could be a really good player because I had I had seen like what just putting your head down and working and controlling what you can control can do for you. I dreamt about as a kid with a second eno as kid, it's a fake dream. But to as the days go on and you realize that, like you get closer to your dream, it's hard to like not freak out. It's hard to like not be a six year old kid again. And I think that's what's allowed me to achieve it.

I always thought that I could be a really good player because I had I had seen like what just putting your head down and working and controlling what you can control can do for you. I dreamt about as a kid with a second eno as kid, it's a fake dream. But to as the days go on and you realize that, like you get closer to your dream, it's hard to like not freak out. It's hard to like not be a six year old kid again. And I think that's what's allowed me to achieve it.

You know, I got to tell you right now. With the NBA, between Sga, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jalen Brunson, I'm not sure there ever been three more relatable NBA stars. I mean again, NBA guys are six eight. I remember going to the SBS and you know, athletes are big, but they look like human beings. And then you watch the NBA guys come in their tuxes and they're seven to two. They don't look like the rest of it. You know, Teddy Bruski I worked with, he was a great, fearless linebacker. After he retired, he carried a briefcase. He looked like the company's accountant. You couldn't tell. So I just find that SGA is just such a relatable dude. Halliburton and Brunson. It's really cool. So we talked about this yesterday. I said, I thought that Jason Kelsey, with his inspirational speech to the owners, got the tush push barely. Now, I'll say this, it was a twenty two to ten vote against the tush push. Let's not make it sound like people were in favor of it. The league didn't really want it. The Health and Safety Committee didn't want it, the Rules Gimmittee didn't want it, and twenty two owners didn't want it. But you needed twenty four to get it banned. So the NFL as suspected asked the Packers to propose a failed Tush push. That's been reported, so the league did not want it. The league didn't want it. The vote led to a according to stories here, multiple heated exchanges. So this is one of these things where I said this yesterday. I think it's Jason Kelsey and Jeffrey Lowie and this is the thing about the NFL, And I guess this is the same with every league. But there are certain owners in the NFL that have a lot of poll And it's not Michael Bidwell, Okay, it is Jerry Jones wanted an NFL team in Vegas. There's an NFL team in Vegas. Jerry Jones wanted the Rams to go from Saint Louis to Los Angeles. They went from Saint Louis to Los Angeles. Robert Kraft has always handled I'm not sure if he still does. For years he handled all the TV deals. He would collectively talk to all the owners and then he would go call Fox in CBS and NBC and ESPN. So Jeffrey Lourie of Philadelphia got a lot of smoke. Stan Cronky's one of the richest. Arthur Blank, the Hunt family, they've earned it craft Jerry Jones. You know Detroit's owners, Cleveland's owner, Chicago's owner, Arizona's owner. You know they don't have the money that of the wins. I think people look at Philadelphia. I don't think I think if twenty five teams were doing the tush push, it would be banned. I think it is allowed because it's Philadelphia and Jeffrey lury And I think I think there's only about four to five owners that get this thing pushed through. A Steve Bushatti of Baltimore maybe get its push, gets it pushed through. But Philadelphia is iconic. They arguably have the most passionate fan base. They're a blue blood that's incredibly important for the league. Jeffrey Lurie is a creative, progressive owner. Howie Roseman has built the best roster. They're good for the league. I mean, I've said this about all pro sports in America. You could drop six to eight NHL teams, Nobody would ninety nine percent of you don't know the arena of the Saint Louis Blues playing. You could drop eight baseball teams. You could drop about five to six NBA teams. Nobody would care it's the same in the NFL. I got news for you. You could a race about six NFL teams. Nobody would care. Philadelphia is one of those four foundational teams. To me, like Philadelphia, the Niners, out West Philadelphia, the Green Bay Packers' there's just a handful of teams. Dallas Cowboys obviously they just matter a lot. So I think I think this comes down to Jeffrey Lowie, Philadelphia, they're standing in the league, Jason Kelsey or this thing again. The vote was twenty two to ten. If it was twenty four to eight, it's banned, and you know people are upset with it. I do think. I do think the one thing that you know, for years and years Phil Jackson ran. They called it the triangle offense, and you're like, why didn't everybody use the triangle offense? And my argument would be because you didn't have Michael Jordan and Kobe the triangle offense. Yeah, Lamar Odin was kind of a clever player that it worked with. It worked mostly to the Kobe and Michael Jordan. This tush push works because it's the biggest offensive line in league history, and it works because Jalen hurts squats six hundred pounds and he's small. I mean you would if I would have told you you'd never seen the tush push, because Tom Brady in his era was a tall guy that was kind of lanky and was the best quarterback, sneak guy. If I would have told you you'd never watch the NFL, I'd say, there's this team. All you knew is you kind of had a sense of the league. I said, there's this team that invented this play. It's a one yard play. Who do you think runs it? You would have guessed like, oh, Lamar Jackson could always get a yard, or oh Josh Allen or Herbert they're huge, they could get a yard. You know, you look at the big guy. I said, No, it's Jalen Hurts. Second round. Jalen Hurts, small squat six hundred and fifty pounds behind the biggest offensive line in league history. So it's a lot of Jalen Hurts this even with that old line. It doesn't work with Jared Goff, it's not gonna, it's not working with Brock Perdy. It's probably not working with Joe Burrow. It works with Jalen Hurts. So I do think Philadelphia's argument is A, there's no data that people are getting hurt, and B we've got unique personnel. Don't punish us for being the deepest offense in the league. Two receivers, two tight ends, star quarterback, star back, four all pro level alignment. Don't punish us for that. I think that's the best argument I've had. Philadelphia fans say, you're punishing us. We created some it's a good argument. Now. Now, the defensive shift in baseball was created by Joe Madden down in Tampa, and the problem was everybody started using right that wasn't really player specific, and it made the game slower. You did not want Bryce Harper lining out. You wanted Bryce Harper and the hair and the look. You wanted it on base. So that was so easy to duplicate it became bad for the league. Just like Adam Sober right now doesn't love all the three point shops because you can find three point shooters. What Philadelphia is doing is hard to duplicate, and so it's not all through the league. You only see it about four times a game from one team. So the unique flavor of it actually works to Philadelphia's favor If twenty two teams were using this eleven times a game, it would get banned because what the owners really care about is the entertainment value. But one team does it well and use it four to five times a game. It's their thing. It's their thing.

You know, I got to tell you right now. With the NBA, between Sga, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jalen Brunson, I'm not sure there ever been three more relatable NBA stars. I mean again, NBA guys are six eight. I remember going to the SBS and you know, athletes are big, but they look like human beings. And then you watch the NBA guys come in their tuxes and they're seven to two. They don't look like the rest of it. You know, Teddy Bruski I worked with, he was a great, fearless linebacker. After he retired, he carried a briefcase. He looked like the company's accountant. You couldn't tell. So I just find that SGA is just such a relatable dude. Halliburton and Brunson. It's really cool. So we talked about this yesterday. I said, I thought that Jason Kelsey, with his inspirational speech to the owners, got the tush push barely. Now, I'll say this, it was a twenty two to ten vote against the tush push. Let's not make it sound like people were in favor of it. The league didn't really want it. The Health and Safety Committee didn't want it, the Rules Gimmittee didn't want it, and twenty two owners didn't want it. But you needed twenty four to get it banned. So the NFL as suspected asked the Packers to propose a failed Tush push. That's been reported, so the league did not want it. The league didn't want it. The vote led to a according to stories here, multiple heated exchanges. So this is one of these things where I said this yesterday. I think it's Jason Kelsey and Jeffrey Lowie and this is the thing about the NFL, And I guess this is the same with every league. But there are certain owners in the NFL that have a lot of poll And it's not Michael Bidwell, Okay, it is Jerry Jones wanted an NFL team in Vegas. There's an NFL team in Vegas. Jerry Jones wanted the Rams to go from Saint Louis to Los Angeles. They went from Saint Louis to Los Angeles. Robert Kraft has always handled I'm not sure if he still does. For years he handled all the TV deals. He would collectively talk to all the owners and then he would go call Fox in CBS and NBC and ESPN. So Jeffrey Lourie of Philadelphia got a lot of smoke. Stan Cronky's one of the richest. Arthur Blank, the Hunt family, they've earned it craft Jerry Jones. You know Detroit's owners, Cleveland's owner, Chicago's owner, Arizona's owner. You know they don't have the money that of the wins. I think people look at Philadelphia. I don't think I think if twenty five teams were doing the tush push, it would be banned. I think it is allowed because it's Philadelphia and Jeffrey lury And I think I think there's only about four to five owners that get this thing pushed through. A Steve Bushatti of Baltimore maybe get its push, gets it pushed through. But Philadelphia is iconic. They arguably have the most passionate fan base. They're a blue blood that's incredibly important for the league. Jeffrey Lurie is a creative, progressive owner. Howie Roseman has built the best roster. They're good for the league. I mean, I've said this about all pro sports in America. You could drop six to eight NHL teams, Nobody would ninety nine percent of you don't know the arena of the Saint Louis Blues playing. You could drop eight baseball teams. You could drop about five to six NBA teams. Nobody would care it's the same in the NFL. I got news for you. You could a race about six NFL teams. Nobody would care. Philadelphia is one of those four foundational teams. To me, like Philadelphia, the Niners, out West Philadelphia, the Green Bay Packers' there's just a handful of teams. Dallas Cowboys obviously they just matter a lot. So I think I think this comes down to Jeffrey Lowie, Philadelphia, they're standing in the league, Jason Kelsey or this thing again. The vote was twenty two to ten. If it was twenty four to eight, it's banned, and you know people are upset with it. I do think. I do think the one thing that you know, for years and years Phil Jackson ran. They called it the triangle offense, and you're like, why didn't everybody use the triangle offense? And my argument would be because you didn't have Michael Jordan and Kobe the triangle offense. Yeah, Lamar Odin was kind of a clever player that it worked with. It worked mostly to the Kobe and Michael Jordan. This tush push works because it's the biggest offensive line in league history, and it works because Jalen hurts squats six hundred pounds and he's small. I mean you would if I would have told you you'd never seen the tush push, because Tom Brady in his era was a tall guy that was kind of lanky and was the best quarterback, sneak guy. If I would have told you you'd never watch the NFL, I'd say, there's this team. All you knew is you kind of had a sense of the league. I said, there's this team that invented this play. It's a one yard play. Who do you think runs it? You would have guessed like, oh, Lamar Jackson could always get a yard, or oh Josh Allen or Herbert they're huge, they could get a yard. You know, you look at the big guy. I said, No, it's Jalen Hurts. Second round. Jalen Hurts, small squat six hundred and fifty pounds behind the biggest offensive line in league history. So it's a lot of Jalen Hurts this even with that old line. It doesn't work with Jared Goff, it's not gonna, it's not working with Brock Perdy. It's probably not working with Joe Burrow. It works with Jalen Hurts. So I do think Philadelphia's argument is A, there's no data that people are getting hurt, and B we've got unique personnel. Don't punish us for being the deepest offense in the league. Two receivers, two tight ends, star quarterback, star back, four all pro level alignment. Don't punish us for that. I think that's the best argument I've had. Philadelphia fans say, you're punishing us. We created some it's a good argument. Now. Now, the defensive shift in baseball was created by Joe Madden down in Tampa, and the problem was everybody started using right that wasn't really player specific, and it made the game slower. You did not want Bryce Harper lining out. You wanted Bryce Harper and the hair and the look. You wanted it on base. So that was so easy to duplicate it became bad for the league. Just like Adam Sober right now doesn't love all the three point shops because you can find three point shooters. What Philadelphia is doing is hard to duplicate, and so it's not all through the league. You only see it about four times a game from one team. So the unique flavor of it actually works to Philadelphia's favor If twenty two teams were using this eleven times a game, it would get banned because what the owners really care about is the entertainment value. But one team does it well and use it four to five times a game. It's their thing. It's their thing.

J Mac.

J Mac.

Great first Hour on a Friday. We got Channing Fry and Paul Pierce stopping by today on Yeah.