The Jason Smith Show with Mike HarmonJason explains w the media "ESPN covered the Knicks too much instead of the Pacers" is such fake outrage. Longtime MLB Insider Jon Paul Morosi joins the guys for all the latest headlines from around the diamond. A Jaylen Brown Double Bang! Plus, instant reaction to the Celtics win with former NBA star Ryan Hollins!
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The Jason Smith Show with My base Friendmike Harmon Live from the Tirack dot Com Studios.
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An unmatched selection, fast, free shipping, free road hazard protection at over ten thousand recommended installers tirack dot com. The way tire buying should be. So we are set for the fourth quarter. We jump right in this Zewegoes in the NBA Playoffs, and no matter what the Celtics do, the Pacers just stick around.
Big Hoop by Halliburton.
The end of the third quarter, it is ninety four to ninety three Celtics with the lead going to the fourth quarter. This after they started out on a twelve ozer run. Pacers come back to Tide at halftime. Celtics jump out to a twelve point lead in the third, the Pacers erase it, come all the way back. It's a one point game. Anybody's game going to the fourth?
Yeah, and if the Pacers lose, I can tell you where the point of contention is already gonna be. At the end of three quarters, the Celtics fifteen of twenty one from the fall line.
Pacers two for two are doing big market teams getting all the calls again, Rick Corloyle, are you really upset about that?
What can you do?
How about you have seventy eight calls from this game? Did you want it?
Said?
See, I'm already rooting for the Celtics. I'm already well, I'm already rooting for this. Did our picks at the end of last night shady for the Celtic I'm already rooting for You didn't need to.
Fill any time. It was all right, you have to take the Celtics on principle.
I'm already matter of logic, no matter anything else.
Well the anziary, Carlot, you may hate the Celtics the rest of your life being a Knicks fan.
But for this series, you are wearing green.
Hey, you were running around in a Leprechaun outfit.
We gotta get Porzingi's back.
Game four, come on, man, we need Porzingis batche that's how.
You get to claim them. You got my guy for Zingis over there. We got a sloppy game, both double digit.
Well that's where I'm that I'm gonna be. Game four.
Gotta have Porzingis, man, come on, come on, come on, he's gotta come back.
Come on.
But you know, either you do what I guess a lot of the tzars of our industry that you didn't give enough love to Indiana last year.
He's like shot off. They weren't fun.
I mean, there was even a directive over at the four letter saying, hey, there's nothing sexy here, go the other way.
That's the way it works, right.
That's why you all talk about Lebron James every damn day and Brownie James and try to tell me how I'm supposed to care. Celtics are more interesting as to how they may gack this one away. Sure, another home home game where they're a double digit favorite, couple of huge runs, and yet we got a one point game going.
To the fort.
Look, they're storylines for every series and they're different, and the storyline for the Knicks Pacer series. I'm sorry is Hey, the Knicks are really good for the first time in three decades. They stir the drink, just like the Lakers do. You're upset about the coverage, and you saw today a lot of people upset all the Pacers didn't get the coverage they should.
I'm like, I'm like, what are you talking about. Man.
You don't want Spike Lee on TV with Stephen A. Smith in game seven. You don't want Madison Square Garden. I'm sorry. The Knicks are more interesting, but you're the Pacers. I'm sorry, but the Knicks are more interesting. It's the same thing with Michael Malone and the Nuggets. Oh, I'm sorry.
Can we talk about the Nuggets from the world in tribute to him? Since they lost? Let's remember Can we remember the Nuggets and they're collapsing with a twenty point lead and everything that went into that, or when we do that tomorrow.
But look, it's the same thing when Malone is upset. Oh, I can't believe the Lakers are getting all this publicity. We're not getting a. First of all, it's publicity. It has nothing to do with the game. You're playing the game on the floor, you're winning, your losing, but you're upset with all the coverage is not quite there.
You know.
It's the same like I said, it's the same thing with Michael Malone last year, all Lebron. I'm sorry, it's the Lakers and Lebron. That's a much bigger deal than you and Nikola Jokic. And I'm sorry, but Jalen Brunson, the Knicks are a bigger deal. In the Pacers, the Celtics and the potential for them to choke this away already in game one is a bigger deal. It's the storyline going into this game and coming out of this game, in game two, in game three, in game four, because we told you this is the easiest path you are ever gonna see a team get to the finals. This is when the Celtics have to get there. And congratulations to everybody else in the media who wanted to throw that out there as a talking point today. We've told you this for weeks. This is the Celtics buy into the end finals like this is the storyline. I'm sorry, but the Pacer. This is about Boston. It's Boston's a big heritage team. This is what we've They've been near and in the NBA finals for the past few years. This is just how it goes. Man, this is this is not a sled in anybody. This is just I'm sorry. The Pacers are a mid market team. Their entire existence is based on playing the Knicks in the playoffs. That's their entire existence. And now that series has gone. So you're gonna get the Celtics. You're gonna stir the drink. Hey, get to the finals, win the championship. What do you care eventually have to talk about you, Well, we're not gonna cover this Pacers parade. Why not not gonna do it. There's a better parade from the team that lost. We're gonna go to that parade instead, because Anthony Edwards is at that parade. He's a loser's parade, So we're gonna go to that one, because you know he could be Michael Jordan's. We're gonna cover that parade instead of this parade. Like, I see this and I go this is just a fake controversy. This is just a fake controversy from people who were just pissed that the Knicks were good and they were getting coverage. It's the Knicks bias from people that I'm just sick of the Knicks coverage. So I'm gonna say, oh, here are the Pacers. Why didn't they get more coverage? I mean really seriously, But it.
Goes like I don't know where guys stopped being media members and became ombudsman's and all of a sudden, like so you're you're gonna decide what the coverage should be.
I'd like to be an on Budsman.
You know what that's It's not Hey, We're talking about what matters and what moves the needle, which is our charge here, right. Part of it is to try to get you interested in stuff that you know, maybe you and I find exciting. But the general rule of thumb is you go with the stuff that works, I e. The Lakers and the NFL. Whenever there's a half ass NFL story, we get it. The Pacers were not interesting. I like Pascal Siakam as a player, he's great, Halliburton rising star great, Yeah, interesting.
And Fred five big time NBA fan for the big serious NBA fan, the top ten percent of NBA fans, Hey, yes, the Pacers are extremely not obi top. They do offensively, how good you know that is and everything else, but but for but for the average.
Fan, I mean just that really, I mean you're really upset. You're the Pacers. I'm sorry, but you're the Pacers.
It's not anything else, it's it looks And if you want to be happy now that the Knicks arerock congratulations, Let's see what the ratings are like.
Now the Knicks out. Now, let's see what the ratings are like. What's the worst thing you can have is indifference? Right, you want to be loved or hated in our business and in a lot of your work, you want to be loved or hated. And the Knicks you either love it or you got sick of it. And you know what, that's better for ratings because you hate watch to see them.
And that's what people in the media are just pissed. They're they're sick of the Knicks, and they're sick of the fans.
And the go New York Go, New York go, probably sick of me. And I get it. I get it.
But I'm telling you, but you lean into it and take the hate that that's why.
That's why it's there.
It's not there for any other reason other than I'm sick of seeing all the Knicks fans being excited that their team is good for the first time in thirty years.
If this was the Clippers.
In the NBA finals, If this was the Pistons in the NBA Finals, and all the talk was Pistons are Clippers, nobody would say, oh, I'm sick of this.
Oh look, how great to talk to. But if they made it to the finals, I mean, we talk about Isaiah and how Michael.
Jordan's kid, they would they would bring out everybody. Ben Wallace would come back, they'd bring back Joe Dumars.
It wouldn't any other.
Team that hasn't been good in thirty years.
If if if they were good, it would be all, look at the great moment they're having.
But oh, I just just don't like the Knicks. I just don't like it. That's all. This is.
Anybody that's been upset a lot of people in the media complaining about ESPN's coverage of the of the Eastern Conference Final, What do you expect Game seven?
And I don't know what you expect. This is just this is how it works.
And now suddenly I'm gonna choose to be outraged like Rick Carlisle, I'm gonna choose to be outraged about the foul calls at the end of Game two, but not the rest of the series because apparently every single foul call was called correctly the rest of the series.
And I'm still bad hell nis man.
Whether it was this message will self destruct emission impossible or not that he got a missive once he got that thirty five thousand dollars, fine, he also either got a call from a guy with the disguised bars. You're gonna not say another damn word about the officials and everything going on in market, You understand, Carlisle, Adam is this year no no prank call, prank call.
I think that's what's happened.
He got the code read that if he said another word, they were gonna be problems and repercussions.
But for this series, yeah, it's about Celtics.
If Tatum and Brown fail, you break up the squad, right, this is it. This is their last hurrah, their last run to the Eastern Conference finals. If they don't hold up the Larry O'Brien Trophy, this is it.
Isn't it.
And does at Missoula get fired, because that means they would have lost a bunch of home games. Again, like add it all up, it's far more interesting. Again, no disrespect to the good folks our heartland that love the Indian had a Pacers and the legacy thereof It's all about the Celtics and the history.
Of course, it's cigar chomper all of that stuff.
Michael Chickli is running around and the West Red horbucket and the Western Conference is about the Lakers and the Warriors, and I'm sorry, these are the teams and the little bit about the Nuggets.
But now they lost, so now okay, good luck. Now it's gonna be about Luca and Mark Cuban. Sorry, that's just how it goes, man, That's just how it goes. And now people don't hate the play I hate the game. Don't make that or leave the game.
If you don't like you don't like it, don't watch. Hey, look you got what you want it right, you don't like it, don't watch. Yeah, everybody got what they want. You got the Knicks out of the playoffs.
Okay, still get people the right stuff for you and pretend you did he got Okay, you got the knicks.
I feel like Dwayne Wade, PACER's got the knicks out.
I feel like Dwayne Wade when he was crying that time when when the first season for the Heatles and they were like seven and seven, he started crying, everybody's.
Going they wanted out. Miami was terrible.
I feel like that now you don't got what you want to know the knicks around.
Of the playoffs.
So just just understand what you did and I'll just you got what you want.
To still, but that was the grossest nice calculation of things that that was good?
Did I sound just like Rick Carlisle? He did not sound just like Rick Carlyle.
There he needed the mock turtleneck to go with it and your best Steve jobs telling you man.
Every time I see Rick Carlyle, I feel like he's from the future, Like maybe he knows things we don't know.
He looks like and through that Pala from the Orchard Dublin. I mean he might he might he's or is he a better or a cumber match got it came through?
Or he could be someone who like is a guy in a movie that is in charge of this really weird science project where like we're cloning people or or or something is happening and where we're merging people with animals for for weaponize them for war. Like that's kind of what he He's a combination of from the future and got more movies about that. Maybe they will be, They will be. You gotta watch sci Fi Channel. I think there's probably a much movie, probably plenty. Yeah, I think Debbie Gibson into and Beyond the Sharknados. We got a few of those. Beyond the Shark Nato, Behind the scenes of Sharknado, Beyond the Shark Hi. The Jason Smith Show with my best friend Mike Carmon Live from the tirec dot Com Studios. Eight minutes left to go, Boston with the ball in a one point lead over the Pacers one oh two one oh one. Will continue to have more on this game, but coming up next, John Paul Morosi stops by Big visit. We talk about all the big stuff going on in Major League Baseball. Had show Heyo Tani already won the National League MVP.
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Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern seven pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app. Bali Fusco here with Tony Fusco. You know, as the host of the number one rated Paully and Tony Fusco Show. We get tons and tons of fan mail every day.
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Pacers.
Now the four point lead over the Celtics, we'll jack all.
That on how it collapsed for the Celtics. If it goes bad winning.
I'm right now, one o eight, one oh four. Still a lot of time left, just under four and a half minutes, but the Pacers have jumped out to a four point lead over the Celtics, Game one of the Eastern Conference Finals. But time out of check in with a man who's going to answer what could be a very big postseason question for us right out of the gate. MLB Network insider, Fox Sports one insider. He's on Twitter at John Morosi. It is the Pope, John pal Morosi. What's happening, Bud?
How are you believe me?
My friends? It's a beautiful night here in the great state of Michigan, and I just returned back from LA where as I understand it, you got a pretty good baseball team out there.
Yeah, it's not bad.
You know.
I don't know if you saw.
They had a couple of signings in the offseason, and I think they might work out. I mean, it's the stuff under the radar, obviously, but I think these signings might work out.
No, I think so. And the only surprise, and of course, we had the game last night on MLB Network, And the only surprise I've got right now is that I'm not still there because once, once they started scoring runs the third inning, said I might not make my flight tomorrow morning. They may still be batting by the time my flight boards at Las. That's how good they are. They're a lot of fun to watch, guys. And really, I'll say this too. Show the impact is real, and also the way in which he makes the rest of the team better is real. There's always traffic on the basis and as great as he is, here's the irony. The guy who leads them in RBI right now is tae Oscar Hernandez, who bat's fifth. And it's because they're all on base, all of them. And just to watch the Freeman Grand Slam, it was right in front of me. It's just pretty extraordinary to watch. So I do think in many ways the Dodgers are living up exactly to the billing right now.
JP.
I know it's early, and I get that we're still talking about the end of May. And Elie de la Cruz is having a phenomenal year. He was my non Otani pick. But you're looking at him hitting three fifty thirteen homers, thirty three arbi already, like, is he already the NLMVP? Can we give it to Otani, like, do we need to play it out the rest of the way or can we give it to him?
Now?
Well, here's the thing. The numbers are extraordinary and we have to go back though and see how many times did David Ortiz win the MVP. How many times when Frank Thomas was the DH did he win the MVP? How many times did Edgar Martinez win the MVP? As a DH? He is he is a unicorn. We know that in every way there's only one Otani. And yet when it comes to the voters looking at the data, looking at the performances, if you have a shortstop, let's say, or a center fielder, or even a Mookie Bets on his own team, who you look at what Mooki has done for them, I would say that if Mooki puts up numbers, I'm just using a rough percentage here. If Mooki puts up eighty percent of the offense that show A does, even seventy percent of the offense that he does, and is playing an up the middle position every day, who is more valuable? And even you look at you, if you get a little more into the narrative of the Dodgers, season, there's something of an emergency in spring training and they got to have Mookie play shortstop because Lux wasn't comfortable doing it, couldn't get it done. Where would they be without Mookie Bets. I would say that that for that team, Mookie Bets right now is the more indispensable player, even though Otani's here offensive performance is the best. And that's just how I look at it. And I'm one MVP voter. I've done it for a long time. I will likely not have a National League ballot this year, so my opinion is just the same as yours on this particular issue. But I have always in my MVP voting prioritized up the middle defenders or those that have special defensive value when I vote, And that's why I've voted Miny tacher Jose Ramirez in Cleveland when maybe other people didn't. That's just how I look at it. And we'll see how many MVP voters.
Agree, or you're just dominating like Ranger Suarez. But to that end in that division, I'll ask it from my Mets loving friend, how quickly do they start selling off parts?
Today?
Take phone calls today? I answer your phone today. Alonzo everybody, Yeah, answer your phones.
Well, here's the thing, as one very wise baseball person observed to me recently, the Alonso decision is setting up to be potentially a difference of opinion between the front office and ownership ownership in the sense that Steve Cohen and you know this, Jason has since he took over, tried to do what the fans wanted and has and has spent money and has brought in superstars, some of which have worked out, some of which haven't. One would actually say that maybe a majority of them haven't. When you think about Verlander insures are at those at those expense levels, having to trade them, you think about lind Or, same thing. Of course, Francisco goes back in Cleveland this week. A lot of conversation about who actually has won that trade. So as much as Cohen has wanted to do what the fans would desire, had that strategy really worked and is, he may be at a point where a new president of Baseball Operations with David Searance can say, listen, it's not working right now, and we've we've got to get some value for tid Alonzo. I would also say this Alonso right now, his his track record, his career achievements are greater than what his production is at the moment. At that position, the Seattle Mariners are a natural team to talk about, whether it's Alonso or vlad Junior, if the Jays decide to sell. But I don't look at Alonzo was having a ton of value. And I would also say this, he's got a major free agency coming up. His agent is Scott Boris. I would tend to think that to the extent that they can, they will try to steer him towards a team that would use him at first base and not DH, for fear that if he's at DH in the last two months it might diminish the way some teams view him as a as a two way player. So it's an interesting conversation. I think for Peter Alonzo, the Mets ownership front office, I think they should sell. I agree because they are just that far behind where the Phillies and Braves are. But when I spoke to David Searns last week and I saw him in person there in Philly, I did not get the sense that they are close to being sellers at the moment.
You didn't send in the white handkerchief that Smith sent along, just hand it up.
Right around five hundred.
Then dz Bleu three games and that changed every But here's the thing, John Paul, is that I know that you look, you have said that you'll get my messages to David Stearns, you know, knowing him being your roommate in college, everything else. Listen, I want to let you know what I will do. I will reach out to teams. I will broke her some deals, and I will send you texts and tweets and emails about deals I have set up with other teams that David Stearns can say yes or no on Alonzo, Nimo, j D Martinez, Jeff McNeil, even lindor everybody.
I'll call everybody. I'll get those things.
Then I'll say, then you send to him and he lets you know, and you let me know what trade can happen.
That's how I'll make a deal.
Send them my way. Okay, I'm sure I will say this though, given that David grew up in New York as a fan of the Mets, he probably hears from a lot of friends with ideas. I'm just going to put that out there, just throwing that out there, and I really had. I had fully intended to bring a lot of positivity to our conversation tonight about your favorite teams. That was really my plan as of last week or maybe ten days ago. And I said, wait a minute, Okay, Hurricanes out.
Yeah, Nick out.
Jets seems like the Jets. You know this May you know this is my Midwestern view on this. They seem to have a lot of noise around them, right, and that seems to be the way the things go. I mean, here we are in May that I hear something about controversy involving their quarterback, and it's May. Man.
Hey, we win the off season. We win the off season, John Paul. The regular season gives us a lot of difficulty. We are great in the off season. We get everything.
Yeah, I mean, it's amazing. How there's I'm gonna speak in generalities here that in basically any other sports, when the age of the franchise players starts with a four and he blows out his achilles, basically most rational rational organization would say, you know what, forty something year old player torn achilles. The age curve is not exactly in our favor. But it appears to me that Jess to saying, oh no, oh, it's like a boomerang. This thing is gonna come right back. And we're in great shape here with our forty something year old quarterback on a repaired achilles. I mean, I see, I see no cous for a concern, and so we're gonna roll with that.
Okay, no cancer concern in Mike Rmen. Nothing to see, nothing to see here just yet. Okay, Well, no, that's good.
As we look across the American League JP, we've got Seattle, you know, always a favorite on the show and predicting their greatness. So they're they're leading the West Texas only a couple of games behind.
Houston.
Gonna run them down, No, I.
Don't think so. I think Houston's got a better team than what they have shown, but they are not the team they've been in the past. I think that a couple things have happened that offensively they've been a little more inconsistent. I think pitching wise, the toll of all those innings and the late octobers is starting to come do the bullpen. It's not what they thought it was going to be. And so for all those reasons, I don't see them closing in on a team in Seattle that's just that good on the mound. I mean, they just beat the Yankees back to back days. That's pretty pretty impressive to go in there and win. And so for me, the consistency of Seattle's pitching. I know you. You make a very good point that I am a famous predictor of the Seattle Mariners to do well. But in this case, I think there's reason to believe that it's that it's real and Brian Wu's come back, he's healthy, the lineup is much better and more balanced than I thought it was going to be. So I'm all about it, my friends. I think the Mariners, the Men of the Sea, are a dangerous team in October.
All right, John Paul, let me hit you. I'm gonna hit you with a hot taik. Agree or disagree? You're ready, let's go.
You got it?
Agree to disagree? Okay, regardless of position. Now, we talked about Otani and how great he's been. Other guys have been great, Gunnar Henderson's been awesome. My al MVP pick Ellie day La Cruz. But I'm gonna say this, agree or disagree, regardless of position, the best player in Major League Baseball this year has been show to you Minaga.
Best player.
Agree, Agree, Wow, look at you. Yeah.
I had to think about it, and then I gave you a succinct one word answer, which is not the usual Morosi approach, but I'm but that's what I gave you because he throws and I just love that nine mile hour fastball that no one can square up because it just has tremendous carry in the zone. The metrics say it, the hitters say it, people that have watched him, I think have seen it. He's capable of this kind of success, but this has been next level.
I mean he is.
He is an extraordinary starting pitcher. He has exceeded all the greatest expectations. And how amazing is it that Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched great last night in the game that we had on MLB Network that I was there for at Dodger Stadium. And he's been magnificently since the first start he had the season in Korea, and yet the most impressive first year pitcher who came over from Japan has been in Managa. I mean, he's been that great and there's a reason why scouts and evaluators spend so much time looking at pitching from Japan because there's a proven track record of success and how the best pitchers there translate to Major League Baseball and Chotine Minaga is I think, in a lot of ways hopefully opening the eyes of talent evaluators, whether it's pictures in North America or in Asia, that you don't have to throw one hundred miles an hour to have success in Major League Baseball right now because Ivanaga is front and set love washing them work. The throwing philosopher is is front and center right now in majorly Baseball, and he's become a.
Full hero in Chicago.
Is telling Jason about, you know, making an appearance after his last start, beliagued and still got after it all right. So just going down the rabbit hole from the fantasy owners and all that stuff is there. There's someone on the radar that people are sleeping on right now. That's that's putting up some numbers you want to give some shine to.
Sure. I mean, I think that when you look at teams that have overachieved a little bit, I think relative expectations, the Milwaukee Brewers stand out to me. And if you're a fantasy owner and you want to add it into it or look up Joey Ortiz, he was in the Corbyn Burns trade. And while we have spent time rightfully praising the Orioles for getting Corbyn Burns Milwaukee, even with Craig Council Gone Burns, Gone Woodrift Gone, it's a it's a new team in all ways. Look at where our chis is done in the last week or so coming up. I've been really impressed by the work that he has done. So I'm all in right now. Joey Ortiz of the Milwaukee Brewers. They've got Bryce Terrang as well. I've got some really good young talents. I would say, take a close look at the Brewers roster, especially for offensive players. Not that I'm big into fantasy sports, but they're a team that you look at hitter friendly ballpark. They're playing pretty well. So again Ortiz, Terrang, look at that group. Freelik as a good outfielder. I like the energy for first year manager Pat Murphy there in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He's on Twitter at John Morosi, that is at John Morosi MLB Network inside of John Paul Morosi. Pope as always, Buddy, appreciate your time, man, We'll talk to you next week.
My pleasure to look forward to next week and enjoy that we had this one off night in the Stanley Cup playoffs. I know basketball is going on, but game one tomorrow getting started for the conference finals. Enjoy that as well, my friends.
Take it easy, buddy. Now he's got Silly Cup final coming up. He's games, guys. Stiff this somewhere, you know.
He's got lacrosse.
Meanwhile, mean, while, wow, are things wild?
In Boston.
The Celtics were trailing the Pacers by three Pacers inbounding the ball with a little bit over ten seconds left to go. Pacers had taken control of this game, and it looked like it was gonna be foul free throw and that's it, except the Pacers can't inbound the ball. They turn it over ball out of bounds to the Celtics, and the Celtics hit a contested three with five and a half seconds left to go to tie this game with Indiana up at one seventeen a piece. It is insane. Donnie Wahlberg is going crazy. I think David Ortiz is going down.
To the only celebrities they had. They had multiple shots of those two guys.
You got to go to Donnie Walls like the original, like New Kids on the Block was before Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Well, well, Ben Affleck's got some got some stuff going on now.
I mean, you know, you just show up and lean all into the Celtics.
Matt Damon's trying to unload all his crypto. Man, come on, the guy's busy, hey man, but you got you got, you got him going crazy. You have Donnie Wallberg, you have already it's some kind of scene right now. Time out on the floor with five and a half seconds left to go. Look, you know, as you just heard Martin Wise give you a very eloquent recap of the last thirty five seconds of the fourth quarter. That's not going to be taught in any NBA classes everywhere.
Things to do, here's what not to do. You have thirty six seconds? Do you have to take it three?
No?
No, you don't.
That's that's that's not gonna be taught to where saying hey, this is real, this is really It was a horrendous last thirty five seconds.
But let's just focus for a second.
On Jalen Brown's three when the Pacers have a foul. They're up three, they have a foul to give, but instead Siakam backs off of Jalen Brown in the corner and allows him to shoot the three that ties the game. And that's why you're in overtime. I mean that, I mean this is you know, for Rick Carlisle, I don't know that there's any officiating that's gonna be able to if they lose this game, he's able to.
Say, oh, well, this happened. This happened.
But these are all big time mistakes in the last thirty five seconds from both teams. But let's focus on this because this is where the Pacers really had the game and should have wound up putting it away. But instead there's no foul at the end, and instead you let Jalen Brunson hit that three. Jalen Brunson, He let Jalen brun It's Jalen Brunson an his hand, he can't. It's Jalen Brown hitting that three, and we're in overtime because of that.
Yeah, well he was sent quietly into this good night. Yeah, oh wow, budd.
There is a lot to unpack as we begin overtime between the Pacers and the Celtics. Plus, we got big stuff out of the NFL. Keep it right here, Jason and Mike. This is Fox Sports Ready.
Yeh, the Pacers closed the next the other day, Alex, what's this for? I don't know.
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven pm Pacific.
State him trying to get free throw it in the corner, Brown fakes fires up the three.
Jaylen Brown l bree to tie the game.
Oh the double bang from Mike Breen, Fox Sports Radio, The Jason Smith Show with my best friend Mike Harmon the play that baffles still with a foul to give. At the end of the game, Pascal Siakam lays off of Jalen Brown.
Jaylen Brown hits a three.
We go to overtime right now, just over a minute left to go, and Jason Tatum goes to the free throw line where he could finish a three point play and put the Celtics up one.
Look, he's had a continuation.
DJ Well because TJ McConnell has a hold of him the entire way. That's why it's a continuation. He grabs him and doesn't let go. Look, and I always.
Say, he gets him on the ground like it's done, but he doesn't let go.
That's the problem when you're when you're still holding on to him and he's he was dragging him like he was Jeff Van Gundy holding onto a lot until Morning's flank getting to the free throw line. Look, this is I always say the same thing, all right with Jason Tatum hits the free throw, Boston's up by one, Haliburton turns it over it at at half court and so now Celtics are going to have the ball. Looks like he just lost the handle. Yeah, Halliburton just lost the handle on it and went out of bounds on the Celtics have the ball. Look, this is kind of what it's been. Teams have been getting chances in the last four minutes of the last five minutes of overtime and the last forty seconds of regulation because the team has made an inordinate amount of mistakes.
I mean, that's really where we're at.
You're seeing both teams make an incredible amount of mistakes. But it's okay because what do I always say, it doesn't need to be art, it just needs to be coh.
It needs to be close. It's yeah, no, it's all excitement. Every doesn't possession. I mean, we're inching towards the front of our seats.
It just needs to be close. It doesn't need to be great, it doesn't need to be under It just needs to be close. And let's be honest, when teams brain cramp, like both of these squads have done in the last few minutes, it gives.
Us a lot more great stuff to talk about.
You know, it's all, well, here's a well what we say about game seven?
Well, the Pacers shot sixty seven. Yeah, that's it. Okay, all right, let's move on. Let's move on. We're moving on. We're moving on. And Jalen Brunson broke.
His hands, yeah, to kind of add to the just list of misery.
Yeah, and uh, look, and now the Celtics have made the Pacers pay. Look, Halliburton just dribbled the ball out of bounce. There's nothing to say. He tried to turn and he lost the handle. The ball went out of bounds. Jason Tatum very calmly, wide open at the arc. Somehow some kind of defensive breakdown, He's able to slidestep by the first defender, and hit a three. So now it is a four point lead for the Celtics one twenty seven to one twenty three, with about forty three seconds left to go. Tatum by himself has outscored the Pacers in overtime eight to six, and it is a four point lead for Boston with forty three seconds left.
Pacers just one field goal in the overtime period. You did have the horrible Tatum turnover that turned into an opportunity and Haliburton did a great chase down block. Earlier the attempt was made on him accept attempt to the free throw line from three shots where he commonly made all three of them. That's basically your offense for the Pacers. As they turned the ball over for the twenty second time.
I'm sorry, make it twenty three. As Pascal Siakam was just stripped in the lane. It looked like he was going in for a layup and he is stripped. The ball goes the other way. Now the Pacers have to foul and help the Celtics miss because now Boston's going to the free throw line. Siakam goes down the lane, does a bit of a spin move, but it's just taken out of his hands. Jalen Brown just takes it out of his hands and dribbles it starts dribbling up court. It looked like Siakam was gonna have a little bit of trouble because Horford was sliding over.
And this is where.
Jalen Brown just stayed down, reached in, grabbed the ball, dribbled the other way. The Celtics got to pass half court. Now the Pacers have fouled, and now with thirty seconds left to go, four point lead, Celtics at the free throw line. Jalen brownle head there. He's got twenty six already tonight. So again we are seeing this is we are seeing bad decisions, We are seeing turnovers. But it doesn't matter as long as it's closed. I always say this, and nothing is more prevalent. This is like the dictionary definition of it doesn't matter if it's art. It just needs to be close more than this game, right, You could show the last four and a half minutes of overtime, the last minute of regulation. People say, oh, Jason Mike, I get what you're saying. When you mean it just needs to.
Become Oh, that's just it, because now we can break down possession for possession, failure for failure the SIACA play, I guarantee you, Carlisle brings up, wondering how Jalen Brown was able to have the hand into the body and not get a call there before he took the ball away. But you do have twenty plus turnovers and you've only been to the fall line six times.
Carlyle is ready.
I want, I wonder is it going to be the official's fault that Halliburt dribble the ball out of bounds?
Well, the Pacers are still They gave you your money though if you backed him plus plus double digits.
Baby, when we continue, will it be a Celtics victory or an incredible Pacers comeback or double ot wow focks. Fox Sports Radio The Jason Smith Show with my best friend Mike Harmon. Celtics in overtime take advantag of numerous Pacers mistakes in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, and over time they win Game one of the Eastern Conference Finals one thirty three, one twenty eight. Let me just say this, deer media members who were upset the Pacers weren't getting the coverage against the Knicks. Dear Indiana Pacers who were upset they weren't getting more coverage. The coverage is now all about you. Congratulations, good night, and good luck.
It's your time. Congratulations.
Now it's all about all the stuff you didn't do and all the mistakes you made.
Congratulations. Man, you wanted it, You got it. Man, You've got a good night and good luck. Are we gonna go see it on Broadway?
Good night and good luck. Colooney's bringing it to the Great White Way? Are we gonna go?
Is he really?
Oh?
Yeah, that's gonna be there. Yeah, he and Hessloff are producing.
If he's gonna leave Lake Como, and yeah, was gonna go and be on Broadway a while.
So time now to break it down. Nobody better than to say.
Hi to the big dog former NBA star, our teammate here at Fox Sports Radio NBA analysts Houston Rockets analyst, probably wearing an out outfit right now. He spent no more than seven dollars to buy it is Ryan Hollins, big dog.
What's happening, man?
How are you? What's up to that money? Oh?
My goodness, dude, because i'd be in a you know, give a take, you know, Jude dollar twenty dollars I may have you, man, I may have.
Me because I got I got a I got a thrifting T shirt and sweatpants right now that I know. Don't get me more than eight dollars. I'm already though, I'm yeah, I'm already. I'm starting out pretty well.
What's in that wallet? Though?
He got nothing? He bought a sandwich you on the way in. He got nothing, all right?
So Rick Carlyle just began his postgame press conference by saying, this loss is on me, is the loss on him?
Is the loss on the players? What'd you think of this?
I mean, here's the thing.
I've been there before as a player, and you know, normally you want to play those situations out. But maybe Rick is just saying I didn't think about the turnovers down the stretch. Maybe I should have kept Halliburton in the middle of the floor. You think about not fouling in that situation, saying hey, hey grab him, Hey grab them, make sure once the ball is in you grab them. And you know, I'm sure with Pascal, Pascal's probably thinking there's no way he makes this shot. And as a player, you like to be confident in your abilities. He took his complete airspace away and he ends up hitting that shot. And again I wasn't as firm a believer. And then when I'm up three, you're gonna foul. But I'm all in now, look I shange that I'd rather have him at the line for three if I got to plant him. Come on, man, Well, my Rockets this season end up losing to the Trailblazers not fouling at the end of the game, and then against Oklahoma City, they were supposed to foul, they don't foul, and Jalen Williams, you know, ends up hitting a twenty five foot three you know, leaning into the basket. And these guys are so good in today's NBA that you have to make sure they don't have a shot to score.
So I'm all in, like, I like, I get it.
And then now you know, you extend the game out, but you don't allow these guys to tie the game up.
And I mean.
Pascal, if you look at the replay, he's literally in Jalen Jaylen Brown's jersey and he gets the shot off.
And they end up winning the game.
But if I'm Indiana, I've got a strange confidence right now.
It's a resilient group. I don't think they know any different.
And if you're Boston man, you gotta be scared because it took everything you had to end up beating them.
Well, what if this is the game that Boston normally gives away and you gave it back, right, because they always give away one at home? You and I were talking about this on the Sunday Show. Right, they're gonna give you an opportunity to come and take one. What if this was their shot?
No, you're you're you're right about that, and and and again, you know we talked about it. I mean, you see this Boston Celtics teams, they're different. They're literally a completely different team. They're teams that just end up firing up a bunch of threes or they end up looking like a team that you want to just hand the NBA title to right away. But when I'm looking at Indiana, you know they match up a little better. I think with the addition at Pascal Siakam, obviously we rate about him, but a guy who stood out to me tonight is Obi topping Obi top game is a guy who just makes them so much more athletic. They're able to match up with Tatum and Brown. Obviously they still have those small guards. They end up getting posted up or you know, give something up. But man, you got a group that's believing right now. If I'm the Pacers, I feel very confident.
Well, here here's the thing.
Let me look at it from a different perspective, because yes, I think the whole world is waiting for the Celtics to collapse.
We've seen how many times, But I look at it this way.
Siakam clearly was the difference maker tonight, regardless of the two big mistakes he made. He couldn't handle the inbound pass, he doesn't foul the end of regulation. This was the first time the Celtics had seen this version of the Pacers. This is the first time they played Siakaman. You can figure things out know a guy's game from Toronto, but this is the first time and they know. Okay, so I expect a big adjustment in Game two, and I expect I expect this to be a better Game two for the Celtics. And expected because now, okay, we've seen Game one, we know what we need to do. This was the Pacers kind of taking us a little bit by surprise, coming off the vapors from the last game coming back twice in this one. I oddly feel good about the Celtics going into Game two.
Really, And you know, another big X factor for me is Miles Turner. I don't think with prizingis missing or if he comes back and he's half way, that he's going to be able to make enough of an impact. But that's the guy the Celtics are kind of struggling to match up with. His ability to roll to pop back for threes, He's active on the class. He's the guy that I kind of look at even though they're small, that's a difference, you know, obviously in Indiana side. So if you're the Celtics, man, I think you got to grit it out. I think their experience one out, you're the Pacers, you say, hey, man, look at these mental mistakes.
Look how close this game was.
And obviously hats off to the Celtics because you're right, they normally had that game.
That they give away.
But I felt like the Celtics kind of came out to you know, like they were aware, like they had a respect for Indiana, which makes me not feel as confident for the Celtics and they just come out and they look uninterested in times.
No, that's it strong, strong out of the gate, that twelve twelve point lead, early twelve point lead in the third one of those games, though, Ryan, when we get to an Eastern Conference final, we had thirty five turnovers in this game. Just some sloppy, sloppy playing. How do you lose sight of where.
The end line is?
You know?
On the sidelines Haliburton, multiple times we've seen him have trouble where he loses perspective there.
Those are fouls have been called all season long, and in some instances, all playoffs long, and at this moment, the referees are like, dude, we're gonna.
Let you guys play.
So for Hall of Burton, he's going to adjust to the physicality. And I think the crazy thing about Indiana, there's a lot of first there's a lot of first time this far, first time seeing this, and for them to have kind of taken that first punch from the Celtics and bounce back, I think they will adjust to the tempo and the physicality that the playoffs starts to coming. Because I'm telling you one thing from playing in it, I was surprised. I'm like, you can grab like you can shove on rebounds and they don't call it. It's like really like and then I'm like, you know, the biggest difference is all those old guys, all those you know, ten twelve year veterans. They're playing hard, they're in a stance, they sprint back on defense, They're doing all the little things. So I think Indiana is going to adjust. I don't think they should have been anywhere this close.
Ryan Hollins with us, the Jason's with Mike Carmon live from the TIREC dot Com studios. All right, now, the big elephant in the room. We saw the big discrepancy. The Celtics went to the free throw line. Hang on, le me look it up eighty six more times tonight than the Pacers did. The Pacers actually went to the free throw line a negative amount of time tonight, if that's possible. Uh, did you see a big discrepancy? Did you see a big advantage for the Celtics foul wise or was this just hey, they were more physical, they were getting the calls.
Well, here, Indy gives up a lot of size with nim Hart, Halli Burton in those guys. So you know, when the big guards of the Celtics get downhill, they have to foul them. They're grabbing and holding and the Pacers are out are pretty much a jump shooting team outside of Miles Turner, you know when he's rolling to the rim. So you know the way they play other than Pascal Siakam, you know, they really aren't going to get a lot of fouls called.
And that is the advantage for the Celtics. They have those huge guards.
So I'm not going to make too much of a fuss about the whistle. But again, I think Indiana goes back. They watch the film and they're gonna see the physicality that they're gonna need to meet the Celtics for in this series.
So they just put up a graphic the holiday as twenty eight, seven and eight. But while defending Haliburt and Halibert a couple of turnovers and he's over five from the field.
He played forty eight minutes tonight.
He's the Josh Hart of the Boston Celtics. So he's gonna get hitting the solar plexus. He had problems.
What are we talking? They do they change up a little bit.
Do the Celtics see, hey, this is what worked and maybe there's a little bit more of Holiday on Halliburton in game two.
Yeah, I think you can see that. And I think that is the challenge for the Celtics that a lot of times they're sub versatile. They're so good that Mozilla doesn't have to make too many changes. You know, he'll come out with a standard his standard defense. You know, Well, they'll just switch things up, play guy straight up. And I think that's where a lot of the criticism, you know, ends up coming from. So I don't see the Celtics making too much of an adjustment. Obviously, that was a good matchup, but a tough thing is that there's not just one guy who's gonna shut out Halliburton. And the reason I say it, he's so dynamic. He plays a lot of pick and roll. So what you'll do if you got Drew Holliday on him, jew Holliday's going to be chasing through screens and one of the Celtics do. They like to switch every opportunity that he can get. So you'll just set a little brush screen and see if Drew Holliday's going to switch or stay in coverage, and you'll loost likely have to switch. Why because they hit threes at such a high rate, just as the Knick.
Sorry, Jason, that's all.
Hey, look, we finished, we finished the game with one and a half. Guys, it's okay. It's okay in games. So they broke Jalen Brunson. That's how bad it got.
Yeah, he had the obligatory literal break at the end of it all.
Hey, hey, hey, hats off to your Knicks. Though, great year. You should be happy, very unhappy.
Sure, he still he hates Rick Carlisle and everything he stands for, just like.
Complaining, the complaining from Rick Carlo.
All right, so hey, big dog, before I let you go Western Conference Finals tomorrow, give us your pick.
Who's going to the NBA Finals?
Oh? Who is going to the NBA Finals? Man? I like I like Minnesota. I didn't.
I didn't pick them against Denver, and I think it's all in fairness to say, I don't think any of us did.
And to see Denver give up.
A twenty point lead and get walked down at the house, I'm surprised. And there's something about Minnesota right now. Man, it looks like they're just believing, Like they just believe in what's going on. I don't think they're great offensively, they're a lead on the defensive end, and just they're huge, and I think they're one of the rare teams that can go out and guard Lukadancic. They can take Dallas off the boards. This is gonna be completely opposite. Oklahoma City gave up a lot of offensive rebounds. They didn't have the size. But Minnesota is gonna be cleaning glass and we'll see how they respond there. But again, I think between Edwards, McDaniels, Conley, they can frustrate defensively Luca and those boys, and that may be the big factor in the series because you need both those guys end up scoring big.
You know me, I like to when the older guys and veteran players are getting their run, Like we talked about Al Horford a bunch you and I on the Sunday Morning Show, Kyrie Irving getting a lot of love. You mentioned Mike Conley there, the front line change up there. PJ Washington coming up big for Dallas time and time again. How important is he to Dallas's chances here in this next round?
He's been huge?
You know, Dallas has been screaming for a third option for a very long time, and I think we're all seeing the world just welcome to PJ.
Washington. He's made big plays.
They trust them down the stretch and a lot of times with those great players, remember from Kobe Bryant going, man, I'd rather shoot this ball one on three than trust.
Any of my teammates.
I'm gonna get the best to look, and I said to say, because PJ. Washington is getting the respect of Luca, he's getting the respect of Kyrie.
They're getting him the ball in big moments and he's delivering.
So obviously I think he's the biggest value of the trade market. Deadline hats off to the front office over there in Dallas. They've done a jco and the boys have done a bang up job there. So I think he's gonna have to play big and he's gonna have to be that guy.
You know.
If he has a couple of those games he's in the twenty plus point range, that just takes the press off Kyrie and Luca.
He's on Twitter at the Ryan Hollins that is, at the Ryan Holland's Seven Foot Or podcast. He's got it all and if JJ redd it becomes the next head coach of the Lakers. Let me know what gig you want. I'll write to let a recommendation. Who do you want to be the head coach for? If that can happen, that can happen for you, man.
Well that make you shoot up as a broadcast you can wear sweats on the sideline.
Just add me to the Jason Smith show. We're good. That's all I have. That's all I have.
All Right, see you, buddy. We'll tell you Sunday. Buddy. All right, there goes Ryan Holland.
Just add me to the show up. Fine, he just wants to be at it is. Yeah, Fox Sports Sunday. He and I six to nine Pacific breaking this all down as well.
Always a great visit with Ryan Hollins.
Will have more coming up in ninety seconds, But first a man who has told me Jason, I am not going to have as many mistakes in this update as the Celtics and Pacers had in the final thirty five seconds of the fourth quarter. Oh okay, it's Martin Weiss with what's trending right now? Hey, I'm the wide world of sports. I don't have enough time. That only going to be hang be here for I'm minute thirty to three minutes.
I don't have enough time, make almost time, make that many mistakes.
I can try to do this thing in pig lat and it wouldn't make that many mistakes in the fourth quarter.
Easter's paying Austley Cltics.
Saying the end of the fourth quarter was a comedy of airs that ended with Jayalen Brown to think a three pointer with six seconds left over.
Pascal s Yakam, who you know what, Jason didn't even.
Put a hand up.
No no, no, no, no, no, no.
You about as close as you could be, but did not bother putting a hand up to tie the game at seventeen on one, seventeen apiece.
And see there's one mistake. But that's only one though. Ways to go, Ways to.
Go, man.
Jayson Tatum took over in overtime, the Celtics outscored the Pacers, won sixteen to one eleven in ot to take the lead and the series and the win in the game, uh one thirty three to one twenty eighth the final score. And I mean, just I'm not doining justice, but it was a ridiculous outcome.
As we saw tonight.
Boss Jason Tatum was plussed I had thirty six points, uh Jalen Brown with twenty six, Jewe Holliday with twenty eight. The high man for Indiana was Tyrese Haliburton. He had twenty five points but had some crucial turnovers late in the fourth quarter in and overtime. Miles Turner had twenty three points at eighteen in the first half. Pascal Siakam had twenty four points on twenty three shots. Now there is good news for the Celtics, not just getting the win tonight, but ESPN is reporting there's growing optimism thats Porzingis can make his return to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers by Game four. In the NFL, they planned to try an electric an electronics system for measuring first downs in preseason games. If the trial is successful and receives owner approval, the tracking system will be implemented for the twenty twenty four regular season, meaning the sticks and the chains that we are all used to seeing will be a backup. NFL owners also approved the rule that limited the length of head coaching interviews for assistant coaches whose teams are still in the playoffs to a maximum of three hours.
Previously, there was.
No limit to the length of interviews, and some candidates were asked to interview for as long as six or seven hours while also trying to prepare for a playoff game. Ota News Browns quarterback to Sean Watson will not throw at the team's OTAs today as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. Kyron Williams Lelly Rams running back he'll miss the team's offseason workouts this spring due to a foot injury. Aaron Rodgers per Jets head coach Robert sala is doing everything in practice and has no restriction after hurting his achilles last year. Carl Edwards, Ricky Run and Ralph Moody makeup to twenty twenty five class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Late Baseball. That Diamondbacks up on the Dodgers four to one in the sixth inning and the Oakland A's just hit a home run five to four the lead over the Colorado Rockies. Back to you, guys, how did I do better than the better than the Pacers?
Way better?
Dude?
You look you were like the Pacers shooting in Game seven compared to the Pacers at the end the game to keep a final count, there.
Was two two, just too, just too. That's it. You were good, just too. You were good. You were good. Right, I'll take it one hundred percent. Took the under.
We got it.
He won that in a big way, in a big way. Thanks Martin. The Jason Smith Show.
With Mike Harmon Live in the tire Rack dot Com Studios coming up next. Rick Carlyle absolutely pointed a finger of blame, had something very specific for why the Pacers lost this game with the Celtics. Was it the referees? Was it Alibert dribbling the ball out of bounds? Was it Pascal Siakam, Was it the big market teams getting calls? Or was it something else? You'll hear him coming up next right here Jason and Mike Fox.
Or was it him saying who stole snowflake? Who stole snowflake,
