Joining me now to discuss the NBA Playoffs is my buddy, the senior and the NBA analyst inside as well. It does a fabulous job for ESPN. Love working with them, love having them on my daytime show, First Take every weekday morning. The one and only Brian win Tors is with me right now. What's going on?

Joining me now to discuss the NBA Playoffs is my buddy, the senior and the NBA analyst inside as well. It does a fabulous job for ESPN. Love working with them, love having them on my daytime show, First Take every weekday morning. The one and only Brian win Tors is with me right now. What's going on?

Man? How you doing? How's everything?

Man? How you doing? How's everything?

I'm happy to be here, but I find it hilarious that you blew out your voice. See, you didn't budget when you started your week You know you didn't budget for two maybe one cold open with the Orange and Blue sky right, you didn't have it in your range to do two cold opens with the Orange and Blue Skies. And now you're paying the price. You're lucky it's the weekend.

I'm happy to be here, but I find it hilarious that you blew out your voice. See, you didn't budget when you started your week You know you didn't budget for two maybe one cold open with the Orange and Blue sky right, you didn't have it in your range to do two cold opens with the Orange and Blue Skies. And now you're paying the price. You're lucky it's the weekend.

I'm paying the price, my man. I definitely am. Let me ask you this. You've been covering this series, You've been in Boston. What was it like for you personally to be in Boston witnessing what was happening to the reigning defending NBA champions at the hands of the New York Knicks in Games one and two, specifically the fourth quarter and an overtime in Games one and two.

I'm paying the price, my man. I definitely am. Let me ask you this. You've been covering this series, You've been in Boston. What was it like for you personally to be in Boston witnessing what was happening to the reigning defending NBA champions at the hands of the New York Knicks in Games one and two, specifically the fourth quarter and an overtime in Games one and two.

When you're the better team. Let's just be honest. The Celtics are the better team by measure of the regular season. At least, you usually play with the swagger, and when you're at home, you usually play with the swagger, and when you're the defending champions, you usually play with the swagger. And certainly the Celtics. I've seen him do it in Game two when the game started, when the Knicks started tightening up the score, the entire building went tight. It's not something I've experienced before. And Jalen Brunson was absolutely He comes into the game nine minutes to go and he starts going to work three pointer drive, step back lay up at like four minutes and forty five seconds. I don't remember who hit the shot. It might have been Bridges, and all of a sudden, it's five points. Where everything goes red. There's five points inside five minutes. It's clutch time. And I said out loud, these sobs did it. They got it to crunch time. They got it to clutch time, because that was the thing. It was like, you know, they're down twenty, they're actually down sixteen because you know in game one they were only only they were only down nine starting the fourth quarter. Anybody can come back from nine to down. You don't have to be special. They started the fourth quarter in Game two down twelve in the fourth quarter, so they had done a good job. It was twenty they cut it, and then it went to sixteen. It was actually sixteen. That was a different three possessions, greater to overcome. And so when they even got it to crunch time, I was like, damn, they did it again. And then they just walked them down and the building was tight, and it's just not something you expect with a team with what the resume of the Celtics.

When you're the better team. Let's just be honest. The Celtics are the better team by measure of the regular season. At least, you usually play with the swagger, and when you're at home, you usually play with the swagger, and when you're the defending champions, you usually play with the swagger. And certainly the Celtics. I've seen him do it in Game two when the game started, when the Knicks started tightening up the score, the entire building went tight. It's not something I've experienced before. And Jalen Brunson was absolutely He comes into the game nine minutes to go and he starts going to work three pointer drive, step back lay up at like four minutes and forty five seconds. I don't remember who hit the shot. It might have been Bridges, and all of a sudden, it's five points. Where everything goes red. There's five points inside five minutes. It's clutch time. And I said out loud, these sobs did it. They got it to crunch time. They got it to clutch time, because that was the thing. It was like, you know, they're down twenty, they're actually down sixteen because you know in game one they were only only they were only down nine starting the fourth quarter. Anybody can come back from nine to down. You don't have to be special. They started the fourth quarter in Game two down twelve in the fourth quarter, so they had done a good job. It was twenty they cut it, and then it went to sixteen. It was actually sixteen. That was a different three possessions, greater to overcome. And so when they even got it to crunch time, I was like, damn, they did it again. And then they just walked them down and the building was tight, and it's just not something you expect with a team with what the resume of the Celtics.

Is Game one and two.

Is Game one and two.

In your eyes, more about what the Knicks are in terms of their clutch knowing that a guy like Jalen Brunson and clutch time has outscored the entire.

In your eyes, more about what the Knicks are in terms of their clutch knowing that a guy like Jalen Brunson and clutch time has outscored the entire.

Celtics team by fourteen to twelve.

Celtics team by fourteen to twelve.

Or is it about a diminished product that we're seeing in the reigning defending NBA champions that is the Boston Celtics. I know what Tatum brings, I know where Brown brings. They're both three hundred million dollar plus plays. You got new ownership in Boston, They're gonna have to make decisions about the future. You've articulated all of those things very clearly over the last few days or so. But are we seeing a diminished Boston Celtics or just the team suffering the hiccup that's expected to get it together this weekend.

Or is it about a diminished product that we're seeing in the reigning defending NBA champions that is the Boston Celtics. I know what Tatum brings, I know where Brown brings. They're both three hundred million dollar plus plays. You got new ownership in Boston, They're gonna have to make decisions about the future. You've articulated all of those things very clearly over the last few days or so. But are we seeing a diminished Boston Celtics or just the team suffering the hiccup that's expected to get it together this weekend.

Very savvy question. I think the answer is both. I think you see a Knicks team that is extremely confident when they get into the end of a close game. Jalen Brunson, he he is so calm when he's under pressure. It's crazy, Like he gets into tough situations when he's got a live dribble and you're like, how's he getting out of this one? And he does? You know, they put a six to nine guy on him, and you're like, how's he getting out of this one? He gets open, he is, he's got. He is at the top of his game, at the top of his confidence level, and it's a master at work. So that's absolutely happening. But also the Celtics are diminished. One, I think their confidence is shaken. I think you see it in some of the decisions that Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown make at the end of these games. And two, they don't have porzingis Porzingis isn't right, And that's probably the most unpredictable thing in this series. What's gonna happen with Porzingis? Because Porzingis, I wouldn't say he was their curve ball because he can hit you at the right hook. I would say he was like their slider. And especially if you were having difficulty, you know, scoring from the perimeter. You know, yeah, he's he's a deadly outside shooter, but you know you can throw it to him in the post and he can set for three. He can turn around and cause problems.

Very savvy question. I think the answer is both. I think you see a Knicks team that is extremely confident when they get into the end of a close game. Jalen Brunson, he he is so calm when he's under pressure. It's crazy, Like he gets into tough situations when he's got a live dribble and you're like, how's he getting out of this one? And he does? You know, they put a six to nine guy on him, and you're like, how's he getting out of this one? He gets open, he is, he's got. He is at the top of his game, at the top of his confidence level, and it's a master at work. So that's absolutely happening. But also the Celtics are diminished. One, I think their confidence is shaken. I think you see it in some of the decisions that Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown make at the end of these games. And two, they don't have porzingis Porzingis isn't right, And that's probably the most unpredictable thing in this series. What's gonna happen with Porzingis? Because Porzingis, I wouldn't say he was their curve ball because he can hit you at the right hook. I would say he was like their slider. And especially if you were having difficulty, you know, scoring from the perimeter. You know, yeah, he's he's a deadly outside shooter, but you know you can throw it to him in the post and he can set for three. He can turn around and cause problems.

Let me stop you right there with Porzingis, because I heard you on the air talk in the other day. When you're on air with me, you want to air with get up on ESPN talking about how you spoke to Porzingis. He doesn't know what's going on, but just flat line fatigue is kicked in. And I'm just looking at numbers here. In two regular season games against the knixt the season, he's averaged twenty four and a half points on fifty percent shooting from the field forty five percent shooting from three point range. In this playoff series against the Knicks, he's got a total of eight points on three or nine, shooting one for one on a three point a, one free throw attempt, no blocks, eight rebounds in twenty seven minutes total. He clearly has been a virtual no show because he just hasn't been on the court for the Boston Celtics. Do we know specifically what is wrong with porzingis?

Let me stop you right there with Porzingis, because I heard you on the air talk in the other day. When you're on air with me, you want to air with get up on ESPN talking about how you spoke to Porzingis. He doesn't know what's going on, but just flat line fatigue is kicked in. And I'm just looking at numbers here. In two regular season games against the knixt the season, he's averaged twenty four and a half points on fifty percent shooting from the field forty five percent shooting from three point range. In this playoff series against the Knicks, he's got a total of eight points on three or nine, shooting one for one on a three point a, one free throw attempt, no blocks, eight rebounds in twenty seven minutes total. He clearly has been a virtual no show because he just hasn't been on the court for the Boston Celtics. Do we know specifically what is wrong with porzingis?

We don't. He was he got sick in February. I tried to fight through it for a while. Then they ended up shutting him down and they started, you know, calling him questionable, and all of a sudden, he's out three weeks. Eight games he missed, and when he came back, he said they couldn't diagnose it and they were having a he was having a real hard time with fatigue. I think initially they said it was like a upper respiratory and so you're thinking, you're seeing a guy who's coughing, you know, running nose, et cetera. That's he doesn't He doesn't come off sick. He may have wind issues, there may be a lung thing, for sure. I'm not saying that's not true. He doesn't look like a guy who's got the flu. But what he's having a big problem with from what he says is fatigue, he crashes, and I think he had been in it. By the way, when he came back from that time away, his first five games he was really good. Like it looked like, Okay, he's pasted it. You're you're talking about stats. In this series, he was terrible against Orlando. Terrible is not a fair word. He was. He was not productive against Orlando, certainly not to his to his normal level, and in Game one he was fighting it. It really came back in Game one of this series and the halftime he just he didn't have energy, and so they brought him off the bench in Game two, stephen A. And the reason they brought him off the bench is because I think they're trying to save his energy. So what I think they're hoping is he gets two days to rest before Game three and he can recover. But he has had. He referred to it as a big crash, that he was managing it and then all of a sudden he won. Big crash. That's obviously concerning.

We don't. He was he got sick in February. I tried to fight through it for a while. Then they ended up shutting him down and they started, you know, calling him questionable, and all of a sudden, he's out three weeks. Eight games he missed, and when he came back, he said they couldn't diagnose it and they were having a he was having a real hard time with fatigue. I think initially they said it was like a upper respiratory and so you're thinking, you're seeing a guy who's coughing, you know, running nose, et cetera. That's he doesn't He doesn't come off sick. He may have wind issues, there may be a lung thing, for sure. I'm not saying that's not true. He doesn't look like a guy who's got the flu. But what he's having a big problem with from what he says is fatigue, he crashes, and I think he had been in it. By the way, when he came back from that time away, his first five games he was really good. Like it looked like, Okay, he's pasted it. You're you're talking about stats. In this series, he was terrible against Orlando. Terrible is not a fair word. He was. He was not productive against Orlando, certainly not to his to his normal level, and in Game one he was fighting it. It really came back in Game one of this series and the halftime he just he didn't have energy, and so they brought him off the bench in Game two, stephen A. And the reason they brought him off the bench is because I think they're trying to save his energy. So what I think they're hoping is he gets two days to rest before Game three and he can recover. But he has had. He referred to it as a big crash, that he was managing it and then all of a sudden he won. Big crash. That's obviously concerning.

I need two quick answers to this, to these two questions. If the Boston Celtics lose this series, what will it mean for this franchise?

I need two quick answers to this, to these two questions. If the Boston Celtics lose this series, what will it mean for this franchise?

I don't know. Because I don't know what the new owner's appetite for spending is. I know that this is a team that's proven to be a championship team that if they hold it together, I would say they would come out next year and be a top three team to win it again. It's also going to cost five hundred million dollars. And here's the thing. It'd be one thing if you own the Boston The guys who've bought the Boston Selt have owned it since two thousand and one. Two thousand and two. They paid a couple hundred million dollars for it. If it's not paid off, I'm sure it probably is very close to paid off. They at the end of the day, you know, they're not paying a massive mortgage on the team. So if you have to pay five hundred million and you lose a couple hundred million, that's one thing. You're dealing with a couple hundred million dollars loss. Now, if you're buying the team for six billion, they're actually buying fifty percent of the team for about three billion. You have to write a three billion dollar check. However, you're getting that money. This is not Steve Baumer buying the team. Steve Ballmer when he bought the Clippers literally said here's a cashier's check for two billion dollars. He didn't borrow money. He's like, here you go, that's not the case here. These guys are leveraging to get this, which is not I'm not I mean, six billion dollars is a ton of money. So now you're going to have a mortgage payment. So imagine you're in a house, you know, and you own the house outright, no mortgage payment. Now you've now bought the house. You bought a new house that's thirty times the price. You got a big mortgage payment due every month. Now if I tell you that the house costs a bunch of money to operate and everything like that, now you're making two payments. You're paying for the operation of the house and you're paying the mortgage payment. That's what's coming for the Celtics owners. I don't know what they're gonna do. They have not because the deal isn't closed or.

I don't know. Because I don't know what the new owner's appetite for spending is. I know that this is a team that's proven to be a championship team that if they hold it together, I would say they would come out next year and be a top three team to win it again. It's also going to cost five hundred million dollars. And here's the thing. It'd be one thing if you own the Boston The guys who've bought the Boston Selt have owned it since two thousand and one. Two thousand and two. They paid a couple hundred million dollars for it. If it's not paid off, I'm sure it probably is very close to paid off. They at the end of the day, you know, they're not paying a massive mortgage on the team. So if you have to pay five hundred million and you lose a couple hundred million, that's one thing. You're dealing with a couple hundred million dollars loss. Now, if you're buying the team for six billion, they're actually buying fifty percent of the team for about three billion. You have to write a three billion dollar check. However, you're getting that money. This is not Steve Baumer buying the team. Steve Ballmer when he bought the Clippers literally said here's a cashier's check for two billion dollars. He didn't borrow money. He's like, here you go, that's not the case here. These guys are leveraging to get this, which is not I'm not I mean, six billion dollars is a ton of money. So now you're going to have a mortgage payment. So imagine you're in a house, you know, and you own the house outright, no mortgage payment. Now you've now bought the house. You bought a new house that's thirty times the price. You got a big mortgage payment due every month. Now if I tell you that the house costs a bunch of money to operate and everything like that, now you're making two payments. You're paying for the operation of the house and you're paying the mortgage payment. That's what's coming for the Celtics owners. I don't know what they're gonna do. They have not because the deal isn't closed or.

Not gonna say so.

Not gonna say so.

I don't know, but I know this five hundred million dollars is a lot of money. That's not just like an inconvenience that you get you're gonna have to pay for a payroll.

I don't know, but I know this five hundred million dollars is a lot of money. That's not just like an inconvenience that you get you're gonna have to pay for a payroll.

The Knicks win this series, how far can they go?

The Knicks win this series, how far can they go?

Stephen A. If the Pacers get two more wins over the Cavs and the Knicks get home court, I realize they've been better on the road than home. The Knicks get home court against the Pacers. Hey man, they went to seven games against the Pacers last year when Ognobi was out and Jalen you know, got hurt. That's a that's a. I think the Knicks will be favored in that series, depending on everybody's health. I mean, it would be tight. The Pacers have been really good. Maybe it's a toss up. But considering that the Knicks were the Knicks in my view, had the toughest draw in the league because they were looking at for them to win, they were looking at Detroit. Got to be Boston without well Detroit for sure, Detroit in Boston, Boston without home court. Then you're thinking Cleveland without home court. Then they'd be Oklahoma City without home court. Talk about a gauntlet. If they get into a series against the Pacers where it's a toss up series that they have home court in or they're playing well, it's one of the greatest turnarounds in situations that you could ever see in an NBA playoff setting.

Stephen A. If the Pacers get two more wins over the Cavs and the Knicks get home court, I realize they've been better on the road than home. The Knicks get home court against the Pacers. Hey man, they went to seven games against the Pacers last year when Ognobi was out and Jalen you know, got hurt. That's a that's a. I think the Knicks will be favored in that series, depending on everybody's health. I mean, it would be tight. The Pacers have been really good. Maybe it's a toss up. But considering that the Knicks were the Knicks in my view, had the toughest draw in the league because they were looking at for them to win, they were looking at Detroit. Got to be Boston without well Detroit for sure, Detroit in Boston, Boston without home court. Then you're thinking Cleveland without home court. Then they'd be Oklahoma City without home court. Talk about a gauntlet. If they get into a series against the Pacers where it's a toss up series that they have home court in or they're playing well, it's one of the greatest turnarounds in situations that you could ever see in an NBA playoff setting.

What about the Indiana Paces real quick for a second, how surprised are you that they've looked this good? I know there's been injuries, DeAndre Hunter, Evan Mobley, Darius galland didn't play in game two. They got a pivotal Game three coming up tonight, no doubt about it.

What about the Indiana Paces real quick for a second, how surprised are you that they've looked this good? I know there's been injuries, DeAndre Hunter, Evan Mobley, Darius galland didn't play in game two. They got a pivotal Game three coming up tonight, no doubt about it.

They got to win this game.

They got to win this game.

But still in all, we can't take away from what we've seen from the Indiana Paces who closed out you know, you know, Milwaukee, and not only did you do that, but we saw Tyrese Halliburton actually speak up against his own father because of how his father acted in Giannis's face. We didn't talk about that, and now here they are Halliburton, who was voted quietly privately by no name players who wouldn't attach their name to it as being overrated. He's balling out to me, they have no one great, but a whole bunch of dudes that are really, really good and they can beat anybody at this point, real quickly, that's my synopsis of the Indiana Paces.

But still in all, we can't take away from what we've seen from the Indiana Paces who closed out you know, you know, Milwaukee, and not only did you do that, but we saw Tyrese Halliburton actually speak up against his own father because of how his father acted in Giannis's face. We didn't talk about that, and now here they are Halliburton, who was voted quietly privately by no name players who wouldn't attach their name to it as being overrated. He's balling out to me, they have no one great, but a whole bunch of dudes that are really, really good and they can beat anybody at this point, real quickly, that's my synopsis of the Indiana Paces.

What's yours?

What's yours?

If they have somebody great, it's their coach. He's a great coach and he's a great playoffs coach at Carlisle.

If they have somebody great, it's their coach. He's a great coach and he's a great playoffs coach at Carlisle.

Yes he is.

Yes he is.

They lost on New Year's Eve to go to sixteen and eighteen. Halliburton was hurting early. They had some other injuries since January first. They finished the season thirty four and fourteen. That was not a four seed. That was a two seed masquerading as a four seed. That was a fifty eight win pace that they played on that from January first. They have depth, they have speed, they have a style of play, and they have a closer and they have proven that they can pull it out their backside. They have twice been down seven points in the last minute of the game and won in the playoffs. So maybe that's a little bit fortune there, but they are a formidable, formidable team.

They lost on New Year's Eve to go to sixteen and eighteen. Halliburton was hurting early. They had some other injuries since January first. They finished the season thirty four and fourteen. That was not a four seed. That was a two seed masquerading as a four seed. That was a fifty eight win pace that they played on that from January first. They have depth, they have speed, they have a style of play, and they have a closer and they have proven that they can pull it out their backside. They have twice been down seven points in the last minute of the game and won in the playoffs. So maybe that's a little bit fortune there, but they are a formidable, formidable team.

Moving out to the West. How nervous were you about Oklahoma City? You've been raving about them all year when they lost Game one, when Jokic did what he did, when we see Russell Westbrook playing the way that he played, when we saw Aaron Gordon playing bully ball, How nervous were you for your thunder before they annihilated the Nuggets in Game two?

Moving out to the West. How nervous were you about Oklahoma City? You've been raving about them all year when they lost Game one, when Jokic did what he did, when we see Russell Westbrook playing the way that he played, when we saw Aaron Gordon playing bully ball, How nervous were you for your thunder before they annihilated the Nuggets in Game two?

There are two things about that first game that we'll worry. So. Number one, they couldn't get any supporting scoring for Shay Gildess Alexander, by the way, he had a great game too. Shay has not had a good postseason so far. This is a guy who's going to be named MVP probably next week. His numbers are okay, but they weren't great. That's what that's that's one thing. Secondly, so then and they don't have a second score that's reliable. Sometimes they have a second score, but they don't have a guy out there that they can count on to deliver, and that's what cost him in Game one. The second thing was chet Holmgren got totally dominated by Jokic. And I mean, obviously Holmgren can't play Jokic the same way. I it'st the Zubach plays them. They're not built the same way. But three times in the last couple of years the Thunder have been in high leverage situations and come up small. One was in the playoffs last year to the Mavericks. They had home court in that series, the series was tied. They melted down the test of that series, tote their offense completely abandoned them and Luca snatched them. And then this year in the n Season Tournament where they played Milwaukee, where they just absolutely laid an egg. That was a moment for them to win something as a group. They totally laid an egg. Then in Game one, losing home court advantage out of the gate. So I've seen them under pressure all of a sudden, not be able to score when it matters, and they have the MVP that shouldn't be the case. So that was more pressure. Moments are coming and I expect them to overcome that because they are They have every tool that you need, But there is that sense of mystery about how it's gonna happen. What's gonna happen when when that challenge occurs again?

There are two things about that first game that we'll worry. So. Number one, they couldn't get any supporting scoring for Shay Gildess Alexander, by the way, he had a great game too. Shay has not had a good postseason so far. This is a guy who's going to be named MVP probably next week. His numbers are okay, but they weren't great. That's what that's that's one thing. Secondly, so then and they don't have a second score that's reliable. Sometimes they have a second score, but they don't have a guy out there that they can count on to deliver, and that's what cost him in Game one. The second thing was chet Holmgren got totally dominated by Jokic. And I mean, obviously Holmgren can't play Jokic the same way. I it'st the Zubach plays them. They're not built the same way. But three times in the last couple of years the Thunder have been in high leverage situations and come up small. One was in the playoffs last year to the Mavericks. They had home court in that series, the series was tied. They melted down the test of that series, tote their offense completely abandoned them and Luca snatched them. And then this year in the n Season Tournament where they played Milwaukee, where they just absolutely laid an egg. That was a moment for them to win something as a group. They totally laid an egg. Then in Game one, losing home court advantage out of the gate. So I've seen them under pressure all of a sudden, not be able to score when it matters, and they have the MVP that shouldn't be the case. So that was more pressure. Moments are coming and I expect them to overcome that because they are They have every tool that you need, But there is that sense of mystery about how it's gonna happen. What's gonna happen when when that challenge occurs again?

Switching over to Warriors Timberwolves, Obviously we're looking at them. Steph Curry's going to be out with the strained hamstring. The likelihood is that for at least games three and four, and possibly game five. What do you peel away? You saw the Warriors win in Game one. You saw Steph Curry score thirteen points in the first thirteen minutes before he goes down. We saw Draymond Green hit four three pointers in the first half. We saw Jimmy Butler come on strong in the second half. We saw none of that. In Game two, after Finch held Anthony Edwards accountable. We saw McDaniel's show up. We saw Julius Randalls show up, we saw ant Man show up. And the three have combined to hold Jimmy Butler that like thirteen percent shooting from the field when one of those three are guarding him. So what do you make of this series thus far at this particular moment.

Switching over to Warriors Timberwolves, Obviously we're looking at them. Steph Curry's going to be out with the strained hamstring. The likelihood is that for at least games three and four, and possibly game five. What do you peel away? You saw the Warriors win in Game one. You saw Steph Curry score thirteen points in the first thirteen minutes before he goes down. We saw Draymond Green hit four three pointers in the first half. We saw Jimmy Butler come on strong in the second half. We saw none of that. In Game two, after Finch held Anthony Edwards accountable. We saw McDaniel's show up. We saw Julius Randalls show up, we saw ant Man show up. And the three have combined to hold Jimmy Butler that like thirteen percent shooting from the field when one of those three are guarding him. So what do you make of this series thus far at this particular moment.

There's two things that have got to happen. One, Jimmy Butler's got to be more of an offensive engine. They can't score without Stuff. Their other offensive efficiency plummets by like twenty five ish percent when he hasn't been out there. They just can't survive that. I understand they're not going to totally replace him. That's clear. Jimmy's got to be more of a factor offensively scoring the ball. The second thing is this team after the Jimmy Butler trade was a good defensive team. They're in defensive numbers improved, and in Game one they won that game because not because of what they did without Stuff, because they only gave up eighty eight points. Now, some of that was the Wolves. They didn't handle their business that well and that's why Chris Finch got on them. But in Game two, the Wolves made sixteen to three pointers, and ESPN's tracking said that every single one of them were deemed open. There's no other game in the database in the playoff history where a team has gotten sixteen all sixteen three pointers. Sixteen or more three pointers were open. They've got to play better defense. The only way to do this is to pinch it from both ends. You've got to play your max level defense and you've got to get some more scoring. That's how you close the gap in this situation. They don't have to do it three more times. They're not winning this series without stuff anyway. They need to do it one more time, at least at home, probably in Game three or four, to give the window for Steph to come back in Game five or six and give them a fighting chance and what's hopefully a three game series.

There's two things that have got to happen. One, Jimmy Butler's got to be more of an offensive engine. They can't score without Stuff. Their other offensive efficiency plummets by like twenty five ish percent when he hasn't been out there. They just can't survive that. I understand they're not going to totally replace him. That's clear. Jimmy's got to be more of a factor offensively scoring the ball. The second thing is this team after the Jimmy Butler trade was a good defensive team. They're in defensive numbers improved, and in Game one they won that game because not because of what they did without Stuff, because they only gave up eighty eight points. Now, some of that was the Wolves. They didn't handle their business that well and that's why Chris Finch got on them. But in Game two, the Wolves made sixteen to three pointers, and ESPN's tracking said that every single one of them were deemed open. There's no other game in the database in the playoff history where a team has gotten sixteen all sixteen three pointers. Sixteen or more three pointers were open. They've got to play better defense. The only way to do this is to pinch it from both ends. You've got to play your max level defense and you've got to get some more scoring. That's how you close the gap in this situation. They don't have to do it three more times. They're not winning this series without stuff anyway. They need to do it one more time, at least at home, probably in Game three or four, to give the window for Steph to come back in Game five or six and give them a fighting chance and what's hopefully a three game series.

Switching to Draymond Green, obviously he made news for a different reason, and I appreciate your participation in the discussion with myself and Mike Willbond on ESPN's first take earlier this morning. And I'm certainly not asking you to elaborate on his comments about being portrayed as an angry black man.

Switching to Draymond Green, obviously he made news for a different reason, and I appreciate your participation in the discussion with myself and Mike Willbond on ESPN's first take earlier this morning. And I'm certainly not asking you to elaborate on his comments about being portrayed as an angry black man.

I took care of that in the first segment at the top of this show.

I took care of that in the first segment at the top of this show.

But what I wanted to ask you is is that, in terms of Draymond Green's image, in your estimation as somebody who overs this league and as somebody.

But what I wanted to ask you is is that, in terms of Draymond Green's image, in your estimation as somebody who overs this league and as somebody.

Who walks the streets with people coming up.

Who walks the streets with people coming up.

To you about what you know about this league, what would you qualify or classify as the perception that Draymond Green has And how fear or unfeared do you think it is.

To you about what you know about this league, what would you qualify or classify as the perception that Draymond Green has And how fear or unfeared do you think it is.

I think people in the league feel like he's one of the great defensive players in the last twenty five years, one of the great influence influencers of the game, where he can control the game, especially for a guy who is not a scorer. His ability to control the game without being a scorer, have a big influence on the control of the game, because of his screen setting, because of the way he can defend, because of the way he can take the you know, take the ball off the glass, go down and be the point center, the way he can play two man basketball with Steph where they're just basically reading each other. They're impossible to prepare for because when the two of them are working together, it's just read and react, read and react. And he's just such He's so quick on his feet and so smart and makes him so savvy. And people in the league think that he savely controls the officials, that he's sly like a fox in the way he does things and the way he applies pressure to the officials and the way he you know, is so demonstrative, and and they feel like there are many times when he can manipulate the officials to sort of lean them in one way or the other because of the way he behaves that there is that, Yes, there are times when he loses control, but a lot of it is totally calculated. That what he is doing is putting the officials into a corner to achieve a certain edge. There is an admiration for him within the league for that. However, he also loses control. For as savvy and nuanced of a game that he plays, there are times when that all goes up the window he loses control, which has happened unfortunately a number of times. This is a guy who I think there's no chance the Warriors win the twenty twenty two title wl out him. He was absolutely brilliant during that season and in that playoff run. I know he had a complicated finals where he I think he got benched at one point, but he was brilliant in closeout game. No way they went without, no way they went with that them. So the twenty twenty sixth title, Draymond's got both hands on that ring. And he derailed the twenty twenty three season by sucker punching his teammate, and he damaged the twenty twenty four season by the suspensions that that fourth then ended up significantly forcing the Warriors into the play in And obviously his role in the other in the previous three titles is unquestioned. But just in the last three seasons, he's Harry, not carried, but like good, shoulder to shoulder with Steph to win the title and undercut two seasons, and this year he's working hard. We're going to find out which way it's going to go. And you know, the Warrior's eyes are wide open. They totally understand what it means to be in business with Raymond Green. They they've dedicated themselves and protected them and rededicated themselves over and over. But that is the dynamic player that you're getting, a guy who is a genius and brilliant who also can do things that can hurt you badly, but he can't take back.

I think people in the league feel like he's one of the great defensive players in the last twenty five years, one of the great influence influencers of the game, where he can control the game, especially for a guy who is not a scorer. His ability to control the game without being a scorer, have a big influence on the control of the game, because of his screen setting, because of the way he can defend, because of the way he can take the you know, take the ball off the glass, go down and be the point center, the way he can play two man basketball with Steph where they're just basically reading each other. They're impossible to prepare for because when the two of them are working together, it's just read and react, read and react. And he's just such He's so quick on his feet and so smart and makes him so savvy. And people in the league think that he savely controls the officials, that he's sly like a fox in the way he does things and the way he applies pressure to the officials and the way he you know, is so demonstrative, and and they feel like there are many times when he can manipulate the officials to sort of lean them in one way or the other because of the way he behaves that there is that, Yes, there are times when he loses control, but a lot of it is totally calculated. That what he is doing is putting the officials into a corner to achieve a certain edge. There is an admiration for him within the league for that. However, he also loses control. For as savvy and nuanced of a game that he plays, there are times when that all goes up the window he loses control, which has happened unfortunately a number of times. This is a guy who I think there's no chance the Warriors win the twenty twenty two title wl out him. He was absolutely brilliant during that season and in that playoff run. I know he had a complicated finals where he I think he got benched at one point, but he was brilliant in closeout game. No way they went without, no way they went with that them. So the twenty twenty sixth title, Draymond's got both hands on that ring. And he derailed the twenty twenty three season by sucker punching his teammate, and he damaged the twenty twenty four season by the suspensions that that fourth then ended up significantly forcing the Warriors into the play in And obviously his role in the other in the previous three titles is unquestioned. But just in the last three seasons, he's Harry, not carried, but like good, shoulder to shoulder with Steph to win the title and undercut two seasons, and this year he's working hard. We're going to find out which way it's going to go. And you know, the Warrior's eyes are wide open. They totally understand what it means to be in business with Raymond Green. They they've dedicated themselves and protected them and rededicated themselves over and over. But that is the dynamic player that you're getting, a guy who is a genius and brilliant who also can do things that can hurt you badly, but he can't take back.

What about what he said coming into this series, if not the playoffs overall, where he said he sat down and spoke with Steve Kerr, he spoke to his family and he had to do some reflection, looking at himself and thinking about what he needed to do better.

What about what he said coming into this series, if not the playoffs overall, where he said he sat down and spoke with Steve Kerr, he spoke to his family and he had to do some reflection, looking at himself and thinking about what he needed to do better.

Where did that come from?

Where did that come from?

If we're sitting here today and he's going off about how he's being portrayed.

If we're sitting here today and he's going off about how he's being portrayed.

We've heard it all before. You know. He did a story with an ESPN Our Warriors reporter Omeong masuk Or. He detailed after he was suspended indefinitely for the Rudy Gobert incident last year, they made him go to like essentially counseling sessions, but it wasn't just with a counselor. It was with a whole bunch of different people who basically acted as a village for him. And he didn't want to do it and he was annoyed by it, and he discussed how it really helped him and how he started to lean on it. And it was a beautifully done story, giving insight into Draymond's thinking and how he's trying to better himself. And you come away from that story saying, this is a very earnest, raw and impersonal view of how he's fighting his challenges. And then he goes out there and commits five technicals and two flagrants in nine games, and so you can see why the people closest to Draymond have complicated relationships with the situation. They treasure him, they love him, they protect him, and he absolutely drives them crazy and he absolutely leads them to victory. He's one of the more complicated great players of this generation.

We've heard it all before. You know. He did a story with an ESPN Our Warriors reporter Omeong masuk Or. He detailed after he was suspended indefinitely for the Rudy Gobert incident last year, they made him go to like essentially counseling sessions, but it wasn't just with a counselor. It was with a whole bunch of different people who basically acted as a village for him. And he didn't want to do it and he was annoyed by it, and he discussed how it really helped him and how he started to lean on it. And it was a beautifully done story, giving insight into Draymond's thinking and how he's trying to better himself. And you come away from that story saying, this is a very earnest, raw and impersonal view of how he's fighting his challenges. And then he goes out there and commits five technicals and two flagrants in nine games, and so you can see why the people closest to Draymond have complicated relationships with the situation. They treasure him, they love him, they protect him, and he absolutely drives them crazy and he absolutely leads them to victory. He's one of the more complicated great players of this generation.

Before we go, if I tell you, I'm going to give you this series and you tell me what you believe it will be.

Before we go, if I tell you, I'm going to give you this series and you tell me what you believe it will be.

After four games, Cleveland Indiana.

After four games, Cleveland Indiana.

Three one, Indiana Knicks Boston to two, I'm gonna duck. I'm gonna duck. I'm two blocks in the garden. I'm gonna duck. The Knicks are gonna be so angry.

Three one, Indiana Knicks Boston to two, I'm gonna duck. I'm gonna duck. I'm two blocks in the garden. I'm gonna duck. The Knicks are gonna be so angry.

You think you're telling me you believe that the Boston Celtics are walking into Madison Square Garden and they're gonna win. They're gonna take both games of Madison Square Garden away from the New York Knicks.

You think you're telling me you believe that the Boston Celtics are walking into Madison Square Garden and they're gonna win. They're gonna take both games of Madison Square Garden away from the New York Knicks.

Is that what you just said? Is that what you just said, Brian.

Is that what you just said? Is that what you just said, Brian.

I don't believe it, but I think that's what's gonna happen. I don't believe it because I do believe in the Knicks ability. Every way I know to evaluate the game is saying to me that the Celtics should be winning these games, but they're not. So I look at it and say, the Celtics can very easily be up too low. And my my analysis side of my brain says the Celtics will win the next two knowing everything that I know, but I have to admit I can't quite identify why in Knicks one games one and two. So the analysis side of everything is being defeated. And that's what is happening for the whole Celtics organization right now, that their analytical analysis philosophy is being defeated by the Knicks. Confidence.

I don't believe it, but I think that's what's gonna happen. I don't believe it because I do believe in the Knicks ability. Every way I know to evaluate the game is saying to me that the Celtics should be winning these games, but they're not. So I look at it and say, the Celtics can very easily be up too low. And my my analysis side of my brain says the Celtics will win the next two knowing everything that I know, but I have to admit I can't quite identify why in Knicks one games one and two. So the analysis side of everything is being defeated. And that's what is happening for the whole Celtics organization right now, that their analytical analysis philosophy is being defeated by the Knicks. Confidence.

Okay, Okay, see Denver three one.

Okay, Okay, see Denver three one.

I'm sorry, I think there'll be two to two going back to Okay, see.

I'm sorry, I think there'll be two to two going back to Okay, see.

He's gonna go. They're gonna split in Denver.

He's gonna go. They're gonna split in Denver.

I know, I Game three is gonna tell me everything. You know, Oklahoma City could win by twenty five, and you're like, Okay, this is a five game series. But I think Denver has to press very hard in Game three, and if if Denver pulls that out, then I think you're looking at to too that the Oklahoma City losing Game one at home opened the door for that to be a long series, assuming that they can get one more home.

I know, I Game three is gonna tell me everything. You know, Oklahoma City could win by twenty five, and you're like, Okay, this is a five game series. But I think Denver has to press very hard in Game three, and if if Denver pulls that out, then I think you're looking at to too that the Oklahoma City losing Game one at home opened the door for that to be a long series, assuming that they can get one more home.

Minnesota, Golden State.

Minnesota, Golden State.

Sorry to say, but I got three to one Minnesota. I was so I was so disheartened by their effort in game two. They are going home. They could get a hot shooting game. I mean, that's the thing about the Knicks. The Knicks haven't shot the ball well yet. You know, the Knicks can undo any analysis by just getting hot. You can get hot at home. But I'm leaning more towards Minnesota. Three. Minnesota is twenty two and five in his last twenty seven games. They are playing really well, just like Indiana is playing really well.

Sorry to say, but I got three to one Minnesota. I was so I was so disheartened by their effort in game two. They are going home. They could get a hot shooting game. I mean, that's the thing about the Knicks. The Knicks haven't shot the ball well yet. You know, the Knicks can undo any analysis by just getting hot. You can get hot at home. But I'm leaning more towards Minnesota. Three. Minnesota is twenty two and five in his last twenty seven games. They are playing really well, just like Indiana is playing really well.

Brian went ass appreciate you man. Keep up the great work. We'll talk next week.

Brian went ass appreciate you man. Keep up the great work. We'll talk next week.

All right, thanks for having me have a great weekend.

All right, thanks for having me have a great weekend.

You do the same well, not only Brian windows right, here on the Stephen A. Smith Show, over the digital airwaves or YouTube, and of course iHeartRadio.

You do the same well, not only Brian windows right, here on the Stephen A. Smith Show, over the digital airwaves or YouTube, and of course iHeartRadio.