Last night the world was watching a pivotal game five in this year's NBA finals with the Oklahoma City Thunder taking care of home court that they went back and beating the Indiana Pacers in convincing fashion 120 to 109. The series now heads to Indiana for game sits on Juneteenth with OKC in a position to end it and win their first championship in franchise history. Who do you guys have winning game sits and then I do want to have a discussion about game five and then four because we weren't on air about those. He's going to play out.
Oh, he said if he could walk he can play. He's going to play. I mean he wasn't effective though so that would mean a lot. He's going to play even if he started out there so knowing everything we know now is seeing what I saw I got the thunder winning the next game on the road winning the championship.
I think it's going to go seven. I think I feel where Halliburton is coming from. If he could walk he could play knows what it felt like that last game or he was ineffective. You got to shoot it up do whatever it is that you got to do.
I think that's what's required of him for his team. So I think he pulls it out at home. If he can play I want to bet on Indiana. That's it.
Okay. That's it. Because what else? What else?
What else did they really say? Like somehow some way they're going to find a way like he's going to be T.J. is going to be Pascal and if it's not going to be Halliburton and them hard and needs to find a way to just go back from three. But if they don't it was game four that they blew the series and I don't think they'll ever be able to live it down.
Yeah we talked about that in a sec. Give my answer quick. Hold on. I thought this was going to go seven.
And I'm going to stick with that because OKC's bench players were far more comfortable at home. And I saw it last night. J will went off. SGA picked the spots and made it on the defensive in the fourth quarter.
He was huge for them. So I thought he was great. And but I think that on the road I haven't seen them play very well. And going back to game four.
They were not playing well in that game but SGA found a way to win. What was your about to say Spike? I look at SGA plenty if he can't take out an injured Halliburton and others as far as what they trajectory that he's supposed to be on. Even if he wins this game seven.
Yeah, like I got to take you out in six bro. Like I don't need seven games when injured Halliburton and that team if SGA is who they say it he is. I really feel like this game is a defining moment in his career. Like you go home and win seven and you'll still get the accolades from being a champion.
But knowing where Halliburton is saying Williams just gave me a 40 ball in the last game. Like I think it says a lot about Halliburton if he can't close SGA if he can't close this out on the road. I don't know about that. I think he had he had his moment in game four.
That that that game four win when they were down 10, 12 points going into damn they're going into the fourth quarter like he what 15 points in the fourth quarter games. Pretty much a series on the line. And he went off to steal that game from Indy. I think of anything that was the game where Halliburton had a chance to run.
But Halliburton had a chance to really put this series away and he kind of let nods down with this performance. But I think SGA had a moment there and that game reminded me of they were in a similar situation against Denver. And I think they learned a lot in that series because they were down in that game to Denver and they found a way to win that game and take advantage of the league. But what happened in that one spike.
It went seven. I have to say that game four was we had the potential to look up look up in a couple days and be like game four was one of the biggest jokes you've ever seen. I think it's one of the bigger jokes that could possibly ever happen in a finals is besides Caruso and Chet. The Thunder looked kind of defeated.
Jalen Williams looked like he had kind of quit. He didn't know what to do. SGA looked like he had kind of ran out of gas. He was super tired.
He was confused by the actions that they were doing. They were up 12 points. And I remember watching that lead window possession after possession thinking because it was the last final minute of it's not the halftime. I think it was the third quarter but please.
I'm like right now. I think it was the end of the third quarter last two minutes or right before halftime. But they were up 12 points and they cut to seven. And I was just like that is the game right there that five points swing.
It should have been 20 points going into halftime or 20 points going into the fourth quarter. Pass the outcome uncharacteristically gets out of the offensive law algorithm and he starts you know, barreling into the middle of the paint and doing no look passes that are getting intercepted. And then he's going to be topping shooting threes thinking that he's like clay Thompson in 2016. And for some reason, Nemhart and Nissimuth are just not where they're supposed to be.
They turn the ball over on out of bounds plays and seven points just like that. And Caruso to the start either the third quarter start the fourth quarter because it's a five with a nice jumper over. I think it was a mouse turn. And that right there was the game because the Thunder had overcome that mental hurdle.
And they realized oh hey, this Indiana Junior don't work on us like we're actually better. We can actually play defense or SGA. Walk them down. Let's do it.
That tribal call that didn't have it was atrocious. But beyond that, you can't put it all on one call because the Pacers got out of their offense and they fucked themselves over. And that's why I say it potentially one of the biggest chokes. There was no excuse for any of those plays down the stretch.
They recall out he's sitting halleberg too long in key spots for me. And I don't like that we're not going to be able to extend this series because I think okay see I think that the betting man has to put the money on them. 100% Q I do think I don't disagree with the Carlisle city in Tyrese a little too long but maybe he already knew about the injuries trying to get him as much you know rest as possible so that way he can go down the stretch. I will also say this game for to me is just kind of sort of what this series has been.
So I don't want to call it a choke job. Should have they won that game 100% they were in the lead for three quarters just kind of the opposite of what happened in okay see game one you know what I'm saying. Okay see turned it on I agree with you they was like no they realize now we don't know when seeing an NBA like this is what we do and you saw them like and I agree overcome the mental hurdle. To me I think the game that is even more pivotal the game for was last night.
And the reason why I say that is Indiana's best player Haliburton was clearly not himself nobody knew that he was injured until after the game and you know everybody was saying you know you have a cat that they're right. But in that game they were down I want to say as much as like when I had to then it was down like 1617 points and it cut it down to three and then we're had a bad turnover. They got out of they stuff and for me that's the reason why I say this is going to go seven because if you get zero points multiple turnovers from your best player and at some point you had it down to three with the ability to take it and steal it again. If Haliburton is 65 70% of what he is and he plays let's say we're going to bump him up and extra 10 because he's at home and extra 10% they show in that game not are they going to win a series I don't know mainly because I again Q I agree with you I think that OKC has overcome the mental hurdle.
I think something that was not talked about a lot going into the series. You know and I wish Nick was here because Nick was all you know they're number one team they're they're so dominant this and they're everything has a duality to it. That's what happens that's what you don't do you don't play in close games. So you don't have that experience right to draw from close game or this is what we got to do is what they try to do this is our counter right like you're not comfortable we saw the first couple of games when it gets tight like that.
OKC wasn't comfortable I think that they found a comfort zone. I don't think that they are now just world beaters where you know they're comfortable in the most pressure cook situations but I think that we're seeing them grow into that right before I think that's the beautiful thing about OKC for the last two seasons is that we're seeing them literally grow right before our eyes where there's regular season postseason and now them being in the finals. So that's why I think they're going to win the seven but I think that game six like I said in game. Hey they're going to have to come in and just choke them out.
They're going to have to put they put on their neck and get up 2025 and be like hey it's never it's never getting under 17. That's the only way that they went in Indiana. I think for a good part of the series after they sold game one. And definitely when Indiana was at home.
It looked like they had OKC show and the commentary you guys were talking about. About OKC was starting to rear his head. You know the experience and these pressure cook moments that they were undergoing kind of that a little bit to what you were talking about people is that we haven't played a lot of close games so we're not as Jaylin put in the chat we're not battle tested. But I think Denver you know Denver gave them some really experienced a lot of experience that they were a lot on and somebody found a way to win.
And I think that's a big three in that game and yeah that that was a patch rather than call but he had already given him the lead before then you know that was just extra and he closed it out technically a travel. I got to I got to break it to you. Was it. It wasn't travel.
I think they don't know the other right. Yeah so so your first step does not count and you're one to until the ball. The ball in your hand the ball in your hand touches the other hand. If you look at that when he you talk about like the step back right when he took that step that people would say that constitutes a travel.
The other hand then stop the ball. So if you cradle it you get an extra step. It's called a zero step I think. It's a gather.
You have the zero step because it's like it's like it's like art like a football spike. Let's say that there was traveling a football if I throw the receiver a ball and you can only take two steps with it right. If I'm Randy Moss and I catch the ball. I catch it now it's one to.
You know what I'm saying. I don't know where the hell you was going with that. That was actually really good. You feel me?
You feel me? Yeah but even going to game so game for I'm with you man that they own that game. It happened when Obie topping got there and he missed two free throws. I'm not going to let that go because that could have pushed me to 12.
That's when the league came back that came back down to seven and they just fell apart in the fourth quarter and in game five. Yeah we didn't know Helibur was hurt but it didn't really mean shit because he has a history of he's like a fucking sock ticker bro. He's up he's down he's up he's down so for what we've seen he just wasn't doing shit and my yeah. Oh thank you tweets open doors.
I think Rick Carlisle did not help himself in game five in game five in spite of OKC dominating that game. There was a moment where they came back and it was within three. There was a moment they could have got it within four and then there was a moment down the stretch where they were right within striking distance. And he just goes full Lance Stevenson Ron our test on the court.
I don't know what the hell he was doing he just completely went nuts and he missed two free throws as well that could have you never know we've seen some crazy shit happen in these games. And then he just he just and it didn't happen so and then you know if Helibur was hurt. Rick Carlisle knows that what the hell is he on the court. He said he wouldn't come out.
He said he wouldn't come out. Who's that? They asked him. He said he wouldn't come out.
He the star player can. If you want your job you got to do what they do. Hello. I mean this first of all this is all the wayways fault.
Ever since the wayways in this man was a superstar. This man has did everything to prove him wrong. He has led the way way down the way we need to be like Elon Musk out there right now and deleted all the tweets and he needs a tweet. I read some of my tweets went too far last week.
That's what he needs to do right now about. I think magic I think magic said it best about this. What that's somebody that you want to go see when they in town. I'm not paying to go.
If you come play the Hawks I'm not paying to go see. I'm very protective of the word superstar. When I think of super I always thought that it derived from super powers. It feels like it's got super powers.
LeBron I feel like he's a Marvel hero. He's a DC hero. I look at Kobe Bryant his ability to catch fire no matter who's hand is in his face. That's a super power.
That's a shock. That's the fucking Hulk. When I look at Halliburton I think he's an all star. I think he's a great player.
But when we think there's a difference between stars, all stars and superstars. I've always been the one to hold that line with. Halliburton is great. Jalen Bronson is great.
SGA is great. Super stars though. I guess people kind of started saying more towards the branding aspect of players. If they're pushed by the league then they're a superstar.
I always thought that was just people who are in star roles. We know the difference between a star actor and just a superstar, mega star. You know what I'm saying? Prime 90s Will Smith is not the same as early 90s Don Chido.
Don Chido's a star for sure. He can carry a movie but Will is boxing. I think there is, and then this is the last question we'll move on. I think there is a branding aspect to it.
But when it comes to them moving from NBA casuals, diehards to pop culture. Like you're a household name. And the example I'm citing, I will cite is Anthony Edwards. Because I can go and turn around and ask, I sometimes I say, do you know this player?
And I do you know Anthony Edwards? And she knows who Anthony Edwards is. I ain't watching the basketball game in her life. But she knows who he is.
And there are certain players in the NBA that she knows based off just the game. And based off just certain other things that happen, which increases the marketability of a player I believe toward the NBA if they were able to tap into it. And then from there, it's up to the players to kind of add on to that to create this sort of mystique and start the win championships. You know, so I agree.
I think it's up to the players in the league. I don't think the league does a good job anymore of marketing and pushing forward superstars. Even with the whole, they changed it back for game five, but just like the player introductions. They don't make it feel important anymore.
Like we were talking about in the group chat. Like the finals used to be a thing. I remember they may just be nostalgic. They may be old age someone, but I remember like the 94 finals when Barkley and Jordan were getting announced and everything that's around it, you got the logo of the championship trophy on the floor.
They show in the trophy before the game. They veered away from all of it. I think Kaller either Q said it like it's like a regular Saturday NBA game. Like it don't even feel like the finals the way they're promoting it.
And that goes a lot into being superstars or building superstars. Just my question. I don't disagree. I don't care what I think, you know, because I see the chat.
I'm already making fly saying marketing is like 10% in 90% is your play. He likes basketball. I'm talking about casual. I think even for the casual, it's do you know, like do the kids want to be him?
You know what I'm saying? Because even though Tyree's Halliburton has had way more success than this play than I'm going to name and the play doesn't necessarily or the winning doesn't constitute him being a superstar, but because kids want to be him and his game when you watch him play. LaMello ball. Oh my God.
Let me ask my question. LaMello ball is a is I won't put him in a superstar status, but he's definitely a star. I breathe his popularity is doing to people like me. He's a brand.
He's a brand. I was talking about earlier. So I will give you that. Is the remix, baby?
Yeah. So let's close this out. If the patient's lose on Thursday, how will this run be remembered if at all. My rap was run and I don't know what they're going to be able to keep this core together.
I would if you can keep the core together. There's there's an argument for both sides of one side can say, yo, we need to try to keep as much of this together because we're as deep as them and we can go further. And all we need to do is just, you know, how the burden get more of a offensive game tool and he's working on just being more aggressive and, you know, I mean, just going to the summer and just drill, drill, drill. Okay, cool.
There's also another side of people that would probably say it's advantageous for them to go get a third piece now. I don't really necessarily know where I where I stand on it, but I think both have some logic to it because if you had like a Kevin Durant style player, a guy who that you can say, go get us a bucket on the perimeter. We got Pascal, we got Halliburton as like quasi Jason kid with a better three point shot. He's kind of like a Jason kid, Lamello ball like hybrid.
It's kind of weird. Just in the way he plays the game. But that wing player that they're looking for that draw some fear that to guard that draw some fear that Daniel Williams type Katie type that's who they need to go find if you're in that camp. I would say I'm more so in the middle that you can kind of do a little bit of the two, keep some contracts, trade some guys and then to take a swing on an older kind of cat like I would love to see like, I don't even know just like a name I like this like a Zach Levine in this office like just like I like that.
You know what I'm saying? Just go get it. You know what I'm saying? And then we'll cover up on defense with two bigs like we've been doing.
So if they lose, man, they are in a crossroads. And I think that both camps would have some logic and I think that you have to trust Indiana because they got this far with, you know, their brain trust. So, so cute. I don't disagree with you.
The only thing I will say is this. I like the idea of keeping the core together. But the reason why that's going to be impossible is somebody's going to overpay and you're not going to match it. Somebody's going to overpay for them or somebody's going to overpay for double zero.
You know I'm bad with names. Like those those guys are going to get poached from other teams that's going to overpay them. Like I don't know. I remember but like they labeled in a poison pill back in the day when Jamie Lynn was hot and I can't remember the team that signed them.
But essentially, I want to say he was huge. No, no, no, no. After they're saying. After they're saying.
So they off. Yeah, with the Rockets. They offered him a poison pill where like year one, he was only making eight million years to he was like 10 million years three was like 20 some million. Like, like, I'm not saying that that's the type of contract in terms of like, what I hope poison pill type of contract, but there's going to be a team or teams that's going to overpay for those guys.
And if you're Indiana, it's just not smart money. So I think that the smarter move right now is to be in control of what you can control. And some of those guys are still under contract. And I think that you should move on from them and upgrade versus trying to keep it together because those guys are what they are, you know what I'm saying?
Like, they're not going to get much better than what they are. They are really good. Exactly. They're role players.
You know, can we say that championship role players, you know, they're defining that for their own career now, but I wouldn't overpay for them. I'd rather move on from them and go get a KD or whoever else, you know, Levine and some other players. Um, and just keeps the outcome in the Thai reason, be like, Hey, you know, saying even though I'm who's the big guy? Um, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. You know, I like him too, but but think about this, right? Like the last three, four years, he's been in trade talks every year. I ain't really doing it.
I mean, I mean, I'll spite we're going to remember this shit this run. I think we will go in because I think that they do what FIFA says and they keep the main two together. They keep posk out of the outcome and they keep Tyler Burton together. Whatever we can figure out from there, I have trust in Ricardo, he can coach team up and they can be back in this.
And I think how about this, that good. I don't call him a superstar, but I do think he's a really good point guard, one of the few pure point guards in the league. So throughout the year, next year, we'll continue to reflect back to this run and talk about how good Halliburton is. It's because he's just a different set of player than we usually see in today's NBA.
So I think we'll remember this for a long time, but just the game winners taking down New York, going through all the teams they went through, the performances, the choke thing, all that shit. Like this is going to be a memorable run, whether they win or not. And I think again, we'll recall out being a coach, they can coach this team back up to this. They all got to pay luxury tax.
I don't have to pay these blue collar dudes. You can go make that extra money and teams over pay y'all to go, that's fine. I do think Rick Carlisle is one of the better or best coaches in the NBA to say, OK, I got these two who are in for main guys. Yeah, I give me a new group of guys.
Let me coach them up to any of being successful. So yes, we'll remember this one because I think the essence of this one will be on future teams is from how they perform. Yeah. Hold on real quick.
You know, I know we just had the superstar conversation in terms of Tyler Burton. And even though I agree, I don't think he is one, you have to mention his name in potentially becoming one because of all of the iconic moments that he has had in this postseason. Super stars, especially the guys that are transitioning into that space, you got to have moments and we cannot say that. Tari's had to have the most moments anybody trying to get into that tier of player like that.
And I agree with Spike, like that's the reason why we're going to remember this run because of who knocked off in the fashion that they did it. You know, nobody can remember this. You go. They go.
Remember. I think I think so. Like I said, I think so because the East is going to be wide open for a minute. Like, I mean, like Boston, like as much as we look at Boston as young puffs and shit, those kids are going to be 30 and like, yeah, like like Ben Carro and Franz are like the next wave of kids who should be coming into their, you know, moment Indiana right now, they got grown.
This is pretty grown team. Like, it's not like a bunch of kids on one team. This is a team of, you know, mid 20s, early 30s guys. So it's like, this is the moment.
And I think that you're going to be talking about this for at least the next two, three seasons because how he's going to be competing. Like we don't like, I keep saying, you don't know who the fuck these don't coach the Knicks. You don't know what's going to happen with Milwaukee. You don't know what's going to happen, Philly.
And it's like, everything else is like Cleveland, do you really fear them? And it's Orlando Detroit and Indiana that look like they have the most stability going forward, which is crazy. Can you predict the game? They should definitely be Indiana at Madison Square.
Absolutely. Definitely go to your Christmas game. Next year, if they don't do it, then it's just more in Diamond of the NBA. Yeah.
All right, if you all say, so look, this was a great Cinderella run. I do agree with it. We had a lot of moments come out of it, but that calf has just come off the Pacers and they had them up on Halliburton's calf. So it's a slipper off, bro.
The slipper off. Yep. So it's a.