BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR! - Stephen A. WARNS Ant-Man for CALLING OUT Kyrie Irving | First Take

ESPN
23 May 202413:29

Summary

TLDRIn a heated discussion, the panelists analyze the recent playoff game performance of NBA star Kyrie Irving, who responded to a challenge from Anthony Edwards with an aggressive first quarter, scoring 24 points. They highlight Irving's offensive prowess, including his leading three-point shooting percentage in the postseason. The conversation also touches on the defensive strategies employed by both teams, the importance of adjusting game plans, and the significance of player matchups. The panelists debate whether a shift in defensive assignments could benefit Minnesota, considering the energy expenditure and foul trouble. They conclude that while Dallas has gained home court advantage, the series is far from over, emphasizing the need for strategic adjustments and the resilience of star players.

Takeaways

  • πŸ€ Kyrie Irving's performance was exceptional, scoring 24 points in the first quarter and showcasing his offensive capabilities.
  • 🌟 Kyrie is considered a veteran player who has evolved significantly since his early career, displaying a different mindset, body, and spirit on the court.
  • πŸ“Š The game strategy involved Kyrie reading the defensive setup and exploiting open opportunities, particularly focusing on paint attacks and floaters.
  • πŸ”₯ Kyrie Irving's aggression was a key factor in the game's dynamics, as he had been less aggressive in previous games, which affected the team's performance.
  • πŸ‘€ The importance of not settling for outside shots was highlighted, as Kyrie's ability to drive to the basket and create opportunities was crucial.
  • 🚫 The Dallas Mavericks' defensive strategy was to pack the paint and force the Wolves to take three-point shots, which was a successful tactic.
  • 🎯 Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns were urged to exploit mismatches and take more shots inside the paint rather than settling for threes.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ Minnesota's defensive plan will need adjustments to counteract Dallas's offensive strategies, particularly regarding pick and roll actions and trapping.
  • πŸ† The commentary emphasized the importance of learning from each game and not overreacting to a single game's outcome, especially in a playoff series.
  • πŸ”„ The discussion suggested potential changes in defensive matchups, with the idea of assigning Anthony Edwards to Luka Doncic to conserve energy and avoid foul trouble.
  • πŸ’‘ Luka Doncic's ability to dictate the game's pace and draw fouls was noted, making him a challenging opponent for any defender, regardless of physical attributes.

Q & A

  • What was the main concern expressed about Kyrie Irving's performance in the game?

    -The main concern was that Kyrie Irving was not being aggressive early in the game, which was unusual as he had been averaging 1.6 points in the first quarter and had shown a strong offensive capability throughout the playoffs.

  • What was the average points per game in the first quarter for Kyrie Irving before game one?

    -Kyrie Irving was averaging 1.6 points per game in the first quarter before game one.

  • How did Kyrie Irving's performance change in the first quarter of game one?

    -Kyrie Irving became more aggressive in the first quarter of game one, scoring 24 points, which was a significant increase from his average.

  • What was the significance of Kyrie Irving's three-point shooting in the playoffs?

    -Among the 22 players averaging 20 or better in the postseason, Kyrie Irving was the leading three-point shooter at 44%, showcasing his offensive prowess.

  • What was the initial game plan of the Minnesota team according to the transcript?

    -Minnesota's initial game plan was to hug the three-point line and not allow the Mavericks to get going on the perimeter, focusing on defense and trying to limit the opponent's scoring opportunities.

  • Who did the commentators believe should have been more aggressive in the game?

    -The commentators believed that Anthony Edwards should have been more aggressive, as his defensive strategy was not as effective as anticipated.

  • How did the commentators view Anthony Edwards' performance in the game?

    -They viewed Anthony Edwards' performance as lacking aggression and not taking advantage of his strengths, particularly in driving to the basket and exploiting mismatches.

  • What was the strategy of the Dallas Mavericks in terms of defense?

    -The Dallas Mavericks packed the paint and dared the Wolves to shoot threes, a strategy that proved effective in limiting the Wolves' scoring opportunities inside the paint.

  • What was the commentators' view on the importance of adjusting game plans in the playoffs?

    -The commentators emphasized the importance of adjusting game plans in the playoffs, as they saw the need for Minnesota to tweak their strategy in response to Dallas' tactics.

  • What was the commentators' opinion on the potential defensive adjustment for Minnesota?

    -They suggested that Minnesota might need to consider switching defenders, with the possibility of having Jaden McDaniels guard Kyrie Irving and Anthony Edwards guard Luka Doncic, to conserve energy and avoid foul trouble.

  • How did the commentators describe Luka Doncic's impact on the game?

    -The commentators described Luka Doncic as a phenomenal player who dictates his own pace and is adept at drawing fouls, making him a significant factor in the game's outcome.

  • What was the general sentiment about the series after game one?

    -The general sentiment was that while Minnesota lost the home court advantage, the commentators did not believe they were in trouble, but acknowledged that adjustments would be necessary moving forward.

Outlines

00:00

πŸ€ Kyrie's Aggressive Start and Playoff Performance

The first paragraph discusses the strategic error of 'Aunt' calling out Kyrie Irving, who responded with an aggressive performance. Kyrie is praised for his offensive skills, including his scoring ability, three-point shooting, and creativity on the court. The commentary highlights Kyrie's growth as a player since his early career, emphasizing his veteran status and improved mental and physical game. The discussion also touches on the importance of not underestimating the intensity of playoff basketball, as seen in the energy levels of both teams and the need for Minnesota to adjust their game plan after losing the first game of the series.

05:01

🎯 Kyrie's Impact and Minnesota's Defensive Strategy

In the second paragraph, the focus is on Kyrie Irving's impact on the game and the defensive adjustments Minnesota needs to make. Kyrie's early aggression is contrasted with his usual playstyle, and his ability to finish at the rim is highlighted. The conversation delves into the importance of not settling for outside shots and the need for Minnesota to exploit mismatches. The defensive strategy of Dallas, which involved packing the paint and daring the Wolves to shoot threes, is analyzed. The paragraph also discusses the individual performances of Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, emphasizing the need for them to take advantage of their size and skill to exploit mismatches in the next game.

10:02

πŸ€” Defensive Matchups and Series Outlook

The third paragraph explores potential defensive matchups and the outlook for the series. It discusses the possibility of changing the defensive assignments to conserve energy and avoid foul trouble for key players. The paragraph acknowledges Kyrie Irving's scoring prowess against Minnesota and his shooting efficiency when guarded by specific players. The commentary also praises Luka Doncic's ability to dictate the pace of the game and his strength in creating separation for shots. The discussion concludes with the commentator's increased confidence in Dallas's chances of winning the series after their performance in the first game.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving is a professional basketball player known for his exceptional skills on the court. In the context of the video, he is highlighted as a key player who can significantly impact the game with his offensive capabilities. The script mentions his ability to 'dance on anybody,' indicating his agility and ball-handling skills. His role as a 'Magician on the offensive side of the ball' underscores his creativity and effectiveness in scoring and assisting his team.

πŸ’‘Playoffs

The playoffs refer to the elimination tournaments held after the conclusion of the regular season in various sports leagues, including basketball. In the video, the playoffs are the setting for the intense competition and strategic gameplay being discussed. The script emphasizes the heightened level of play during the playoffs, as seen in Kyrie Irving's performance and the importance of the 'back and forth' and 'interplay among star players.'

πŸ’‘Aggression

Aggression in basketball refers to the proactive and assertive approach a player takes on the court, often leading to more scoring opportunities and a stronger presence in the game. The video script describes Kyrie Irving's change in his usual playstyle, where he displayed more aggression, particularly in the first quarter, leading to a higher score and setting the tone for the game.

πŸ’‘Three-point shooter

A three-point shooter is a player who specializes in shooting from beyond the three-point line, a designated area on the basketball court from which successful shots yield three points instead of the usual two. The script highlights Kyrie Irving's proficiency as a 'leading three-point shooter' with a 44% average in the postseason, showcasing his value in scoring from distance.

πŸ’‘Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards is a professional basketball player who is mentioned in the script as a promising young talent with the potential to become a champion. The discussion revolves around his decision to call out Kyrie Irving, which is seen as a bold move given Irving's skill and experience. Edwards is also noted for his potential to 'deliver a championship to Minnesota,' indicating high expectations for his future performance.

πŸ’‘Veteran player

A veteran player is an experienced athlete who has spent a significant amount of time in their professional career. In the video, Kyrie Irving is referred to as a 'veteran player' to emphasize his maturity and evolution over the years. The script contrasts his current performance with how he was 'seven years ago,' suggesting a notable development in his skills and mental approach to the game.

πŸ’‘Game plan

A game plan in basketball is a strategic outline that a team follows during a game to achieve success. The script discusses how the Minnesota team's game plan was to 'hug the three-point line' and prevent the Mavericks from scoring on the perimeter. However, it is suggested that they may need to 'tweak' their game plan in response to the outcome of the game and the strategies employed by their opponents.

πŸ’‘Foul trouble

Foul trouble refers to a situation where a player has accumulated multiple fouls and is at risk of being disqualified from the game if more are committed. The video script suggests that Anthony Edwards should avoid getting into foul trouble when guarding Luca Doncic, who is adept at drawing fouls, thus highlighting the importance of strategic defense to keep key players on the court.

πŸ’‘Pace

Pace in basketball relates to the speed at which a team or player operates during the game. The script notes that Luca Doncic is particularly skilled at dictating his own pace, which is a significant advantage as it allows him to control the game's tempo. This ability is contrasted with other players who may be rushed or forced to adapt to the pace set by their opponents.

πŸ’‘Home court advantage

Home court advantage refers to the benefits a team has when playing in their own arena, often due to the support of their fans and familiarity with the venue. The script mentions that Dallas has gained home court advantage after winning the first game of the series, which is considered a significant factor that could influence the outcome of subsequent games.

Highlights

Aunt's call-out on Kyrie was a bad move, as he is a blossoming superstar with the potential to deliver a championship to Minnesota.

Kyrie Irving's offensive skills, including his scoring ability and creativity, make him a dangerous player to provoke.

Kyrie's leadership and willingness to defer to teammates when necessary, showcased in his game performance.

Anthony Edwards' potential as a future champion, despite his current inexperience.

Kyrie Irving's aggressive play in the first quarter, leading to 24 points and setting the tone for the game.

The importance of not settling for three-pointers and focusing on paint attacks and floaters in the game strategy.

The significance of maintaining focus and not getting complacent, even after significant wins, as emphasized by Kobe Bryant's 'job's not done' mentality.

Stephen A. Smith's and Max Kellerman's surprise at the energy required in the playoffs and the need for adjustments after game one.

The strategic trap set by Dallas to pack the paint and dare the Wolves to shoot threes, which proved successful.

The need for Minnesota to adjust their game plan to account for Dallas' unexpected offensive strategies.

Anthony Edwards' average shot distance and the importance of getting closer to the basket for better scoring opportunities.

The role of Jaden McDaniels in the game and his key turnover that nearly cost the game for Minnesota.

Luca Doncic's ability to dictate the game pace and the difficulty Minnesota faced in trying to counter his style.

The consideration of switching defensive assignments, with Anthony Edwards potentially guarding Luca Doncic to conserve energy.

The importance of exploiting mismatches in the game and the need for Anthony Towns to take advantage of his size.

The potential impact of changing defensive strategies on the outcome of the series and the importance of adapting to the opponent's strengths.

Transcripts

00:00

was it a bad move for Aunt to call out

00:03

Kyrie of course it was without question

00:06

I mean that's s that's something that I

00:08

have been alluding to coming into this

00:09

series for the last few days Wendy legs

00:12

is what I was saying I was like Kyrie

00:14

like I we love Ant-Man I think he's the

00:17

new face of the NBA I think he's a

00:19

superstar blossoming before our very

00:21

eyes and I and I think he's going to

00:23

deliver a championship to Minnesota one

00:26

day if not this year I just think that

00:28

highly of him but I was like yo you be

00:31

careful what you wish for I on Countdown

00:34

the other day be careful what you wish

00:35

for I was on first take that be careful

00:37

what you wish for I was on my pockets be

00:38

careful what you wish for this is not

00:40

the dude that you want to do that to

00:43

this Magician on the offensive side of

00:45

the ball who by the way came into the

00:49

game game one last night averaging

00:53

1.6 points per game in the first quarter

00:57

19 points in 12 playoff games in the

01:01

fourth in the first quarter I like this

01:03

ain't the dude you want you don't want

01:04

to do that not not not him not not Kyrie

01:08

this brother that can dance on anybody

01:10

the nastiest handle in the game with a

01:12

three-point shot I mean you had like 22

01:15

players averaging 20 or better in the

01:18

postseason and Kyrie is the leading

01:20

three-point shooter amongst them at 44%

01:24

we know the handle's nasty we know his

01:26

ability to finish at the basket we know

01:28

his creativity as an offensive magician

01:31

by the way if he really really wants to

01:34

mess with you we know about his movement

01:36

without the basketball whatever needs to

01:38

be done on the offensive side of the

01:40

ball is something this brother is

01:43

capable of doing and I just looked at

01:45

Anthony Edwards and I'm like I believe

01:47

in you bro you're gonna be a champion

01:50

one day I know how great you are but

01:54

you're sure this was the right thing to

01:56

do and then Kyrie comes out there with

01:59

the aggression which is obviously why he

02:02

was only averaging 1.6 points in the

02:04

first quarter because he hadn't been

02:05

aggressive he was willing to defer to

02:07

Luca defer to H Derek Jones getting him

02:10

involved defer to a PJ Washington

02:12

bringing those young fellas along and

02:14

letting everybody know when it's time

02:17

trust me I'll handle it for you but when

02:19

Anthony Edwards did that I said look out

02:24

and sure enough within the first few

02:26

minutes when you saw him with his

02:28

aggression I said ah a damn that's what

02:32

happened we saw it coming anybody that

02:34

knows basketball knew what was coming

02:37

and Kyrie delivered 24 points in the

02:39

first qu this is what we love this is

02:42

what we love this is what we love about

02:43

the playoffs we love this back and forth

02:45

we love this interplay among star

02:46

players but I think this is it kind of

02:48

undersells the fact that Kyrie was going

02:50

at an I think it undersells just what he

02:52

did in this game last night because

02:54

Kyrie is a veteran player now he is a

02:57

completely different guy than he was

02:59

seven years ago when I last covered him

03:01

in the Conference Finals Stephen A this

03:03

this guy is different in mind body and

03:05

spirit I almost can't believe it I'm

03:07

almost you know a little bit is this

03:09

really real and I'm watching it up close

03:12

here in Minneapolis and I'm saying I

03:14

think it might be and what I'm talking

03:15

about is when this game started the

03:18

Mavericks were a little bit jittery so

03:20

were the Wolves okay it's a Conference

03:21

Finals game I know that some of their

03:23

guys have experience but it's jittery

03:25

Everything feels bigger okay and also

03:27

Minnesota came out and there a great

03:29

defensive team and they and nobody knows

03:32

what game plans are going to be to start

03:33

series it's always like a guessing game

03:35

and so they came out and they were

03:37

hugging the three-point line they were

03:38

like we are going to not allow the

03:40

Mavericks to get going on the perimeter

03:42

and so Kyrie read the game yes I do

03:45

think he wanted to come out and try to

03:46

send a little message to Aunt but he

03:48

read the game he read that his teammates

03:51

and the strategy was open for him to go

03:53

to the basket and get those paint

03:56

attacks and get those floaters in his

03:58

game and that was so important and one

04:00

thing I'll say about

04:01

ant it was Kobe Bryant's like fourth

04:04

third or fourth title when he made the

04:06

famous thing the job's not done okay you

04:09

know when they were ahead in the in the

04:10

series and he goes the job's not done

04:12

Kobe didn't feel that way when he was 22

04:14

an is 22 so Ann is learning that when

04:17

you win a second round game even if it's

04:20

game seven even if it's the biggest win

04:21

your franchise has had in decades the

04:24

job is not done and I think Stephen A

04:26

and legs aunt was stunned at the energy

04:29

that it took to play in this game last

04:31

night he was exhausted at the end of the

04:33

game he admitted it he didn't understand

04:36

the the intensity from series to series

04:38

a great learning experience for him but

04:41

a reminder the job was not

04:43

done yeah look Stephen A Wendy I don't

04:46

think it's ever a good idea so Stephen A

04:48

to your point I thought the same thing

04:50

when I heard it I'm sitting there I saw

04:52

that live when it happened and I said

04:54

wow that's interesting and that's

04:56

different to use another player's name

04:58

like you say his name it's not even like

05:00

hey I'm going to be ready for the next

05:02

team you said a specific player's name

05:05

and Kyrie Irving I thought the funniest

05:06

thing in that exchange with Charles and

05:07

those guys was he said I'm just sitting

05:09

to hold my family minding my business

05:11

and all a sudden I hear my name and his

05:13

ears picked up and he has been less

05:15

aggressive early in games than he was

05:17

last night certainly and I think here's

05:19

what it comes down to Kyrie Irving is a

05:22

guy that this is one of the greatest

05:24

finishers for to guard his size at The

05:26

Rim that this league has ever seen and

05:27

man was it on full display last night

05:29

early cuz he wasn't settling for for

05:31

tough step back jumpers over length he

05:34

was downhill in the paint with his

05:37

creativity shifting hands getting his

05:39

body into the shop blocker chest getting

05:42

an ones he did so much offensively I

05:45

think to settle Dallas down to Wendy's

05:47

point if Kyrie Irving is even 10% less

05:51

aggressive in the first half they might

05:53

go in down 10 down 12 the whole game may

05:56

have felt different to the Dallas

05:58

Mavericks when they come come out of the

06:00

locker room for the second half instead

06:01

what was it I think a three-point game

06:03

maybe at halftime that was all because

06:05

of Kyrie and now you put it in the hands

06:07

of the best closer maybe in the league

06:10

period but certainly that's left in the

06:12

postseason in Luca donic and he was the

06:14

guy that settled matters in the fourth

06:16

quarter with 15 points so now

06:18

Minnesota's lost home court do you feel

06:20

like Wendy the wolves are in trouble

06:22

after game one

06:24

loss no because first off I never ever

06:27

ever overreact to game one uh something

06:29

you learn over years being around

06:31

playoff series um I also think that

06:33

Minnesota their game plan is going to

06:36

need some tweaks they they were not

06:38

ready for what they got from Dallas and

06:40

there was a there's a bunch of x's and

06:42

those I could go over with big with the

06:44

big men pick and roll actions I'm not

06:46

going to focus on that what I'm going to

06:48

focus on is the Trap that Dallas set and

06:50

that was to pack that paint and dare the

06:53

Wolves to shoot threes they shot 49

06:56

three-pointers they had not shot that

06:58

many in any game this year Aunt Edwards

07:01

took four shots inside the paint four

07:04

this is one of the best finishers and

07:06

drivers in the league they totally

07:08

baited him in to shooting those threes

07:10

his average shot distance was almost 23

07:13

feet that is a huge victory for the

07:16

Mavericks and it was very basic they

07:18

just put all these guys standing elbows

07:21

in boxes it's old school legs Stephen A

07:24

you guys know this from the 90s you

07:26

don't have the guys leave the lane and

07:28

if that means you give up some

07:29

three-pointers like early in that game

07:31

Jaden McDaniels was hitting some threes

07:33

and Kyle Anderson was hitting some

07:34

threes okay they'll give up some of

07:36

those threes to keep that lane tight for

07:39

to to to to make Aunt Edwards see two

07:41

bodies or three bodies he has to beat so

07:43

that's the big adjustment this is a

07:45

historic thing that star players have to

07:46

deal with they try to keep them out of

07:48

the lane keep them away from their

07:50

strong suit so now let's see how ant

07:52

responds to me it's all about the ant

07:54

response and also there'll be some you

07:56

know ex's and no adjustments but ant

07:58

cannot take for shots inside the paint

08:00

he's got to take 13 15 18 shots inside

08:03

the paint in game two well I I I'm not

08:06

disagreeing with that part Wendy I just

08:08

don't think it's limited to that it's

08:09

not just about Anthony Edwards how about

08:10

call Anthony towns not shooting nine

08:12

threes Charles Barkley and sha were

08:14

absolutely right last night when they

08:16

were talking about how you know what you

08:18

let the defense off the hook when you

08:19

shoot that many threes because there's a

08:21

mismatch at every turn where it comes to

08:22

him he's a legit 611 7 feet tall you

08:25

know you got mismatches that you can

08:27

take advantage of you need to do that

08:29

and the fact is Carl Anthony towns who

08:31

by the way deserves a lot of props from

08:33

the standpoint he walked into the game

08:34

with the Malik cely Jersey the late

08:37

Malik sely that used to play for the

08:38

Timberwolves was a friend of of mine but

08:41

a bigger friend of a lot of people uh

08:43

that I know personally Malik Cy was one

08:45

of those dudes we love him and we miss

08:47

him dearly but car Anthony towns

08:49

honoring him was a very very touching

08:51

thing but I will tell you when you show

08:53

up in that game and you launching threes

08:54

nah you can shoot threes from now every

08:57

now and then because we know you can

08:58

make them but in the same breath your

09:00

your success doesn't need to be

09:01

predicated completely on that when you

09:03

got a mismatch that you can exploit I

09:05

think that's another thing to bring up

09:07

Jaden McDaniels played a good game key

09:09

turnover with nearly two minutes left

09:11

that I thought cost him the game but for

09:13

the most part he really really played

09:15

well um I give him credit for that

09:17

here's what I would throw in your

09:19

direction legs because I think it's

09:20

something that needs to be said Luca is

09:22

phenomenal as we all know the thing

09:24

about Luca and if anybody could alter

09:29

his game you would think it would be

09:31

Minnesota because of their length nobody

09:34

rushes him he plays at his pace and

09:37

there is nothing you could do about it

09:39

he's going to go as fast as he wants or

09:41

as slow as he wants I have never it's

09:44

rare in the day that I have seen

09:45

somebody in all my years covering the

09:47

NBA that dictates their own pace as

09:51

successfully as Luca donic does so I'll

09:54

give him mad credit for that Minnesota

09:56

has to figure that out because they had

09:58

no answer for KY in the first half they

10:00

had no answer for Luca in the second

10:02

half and guess what it wouldn't have

10:04

even been that competitive if Dallas had

10:07

knocked down more of those open threes

10:10

that they had available to them so

10:11

you're finching the crew you got to

10:13

figure out what to do defensively there

10:16

is no question about that and Tim legler

10:18

I'mma throw it to you by saying this

10:21

Kyrie Irving against Minnesota this year

10:24

averaging 35 points just one game 35

10:27

points 52% shooting six or eight from

10:29

three point Point range with the five

10:30

assist shot nine five or seven yet last

10:32

night when guarded by Anthony Edwards

10:35

but only shot three or seven it's 43%

10:37

against Jaden McDaniels your thoughts

10:39

about this this this what I want to

10:41

throw out because

10:44

lucer doesn't move to the degree that a

10:47

Kyrie Irvin might move is it possible

10:51

that it might be better for McDaniels to

10:54

chase around Kyrie and for Anthony

10:57

Edwards to be on on Luca although I know

11:00

he would be he would be smaller and not

11:02

as long as McDaniels I'm wondering how

11:05

you feel about that only because lucer

11:09

isn't that fast and he isn't running

11:11

around that much plus he's hobbled he's

11:12

not 100% that might take a little bit of

11:16

the exhaustion away from Anthony Edwards

11:19

and add and Elevate his level of energy

11:21

Tim leg I wondering what you think about

11:23

that I love this question Stephen A

11:26

because I was thinking about it last

11:27

night during the game I absolutely agree

11:29

with you from a Personnel standpoint

11:32

that makes more sense there's one big

11:33

risk with that Luca donic is incredible

11:36

at drawing fouls he's got this little

11:39

that little up fake he does on the step

11:40

back gets you to lean and he draws fouls

11:42

obviously Anthony Edwards significantly

11:44

more important to keep out of foul

11:46

trouble than it is Jaden McDaniels

11:49

you're right you're going to expend less

11:51

energy chasing and and having to guard

11:54

guys with that kind of quickness off the

11:55

dribble as Anthony Edwards is expending

11:57

guarding Kyrie Irving and maybe that's

11:59

why he was so tired late in the game

12:00

you'll use less of that type of energy

12:02

against Luca it's more of a physical

12:04

strength wrestling match with Luca so

12:07

it's a different way in which it wears

12:08

you down I think the foul trouble is

12:11

what Chris Fitz would be concerned about

12:13

with Anthony Edwards getting that many

12:15

minutes on Luca because he is so Adept

12:17

at drawing that type of contact look

12:20

Molly asked the question were they in

12:22

trouble now I listen I obviously thought

12:24

they were in a little bit of trouble

12:25

before the series CU I picked Dallas to

12:26

win this series now it's gone up a notch

12:28

there's no doubt cuz Dallas has home

12:29

court now but I'm going to give you the

12:31

reason and Stephen hey your question

12:32

leads me into this why did I pick him in

12:34

the first place LCA donic is not

12:37

affected by length and quickness he's

12:39

not those guys that are catching those

12:41

shoulders in their chest jadeen

12:43

McDaniels nikelle Alexander Walker

12:44

Anthony Edwards watch last night when

12:47

Luca's hitting them with that shoulder

12:48

like he loves to do those guys are

12:50

giving ground and now Luca can separate

12:53

for that little lean back jumper even in

12:55

the mid-range when Lou Dort was on him

12:57

and Luca was hitting him L Dort was not

13:00

moving backwards he's too strong he was

13:02

staying up in him as a result Luca was

13:05

getting gassed and now Luca shooting

13:07

shots fading away with a hand on hand

13:09

different level of contest look at the

13:11

shots Luca made in the fourth quarter

13:13

last night he got separation against

13:15

guys that are significantly lighter

13:22

[Music]