Luka-Kyrie combine for 66 points, Brou's Wolves are done, Celtics impressive? | FIRST THINGS FIRST

First Things First
27 May 202423:11

Summary

TLDRIn this sports analysis segment, the hosts discuss the impressive performance of Luca and Kyrie in the fourth quarter of their series, shooting 56% from the field and 70% from three. They also touch on the Timberwolves' struggles, with Anthony Edwards' performance under scrutiny. The conversation shifts to the Dallas Mavericks' dominance since March, boasting the best record in basketball, and their ability to create easy offense with a high number of alley-oops. The hosts also debate the strengths of the Boston Celtics and their path to the NBA finals. The segment concludes with a tribute to the late Bill Walton, remembering his legendary basketball career and his impact as a broadcaster.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ€ Luca and Kyrie have been exceptional in the fourth quarter of this series, averaging 20 points per game and shooting 56% from the field and 70% from three.
  • ๐Ÿ“Š The Mavericks are up 3-0 in the series, which started in Minnesota, and have shown dominance in clutch moments, outscoring the Timberwolves late in close games.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Luca Donฤiฤ‡ prefers a relaxed approach to celebrating victories, including playing video games like Overwatch and enjoying a cold beer, rather than indulging in junk food.
  • ๐ŸŒŸ The Mavericks' success is attributed to having one of the greatest offensive players in the league, Luka, paired with a strong number two option in Kyrie, and a roster built to complement their strengths and weaknesses.
  • ๐Ÿ”ฅ The Timberwolves have struggled, with their star players not performing up to par, particularly Karl-Anthony Towns, who has been shooting poorly and has been absent in crucial moments.
  • ๐Ÿ† The discussion includes the comparison of the Mavericks' performance to that of the Lakers and Nuggets, where the latter pulled away in close games, making a loss seem inevitable for the Timberwolves.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Kyrie Irving's skills are highlighted, emphasizing his ability to be unguardable at the end of games, with his diverse offensive capabilities.
  • ๐Ÿค” The conversation ponders the impact of Kyrie and Luca's partnership, noting that despite their great offensive prowess, there were concerns about Kyrie's off-court issues and their potential impact on the team.
  • ๐Ÿ“‰ The Timberwolves' performance in the last five minutes of each game has been a critical factor, as they have consistently lost leads and failed to capitalize on opportunities to win.
  • ๐Ÿ† The Celtics' impressive point differential in the playoffs is noted, but there is skepticism about the strength of their competition due to injuries on opposing teams.
  • ๐Ÿ•Š๏ธ The segment concludes with a tribute to the late Bill Walton, a legendary basketball player and beloved broadcaster, who passed away at the age of 71.

Q & A

  • What was the combined performance of Luca and Kyrie in the fourth quarter of the series?

    -Luca and Kyrie combined for 20 points per game in the fourth quarter of the series, shooting 56% from the field and an impressive 70% from three-point range.

  • How many turnovers did the Timberwolves have in the game discussed in the transcript?

    -The Timberwolves had only four turnovers in the game discussed.

  • What was impressive about Luca's performance in the series?

    -Luca's performance was impressive because he took control of the series, contributing significantly to the team's 3-0 lead and showcasing his ability to perform under pressure.

  • What did Luca do to celebrate after game two, according to the transcript?

    -Luca celebrated by cracking open an ice-cold beer, grabbing a controller to play Overwatch, and asking Rudy to bring him his hookah.

  • How did the Timberwolves perform in close games in the series?

    -The Timberwolves held the lead in the last five minutes of each game but were consistently outscored by the Mavericks down the stretch.

  • What was the general consensus on Kyrie Irving's skill level before this season?

    -Before this season, Kyrie Irving was considered to have been about 75% of the player he could have been in terms of accomplishments, despite having a 'crazy' game.

  • How did the Mavericks' performance in the last few minutes of each game impact the series?

    -The Mavericks' ability to outscore the Timberwolves in the last few minutes of each game contributed to their 3-0 lead in the series.

  • What was the record of the Mavericks since early March according to the transcript?

    -Since early March, the Mavericks had a record of 27 wins and 8 losses, with the best record in basketball when considering the difficulty of competition.

  • How did the Celtics' path to the NBA finals compare to other teams historically?

    -The Celtics' path to the NBA finals has been historically easy, with key players from opposing teams being injured or out, which is unusual in the NBA.

  • What was the significance of Bill Walton's career and his passing mentioned in the transcript?

    -Bill Walton was a legendary basketball player and broadcaster who had a significant impact on the sport. His passing at the age of 71 was a notable loss to the basketball community.

Outlines

00:00

๐Ÿ€ Dominant Performance by Luca and Kyrie

The paragraph discusses the outstanding performance of Luca and Kyrie, who are averaging 20 points per game in the fourth quarter of the series, with an impressive shooting percentage of 56% and 70 from three. It highlights their contribution to the team's 3-0 lead in the series, starting in Minnesota. The discussion also touches on Luca's off-court preferences, such as playing Overwatch and enjoying a cold beer, which contrasts with the Timberwolves' need to step up their game. The paragraph emphasizes the perfect storm of having one of the league's greatest offensive players in Luca, supported by a strong number two option in Kyrie, a roster built around their strengths and weaknesses, and their fearlessness in close games, which has turned the tide against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

05:01

๐Ÿค” Debate on Team Dynamics and Player Performance

This paragraph delves into a debate about the team dynamics and the performance of key players, particularly focusing on the Dallas Mavericks and their stars, Luca and Kyrie. It contrasts the offensive prowess of Luca, who is considered one of the league's greatest, with the defensive capabilities of LeBron, drawing parallels and differences between the two. The conversation also covers Kyrie's journey as a player, his off-court issues, and how they have impacted his performance on the court. The speakers discuss the importance of the team's roster being built with both the strengths and weaknesses of the key players in mind, and how this has contributed to their success in close games, leading to a potential series sweep.

10:03

๐Ÿ“Š Analysis of Team Records and Playoff Performance

The paragraph provides a detailed analysis of the Dallas Mavericks' performance since early March, highlighting their impressive record of 27 wins and 8 losses, which is considered the best in the league. It discusses the team's defensive capabilities and their ability to create easy offense through alley-oops, a strategy that has been particularly effective against the Timberwolves. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by the Timberwolves, including the performance of their young star, Anthony Edwards, and the team's inability to capitalize on close games. The speakers acknowledge the Mavericks' dominance and the likelihood of a series sweep, despite initial skepticism.

15:03

๐Ÿ† Reflections on Young Talent and Championship Hopes

This paragraph reflects on the challenges faced by young players in leading their teams to a championship, using Anthony Edwards as an example. It discusses the historical context of no 22-year-old player ever leading a team to an NBA championship and the learning curve associated with being an aggressive and effective leader on the court. The conversation also touches on the Celtics' performance in the playoffs, their impressive point differential, and the relative ease of their path to the NBA finals due to injuries on opposing teams. The speakers debate the Celtics' true strength and whether they are indeed one of the best teams in the league.

20:05

๐Ÿ•Š๏ธ Remembering Bill Walton: A Basketball Legend and Broadcaster

The final paragraph pays tribute to the late Bill Walton, a basketball legend who passed away at the age of 71. It recounts his remarkable career, including his time at UCLA, his NBA championships, and his contributions to the sport as a player and a broadcaster. The speakers share personal anecdotes and express their admiration for Walton's skills, his infectious joy, and his impact on the basketball community. They highlight his achievements, such as his unprecedented winning streak in college basketball and his memorable performances in the NBA, as well as his successful transition to broadcasting, where he was known for his engaging and entertaining style.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กLuka

Luka refers to Luka Donฤiฤ‡, a professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA. He is highlighted in the script as one of the greatest offensive players the league has ever seen. His performance in the series discussed in the video is pivotal, with him and Kyrie averaging 20 points per game in the fourth quarter, showcasing his importance to the team's success.

๐Ÿ’กKyrie

Kyrie refers to Kyrie Irving, another professional basketball player who plays alongside Luka Donฤiฤ‡ for the Dallas Mavericks. The script emphasizes the combined impact of Kyrie and Luka in the fourth quarter of games, where they shoot efficiently and contribute significantly to the team's scoring.

๐Ÿ’กTimberwolves

The Timberwolves refers to the Minnesota Timberwolves, an NBA team that is discussed in the script as having been defeated by the Dallas Mavericks. The video talks about the Timberwolves' inability to close out games and their struggles against the Mavericks' star players.

๐Ÿ’กOffensive Forces

In the context of basketball, 'offensive forces' refers to players who are particularly effective at scoring points and contributing to their team's offense. The script uses this term to describe Luka and Kyrie, indicating that they are dominant on the offensive end of the court.

๐Ÿ’กPostseason

The 'postseason' in sports, including basketball, refers to the championship playoff games that occur after the conclusion of the regular season. The script discusses the performance of players like Kyrie Irving in the postseason, highlighting their ability to perform well under pressure.

๐Ÿ’กAly-oops

An 'Aly-oop' in basketball is a type of alley-oop play where one player throws the ball near the basket for another player to jump and score with typically a slam dunk. The script mentions Luka throwing successful Aly-oops during the playoffs, indicating the Mavericks' ability to create easy scoring opportunities.

๐Ÿ’กOverWatch

OverWatch is a popular online multiplayer first-person shooter video game. In the script, it's humorously mentioned as something Luka might play to relax, indicating his interests outside of basketball and adding a personal touch to the conversation.

๐Ÿ’กHookah

A hookah is a traditional water pipe for smoking herbs, tobacco, or other substances. In the script, it's playfully mentioned as something Luka might use to celebrate, adding a humorous and informal tone to the discussion about the player's off-court activities.

๐Ÿ’กClose Sweep

A 'close sweep' in the context of sports refers to a team winning a series with the opponent winning at least one game, but not enough to prevent a sweep. The script discusses the possibility of the Timberwolves experiencing a close sweep against the Mavericks.

๐Ÿ’กPoint Guard

A 'point guard' is a position in basketball, typically the primary ball-handler on the team and often responsible for controlling the game's tempo and making strategic plays. The script mentions Kyrie Irving in the context of being a top point guard, discussing his skills and contributions to the game.

๐Ÿ’กBill Walton

Bill Walton is a former professional basketball player and a broadcaster who passed away at the age of 71, as mentioned in the script. He is remembered for his legendary career with UCLA and the NBA, as well as his contributions to broadcasting, with the script highlighting his impact on the lives of the show's hosts.

Highlights

Luca and Kyrie's combined performance in the fourth quarter of the series, averaging 20 points per game with a 56% shooting rate.

Only four turnovers from Turner in the previous night's game, contributing to the team's success.

The Dallas team's impressive 3-0 lead in the series, starting in Minnesota.

Discussion on Luca's off-court preferences, including his interest in beer, video games, and a hookah.

The impact of Luca and Kyrie as a formidable duo in close games, showcasing their offensive capabilities.

Comparison of the Dallas-Minnesota series to the Lakers-Nuggets series, highlighting the pattern of close games followed by a pull away.

Kyrie Irving's skill set and his potential ranking among the top point guards, despite not being the best in terms of accomplishments.

The Timberwolves' inability to maintain leads in the last five minutes of each game, leading to their downfall.

The Dallas Mavericks' impressive performance since early March, boasting the best record in basketball.

The Celtics' dominant performance in the playoffs, with the best point differential in the last 30 postseasons.

The importance of the ala oops play in the Mavericks' offensive strategy, with a significant number compared to other teams.

The challenge for the Timberwolves in defending against the Mavericks' offensive plays, particularly the ala oops.

Anthony Edwards' performance and the expectations placed on him as a young player in the NBA.

The comparison between the Mavericks and the Celtics in terms of their defensive capabilities and match-up potential.

The passing of Bill Walton, a legendary basketball player and beloved broadcaster.

Memories and reflections on Bill Walton's career, both as a player and a broadcaster.

Transcripts

00:00

Luca and Kyrie combined in the fourth

00:02

quarter this series 20 points a game

00:05

shooting 56% 70 from three from three

00:08

pretty good only four Turners last night

00:10

they had 21 wow so Nick they were tough

00:13

shots last night man he's he's making

00:15

them unbelievable he's making them the

00:17

defense isn't horrible what I'm saying

00:20

uh what impressed you the most well I

00:24

mean they're up 3 0 and this series

00:25

started in

00:27

Minnesota which means Brew what did they

00:29

do

00:31

oh here we

00:33

go into the timber wolves house he got

00:37

to get a better not get a sandwich they

00:40

got comfy on the couch and listen Luca's

00:44

not into sandwiches chips and sod pop we

00:48

know what LC is into he said you know

00:50

what let me crack open an ice cold beer

00:53

wow let me grab hold on let me grab a

00:56

controller so I can get my OverWatch

00:58

ranking even higher

01:00

and then he said Rudy bring me my hookah

01:05

and he absolutely

01:09

celebrate listen in their house he

01:13

kicked his feet up turned on

01:17

OverWatch you you better not be getting

01:20

high no it's hook tobacco base glorious

01:23

rips from his

01:24

hookah and took control of the series

01:27

did we buy that we bought we bought that

01:30

hookah after game two anticipating game

01:33

three and that's be hon that looks

01:36

better than sandwich yeah you got the

01:39

nice PlayStation controller you got the

01:41

nice cold beer and you got Lucas be

01:43

careful Lucas those those charcoals get

01:45

very very hot uh listen guys this is a

01:48

perfect storm of and this is where I

01:51

think you'll agree one of I actually

01:54

agree with what you just did I mean

01:56

that's exactly what they did I hate to

01:58

say

02:00

it's a perfect storm of one of the

02:03

greatest offensive players the League's

02:05

everever seen Luka is that he is one of

02:07

the greatest heliocentric or not

02:11

offensive forces the league has seen a

02:14

number two option who when his mind is

02:17

right and he is not relied on to be the

02:20

number one option is as good of a number

02:24

two postseason killer as we've seen like

02:27

that's what his resume is in this

02:29

specific

02:30

and a roster built exactly with not only

02:34

those players strengths but maybe more

02:36

importantly those two players weaknesses

02:38

in mind and all of that plus two guys

02:42

who are absolutely Fearless at the end

02:46

of close games is how you take a team

02:49

that looked like oh my God they're go

02:51

they're they should be the favorites to

02:53

win the title in Minnesota and three

02:55

games later every close game late you're

02:58

like well they're going to lose yeah

02:59

they're going to lose because the other

03:01

guys are going to take it from them it

03:02

looks somewhat not exactly the same but

03:05

it's a lot like the Lakers Nuggets where

03:08

the games were you know Lakers are right

03:10

there and then Denver just pulls away

03:13

and it gets to the point where it seems

03:14

inevitable and that's what this is look

03:17

the difference in this series is the two

03:20

stars for Dallas have shown up in a huge

03:24

way particularly down the stretch and

03:26

the two stars for Minnesota for the most

03:29

most part if not ants had

03:31

moments cat is totally been non-existent

03:34

shooting 27% from the floor 133% from

03:37

three that and then down the stretch

03:40

look at this the the Timberwolves have

03:42

held the lead in the last five minutes

03:45

in each game I know they were up four or

03:48

they were they were up four with three

03:50

and a half minutes left in game one get

03:52

out scored 10 to three they're up five

03:55

with a minute and a half left in game

03:58

two get out scored 60 to rest of the way

04:00

what are you smiling about you got

04:02

something they're they're up to with

04:05

five minutes left yesterday and they get

04:07

out score 14 to three down the stretch

04:09

and you are right Nick look Kyrie

04:12

Irving will probably not go down I mean

04:15

who knows what he does going forward but

04:18

most likely won't go down as a top 10

04:21

point guard of all time but skill-wise

04:24

I've always said this about Kyrie up

04:26

until like this season he's really only

04:29

been about as far as accomplishments

04:31

about 75% of the player he could have

04:34

been and he's still a Hall of Famer if

04:36

you if he didn't have and some of it was

04:38

injuries too not just off the court

04:39

stuff but his game is crazy and so at

04:45

the end of games you have literally got

04:48

two unguardable players all right and

04:52

they they both can handle the ball

04:55

terrifically they both can get to the

04:57

rim and finish they both can score in

04:58

the mid-range they both can shoot the

05:00

three they both can catch and shoot they

05:03

both can pass so if you double them they

05:04

can either throw an alleyoop or or spray

05:07

it out to a three-point shooter or pass

05:08

it back to the other like Kyrie there's

05:11

nothing it's it's actually different

05:13

than that because LeBron was not the

05:15

jump shooter especially at that time

05:17

that Luca is like they I think it's more

05:20

dangerous offensively not defensively

05:23

obviously because LeBron was such a

05:24

great defender but when you got two guys

05:27

that can shoot it the way and we said it

05:29

earlier the defense on some of these

05:31

threes Lucas hitting and some of the

05:33

mid-range shots the turnarounds the

05:34

defense is good by Minnesota it's just

05:37

yeah they're they're playing you follow

05:39

the NBA transactions probably closer

05:42

than most people certainly me when did

05:44

Kyrie and Luca hook up when when did

05:47

they sign mid through last year oh last

05:50

year yeah oh so Brew you knew that Kyrie

05:52

and Luca were two great offensive forces

05:55

going into this series right they're on

05:57

the team yeah yeah so why did you pick

06:01

the Wolves after you just gave this long

06:04

spiel about how great they're two the

06:07

best players are better the woles were

06:09

good in the clutch against

06:12

Denver what that it's not look at how

06:14

close these games have been it's not

06:17

just that they've lost but they've these

06:19

games are right there for the taking and

06:22

they Anthony Edwards has falling off

06:24

down the stretch in some of these games

06:26

and and I we'll get to him because I got

06:28

a lot to say about him but yeah I I just

06:30

think it's not like they're getting

06:32

blasted I'm I'm wondering what is

06:36

this have

06:38

something I can tell you he he was

06:41

grinning because he thought you were

06:43

going to unveil close sweep again we're

06:45

right that's what he thought that's why

06:47

he

06:48

was he did the absolute it's been so bad

06:51

down the right and then he did this

06:53

thing where he tried to kill you for

06:55

your pick when he refused to make a pick

06:57

because in part that's exactly what I

06:58

did to him the Nuggets Tim series and

07:01

you're catching trapnel I everything you

07:03

said about Kyrie is true and I will I

07:06

have no problem sitting here on TV and

07:08

saying listen I picked the Mavs to win

07:10

the title last year and when they got

07:13

Kyrie I said it hurt their chances like

07:15

I I was so I was so down on Kyrie the

07:21

actual player versus Kyrie the idea and

07:24

he has totally I I saw you because of

07:27

the off the court yeah yeah well because

07:29

the off the court stuff impacted on the

07:31

court it wasn't just off the court

07:33

things it was because of off the court

07:35

things he couldn't he wasn't available

07:36

for you and post LeBron when he was

07:38

available for you in the playoffs he was

07:41

bad in the postseason and that has now

07:43

obviously changed and so I he does

07:46

deserve credit the Luca piece of it if I

07:49

may quickly this has been the trajectory

07:52

he's been on since he was a child at 16

07:57

years old he's an impact player in the

08:00

second best league in the world at 18

08:03

years old he's the MVP of That League

08:06

and a champion at 20 years old he's

08:09

League MV or rookie of the year in the

08:11

NBA at 21 he scores 42 in his first

08:14

playoff game ever at 22 he averages 368

08:20

and 10 in the series against the

08:22

Clippers at 23 he has a down year and at

08:26

25 he is or I skipped a year there but

08:29

you guys follow it or no 23 at 23 he in

08:32

the Conference Finals pardon me beating

08:34

the at 24 he has a down year and at 25

08:38

he's on the precius of the finals and

08:40

entering the is he actually the best

08:42

player in the world discussion that's

08:44

been who he's supposed to be with one

08:46

weird outlier year last year and

08:49

obviously kid and Nico Harrison and

08:51

Kyrie and everyone else deserve a ton of

08:53

look I I honestly as much as I've Loved

08:55

Kyrie's game from Jump Street yep I

08:58

didn't think they should resign him

08:59

yeah because I felt like if you give him

09:01

multiple years now he's got the security

09:05

financially to just maybe he does some

09:07

more stuff off the court but maybe that

09:11

was a wakeup call maybe the fact that he

09:13

didn't get the full Max the full Max

09:15

just matured yeah no I think that's a

09:17

big part of it too okay as you were

09:20

referencing earlier uh t- wolves this

09:22

series some people are calling it a

09:24

close sweep I don't know if you want to

09:26

go there but are you giving up on your

09:28

wolves it's got to

09:29

I'll go there close sweep I'm not

09:33

ashamed of a close sweep you think it's

09:35

a sweep well look this is

09:37

[Laughter]

09:38

tough but I guess I'm not

09:41

immune each one of us has had to take

09:44

our medicine this postseason you picked

09:47

the Lakers to beat Denver you of course

09:50

nobody's beating the nuggets in a seven

09:52

game series yeah and I guess now it's

09:56

looking like with bruised wolves in not

09:59

a hole in an abyss all right and you

10:02

guys know I don't abandon ship at the

10:04

first sign of danger no all right when

10:07

they were down 32 to the nuggets and you

10:09

were dying for me to come over to your

10:11

side what did I do I stood 10 toes down

10:15

true when they when they were down 20 if

10:17

you had texted me with them down 20 I

10:20

would have said the wolves are going to

10:22

win all right I I had them all right

10:27

now as much as I would love love to sit

10:29

here and say I

10:32

Envision later this week throwing on the

10:35

sunglasses putting on the robe kicking

10:38

up my feet I like that I also am

10:41

responsible on this show for True

10:45

heartfelt cogent analysis not out here

10:49

like a

10:51

car all right so

10:55

Timberwolves it's

10:57

over you're run is done at least this

11:01

year there will be no historic comeback

11:05

I hate to say it but you are done yeah

11:09

there we go yeah it's as simple as that

11:11

I thought it would feel better to be

11:12

honest with well here's the thing and

11:14

Brew tried to be a little tricky there

11:15

saying I had to eat it cuz I got a first

11:17

round serious right yeah but the but

11:19

then by that same logic I do believe and

11:22

by I do believe I mean I checked the

11:23

tape this morning you multiple times had

11:25

the Clippers beating these Dallas

11:26

Mavericks who I think now you're

11:29

time I the Lakers over theet but that's

11:31

neither here nor there here's where you

11:33

guys both I think missed the boat on

11:36

this

11:37

one Dallas has arguably been the best

11:40

team in the league for a couple months

11:43

we can show it to you what Dallas has

11:45

been since early March the numbers I was

11:48

going to show it earlier but we can get

11:49

it to it now it's 27 and8 but it's

11:51

better than that cuz two of those game

11:54

three of those eight losses number one

11:56

they didn't play I think it's Boston I

11:58

would say Boston take this graphic off

12:00

the screen okay so I don't I don't

12:02

actually age is that the best in the

12:03

west 27

12:05

and8 I understand but so if if just

12:08

please let me finish exploring the

12:09

graphic if I may the 26 and five is when

12:13

their guys play because LCA and Kyrie

12:16

both sat out the final two games of the

12:18

year that is the best record in

12:20

basketball the the defense has been

12:23

unbelievable and when you consider

12:26

difficulty of competition over the

12:28

course of the playoffs I think that

12:29

tilts heavily in the favor of anyone in

12:31

the west versus anyone in the East you

12:34

then add to this series or what the Mavs

12:37

have done all playoffs which is a stat

12:39

TNT showed we put our own little twist

12:42

on it which I don't think is about the

12:46

the Timberwolves not having it they

12:49

luc's thrown 28 Aly oops successful Aly

12:51

oops these playoffs the rest of M has

12:52

thrown 20 every other team's at nine so

12:55

it's 48 to 9 to 8 to 6 it's not like Al

12:59

oops are worth more but they basically

13:01

it's about a 98% shot and the fact that

13:04

they're getting them at 5x the rate of

13:07

everyone else means they are creating

13:10

some of the easiest offense I don't

13:12

think that's an indict and by I don't

13:14

think that's an indictment on the

13:16

Timberwolves I mean a little bit man I

13:18

if they were doing it they did it in

13:20

round one to the Clippers they did it in

13:23

round two to the number one seed top

13:25

five defense Thunder they're going to do

13:27

it in round four to Boston whether

13:29

they're going to win or not they're

13:30

going to have five six Aly oops a game

13:33

and it is part of the the last one Luca

13:35

had in this game to ice it was falling

13:38

down left-handed and like there's no and

13:41

for as much as people want to rip gobear

13:43

it's it's almost an impossible for

13:45

situation for him because to come up and

13:47

help and then Luc just throw the L but

13:49

don't don't you think that that um they

13:53

took that away from the Nuggets like

13:56

that that joker to Aaron Gordon all of a

13:58

sudden it wasn't there

13:59

and then and then it's back where goar

14:01

is letting I'm not saying he's letting

14:03

it happen but it seems to be available

14:04

in this series and it wasn't in last I

14:07

part of it the Nuggets had really one

14:09

playmaker as great as Jamal Murray is

14:12

not really a playmaker for other players

14:14

and they got two and that's that's also

14:17

you got to guard Luca further out from

14:19

the basket than you have to guard Joker

14:20

so there's you know what I mean there's

14:22

more ground to make up I I'll say like I

14:25

I should what I should have seen is and

14:27

we talked about a little bit no 22

14:29

Anthony AB is 22 no 22 has ever been the

14:32

year old player has been the best player

14:34

on his team in the history of the NBA

14:37

that won a championship and this goes

14:40

back to George mik all right all the

14:42

others magic Kobe who were young they

14:45

had they weren't the best players on

14:47

their team at that LeBron didn't win

14:48

when he LeBron didn't win and and so I

14:51

thought with his Supporting Cast even

14:53

know he's technically the best player I

14:54

thought with cat and goar and Conley

14:57

that they would be good enough to win it

15:00

and obviously that's not the case and so

15:03

um you know he's learning you're seeing

15:05

why no 22s year old players ever led a

15:08

team to a championship because he's

15:10

still figuring it out he's still

15:12

figuring out when to be aggressive when

15:13

to get other series of his life which

15:15

isn't helpful well Tak shots pre game

15:17

probably i' bring it down to 1100 I

15:20

would save 400 for the game here's the

15:23

best point differential in the last 30

15:25

postseasons now maybe this says

15:27

something about the Celtics dominence

15:29

maybe it says something about a

15:31

moderately easy uh injury plagued path

15:35

even though porzingis isn't playing uh

15:37

have you been impressed with the

15:39

Celtics yeah yeah you guys know I'm hard

15:42

on the

15:42

Celtics to say the EAS the path has been

15:45

easy is it's just unbelievably like I've

15:49

never seen this in the NBA I it done all

15:51

the years but I don't remember a team

15:53

Jimmy Butler best player out in the

15:55

first round Donovan Mitchell best player

15:57

Jared Allen maybe be the second best

16:00

player out against Cleveland and now

16:02

Tyrese halberton out can I make it just

16:04

a quick porz is not close to their best

16:07

no I know isn't that the reward for

16:10

getting the number one seed injuries the

16:12

other team's being injured I don't think

16:14

so yeah a little bit because when you're

16:15

playing a Heat team that is been you're

16:17

playing other teams that go through some

16:19

injury strife and drop down in the

16:22

rankings and you get to be the number

16:24

all these injuries happened but that's

16:26

not but that the heat weren't the 18

16:27

because Jimmy got hurt Jimmy got hurt in

16:29

the final game before the playoffs

16:30

started the the Donovan Mitchell was

16:32

healthy when the series started was

16:34

Donovan Mitchell healthy the whole

16:35

season no but Donovan Mitchell got hurt

16:38

the Cavs dropped and they got to play

16:40

and then and then he was fully healthy

16:41

and we were talking about him being

16:43

great in round one and scoring 50 and

16:45

then he got hurt and Tyrese Hal was hurt

16:47

during the year that's what I'm saying

16:49

Tyrese halber was hurt during the year I

16:51

I agree yes but I don't I I just you

16:53

asked the question I I think you're

16:56

saying give them credit for putting

16:59

themselves in the number one right cuz

17:01

cuz the Nick like the the um bucks

17:05

didn't put themselves in the number two

17:07

spot like they couldn't they could have

17:09

avoided in the so I get what you're

17:10

saying but it's still been a yellow

17:13

brick road to the NBA finals I'll give

17:15

them Credit in that they're not fooling

17:17

around they you know two five game

17:18

series You could argue they could have

17:20

swept but they've blown them out in all

17:22

the wins essentially and this series

17:24

hasn't been they haven't had all

17:26

blowouts but no you

17:29

all of a sudden I I haven't you're oddly

17:32

defensive about a team that I feel like

17:35

you were openly skeptical of up to an

17:38

including discounting Tatum's

17:40

performance in the finals when brew and

17:42

I defended him and now being and now and

17:45

all week we tried to get you to pick a

17:47

team to win the championship are you now

17:49

picking Boston I certainly like them

17:51

okay but that's you ready to make a pick

17:53

so are are you ready to make a pick your

17:55

wounds have healed not ready yet ready

17:58

to get back out what I'm certainly not

18:00

going to side with you and and the naavs

18:04

and your sh I got to make here's the

18:07

thing I will say this I will say this

18:10

and I'm look I'm leaning Dallas strongly

18:13

I think I'm gonna pick Dallas the

18:15

Celtics if you go there Wilds look they

18:18

do have great Defenders and Drew holiday

18:21

and Dereck white two great perimeter

18:23

Defenders for Kyrie you got size and

18:26

some good defenders in brown and Tatum

18:28

to defend Luca and they spread the floor

18:31

with that fiveman out offense to bring

18:33

Gafford and guys away from the rim so

18:36

they I think they do match up remember I

18:37

said last week I think they match up

18:39

better with Dallas than Minnesota so I

18:41

think there's a reason if you want to go

18:43

there I might there's a little support

18:45

for you I just can't give them a ton of

18:47

like people like say what more do they

18:49

have to do if being down eight with two

18:52

minutes left to a Pacer teams without

18:54

Tyrese halberton even though you pulled

18:56

out the win is not something to me that

18:58

in Confidence Game one they have the

19:01

number one scoring margin in the

19:02

playoffs that's I what do you want to do

19:04

I I I understand that and if they which

19:07

is why we are paid for our analysis I'm

19:09

just my opin well they have the number

19:11

one scoring margin in the playoffs and

19:13

you're like they were down in the fourth

19:16

and came back what do you want to have a

19:18

bigger number one Mar the question is

19:21

man was I impressed with Boston and

19:24

since I was last here since we were last

19:27

on TV here is what I seen them do have a

19:30

nice win in game two and then game three

19:33

I think Sleepwalk against a team that

19:36

has that that starting five has no

19:38

business in the Conference Finals and

19:41

they got away with it does that impress

19:43

me is the question it does not we'll see

19:46

if they end up playing up to their the

19:49

stat you're showing say they are one of

19:50

the greatest teams ever I think that

19:53

they are not even one of the three best

19:55

teams in the NBA so we'll see so we

19:58

we'll we see how it plays out I'm

19:59

definitely taking the Celtic is that

20:02

yeah yeah after this you got the Celtic

20:04

all right there it is some sad news uh

20:07

we're going to end the segment with uh

20:09

bill walon has passed away at the age of

20:11

71 he anchored a Legendary Run with UCLA

20:14

won two NBA championships is a member of

20:17

the Hall of Fame and brought an

20:18

infectious joy throughout his

20:19

broadcasting career Brew how will you

20:21

remember Bill Walton well first of all I

20:24

mean obviously was a tremendous player

20:26

and a lot of people might not know cas

20:29

fans that injuries really I don't ruined

20:32

his too strong but hurt his career

20:35

because he it it broke my heart Dr J was

20:38

my favorite player and Bill Walton led

20:40

the Portland Trailblazers to Series

20:43

championship over them in 1977 um so I

20:46

remember him as a great player whose

20:48

career was sabotaged by injury but I

20:50

worked with Bill at ESPN and he was a

20:54

ton of fun to work with he he said my

20:56

analysis was Baler Dash fash poppycock

20:59

but hey he was a lot of fun to work with

21:03

and I remember him as a great guy I was

21:06

disappointed when they took him off the

21:08

NBA broadcast he did with Steve Snapper

21:10

Jones because I thought those two were

21:12

great together so I I remember it was a

21:14

great player a great fun guy to be

21:16

around and uh I thought he was a

21:19

tremendous broadcaster as well so on on

21:21

the basketball side of things from

21:23

Midway point of his junior year of high

21:24

school until the Midway point of his

21:25

senior year of college he didn't lose a

21:27

game didn't lose a game uh there was an

21:30

88 game Collegiate winning streak in

21:31

there plus what he did in high school

21:33

plus what he did as freshman year at

21:34

UCLA if you ask the question who's the

21:36

greatest college basketball player of

21:38

all time you're allowed to give two

21:39

names either L all sender or Bill Walton

21:41

they're the only two eligible then in

21:43

the pros as Brew mentioned he has 20 20

21:47

points 23 rebounds seven assists eight

21:49

blocks to win a championship against Dr

21:51

J at the peak of Dr J's Powers then next

21:54

year was the youngest te ever to win a

21:56

corre and then next year he followed

21:57

that up by winning League M VP and then

22:00

foot injuries derailed it but despite

22:02

that he then was Sixth Man of the Year

22:04

for a team a lot of people think is the

22:06

greatest team ever the 86 Celtics with

22:08

all that said he might have been an even

22:11

better broadcaster and I was telling

22:13

these guys before the show when I was a

22:16

little kid Bill Walton is who I wanted

22:19

to be when I would tell people I want to

22:21

do

22:22

broadcasting and I wanted I I said I

22:24

want to talk about the NBA for a living

22:26

it was the Walton Steve snapper Jones

22:29

combo on NBC that I loved and wanted to

22:31

do and I didn't know he had to be a

22:33

player or a coach to sit in those seats

22:35

um so I so many of my memories as a kid

22:39

growing up the soundtrack are him and

22:41

Snapper bickering you know playfully

22:44

with each other and I remember getting

22:46

mad telling my mom how that I thought

22:49

that Snapper Jones was so mean to bill

22:52

because I didn't know their friendship

22:53

so he is a legendary career over 60

22:57

years or 50 years truly truly

22:59

unbelievable that was well said Bill

23:00

Walton was 71 years old thanks for

23:03

watching subscribe here to get more from

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