FRI POD @SpenceChecketts on NBA Playoffs, WCF, Knicks-Pacers G2, NFL offseason, RSL + more

All right, let's get it.

Drivetime Friday afternoon, thirteen minutes past the hour, two o'clock. Lovely day, lovely, lovely day, in preparation for what looks like a really really lovely Memorial Day weekend. About seventy two degrees sunny here in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. As it is every single day. It's going to have you along for the ride. Spence check, it's behind the mic, order Larson, behind the glass. Yeah, we got great weather this weekend and throughout.

Next week as well.

It looks like summer is on its way. Happy Friday to you, Congratulations, it is weekend time.

You made it.

Take a big old deep breath, and hopefully have a long weekend like we do.

We'll be off on Monday.

So this is our final show until Tuesday of next week.

But luckily it is a.

Jam packed, busy, busy show, very busy show with a lot to do, of course, the NBA Playoff basketball top of mind awareness. The Oklahoma City Thunder took a commanding two zero lead and once again kind of just kind.

Of fit the script. I did even to feel.

About OKAC the way I felt about Boston a year ago. They've got a level that I don't think anyone else has left, and quite frankly, they have all year long. They kind of just did last night where they've been doing all year long. Had a really excellent third quarter and second half. Julius Randall did not even get it get off the bench in the fourth quarter. This is

They'll head back to will not head back.

They'll head to Minnesota at the Target Center to take on well Uh to go back home. Minnesota is going to try to protect their home court after OKAC was able to get the first two games down in Oklahoma City. The New York Knicks fighting for their playoff live. This is a franchise that I can tell you is zero to fourteen in the history of the organization. When they go down to zero. They have never gone down to zero while losing the first two games at Madison Square Garden.

It's the Oilers and the Stars tonight.

The Stars have won seven straight games at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. That's one shy of their record in the postseason, and they lead the Western Conference Final one zero over Cony McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.

But you'll get that game tonight as well.

So some playoff basketball, some playoff hockey, playoff basketball, playoff hockey. Last night as well, we'll get to some takeaways from the games. The Panthers smoked the Hurricanes, and the Panthers are the hottest team right now and the National Hockey League, so we'll do some playoff basketball, some playoff hockey. We are inching closer and closer to the NBA Draft coming up on June the twenty fifth. The next date of

The college football.

Playoff will be straight seeding now as opposed to awarding conference champs seeds. It's just the best teams get the best seeds. And we talked to Matt Brown yesterday about a bevy of different changes that are on the horizon and how this sport could take shape as we move forward, so we'll get the latest in that direction. No new news on the Jake Retz laugh situation out at BYU other than what's been reported by the Salt Lake Tribune and others. ESPN are Guy Kyle Bonnet Gurrow with some

Start things off with the hippest.

NBA rider around, Howard Beck from the Ringer Taco KC Minnesota, Top New York and in Indiana. Of course, a little jazz basketball some offseason NBA Zach Harper will stop by as well. One of our favorites on a Friday, Paul pug Meyer joins us to talk some and golf.

Charles Schwab Challenge. The PGA Tour is stopping.

At the Charles Schwab, so we will talk some golf on the program today with that guy Paul pug Meyer. Talk a little local golf as well. Played eighteen this

Teams in all of Major League Soccer.

So Howard Beck, Zach Harper, Paul Pugmyer, Mikeym, Andy Larson, he Spence Check, it's all of you, your great listeners. Happy Friday to you and that guy Porter Larson. Confidence level Game two Knicks Pacers, where you at?

I don't.

I don't think I can rightly say I'm confident, Spencer, not with the way Game one went.

You know I have.

I'll say this, I'm confident the Knicks will bounce back in the energy they play with. I'm confident that they're not going to, like all of a sudden, get swept and blown out in this series. I'm confident in like the fight that they'll have tonight. But man, when you get some of the performances you had into Game one and still find a way to lose, I'm gonna have to see a reverse course a little bit before I can go into the next game confident.

There's a little uneasiness there.

Fair enough as there should be.

So we'll get you ready for some NBA playoff action tonight and talk about Game two takeaways Oka see Wolves last night. Howard Beck our first guest right out of the gates. But before we get to Howard. On this Friday afternoon weekend edition style courtesy off our good friends, your good friends, Stewart Prize Picks, it is to now for your opening tip.

Welcome to the Drive with Spence check its on Utah's number one Sports Talk Now into the studios of ESPN seven hundred to set the scene for the show. The opening tip of the Drive is brought to you by Prize Picks. Use the code es P seven hundred and run your game with Prize Picks.

Cash in on the basketball playoffs with Prize Picks. Don't miss your last chance to add your favorite players from the court to your Prize Picks lineup. Whether it's points, rebounds, or assists. Take your pick of more or less for your shot to win up to two thousand times your cash Today. Turn those Playoffs Playoff hot takes and the tickets to Basketball's Championship Series started with the playing round.

This is their time and they're ready.

And one of the things that I always, you know, hesitate about when it comes to anointing a team believing they can win a championship is if you have not had a lengthy playoff run as a group before and I haven't seen you do it, I'm always hesitant to say I believe that you can. And Oklahoma City with this group, you know, they've made the postseason before. Last year, they won one round and they were beaten by the MAVs in the second round.

So I was a little bit hesitant.

Even though all the data indicates they are historic and they had a historic regular season, I was just a little bit hesitant to anoint them as the favors to

Oklahoma City is.

Intentional at getting Rudy Gobert in pick and roll situations and then killing him in the mid range.

And I love Rudy, that's our guy.

Of course, he was here for eight years and nine years played really really well, but that's always kind of been the Achilles heel if you can get him in switches and then make him uncomfortable out on the perimeter and take advantage of him in the mid range. And that's what Oklahoma City has done intentionally, like they're almost insulting Rudy by canceling two or three different actions to get Gobert's man up to set the screen so they

Ultimately there's not a home for him.

If he's going to play the way he played last night, and if he is not going to be a viable number two, it almost doesn't matter what Aunt does. And Aunt was more aggressive last night at Minnesota was a little bit better with their turnovers, but Oklahoma City once again was plus twenty two off turnovers, and that's their superpower. Throughout the course of the season, they set an NBA record plus twenty one per game off of turnovers. In

Like, does it just fix it?

I mean ESPN's NBA coverage outside of my guy, Mike Breen. Okay, shout out Mike Breen. Honestly, dude, it is embarrassing. It is a it's it's atrocious. I like Legler, I like Doris. You know, there's there's there's parts about some of the broadcasts that are good. But I like you, I don't think it really does because I think it's just personality based.

It's just who you get, right. If you tune in and stephen A. Smith is covering the Knicks, then it's gonna be obnoxious and atrocious. If it's Reggie Miller assessing replays about Nix and Pacers, it's gonna be like it. There's there's give and take with every broadcast. I think you know right now it really does depend on like the team you get, the tandem you get. And it's hard, especially as a Knicks fan, trying to decide because I think stephen A puts on like a but poor, poor

It's embarrassing.

So luckily TNT has the coverage tonight real quick before we catch a break? Can can Tom Thibodeau get ten minutes out of Precious at you a like? Can we get ten minutes out of Landry Shammitt? Can you can you take Delon right former you'd off ice like. Ultimately, what this will come down to is whether or not the Knicks have the gas at the end to get it done.

I've gone back and watched the end of that game.

Maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment, like six or seven times, and credit Aaron Nesmith for going ray Allen circa nineteen ninety eight ogn and Obi stopped closing out and he never stopped closing out.

Josh Hart stopped closing out.

He slipped twice, he allowed a backdoor cut where he was flat footed.

Jalen Brunson had.

Two a horrific atrocious turns overs down the stretch that he never does. Karl Anthony Towns is limping up and down the court during overtime. So I'm not taking anything away from the pacers. And I understand Tom Thibodeau is who he is. But you've got to extend your bench. You have to find another four or five minutes for Og. You have to find a couple of minutes for Heart, you have to find a couple of minutes for Jalen, and you've got to make sure Kat is fresh down

Tom?

We know what your mo is and you've never coached in the finals as a head coach, and a lot of people believe the reason is you run your player's ragged. And while I've said for years and Frank Issola has been on this for a long time, there is no hard data that backs up the assertion that players get hurt if they play for Tom Thibodau. All players get

That's brought to you in part by.

Burt Brothers Summer Adventures or Just around the Corner, and Burt Brothers is kicking out the season with huge savings on auto services and deals on major tire brands. Are you superstitious at all? I don't know that I know this about you. Are you superstitious? Are you a little stitious on a scale of one to ten?

I might be a little stitious, but I'm not superstitious.

I don't know what the scale is and I've never been tested.

Okay, fair enough.

Well, we played Orange Crush last week for Howard in honor of our next and it did not work, so we switched it up. But I figured we'd stick with ther em to get our guy in the ride mindset before his Friday hit Howard, Happy Friday, sir?

How are you doing all right?

Guys? How are you love? The choice of drive an all time favorite, so, sir, And you're a drive time show right, so that that sits. I'm not sure that the thematic tie into the Nixon Pacers other than driving the Balls.

Yeah, I guess. I don't know. I just you know.

I didn't want to do Orange Crush again because it didn't work last time, so I figured we'd switch it up. You are in the great City of New York, correct, I am.

I will be heading to the garden as soon as we hang up.

So does it feel like a funeral? What is it? What's the what's the buzz? What's the buzz in the city today? Howard?

I mean, might be completely done related. But it's May twenty third, and it is like gray and cold and rainy, and it feels like Portland frankly, So I don't know if I can blame the Knicks for that, or if the if like it's vice versa, or if it's just reflecting the mood of the city. I don't I don't know what to tell you there there's definitely some shock and some hangover for the fans for sure from the other night. Whether the Knicks have that will we'll see

I tend to agree with that.

But before we dig into tonight a little bit further, since I've not been able to visit with you, since Game one. It's wild man, Like I was watching and taking notes, you know, to get ready for the show the next day, like, Okay, here's this story. Okay, wait, wait a second, No, here's the story. Okay, wait, that's

You know, as you say that about how many different stories there were. The first thing I'm always going to remember about that game other than Halliburton's crazy shot at the buzzer that we thought was a game winner and that he thought was a game winner but wasn't a game winner, but it was only the game tire that

A few hours.

Little Birdie tells me that somebody may have left press roll a little early.

Can you confirm or deny?

I mean, you don't need a Birdie. I spoke about it for like ten minutes on Rosillo's podcast yesterday, and I spoke about it again on the Real Ones pod today. When they're down fourteen fifteen, the Pacers are down, it

Up as you can go.

It's also where inside the NBA's studio set was right, that's floor nine. Event level is five, so the locker rooms are on five, the press conferences are on five, the press workroom is on six, so it's a hike, and if you want to be downstairs where you need to be in time for the coaches and the players

I did not.

I waited it out, So yeah, that happened. That was a thing.

I did not realize that it struck such a cord. I was mostly just giving you guff. I mean, I think I went to ten jazz games this year, and I think I left at halftime of every single one.

So I'm not one to talk and I'm very different for.

Sure, and I'm also very aware of the complicated space you have to traverse to the garden. But Zach Low couldn't run you guys over enough fast enough with Mannix and Nichols like that was the.

First thing he talked about.

He took the victory lap that he was the only one left on press row and called all y'all out by name.

I mean, you know, I think Zach probably figured whether he gets down there in time or not doesn't matter. He was going to wait it out, and he's got a life leisurely drive back up to suburban Connecticut to his estate, you know. So the rest of us felt like we needed to get.

Downstairs one more thing on Game one, Howard, because I'm wondering if at any point now, as somebody who has been cheering for this franchise since I was ten years old, it has ingrained in me not to believe the game is ever over, and it's ingrained in me to believe that if something could go wrong, it probably will.

So at no point was I like, all right, that's it.

But when Jalen hit his step back three and it's one nineteen one oh five with two point fifty one, I just said there's not enough time.

Like no part of me was like, all.

Right, that's it, because I figured something, if something's any could happen, it might.

But I just thought, like the Pacers simply will run.

Out of time because I didn't think Aaron Nee Smith was going to go ray Allen circa nineteen ninety eight. Was there any point in the game where you're like, yep, that's it, Nicks one, it's over.

Yeah, multiple times, including when I left my seat.

To go down the press room.

I did not see this happening. But who could have predicted you know, Nie Smith just you know, turning into a flamethrower, and you know the Knicks, you know, gagging at the worst moments too. I mean, you know, anonob and Towns each missing a free throw. Like a lot of things had to happen, as is often the case in a dramatic NBA comeback, Right, So.

It's it's all of it.

I have not rewatched all that sequence, but I mean there's so many just I think unlikely twists and turns in there, and especially given how much of a clutch team the Knicks are, you absolutely do not expect this. But one of the things I said before the series started, was you know, given what the Knicks have done and what Jalen Brunston has done, he is the clutch player

In that moment.

I'll be honest, I couldn't sleep, like I kept going over the final few possessions, and I did go back and watch Howard and ultimately as much credit as the Pacers deserve and Niece Smith and Halliburton and Rick Carlisle's a hell of a coach. Ognnobe stopped closing out. Josh Hart slipped twice. Josh Hart was caught on a back door cut with his feet firmly planted on the floor. Jalen with a couple of bad turnovers down the stretch, Kat misses a free throw. Og misses a free throw.

I thought he was out coach game one.

Is there any chance he extends the bench a little bit so they're not so gassed at the end.

You know, Tibbs is fairly stubborn about these things. He trusts who he trusts in that rotation, And yeah, I

It's it's it did their pay.

It's not running up and down at the PACER's pace, which is which again it's frantic, and I do think and also the Pacers move the ball quite a bit, right, like you have to defend multiple actions in every possession, unlike what they faced with Boston or Detroit. So there's there is a potential fatigue factor here on in every other day series for the Knicks. On top of that, yeah, the shorter rotation. So to the question of precious at Chua in particular, you know, Town's had a pretty big game.

Okay, so you make some good points regarding the pace, because ultimately early on in that game, I think what people forget is Indiana could not miss. They just made I think they made their first ten shots, but the Knicks were able to keep up. But they were playing up and down and it was and it was working for the Knicks.

They were actually playing well offensively.

And New York can run, They've got fast wings, Jalen can get up and down. Kats not necessarily flee to foot. But if Tom isn't going to extend his bench by a player or two, what do they have to do to be careful that even if the pace is working, understanding that going up and down with a bench that goes eleven deep fifteen plus minutes a night with eleven

I don't know. I think you can be as deliberate as you want, but if the other team is pulling the ball out of the basket and immediately spritten up court and you know, basically going seven seconds or less Mike d'An toni style, which so many times the other night I've flashed in my head. And it's funny because of course the sun's paced back then, which we thought of as so frantic, and they're gonna shoot as soon

All right, last thing on tonight, what's your gut say?

I completely agree with And I think a lot of this does come from Jalen Brunson specifically, and Tom Thibodeau's well, But Jalen has this like stoicism about him where he doesn't get high, he doesn't get low. After they beat the Celtics, he's the one that was yelling at his teammates to get into the locker room like nothing has gone down yet. So I agree that I think this group can compartmentalize and put Game one out of their minds.

But what's your gut tell you? What do you have a lean for tonight?

Yeah?

I mean I reflexively, you know, go with the home team, especially if they're just lost a game, right, like you know, the Knicks saying the NIXT going down oh two, which would stun me. But that said, when the Knicks stole game won from Boston, I thought, oh, yeah, of course Boston's gonna win Game two.

Oops.

And it's same thing with the Pacers and Calves. But it's been that kind of postseason where the Pacers beat the Calves in Game one in Cleveland, and I thought, of course Cleveland's gonna win Game two again. Oops. For your sake, I hope I'm I'm right this time. But yeah, I absolutely expect the Knicks to win. It wouldn't even surprise me if it were, you know, a pretty big gap, not a blowout, but just like win and win handily. Like I don't think we'll see the same kind of

So, but this is where we are.

This is this is, you know, like I say, not just the age of parody, but it's the age of chaos.

It is.

It is all right moving out this way before we get to the nuts and bolts of the Western Conference Finals. Your reaction to Shay be An awarded MVP and any inside information as to why we all had to wait for so long for that announcement.

It's weird how everybody latched onto that. I don't think this is all that much later than usual. I haven't looked up the dates.

Maybe you have.

The MVP always comes after all the other major awards, you know, the only thing that's still left right now is you know, I think, so we have the All Defensive Teams yesterday, we'll have all MBA tonight and then we'll be done. But MVP always comes after all the other big awards, aside from the two I just mentioned. And could they have done it during Denver OKC. So, like all I can tell you is this, there's a

It's it's difficult.

I don't think there was any plan to do it this way. It's just kind of the way it unfolded.

So I'm starting to feel about Okay, see the way I felt about Boston a year ago.

I just think to have a level that nobody else does.

I was hesitant to just anoint them, even though the numbers and data probably says we should have been maybe quicker to do that. I just if you have not had a deep playoff run as a group together, I'm always a little bit skeptical. I don't know that it's as sweet, but I don't think Minnesota really has much of a prayer here. And I think if you're OKAYC you got to feel pretty good about your chances of not just going to the finals, but winning the whole thing.

I mean, I feel like they're ready. Howard, what are your thoughts?

They definitely look ready, There's no question. The last night's game was pretty pretty darn convincing, and you know, I thought this was going to be a much closer series. It still could you know it shifts in Minnesota. We'll see what happens. But you know, teams that are up too in a best of seven series in the NBA win the series ninety two percent of the time, so including six and zero in this postseason, So the chances are this thing is over, but we'll see how it

Oh, look at the excitement in Howard's voice. Maybe you can get a Oklahoma City Indianapolis finals.

I'm sure you'd love that. Yeah.

I made the cracker earlier today on the Real Ones with with apologies to Oklahoma, but because we were the Logan Murdock my coast was saying something about, you know, parade in Oklahoma. I'm like, yeah, it's gonna last like two minutes and everybody's got to turn around and go back again, or that it'll be out in the field. But yeah, it's bad, right, It's yeah, I think that's where we're going. Not my favorite place on the NBA map.

Well, when the Jazz are in the finals in twenty forty seven, I can't wait to have you out here in Salle a coward, So we'll set you loose. I know you got some traffic to fight and enjoy the game tonight and stay to the.

End, will you?

I will try.

Thank you.

Appreciate such Howard back from the Ringer, one of our favorites. He's really not on Twitter much anymore, but you can find the link to his work on his Twitter page at Howard beck is where you find him, and he's also on Blue Sky as well. Appreciate Howard's tom He's brought to you today by our friends at IFA Country Stores. When the seasons change, if you're like any good coach, you'll put together your game plan for a healthy green

We have the term.

Now, can you use Pitbull for that?

And Zach Harper or a farming on a Friday? Right?

I wouldn't say, I mean, I don't think I'm trying to look cool. I just enjoyed the music. Whether you think that makes me look cool or not seems to be a projection of your own thoughts on what Pitbull is. So I think we just cracked the cake.

Don't get psychological on me on a Friday. We don't need to go two levels deep. Had you had you ever heard the term are a farming before Halliburton dropped it because it was new to me, Okay.

And I really hope I never hear it again. It founded real dumb, it did?

It did?

All?

Right?

Well, while we're in the space. I don't know which target you want to aim at game one. I mean, like, there are so many different directions we could go. I referenced this earlier ro had Howard beck On when Jalen hit his step back three to make it a fourteen point game. As a Nick fan, I'm never gonna be like, yeah, it's over. But I just thought Indiana was out of time. Right at what point of that game, if at all, were you like, all right, that's it.

There's no way the Knicks can lose this.

So I'll tell you. I'll tell you. Actually my experience of the game, I mistimed when I thought that game was going to be over, like an idiot. So I actually planned to go to dinner with somebody at seven point thirty. They were late by a few minutes, so I'm just sitting outside a sushi restaurant watching on my phone. I had to stop looking at the game with thirty

It is a weird stat.

But you know, there are so many things about it that were wild historic. It was a comedy of errors. It was a perfect storm for Indianapolis. And as much as it was about crazy shot making, Zach, I don't know if you've had a chance to go back and watch the end at all, but it was simply that this team was out of gas. Og stopped closing, which he never does. Josh Hart slipped twice, and then there was a back door cut where he's flat footed Jalen

I'm sure that'll laugh.

Okay, Yeah, I sent you a tweet. I don't know if you check that out. But the fact of the matter is this Zach.

Yeah.

I've been listening to him interviewed since he was eighteen, never had a New York accent until now. But look, Tom thibodeau' is a hell of a coach, all right, But at some point, here's my question to you, can you get ten minutes out of Precious at YOUA? Can you get eight minutes? If you're gonna play your boy campaign, Precious at YOUA can give you ten minutes and Landry

You can't run with these guys like that's first and portant, like I know they played well. I know the Knicks played well. And if you don't have that overtime period and they don't give them that, you know that last shot or whatever, it all looks great, right, all right, you survived it and you you you wan it out everything, but the process of it is like you can't run with the pacers. They and the thing is like Cat's a pretty methodical score. Jamon Brunson's definitely a methodical score. Oh,

It's all you need.

I mean, look, I get sticking to the plan, and I get sticking to what brought you here. But in the in the fourth quarter against the Celtics, it was one hundred and ten to seventy six with five minutes left, and Jalen Brunson is fighting over pick set by Xavier Tillman, and it's like, what are we doing? I mean, Delon Wright he like, I don't know, man. I actually thought one of my biggest takeaways from game one, and I didn't hear a ton of people dig into this. I

YEP.

I think Tom Thibbott has some adjusting to do as well, if they want to get out of this series, or you can just be stubborn and probably lose your job at the end.

Of the year.

I mean, because I think that's where we're headed if he refuses to adjust a little bit.

Yeah, Like I thought if they got to the conference finals, his job was safe. But if you lose to the Pacers, I don't know if that's true. And that's not a shot. That's not me taking a shot at the Pacers. I just don't know if James Dolan's going to feel that way, right, Like, that's that's the person you have to kind of convince and historically not the most rational guy, you know, not

And there were two occasions, one from Halliburton and the other from Turner in the first half. And look, every NBA player, whenever they commit a foul and they think it's questionable, they turn around, they do the thing.

Okay, let's review the thing. They I'll do it.

But there were two occasions that I took note of. Halliburton was called for a foul in the first half. He turns to the bench and he does the thing Okay, let's review it. And Carlisle basically told him to shut up. He said, go play, and then he did the same thing to Miles Turner about two minutes later, and I took note. I'm like, he's saving his challenges, which is what you should do. And the challenge Tom used on the Jalen offensive foul was beyond dumb.

I don't know who told him to do that. It was clearly a foul.

They were not going to win that. So ultimately that brings us to tonight. Do you have a lean? I mean, I feel like there's a stoicism to Jalen Brunson that I respect. Like after the Knicks beat the Celtics, he's summarily dismissing the celebrations and telling his teammates to go to the locker room. I don't anticipate, Like I know, the media narrative is like, hey, there's gonna be a hangover. There's no coming back from that, and that was a horrible,

Now.

I don't know if their coach is going to a just enough to give them gas at the end to win the game.

But I don't feel like all is lost.

Tell me where your your head is at as far as the game tonight and the rest of the series.

It's a bad loss. I don't think it's like this gut punch they can't recover from. Yeah, I mean, if you think about it, even if like the end of regulation, yes it's a collapse because they gave up a fourteen point lead in two minutes and fifty seconds. They scored on seven of their last ten possessions like that.

That's the thing.

They weren't giving the ball away the whole time and missing shots badly like they scored. The problem is they just came up three pointers in Aaron Neith Smith every time, like they were trading one for three, two for three every time. And so I do think it's fluky. I don't think it was. I think overtime was kind of was more of an indictment on the bad things about that team. I don't think the end of regulation was. I think that was a fluke. I think this is

They're really good and I've been wildly impressed. And you know, ultimately, I do think the Knicks have some size down low that the Pacers don't. But the Pacers have the depth at the Knicks don't. It makes it yeah, really really fascinating. But I know you don't have a ton of time today, So let's move out this way and before we talk, Okse t Wolves chase the MVP.

Yeah, do you think do you think that was the right call?

I voted for him? Yeah? I think so. Here the season no one else has ever had. Their team was dominant, and he was the best player they you know, they there was a massive difference with him on the court versus him off the court. Like I don't fault if you if you voted for Jokis and thought he was it, But if you dismiss Shaye as an MVP candidate, I think you've got a weird agenda.

Yeah, well said, And I would not have had an issue with anyone who Jokic, but I agree with you.

I believe Shay was the red call. All right. So I said this earlier with Howard, I'll repeat it to you.

And this is not breaking news because if you've watched them all year, you know that they have a level that maybe nobody else has. Boston had it last year and I started to feel like no one was going to touch the Celtics, and I'm starting to feel like nobody's touching Okac. I'm always very hesitant to anoint the team that has never had a deep playoff run, and that was kind of my hesitancy, like, let's see how you guys respond. And you know, a couple of moments

What are your thoughts.

I think Indiana could challenge them. I do, like I think Indiana's got the depth to do it and the style of play to maybe mess some things up. But it would take a lot of like hitting your peak at the right time.

Right.

But yeah, I mean, okay, so he's just super impressive. I actually I disagree with a lot of people, like I think Minnesota. Minnesota should have won Game one, And I know you look at the final score and think that's ridiculous, but Minnesota went eight of thirty on wide open three point shots and it was good shooters taken. It's not like it was a bunch of a bunch of bums getting these corner open corner shots because it

Yeah they do.

And when they dial it up a notch with that length and that size, it just.

Feels like the Minnesota's up against it.

And last thing before I say you lose, I mean, you know, I said this to a lot of my friends last year watching the Knicks in the playoffs, like what do you think, well, what do you think about Julius Randall? Is your second option? Offensively and look, I'm not taking anything away from what he's done so far, but last night I was like, yeah, that's kind of who he's been spring basketball.

They need more from him, Zach if they're going to get back in this.

Yeah. I said this in a video for today where you know he was great for he was great for too much. He played the best basketball of his career for the last two months they did, and then he turned into a pumpkin yep in game two and I said, this is all this is our bad with Like, you don't talk about a perfect game during a perfect game, right, you don't address it, Like that's what happened. Like everyone started to be like, oh, Julius Randall, he's really good,

Yeah, yep, we'll see what happens though.

Man.

Enjoy the game tonight. I appreciate the time. Have a good long weekend.

Okay, all right, buddy, thank you, all right.

Zach Harper from The Athletic at tak Hoops on Twitter is where you find his work, a bunch of different pods, a bunch of different videos for the Athletic and writes their weekly power rankings. He is a voter for MBA Awards as well. Appreciate Zach's time on this Friday afternoon. He's brought to you today by our friends at x Clear. Allergy season is here. If it's hitting your hard, X Clear has got your back. X Clear as a nasal spray powered by xylotol, a natural ingredient that flushes out

I've started using it, and honestly it's a game changer.

Available at xclear dot com, Amazon, in your local grocery or drug store. X Clear Doctor recommended, and save four kids too. If you're tired of farmer products to knock you out. X Clear is a natural way to breathe easy. So Nick Pacers Game two tonight Madison Square Garden, and then obviously the Western Conference Finals resumes tomorrow. They're gonna head up to Minneapolis to see if Minnesota can get back in this.

Yeah, Porter, you know this, I mean, you know.

One of the fun things about when the Knicks are in the playoffs is I reconnect with a lot of kids. I grew up with a lot of friends of mine from junior high and high school. And last year when the Knicks were kind of playing better and it looked like they were going to be a playoff team that maybe could do something, they would all ask me like, so, what do you think about their chances of I don't know, maybe winning the East or going to the Eastern Conference Finals.

And I want to be clear, I think Zach made a good point.

For about a month and a half, even I was like, wow, you know, wait, he's playing basketball in the spring in a much more efficient, engaged way on both sides of the floor. He was guarding. He's a big, physical kid. He was an All star in LA. I mean, he's

He has not shot well all playoff long.

I think Nikill Alexander Walker is given in great minutes, but the number two option for them has to be Julius Randall offensively. And if that's the calculation, and if you've watched Julius Randall play spring basketball enough, you kind of know at some point he's going to come back down to earth, and we saw it last night.

Well, the problem with Julius Randall is.

I've always liked what he brings as a player in certain forms, but he is one of those kind of archetypes that is matchup dependent. Right, So in a certain matchup against a certain lineup, you're gonna see Julius Randall look like in all NBA type forward and we saw that at times with New York. But if you throw in a lineup that can match his physicality or a lineup that bothers him with length and kind of forces him out of the paint, it doesn't allow him to

And the thing with Julius and this isn't necessarily something that's exclusive to him and Tom Thibodeau has talked about this in the past. When he is not scoring, when he is not shooting it well, he doesn't card yep, disconnected, defensively, gets down on himself, gets frustrated.

You can see his body language.

And that's why Chris Finch just sat him in the fourth quarter and went with Nas reed.

He decided to go with Nas and Rudy.

By the way, Oklahoma City is intentionally going at Gobert over and over and over again, and it's when Shae and Jalen have the ball in their hands. I saw Shae cancel three different actions last night to get Hartenstein to the top of the key to just get the switch. And the nice thing about Shay is that it's not a switch to take a step back three. He wants to cross you over and pull up from fifteen feet

And you'll remember me saying this before Game one. I'm not one who falls into the Rudy gets played off the floor narrative. You know, I think that that is very often overblown and very often unfair because of the situations that the Jazz put Rudy in for a long time,

And also to your point, it's never really been about we want to go at Rudy to play him off the floor. It's that we want to go at Rudy in high pick and roll to get him away from the rim and get him trouble exactly. So we can't have one of the best shot blockers this generation protecting the rim.

Let's get him out and pick and roll switch.

Let's get him on the perimeter and that way, even if he's able to successfully guard an individual one on one, boom boom, boom, you move the ball, go to the basket.

He's not there.

I mean, there are several reasons to do this, and typically Rudy is able to hedge and recover better than most people give him credit for.

But man Okac is going right at him.

We got Mike Cam from the NFL Network stopping by to talk some off season NFL grown men will be allowed to push other grown men in the tush once.

Again coming up for this NFL season.

It's been a massive storyline, so thank goodness we have some clarity on that. Andy Larson sawl a tribune. But time now to talk a little golf. Charles Schwab challenged going on in the world of the PGA Tour.

Colonial Country Club.

A lot of fun local golf storylines, including me having a good front nine at Bonaville in a horrible back nine today, Paul Pugmyer, I think that's where we lead right my round.

We should break it down hole by hole.

Let's do it, and let's see if there's anybody on the golf course pushing each other in the dish.

Well well played, sir.

We will not break down my round from today, but I will ask you for a slight tip.

Do you mind if I do that?

Please?

I've developed this odd tendency of coming over the top and pulling everything because I'm trying to fix my slice. How do I stop from coming over the top on my golf swing?

There are some drills you can do that involve just placing some itemsund in front of the ballun on the range and swinging the club to the right of them. Put a stick in the ground, an alignment rod in the ground in front of you, and try to start the ball to the right of the stick. When it initially starts flying off your club. That will make you less focus on your swing. Lets your natural athleticism take over. If you're looking at where do I want the ball

I always so much appreciate the fact that you claim I'm this natural athlete that needs to just lean into my athleticism.

When I play golf, it means a lot ball, So thank you.

Hey, one of us played for Rickman, Jerris and the Ristlers, didn't I think it's real.

Well, that's not entire like, Okay, a few months, but you know whatever.

Okay, one more tip day. How do I sink every single putt within twelve feet?

You don't, Okay, putting is hard, and not every good putt goes in, not every bad put stays out. I would focus on making sure that your next putt is a tap d no stress, something you don't have to mark. And if that is your goal, it's attainable, it's doable, and it focuses you on getting the speed right and

You know, I'm glad you brought up the pros.

I want to let's lean into this for a second because I was playing with our guy Richard Smith today Wes rough shout out our guy Wesley Roff. And you know, I've told you this before, and I want you to kind of elaborate on this.

I think for the average.

Golfer who's trying to get better, I think for the average golfer that maybe doesn't watch a ton of pro golf, the assumption is the pros just pure every shot and they did. You know they they hit every fairway, they hit every green. And as I told you when I went down to Bay Hill as an honorary observer, it was the first time I saw it up close. When I'm like, dude, they're not perfect. They just figure it out. They problem solve right, like they know how to problem solve.

It clearly is. But they're not perfect, Paul, are They.

Not even close? And I really appreciate the way you say that. I love your term problem solved. Let's use that Golf is a presentation of a series of problems, a series of questions that it is asking you to solve. And these guys are good at solving the question. Now, they will hit great shots, that's true. Their misses are smaller than ours, that's totally true. And on occasion there is just staggering greatness. The highlight reel that a Tiger

Okay, Paul, I have learned lessons from you and others that know the game in a way that I don't that we do not say, wow, that's kind of tiger ish or he's kind of reminded me of Tiger that and I understand that what Tiger did during I don't know, maybe a three or four year period is something that we have never seen before and potential we'll never see again. But I haven't talked to you since the PGA Championship. And look, man, he's healthy now. And by he everyone

We are looking at Tiger esque performance. We are in addition, we are looking at Jack Nicholas performance, and that is the rarest air in the game. We're talking about somebody with three majors and the players by their twenty eighth birthday, that's a group of three. It's Jack Nicholas, it is although Nicholas didn't have the players because by his twenty eighth, because they didn't have it yet. But it's Jack Nicholas,

Okay, who is most likely to be his? Oh, man, you're gonna have to tell me here?

His Phil?

His Phil Nicholson? Who was Jack's main competitor? Was it Arnie Like? Who is most likely to be Scotty's? I guess I'll say antagonist. If Scotty's the protagonist.

Yeah, what a fun question. So for Nicholas it was it was Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, although Billy Casper utah z owed. Billy Casper was right there, but a very quiet personality, and so he didn't get a lot of news. And you're correct to identify Phil Nicholson. But in addition to Phil, it was Ernie Els and VJ. Singh for Tiger. So who for Scottie? What a fun question. I think it's going to come from players younger than

Right now, all right, Paul Kind of a random little bit of a non sequitur. But we're halfway through the major championship season with a couple of majors now behind us, and we're four months away from the Ryder Cup.

Okay, so Luke Donald.

Obviously Captain Keegan, you know, which is kind of a fun story. Some tough decisions, as there is every single year. My first question in this scope of our conversation is will Tony now make the Ryder Cup team.

Today? He certainly wouldn't, and so he would need to change his arc and trajectory and do it quickly. I think that he has to play well in the remaining majors, in particular at the US Open at Oakmont, And the reason for that is, first of all, it is Oakmont, for crying out loud, the biggest, baddest US Open course there is. And if you think US Open, you think traditional US Open, Oakmont is the answer to all your questions.

Obviously, Scott he is a lock. Any other locks right now as you see it, Paul.

As nobody is locked as Scotty. Sure, Sure, We've just got too many points out there yet to be awarded. So no, I think the answer is no.

It feels like Xander's in a good spot. It feels like Bryson's in good spot. It feels like JT is in a good spot.

Maybe more cowa.

Let me throw they have to not fall on their face.

Sure, sure, let's it's just too early to say, let me.

Throw one more thing at you here, though, because when I first asked you whether or not Keegan Bradley should pick himself, you were emphatic that he should not. Now maybe you feel still feel that way. But he has six top twenty fives in his first eleven starts. He tied for eight that the PGA Championship. He is outside the top six as of now, But if he keeps playing, even if he's maybe seventh or eighth.

Have you changed your stance.

On whether or not Keegan should select himself to play while he serves as captain.

I have not.

I think that the captaincy is such a demanding role that it requires all of his attention, and I think he would undermine his ability to give total focus to playing if he were a player and the captain. So even if he were to get himself in by points, I personally think that he should focus on being the captain. He's inside the ropes and I'm not He's smarter than me and a better player than me. But from my perspective, everything says if you're going to be the captain, be

All right. There is a tournament going on right now. It is.

It's not a great field. Scott He's in the field, but he hasn't played that well. He is tied for forty seventh for the Charles Schwab Challenge down at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth. So tell us about the track, tell us about the tournament, then we'll find out what's going on with the n and find out what's going on with the show.

Sure, thank you. The Schwab Challenge Colonial. This is one of those traditional lovely tournaments that kind of got the short stick when the PGA Tour went to this elevated tournament status thing that they're doing now, because it's a tournament with a lot of history, and yet it doesn't draw the big field because it doesn't offer as much

Good.

But anyway, it's unfortunate that a tournament with this history doesn't get a good field.

It all right, Paul, Before I say you lose, We've got I think aute and several BYU golfers playing well in the NCAA's So I would imagine that will be a topic of conversation, maybe the topic du jour, as they say in the business.

What's coming up on the show tomorrow?

Absolutely we're going to be talking about the NCAA Finals. The Cougars made it as a team. They won the regionals, first time since regionals were established some ten twelve years ago that DYU has actually won a regional, although they've come out of regionals into the NCAA Finals many times. So they are at La Costa in carlsbat, California. As a team. The youths were one stupid shot short of

Paul, thank you sir for the time. Have a great show tomorrow and we will catch up soon.

Thank you so much.

Stavi, Paul pugmyer Utah Golf Radio every Saturday morning on our radio station. The eyes of the PGA Tour are on the Charles Swab Challenge going on right now at the Colonial Country Club and Fort Worth, Texas, where some guy named Ben Griffin as lead. I don't know many of these golfers. Ricky Fowler is in the mix. Scottie Scheffler's in the field, he's not playing well. Jordan Speak's gonna miss another cut. So a few big names, you

Roostersbrewingco. Dot com. Let's welcome in the head brewer.

He's very important up in Ogden, Colton on a Friday afternoon.

Happy Friday, Colton. How you doing I'm doing it well. How it's yourself good?

So how'd you get into this? How does one become a head brewer? How did you get into this whole thing?

Oh goodness?

Kind of a kind of an apprenticeship thing for me. I start working at Roosters when I was seventeen years old as a busser and kind of worked my way up hosting, serving, bartending, and then Physician opened up, and yeah, it brought me in and taught me everything I know.

Very nice. Well, celebrating thirty years this summer.

It's one of my favorite spots, going it back to nineteen ninety five and historic twenty fifth Street where it all began, So tell us Colton about the Hibiscus Sour or this two bit Amber that.

You guys are brought in the studio.

What do we know about these What do we need to know about these beers?

Alrighty, So with the Hibiscus Hour, that's one of our newer fays that we've got. It's a nice, pretty level sour. It's not overly, it's not it's got some nice, full characteristics to it and all that that you get from the biscus. It's for the sour heads, and it's a good introductory sour for people that I've never really.

Tried it before.

And then with our two Bit Amber, that's just kind of throwback to one of our first beers that we came up with twenty five thirty years ago.

So very nice.

Roosters now with two family friendly brew pub locations as well as a twenty one plus tap room in Ogden, fresh food pairings and throwbacks to the original menu are being featured all summer long. Like I said, cheers to thirty years. It's heading now into the Memorial weekend. Now I'm looking forward to one of our favorite events of the year. It's the Ofoam which is an independent bluegrass festival in Weaver County. Roosters will be pouring beers all

I appreciate your time, man, have a great weekend. We'll chat soon as well.

Thank you all right, good friends over at Rooster's Brewing again four locations two and Ogden one in Layton.

There's one of the airport as well.

More information can be found at Roostersbrewingco dot com. Team Minors two hours tip off Madison Square Garden Game two New York Knicks Indiana Pacers. Oh goodness, you know what our next guest. I know he's a football guy, but he's a New York guy.

Mike, how are you?

Pal?

Well? I was good until you just kind of like planted the seed of what happened the other night at MSG. I don't I don't need that reminder. So yes, definitely a high level of frustration watching the Indiana Pacers win that game of the way that they did.

Dude, I still can't believe it.

I didn't sleep, I honestly didn't because I was having I was oscillating between Tyrese Halliburton and Reggie Miller putting their hands around there. Yeah, and then Reggie's shots and Mark Jackson shimming and the Davis brothers beating up Charles Oakley and look, I mean, as a lifelong fan of this team. Two part question, what's it been like to at least watch them be relevant again? And just how

Definitely confident on winning tonight, like we'll get it done. That's the fan of me thinking very very positively, which, by the way, and you know this as as a sort of a Nick fan. When you when you suffer, you know, a quarter centre of some of the struggles, it's easy to get negative and quite frankly doubt what your team is capable of doing. This does feel like

Just as a lifelong fan of his team, since it's been twenty five years, how fun has it been to at least have them relevant on the scale again?

Mike? Is he still there? Did you drop? I think so? It was a hard hitting question.

Let's get it. Let's get him back on Mike Yam NFL Network. You guys probably know Mike from his time at the PAC twelve network. That's when we first were able to get to know him. We're interviewed mostly the NFL and college football, but Mike is a New Yorker, went to school there, and so I wanted to kind of kick the tires on what it's been like for him to watch this team.

It is Team minus.

Well.

One hour and fifty three minutes from tip off at Madison Square Garden, Game two, Nicks Pacers. We also have Oilers and Stars tonight. If you're looking for the hockey side of things, you can hear Oilers Stars Game two on our radio station, ESPN seven hundred. We are your home with the Stanley Cup Playoffs here in the market. We're also your home of the NBA Playoffs, so you can hear the Knicks and the Pacers Game two on

For sure, apologize, I don't know. I'm in a place where I actually have full bars, so I don't know what happened there. Look, this is great, and I think I speak to any sports fan for any franchise who has had to do with some struggles and prolonged struggles, because this is when your team, when you suffer and you're watching these games and you just quite frankly become almost apathetic to your own team. That's the worst place

Are you in New York currently? Are you in the city?

No?

No.

I actually was back in New York two weeks ago, and you could feel like this buzz that that's generating. And look, I think for anyone who hasn't been to New York before, but you might think of it a certain way. I'll tell you this. When the Knicks are good, and the Knicks are relevant. New York is a basketball town. We could talk about the Yankees. I wish we could say that about the Mets, but the reality is when the Knicks are rolling, that city is absolutely electric. I

Well said, all right, let's move on to some NFL stuff, Mike, And I'm just so glad that I can sleep well knowing the next season, grown men will continue to be allowed to push you other grown men in the toush like.

Dude, you know what this is.

This is a testament to how football starved we are in this country. Because I cannot believe how much attention this story is received.

I know, I know, I'm so with you. And by the way, they got it right, I know it was close.

You know.

A couple of our guys sort of indicated that this thing might not actually stay alive, which I always thought was ridiculous. This is football. This is a physical sport. The true definition is are my guys better than your guys. Are we stronger at the line of scrimmage and the fact that you just now have to figure out how to stop it? Like, why do we penalize teams for having success? Like what's the difference between that and the traditional I know what the difference is, but the traditional

Okay.

As a massive fan, of the television show Succession. Nothing delights me more than the thought of billionaires arguing with each other. Just how just how tense was that meeting? Based off reports I've only read, I don't know, but what's your understanding of how tense that meeting was behind closed doors?

Yeah, tense is maybe a good way of describing it. You look, when you have a subject like this that does create as much controversy as it did, which is once again surprising, and the team that had the most success running it was the team that won the Super Bowl, that's going to grab you know, a lot of ears

Do you think maybe Jeffrey Laurie should have ran his speech past his PR team before he decided to drop, you know, the things that he dropped to draw the analogy of what it felt like to actually have a play that successful.

You can say whatever you want when you go on to Super Bowl that fair, you can do what you can say, whatevery. Look for me, when when you look that rosters, it is solid right, like they're not going anywhere. They're going to compete, you know, essentially over the next couple of seasons, especially because of Saque, I feel like I'm like just down across the board as a Knicks

It does.

It does, and like you said, they're wearing the ring, you know, and when you're on that level, you have a certain level of autonomy that you certainly wouldn't otherwise.

But let me ask you this.

A number of years ago, at a charity event in midtown Manhattan, I had a chance to meet Jim Mersy.

I certainly did, never got to know him at all.

And look, I mean speaking of eccentric billionaires and you know, very very wealthy people oftentimes just to have a different way of approaching life, for better or for worse. And I'm not judging one way or the other. A lot of people have come out with a lot of very kind things. I think Peyton's been great to provide some context around what Jim Mersay means to that city and that organization. But I don't know if you ever had a chance to get to know him a little bit.

Yeah, I mean certainly shocking in the sense of the age factor. You know, we had sort of heard these reports that things were declining a little bit and Jim wasn't in the greatest health. My paths never crossed with him, but certainly have heard some first hand accounts from from a few of my colleagues at NFL network regarding him and sort of the legend around him. You're right, Peyton.

So ultimately, the Niners had to pay him. They had to pay brock perty and that's just the deal. And so we can haggle over the number who he makes more than, who he makes less than. We can talk about the complicated dynamic of being able to build a really good team when your quarterback is not his rookie deal. And Seattle knows that with Russell Wilson, and then a

Mike don't have enough. There is no other course of action. And you look at, you know, the percentages around the NFL that quarterbacks are occupying on the salary cap. This deal's not that bad. I think it's like fourteen percent, you know, spensaf shitchy at text when this thing is done. I'll get to the exact number, but I think it's in that range. And to me, that's actually what makes this feel pretty good. I think it's gaudy when you look at the numbers over fifty you know, million dollars

So I will ask you about the Steelers Aaron Rodgers stuff because it's topical. I don't really care to talk much about Aaron on the show as a jet fan that saw that thing really falling flat on its face far before Aaron was hurt, quite frankly. But anyway, the Steelers have to do something, and the reports are they're still waiting and are willing to wait for a little bit while Aaron does whatever the hell Aaron's doing.

How do you think this ends?

I still think Aaron Rodgers is one of those those names that is always going to grab a ton of attention, and it's going to be a story that we're going to continue to track. I do think we're going to see him on an NFL football field. I still think it's going to be the Pittsburgh Steelers. I think they drafted accordingly based off of the premise that he was going to be there. I think this thing is going to go and be taken down to the wire here.

I want to ask you a storyline surrounding one of our old PAC twelve pals. Of course, Caleb Williams in this book that Seth Wickersham has wrote, and Seth is a.

Brilliant rider, does a good job.

And you know, Mike, you remember there were these rumors out there that no one could really coroborate, that he didn't want to go to Chicago and his father didn't want him to play for the Bears. And then every time Caleb was asked about it publicly, of course you say the thing that you have to say to make

What do you make of this story surrounding Caleb Williams?

So, I think there's a lot of layers here. Number One, you can make the argument that who would want to play in Chicago as a quarterback. So look at the history of that organization over the last twenty five years or so, haven't had success there. Their head coach at the time a defensive minded guy who quite frankly didn't ever really seem to figure it out at that position on the offensive side. So I can certainly understand the need and the desire not to want to play there,

Yeah, you reference the Giants just out of curiosity.

Of course, they bring in Russell Wilson and they have Jamis as the backup, but we didn't have It was kind of an outlier NFL draft cycle around here. Not a lot of Utes or Cougar's you know, drafted very high and hopefully a lot of them stick on rosters, the ones that were drafted late. But Jackson Dark played his high school ball about thirty miles south of the are I want or what early returns are with Jackson and you know, the early rookie mini camps and such.

Yeah, the moxie. I think that's still like the biggest message. I have some friends that are still in that area, in the New York area, around that organization, and they'll tell you they've told me, and they would tell you the same thing. And that's this premise of the direction

Speaking of quarterbacks, Mike, since you and I last spoke, and I was reminded our listeners earlier that we got to know you and a lot of people around here remember you from your time with the PAC twelve network, and you got to know Cameron Rising pretty well. And we've been waiting, Yeah, we've been waiting out here for a word about what he would do with his future.

I think a winner, a leader, a guy that didn't necessarily give up at all. And I think that's been one of the key ingredients to that story. And I think it speaks to the type of player and personality and the profile of the guy that goes and plays on that campus. For Kyle Whittingham, I know, and you probably would agree with this, But the more I watched him,

All right back, before I say you lose another NFL offseason storyline that I've just I'll just ask you. So it's official that NFL players are going to be allowed to play flag football in the Olympics in twenty.

Twenty eight, who are we playing against?

Like, I'm just confused, world, this football is an innately American sport. It feels like we should play against each other, Like who out there can feel the team to compete with our NFL players, or is this ninety two dream team where we're going to be diagnola by forty every single game?

So God, we could do a whole show on this. And I love where you're going because I actually haven't been asked this question before. Here's what I can tell you. The United States world rankings teams like Germany, Italy. If I'm not mistaken, Australia's got a pretty decent team as well. There are rankings. You can google them and you can see like who's done well? Right? The US team by a mile is dominating these rankings. I've heard the analogies with the dream team. You're a basketball guy, I'm a

Right, Mike, I appreciate the time.

We're about ninety minutes away, so let's see if we can get it done tonight, Game two and Man, I try to have hope as a Nick fan, but as you know, it's tough.

So I appreciate your time. Man, have a great long weekend.

Okay, you're the best. Man. Always appreciate the invite, all.

Right, Mike Yam PAC twelve network back in the day now with our friends at the NFL Network. He is on Twitter at Mike Underscore Yam is where you find him. All right, listen up, join me.

That's right.

This guy over here who's got two thumbs and is going to be at the Kyle van Neigolf Tournament. That's me Monday, June third, for the twenty twenty five Kyle van Neudcharity Golf Challenge at the Black Desert Resort in scenic Saint George.

All the proceedings from this tournament.

Go to benefit the Van Neid Valor Foundation that helps foster kids and the Adoption Foundations. Kyle was adopted as an infant, so this cause is very meaningful to him and his family. Starts on Sunday, June the twenty fifth, with a welcome cocktail party at seven o'clock. Then on Monday we'll get going with check in and breakfast at Club seventy three. The welcomes at eight forty five, shotguns start at nine o'clock, the awards are at two point thirty,

Ryan?

This is a fantastic opportunity, guys. Dish's promotion is exploded. We were able to keep the two year price guarantee and then add on top of that three months free, so you get three months free now, guys, you take the big service on the big package. This is close to four hundred dollars you'll get in free programming with Dish for three months. We'll get you the two year promotion prices stays the same. Throwing movie channels and also

About an hour and twenty five minutes away.

From tip off at Madison Square Garden tonight Game two Knicks Pacers after a historic collapse by the New York Knicks in Game one. We also have playoff hockey tonight for the Dallas Edmonton game. Keep it right here on ESPN seven hundred if you're looking for the basketball on the Eastern Conference final side. Checkout the fan for Game two of Knicks Pacers. Andy Larson, Salt Lake Tribune, Happy Friday, Andy, how are we doing?

I'm good man?

How are you I'm doing well. I'm doing well.

How did you digest that horrific collapse by the Knicks and the comeback by the Pacers Game one?

I mean it was fun, right, Like, I mean, I think that's one of the great things about basketball is that like that can happen that like an aaron Ne Smith and all of a sudden hit six threes and you're right back in it. And I love Halburton, you know, with the nods Reggie Miller. H I love that, you know, Reggie shot when he did the choking symbol also was tied to tie the game, and so I thought it

Now, does it matter who makes it out of the East when Oklahoma City appears to have a level that nobody else has and maybe Boston has it when they're healthy, but they're out of course, Tatum hurt and and look, you know this, You've been watching them all year and the net is is historic. It's not like they just

Yeah, I agree with that one hundred percent. I would say the only thing is, you know, you you want to get to the NBA Finals because you never know what's going to happen healthwiz, right, Like, if we're honest, the Toronto Raptors, the kawit Toronto Raptors of twenty nineteen weren't favored to win the NBA Finals in but then all of a sudden, Clay goes down and then Kevin

Like it's it's pretty.

Clearly a thunder in five or six situation, I think against either Eastern Conference team if both sides are healthy.

Shaye, excuse me, Shaye is your MVP.

I believe when you last joined us, you said that you were going to cast your vote for Nicola Jokicic, which I have no problem with it all. I feel like and I'm I'm not you know me, I'm not usually of fence Center.

I'm not like this.

I just thought both were deserving and Shaye gets it. Give me your thoughts.

Yeah, I think, yeah, completely reasonable and a good pick, like just like you have no problems with anyone who went with SJA. You know, I thought of really telltale series between the two last you know, last week and two weeks ago like just both of them are very good players. Shay has a little bit more help. Jokic is probably more heliocentric offensively, right, Like, just in order for the Nuggets to succeed, they need Jokic, and in order for the Thunder to succeed, they are they are

So is somebody that had a front row seed to the room go bear experience.

And you know, I'm a Rudy guy.

I appreciated everything he did here, and you know, I don't think he'll ever get all the credit he deserved for the way he conducted himself when I think his teammate, more often than not, was the guy throwing him.

Under the bus.

Now, Rudy was not innocent of everything, But I'll tell you what, Andy Oklahoma City is so intentional about putting him in switches, and it's Shane, it's Jalen specifically. But what's interesting is they're feasting in the mid range. It's not like, let's get him out behind the three point line.

Yeah, look, it's not about getting switches and putting him on the perimeter against ISO and going one on one right like that is actually a pretty big, bad mass move when you look at it over the aggregate, like he's actually pretty good at staying in front, and you waked a lot of shot clock in the dribbling and you know, like the backing it out and all that

In the Thunder series, it is.

I would also say that I do think and have thought this for a couple of years that Rudy is not quite the defender that he was in his utof Rian like he is at that age where it makes sense that he has lost the step. And I think he has lost the step and it's not a huge step. And you know, I think he makes them a well, it makes him a second team All defense guy rather

All right, let's move over to some Jazz stuff.

Since you and I last spoke, the All Rookie teams were released, and the Jazz are not in the mix and have not been in the mix for very many postseason honors. That's what happens when you're unseious about winning and you don't have a lot of good basketball players and your basketball team but holding out hope for maybe Isaiah or Kyle to potentially grabs. I don't think either

No, because neither You know, first of all, a lot of voters are just gonna look at the win loss record and be like, you know, why am I voting for a jasmin. Second, a lot of voters are going to look at the points totals and say, why am I voting for these guys?

Right?

And you know, kind of the interesting thing about Isaiah was his assist number. The interesting things about Kyle Philipasky was his efficiency in shooting and scoring the ball. But wasn't like the number of points they put up, whereas if like either of them had put up you know, thirteen points a game or something, I think there's a realistic shot there are second team or first team. But you know, they weren't able to didn't have that chance.

This is fine.

Those guys were about the eleventh and twelfth best rookies in the class. That's where they ended up. It's good that they got the eleventh and twelfth best rookies in the class with picks number twenty eight and number thirty two.

You are about one month and change, almost exactly one month away from the NBA Draft. I think everybody's moved on from the disappointment that the Jazz are at five, even though mathematically that was one of the more likely spots in the fall. Give us some intel. What are you hearing? You know, you hear all this stuff. They're

Maybe Philly's in play at three.

That's a complicated transaction based off of what it would take to get three. If it's Paul Georgian return, does that make sense? Are you willing to move on from Larry?

What? What are you hearing prior to draft night? A month away?

What?

Give us some intel? Andy?

Yeah?

Look, I mean they are open to everything, right. I would also say that those conversations don't ramp up now, right, Like it's still a month and more than a month until the NBA Draft. You know, they're working on scheduling those prospects to get in that. It does sound like they are going to be successful in meeting with or working out all of those guys in that range. So I think that's notable, you know, besides probably the top two.

As you've been able to dig in to study, watch, learn about the prospects and understand the landscape ahead of the Jazz who are drafted at five, have you landed on who you perceived to be the best case scenario available at five and who the Jazz should walk away from for fans learning about names, Who's best case at five in your opinion?

Andy, That's a good question, and I honestly want to do more work on it. And I know that's a cop out answer, but I'm working on building a stat model right now, going back to Andy Analytics mass days. So I want to wait until I finish that before I like, really, you know, stake my name, because let me be honest, what happened last year is I thought Cody Williams was a really good ticket number ten.

I thought he was.

It was a good selection that he fell to number ten, and I thought it was the best outcome for the Jazz And that made me look really, really dumb, and it may look really some too, frankly like, and look, there's still a chance Tody Williams, you know, six season his NBA career, but look, when he had as bad of a rookie season as he did, the odds are short and you would not have drafted him number ten

When you say you're sure I talk about these prospects on the show, is that an admission that you're not tuned in every day two to six Live.

You know, I just missed that last half hour, that's all. When I'm sure you're talking about them all the time. No, I'm busy learning.

The news, you know, and there's a lot there's a lot of news out there. One thing that you and I haven't discussed Walker Kessler extension eligible coming up.

How do you think this plays out?

Yeah, really good question.

You know.

I think ultimately most likely is that the two sides kind of come to a deal, like in that twenty five million dollar a year range, you know, plus minus five a year, which is where you know the league

Do you think based off of what has now transpired, not just with this draft cycle, but every draft lottery since twenty nineteen. The Jazz will put their best foot forward this year. No inventing injuries, about marketing, no cittying veteran players, no telling Walker Keshler you are Ray Allen from nineteen ninety eight. Now, do you think we might have a serious approach to competing based off of how everything played out last year?

I'm skeptical because, if anything, there's more incentive to tank, not less, you know, Like as much as Cooper Flagg was a prize and I truly think he's a very excellent prospect, like one of the be one of the

So Windhorst and McMahon and bontevs. Last week did a pod on The Hoop Collective about the era of parody in the NBA, and we had Bobby Marks on the show. I think it was Monday of this week, and Bobby did just a masterful job of kind of walking us through why we are smack dab in the middle of a great time in the NBA if you are a fan of a basketball team that plays its basketball in

Yeah, look, I mean it's hard because I don't know that it's their fault and I don't think like the Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Jazz is that interesting in this era eier. Like, I think ultimately the economics of that team, just with the Cats and the way that they had traded and misused some of their picks like meant that

I think they win the thing. I think I think they.

Win the title.

And so from a Utah perspective and a Jazz time perspective, it is disappointing that like the cycle of success and failure has lined up this way so that in an era where there's more parody than ever, the Jazz are at their lowest point in franchise history. Now, Like, do I expect that to continue? I kind of do. Actually, I think this current setup allows owners to sell their team. Their fan base is hope a little bit.

I do think.

Overall, the Warriors dynasty was probably actually bad for the league. I think there are some tweaks they can make about keeping their own teams, keeping their own players, and you know, whether that's a franchise tag or a lesson salary cap impact or something like that. But ultimately you also look at the TV deal and everyone's making too much money

All right, Andy, we got to do it before I say you lose. If you believe, then you'll just stand up on your feet and you'll shout it out loud.

The problem is, goals are fun.

Two hundred and fifty minutes, I think now between goals for our cell win, listen for.

Again.

We established earlier that you listened every minute of the show live, so I don't have to rehash what Pablo said this week, but just in case you may have missed that small portion. Pablo and then Kurt the next day, they both said that they have been informed by new ownership that they are not interested in selling players. They're not interested in selling Diego Luno. They're not interested in

But that was kind of new.

That was positive news to ascertain from I mean, I will have to see, because at this point, the bottom line is they just badly need economic confusion. And Pablo said he thinks they're two attacking players away from being really good.

Kurt essentially cooperated that as well.

So while the present certainly appears to be bleak and as you point out on your Twitter page, not a lot to hope for right now, I just wondered what you make of that piece of information that the Millers seemed to be maybe moving away from the ethos of developing and selling players and maybe we'll have good young players stay here for a long time, which is what you need to do to build a winning team.

Yeah, it's so interesting because you know then Pablo reportedly, at least according to the Apple TV broadcast, said the opposite, that he feels Diego Luna would like real.

Quick, real quick, real quick, real quick.

Not to interrupt you, but I asked Pablo that very question, and I was glad I did, because he did not say that it was taken out of context, so the context was based off of how well he's played. He wouldn't be surprised if there are a lot of offers this summer.

Okay, well, look, and you know that maybe the case, and I do think like keeping Diego Luna is number one, you know, important thing to do if you want a

All right, Andy, good stuff today, man, appreciate the time, have a great weekend, and.

We'll catch up soon.

Sounds good.

Thanks then, Andy Larson.

Salt Lake Tribune covers the Jazz a bunch of other things as well. At Andy B. Larson is where you find him. Shout out to our good friends at Corland Roofing. You're reroofing and roof repair experts with over twenty years of experience.

They're family owned and operated.

Call Courland Roofing today to get free rain gutters with any roof replacement. And if you don't need rain gutters, that are going to knock fifteen hundred bucks off anyway, so call them and save a bunch of money and get that roof replaced before the weather gets wicked womb. That was my Karl Anthony Towns New York accent.

Nice.

Have you looked at the tweet I sent you? He suddenly has adopted a New York accent.

I did see that.

Hey, you know he's been there for a while. Uh but yeah, like you, it wasn't there before.

Eight o one six one five five six zero from all my brothers in New York, New York at Rookie Park. What I've been listening to you interview since you're eighteen? You've never had that accent before? Eight oh one six one five five five six zero eight oh one six one five five five six zero eight oh one six one five five five six zero Online at Cortland roofine dot com. By the way, new cool thing on the station. We are your home of the Indy five hundred Sunday

I learned that this year.

Your level of confidence tonight before we say good night about the Nicks being able to even up the series.

I am.

I'm pretty confident about their ability to even up the series tonight. I am you know, like you said, it's a group led by Jalen Brunson who seems to have a good, great, good resolve. You know, it doesn't seem like they're a crew that's gonna let the wheels fall off. A bunch of these guys have a national championship. I know that's at the college level, but it is still championship experience. I think they adjust. I think they bounce back. I think they get Game two Spence, but I thought

Did an MSG. I think the series is over.

I know, I know you don't say that after two games, but I said it after the Boston series because the way you lose does matter. And yeah, big game, Big Game two. If if there's you know, a time to put too much stock into one of them, this is the one.

I know.

I'm a Knicks fan. I know it's you know, maybe showing there, but I think tonight in many ways, may decide the series.

Knicks are oh and fourteen in franchise history. When they trail O two, they have never lost two games at home to start a playoff series, so historic in a lot of ways, and I agree if they don't get it tonight, it's curtains all right. We have a long weekend, which is very nice. I hope you guys have the same order. We are off Monday. What comes our way when we're back on a Tuesday show.

Yeah, since we have Monday off, we'll double up on the NBA Daily assist Tom Haberstrow and Tim McMahon On a Tuesday afternoon, we'll chat with Rafael Barlow on some NBA draft who wasn't able to join us earlier this week. And then to wrap it all up, hopefully a better showing from our guys from RSL and we'll have a little recap of their weekend as well.

How about a goal, just one, just a goal, baby steps.

I'm good with that.

I'll goal against Vancouver.

Tomorrow, maybe a point two, maybe.

A point, Yeah, that would be nice, but baby steps a goal first. Then we'll see.

I got to take advantage of Diego before he takes off for the US men's National Seam Gold Cup duty. We'll say good night, special thank you to Howard Beck, Zach Harper, Paul Pugmyer, Mike Yam and Andy Larson Fun Show Today. If you missed any of it, the website is there at your disposal. It's ESPN seven hundred sports dot com. Make sure to download our mobile app and take us on the go. ESPN seven hundred app is available in the App Store of the Google Play Store.