TUE POD @SpenceChecketts on ECF/WCF, Jazz offseason, RSL struggles + more

All right, let's get a drive time.

Tuesday afternoon, fourteen minutes past the hour two o'clock turned into a nice, warm afternoon after.

A chilly, chilly morning.

Little cloud coverage put some sunshine here in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, about sixty two degrees on this beautiful May Tuesday afternoon. And as it is every single day, it's gonna have you along for the Rids fence check. It's behind the Mike Porter Larsen behind the glass today producing booking the show Busy jam Pack Tuesday Show.

As we're getting ready.

For the conference finals in both professional basketball and pro hockey. Conference finals. Final four for both the NHL and the NBA. No basketball or hockey last night, but the Timberwolves in the Thunder at Pecom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, tip off at six thirty tonight on ESPN.

Tomorrow night will be the New.

York Knicks and the Boston Celtics, So the West tonight, the East Tomorrow. In the world of pro hockey, it's gonna be the Panthers and the Hurricane in Raleigh, North Carolina. First puck will drop at six o'clock on TNT, SO Busy Night tonight as the conference finals get going, a couple of new mock drafts I want to get to as far as who the Jazz could look at at number five, and the Jazz also have a second first round pick and a couple of second round picks as well.

Gordy should be in the Hall of Fame.

We'll get to that maybe at some point, but it'll be exciting and potentially out in about We'll let you know what our plans are as we will bring you excellent coverage of the draft and we'll stay on for the first round on June the twenty fifth. The second round is the twenty six that actually runs through our afternoon drive show, so we'll be able to bring you live analysis of who the land on the second round

I'll tell you what.

The last time the Jazz played Summer League at the Huntsman Center was the rookie season of one Donovan Mitchell and I was their courtside and that was the first time I said that, oh, okay, this kid is serious. He gave it to Jason Tatum once upon a time a number years ago at the Huntsman Center.

So we have that on the table today.

NFL offseason meetings some voting today on some rules, namely the NFL will allow their football players to play flag football for the twenty eight Olympics. Here's my question, right out of the gates, who are we playing against? Like who in the world can feel the flag football team that can keep up with Like is an American sport?

Does like Turkey have football players.

That I don't know about when I first saw this story, Like who are our peers in flag football worldwide?

Yeah, there's like there's a little NFL europe action. Of course rugby like countries that have rugby, I know they have like little niche football teams because there's that kind of overlapping interest. But there's not much as far as anything that should compete with the Olympics. Especially if you're you're just kind of going out there and doing the flag football seven on seven thing. You you should win a gold medal and not have to send any NFL players.

No, Like when I first heard, like, all right, should we let NFL players play flag football? Mike against who. It's like, does does Bekistan have a quarterback? I don't know about this seems like an odd thing.

Yeah, I mean, listen, I'm sure once it becomes an Olympic sport, that's the thing. Once it becomes in the Olympics, regardless of how you know, funny, we may find it. You know, curling once upon a time looks pretty silly, I'm sure, But once it becomes an Olympic sport, you have countries that will invest in it. They will literally put money into having a football team, even if they are in the middle of nowhere.

So hey, girl, the game just.

It just kind of strikes me as our Olympic team ninety two Barcelona, Like every game is going to be a blowout. But anyway, they're also voting on the tush push. They're voting, you know, on moving the kickoff up. They're voting on a bunch of different things. NFL offseason style. There's also a news from Ross Dellinger about the current landscape of college football. They could throw an absolute monkey

Lee is from Australia.

Maybe I'll ask Lee if Australia has any football players that our NFL players need to worry about for the twenty eight Olympics. Tim McMahon NBA Daily Assist Style from ESPN, Richard Smith live in studio to preview tonight's Action and Taco Little Jazz Hoops. Then the head coach of Rayal salt Lake, Pablo Mash Johnny will stop by. I'm going to try to be nice today. Scoring goals would be cool. Scoring a goal would be cool. It's been almost two hundred and fifty it's since RSL scored a goal.

They welcome in the best team in Major League Soccer, Vancouver coming up on Saturday.

Lee Elis, Tim McMahon, Richard Smith, Pablo Mash joinning me, Spence check. It's all of you, the great listeners, and that guy you've already heard from him, Porter Larson. How did you spend your Monday evening sands any sort of basketball or hockey playoff action.

Yeah, little tennis, a little gardening. As I mentioned on the way out yesterday, I moved recently and have enough room to grow my own food, which is very, very cool. So I'm building a garden. Played some tennis yesterday, but now we got basketball back. It's one of the rare, rare days during the spring that we don't have hoops. Were spoiled start of conference tournament time in college basketball basically into June. We're pretty spoiled with hoops almost almost every day.

Yes indeed, but playoff action returns tonight, both on the ice and the court, and we're going to preview those games for you guys today. Our first guest will be Lee Ellis fun basketball conversation with Lee.

Always enjoy when he pops by.

But before we catch up with Lee on a Tuesday courtesy if I were good friends and your good friends too at Prize Picks, it is time 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 ESPN seven hundred and run your game with Prize Picks.

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I questioned to all of our guests. Was pretty similar.

After Oklahoma City had established themselves as the best team in the West and one of the best regular season teams historically speaking period, when you look at the net and look at some of the splits, and I would ask the.

Same question, who is keeping Mark Dagnold up that night?

And the answer would vary a little bit depending on the ebbs and flows of the season, or depending on you know, acquisitions trades. For instance, when and of course the Lakers got Luca, a lot of people thought the Lakers were gonna have something to say about the West this year.

I did not believe that to be the case.

I will change my view next year when these two have more time to play together, but I just did not think it was enough time. And then after the trade Mark Davis, the kid from Charlotte, fell through. They just don't have any bigs. They could not play Jackson Hayes. We're not doing a Lakers breakdown, but a lot of people thought maybe the Lakers would have something to say

That's something interesting to watch out for.

These are two really good teams, and we kind of have a sneaky excellent Western Conference Finals matchup because there aren't any of There's no Golden State, there's no steph there's no Lebron, there's no Lakers. So I wonder how many people really fully understand that. Honestly speaking, these are probably the two most deserving teams in the West, based off of the way.

Both these teams have played since March.

Again, Oklahoma City the best team in pro basketball since March first. The second best team in pro basketball since March first is the Minnesota Timberwolves, and they do battle tonight. We'll give you some picks later on a playoff basketball back in the house this evening, coming up at six thirty.

That is your tip.

All right, we're gonna bring in Lee Ellis coming up in a little bit. But I want to tell you about my friends at Cortland Roofing and I got Corey joins me live in studio on a Tuesday. Corey, what's going on man, I'm well, I appreciate the time today, So let's start.

Let's start with the good stuff right away.

Unpack the Spring special because if people need a roof replacement, they got to call you today because they could save literally thousands of dollars.

Yeah, so give us a call today. Well, there's basically two offers that we're we have in store right now. So the first one is we'll give you fifteen hundred dollars off a roof replacement, or if you are in need of gutters, we will do a brand new seamless rain gutters at no additional cost.

If you if you do your entire roof again, thousands of dollars of saving. So I'm gonna hit you with the number right away. It's eight oh one six one five five five six zero. That's eight oh one six one five five five six zero eight oh one sixty one five five five six zero. The website is Cortland Roofing dot com. All right, let's get a little background. Tell me about your company, Corey. Yeah, so we're a local company.

We're found, we're family owned and operated, and that's that's important because you get a lot of these out of town companies that aren't even from Utah, especially the ones that sent out their door knockers, so they just want to do your roof and then get out of town. But we're here, local, we're here, we're family owned and operated. We are a preferred contractor with a lot of the main manufacturer, so we can offer you the best warranty in the business.

We're licensed and insured.

We employ our own crews, and that's important because a lot of times, you know, we're not picking guys up off the street. We have our own crews that we've had for a long time to do an amazing job. And so that's a little bit about us.

Anyone who has ever owned a home knows that sometimes working with homeowners insurance can be shall we say complex, But you guys kind of help people traverse this space tell us about it.

Yeah, So about seventy to eighty percent of the roofs we do the insurance companies involved in some ways. So we have a ton of experience when it comes to the roof with the insurance process, and so we really help homeowners navigate that and it really starts with an inspection to see if your roof will even qualify for insurance. And you know, a couple of weeks ago we had some high winds fifty mile an hour plus wins that

All right before I say you lose.

For this segment, we'll tackle a couple of other things for out the course of the show. Let's review the spring prom promotion one more time.

Corey.

Yeah, so Spring promotion. If you call today, you get fifteen hundred dollars off of a roof replacement. Or if you're needing new rain gutters, we will do brand new seamless rain gutters at no charge.

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The weather's about to get really warm, and if you walk outside you look at your roof, you're like, yeah, we need to get that taken care of. You might as well save thousands of dollars with this great spring promotion with our friends at Courtland Roofing.

Here's the number. It's eight oh one sixty one five five five six zero.

All right.

Tennecband is going to roll by today. Covers the NBA for ESPN NBA Daily Assist Style, Richard Smith live in studio forty years with the Utah Jazz Front Office. Then Pablo Master money head coach over Il saw Lake, would you honest later on, but we're batting lead off with one of our favorites, and I'm told he's in the heart of New York City, in Midtown Manhattan is where we find our friend Lee Ellis on a Tuesday afternoon.

Lee, Happy Tuesday, sir.

How are you fine?

Thanks Bence, Thanks very much for having me.

How's the how's the weather? How's how are the conditions out in New York City?

Actually beautiful? Really nice sunny day. Not too human as well. I live in Atlanta, so we're already sinking hot in the humidity, but it's nice and breezy. The streets are alive and you can sort of feel, you know, a bit of energy. The Nicks haven't been in a position like this before, and so I was down at Madison Square Garden before, and you know, you can sort of tell everyone's pretty excited and looking forward to Game one tomorrow night.

Oh, I've got the forecast up. It does look lovely in Midtown Manhattan.

Good for you.

So you reference that you can kind of feel the buzz in the city. Are Are you noticing people wearing Nick jerseys and hats and such? Are you are you seeing a lot of Nick paraphernalia out about New York?

Yeah?

Absolutely, even one Devin Booker Sun's jersey, which sort of slid outs me a little bit. But other than that, yeah, I mean again, just the energy around the garden there, you know, just before, like everyone's sort of excited and they can't wait for it to happen here tomorrow. And I because, as I said, they just haven't been in this position, this far into the playoffs for so long.

You know, Lee the last team to win a championship with a ball dominant, smallish guard as the best player really was Detroit back in the Isaiah Thomas you know, nineteen eighty eight, nineteen eighty nine days. And that's who the Necks are now. It's not just Jalen, but if we're honest, he really is the engine that makes them go. What stands out most to you about how Jalen Brunson

What stands out most to you about his growth, I think.

It's that continual clutch performances. If you go back to the Piston series, he'd really deliver it on the road in Detroit. He closed out that series with a huge three. Remember they were down seven or eight points with about a minute ago in Game six and Brunton stepped up and knocked down the shot. And then the same thing

That in the playoffs.

So you know, this is why I'm sort of in this position now where I look at the Knicks and I think they haven't you know, they didn't get lucky in the playoffs. Now the Pistons, of course, weren't that experience. Then they had to go out and beat the defending champs on the road, and they did that so well. And now even if they get down big, it's like they've got guys who can get them back into it. Mcale bridges his offense in the last quarters has been

So away from Jalen and even Kat for a moment because I think it's safe to say more often than not those two. Certainly, Jalen's going to get his, and you know, Kat has a complex and kind of varied history and big games.

There's some good, some bad, and you know kind of the way it goes.

But the three headed monster on the wing, you know some of Cal Bridges, who they traded five first round picks for Josh Hart, who I kind of feel like is the heart beats I didn't even mean to do that of that team. And then you know og Is, even though you know at times the shot can get loose, he was so good against the Wings for the Celtics and the playoffs and has been one of the best

Well, they can all.

Defend, like you mentioned there, they're all sort of Tom Thibodeau guys. You know, they know that they're expected to put in on the defensive end primarily, and they do that, but all of them can also hit those threes, which is really the modern game. The way it is, you need to be able to shoot, and you need to be able to at least be relied on to knockdown some shots. Now, some games you might have Josh hart John for twenty five or thirty points, scort Og, even

It's interesting.

One more thing on the nickt and I do want to ask you about the Pacers specifically, because they deserve a lot of credit for what they've been doing. And you know, I've known Tom Thibodeau for a number of years. He was an assistant in New York for Jeff Van Gundy, and I certainly respect the man. But when you're up one hundred and ten to seventy four with five minutes left in the fourth, isn't it time to pull your players?

Well, yes, that's the one area that I think care And you know I've noticed because I've been a a lot of the Knicks game, certainly here in the playoffs and in the regular season. I saw it too when when the Knicks are in Atlanta, Rick Brunson is often the guy who has to go up and say to him, come on, this is enough enough, because you know, it's the one stubborn trait that Tibbs has that he's still

So Lee, as you know, the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by our old buddy Donovan Mitchell, had a historic regular season, and you know, the favorites to play in the Eastern Conference Finals were the Calves and the Celtics. We've already discussed the next beating Boston, and I'm sure if you're a Calves fan you can lean into we weren't fully healthy Donovan go saw him after the second round once again, and of course it's not all his fault when he is really cooking, he's as dynamic as any ball in

Yeah? Well, I think with the Pacers, they kind of snuck up on pretty much everyone because they started off the season badly, and Tyrese Halliburton was bad and maybe there was a bit of an Olympic hangover for him. But I think we sort of saw We saw the Pacers in the conference finals last year they got swept, and the way they started this season was like, oh, maybe they aren't that good. But their record closing the season was forty two and fourteen, so they've been playing

But you're right.

I mean, Rick Carlyle, you know, he's a pretty good coach, and you know, he's a pretty consistent coach. He might not be, you know, the most charismatic coach out there, but he certainly gets guys to play to a high level. And that's what I noticed about the Pacers is once tyri Is Haliburton got to go on because he wasn't an All Star this season, but he certainly picked his game up in the second half of the season. But also guys like Nemhard and Nie Smith, as I mentioned earlier,

Again.

I don't think they'll decide to blow it up or anything like that. I think they'll just try to take care of business a little bit better next season, because overall a lot of their guys are under contract. I think they're a better team than they performed in the playoffs, and maybe sometimes a loss like this can actually help you in the future. So we'll find out that, you know, Indiana again, they the way they ended the season was just so impressive that they find themselves in this position.

Moving out this way, Lee, I was surprised to learn this morning when I was doing a little reading a prep for the show, that the two best records in pro basketball since March first belonged to Oklahoma City, who has the best record, and then the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have the second best record. Let's start with the Minnesota side of things, and this is a team that's been together now for a few years, and they had a

What stands out, Yeah, honestly a little bit like the Paces in that when they made that trade at the start of the season for Towns, you know, trading him away.

I thought that was a bad move.

I thought Towns has been there, they're finally having some success, and then they blow it up. I think for a weaker move in bringing Devincenzo and Julius Randall. But after that sluggish start, and remember they had to basically win on the last day of the season just to avoid the play in, they've really gotten together and been super impressive. And I think Chris Finch deserves a lot of credit because he's got them playing at this high level where

He loves being the.

Center of attention, and he's gone out there and delivered. And so you know, last season against the Mavericks, I saw Anthony Edwards on a podcast somewhere basically just sort of shaking his head at what Luca was able to do. But you could sort of see that fight in the eyes of Edwards in the way that he spoke was like he wasn't feeling sorry for himself. Instead he realized

Makes you wonderly what a team would look like with Donovan Mitchell Rudy Gobert and their prime and a Mike Conley maybe and maybe a Joe Ingles.

And it makes you wonder what that team would look like.

Yeah, it does, it does.

And you know, the Atlanta Hawks coach Queen's Knight is a pretty good coach too, so I wonder how he would go with those sort of guys.

Yes he is.

And before I say you loose, I will take advantage of the space just to ask you about the Jazz because you know, ultimately it's tough to see any forward progress at this point, and this will be four years coming up since they made the decision to break that team down. We all gather around our television to watch the NBA Draft lottery and we all felt like we were punched in the gut when they fell to five.

But what do you make of where we find ourselves around here?

Before I set you loose with this rebuild that hasn't really brought a lot of hope to the fan base yet, well, all I.

Will say, and I'll just preface this by saying, I'm not a draft expert, but I've heard and from what I read and understand, it's a fairly deep draft. So I think you could still get a very good player there at number five, but obviously the sites were set much higher. I mean, when you have a guy like Cooper Flagg, who's been the number one pick all season, that's the sort of you know, franchise altering player that you would ultimately hope to get your hands on. Now

Be like that.

You know, things don't always necessarily turn around after one or two seasons. But when it gets up to that four and five mark, you're just like, come on, man, do something here. We want to see some wins again here. We don't want to be continually looking down the road at the next you know, two three fourths seasons away, So I get the frustration, but I will say, I mean Utah when they're playing well, it's it's one of the most fascinating home court advantages I think in the league.

Got some good pickup hoops out here, Lee, you should make your way out of here before I set you loose. Tell all of our listeners where they can go find your work.

Yeah, just on the socials. My name Lee ls L E I G H E L L I S I mean New York City for these games. I'll be in Indiana for the for the entire series. I'll be where however long it goes. So if anyone is in New York, I may hit up the rock A Park on Thursday to shoot around and have some fun up there, and

Thank you, sir, always a pleasure, save travels and we'll do it again anytime.

Thanks for having me.

Spence, the Great Lee ellis one of the nice guys in this business. I always appreciate his time. We're gonna bring in Tim McMahon coming up on the other side. But before we catch a break, we welcome in my guy Corey from Courtland Roofing once again.

Corey, Happy Tuesday, man. How are you doing.

Yeah, I'm doing great.

How are you, Spence? I'm well.

So give us a little background on your company. Let's start there. Tell us about Courtland Roofing.

Yeah, so, Cortland Roofing. We've been around for over twenty years. We're family owned and operated. We're here local, we're licensed and insured. We employ our own crews, and so that's a little bit about us.

Well, I was thinking about this during the break.

It's nice today, it's about to get insanely hot. If somebody's out there questioning whether or not they need their roof for play, why is it important to do this before we're dealing with the summer.

Yeah, so obviously you want to nip it in the bud right now. Where if you do have some roofing damage, or if you notice some shingles missing or shingles in the yard, you want to get get us out there to take a look and to inspect the roof because obviously the next problem is the roof leaking it going into the house, and that's really where the price tag

I noticed that you only have five star Google reviews, so people obviously appreciate the way you go about your business because you have zero reviews.

That aren't sparkling, right, Yeah, so don't take our word for it. Go to go google Courtland Roofing and take a look at our reviews. We have all five star reviews, which truly just shows that people want quality and they trust us and that we'll do a good job for them.

All Right.

Finally, Corey, one of my favorite things that I like to do for my listeners is save them a lot of money, which is where you come in.

We've got a spring special going on, let's hear about it.

Yeah, so we got a killer deal going on right now. So there's a couple parts of this offer. The first is if if you need a new roof and we do the roof replacement, you get fifteen hundred dollars off that price. If you are in need of new rain gutters, we'll do We'll do free rank free seamless rain gutters for a new roof replacement as well.

All right, there you go.

So if you are questioning whether or not you need your roof replaced, you might as well call Courtland Roofing today get this done, because you're gonna save it grip of money and it's limited time. It's their Spring special, So here's the number. Pick up the phone and dial eight oh one six one five five five six zero. That's eight oh one six one five five five six zero. Eight oh one six one five five five six zero. Also online at Cortland roofing dot com.

Fan McMahon and Banman that is duding old Land, Texas flood as it gets mud.

He's a man.

Fan nimaon Banman the Man Man.

It is a Tuesday on the program. You know what that means.

It's time for our weekly conversation with the legend himself, star of every ESPN and quite frankly TNT broadcast. I'm watching out this way, Tim McMahon. A lot of TV phace time for our guy these days.

Tim, how you doing, buddy?

Oh hey, partners, I want to go just kind of scroll the court. Uh, you know, I'm getting ready for this Western Conference finals. And now they decided to do a sound check, decided to retweet back to the bowels of the pay Calm Center.

I see, I see.

I had a friend text me the other day and said, is Tim intentionally played himself where he knows he can get the most camera time on these games?

So I just have to ask you that right out of the gates.

Well, listen, I like those court side seats. I'm getting squeezed out of them tonight, you know, Western Conference Finals. You got all these other folks coming in NBA folks taking my seat. So I'm gonna I think I still got a good one. But I'm all from the corner. I won't be right behind the visiting coach where you get a lot of good airtime.

Okay, fair enough.

I will take advantage of you on the show today, not literally, but I will take advantage of the time to ask you about the Jazz, even though I know there's not a lot to talk about. There's just a ton of reports that after falling to five, they are going to try to be bold and maybe potentially move up. Who in front of them, Tim, do you think is most likely to trade their pick and you think the Jazz can get involved.

Well, I think most likely would be san Antonio. But I think if san Antono is trading that pick, it's probably an Yannis type of package. It will not be the Mavericks. Number one is not available. Aside from that, I could really probably see any of those other teams willing to discuss because look, my understanding of this strap.

Have you been able to connect with anybody over here about their thoughts on, you know, falling to five and their thoughts on being in a position, UH to potentially try to be bold based off of all the assets they have. Do you have any any idea tim where the head is at of the Utah Jazz front office right now.

Well, listen, obviously very disappointed to fall to five, but also fully understanding that was statistically the most likely of any scenario. I mean, there was like a forty eight percent chance they ended up with number five take and only fourteen percent chance of number one. And so you know, we'll see what that means in terms of aggressivenessess as

We learned this year that nobody's off limits. I mean, hell, if Luca can be traded, anybody could be traded. But do you think the Jazz would actively shop. You know, I'm gonna throw market In and Kessler out there, because honestly, I think those are the only two players that I would say have proven to be here for the long haul. Do you think they would be on the table potentially, and maybe the Jazz just go all in on being really young and kind of starting the clock.

Now, Well, I think you're asking two different things. Would they actively shop or would they be on the table. I'm not sure about actively shop. I think anything is on the table. I mean Traden Lowry marketing in and trading Walker Tesler was on the table for the Jazz last summer. They were just asking for, you know, an extreme premium type of price, and like there's a lot

One more thing here, Tim, your buddy Bobby Mark sopped on yesterday and did an excellent job of outlining just how we have entered this era of parody in the NBA.

Yeah, and I hear what you're saying, And I would just remind you that the Jazz just and we can debate the semantics of contender, right sure, but I'm going to say the Jazz just had a pretty long chapter as a contender that closed. You know, they're trying to open up a new one. It feels a million miles away right now, but you know, it's not that long ago that that Rudy and Donovan or there in Utah on a team that you felt like had a chance that just never was able to get over the hump.

And now you know, it's been a few years of this. I'm sure it's tough to live through. It feels like it's been a long time. It's frustrating. But again, this is that you're not the Charlotte to one it's it's been forever, you know, or the Washington Wizards or one of those type of teams. This franchise has recently experienced a pretty high level of success.

Surely you have a hot take on Isaiah Collier and Kyle Philipowski not making either first or second team All NBA Rookie.

I will be honest with you, I skimmed the All Rookie selections and they have not really sunk my teeth into uh or done a whole lot of things ken about them. Color surprised me a little bit. Yeah, that surprised me a little bit. I thought the Jazz is a nice little marketing campaign. They they sent me some

All right, moving on.

We were able to get six minutes on the Jazz, which is more than I thought we could.

So let's move on.

Now.

You know, I'm impressed that you were able to play along, but that's why you're a pro. I continue to give you credit. And I talked about this to start the show because with about three weeks in the regular season left you on the regular season, I asked you, who's the team that can throw punches with OKC and the answer would very based off the week. You know, the Lakers get Luca? Could it be the Lakers? Lakers? The

I did not know this.

The two best records in pro basketball since March first are Oklahoma City and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Let's start with the Timberwolves side of things.

What is what are your main takeaways with how they finished a regular season and how they've been able to advance to the conference finals.

You got to start with Julius Randall and look for a lot of the season it was about figuring out the Randalls fit and it was clunky and like could he really not just coexist but thrive with And you got two kind of ball stopping, you know, star type of players. What's you know? They like to operate kind of similar rhythms where they're kind of getting each other's way and bogging things down for each other. For a

Is there a home for Mike in this series?

Mike Conley, I mean, you know, four or five years ago, at six', one he still had decent shift ability and speed move move side to. Side when you look at Ok, see Even Cason wallace is six,', THREE like i Wonder if mike is going to be able to play big Minutes For chris finch in.

This, series well and that's that's one of the questions that we're going to. Find out like con is no longer like a thirty five even a thirty plus minute per. Game guy obviously he's kind of shifted into more of a. COMPLIMENTARY role i do think though he still has value. FOR them i got to protect, them defense so he got to kind of hide them a little, bit defensively but just the, calming presence, you know kind of, the

Think draws who do you think draws the primary Assignment? ON ant, i mean with an offensive talent, like that you want to throw a bunch of different looks, and okay see has a bunch of.

Different bodies Is, it dort Is? It jalen Is?

It shay who do you think draws THE primary, i, mean hell We Saw, Alex, Caruso Gardner. Kola jokich who do you think draws the primary Assignment?

On ant it's sure as that will Not. Be shay it's gonna Be. Lou Dort lou dort's gonna start off. ON him i Think lou dort will spend the most time. ON him i think it's primarily going To. BE lou i think he's also going to see a healthy built to Case. And wallace my guess Is that crusoe is going to spend more Time On julius randall mean He Will.

UP with i agree on the, Other side sga Is? It jaden Is?

It antot who draws the primary signmon ON shaf.

I would think they would start Off with jade McDaniels on him for the simple fact that you don't necessarily want and to have to exhaust that kind of energy playing forty plus minutes per, game now and it's going to get his fair share time. On THEM but i don't think you want him to have to do that from the opening Tip of game one?

For sure, all right the go.

Bear factor, of course we are familiar with it, around here and, YOU know i was thinking about this Tim Watching mitchell robinson really guard like five positions on a couple of different possessions With the celtics and the modern day five out spacing offensive attack that most teams like to use is a really tough ask on. Most, Bigs now rudy can, handle it even though some people think that.

The floor.

It's like a a pitcher with like, eight, Pitches right they've got a lot. Of stuff they can go a lot of. DIFFERENT ways i think they start off with their two gigs and kind of go. From there And in game one is Really For. Mark dagnall it's kind of a feel. Out game it's still in a lot of different Things that i'm seeing how they, respond to is seeing how they. Handle it they do have the ability to play shit in a lineup that is fied out with a seven footer on. THE floor i think

The series in, The playoffs Shay And jalen williams combined are averaging, let's see this would be forty nine point six points between the two. Of them Aunt And julius randall averaging forty nine. Point four so it's nearly a standstill better one to two Offensive Punch Aunt, Julius Randall Shay jaln williams.

So far in.

These playoffs so far in, the playoffs it has been has been And joyous randall, Because Honestly jarren williams hasn't had a great, playoff series so are a, great playoffs great. Post league, so far he's had some. Good games he's not shot the, ball though he's not shot the. Three wheel he's playing with a really painful. Risk injury don't want to use who as, an excuse but like if you saw the ty job underneath that, shooting sleeve you Know what i'm. Talking about they need more Of The

Right now chet Is okay c's. Third option Who is minnesota's third option or is it? By committee.

It's, by COMMITTEE and i think You would you could argue that it's their. Sixth man you could argue this not big or, seventh Pain even Shinzo. Nas reeve, You know jay McDaniels has had some big games in, These PLAYOFFS but i think he's a guy who's going into a series like you want to you want to see if he's. Making shots but you know there are nights where he looks like that type. Of DUDE so i don't think there's a clear cut third Option.

For bill, all RIGHT before i say, you loose do you have? A lean this feels like a, heavyweight. Fight, man okay see is, the favorite, of COURSE but i would not Sleep. On minnesota are you leaning one way or?

The other and?

WHY oh i definitely would lean towards the team that won sixty eight games and have the best point DIFFERENTIAL in, Nba HISTORY and i would cite those as the as the. Two REASONS but i think he's gonna be a. Heckord serious?

Fair enough, All, Right tim thanks for, the. Time man enjoy the game tonight should be a.

Good one, appreciate, you brother.

All right The great tim McMahon COVERS the NBA for espn joins us on a. Weekly basis all of his work is up On his twitter PAGE At espn, underscore McMahon including the link to the Book that tim wrote that was Released, In, March luka Doncic And the Curse.

Of greatness you can check that out On his.

Twitter Page The conference finals begin tonight in the world of pro BASKETBALL with Okc.

And Minnesota oklahoma city is a six point five.

Point favorite and then tomorrow night it is time For The eastern conference side of things As The New. York knicks we'll welcome In The boston Celtics To Madison. Square Garden first conference finals For the knicks since the year two thousand when they played, coincidentally Enough The. Indiana pacers, All right smithy's gonna join us live. And studio we'll do, some jazz some good Jazz stuffrom tim. McMahon today but before we catch, a break welcome and My guy Corey From.

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Six zero he's Depride, Of norwich connecticut and an adopted Son Of Salt. Lake city after forty years With The utah jazz there's no one better to talk. Some Hoops Richard smitty smith is back on the DRIVE on espn. Seven hundred, all right.

Stay tuned for your chance to win a free round of Golf. To Bonneville, oh man my. Home course we're gonna send you to play eighteen Holes. At bonneville it Is The festival teas brought to you Via The Utah. GOLF Association eats Day OF spring espn. IS seven espn seven hundreds is given a rounds of golf to the best courses in. The state listen To the Down and Dirty With scott mitchell from ten, to Eleven the Sean

Stay, Tuned Smitty, happy. Tuesday sir how. Are you we're, Doing, great spence what's going? On here it's great to. SEE you a lot of stuff, going on a lot of stuff, going ON and i need to. GIVE you i need to give.

You credit as the kids, Would say i'm gonna give your, flowers wow because you. Are good to remind us that when it comes to, playoff basketball anything, can happen Like A steph curry hamstring Or A jason. Tatum, achilles unfortunately no part of me Thought the knicks had a chance Against The. Boston, celtics yet for the first time since the year, two Thousand The New york knicks are back

Indiana pacers, you.

Know so it's, Wild.

Too spence the LAST night i was on a flight coming Back To salt LAKE and i just happened to

Everybody up so it's.

A fun time of the year in, the playoffs especially when you get TO the nba version Of The, final four but also if you happen to Be a knicks fan wherever, you are, you know it's kind of a, you know maybe a, semi unexpected, you know turn of events to get to. This far but that's why you're playing.

Two series.

That's unbelievable, you Know The, HOUSTON rockets i believe have the Record if i'm, not mistaken in ninety four when they won, the championship, They won. THEY won i believe it was nine road games to get TO The nba championship and they had two series where they won three

Oh it get it gets, Talked, About smidy it gets talked about plenty because they Beat.

The knicks who Did the jazz lose to in?

Ninety, four no it was ROCKET because i can remember so for our, younger listeners look. It Up michael jordan had retired and as a child Of the jazz And. THE knicks i thought, to myself ninety four is the year That the jazz And the knicks are going to play in. THE finals i had Forgot that houston actually beat. Both, teams, yeah Well the Houston the jazz. Were favored they came in as the, three Seed that houston was a sixth Seed.

Good team we have a highly.

Competitive team, you know we can really do, some damage, you know in these coming years with the core we have Now With stockton Malone. And horniseck but we have to have someone if we get to this spot again that can play a matchup Against A clyde drexler, type

Down low, shandon, Too Right.

Shandon Anderson and anderson was a rookie in, ninety seven so his first two years in the league were the two years At the jazz run to.

The finals, that yeah.

That's RIGHT so i was thinking about THIS when i saw you on the, rundown today because you had a front row seat to The Early jalen brunson experience With The. Dallas mavericks, THE final I guess I'll say nail and the coffin without trying to be too Dramatic Of Gobert. Mitchell quinn you know that group was the series you guys Played. Against dallas luca, Gets Hurt rick carlisle gives the Ball. To jalen you're our ball and hand, guy now and it worked, really WELL and i think it

Guys, Experienced no I'm personally.

I'M surprised i Always Liked jalen brunson coming out of College, at villanova, you know where they won. Two championships but he was he was always a. Steadying influence he always played with a.

Calm.

Demeanor uh he Got to dallas as a second. Round pick Give Give Dennis, Dennis, lindsay uh. Some, props dennis who's the general manager Of the jazz at, the Time Liked rick brunson in. The draft it didn't it didn't go. Our way he ended up going early in the second Round, to dallas. You know and again the way sometimes these, Things happened spence and and people people try and write

Rotation guy doncic.

Goes down you look down, the BENCH and i can give you countless times that's happened over my years IN the nba where, a coach, you know looked down the bench, and, said well uh pointed to and, guys said, you're up and you're you're expecting not, anything great be expecting someone to maybe plug their finger in the dike and just hold you in place somehow while some of your main guys go to work or somebody does something in, that regard and then somebody comes out of the Woodwork Like

The, Moment Yeah and i've been so impressed with his both mental and. PHYSICAL toughness i know it, sounds cliche but you look at him and he's a. Sturdy kid But Even, drew holliday who's one of the best primeter defensive players that we've had in, A generation drew had some good moments, on Him but jalen would take him down on. The Block derek white didn't have a prayer

Well he's he's got the demeanor spence that when things, don't go right you. Never see him all these guys always always go crazy and they're yelling at the ref or, they're you know throwing a temper tantrum in the middle of the game and whatever way. They Want to jalen brunson always just has. A calm demeanor whether the, ball went in whether the ball, didn't go in or he, got the call he didn't.

Get the, call you know. He's just.

Playing he's, Playing You know john stockin was one of the greatest, at doing, it you know just looking ahead to the next play and not worrying about what happened, ten seconds ago. Good Or Bad and jalen brunson's. Got that skill and again To, the point DEWEY as, an nba fans ever see that if The scenario with, doncic years, earlier you know.

DOESN'T doesn't occur i mean.

A lot of guys just.

Need the chance and that's why we always want to talk, about the draft which obviously will be doing a lot of in the next month or so and trying to project GUYS. At the nba you just never know how someone is, going to play no matter what their talent or Skill level or nate, poletic abilities are until they get in the fire and you put him in there and, the pressure's on and, now you see you know, how they think what, their twitch is what their, confidence level

Mike.

Tyson accident right everybody's got a plan until they get hit in the face and then the plan goes.

Out the window and now we see what. You really Got And and jalen brunson's doing.

That in. Spades you Know, frank is sola friend.

Of the, Show in fact porter reach Out, to Is sola tell isola That with The nixon, the conference finals he has to come.

On THE show he.

I like this. I.

Like this porter, by the way your guy here calling out like a national figure by, his LAST Name.

Call i, SOLA without me i saw is NOT a. Thing i saw it's not a.

Thing without Me but but frank always talks about and, then he'll tweet He'll write about there really isn't any hard data to support The Narrative that tom tibboteau plays his. Players too much it. Does not exist and when you, look at It This year steve kerr was. Playing ten guys steph, Does his hamstring Boston's ten d tatum. Does his achilles the data. Does not exist it's a narrative That exists that tom plays his. Guys, TOO much however

Rolls, that way well If, you KNOW TIBs which i know you.

Do is somewhat he is a high strung guy and he is all and he is He is he he's one of those guys who just believes and he just feels with his gut that no lead is safe and. It doesn't matter and you can talk to HIM and And I, know rick brunson one of, the assistant coaches is probably the best at it to be able to go up to, him, and, say, hey coach, coach it's, uh you know let's get him, out or something and he'll he'll like look at him and give him a

Of the nba.

You don't hear anybody complaining about tims is playing the, guys, TOO much, right i mean it's just a narrative that that somebody gets on and somebody takes it and runs. Off with it and whether it makes sense or, not or, whatever you know you always people always are going to use it to whatever way they want to, skew, the argument right and if they're if they're, losing some games it's, going to be.

Oh they ran.

Out of gas they played brunts at. Forty three minutes you can't do that then to, play you know whatever. It's gonna be and, So you know tis is gonna Coach the. Way TIBs has look he Did. It, in chicago uh He. Did in minnesota you know the way he's he Alway coaches The knicks new that's. How he coaches that's how he's gonna be if he can get his team to, a high level which. Obviously they have

Right they won they.

WON three games i think it Was in, the detroit series like in the, last thirty seconds.

The ball.

Fell their way they, made a shot they, got to stop they got To, steal the celtics the same thing, in game one and then they got they got The. Thing with tatum and so, to this point those breaks that they some of them, they've made themselves but some of them have. Happened for them and in whatever way you want, to interpret it they find themselves now in. The conference, finals and, uh you Know In, being new york as you Know very well, spence first, hand you know, whether,

Honestly I was just i was, kind OF chuckling but i was a.

LITTLE bit, Nervous i mean We're Watching o Gianna Nobe, guarding Baylor shireman, and i'm like what if what are we doing here on the other. Side of things i'll continue to give you credit as a, guy, that's like look. Anything can happen come, and playoff basketball and more, often than not in a, seven game series the best. Team does Advance and maybe indiana was just, the Best team

Yeah we're flying we're.

Playing the best basketball we played, all year long which is, the, old cliche right play the right way at the right time. Of the year what do you make of The way the pacers were able to Get rid of Donovan And.

The, cleveland cavaliers well.

It was a great.

Series for them, first of all they, have been running running hot the second half. Of the season they've been. Playing Very Well. The indiana pacers they after they stumbled out of the Gates early In, november And, december and, halliburton you know maybe wasn't his usual self whatever early, in the season but they got their. Feed under them they Got Through the, all star break they played very well, the second half and they've just they've just gotten on

Than you are. That, you understand okay we got. To, break there okay the other game the guy fell down and, lost the, ball you know.

Whatever it is and so but we have to stick to what we believe we can do to the best of our ability to give us a chance.

To BE successful and i think they're gonna be, TWO terrific series. I really do i think it's gonna be.

Fun to watch before we, CATCH a break i have A, question about donovan and IN the question i will insert an OPINION and then i want.

You to go and you might get mad at.

Me for this I'm.

Already, mad spence okay well that's.

THAT'S the smittymo i can always angry because, Here's, the, thing like ultimately if you just look at the numbers and you look at some of the playoff, explosions he has he's in the most, rarefied Of, air Including, mike Including Iverson including kobe like, Individual playoff scoring donovan is on a short list of somebody who's been able to do what he's done throughout the first seven eight years. Of his career never been out of, the second Round

Thoughts?

ON it yeah i would push back on that somewhat spence, he you know he does those things because he knows that he. Can do them he knows that his team is, relying on him that the heavy load. Is on him

Over the hump are you Ready with your jazz?

Draft trivia question for one lucky listener to go play Eighteen holes at bonneville or just?

A basketball trash. I, Got yeah well i'm trying to think of something that's not easy for people. To just. Remember, GOOGLE it yeah, I know it i.

Know It's okay the jazz the nineteen nineteen ninety SEVEN. Draft The nba the jazz had as Their Point guards John Stockton And, howard howard isley and yet they still decided in the late first round to pick. Another point guard did you know to give them three point guards in a in a in A Summer where howard eisley was going to be? A free, Agent mm hm and so cause, a little consternation but it was a best. Player available thing Who is the jazz's first round pick in nineteen ninety seven.

Went on to become? A head coach can we? Give that hints can We. Give that hittraw now see now the now the.

Walls are crumbling, now you're given given it all away.

Eight seven seven three five three zero seven hundred text, in the name and we're going to send you to Play, golf at bonneville.

My home course Eighteen.

Holes to bonneville eight seven seven three five three zero seven Hundred more was smithy coming up on, the other side but joining us. Live in studio we have a very special offer for you from Our Friends. At cortland roofing It's my guy. Corey, Once Again. Corey happy tuesday.

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Nba playoff.

Basketball Returns tonight the conference Finals in the West Is first oklahoma City, taken on minnesota and, then tomorrow night it Will be the Knicks and the celtics Live, from the mecca the world's, Most Famous Arena. Madison square garden let's get, His Mic. ON richard smith.

I Always. LOVE that spence i always loved the world's. Most famous arena it's such.

An AUDACIOUS player AND i.

Always i always quickly say, myself self proclaimed.

It's it's it's.

It's very audacious it's one of the things you just say, it out loud, and you know people just tend to. Latch, ONTO it, YEAH i, KNOW i. Know i know, but we uh we did a Lot On the knicks. Pacers last series talked To, a little donovan Talked. A little calves let's move over and Now, to the west and we'll end with some jazz, For, The segment smitty Let's, start in minnesota where Your old Friend rudy, go beart

I think that it's taken a little. While to adjust, BUT you Know i think randall is in a good spot because he doesn't have to. Be the guy he doesn't have to be doing all.

The heavy lift and Obviously With with anthony edwards there and so he takes a lot of the Spotlight off H but but randall, is a, good good player uh in, the mid post and he's also a better passer than, most people think and, a WILLING passer and i think he fits in well, with that, group you know on the Other side, from jade McDaniels who's who's really a, good wing defender has become a serviceable, three point shooter and they've gotten a. Nice Rhythm going and rudy has

Teams come, out Oddly enough ok se six and two with one day of rest during The playoffs and minnesota two and four with more than three, days of rest and they have five days, Of, rest, obviously okay see a bunch of bunch of young players probably don't need as much rest as some of the teams that are a. Little bit older let me let me Ask you about rudy, THOUGH you know i was watching it Was Game, six nick celtics and there was One Possession where mitchell robinson.

WAS was guarding i Think It.

WAS luke cornette a pass went out, To the wing robinson goes out, and closes out, comes Back. Down checks cornette then the ball goes to The Corner to Jalen Brown and mitchell robinson goes out and closes out guarded like. Three different positions the way that the game, is played now it asks a lot from a big to guard, on the perimeter to get out and close out to, guard Multiple players and rudy does it as, well as anybody but for some reason does not. Get the credit

No, Matter WHAT yeah and i THINK that that's i think you just said, A. LOT there spence i think some people get on a certain narrative and then they just won't let it go.

For whatever reason, it's you.

Know it's, unfortunate you know you have to really watch the games and pay attention to, what's going on and you realize all of the we we had a in house metric system that was a proprietary thing that We that the JAZZ developed when i was there to gauge our our defensive analytics and stuff and to go off off the page of of what what the numbers SHOWED you And uh, and rudy, constantly you know graded so so far above everybody else in the league in terms

Uh in games and he continues.

To do, that.

You know he's gotten to the point in his career where he knows that he doesn't have to do all of, these you know a bunch of things. In the basket he just has to do. Some of them and and do them very well and and let the other people do what they're supposed to be doing in order to have have some. Level of success and he's he's learned how to do that, and and uh he's smart about it and uh and and he's a guy that's gonna be a very valuable Key uh from minnesota in this series if they're gonna.

Have any success it's funny YOU reference and i don't pretend to know the ins and outs of your in house metric system as it pertains To the way, Rudy impacted winning but it reminds me OF an interview I did when i was doing The show at gordon And we. Had dennis On we had, dennis lindsay on and he hit us with like ten straight Stats.

About everything rudy does you know.

Offensive, field goal, percentage rebound, percentage black percentage the opponent's field Goal percentage against rudy? AT the RIM i mean i lost track. After a while he just, boom boom boom. Boom boom boom did you guys ever feel like you had to stand? Up for him did you ever feel like the heat he was getting with so unfair that as an organization you had to get out in front of it. A, LITTLE bit yeah i.

Mean there was some of that because, it's you know a lot of the, noise you, hear you know is around it from people, who are lazy who, just you know take, some you know the cream off the top and leave the rest of the dessert there and don't don't bother digging in to see what else is going on and and uh and it always felt bad for him because Not only was rudy an integral part of what those jazz teams did as his as, his career progressed but he also, we also, knew you know, behind

Within his ability and, his skill level uh to be able.

To execute that and when it, didn't go well, or you know you, missed an assignment or you miss, something that happened and and and people were. Pointing to, you you know you just felt that it was unfair because you knew he was one of your guys who was trying to do, the right thing even.

If.

He failed sometimes do you think that it affected him on, a personal level like? Behind closed, doors you Know because the draymond stuff it, got so old but It. WASN'T just, draymond i mean it felt like and it still Feels, LIKE quite frankly I was watching i was watching. Something earlier Today IT. Was gilbert a renus who just Decided. To attack rudy, he was like he's the Liability on.

Got?

To, Him, SURE yeah NO i think i think he's he's, human like anybody, and you know he would like to be recognized for his efforts and for the work. He puts in, AND you know i, tell you what nobody worked harder on his and and on his, ability to, move you know from. Side to side and and you know with his hips and and being. Able, to recover uh. Then he did and, he always, uh you know he always put. The work in he always put. The time in look he's, He's seven too he's got some limited.

True.

Athletic ability uh and then the rest of the stuff he has to you know make, up with, uh you know whether it's with his length or with his smarts or with his instincts or. What have you and and he was always someone who. Would do that and and and it's it's easy, that you know the a lot of, the national guys it's just a lazy narrative because they don't want to do the work and they don't really.

Know well and with.

Little jazz stuff but before, WE get there i. Know your reference you like both teams that have. Home court advantage my Only Hesitancy, WITH oklahoma city i guess Is the way. I'LL put, this, i mean look they have everything. That you want, they have depth they, have star power they, have great, coaching they guard they can score in a myriad. OF different ways i always hesitate to anoint A team if i haven't seen them. Do it before minnesota Was

On, BOTH sides NO i just i think it's, going to, be you know, come down, to you know beating a dead.

Horse or spence but the team that can avoid injury, can avoid, somebody you.

Know not playing.

In, a game, say for example somebody picks up three quick files and is out extended time and the other team is able to take. Advantage of that hopefully we Don't Get another Steph Curry or, jason tatum thing and everybody can play at full strength and you, can just, see you know. WHAT'S going on i think if all the guys are, on the floor and all the guys are available and playing the way, that they're capable That's that's why i'm excited, for BOTH series because i think

To the, finals all right before we let you, go for today let's Do a. Little jazz basketball so the draft is Coming up on june. The Twenty fifth the jazz. Have number five they have, number twenty one they have forty three. And fifty three so to. First two, Seconds You know bobby mars joined us yesterday and did a really really good job of, outlining you know my question. Him was okay so the NARRATIVE is the nba is now, built for PARODY and the nba is now built by

I think they have to be bold because they have nowhere to go. But up there they not only had the worst record in the league, this past season but they by a lot, of defensive metrics they, were one of if not the, worst defensive team.

Uh in a lot.

Of years, HISTORICAL but yeah i mean they, just you know they're just not very good. At the moment so there's nobody that's on the on the. Team that's untouchable, IN my opinion i, think you know when you're when you have the worst record and and you're not showing that you're making any progress because this, this defensive malaise, if you will has been the mantra the last, couple of,

To.

Do anything uh but they have to show that they can start making moves that that look like they're making improvement and look like that they're they're moving in. The, right direction, uh you know, for the uh for the benefit of their of their, season ticket, holders their fans everybody who who are.

Diehard jazz fans do you think they approach next year with best foot forward instead of inventing Injuries And having walker castler shoot seven.

Threes, A night well.

I think they i think they have to get they have to make some kind of a show that looks like they, are getting better.

They are.

Improving you know to do another year of this thing that they just did is going, to be difficult only from the standpoint that they're gonna be having people breathing down their, necks, to say hey you just did that and it didn't it, didn't work out so you're gonna, do it, Again you know and so that's that's gonna that would be, a hard, sell you know to. Their fan base and, uh and look nobody, wants to lose and nobody wants to do. It on purpose everybody wants

The right direction great, to see. You my friend we'll let you. Get some rest thanks, for the Time Okay. Expense richard smith whatever reminds you guys To, Join me monday june the twenty third for the Twenty Twenty Five Van Ney charity golf Challenge At The black desert Resort In. Scenic saint george all the proceedings from this tournament go To Benefit The Van nor valor foundation that helps foster Kids And. The adoption foundation kyle was adopted, as an infant so this cause.

Is very me meaningful to him. And his family we're gonna, be down there come hang.

Out with us It, Starts on sunday june, the twenty second with a welcome cocktail party. At seven O'clock then on monday it's an eight am check. In and breakfast welcome is at. EIGHT forty five a shotgun start is, at nine am then the awards will take place.

At two thirty lunch is served.

On The Course van noi golf twenty five dot givesmart dot com. Is The Website van noi golf. Twenty twenty five dot gifsmart dot com. IS the website i want to tell you by MY Friends At. Ifa country stores when. The seasons change if you're like, any good coach you're gonna put together your game plan for a healthy green lawn and you'll turn THE. Experts at ifa check out their four plus lawn care program everything you need to make your. Yard a hit It's the ultimate lono or

Doing having tuesday? Doing well, Yourself i'm.

WELL i'm well i hate to start with a, low hanging fruit but it's, been a, minute my guy it's been a minute since we've. SEEN a goal i believe the official tally is two hundred and. FORTY six, minutes i know we keep revisiting this and every week it feels like you are liking what you're seeing as far as the chances that, have been created it's the finishing that.

Is left wanting are you still? In, that space, YEAH you know.

I think, so you know it's it's it's been tough to see like the. Amount, OF times again i think one of the things that we've really worked on since last year has been progressing the ball from our goal to. Their opponents goal and and, to be fair it's. Not real sexy it gives us a lot of control, of the game but we're really really. Proficient at that and, then you know even this morning just broke down all the different chances that some of them were not even,

Of, the, NED look man i know you're an extremely POSITIVE person and i appreciate. That ABOUT you but i also watch you play for a, lot OF years and I feel like i know you, a LITTLE bit and i know that there's a stone cold killer and a competitor. In there somewhere at what point does it does? It become frustrating at what point does it become like WHAT else can i do to get this thing going in?

The?

Right direction yeah, YOU.

Know AGAIN i think i, think we, are you know proud To say that i've evolved a little. Bit from, THAT from, THAT i mean i still have that, deep deep INSIDE or else i wouldn't be in this in this profession because it is. All about winning, but, there's also like, YOU know what i have to be the example for the rest, of, The GUYS right like i can sit here and be frustrated until my hands in the air. And place blame but at the end, of the, DAY you know i have to have. A cool head

In.

The box uh the other part is decisions and execution in. The final third and those are the things that we're going to continue. To work on that we worked on today and we work on the rest. Of the week and and the third thing is is making sure our shape behind the ball is such that we can create repetitive attacks and releasing a pivot and and so that we can from one attack we can get three. Or four opportunities so like that is that that's our action plan.

ENOUGH impressive growth i was going to make a joke about sending my father to fight you in.

The locker room but we don't have to, Do, that today pablo we. Can leave.

That i'm.

Impressed i'm impressed you're a great example to somebody like me who has a little FIRE that you i don't need to throw them Monopoly board If i'm playing monopoly with my eight. Year, Old, nephew, Okay like yeah. I'M with YOU i just i hate to, keep, DIGGING here

At. Your, disposal yeah again you, know IT'S crazy and I guess maybe i'm, an eternal optimist but like it's so, hard to build like to build teams that are perennial playoff contenders and championship like, it takes time AND that's why I want to i'll go BACK to what i said, at the beginning is we started this project last year as far as changing our shape and really being ball secure and ball dominant in the way we built. From the back, and you know there's a bunch of crazy.

At the risk of, LABORING the point i HAVE one more i guess not to be redundant point. To make here and once upon A time in mls it was a little bit different than. It is now like the two thousand and nine team we had here that won the cup was not near the highest BAID. Roster in mls they beat the team that was the highest BAIDE roster in mls that had A Guy named david beckham on it had A Guy named landon. Donovan on it the league has, changed sixteen years fifteen, sixteen years later.

So now we can talk about it as more of, a grown up.

Big BOY league although i do think there are several things about the infrastructure league that need to.

Be looked at that's, just me personally AND, WHETHER, IT'S.

Nfl nba nhl there, Is, one thing pablo and it's NOW prevalent in mls they can even, the playing field and that is economic investment meant in, talent period. Period, period period okay it didn't used to, be that way but it. Is that way and you have not received that from the front office. Or the ownership, you, Just HAVEN'T okay so i just need to know how that lands, With, YOU.

AGAIN SPENCE i i i mean There's times where i'm watching other teams and the way they, go about It and, and i'm saying if we, just had that just, that one, GUY because again, i YOU know we're i, think we're two two attacking players away from being a top team in this in this conference and. In this league two top and, Again, why too well one because they'll help, with the goals but two it Will also activate luna in.

The right, direction all right we can move.

Off of it the, sun Is, shining it's tuesday it's, a nice day so let's move. Off OF it but i do HAVE one more i don't know if it's, an uncomfortable question But you took diego off in the fifty eighth, minute pre planned sending A message something.

I'm not seeing? What was it what went? Into, that decision, NO you know.

I think after, REVIEWING the game i probably should have. Left them, on you know he was he was Leggy on the, wednesday at home and probably left him on for twenty. Minutes too, LONG but again i think, this for me it's just it's just it's a it's a tough. Situation, As WELL right so i probably left him on twenty minutes too Long in, the Portland game but i'm, thinking to myself, we're at home we. Need to win who's going to? Score? The goals RIGHT so then i left

IN the game i like that.

Transparency and honesty but speaking of the potential of losing A, GUY like luna i Was, not in colorado which is probably.

Why you lost but we've.

Been OVER that so i Was watching the apple broadcast when something really, caught my ear namely the broadcaster, Saying that you pablo told them that you'd Be Surprised if diego luna is still with the club After the summer. European transfer window is that something that, you told them, and if so can you elaborate?

On?

That, PLEASE yeah no i think that was complete.

Out, of, context Okay okay yeahs luna is a guy that is near and dear, to my heart only because the transformation that he's had since, he's been here and.

And obviously that's That's all on luna because he the work that. He's put, in and, uh you know we Were talking, about LUNA'S trajectory and, i was saying when, he got here he didn't want to didn't, want to defend didn't want to, help the team could could, care less, about you know just the only thing he really wanted was get. On THE ball and i was talking about how the national team is speaking about him and how

The LONG term so i think it's safe To Say that Gail Miller and steve starks listen to the Show because that's i've just been begging. For, This, Forever, pablo hey, porter real quick will you go ahead and formulate a Press release that pablo on the Show Has indicated diego luna is going TO be an rsl.

Man for life can you?

Get?

That done, yeah. Thank, you sir okay.

THAT kid buck i know the bottom line of what the club is, trying to do, But that news pablo is something that is also.

News to me that had to be music. To, your ears yes, TO be fair, i.

MEAN again and i think this is like a big part of like the unknowns that have been. Kind of happening the underpinnings is obviously the move of the, transfer of ownership and obviously there's different philosophies. Of different groups AND working With Gfh and david blitzer. Has been amazing

Go all in it's not like a.

Short term thing you can go all in and make the necessary decisions to help them, more LONGER term which i think is even. Better for him so music TO my ears i think that's why, we do it is to build, something that sustainable build a team that can be a perennial playoff team that competes with. Trophies every

Yeah for sure and look you nailed it. At the end it's also the only, way. To win dude. It just is it's the only.

Way to, win like otherwise we're, spinning our wheels the. Fans are upset there's nobody that's your long term and it does a. Disservice to you so we'll end on one more Positive note that i'll set you. LOOSE after this i think he got something in. THIS gozo kid i don't know, much about him but you've been giving them times and starts over the. Past little, bit and, look he's, young he's raw but you can see, there's something.

There isn't there i'll, tell you what and it's, a little. BIT you know i don't want to go crazy with the, with THE comparisons because i think they're all very unique.

But raw.

Talent he has.

The one thing That's, true with andrea's That's True, with diego luna And true with gozo is that, they're, All learners right so the young players with a, lot of talent but they're also aware that they, don't know everything and so what they do is they, go you know you give. THEM you know i Was working with gozo today on, is crossing right because THAT'S an area i think he, can make games and just gave him a just a way to think about how he, crosses the

In, The future well.

POB'S my guy i feel like, today with therapy we, exercised some demons we talked, through some issues and then we ended, in the nest in.

The, safe place.

Right let's go. IT'S all good. I appreciate you i'll send you the check for. The therapy.

Session Love It the pablo mationnroy Head Coach over al salake rsl welcomes in the Best Team In Major league soccer vancouver coming up seven Point. Thirty on saturday if you missed that interview AND you're, an rsl fan the big titbit Is that recently pablo was told that the, new ownership group which of course Led by, the miller family not interested in selling any of these. Young talented players does that mean it. Will, never happen no but it's the only way to win continuity.

Build. A roster man that.

Is good news if, you missed it check out the website in. A few, minutes all right fory catch a break five o'clock out.

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Zero h right the. Playoffs are back.

Playoffs, are back tonight both in the world of professional hockey and the world. Of professional basketball We're gonna Have Carolida and florida game ONE here on espn SEVEN hundred For okc and minnesota that can Be heard On i'm the. Fan tomorrow night it Will be the Knicks, and the celtics so stay. Tuned for that and on the hockey, side of things it Will be the Oilers. And the stars so the final four in both hockey AND in the. Nba IS set can i get something off my chest

Every, break, every day.

Man every day there's another update about This topic that i'm just. Completely tired of.

Maybe, to your liking that debate will be over tomorrow when the voter's the owners vote, to ban it which.

Is just silly. It's a play it's.

A quarterback sneak it's a quarterback sneak done by a quarterback that squats five hundred pounds and a running back that you know it does, more than that and an offensive line that is maybe the best. In the league but it's. A quarterback sneak if you want, to talk, about you know assisting the runner and kurtelling those rules, a, little bit okay but we're changing the rules around. A quarterback sneak that is something that is being voted on by a bunch of owners, around the league and it's

A super.

Bowl it's ridiculous if if you, can't stop it draft That kid from florida and try. To stop it I'm kind of i'm. Kind of bugged and the fact that we continue to change sports to make them LIKE better for tv and easier on the eyes, Is uh yeah i'm not really on.

Board with it, it's pretty WILD how uh i?

Mean to me what this is is a testament THAT'S how popular nfl football is that every single day we're getting an update. On The tushbush, to porter's point if you, don't like, it stop it and you don't change the rules because you can't stop the play that's been legal for decades and.

Decades and decades.

It's, just ridiculous also today it WAS unanimous that nfl players are okay to play flag football in the Twenty. TWENTY eighth olympics i, continue to ask who are. We playing against football is really Only played in America and maybe canada.

A little bit there's, a, little kicking.

Yeah there's a There's a few australian players that have made IT. In, The Nfl Obviously mitch wi. SHNOWSKI a punter i believe The forty nine ers had a punt returner Who was. Of australian descent So, the the aussies, they're gonna, have you know, some. Special teams guys you know there, are a couple like like euro teams that. STILL have organizations i don't know who, they really, play but yeah. We'll, SEE it uh.

I don't know i just this whole thing has. Caught me up we.

Should play ourselves they should have like multiple flag football teams Comprised OF only american nfl players because it is literally a sport that Has. Played in america it is a game that you throw a football, with your hands but there's. A little kicking there's, a little.

Kicking even though it's. Still called football we're getting rid of. All the kicking how many?

Points is? It sometimes?

One?

Sometimes three right you SAW the? The, snl, skit.

Yeah.

Yeah excellent stuff those skits.

Are really funny they've DONE one on nfl But also Like america. And english language. It's good stuff who you Leaning Towards? T?

Wolves OKASE i honestly I think okay see is the, Lean for sure but there's something About the way minnesota has. A little, something i mean they've got several dudes they Can. Throw at shay rudy's going to neutralize a lot of. Their interior drives they love to. ATTACK the, bucket I mean if i was putting, money On it, Which i'm not i'd probably put it On, An OKAY see but i would Not.

Look Past minnesota.

Okay see is the Better roster okay see, is you know over the, next five years the team that we're going to, be Talking. About NOT minnesota but i might be Leaning towards the timberwolves. Just right now, they've been there they know what a conference. Finals looks like they have a bunch of players who have decades long careers building.

They do have.

There is one there is ONE thing that i am looking for, In, the series spence The Narrative of rudy gobert being like tough to play in the playoffs or sometimes played off the floor in the playoffs is. Mostly completely unwarranted but, in this series, in this matchup there are some guys that that that okay se can throw at him to, space the Floor to put rudy in the situations that we Saw where the jazz, were asking,

That, plays out yeah It, will be uh it will be really really interesting to see how this. SERIES plays out i will admit It's not Quite Shaq. And kobe beef i'd Like to see rudy, get a trophy yeah before Our, guy don okay that's, KIND of like i know that narrative got.

A little tired which team?

Are, you on yeah but no knowing what happened behind the scenes and All the guff rudy took and really what Was happening was donovan and his powerful agency. Making, POWER plays Yeah i just i'm kind Of cheering For rudy and mike like And Of course joey Ingles.

Too love conley i'd love To see go bert.

Get a trophy i'm Not, over the nicks not over the, next of course be More. PARTIAL to conley i think he is one of the real good GUYS, in the Nba not. The rudi's Not he's a he's. A nice dude, BUT you know I Look at mike conley as one of the nicer fellas that we've worked WITH in. The nba circles, that being said if you do make It like a, Rudy don thing i'm with, you on that it would be cool to, see him win and Not

That guy WIN last thing a recommendation before we say good, Night last night no playoff basketball got all cut UP. On hacks hbo WHAT else did i? Catch up, on CAN'T remember but i did sit. Down and watch we Had Our Guy caylin jones on Who's Now with netflix pubby in His. New documentary Untold It's. Called shooting guards it's about The Situation with Gilbert Arenas. And javars critenen and one of The things that i'm told Does Really well manti tale story among others, that They've done the

Well and as you kind, of alluded to that later situation didn't happen in a vacuum away from What Happened to javaris critten. In his career all, of the above it's. AN interesting look i still got. To finish, It, but yeah kaylin cool to see him make moves regardless of.

He sure did.

He, Sure did indeed. Rest In peace George, wentz better norm Better known As.

Norm from cheers he.

Passed, away today okay unfortunately that you're way too Young. TO remember, CHEERS i, know i, know you know you know some Some quotes. That i've heard my, family love, Cheers but yeah cheers to me is the, bar, downtown indeed indeed but it was a great television show a number, Of Years, Ago Ted, danson kirsty ally, look, It up kids it was phenomenal back. In the, Day all right time For playoff HOCKEY here on, espn Seven hundred It's.

Of the program, as you MENTIONED we'll have nhl playoffs here on the, STATION here momentarily nba playoffs over on the fan if You're Looking For Western conference finals game one on. The Show tomorrow josh furlong for some latest on. The utes offseason haven't Caught up with josh in. Quite A minute spencer linton on.

The latest on the.

By you side we'll Do a Little red and Blue, on a wednesday ninety four days away, from college, football of course as we do Each, AND Every Wednesday nba, daily assist time This one with dave mcminnimon And. Away from Utah, On this Wednesday chris com ronnie will join us.

Via the phone we don't get him in studio. This week, unfortunately all right well that'll Be a.

Fun wednesday show we'll say good night special thank You Today, To lee, Alis Tim McMahon Richard smith And PABLO masteron. Runny rsl fans if you, MISS that interview i would highly encourage you to, go find it but you can find everything, on the WEBSITE which is espn seven hundred. Sports dot com download, our mobile app take us. ON the go espn app is Available In the app Store in The. Google play store then for what we do in our space for four, hours every afternoon check out.