Nightcap - Hour 1: Timberwolves beat the Warriors in G2 to even the series, & LeBron is still uncertain of his future!

Summary

Podcast Summary: Club Shay Shay
Episode: Nightcap - Hour 1: Timberwolves beat the Warriors in G2 to even the series, & LeBron is still uncertain of his future!
Release Date: May 9, 2025

In this engaging episode of Club Shay Shay, the hosts delve deep into the latest happenings in the NBA, providing insightful analysis and lively discussions on pivotal games, player performances, injuries, and future prospects. Skipping the advertisements, the conversation kicks off at [02:02], focusing primarily on the Timberwolves' victory over the Warriors in Game 2 and its implications on the series.

1. Timberwolves vs. Warriors: Game 2 Analysis ([02:02] - [09:21])

The hosts begin by discussing the Timberwolves' impressive performance in Game 2, highlighting their defensive prowess and ability to disrupt the Warriors' rhythm.

• Defense Dominance:
  "The Timberwolves recorded 10 steals and five blocks, forcing 17 turnovers because they were contesting everything and running all over the Warriors." ([03:38] Unknown Analyst)

• Warriors' Struggles Without Steph Curry:
  The absence of Steph Curry has significantly impacted the Warriors' gameplay.
  "Without Steph on the floor, there's really nothing. You’re at their mercy." ([03:38] Unknown Analyst)

• Draymond Green's Role:
  Draymond Green's high basketball IQ and defensive capabilities are emphasized as crucial for the Warriors.
  "They have one of the highest functioning brain speed guys with IQ on that team on the defensive end of the floor with Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler." ([03:38] Unknown Analyst)

2. Steph Curry's Injury and Recovery ([04:44] - [10:17])

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Steph Curry's hamstring injury and its potential impact on the Warriors' prospects.

• Injury Details and Recovery Timeline:
  Steph Curry suffers a grade one left hamstring strain, marking his first such injury.
  "Steph isn't sure how long it would take for him to recover... he's out through at least game four and will be evaluated after that." ([05:24] Unknown Host)

• Recovery Process:
  The hosts discuss the typical recovery protocols for athletes versus regular individuals.
  "Normal people have PT two to three times a week, but professional athletes get PT five times a week, around the clock." ([07:38] Unknown Host)

• Impact on Warriors' Strategy:
  Without Curry, the Warriors might rely more on Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler to anchor the defense and generate points.
  "If they can anchor it on the defensive end with Green and Butler, maybe they generate some points and create conversion offense." ([03:38] Unknown Analyst)

3. LeBron James' Future with the Lakers ([30:00] - [37:06])

The conversation shifts to LeBron James and the uncertainty surrounding his future with the Los Angeles Lakers.

• LeBron's Decision-Making:
  LeBron has a player option worth $52.6 million for the next season but hasn't decided whether to opt-out or continue.
  "LeBron is still not ready to make a decision about his NBA future one week after the Lakers lost." ([30:00] Unknown Host)

• Potential Scenarios:
  If LeBron opts out, it could lead to significant changes in the Lakers' roster and strategy.
  "He might need him to opt out to take less or whatever for the better good of the team." ([30:28] Karan Butler)

• LeBron's Longevity and Adaptability:
  Despite being in his 21st NBA season, LeBron's adaptability and evolved skill set suggest he could continue performing at a high level for another two to three years.
  "LeBron can play another two years because he has added a three-point shot to his bag... the greatest key to survival is adaptability." ([32:47] Unknown Host)

4. Jason Tatum's Performance and Accountability ([38:55] - [44:12])

Jason Tatum's struggles in recent playoff games are a focal point, with the hosts critiquing his shooting slump and overall performance.

• Shooting Slump:
  Tatum has been criticized for his low shooting percentages in crucial moments.
  "Tatum has made just 12 of 42 shots, that's 29%, and he's frequently settled for three-pointers where he's shooting 5 of 20, 25%." ([39:40] Unknown Host)

• Mental Approach and Accountability:
  Tatum acknowledges his shortcomings and emphasizes the need to improve without losing confidence.
  "I take full ownership of the way I've played in this series and I can't sugarcoat anything." ([38:55] Unknown Host)

• Comparisons to Kobe Bryant:
  The discussion touches on the "Mamba Mentality," urging Tatum to adopt a more aggressive and relentless approach akin to Kobe Bryant.
  "Kobe's mentality... already in you. So for one, your approach to the game has to change." ([40:19] Unknown Analyst)

5. Team Building and Strategy ([34:56] - [48:52])

The hosts explore strategies for building competitive teams, emphasizing the need for versatile players and effective defensive tactics.

• Luka Doncic and Team Dynamics:
  With Luka as a central figure, the importance of adding a reliable lob threat and enhancing perimeter defense is discussed.
  "You need a lob threat for Luka... perimeter defense is essential." ([34:56] Karan Butler)

• Adaptation and Conditioning:
  Players like Luka must focus on conditioning and defensive improvements to maximize their effectiveness.
  "He's going to go back to the lab on his craft and sharpen his tools going into the season." ([35:00] Karan Butler)

• Impact of Trades and Team Chemistry:
  Recent trades, such as Luka moving to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, are examined for their impact on team chemistry and future prospects.
  "I didn't think it was real... it was real. It's crazy." ([51:24] Karan Butler)

6. Final Thoughts and Future Prospects ([48:52] - [53:30])

Wrapping up, the hosts share their predictions and thoughts on upcoming games and player performances.

• Celtics vs. Knicks Series Outlook:
  The Celtics' over-reliance on three-pointers and the Knicks' resilience in clutch situations are highlighted as key factors in the series outcome.
  "The Celtics have been blowing teams out, but now the Knicks are putting them in deep water." ([45:07] Unknown Analyst)

• Paul Pierce Anecdote:
  A humorous exchange about Paul Pierce's supposed long walk from Encino to Century City adds a light-hearted moment to the discussion.
  "Paul walked from Encino to Century City today in a robe. Did he really?" ([50:22] Unknown Host)

• Future Episodes Tease:
  The conversation hints at future episodes and ongoing developments, keeping listeners engaged for more in-depth analysis.
  "Karan, man, thanks for stopping by... congratulations. Good luck." ([51:24] Unknown Host)

Notable Quotes

• Unknown Analyst ([03:38]):
  "They forced 17 turnovers because they were contesting everything and running all over the Warriors."

• Karan Butler ([03:38]):
  "They have one of the highest functioning brain speed guys with IQ on that team on the defensive end of the floor with Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler."

• Unknown Host ([05:24]):
  "Steph isn't sure how long it would take for him to recover... he's out through at least game four and will be evaluated after that."

• Karan Butler ([32:47]):
  "The greatest key to survival is adaptability, his ability to adapt to the type."

• Unknown Host ([38:55]):
  "Jason Tatum showed the blame for his struggles over the first two games versus the Knick."

• Unknown Analyst ([40:19]):
  "Mamba mentality... that's already in you. So for one, your approach to the game has to change."

Conclusion

This episode of Club Shay Shay offers a comprehensive overview of current NBA dynamics, focusing on pivotal games, player health, team strategies, and future uncertainties. Through detailed analysis and engaging conversations, the hosts provide listeners with a deeper understanding of the league's evolving landscape, making it a must-listen for basketball enthusiasts seeking expert insights.

Transcript

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[Unknown Host]

He's more than cable I'll live with anything Draymond get if Draymond takes 10 threes, I will live with that. I will. I'm. I'm not. I'm not overreacting to Draymond hitting one or two threes. I can't I'm not Kaminga. Kaminga, you know, he came in and played really well tonight. And you're probably going to see more of him. You might see a little bit of Moody because they gotta try to get production from somewhere. GP ii he had an okay game, but he didn't get rhythm. I think the thing is, what they did a great job of is not letting anybody get rhythm. And if you see early. Clang, clang, clank, clang, clang. Well, that's what I want to happen. Because as Karan said, they're going back home. They're very familiar with this building. They're very comfortable shooting in this building. And so I'm my attention one on one. Look, I'm not sending help with Jimmy. Yeah, y' all got it handling. Yeah.

[Karan Butler]

What are they going to do on the defensive end of the floor? I like. We saw more zone defense from the warriors in the series versus the Rockets. And Green had a tough time because it was no real estate for him. So he was living with contested threes and long twos. So now I, I think that they have to muck up the game more on the defensive end of the floor. And they have one of the highest functioning brain speed guys with IQ on that team on the defensive end of the floor with Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. So if they can anchor it in on that end of the floor, maybe they generate some points and create some conversion offense. But I, I just don't see them scoring enough, you know, stuff not being available.

[Unknown Analyst]

Hey, I, I listen, not only the. You don't. We don't see them scoring enough with them not being available. Listen, the defensive pressure that the Wolves put on the night, I mean, they recorded 10 steel five blocks. They forced 17 goddamn turnovers. And that because they were contesting everything and running all over the place. Correct me if I'm wrong and let me know if my terminology is right. Karan, without Steph on the floor, there's really no, really nothing. That much space in you.

[Karan Butler]

It's not.

[Unknown Analyst]

Yeah, I'm correct.

[Karan Butler]

Right.

[Unknown Analyst]

See, I promise you, I could coach in the NBA. You see that now I just noticed that tonight everything was. It seemed so cluttered and just out of whack and out of sort.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. Cause I'm not worried about anybody really hitting ungodly shots. Because, see, Steph can get his own shot. Because if you try to run Steph off the three, he'll sidestep. Or you put the ball on the floor and get to his float game. So he's not like that's not what Buddy. See, Buddy is not gonna really put the ball on the floor and try to get to the rim. He'll try to, he'll up fake you. And he still wants to shoot that three.

[Unknown Analyst]

Right.

[Unknown Host]

But with Steph in perpetual motion, you have to pay attention. You can't because now Draymond a they'll, they put you in the dribble. The dribble handoff. And you think Draymond's gonna hand the ball, you know, hand the ball off and he'll turn and go and lay it up or dunking. So there's so much action going on when Steph is in the game. That's what made him so tough when they had Steph and Klay and then you threw KD in the. So now what do you do? You got three guys that can shoot the lights out of the building. As Karan said, Draymond Guerini is a very high IQ guy. They can run pin downs, they can run flares, they can do anything they want to do. You are at their mercy. You just hope they had an off night shooting. Now. Everybody ain't gonna have no off night shooting. And that's why they were in the high 60s all three years that KD was there. But when you put Steph into the mix, he's still the best shooter in the game and he's very difficult to defend and he takes so much of your focus, so much of your attention and not guys getting back door layups on you and getting easy, easy, easy twos. Steph Curry isn't sure how long it would take for him to recover from the grade one left hamstring strain because it's the first time he's ever had such an injury. Calling the situation a gut punch, Steph said he has to be careful and can't rush his comeback. Given the tricky nature of hamstring injuries. This is new from all that I'm hearing, learning how quickly you can get back, there's been some healing process. You can't accelerate it more than it's, than it's telling you. So it'll be one after week, after a week, really reevaluating every day to understand when it's safe to just think about playing, let alone how much I can push it. Steph is out through at least game four and will be evaluated after that. Game five is eight days after he suffered the injury. Then there's a three day break between game five and game six if necessary, which Steph would have 12 total days to recover.

[Unknown Analyst]

It's a two week recovery. It's a two week recovery. I told you exactly what it was when it happened. Based on what I saw. Listen, I'm not saying I'm a doctor, but you can tell, you can tell the fact that you're able to catch it early and not able to tear it or have it pull on you as much as it did, he was able to control it. So normally with that kind of grade one injury, especially a little, a little twitch like that where it pulls real slightly, it's always two weeks. That first week is going to be sore. That second week, you get that dried needling, you get that cupping, you do your cold tub and whatever else you need to do outside of that, he'll be fine. Game here, he could even come back game four, but game five, he definitely.

[Karan Butler]

I think a lot of those medical terms go for everyday people. Like when you, when you do a diagnosis and like, okay, yeah, you'd be back walking and functioning at a high level again. But to perform in the playoffs at this intensity.

[Unknown Analyst]

Right.

[Karan Butler]

I just think that's a different climate. Oh, yeah, right back into. Without expecting it to be hampered.

[Unknown Host]

I agree. But I also think the thing is that what's different than when an athlete gets injured versus normal people is that normal people have PT two to three times a week. A professional athlete getting PT five times a week. Around the clock.

[Unknown Analyst]

Around the clock.

[Unknown Host]

So they're having someone doing something with Steph around the clock. He's getting stem, he's getting passive stretch, he's getting all ultrasound, he's getting a laser, he's getting all those things that normal people might get twice to three times a week. But they're not getting that extensive. They're not getting laser, they're not getting, you know, they get some of the things. But athletes, that's why they heal so quickly. First of all, they're a little younger and. But Steph said, look, I've never had this injuries and when I came back from those other things, I was in my 20s, I was in my prime. I'm not there anymore. Now I'm 30, 36, 37 years of age. So it's probably going to take me a little longer to overcome something like this considering I don't have, I don't have a gps. So I don't know what it's like because I've never had this injury before. And it's late and it's late in his career. So things don't, don't bounce back. Hey, when you were young. You might have something. One to two days. Hey, man, I'm good to go. Then all of a sudden, as you started getting older, three to four days, five to six days. Now all of a sudden, it's 10 to 15. Still got some.

[Karan Butler]

That hurt on me right now.

[Unknown Analyst]

Hey, hey.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Analyst]

Hey. What was that? What was that we used to do? And you know when you pull something, you heard something.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, dms.

[Unknown Analyst]

No, no, no. When they. They put the.

[Unknown Host]

The.

[Unknown Analyst]

You know, you do a EKG and they put.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, yeah, you put the stem on it, but.

[Unknown Analyst]

Stem. Oh, with the ice. Yeah, that's what it's called.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Analyst]

Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Unknown Host]

And you feel it pulsing?

[Unknown Analyst]

Yeah, yeah. He get. I'm telling you, he get that stem. He get that. That dry needling, getting ultrasound. He getting all that, man, he gonna be good. He gonna be. I guarantee you, if he want to. Especially in Corona when it's time to come back. Game four, game five. Put some pressure. Put that rap. What you call it, not days bandage, what you call the thing.

[Unknown Host]

Some people, they put neoprene. Some people gonna do ace battery. But here's the thing with Steph.

[Unknown Analyst]

Put that little pressure around the spot. Carney gonna be ready to go.

[Unknown Host]

But because he runs so much Ocho.

[Karan Butler]

There you go.

[Unknown Host]

I mean, his whole game is predicated. He's not.

[Unknown Analyst]

I know.

[Unknown Host]

That's.

[Unknown Analyst]

That's why you need that pressure. You need that pressure in that area, though.

[Unknown Host]

But that's why he needs to make sure that thing's healthy, because he runs more than anybody else in the NBA. So he's not a guy that can just stand in the corner. That's not his game. His game is predicated on movement. Certain bus burst and sudden stops and cuts. And, you know, when you got soft tissue injury, man, they don't like all that starting to stop.

[Unknown Analyst]

It ain't nothing to play with.

[Karan Butler]

I was watching the body language of the whole warriors bench. I always look at the bench when I'm watching games, and he. He didn't get up much on that bench. And. And that was, you know, another sign, too, because when guys not jumping up and down in the mid, like, say, going a 10, two run or something like that, like, he was clapping. He was engaged. Obviously, he was out there mentally, but he wasn't moving on that sideline. And that's one of those things. Like, oh, yeah, he really nursing that thing.

[Unknown Host]

It's really. It's really sore.

[Karan Butler]

Yeah, 100%.

[Unknown Host]

Because when you have a hammy injury, you ain't trying to Do a whole lot of moving. You slow, you dragging you. Because they telling you, okay, try to walk as normal as you possibly can. Man, I'm dragging his leg, man, that thing hurt. Tried to walk in the. Try to walk in a normal motion and cry. You. Hey, O. I don't know if you had a spray neck ocho, but crying. I'm sure you have played in NBA, man, you know, walk normal, man, I'm walking like a. Like I'm a pirate, man. I'm walking the whole foot. I ain't getting up on. Yeah, I'm walking. I'm walking club like I got a club foot. I ain't getting up on no toe. No dorsiflexion. It's tough. It's a lot easier said than done. And the people like, well, you got to do this. People say that. That haven't gone through that. So when you go through it, you know what it's like. Hey, hey, we counting on you. I don't know what for.

[Karan Butler]

Hey, I get back when I get back.

[Unknown Host]

I get back when I get back. You try to push through it, but, you know, I mean, and you try to do some stuff at home and you see how it feel. I mean, it feel pretty good after you get all that treatment, but after about five, ten minutes, when that. Hey, all of a sudden that blood ain't in there. That thing ain't warmed up. I don't know. I don't know if I'm be able to go this weekend. Tyrese Halliburton was warned over his Game 2 celebration. Halliburton expected to be fine. For him dance his dancing celebration. The big balls.

[Unknown Analyst]

That was dope.

[Unknown Host]

Game 2 winner but received only a warning from the league office instead. Halle. I've been waiting for that. I've been waiting for that, man. It's just the right in the moment. It was the right in the moment. Yeah, man, I've been waiting like that. I'll take that fine. Gladly. Halliburton fully expected a fine because the celebration is similar to the one he used believed he had first brought to the league by Sam Cassell. Sam Cassell was the first one I actually saw that when he was in with Houston. Sam could long ago have drawn such feelings from the NBA. Others have done it. LeBron James, Eddie Howes, Drew Randall, Fred Van Fleet. More have been fined for the league as described as obscene gesture. And that's.

[Unknown Analyst]

You know, it's not bad. It's not bad. And listen, all athletes that happen to be watching and I'm Sure. This is going to replay over and over and over and probably go viral, which most of our stuff does. If you play at the highest level, NFL, NBA, mlb, NHL, whatever, it may be the one thing they love to do. They love to take what they think you value most. That's your money. How do we keep these people in line that we paid millions of dollars to? We take their money. You know why they want to take your money? Because they think that's what they think that's what you value most. Enjoy yourself. Continue to have fun, celebrate. Listen, this is the entertainment business.

[Unknown Host]

Let me ask you a question. When he's doing that gesture, what is it?

[Unknown Analyst]

Huh?

[Unknown Host]

When he's doing that gesture. Yeah. What is that?

[Unknown Analyst]

It means I got cojones.

[Unknown Host]

You know, the kids watching, right?

[Unknown Analyst]

What? The kids watching?

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Analyst]

What we talking about?

[Unknown Host]

Basketball with kids are watching.

[Karan Butler]

How they have a problem with it personally, but I.

[Unknown Analyst]

Can'T. Kids are watching Nightcap right now. What you talk about, man?

[Unknown Host]

Let's go. Hey, but you said he did get fired. He did not get fired.

[Karan Butler]

Okay, I want my money because I.

[Unknown Host]

Got 5,15,000 for it. Yeah, yeah. A lot of guys have gotten fired for that.

[Karan Butler]

Yeah, okay. I won't mind. I want mine back. I'm gonna be waiting on my check.

[Unknown Host]

In the mail, I think because Hannah said he's expected to find this and now we're not gonna give it to you. But don't do it again too.

[Karan Butler]

I want reparations.

[Unknown Host]

I want my daddy records. Look, I understand that, that celebration because it was. I mean, Halle's had. I mean, look, he had the game winner against Milwaukee, remember? He had the game winning layup. Milwaukee had that big lead and they came all the way back and he had the game winning laid up with like 0.6 seconds to go. And then look, when Halle is aggressive, they hard to beat because they're a committee. They're not going to have anybody that has 30 or 40 points. They're going to have maybe one or two guys in the 20s and then they're going to have a bunch of teams. They're going to normally have six to seven guys in double figures. Karan. So, you know, you have two, maybe two guys with 20 to 23 and then you have 19, 18, 17, 16, two with 14, and then you get an eight and a six.

[Karan Butler]

They do it.

[Unknown Host]

That's how they. And that's how they. And Halle is, is. Is the head of the snake because he's looking to push tempo every chance he gets. Either he'll take it out of the net or they'll take it off the rim. But they're pushing tempo and you've got to play like that. You've got to get back because you celebrate like, oh, yeah, you hold that three up there like that. And then a laid it up on the other end and the coach looking at you like, bro, you got to get back. All they're doing is looking to push. And they got young athletic guys that can get up and down, they can defend.

[Karan Butler]

They.

[Unknown Host]

Okay, look, ne Smith and Nim hard. They got Siakam. They got guys that, you know, that you know, try to funnel you to a Miles Turner. But their thing is predicated on offense. They are predicated on offense and they could go on a run at the.

[Karan Butler]

Blink of an eye, pace and space, or they could play in the half court, which you touched on. And I think H has really just elevated to a whole another level. I think he used that as fuel when everyone said that he was a whatever. And you know, you play for the respect of your peers and when people.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, that's what they think of you. That ain't no fan. Because normally that ocho like to say, man, that's the fans, they don't know what they're talking about. Those are the players that said that.

[Unknown Analyst]

I don't think that was real, Karan. Ain't no way in the hell the goddamn the players voted.

[Karan Butler]

It couldn't have been.

[Unknown Analyst]

Yeah, exactly. I really think it's some. I think they just put the title of oh, the players voted. Goddamn.

[Unknown Host]

Because you'd be surprised, Karan. You know, you'd be surprised what players think of other players. Y.

[Karan Butler]

That's right.

[Unknown Host]

What we think of somebody being good. Oo we know. Cause like how he make the Pro bowl, he's some good garbage. I mean, I'm sure y' all say the same thing about, man, how does Joker make the all Star game.

[Unknown Analyst]

Right?

[Unknown Host]

But that's. That's just the way it is. Perception is a person's reality. And some people think, look, because Halle is really not a scoring point guard. We like scoring point guards now. We like Steph and James Harden, Shay and Luka. See, we like point guards that go get you 40, 50. That's what we like. Not Karan. We don't like the old school. Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd, John Stockton. We don't let no guy give you 15 and 10. Nah, give me 35 and 10.

[Karan Butler]

How did y' all do the scouting thing in the NFL? Like per player or situation.

[Unknown Host]

Well, what we did, okay, the Offensive line coach would address the D line. So he said, okay. We say, okay, here's Reggie. Reggie likes to bull. He likes to hump where he'll start you up. He'll start you up and then use your momentum to club you. Here's a guy that. That's really good with his hands. Hey, he likes to post. He can turn, you know, he can turn speed. He can turn power to speed. He can bend the edges. Okay, now, the tight end would address the linebackers. The running back coach would address the inside linebackers, wide receivers. There are times we, hey, this guy right here, we gonna take advantage of him. He likes to hold this guy like here. He's nosy. He's gonna. He's gonna bite. We're gonna, hey, we're not gonna do it early, but we're gonna do it late. Because in situations, T. Buck was one of notorious ones. T. Buck had a philosophy.

[Unknown Analyst]

He gonna jump something.

[Unknown Host]

You got. You got more. You got more slants and stomps than you got go routes. So I'm gonna take my chances. And you up and you, hey, sometimes he gonna get you, sometimes you're gonna get him. But that's how we did it. We looked at. But there have been times, Karan, that guys have made the Pro bowl, that I thought other guys were better. Well, you know, the fans and so forth and so on, because it's, you know, fans get a vote, the coaches and the coaches get a vote and the players get a vote. But there have been times that I'm like, that ain't it, you know, especially.

[Unknown Analyst]

When, hey, especially when. When you. When you watch it on film and you see it in person. What the hell you doing here?

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Somebody either this either you just had an out of, like, cross, an out of body experience or the other guy, some trash that you was playing against. But one of the two.

[Karan Butler]

Yeah, Halliburton is one of those guys that I like. I was getting to the point of if you had to do a pregame edit or a scout on him, he can take up the whole pregame edit because you. You think about him in a blitz coverage, he can make pretty much every pass out of it. You think about him in an open side pick and roll. He can sweep the defense. He can play in the draw against the drop coverage. He could play against his own coverage. He can get escape and reject. He can draw files. So you got to go over all those boxes that you got to check Coming off the pick and roll off a live dribble. And he got a pull up game. You got a geezer. Even though it's a different looking shot, he's gonna make you come out that hole.

[Unknown Host]

Kelvin Martin look like Kevin Martin and.

[Karan Butler]

It goes in and it's efficient and he's a. Yeah, like he, he want the moments you see. Big moment like you know, going around, could have.

[Unknown Host]

Right.

[Karan Butler]

He deserved that moment, you know what I mean? So Wisconsin native, I salute him because you know, I love all my Wisconsin natives and the brothers. That's best hooping at a high clip. And he's, he's just representing. Well, he, he really is.

[Unknown Host]

He's talked. Halle was 6, 5, 6, 6. He's, he's a big guard.

[Karan Butler]

Yeah, he is.

[Unknown Host]

He's a, he's a big guard. So he can see over coverage. He's not no 6 1, 62 guard. He can see over a lot of that.

[Karan Butler]

And don't let his pops be in an arena. He putting on the show.

[Unknown Host]

And the thing is, you know what it is? I think in the system that they get up and down, I think the system that Indiana implements is perfect for him because he wants to get up and down. They play up and down style. It's kind of like Magic Johnson. Leah. Magic could have been good in the half court set because he's so, he's six, nine. We had never seen anything like Magic because normally six nine guys, they were centers and power forward. We had never seen a 6, 9 guard so he could see over the defense. But once they adopted Showtime and they was Byron Scott and you had Jamal Wilson, you had Big game James running the court, running the floor, it was over.

[Karan Butler]

It was a ride.

[Unknown Host]

It was over. We had never seen anything like it.

[Karan Butler]

Showtime.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. So he could throw the ball the length of the court and then he could handle it. Hey, he coming down. Take that with you. And so now with the space that these guys play with, guys that have speed and are unselfish like a Halliburton is, because I believe he's a, he's a, he's a true. The essence of a point guard. A lot of these guys are point guards masquerading. They're actually two guards masquerading as a point. Harden is a two guard. I don't care what y' all say. Luka is a two guard, Shay is a two guard. They masquerading as points. Jason Kidd was a point magic.

[Karan Butler]

Pure point.

[Unknown Host]

Pure point. John Stott, the magic, those were pure point guards. These Guys, today, the Ja Morant, the Russell Westbrooks, those guys were twos masquerading. Now Ja more so because Ja's a little on the smaller side. He's not as tall as, say, Luca and Shay. Shay's bigger than people think. I don't know why people thought Shea was like six' two, six' three.

[Unknown Analyst]

I thought he was six' three at best.

[Unknown Host]

Nah, hell no.

[Karan Butler]

He got everybody.

[Unknown Analyst]

Hold on, hold on. Surprised me the other night. We were talking about. We were talking about the Nuggets. He talking about goddamn joker, 6 11.

[Karan Butler]

Yeah, he is he legit, man.

[Unknown Analyst]

I'm talking about. Boy, you see, hey, his footwork.

[Karan Butler]

He got that bag.

[Unknown Analyst]

What the hell?

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, he has no weakness in his offensive game. Yoki has no weakness in his offensive game. He can get to the middle, he can step out, shoot the three. He can put the ball on the floor. He got touched around the rim with either hand. His float game is impeccable. Offensively, he has no weaknesses in game. And I don't know how many guys maybe. Well, Elijah Juan had the footwork like that and he was good around the basket. But Elijah Juan didn't have three points. No, Biggs really shot the three like that. No, Biggs was really shooting the three until Dirk came into the NBA. And so now you had these stretches. But Jokic offensively, from the three point line all the way in, he got the mid. Hey, he can finish. He can finish at the rim. He ain't above the rim. He can finish at the rim. But he's got tremendous touch with either hand. He. For me, Karan, I don't know what you think. Karon, for me, look, Shade has earned the MVP this year, 100%. Jokic is the best player in the NBA.

[Karan Butler]

I wouldn't argue that. And to your point about the bigs of, you know, guys shooting from the perimeter like, like Dirk did. DeMarcus Cousins is a guy that always gets.

[Unknown Host]

But we just talked about that other night.

[Unknown Analyst]

I said, I said that last night. That was my comparison.

[Karan Butler]

He was a. That boy was a prop. He had a three year stretch where it wasn't winning basketball because it was still like in transition and. But man, I. I never seen nobody be able to guard him.

[Unknown Host]

No, he couldn't possibly before. Before he had that Achilles injury. And then he. Towards me, they couldn't stop. Boogie, you got. Hey, Karan. We was actually having a conversation and there was a real conversation. Anthony Davis or Boogie Cousins? That was a real conversation. That was no play play. That was legit. And a lot of people say, give me boogie.

[Karan Butler]

Yes.

[Unknown Analyst]

Yeah, he was nice. Hey, Karon, you just said something. You didn't want to challenge Unk when he said the best player in the NBA was Joker. Now, do you agree with that or you do have somebody else in mind when it comes to the best player in the NBA right now?

[Karan Butler]

The best player in the NBA right now is to you, the. The. The MVP of the league. Who's going to be the MVP of the league? Sga.

[Unknown Analyst]

Oh, you take.

[Unknown Host]

If I gave you a draft right now, I said, okay, I'm gonna give you one player. You take it.

[Karan Butler]

That's a different question.

[Unknown Host]

I knew you was coming with that. I give you one player, you get to draft one player to start a team with.

[Karan Butler]

Right now, I'm taking Bam.

[Unknown Host]

You taking who? Bam.

[Unknown Analyst]

Okay, we respect.

[Unknown Host]

We respect.

[Unknown Analyst]

Hey, hey, hey. Speaking of, listen, Kuran Karan worked with the Heat, and Kuran don't even know what's about to happen. You know, he's in a position where he's a part of. He's a part of the organization. Right. So he doesn't even know about the conversation and the sit down that you've.

[Unknown Host]

Been having behind the scenes.

[Unknown Analyst]

Yeah. That I had with spoker Mickey Harrison and goddamn Pat Riley. So he don't even know the surprise that's coming, you know, this season, you know, and he's not.

[Unknown Host]

Got some force.

[Unknown Analyst]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I got something. You know, I sat down. I sat down with Pat. I'm telling Pat. Listen, Pat, in order for us to go where we want to get to and to get back to our winning ways, you got to loosen the reins a little bit, baby. You got to loosen the reins a little bit. So Pat, he told me, listen, I'm going to do what I can. And I got some surprises and some moves I'm trying to make in the off season. We trying to get Giannis and John Morant down here in Miami. Now, I know you can't say nothing because it's conducting them to the team. So you just listen to me.

[Unknown Host]

It's called tampering. No, that's tampering.

[Unknown Analyst]

Yeah. He can't. Okay, you know what? Let me stop. Let me stop. Let go ahead and finish the show. My bad, my bad, Karan. My bad.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. Karon, when I look at Shay, Shay got it all. Shay got a bag. He can shoot the three. That mid range, bro, that snatch, the way he gets you going and just pull back, that's automatic. That's damn near free throw. And it doesn't matter if it's 10ft, 15 or 18, he got. Hey, he's perfected that shit unstoppable. He can get all the way to the cup. And he. And the thing is, now he's in that thing, he's in that stretch like James Harden where James Harden was getting to the free throw line 10, 11, 12 times a game plus. Cause he had most 20, 30, 40, 50 point games this season.

[Unknown Analyst]

Hey, you know what? When I think about it, you know Karon and Unc, you know who ja remind me of? Like. Oh, you know what I'm talking about.

[Unknown Host]

John Moran.

[Unknown Analyst]

Yeah, you know who remind me of?

[Karan Butler]

Don't say you.

[Unknown Analyst]

I mean, I mean. No, hold on now. I'm talking about Shay Sga.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. Who sga remind you of? Ojo?

[T Mobile Advertiser]

Me.

[Karan Butler]

I knew he was gonna say that.

[Unknown Analyst]

Me. Cause you should, you should have saw me in high school. We had the same moves, like identical. Our movements, our mannerisms, our ability to stop and go. You know, it's unbelievable how much.

[Karan Butler]

What?

[Unknown Analyst]

High school.

[Unknown Host]

No, you ain't. Don't worry about it. They got nothing. You ain't got no footage. He ain't got no footage.

[Unknown Analyst]

Yeah, well, hey, listen, hey, come on. At Miami BC High, I scored 56 a night. I'm in a. From my freshman and senior year. I was 50, 56, 12 and 10. Look at, look at her, look at her.

[Unknown Host]

You candy with a serious face though.

[Unknown Analyst]

But I don't lie. I lie for you before I lie to you.

[Unknown Host]

See, that's the thing. You got to be serious. Because then if you weren't serious, whether you real pathological lie. So you got to have some. Hey, you gotta have. You got to have some discernment like, oh man, be telling the truth. Yeah.

[Unknown Analyst]

Every time I say something on here, right, people go back. Quran, people go back and look at it and Google it or YouTube it and it'd be right there. It'd be right there in your face. Because some of the stuff I say, some of the stuff I say and some of the stuff I did in the past, it's not believable because people think I'd be playing, but then they go and do their homework and they be like, well, I be damned, this motherfucker.

[Unknown Host]

It's not believable because it's not true now.

[Unknown Analyst]

It's true.

[Unknown Host]

I mean, you think about it. Think about some of the great players. LeBron didn't average 56. Ant man didn't average 56. Anthony Davis did. Luka, you take some of the greatest. Kareem. Kareem. Kareem. What people don't realize Kareem was the greatest high school basketball player ever. Kareem lost one game in high school. He lost two games in college. So let that sink in for age before eight years where he couldn't play his freshman year because freshman couldn't play back then. But Kareem's freshman team beat the varsity team that won the national championship. So for, for, for a seven year period, Kareem lost three games in college and in high school. So he's the greatest high school and college basketball player ever, and he never had 56. Huh? Who told you that?

[Karan Butler]

His number?

[Unknown Host]

The numbers say that.

[Unknown Analyst]

I mean, well, my numbers say I'm better than him. So I'm trying to figure out where you got your information from.

[Unknown Host]

Were you Gatorade player of the year in Florida? Huh? Were you Gatorade player of the year?

[Unknown Analyst]

But I play, I play. Back then, yeah, they had Gatorade.

[Unknown Host]

They been had Gatorade.

[Unknown Analyst]

But we had check soda. Okay, we couldn't even afford Gatorade. We had.

[Unknown Host]

Let me ask you a question. Were you fair to a check soda.

[Karan Butler]

Player of the year?

[Unknown Host]

We had.

[Unknown Analyst]

We had check soda. We couldn't afford Gatorade. Uncle, I tell you, no lie.

[Unknown Host]

I've asked you, were you check soda player of the year?

[Unknown Analyst]

Yes, I was check soda player.

[Unknown Host]

We, we looking for that right now.

[Unknown Analyst]

Google it. Google it.

[Karan Butler]

I'm have to ask you, Donnis has him because he, he fact check.

[Unknown Analyst]

Hey, I dunked on UD when he was at Miami High. UD was scared of me out there on the court, man. They couldn't do that with me. I'm telling you. You didn't tell you as UD, I averaged 56, 56, 12 and 10 in high school.

[Unknown Host]

I'm telling you, this LeBron topic. LeBron still isn't ready to make a decision about his NBA future one week after the Lakers lost. I haven't had a conversation with the family yet as far as me going forward or whatever the case may be, but we'll see what happens. LeBron has a $52.6 million player option for next season. Karan, do you think he'll pick it up? Does he opt out, take less money to try to get more help? What do you, what do you see LeBron doing?

[Karan Butler]

I, I think that he's going to do what, whatever is best for the organization because I think that they have a great collaboration over there and they did go get Luka and I think that he's in constant communication just, just from an observation standpoint with Wild Pelinka, and everyone's on the same page. He's pretty much having his way, you know, with, you know, Bronnie being over there in the roster that he's been wanting to build out for the ever since he's been in Los Angeles. And I think once you get Luka committed, then you can go down that pecking order and, you know, check the other boxes and if it is some space for flexibility and you might need him to opt out to take less or whatever for the better good of the team, then you do that. But I think the ball is in his court. Like, you know, LeBron, he's earned the right to do exactly what the hell he want to do. And I think they're going to work with him in every capacity to make sure everything work and they don't check those boxes.

[Unknown Host]

Brian averaged 24 and a half points a game, 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds per game in his 21st NBA season. I think Vince Carter had averaged the most points. I think he averaged like 7 in his 21st season. With the addition of Luka, I can see LeBron playing another two years.

[Karan Butler]

Karan Easy. I could see him actually playing with two of his sons on that roster. I wouldn't be surprised. You know, and I. And a lot of people like, oh, damn, I totally forgot about Bryce, you know, but that makes the most sense to me in the world that he would wait to, you know, he only got one year probably that he's going to do at the university where he's going to Arizona or something. Arizona, yeah. So he do a year there. He jumped ship and now he on the Laker or, or in the league and playing against his dad and brother. I mean, some more history to be made this following season. And then obviously they have a realistic shot at competing for a title, being one of those top six or seven teams again going into next season. So. And then you can ride into the sunset however you feel like it. But LeBron is definitely capable of playing at least the way he's going now, at least another two to three years at a high level, because I just don't. I don't know how significant the knee injury is, but he. He's never had injuries and he takes, well, good care of himself, so. And plus here, like, he's just. I was ahead of everyone from a mental standpoint, and I think, I think.

[Unknown Host]

You know, them taking him off the ball, letting Luca be the primary ball handler, letting AR be The primary ball handler. So that's less wear and tear in his body so he can dive and cut. He's. He's added a three point shot to his bag. So now he's about to be top five in the NBA in three point shots. And that's how you stay a long time. Because when you have a particular time, think about it. LeBron has gone like two to three different eras of basketball.

[Karan Butler]

Sure did.

[Unknown Host]

And he's evolved. The greatest trick to survival, the greatest key to survival is adaptability, his ability to adapt to the type. Because this what LeBron was, a get to the basket guy. He still can, but not nearly as efficient or not nearly as much as he once did. If you notice now, LeBron shoot the three. He still can play with his back to the post. He still turn over that right shoulder and let the thing go.

[Karan Butler]

He's still topped fast break points.

[Unknown Host]

Yes. And he's. And he led in fourth quarter score.

[Karan Butler]

Yeah, that's wild.

[Unknown Host]

In year 22.

[Karan Butler]

That's crazy.

[Unknown Host]

No, 20. 22. Yeah. Cause he's a 20. He's a 20. 21. Was he 21 time all star? Yeah, 21 time. So you're right. But the question is Karan, here's the question. In building this team out, LeBron and Luca, they're similar but LeBron. But Luca wants lob threats. LeBron wants spacing in three point shooters. So how do you build a team? Because it seemed like Mark Williams would have been a great. Because I knew they were in trouble. They really didn't have a big. Because now you only play in Jackson Hayes. 10, 10, 15 minutes. Now you go Rui and LeBron. One's playing the four, the other's playing the five. You got no rent protection, you got no help side defense. And really Luka first dribble. That number they gonna get by luka either the first or the second dribble. Arkansas is a much better. LeBron is a year 22, so we can't expect him to sit in the chair. So they really, I mean Vanderbilt, when you got Vanderbilt, he's a good defender, but you're really playing 4 on 5 on the offensive end. Finney Smith, he could have some offense, but he's so inconsistent, so up and down. So how, how does Rob go about building this team to make everybody happy and best put this team in position to compete for a championship?

[Karan Butler]

Well, I think that's the reason why he left Craig's dinner spot with all those sheets of paper in that, in that folder. You know what I Mean, like, he's looking at every roster spot and looking at all the guys that's possibly available in the market and someone that you can, you know, add on that could be an asset to that organization. You're going to have to have a lob threat, you know, for Luca. And when people say that, you know, a lob threat is going to take away the real estate, it actually not because it'll put a lot of pressure on the rim, and that's going to put the weak side guy always tagging and trying to take away the dunk, and that's going to open up the two on one on the backside of the court. So that's exactly what they need. And then you talked about perimeter defense. I thought Hachimore did a great job, but there's always room for improvement. And, you know, and the challenge for Luca going into, you know, the summer, which it seems to be very potent, is just, you know, working on his conditioning, working on being the best possible version of himself and trying to move the needle on the defensive end of the floor so you're not responsible for so many advantage situations. And I think he's going to take that challenge. You know, he. You know, people hear the whispers, you know, as, as. As coaches, as. As a former player. It's true for every joke when people tell. Tell you about, you know, some of the things you can do better on the defensive end, on the floor, or you. Yeah, you're not sharing the ball, you turn over prone, whatever the case may be. You go to the back to the lab on your craft with your player development people and your pods. You like. All right. I got to sharpen the tools a little differently going into the season, so I'm ready. So I think he's just going to be a lot better. And, you know, I think the team is going to be a force to be reckoned with. I'm looking forward to seeing him next.

[Unknown Host]

Year because I look at it seem like every year in the playoffs, Luke will wear down. It seems like at each. Each game, game one, he's fresh, and then game two, he starts to. He starts to move.

[Karan Butler]

Old and old.

[Unknown Host]

It's like he's aging by. Like he's Benjamin Button, but he's going the other way. Benjamin Button came down to a baby. It seemed like he was a baby and going to an old ass man. Because it seemed like after game one, it's like game two, game three, they're like, damn, game four, he could barely walk. I thought he was gonna break him out there. In the woods.

[Karan Butler]

I will say this too though. And a lot of people, you know, no lack of empathy for anyone. But it's like when trades happen. I don't know if any of y' all ever been traded in the middle of a season or stinks. No, it takes a toll, especially in the way that he was. But it takes a toll on you other and then the responsibility to immediately be at the forefront of everything. You're the headline in the story across the association and all of a sudden you got to perform at this optimum level with, you know, arguably the greatest player of this generation. And then all of a sudden it's just like the expectations is different spot. I, you know, I don't, I don't take that lightly because I see it from a different lens being in the locker room and you know, being an advocate for the players. So I do have empathy for him in that space too because I was traded before and I had to go through that shit. So it isn't easy. And players not robots. And there's a reason why it's mental spaces for players to kind of get.

[Unknown Host]

Through, decompress and talk about it 100%. Yeah, I totally get it. Because it's a situation. It's one thing to get traded. If I request a trade, it's something entirely different. When I'm thinking I'm gonna spend my entire career with one organization. He's a guy, he's a dirt guy. As long as he wants to stay in Dallas, he stays in Dallas. But I didn't want to get traded and you traded me like two months before my 26th birthday. A five time first team all NBA selection. I just led a team to the NBA finals. I've been a this many time all star. And you telling me what? Oh, it's a shock. Yeah, it's a shock.

[Karan Butler]

Definitely.

[Unknown Host]

Jason Tatum showed the blame for his struggles over the first two games versus the Knick. I take full ownership of the way I've played in this series and I can't sugarcoat anything. I need to be better. I expect to be a lot better. Guys work really hard on their game and their craft and prepare to be in those moments to hit open shots. And it just hasn't happened the last two games. But you can't lose your confidence either. Tatum jumper has abandoned him thus far he's made just 12 or 42 shots. That's 29% and it's frequently settled for three pointers where he's shooting 5 of 20, 25%. He has taken only nine free throws in two games and he has eight turnovers. See, the free throw is telling me he's not being aggressive. It's telling me he's settling. Yeah, okay. Hey, we're gonna live with that.

[Unknown Analyst]

He always say, you know, one of his idols, someone he admired and looked up to. Yeah, I'm assuming he would love the model his game after him, that's Kobe, that jelly bean Bryant. So the first thing for Tatum, where he got to go back and think, well, that starts up here. There's certain. There's something that Kobe got that you can't be taught, it can't be coached. It's already in you. That mentality, I mean, mamba mentality, whatever you want to call it, that ain't nothing but a dog. That's all it is. They just changed the name when it came to Kobe. That's already in you. So for one, your approach to the game of basketball in this series, it has to change. You got to go in there with that same mentality.

[Unknown Host]

He's settling.

[Unknown Analyst]

Stop, stop, stop putting up the three. Stop putting up the threes. Put the ball on the floor, call for ISO, wait for the pick. I mean, do whatever you got to do to get yourself in rhythm to get the game going. You supposed to be the face of the NBA or one of those type of guys, but you not playing like that guy Ocho.

[Unknown Host]

Let me ask you a question. Why didn't you stop eating McDonald's? Because you had success. Because you had success doing what you do. So why should he stop shooting threes? He's had success. He's won a championship. He's about to be a four time first team all NBA selection. He's won two gold medals. So tell me why he should stop.

[Unknown Analyst]

Well, I'm tell you this one. I had a lot of tools in my tool bag, right? So if at any point the McDonald's wasn't working with me, I had a plan B and I had something else I can go to just in case. You know what? I can't do this no more. So, boom, I'm reversing. I'm gonna tell you why I should have changed. I'm gonna tell you why. Because right now you're down.02. And what you do on the past two games ain't my bad. I'm sorry for the cursing. What you do the last two games ain't working. So what I'm do, I'm gonna go on my toolbox. I know. Let me ask you a question, because I see I've seen him do it.

[Unknown Host]

Let me ask you a question. Your game was predicated on quickness.

[Unknown Analyst]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Unknown Host]

Did you play physical? Did you play through contact? No. That was your game.

[Unknown Analyst]

I could. You saw what I did to Ray Lewis.

[Unknown Host]

I could. I swear, everybody saw that, that, that grand stage still on your back.

[Karan Butler]

I think I ran into Ray. I think I hit.

[Unknown Host]

So, so if you, if so tell me if this you, Karon, you are who you are. You are, you're an all star, you're an all NBA selection. You've been, you're a champion. You won gold medals and you're in a shooting slump like this. And it's come at the worst, at the most inopportune of times because it came when you're at home, you're down.02 and you're about to go on the road for the next two and there's a chance when you come back to Boston, you're going to come back to clean out your locker. If this, you, you're in this situation. What's your mental approach? What are you. What is Karan Butler saying to Karan Butler?

[Karan Butler]

I'm gonna leave an effort where there is no regrets. Like an effort that I can live with, effort that I ain't tossing the turning sleep trying to sleep with. And I think that, you know, one of the things before I get like dive into the mental aspect of it, I'm thinking about what is his health like concerned, you know, because he did take the hit.

[Unknown Host]

Is he nicked or something?

[Karan Butler]

Is he nicked like from. Why is he settling? But you know, obviously when you're available, when you, you know, you take whatever, you know, for your ailments and you get out there on that platform, you know, all bets is off. So I think that he just got. Have to play extremely aggressive. I think he know who he is. He don't need no one to remind him and he just has to be confident, you know, in the moment and you know, take on the, the Jason Tatum mentality. You know, you, you, your own man, you know, and go out there and do what you got to do and you the leader of that ball club. And I think that, you know, Brown is going to step up in a major way too. You know, he's the guy that usually answers the bill and takes a lot of pressure off Tatum in the, in those moments. And I think they're going to do it by committee. They got a lot of guys that's battle tested Holiday as well. I think you're going to see a Better version of him, you know, the defensive end of the floor, because the struggles is that they send in a lot of bodies at Brunson. He is a guy and he's been the guy on that floor for this series. And somehow some way, one of the other faces of the league, which is Jason Tatum and in Brown, they're gonna have to step up and say, hey, there's three guys on this floor, you know what I mean? And I think Cat is going to have something a little say in this series too, once they go back to New York. But it's really going to be on the shoulders of Brown and Tatum, you know, to take them and get them back in the series.

[Unknown Analyst]

Hey, I got, I got a question, right? So you think about it. The Celtics was down.02, right?

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Analyst]

The Celtics in both games had a.

[Unknown Host]

20, no, 24 lead.

[Unknown Analyst]

The Knicks had a 20 point deficit. They, you know, they, they were down, down by 20 both games and came back and won, right?

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Analyst]

So the Celtics haven't been playing well. Hell, the Knicks haven't been played well yet either. But just so happened towards the end of the game, Jalen Brunson and collectively as a group, the Knicks found him up, find a way to win.

[Unknown Host]

Knicks are playing exactly how they want to play though, Ocho. This is the way the Knick plays.

[Unknown Analyst]

Exactly.

[Unknown Host]

You look at, see you thinking the Knicks supposed to have like 120, 125 points.

[Unknown Analyst]

That's not them. That's not them.

[Unknown Host]

They want to muck the game up. They want the game to be close in clutch situation the last five minutes. Just have a chance. That's all I want.

[Unknown Analyst]

Yeah, yeah. But then I have a question though. So think about this. The fact that they haven't played well, the seconds haven't played well, right. They had a, they had a 20 point lead in both games and still lost towards the end. Now you're going to the Garden, right?

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Analyst]

So let's say what happened if this time the Knicks do play better basketball as opposed to whether they're playing well? I told you the Celtics weren't gonna go home anyway. I told you I don't think it's.

[Karan Butler]

Gonna be a sweep.

[Unknown Analyst]

Nah, ain't gonna be no sweep.

[Unknown Host]

The problem that I have, I really meet of all the teams that play and there are some teams that don't have very good records. The Celtics are the team that I least like to watch play. Cause all they do is chunk up threes. They chunk up threes. Now they got that 20 point lead by running Plays, getting to the rim, finishing, doing a lot of good stuff. And then all of a sudden, it's like, you know what? This is not who we are. I'd rather lose our way jacking up threes than win by doing. By running plays and getting to the basket. The first half, Jayson Tatum had two points. The second half, Jaylen Brown had three points. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are combined 2 of 19 shooting. In the fourth quarter, the Knicks have come back from 20 down twice, outscored the Celtics by 22 point in the final quarter thus far. See, that's. That's your problem. You're too bad. You're two big guns. The guy that you're counting on are misfiring in the most important quarter of it all. That's the fourth quarter, and you see what happened. Jayson Tatum got himself in a. Got himself in a pickle, didn't know what to do. Got up in the air like, oh, what?

[Unknown Analyst]

What?

[Unknown Host]

Oh, boom. And Mikael Bridges was right there. Mikal Bridges play sensational. He had zero points through the first three quarters, and then he pops out with 14.

[Unknown Analyst]

14.

[Unknown Host]

But the biggest difference in this ball game, Karon, was Cat. Cat shot one three. One three pointer. He got his butt down on the block. He got it on the move, and he punished Al Horford. That's. That's Cat. See Carl Anthony Town Shoot 3. Cat punishes people. They're two different guys. That's the same person, but they're two different guys.

[Karan Butler]

He's so talented, man.

[Unknown Host]

He is. But see, remember last year when people said, cat, they ain't got nobody on the gaffer. Can't guard you. Likely can't guard you. They don't have anybody can guard you. Why are you settling? They're applauding you. They're bringing you cookies. They're bringing you gifts for shooting those threes. Get down on that block and punish them.

[Karan Butler]

Don't settle.

[Unknown Host]

And he settled. What you think? Game three. You think the Celtics get this thing figured out, or did they keep jacking up threes?

[Unknown Analyst]

Not at the Garden. Nope.

[Karan Butler]

I think it all depends on how the Knicks were success. You know, do you go back and, you know, still have that same urgency and not pretend like you playing with house money and, you know, we're success. Well, and still have that. That same dog and that. That tenacity, because you have to understand that you're going to receive Boston's best. Like they.

[Unknown Host]

They got to win this game.

[Karan Butler]

They're coming with the everything, and they're gonna Throw everything at you in the first core first half, basically. And if you could sustain it, so be a game of runs. And if you can sustain it, if you keep that energy electric in that gym, in, in that arena, then you, you have a chance in the second half to, you know, make a game out of it. And if it comes down to a possession ball game, you know, you got Mr. Clutch, Mr. Fourth Quarter on your side. And he's been the best player in this series this far. He can get you over the hump. But I, I really do think that Brown and Tatum and also Holiday is going to have a huge say because Holiday has always been the guy that you can just put on the best offensive player and he can wipe them out or wash them out. And then him and White take turns on those.

[Unknown Host]

Take turns.

[Karan Butler]

But Brunson has been a little different. He beats you up offensively. He know how to, he's so crafty, he's so tough to officiate. And you know, now he has a grit, a good feel of, you know, this controlling this series. It's going to be interesting to see what it's going to be like going into game three.

[Unknown Host]

The problem that the Celtics have had is that they had a 20 point lead and the Knicks don't feel that there is no lead safe that the Celtics have. So it doesn't matter if the Celtics jump out of 10, 15 or even 20. The Knicks says, hey, we've been here the first two games. That was in their building. I know we can feed off the energy in our building and chase them down if necessary. But what happens if they can't build that, that 20 point lead? Yeah, see the longest. See the problem is that with the Celtics is that most of the time this season they were blowing teams out. So you know those guys getting rest now all of a sudden the Knicks got them out there in deep water and they've had them out there for an extended period of time. See, everybody can swim to the shore if you jump out the middle. Hey, if you jump out the boat in the middle of the lake, you can swim to shore. Cause you're not tired. But let me see, after the fifth time, after the sixth time, I drive you back to the middle, can you make it back to shore? So that's how the Knicks, the Knicks say, you know what, let's get them in the fourth quarter again in clutch situation. The last five minutes of the ball game, it's a nip and tuck ball game. It's a basket or two, one way or Another. Let's see if they still still feel like those shots gonna go in, because, boy, they were. Hey, there was some wide open threes in the first two games. In the last five minutes of the game look like me shooting at me and Spice Animals out there. Whoop. Okay. Me and Spice. Adam was like, hey, JB and JT look like being Spice Adams frame drops.

[Unknown Analyst]

Hey, that's a good one.

[Unknown Host]

All over the top of the backboard. Shout out to Paul Pierce making good on his bed. He walked from Encino to Century City today in a robe. Did he really?

[Unknown Analyst]

No, I ain't buying that.

[Unknown Host]

No, he probably drove. He probably drove. All but a ballot that they get. They. He dropped him off and Harry, they catch him walking, do his.

[Unknown Analyst]

Listen, I love Paul. That's my dog. But you know how far Encino is.

[Unknown Host]

Hell, yeah, I know how far it is.

[Unknown Analyst]

Listen, if anything, for content purposes, he started off walking. Drive a little bit. Show another. Show another spot where I'm at. Drive a little bit. Show another spot where I'm at.

[Unknown Host]

It take Paul Pierce two days to walk from Bencino to Citrus City, man.

[Unknown Analyst]

You know how far that is?

[Unknown Host]

Yes, I know how far Encino is from Citrus City. Hell, yeah. Cam, we're gonna get Karan, we're gonna get you out here on this one. What was your reaction when you found out the Mavericks had traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis?

[Karan Butler]

Oh, man, I was. I didn't think it was real. I was actually. We was on a flight, and we just got our wi Fi back on the plane, and I saw. And I said, oh, like, sham said. I was like, oh, they tripping. You know, he got hacked or something in that. The news broke that it was. It was official. I actually reached out to a couple folks and the Mavericks organization just to confirm it. Still ain't heard back from them. So. Yeah, man, it was real. It's crazy.

[Unknown Host]

Wow.

[Karan Butler]

It is anything.

[Unknown Host]

Karan, man, thanks for stopping by, bro. We really appreciate it. We know you're busy tonight. Thank you for giving us some. Some of your time, man. Stop back. Stop back by anytime you like, bro. Congratulations. Good luck. Hey, you next in line to get one of them head coaching jobs, bro.

[Karan Butler]

Thank you, brother. I appreciate it.

[Unknown Analyst]

Hey, babe, bring me. Bring me with you, man, because, you.

[Unknown Host]

Know, I do that salute do. The longer you stay away from oo, the longer you stay at the coach at the NBA.

[Karan Butler]

I'm about to go check that, too. See if you average fit.

[Unknown Analyst]

Hey. Hey, YouTube me. Hey, you. You in Miami?

[Karan Butler]

Yeah, I'M in Miami.

[Unknown Analyst]

Hey, let's get a one on one tomorrow.

[Karan Butler]

Tear your ass up.

[Unknown Analyst]

Hey, I get okay. Put some money on it.

[Unknown Host]

What you want to do? You know I got it.

[Unknown Analyst]

What area you in? I come to you. What partner?

[Unknown Host]

You.

[Karan Butler]

I'm out here at Southwest Ranches, man.

[Unknown Analyst]

I'm right around the corner and Davey boy, what you trying to do?

[Unknown Host]

I'm trying to do whatever. Nothing. He ain't trying to do nothing but Karan.

[Unknown Analyst]

Yeah, you see I got my ball right here, too. Now that's what I do.

[Unknown Host]

My ball from high school. Who gave you that ball? Show up. Who gave you that ball?

[Unknown Analyst]

Oh, oh, hey, hey. Oh, oh, hey, hey. I gotta. LeBron gave me this.

[Karan Butler]

He'll give you that 50k ball.

[Unknown Analyst]

Yeah, it is. I swear to God. And it's a 50k ball. This is it, Karan. This is the real ball. This the real ball. I promise you, I wouldn't.

[Unknown Host]

I wouldn't lie to you.

[Karan Butler]

You got to get him, man.

[Unknown Host]

Thanks, man. Get on out of here, man. Thank you, man. I appreciate you, man. Stop back by any time.

[Unknown Analyst]

Yo.

[Unknown Host]

The volume.

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[Unknown Host]

You're listening to an iHeart podcast.