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- [00:00]
Ad Announcer
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:02]
Trey Kirby
Guaranteed Human Amazon Health AI presents painful thoughts I I can't stop scratching my downtown. Mm, yeah, but I'm not itching to go downtown and tell a receptionist I'm here to talk about my downtown. Some things you'd rather type than say out loud. There's no question too embarrassing for Amazon Health AI. Chat your symptoms and get virtual care 24. 7 Health care just got less painful
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J. Skeets
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- [00:39]
Trey Kirby
10 o' clock tee time. How comfortable you show up in stretchy
- [00:43]
J. Skeets
shorts or breathable tee and maybe no socks. Let the dogs breathe while other sweat and pleated khakis you're in your comfort zone. Bombing drives and in your pocket onplus
- [00:53]
Trey Kirby
Nicotine Pouches the softest pouch on the planet Buy a can@onnicotine.com Products for tobacco consumers 21 years of age or older. Warning. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical Viori makes soft and I'm talking extremely soft clothing. I should know. I bought some before this ad came our way. I was wearing my Viori's and my wife said, what are those? I haven't seen them. I told her, my silky, soft Viori shorts. Of course they look super comfortable, and they are, but I can go out in these anywhere. They're designed to look great beyond the gym. Whether you're running errands, heading to the office or meeting up with friends, it works for everything. She felt them and she said, oh, they're like the PJs we buy for our kids. So Viori got my partner's approval just like that. I also told her that Viori is a Finnish word meaning mountain, so I felt as big as a mountain. She didn't really like that, but you'll like this. For our listeners, vuori is offering 20% off your first purchase. Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet@vuori.com no dunks. That's V-U-O-R-I.com nodunks the offer is for new customers only. Exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions.
- [02:19]
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- [02:59]
J. Skeets
Good morning sweet world and welcome to the no Dunks podcast presented by FanDuel. It's Wednesday, April 29, 2026. I'm J. Skeets here in the classic factory and alongside me as always, Tas Melas.
- [03:13]
Trey Kirby
Podcast listeners, this is for you.
- [03:15]
J. Skeets
Next to him, it's my top shot, hot boy, Trey Kirby Ayo.
- [03:18]
Trey Kirby
Hey yo.
- [03:19]
J. Skeets
And over yonder, making the magic happen, super producer JD Hello. There he is. Here we are. Hello to everybody on YouTube. Hit the like button. Subscribe podcast listeners, five star ratings and reviews we got some news to address a little bit later in the show. We will save the 3:2, 1 draft reform for tomorrow's show. So if you are tuning in to hear us talk about lottery balls, come back tomorrow.
- [03:45]
Tas Melas
We'll talk about balls tomorrow.
- [03:46]
J. Skeets
Yeah, we'll dissect that tomorrow. But before we get to the news, we got three games to address as we do here on no Dunks every day of the playoffs. And we'll start with maybe a surprising result. The Celtics, they lose. We've got a Game 6 with Philadelphia later this week. Embiid a monster dominant second half, 33 points as the 76ers beat the Celtics 113.90, 87 to keep their season alive to stave off elimination.
- [04:16]
Trey Kirby
It was two different Joels in this game. There was first half Joel, it was just Joel. Second half, it was Joel, Joel, Joel, Joel. I was singing watching him play in the third quarter, a big difference, I think going into the third quarter, two minutes in, Namish Keita, the best defender for Joel Embiid, has to go to the bench. And Embiid said, all right, this is when I'm turning it on. He may have had that coming out of the locker room, but as soon as Kata went to the bench when they were up double digits, Embiid started scorching. He scored eight straight points for Philly because he saw Vuch in front of him and he was totally comfortable taking Vuch into the paint. But it was a different Embiid in general. Keita aside, five threes attempted in the first half, zero attempted in the second half. He was really driving and this whole Sixers team, let's give him all credit here, the effort was far higher, I thought just overall taking away Celtics threes, just getting out to them. Celtics said 53 shots from three point landing. Game four, only 39 in this one, the Sixers only grabbed 40% of the rebounds overall in game four. And this one they grabbed 57. So overall it was different. And it started with Joel Embiid, which was a question we had going from game four to game five. Should Embiid start And he shut us all up, especially in the second half. Was he saving his energy for the second half? Probably because he knows he's a little limited. But in this game that's a lot of Embiid. 40, almost 40 minutes played. He played just game of the season.
- [05:45]
Tas Melas
He was licking his chops when Vuccia checked in. He's a delicious boiled Vuch for dinner. He was destroying him in the third quarter and it was just throwing me back. The Bulls didn't beat Embiid on the Sixers for like five straight seasons. It was ridiculous. Turns out Vuch not the Embiid stopper. But this is why you bring back Embiid in game four. Let him knock off the rust. That guy is like a Blackstone griddle left out in the rain. He was covered in rust and it was raining this morning. Morning. So I know I got to go in bead mode when I get home. Knock off the rust. But he was ready to go in game five. He basically scrapped the three pointer in the second half of the game and that was what was really the difference maker. But I was really impressed with the way he was functioning as like a screening slash dribble handoff hub. The combination of him and Maxi is tough to stop in the pick and roll for any team. But the Celtics play this deep drop and it's basically impossible for them to to stick to Embiid at the top of the key. And Maxi. Maxi drives so hard off these screens. He loves to reject a screen as well that he draws the big man so far down. So it leaves Embiid open for a midi. Maybe a three from the top of the key or a chance for him to catch, swing it to the other side, do the same thing for a guy like Paul George, who I thought had an awesome game. So really impressive performance by the Celtics or by the Sixers. I like that Nick Nurse clearly told them, get as many threes up as you can. You mentioned they're limiting the threes for the Celtics, but the Sixers need to take them too. They went 15 of 42 last night. Not a great percentage, but 42 attempts is huge. They went 19 of 39 in their game to win. In their losses, they're taking less than 30 threes per game. Just getting them up matters against a team like the Celtics, who had a tough shooting night, mostly because of the Philadelphia defensive intensity. They were all over them. I thought this game they were making the Celtics play the Sixers style of game at the Sixers pace. No airspace at all for Jason Tatum. No airspace for Jalen Brown. Really impressive performance all around from the 76ers. They dominated in the fourth quarter.
- [07:40]
J. Skeets
Yeah, they did. I mean, Grimes had a huge fourth quarter, knocking down some of those threes, but Paul George hit some. Obviously, Maxi got up a lot, hit three. Who am I forgetting that also contributed? There's another guy that hit a bunch.
- [07:52]
Trey Kirby
Drummond hit your one.
- [07:54]
Tas Melas
Paul Grimes. I thought it was Grimes, Paul George and Maxi, for the most part, but yeah, that's it.
- [07:59]
J. Skeets
Vijay Edgecombe hit three.
- [08:00]
Tas Melas
Yeah, he had three. He had one.
- [08:01]
J. Skeets
I knew I was forgetting somebody that also contributed from three point land. But, yeah, this really did start with this. Whatever they talked about in the locker room, like, hey, Joelle, stop shooting threes and go inside. They're playing you one up, you know, one on one. And you are obviously a beast when healthy. Now, of course, it's a dwell and bead game. So we had an injury scare within the game. You know, he fell for, I guess it was Jaylen Brown's pump fake and little spin move under the basket and beat all. Hobbled and immediately grabbed his left knee. He goes back to the locker room and you're like, oh, my God. But moments later, he came back. He did and didn't miss a beat and was pretty dominant there. As the Celtics struggled mightily in the fourth quarter. 3 of 22, shooting 11 points for Boston, and they were getting beat to loose balls. The rebounds that you brought up. Philly did a good job on the glass. They were missing free throws. They had as many turnovers as baskets in the fourth, they went five minutes without scoring here. But we've sort of seen this from the Celtics before. This is like sort of a familiar game from them, despite all these postseason runs.
- [09:04]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, and it was kind of quiet in the TD garden. I thought it was a more quiet game. I was wondering, is it the stereo speakers? Is it. Because I'm just listening from the television. I flipped back and forth. It's partly just because the Sixers took the life out of them. And that third quarter, again, Kate, to go to the bench was a big factor. They're up double digits and then, yeah, Embiid8vuch up and everybody hitting threes. And yeah, the effort level there was. One team had it, one team did not. And yeah, that's what I was trying to. But what I was thinking is this, this. We have seen this from the Celtics before. Oh, yeah, they just were unable to close it out. The double digit lead in the third quarter for them, I think is a bad sign for them. That's when they took their foot off the pedal a little bit. And everybody else contributing. Yeah, the Grimes contribution. The Grimes game came through.
- [09:51]
J. Skeets
Yeah, because he hit a big three and then he was picking up Jalen Brown full court. That was a great little stretch there for Grimes. It was our guy, Paul Flannery, who covers the Celtics on his substack page. He noted how that Game 5 did represent all of the Celtics worst character traits. They started slowly. They treated it sort of like it was a run of the mill December regular season game. Instead of like, hey, this is a potential closeout game against a longtime rival. They then they build a lead, which they tend to do, but failed to deliver that knockout blow that you're talking about task and took their foot off the pedal. And then when it got close, unfortunately, they went to that Celtics sort of one on one style where it's like, hey, Jalen, hey, Jason, do something. You know, and it sort of gets all bogged down. And that doesn't really, you know, not a lot of success with that style of play. When they get into that. Sixers were awesome. But this was like, again, those worst character traits I thought of Boston.
- [10:47]
Trey Kirby
Yeah. And to get to those three point shots that Trey mentioned that the Sixers desperately need. Embiid needs to play inside the arc for everybody else. You mentioned that they played him one on one, but they had to double him at times because he's Joel Embiid playing inside the arc. And then everybody else shoots threes and eats. There's some space out there when it's not Embiid from the arc in. But it was a totally different guy again when the Celtics started on that 60 run to start the third quarter, Kata goes to the bench. Different game after that. I mean, they look like, all right, the Celtics might blow them out. And then as soon as Kato went to the bench, it was over for him in Embiid's eyes. I mean, he went to a different guy. Then later goes to the locker room as he said. Was it a hyper extended knee and then able to come back and play and play a really good fourth quarter too?
- [11:33]
J. Skeets
Yeah, because he's either obviously feasting inside even against Vucc he missed one and he grabbed the rebound and put it right back in.
- [11:39]
Trey Kirby
Very easy rebound.
- [11:40]
J. Skeets
Yeah, exactly. And then obviously he's feeling a little bit. So you get the classic Embiid jumper around the free throw line. He's obviously getting to the line as well. And then you knew it was like, basically it felt like almost a bit of a dagger there. He did like the Hakeem Elijah one, like dream shake on the block there on the left side and splash that. And then they obviously ran away with it. But not just him. You said maxi. Paul George, he's been good, Had a great game, very, you know, solid here in this series. And yeah, defensively locking in and just doing all the little things you want from your vet.
- [12:10]
Tas Melas
16, nine and seven. Hit four threes, had a couple of steals. It was like he made a three pointer when they needed. I think he hit two right away and kind of like set the touch home from the Sixers. We're getting these shots up. He was passing the ball. He was kind of the main defensive guy on Jason Tatum. Then when Tatum subbed out. Okay, I'll go guard. Jalen Brown, this is why they're paying him so much money. Not for the 16 points necessarily, but for the defense and the veteranship. That was a great game from him. Grimly was timely as well. 4 for 7 from threes hit him when they really mattered. And that possession where he picked up Jalen Brown, knocks it into the back court and then just sticks with them one on one from baseline to basically Jaylen Brown missing the jumper was just representative of the fourth quarter effort from the Sixers. They put that up as a highlight on House of Highlights. I was like just a one on one defensive position that was equivalent to when Tre Jones got the smart basketball IQ highlight on House of Highlights. When you're doing something that's a role player move and they're showcasing it, you really made an impact.
- [13:07]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, as far as Paul George goes, his first three that he made was wide open. And I think that's. That's a bad sign for the Celtics. Effort level. Tatum allowed him to shoot his three. And these guys are just so good and, and Paul George is so good, you allow him to hit one shot, he starts to feel good. And the guys that Nick Nurse went to, you know, as they went into their bench, they asked a lot of these guys because it was really just six players and six and a half, if you want to call it that, because 24 minutes from Quentin Grimes off the bench. Otherwise seven from Andre Drummond and six from Dominic Barlow. So really, they. They asked a lot of. They're starters. Paul George played 43. That Joel Embiid 39 minutes. Edgecombe almost 40 minutes. Tyrese Maxey 42 minutes and Anubre 31. This was.
- [13:52]
J. Skeets
I mean, as you should. They had to win to survive. So.
- [13:55]
Trey Kirby
Yeah.
- [13:55]
J. Skeets
How do you feel about this series now, going back to Philadelphia for Game 6 with, you know, indeed, looking the best. He's locked here, of course, in this series and over the last couple weeks after returning from the appendectomy, like, do we have something here? Is this a potential Zaza Pachulia? We're going to game seven, baby. Or is it. Or does it just come down to, hey, do the Celtics hit enough threes? Do they hit threes? They win? Well, when they don't hit threes, they don't win.
- [14:19]
Trey Kirby
Well, they took far fewer threes in game five because of this.
- [14:22]
J. Skeets
Didn't hit a lot.
- [14:23]
Trey Kirby
No, because of the Sixers. Just didn't allow them to shoot those threes. But also, can Embiid take it from one game to another? I find it hard to believe, unfortunately. Yeah. And we're going to get a better Celtics effort level, I would assume.
- [14:37]
Tas Melas
So.
- [14:37]
J. Skeets
You still like Boston, of course, to come through here, and it sounds like you're even thinking six on the road.
- [14:41]
Trey Kirby
They want to kill it in Philly, I think.
- [14:44]
Tas Melas
You know, I think it's harder to. To really think about it because on one hand, the Celtics like to inflict maximum pain on the Sixers just over the course of their games against each other. Franchise history. That's the exact word I was thinking of. So winning in Philadelphia would be inflicting maximum pain. Unless. Unless it's a 31 lead. Philadelphia Claws their way back, gets to a game seven, and then gets destroyed by Boston at home. So I could see it happening either way. The Celtics are, for whatever reason, a better road team in the playoffs with Joe Missoula as the coach. So I can see them winning in six or seven.
- [15:22]
J. Skeets
Do you think there's any panic in Joe Missoula and the Celtics coaching staff when it comes to Derek White and his performance, or lack of in this postseason so far? I mean, he struggled again in this one, two for eight. He just can't shoot. He hasn't really been able to shoot all that well all season long.
- [15:38]
Trey Kirby
He's not pulling the trigger.
- [15:39]
J. Skeets
Yeah. I mean, could there be less minutes for him? And do you go more for Peyton Pritchard or Pritchard or Shireman or something like that? Or is this classic Joe's like, no, we'll see it through. I mean, he's out there for defensive purposes, too, and he still gives it on that end, but he can't shoot right now.
- [15:52]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, that's right. Yeah. At this point, when they're up 3 2, I don't think they pull the plug on Derek White.
- [15:58]
J. Skeets
Okay.
- [15:58]
Trey Kirby
It might have to happen in round number two. But also the change of environment might help as well. The change, change of opponent, more importantly, because they have home court advantage if they do advance against the New York Knickerbockers or Atlanta Hawks, whoever they play. So, yeah, I think they're just going to see it through.
- [16:16]
J. Skeets
In addition to Talking about the 3, 2, 1 draft lottery reform, on tomorrow's show, we plan on doing a little draft of disappointing players in the postseason so far. Derek White's probably going to be selected by one of us tomorrow. I don't know how many rounds we're doing, two or three, but he's on the short list of some of these guys that haven't lived up to what we've seen prior postseasons or prior seasons. I think that's fair to say.
- [16:42]
Tas Melas
Yeah, he's probably like a third round draft pick.
- [16:43]
J. Skeets
Yeah, yeah, that sounds about right.
- [16:45]
Tas Melas
But there's no way they take him off the court.
- [16:47]
J. Skeets
No.
- [16:47]
Tas Melas
Like his defense is too important. And it's not like Edgecombe is lighting it up. He had that awesome game, but he kind of struggled yesterday, too. Made a huge three for the Sixers late in this one. But there's an offensive player struggling just as hard as Derek White is. So I think they'll live with it because of everything else he does.
- [17:04]
Trey Kirby
Yep.
- [17:04]
J. Skeets
Any other random notes from the Sixers giving us a game 6?
- [17:08]
Trey Kirby
We've watched basketball for a long time, but when I saw Joel Embiid's sweat, the droplets in a replay, you could see all of them from his hair and from his shoulders just rise up into the air. I didn't think I'd ever seen that before in a regular. Just a regular angled camera. I mean, it was a close up camera, but this wasn't any CGI effect afterward. This was just office hair off his shoulders. To see every droplet, that was art. I thought, that's one of the sweatiest guys. I couldn't tell.
- [17:45]
J. Skeets
Maybe the camera shot.
- [17:46]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, yeah. I couldn't tell if it was more from his hair or his shoulders. I think it was a lot from his hair.
- [17:51]
J. Skeets
I would say all of the above. Yeah, yeah.
- [17:53]
Trey Kirby
Oh, yeah. He was sweating he was sweating last night.
- [17:55]
Tas Melas
I liked. Lisa Salter is interviewing Embiid after the game and she does the whole interview and at the end she's like, my arm's tired. Really tall.
- [18:03]
Trey Kirby
He's a giant.
- [18:04]
J. Skeets
Yeah, he is a giant.
- [18:05]
Tas Melas
Dude, she got an extra vote for that. Actually. Come. Come out with Survivor, man. Come on Survivor.
- [18:11]
Trey Kirby
Yeah. I didn't survive.
- [18:12]
J. Skeets
Took me a second.
- [18:14]
Tas Melas
Stephanie, good stuff.
- [18:15]
J. Skeets
Hey, yeah, Survivor's on tonight.
- [18:16]
Tas Melas
Great stuff.
- [18:17]
J. Skeets
And three more playoff games. Unfortun. Actually, I think it's a two hour episode of Survivor. The beast is going to be on Survivor tonight. Yay. All right, Anything else?
- [18:27]
Tas Melas
I got tons. I got tons. Andre Drummond played seven minutes.
- [18:31]
J. Skeets
Yeah.
- [18:31]
Tas Melas
But they were eventful. They were good one for one from the field. And of course it was a corner three, which he celebrated by pointing at the Celtics bench like you gotta do. Then he tripped over the ref.
- [18:40]
J. Skeets
Yep.
- [18:40]
Tas Melas
And then he just continued celebrating. Yeah, I like that. I really like that.
- [18:44]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, I was a little surprised because they're still down five points. It's not like they're kicking their ass, but they're like third down. Yeah, no, it was third quarter.
- [18:52]
Tas Melas
Third quarter.
- [18:53]
Trey Kirby
It was the third quarter when they're kind of making their run.
- [18:55]
Tas Melas
I thought that was funny.
- [18:56]
Trey Kirby
It was funny.
- [18:57]
Tas Melas
What else do I got? Richard Jefferson at one point said Jason Tatum is closer to 610 than he is to 6 foot 8. So he's 6 foot 9. Nice. Maybe 6 foot 9 and a half.
- [19:06]
Ad Announcer
Also.
- [19:07]
Tas Melas
We almost had back to back wedgies.
- [19:08]
J. Skeets
Yes.
- [19:09]
Tas Melas
In the fourth quarter, about four minutes left. Pretty similar plays like jump shot taken on the other side. A couple of guys go up for a rebound, knock it into the rim. Doesn't stick. Too bad for us. And then my final one, Kyle Lowry got to play.
- [19:22]
J. Skeets
He did. He got in there at the playoffs, baby. That's right. That's right. Two minutes for Kyle Lowry. He was a plus one.
- [19:29]
Tas Melas
No surprise.
- [19:30]
J. Skeets
Eric's right. Having an impact on winning basketball.
- [19:32]
Tas Melas
Minus man, still.
- [19:34]
J. Skeets
Yeah, I got. I got very excited on the one potential wedgie. I almost for. I almost thought for a second that the ref was trying to call it a wedgie because I think he called a foul or something like bang, bang. But the thing barely stuck there. So I was like, oh my God, they are goosing the numbers here. I was like, that's not even a wedgie. But it was a foul. He was calling a foul. And then. Yeah, it happened on the other end too. But unfortunately still looking for wedgie. 74 on the season and our first of the playoffs.
- [19:59]
Tas Melas
Okay.
- [19:59]
Trey Kirby
I thought that first one just slipped out. I didn't think there was a foul call at all. Maybe I thought.
- [20:03]
J. Skeets
No, I thought I could have sworn there was a whistle after one of them because I got excited.
- [20:08]
Trey Kirby
Okay. A wedgie whistle.
- [20:11]
J. Skeets
You know these games, man, especially with the timing of these games. Last night, like, we were like, what was this? March madness, the way these were stacked, these games, the start times for them.
- [20:21]
Trey Kirby
Oh, I loved it. You do two early games. Super early. Seven and eight.
- [20:26]
J. Skeets
This is my nightmare. I need to do the old post it note trick apparently, and cover that little score in the corner of my television, telling me about the other game that I'm going to be watching. Yeah, but then you get all them going. You're always being told what the score is in the other games.
- [20:43]
Trey Kirby
No messing around. Yeah. The score shield, somebody called it.
- [20:47]
J. Skeets
I like that.
- [20:47]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, it's a good one.
- [20:48]
J. Skeets
We should like. We should make that product.
- [20:51]
Tas Melas
No Dunk Score Shield.
- [20:52]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, exactly.
- [20:53]
J. Skeets
It's actually a cool name.
- [20:55]
Tas Melas
That's actually a good idea. It's actually a great idea. We got almost a year to now and next year brand it.
- [21:03]
Trey Kirby
Great idea.
- [21:05]
J. Skeets
That's going in the old merch merchandise. Let me get Jamie Mottram on the horn. Hey, I know you guys do T shirts and mugs. How about score shields? Jamie, you got a .guy.com. yeah, exactly. All right, let's move.
- [21:19]
Trey Kirby
Yeah. Somebody sends. Somebody sent a photo. I mean, they made.
- [21:22]
J. Skeets
It's supposed to note, right?
- [21:23]
Trey Kirby
It's a post it note. But they drew a shield on the post it note. I love that. So it's spoiler shield is what Josh Frankel called it an even better alliteration.
- [21:32]
J. Skeets
No dunk Spoiler shield.
- [21:33]
Trey Kirby
Yeah. Thanks, Josh.
- [21:35]
J. Skeets
Josh, have your people talk to our people.
- [21:38]
Trey Kirby
You get some royal.
- [21:39]
J. Skeets
We got something here. Yeah. Eight people in existence. They're gonna want this product. That's all we need. That's all we need.
- [21:48]
Trey Kirby
Amazon Pharmacy presents Painful thoughts.
- [21:52]
Tas Melas
Of course I see my co worker in line at the pharmacy.
- [21:56]
Trey Kirby
Can you tell I'm picking up prescription hemorrhoid cream?
- [21:59]
Tas Melas
Probably standing weird.
- [22:01]
J. Skeets
Why is he smiling?
- [22:02]
Tas Melas
He knows he's gonna call me Hemroid Lloyd tomorrow.
- [22:06]
J. Skeets
I know it.
- [22:07]
Tas Melas
I gotta quit my job.
- [22:09]
Trey Kirby
Next time, avoid awkward conversations and get fast free delivery with Amazon Pharmacy Healthcare just got less painful.
- [22:19]
J. Skeets
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- [23:50]
Tas Melas
This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.
- [23:56]
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- [24:13]
Tas Melas
underage sale prohibited views as a vapor Product Website restricted to age 21/ tobacco consumers Copyright 2026 RJRBC.
- [24:19]
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- [24:50]
J. Skeets
Let's talk about the Knicks. They take a 32 series lead. That was a pivotal game. 5 I forgot to tell everybody those were some pivotal I didn't think about it. I know I got home and I'M like God, it was 2 2. That was a pivotal game 5. And Jalen Brunson scored a pivotal 39 points as the Knicks routed the Hawks 126.97. Sad caca on that again taking the 32 series lead. I'll just start us off here by saying game five looked like what I thought this series was going to look like from the start. I had the Knicks in five too big, too physical against this sort of youngish Hawks team finding their postseason legs, obviously against an experienced Knicks team. But we are still here in a series and Atlanta has a game here in game six. And Atlanta tried to force a game seven. But that to me in these wins they've looked like the much more dominant team. It's just they lost two games by one point there to get to this pivotal game five. But what'd you think about last night's Knicks?
- [25:46]
Tas Melas
I mean the Knicks have dominated this series, but they gave up two fourth quarter leads basically. So they have to win the series twice. And they were caught between a rock and a hard spot because in Game 4, Karl Anthony Towns dominated first career playoff triple double. When he wasn't playing one on one, they were double teaming and he was finding guys like he completely dominated. So the Hawks had to change something up. They said, all right, Dyson Daniels, we're going to try this thing where we have a wing guard Karl Anthony Towns let Kong Wu kind of roam a little bit more on Josh Hart. But that means that Dyson Daniels therefore cannot guard Jalen Brunson because there's only one Dyson Daniels until next year when there's Dash Daniels as well. Too much freedom of movement for Brunson. This guy barely got touched the entire night. A lot of times when you see him have a 39 point game, he's hitting ridiculous fade aways. After 18 bumps and 48 dribbles from the mid range, this was not that at all. He was getting full court dribble drives straight to the hoop. He was shooting wide open three pointers. They just didn't have enough physical defenders to be able to stick with Brunson as well. So great performance from him. Really smart game I thought from Carl Anthony Towns when he had one on ones he went to the hole. When he was doubled, he passed the ball. He had six assists. That's his two highest assist games in back to back games. The 10 and the six for the playoffs he's finding O.J. anunoby on every back cut. They've clearly scouted the way the Hawks are defending this sort of action when he has the ball at the top of the key. So I think between Brunson playing as well as he did, Cat having a couple of good games and Ojana Nobe is just like the thorn in the side for the Hawks right now. Anytime there's a wobbly moment, it feels like he has a three pointer with two seconds left on the shot clock. Not to mention the defense he's bringing. CJ hit the big shots in Games 2 and 3, but the Knicks have had the three best players for this entire series.
- [27:34]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, and they slowed down C.J. mcCollum in this game by not allowing open shots. Simple as that. I thought Katt, even though he doesn't have the triple double, I thought just as good a game overall. The defense to take away a CJ McCollum 3. After recovering as CJ tried to shake him, Cat was able to recover and block a shot early in the game. So important stuff to keep C.J. out of his flow. He also hung with Jonathan Kaminga in the mid post to block him. I thought just Overall, great game. 2 blocks, 16 points, 14 boards, 6 assists, 2 steals, which I don't even count as steals. Those shouldn't even be there. Those weren't real steals. He just caught the ball. Not to ridicule what Kat did. He was really good. I am interested if they continue to go to more Mitch and Cat when needed as they did just five minutes in this game. But that's the most they've done this series. Games 1, 2 and 5 have been a little bit of both those guys together. The other. We haven't seen them together. And then Jalen Brunson. Yeah, he was, he was good. Whenever he could beat Dyson Daniels, he beat him in a race. He beat him in a foot race. That semi transition right at Dyson Daniels or fast break. He was able to just go and they ran just. I think it was just twice where they ran him getting going from the back court and Mitch Robinson on the court to set a monster pick and he just went. So Mike Brown coaching, taking advantage of every opportunity those guys had.
- [29:00]
J. Skeets
Yeah. And the Knicks out rebounded the Hawks 48 to 27 and they had the fast break advantage 13 4. So that's going to be very difficult for the Hawks to win those games where it's not in their favor. Those type of points.
- [29:10]
Tas Melas
Only 11 turnovers for New York, like these are all the things that the Hawks needed.
- [29:14]
J. Skeets
This was a bit of an ass kick in here. These last two games are The Knicks looking like the championship contender and the Hawks looking a little bit more like a team. Again, a little lack of experience there in the postseason. A great season overall, but this is where they're just outclassed here. Knicks led by 24 in game four on their way to a big win. And last night they were up by 32 at one point and just sort of kept applying the pressure and get the victory. So we come back to the fortress, though, and it does feel like. And we talked about this, I guess our buddy Jared brought it up. It's like the Hawks win, it's going to be close. It's going to be a jumper from CJ McCollum or a final couple possessions when the Knicks win these games, it's of the dominant fashion here. These just ass kickings. And Brunson was awesome. And OG Was doing work on the glass, like you said, early in this game, like they were up 35, 22 in first quarter. It was like Brunson and OG then Cat got going in the second. And the offense was so easy. It was so easy. And they were talking about it on the broadcast, and it was true. They're up 64, 48. A little fight from the Hawks there at the end of the second quarter and a little bit into the. In the second half, but just too
- [30:19]
Trey Kirby
much in the first quarter. Yeah, they can't get down like that. And they have in those first two games that they won this series. It was the fast breaks.
- [30:26]
J. Skeets
Right.
- [30:26]
Trey Kirby
That got them going. Then they won overall throughout the game. That's what they got to do.
- [30:31]
J. Skeets
Any other notes from this one? We had a shot clock malfunction about 26 seconds in. That was fun. Yeah.
- [30:37]
Trey Kirby
Right away.
- [30:37]
J. Skeets
But shout out to Josh Tivin for handling, handing it properly. He literally could see him unplug it. And they plugged it back in.
- [30:46]
Trey Kirby
Really?
- [30:46]
J. Skeets
And it worked.
- [30:47]
Trey Kirby
Wow.
- [30:47]
Tas Melas
Really?
- [30:48]
J. Skeets
There's a shot of him holding a cord and he's like doing it. And I don't know if something was spilled or something. There's a bunch of towels all bunched up. So maybe that like shorted it out or something. I don't know what happened there, but Josh Tiffin man thinking on his feet. Let me just do that. He's like, just got right in there. I was like, I don't know. Maybe he knows how all these shot clocks work or something like that.
- [31:08]
Tas Melas
He must have fixed his mom's modem like a thousand times or something like that.
- [31:11]
J. Skeets
Yeah, yeah.
- [31:12]
Tas Melas
We need an electrical engineer write in and let us know why does that work for everything? Unplug it and plug it back in.
- [31:18]
J. Skeets
It works. Yeah. Weird. So that worked. What else do we have? We had a bunch of celebrities.
- [31:22]
Tas Melas
This was a great celebrity row. That was one of my questions. Which couple would you most want to sit with? Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller. Tim Shalamet and Kylie Jenner.
- [31:31]
J. Skeets
Right.
- [31:31]
Tas Melas
Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan or Dark Horse. Edie Falco and Keith Cotton.
- [31:36]
J. Skeets
Wow.
- [31:37]
Tas Melas
Keith.
- [31:37]
J. Skeets
Yeah, I'm going Keith. Hey, great options there. Yeah, I guess for that one. Give me Tina and Tracy. Tina and Tracy. Yeah.
- [31:46]
Trey Kirby
I'm going young. I'm going Chalamet and Jenner.
- [31:49]
J. Skeets
Okay.
- [31:49]
Trey Kirby
Yeah.
- [31:49]
J. Skeets
I mean, look, Chalamet very into the game. He is always standing up. I mean, so is Ben Stiller, of course. Yeah, he was Chalamet. There was that one, I guess Cat scored and Chalamet was yelling and gesturing. Big cat. Big Cat. That's why he kept yelling. It was like early. It was in the first quarter. It was after a big Carl Anthony Towns bucket. Big Cat yelling at him.
- [32:12]
Tas Melas
Big Cat.
- [32:13]
Trey Kirby
Yeah. I almost woke up my kids when he did that. Oh, yeah, because my kids sing a song.
- [32:18]
J. Skeets
Oh, boy.
- [32:19]
Trey Kirby
Big guy, Big guy, Big guy. You know.
- [32:21]
J. Skeets
What's that?
- [32:22]
Tas Melas
Ice Spice. It's from the SpongeBob SquarePants movie. Okay, that's a great dance. You've got a great TikTok dance.
- [32:30]
Trey Kirby
Big Cat's the new big guy for me.
- [32:34]
Tas Melas
They could, they could do something like that. Like Ice Spice is a Knicks fan. They should bring her in and have her record. I like Anthony Towns version of that. JD so two of these couples are claimed. Do you want to sit next to Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller or Edie Falco and Keith Cotton? Keith is still available.
- [32:50]
Trey Kirby
God.
- [32:51]
J. Skeets
Oh, my camera's not on me.
- [32:52]
Trey Kirby
What about Mike Tirico and Reggie Miller?
- [32:54]
Tas Melas
Yeah, you can sit down. You can get by Mike and Reggie
- [32:56]
Trey Kirby
if you want to, because they did. They panned all the way down and then showed to Rico and Reggie Miller at end. The.
- [33:02]
J. Skeets
The.
- [33:02]
Trey Kirby
You're all our fans.
- [33:03]
J. Skeets
I actually thought that was sort of funny the way they did it. They like both pointed at each other like, yeah, we're on celebrity row, but yeah, I guess I'm going Edie. Yeah. And who's. Who's she sitting with?
- [33:14]
Trey Kirby
I don't even know Keith Cotton.
- [33:15]
Tas Melas
Of course, I don't know who know
- [33:16]
J. Skeets
who Keith Cotton is.
- [33:17]
Tas Melas
Yeah, me neither. But I, I found out that that's who she's in a relationship with. Cuz I was like, they didn't show Any love to Edie Falco? On the broadcast last night, they were talking about everybody else.
- [33:26]
J. Skeets
Oh, he's a record. He's a record producer, I guess.
- [33:29]
Trey Kirby
Okay.
- [33:30]
J. Skeets
A keyboardist, composer, musical director.
- [33:32]
Trey Kirby
Okay. I mean, Tracy and Tina would be my first choice, but if I can't have them, then I'm sitting with Edie
- [33:37]
J. Skeets
and What's his name again?
- [33:38]
Trey Kirby
Cotton. Ikea.
- [33:39]
J. Skeets
Keith Cotton. You love dueling. You love Keith. I love dueling pianos.
- [33:44]
Trey Kirby
You're right. Yeah, you're right.
- [33:45]
J. Skeets
So you'd be able to talk to him about that.
- [33:47]
Tas Melas
I sit there and chew his ear
- [33:48]
Trey Kirby
off about dueling pianos. I'm sitting next to a legend, a TV legend. Where's your favorite spot for dueling pianos?
- [34:00]
J. Skeets
Anyway, I'm looking at Keith Cotton, Cotton's Instagram page right now, and he blasted a photo, like, of the action. I mean, can't get closer than that. First comment. Your seats do not suck. They're great. It's a great photo. Good stuff here from Keith. What else do I got? How about the. I mean, let me say this before I get to the. The highlight from the game, Mitchell Robinson was throwing down alley oops left and right, put back donks. I mean, he. Like, if I'm a Knick fan, I don't even want to talk about it, though, because it's like he. He looks so good right now, and every minute he's out there, he's like, he's having an impact on the game. And the reason I don't want to talk about if I'm a Knicks fan, it's like, ah, boy. Just when you get excited, he'll like, unfortunately, like, roll an ankle or something like that. But he is rolling right now. But the highlight from the game was that Kaminga.
- [34:46]
Trey Kirby
Oop.
- [34:47]
J. Skeets
That thing was sky high.
- [34:50]
Tas Melas
That was pretty sweet, man.
- [34:51]
J. Skeets
Crap Kamingo on that baseline. Alley oops just went. He just kept going up, up, up as he threw it down. So that was a good play.
- [34:59]
Tas Melas
That was quite a good play.
- [35:00]
Trey Kirby
They loved it. Tarico and Reggie absolutely loved it. Good energy from them on the very energetic Elliot. That was nice. Yeah.
- [35:09]
Tas Melas
I also liked Jalen Brunson. Like, he got hurt a little bit at one point, kind of fell down. It was behind the play. He gets the ball back and makes a shot. And Trico says the healing power of the ball does it again.
- [35:20]
J. Skeets
That's right. That's right.
- [35:21]
Tas Melas
You're never injured when the ball's coming your way.
- [35:23]
J. Skeets
I will say, as for the Hawks and, like, their lineups and who's playing Last night, it's like, I get it because he's been bad, but it's tough that the former number one pick is DMP CDs here. And, like, you're getting Corey Kispert and you're getting a lot of minutes from Gabe Vincent and like that over a recess. I understand it, though. I mean, you tried it a couple times and you weren't getting anything, but not great is all I'm saying.
- [35:51]
Trey Kirby
Yeah. And then he wouldn't be taking Gabe's minutes. He probably wouldn't take him. He could be taking Corey's. Yes, that's for sure. I mean, they put in Corey Kispert to hit threes to. To make up for the deficit, or it would be Kaminga who. I screwed up. I said Cat blocked him. He blocked Jalen Johnson. But Mitch, you brought him up. He's the one who blocked Kamega. That was. It's. It's the most eventful, like. Like Drummond. The most eventful. Like, 15 minutes from a guy in Mitchell Robinson. Like, he does so much.
- [36:18]
J. Skeets
Oh, yeah, yeah. But positively right now for sure, for the Knicks, even, except. Except for the free throws. Oh, my God, that man is gonna, like, he's gonna break a rim on some of these.
- [36:30]
Tas Melas
Yeah, it's like, you're just like, put
- [36:33]
J. Skeets
it a little bit of art. He just tries to put it through the rim. I know we've said this a million times. It's, like, astonishing to me, and I love the crowds, like, trying to, like, cheer him up. Come on, buddy. You can do it. You can do it. Just honestly, underhand it, because then you're forced to put a little arc on it. He just rifles it through the front of the room, and sometimes it'll just sneak in there enough, but most of the times it just ricochets off.
- [36:58]
Trey Kirby
Dyson Daniels, first make in this game. It was wide open. I was a Rocket, too. It's. It's his push shot, but it's just, you know, it's that thing like a. Like a Luca Garza push shot.
- [37:10]
J. Skeets
He did it a three, didn't he? Last.
- [37:11]
Tas Melas
Yeah.
- [37:12]
J. Skeets
On the wing there. He actually. Yeah, he came out firing. He was on fire to start, too. Yeah. 711 overall for Dyson Daniels. Pretty good game. Sure, they took away CJ and it was a fine Jalen Johnson game. But again, you know, he's just a. They've turned him into just a player. He's not a superstar by any means. And I think that's going to be part of his development here. This is his first Real test as a number one guy. And you're playing a very good Knicks team with a lot of defensive guys to keep throwing on you. But he'll have to learn and adapt from this, I think.
- [37:42]
Tas Melas
Yeah.
- [37:43]
J. Skeets
Especially the picking is fast period. For sure. Yeah. Anything else? Anything else?
- [37:46]
Trey Kirby
No.
- [37:46]
J. Skeets
All right, one more game to talk about. And that is. The spurs wrapping up their series versus the Blazers. They went in five. They're going through to the Western Conference semifinals. Wemby, good game. Didn't need to have a dominant scoring game, but awesome defensively. And Darren Fox coming through once again in the clutch. The Blazers put up a fight. They had a bunch of threes at the end and suddenly it was like a nine point game after trailing for a majority of the game. But the spurs go through. So, Trey, they sort of passed their first test here of the postseason action.
- [38:16]
Tas Melas
And I really love the killer instinct from the spurs to come out and have a monster, monster first quarter meowster, basically. They didn't play with their food. Julian Champagne came out, said, I'm going to shoot you out of the gym. And that's exactly what happened. It did get close in the fourth quarter, but Fox just completely closed the door on whatever kind of Blazers comeback they were making with their three pointers. Just a pretty professional effort from a team going through their first playoff series together. Finish their series early. Let Detroit or Denver and Minnesota just literally beat up on each other. Guys are dropping like flies in this series. So the longer it goes, the better for the spurs because right now they're just chilling without injuries. Pretty good.
- [38:55]
J. Skeets
Yeah. And Champagne even said after the game, I guess, but we didn't want to go back to Portland. That was kind of the emphasis for the guys on the team. We just didn't want to fly back to Portland. It's a four hour flight. And so he backed that up. He said it. He finished 5 of 7 from deep and San Antonio shot 40% from three point territory. And yeah. Did it get close? A little bit. But yeah, Fox was. He was special down the stretch. I mean, you see why the guy did win a clutch player of the year. Also, Darren Fox's first playoff series win. Win.
- [39:26]
Tas Melas
Yes.
- [39:27]
J. Skeets
In nine seasons. Is he nine? He's nine or ten. Yeah. So congrats to him.
- [39:33]
Trey Kirby
Yeah. Only a second playoff series ever. Right. Just other than the seven game series with the Kings. Yeah, 13 in that fourth quarter. It was, I thought, surprised to hear his head coach say he was a clutch player of the year for a reason. I mean, I know you just Said it. But to hear a. Hear somebody quote or reference a clutch play of the year, I don't. I've never heard it, never heard it done before. But either way, they were ready in that first half. They were smiling in that first half. Yeah, they were off the bench once they got up. Big lots of dads in the house. Wemby's dad out there, I think Kelvin Johnson's dad, if I'm not mistaken out there.
- [40:14]
Tas Melas
A lot of dads.
- [40:15]
Trey Kirby
A lot of dads. Yeah.
- [40:16]
Tas Melas
Was Ron there?
- [40:17]
Trey Kirby
They brought him for this big game. I guess they knew they weren't. They were going to close it out in game number five because I don't think either dad had been there in previous games, but yeah, they were. They were ready to go in that first half. You know that like the champagne first quarter, when you get that going, yeah, you ain't losing. But also the defense was. Was damn good.
- [40:35]
J. Skeets
Oh, my God. Yeah. And de' Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper, they were like the star guards of the San Antonio trio of star guards last night because Castle had a bit of a rough game and foul trouble and all that. He didn't play all that great offensively and had a bunch of turnovers. But it's okay because you have Fox, who reminded everyone that he is a big time scorer over these last two games. He's been really, really good. And he had 13 of his team high 21 in the fourth, he had a nine assist. And then Harper, he's basically showing you the two skills that you have to have come playoff time. Tenacious defense and an ability to finish in traffic at the rim, absorb it and just power through it. And that guy can do that as a rookie already. So those two are great. While, you know, hey, Castle, you take the night off type of vibe. What a luxury. But yeah, Wemby's defense too down the stretch was pretty special. I know Fox was doing it offensively, but my God, the blazers were blocked six times on attempts contested by Wemby in Game 5. And I'm not sure which one was more emphatic. Trey, the one, and this is around the three minute mark or so where he sent Denny Avdia's like, floater into outer space. It like grazed the top of the backboard and went flying into the crowd.
- [41:44]
Trey Kirby
That's when they showed his dad.
- [41:45]
J. Skeets
Yeah, that one impressed his dad.
- [41:47]
Trey Kirby
He was excited.
- [41:48]
J. Skeets
Who other times was like, whatever, like, he's doing all these crazy spins and stuff like that. It's like nothing from him. But that one did. But then he had the one where he just like. What did they say on the broadcast? Snatched his soul. Kamara soul. Where he just completely stuffed him at the rim and then the ball like ricocheted off.
- [42:05]
Tas Melas
Camara.
- [42:06]
J. Skeets
I'm not sure which one was more impressive.
- [42:08]
Tas Melas
He's a pretty good defensive player, this guy. Maybe he'll someday after he retires as the greatest player to ever play the game, maybe he will go play professional beach volleyball and become the greatest professional beach volleyball player in his 40s. Wow. He can do it. But this maybe is the first game that Victor Wembanyama has ever played. And he didn't have the most impressive block because Devin Vassell got Donald on a dunk attempt. Blocked him so nasty at the rim that he gave him the Dikembe Mutombo.
- [42:34]
J. Skeets
No, no, no, no, no.
- [42:35]
Tas Melas
Finger. And then started laughing. Yeah, even Vic was laughing at that.
- [42:38]
Trey Kirby
They're both smiling.
- [42:39]
Tas Melas
Was Daddy Vic laughing?
- [42:40]
Trey Kirby
Second quarter? I don't know. They didn't show him or Daddy Dev Felix.
- [42:44]
J. Skeets
His name is Felix, I believe, right? Oh, wet Manama. Cool.
- [42:47]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, I think it's a good name.
- [42:48]
J. Skeets
Yeah.
- [42:49]
Trey Kirby
Allison Felix. Going to try and make a comeback, huh? At 40 years old. Allison Felix, you love.
- [42:54]
J. Skeets
Oh, I saw that.
- [42:55]
Trey Kirby
It's incredible. Yeah.
- [42:56]
J. Skeets
Yeah. 40 for the next Olympics, right? For 28 year in LA. Throughout the series, Portland made 19% of the shots Wemby contested. He had 16 total blocks. So they're shooting. They're hitting under one out of every five shots. 4.25. Basically guarding you. He became the third player since blocks became an official statistic to average 20 points and four blocks over his first four career playoff games. Joining this is just a fun list, brook Lopez in 2013 and Alonzo Mourning way back in 93 for the Hornets, first four games in their playoff career. 20 plus points and four blocks average.
- [43:35]
Tas Melas
And I think if you were going to describe Victor Wembanyama, you would say he's the perfect combination of Brook Lopez and Alonzo Mourning. That's exactly right. That's exactly who he reminds me of when I see him play.
- [43:46]
Trey Kirby
Well. Yeah. And then the other random one was a Patrick Ewing comparison because Wemby became the first player since Patrick Ewing in 1994 to record back to back playoff games of 15 points, 10 boards and six blocks.
- [43:58]
J. Skeets
Yeah, well, he had 13 blocks over the last two games. He had six last night and seven in the game before.
- [44:04]
Tas Melas
That's true.
- [44:06]
J. Skeets
And then, I mean, incredibly, I think David Robinson and Tim Duncan have done that in the postseason before, but wemby adds his name to that. That list now. What do you think of Doris Burke's bars? I guess poem. Pop is like, this is ho hum. Have you not seen my son? He's number one after a Wemby move. That is what Doris Burke said, son. Yes. I mean, she accidentally or purposely was rhyming there.
- [44:35]
Trey Kirby
Okay.
- [44:36]
J. Skeets
Yeah, it's just a little random. Pretty weird. Pop is like, this is ho hum. Have you not seen my son? He's number one. Oh, I just realized she's not talking about Popovich. She's talking about Felix. Okay. Yeah. Father Victor makes a little bit more sense.
- [44:52]
Tas Melas
His son is literally number one.
- [44:53]
J. Skeets
I was thinking Popovich that whole time. Yeah, yeah. That was probably.
- [44:56]
Tas Melas
Didn't you do like a wee wee at some point last year? Victor went banyama. He just makes her feel silly is what it sounds like to me. Do you think they rigged, you know, you bring up Patrick Ewing going to the Knicks, widely assumed to be the first draft lottery that was ever rigged. Do you think they rigged it for the spurs to get Wemby? The guy was groomed to be a spur by Tony Parker from a young age.
- [45:18]
J. Skeets
Yeah, yeah, right, right, sure.
- [45:21]
Tas Melas
It's the perfect place for him to end up.
- [45:23]
J. Skeets
Come on.
- [45:24]
Trey Kirby
That's why we got to televise the behind the scenes lottery balls at the draft. Lottery. Got to do it. Got to see every ball.
- [45:31]
J. Skeets
Watch them the next day on NBA.com.
- [45:33]
Trey Kirby
yeah, I heard.
- [45:35]
Tas Melas
Yeah, you can still find that fake one.
- [45:36]
J. Skeets
They put it up like the moon landing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I got you. I got you, Cuber.
- [45:42]
Tas Melas
Okay, if Stanley Kubrick did the moon landing, which director do you think is directing the draft lottery odds?
- [45:48]
J. Skeets
Wow.
- [45:49]
Trey Kirby
Wow.
- [45:50]
J. Skeets
Jennifer Nolan. Yeah, it could be.
- [45:52]
Tas Melas
He's all about the twists.
- [45:53]
J. Skeets
That's right. What's next for the Blazers? What's next for the Portland Trailblazers here as their season comes to an end?
- [46:00]
Tas Melas
Man.
- [46:00]
Trey Kirby
Oh, I'm gonna find next season pretty interesting with Damian Lillard coming back with all the guards that they have under contract. Scoot, Drew, Shane Sharp. You can throw in Denny in there as a ball handler. So that's interesting. I think Donovan Clayan just has to get better at shooting threes. He did hit his most threes of the series in this particular game, dropping two. But that's a primary focus, I think,
- [46:25]
J. Skeets
because, yeah, they need more shooting in general.
- [46:27]
Trey Kirby
Yes.
- [46:27]
J. Skeets
They need to get some three point shooting. I think they were tied for 27th in the league and even just overall field goal percentage, 29th. They're one of the Worst teams, sort of.
- [46:36]
Trey Kirby
Here comes Dame in there.
- [46:37]
J. Skeets
Well, yeah, they're getting the defending three point champion. That'll help season.
- [46:40]
Tas Melas
How weird is that?
- [46:42]
J. Skeets
But they do have most of their core. I think Matisse, Thibel and Robert Williams iii Time Lord are free agents.
- [46:47]
Trey Kirby
Yeah.
- [46:47]
J. Skeets
And you know, we gotta figure out the coach of it all. Is Thiago Splitter gonna take the cheap contract there from Tom Dundon? They're gonna volunteer or somebody else sliding into that role. But yeah. What are your thoughts on the Blazers moving forward here?
- [47:02]
Tas Melas
I think they're very similar to the Phoenix Suns in that they're a good defensive team. They give a lot of great effort. They will probably overachieve in a lot of seasons. They've got a borderline all Star. Not borderline, but like just one all star in a similar way that the Suns have Booker, the Blazers have Denny Abdia. So unfortunately I think they're kind of stuck. Just like the Suns are too.
- [47:26]
J. Skeets
Okay.
- [47:27]
Tas Melas
Like I don't who. Who's going to be popping on that team to make them a lot better.
- [47:32]
J. Skeets
You're going to need internal growth from Clingan.
- [47:35]
Tas Melas
Yeah, I thought he had a pretty bad series here. I thought this was going to be an interesting matchup to see him and Wemby. They obviously didn't even guard each other all that much. But Clingan did basically nothing this series.
- [47:47]
J. Skeets
Yeah. Yeah.
- [47:48]
Tas Melas
And looked out of shape. But of course slow and just not ready. It's his first time through. Yeah, he had a better second season than he had a first season. But he has to get better and he needs to be more of a. He needs to be more of an offensive threat at the very least. At least he was stepping out and shooting some threes. But he impressed me this year. But I don't see a high ceiling for this version of the Blazers.
- [48:09]
J. Skeets
I hear that because I was going to add to that. I mean you need sharp to have a healthy season and obviously try and more internal growth there. Scoot. Look, he started hot in this series and then he went ice cold and there wasn't a whole lot of scoot as the series went on. And again health comes into play with him and just having. Putting together a great season. Yeah, I'm with you on the like the comparisons to the Suns. These were great years, I think shocked a lot of people. And now where do you go from here? And teams won't be a surprise and all that, but shooting, shooting, shooting. And they still have like two like Drew Holiday was a contributor, but Jeremy Grant I mean, this guy. Has he got two years left?
- [48:45]
Tas Melas
Yep.
- [48:46]
Trey Kirby
Yeah. One plus a player option. He's taking that one.
- [48:49]
J. Skeets
Yeah. Yeah, he's taking that. He's picking that one up. Yeah.
- [48:53]
Trey Kirby
Where's Hanson Yang when you need him? Yeah. It's either got to come internally or they don't really have an option because they're sort of locked into most of their salary.
- [49:03]
Tas Melas
Bounce back season from Dame would be great though. Like he's actually good.
- [49:07]
Trey Kirby
Yeah.
- [49:08]
J. Skeets
Huge. Yeah.
- [49:09]
Trey Kirby
Yeah.
- [49:09]
J. Skeets
They don't have a draft pick either.
- [49:10]
Trey Kirby
No.
- [49:10]
Tas Melas
Goes to the Bulls.
- [49:11]
J. Skeets
Yeah.
- [49:12]
Tas Melas
But they got a lot of extras coming up. 28, 29, 30 from the Lillard back to Portland trade. So they got buck swaps in 28, 29 and 30. And then they got the magic pick in 2028. So they got some draft picks they could trade if they want to bring in a second star.
- [49:28]
Trey Kirby
Yeah.
- [49:29]
J. Skeets
And we'll see who again, who's coaching this team. All right, we're going to take a break.
- [49:32]
Trey Kirby
It's got to be Thiago. Just because of what he did.
- [49:35]
J. Skeets
Yeah.
- [49:36]
Trey Kirby
And he's not gonna be. I don't think he's gonna be super expensive. I think the way that they had developed in the locker room to play under this guy. The question is, what contract does Tom Dundon give him? I think he will give him some. I wonder if it'll be sort of a bonus. Focus like, okay, you can get some money if you're good. You know, if you get this team to 50 wins bonus. It is unfortunate, that whole thing, but I think it is Thiago coming back.
- [50:00]
J. Skeets
But you're gonna have to be checked out of your hotel room at 10am every morning. Okay.
- [50:07]
Tas Melas
At the coffee spot.
- [50:07]
J. Skeets
Yeah. We can't pick up those expenses. Yeah. And the coffee. You could pay for your own coffee too. That's not on the company. All right, gonna take a break. When we come back, a little NBA news.
- [50:17]
Tas Melas
There are a lot of different parlays out there. Pirate code says the parlay means an adversary must take a prisoner to the captain without harming them. I think that's spelled slightly differently.
- [50:28]
J. Skeets
Yeah.
- [50:28]
Tas Melas
Cam Stewart, of course, says that beef and chicken on the same place plate, that's a parlay.
- [50:31]
J. Skeets
I had that last night. I had a meat parlay last night.
- [50:34]
Tas Melas
You had a meat parlay?
- [50:35]
J. Skeets
Yeah, I went to jeans. What were the odds? The odds were. The odds were I'm bunged up 50. I'm bunged.
- [50:43]
Tas Melas
Wow.
- [50:44]
Trey Kirby
Wow. No dumpers here.
- [50:50]
Tas Melas
Fandom, of course, says that Desmond bane to score 20 or more points, Sam Merill to hit three or more threes, Wendell Carter Jr. To grab eight or more rebounds, and LeBron to hand out six or more assists. They call that a parlay.
- [51:00]
J. Skeets
Yeah, yeah, that sounds good.
- [51:01]
Tas Melas
That's a real parlay for you right there. Whatever your definition, new FanDuel customers can bet $5 to get 250 in bonus bets. If your first bet wins, it's the old 5 to 250 dance just for getting started. From player props on your favorite stars to all the tools you need to back them up, FanDuel makes it easy to get closer to the action. It's everything you need all in one app. So don't miss your shot. Don't get bunged up. Head to FanDuel.com podcast to get started.
- [51:28]
J. Skeets
FanDuel play your game, play your game, players. All right, got some news for you guys. First off, Magic forward Franz Vogner. Status for game 5 uncertain due to a right calf strain. Unless there's breaking news that I don't know about, but his return will depend on how that injury is responding to treatment here. Wagner underwent an MRI on Tuesday and again, last I checked, officially listed as questionable for Game five tonight as the Magic try and close out this series and do what? Not a lot of people I saw with picking Magic in five against the number one seeded Detroit Pistons, but this is big here, Tas. I mean, like we think Detroit's going to put up a fight tonight for sure. Yes, but you can make a case. Franz Wagner has been one of the most impactful players for the Magic in
- [52:15]
Trey Kirby
this series overall, absolutely is a very, very good player. He did sit there on the bench, if I'm not mistaken, with that calf entry and didn't go back to the locker room. Is that a good sign?
- [52:24]
Tas Melas
He was biking, baby.
- [52:25]
Trey Kirby
He was biking. And so yeah, maybe they're just being cautious, but at the same time they do have replacements if he doesn't play. Tristan De Silva was a good replacement this year, starting a lot of games. I imagine he'll be thrown into the starting lineup. He's a capable guy of putting it on the floor and scoring and so I think that'll be their quick fix. And the other quick fix is Paula Banchero and Jalen Suggs. Just can't have bad games again, so maybe there's a bounce back. They both shot poorly in Game four there, so maybe there's a bounce back. That's what I would say for one game. I do think that'll be fine. It's only One day off in between. So maybe that bodes poorly for. Yeah, Franz Wagner coming back.
- [53:04]
J. Skeets
And you're up 3:1 too, as you're looking at sort of series, you're zooming out and going, well, maybe we do let them rest here a little bit more. Our odds of maybe even beating Detroit with them without them, you know, get them back for a game six if we get there is sort of what I think they're going to approach it, but who knows? This guy does like he has. He has admitted, though, he returned early to play in Berlin when he wanted to play in front of his home country when they had the couple of games over there. And he said, yeah, that was a bit of a setback with my high ankle sprain. So they're trying to like, yeah, he's sitting on the bench. I imagine he wants to play, but as an organization, maybe you want to slow play it. Obviously we need you healthy to move forward, but we'll see.
- [53:42]
Tas Melas
Yeah, I think caution is smart, so I'm kind of with you. Skeets, like game five, it feels like it'll be tough to win in Detroit regardless. Get him a couple of extra days rest because it feels like even if he comes back, it could be the same thing that happened in game four, where he plays for a while and then suddenly he's over there biking. Yeah. Rather than being on the court. So, yeah, I think Da Silva will probably be the starter for him. He was part of their third most used starting lineup. Basically, he replaced Anthony Black, who official originally took Franz's spot, but. Yeah, I don't know. Anthony Black's really struggling. 26% from the field so far, 25 from three. He's gonna have to play more. I have to think if Dissolva goes into the starting lineup, but that guy just broke my backboard, so I don't know if I want him.
- [54:24]
J. Skeets
Well, he missed a couple badly, but then he got it going in that.
- [54:28]
Trey Kirby
Yeah. But Paulo, coming off a poor shooting game, 4 of 18, he's shot 37% from the floor in this series and. And 26% from three. They can just hope more from him
- [54:37]
J. Skeets
three one with those numbers.
- [54:39]
Trey Kirby
And Jaylen Suggs was also bad until he got that one open three in the fourth quarter. He's shooting 32% from the floor in this series and 25% from three. So they've got guys can only look up fear positive, Pete. You can't get much worse than that. And so even if those guys just have slightly better shooting nights, they could overcome A Pistons team that is also just looking for somebody to help out Cade Cunningham efficiently and at home. Doesn't happen. It's supposed to. Yeah, it didn't in the first two games.
- [55:10]
J. Skeets
I will say Franz played a part in some of those Cade Cunningham turnovers as well, being very active. I mean, he had 24 turnovers in the last three games. Not all of those are Franz Vogner, of course, but some of them are and he did. He was starting to find his offensive groove here in a series where they're. That is hard to come by. He hit those big shots at the end of game three. Two huge shots. The one three and then the other jumper. And then. Yeah, it did have 19 points. You brought it up to ask in game four. 19 points in limited minutes. He was the one guy that sort of had it going a little bit. So we'll see if he plays in game five tonight. We also learned that the Rockets have officially ruled out Kevin Durant for tonight's must win game five against the Lakers because of a left ankle sprain. So no Katie in that as the Rockets try and also survive here. Just so you have that news, is Reeves back? They are saying I think he's questionable.
- [56:00]
Tas Melas
Yeah, it seems like he's getting pretty close though. Yeah, he's been questionable I think for the last couple of games as well.
- [56:04]
J. Skeets
I think so. We'll see.
- [56:06]
Tas Melas
We shall see.
- [56:07]
J. Skeets
All right, next piece of news here. Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones became the first person to plead guilty yesterday in a gambling sweep that led to the arrests of more than 30 people during back to back hearings in Brooklyn Federal court. Jones entered guilty pleas to two courts. Excuse me, to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in what prosecutors say were sports betting and rigged poker game schemes. So Jones has pled guilty to both cases and he talked to the court and stuff like that. So he acknowledged, yeah, I was using my insider knowledge to defraud sports betting companies when it came to the games part. Like who's going to play who's not, that type of thing. And then he was also getting paid to be like. What did they call it? The face card. Face card. That's right. In the poker part. And he was getting. Whatever, what did it say? $2500 to do it. Yeah. And in knowing that these games were rigged with all of their technology and stuff like that.
- [57:07]
Trey Kirby
Yeah. And that the, the betters who bet a lot of money would come on over because. Oh yeah, the guy from the NBA was here. He played 10 seasons. I'm gonna come play with him. The interesting part here is if this case is the beginning of a domino effect for others. The big names, you know, Chauncey Billups, who definitely named in the poker side, clearly in the poker side, and seems to be also named in the sports gambling side. And then Terry Rosier, just in the sports gambling side. But two different cases where apparently the sentencing suggestion from the government for Damon Jones is 21 to 27 months just for the sports betting scheme, and then 63 to 78 months for the poker scam that's coming in January. So that's where it's. The interesting parts begin, I think, because the Damon Jones part, yes, very unfortunate, but the names are the interesting part from.
- [58:00]
Tas Melas
From this perspective, and it can't be good for Albanian. Bruce.
- [58:03]
J. Skeets
No.
- [58:04]
Tas Melas
Damon Jones is given the double bang. Yeah. I did both of the things you said I'm doing. In both of these cases, he seemed like the most guilty. They have text messages from the betting scandal saying, bet enough so D. Jones can eat now. And in the poker scandal, they said, when in doubt, fold your hand. He said, y' all know I know what I'm doing.
- [58:21]
J. Skeets
Yeah.
- [58:21]
Tas Melas
Guys literally taking notes on criminal conspiracy.
- [58:24]
J. Skeets
Yeah.
- [58:25]
Tas Melas
So a couple years in prison probably. And now they're going after Bruce.
- [58:29]
J. Skeets
Yeah. And he's pleading guilty here to reduce his sentencing. Yes. I think it said in that report, it gets. I don't know, whatever it was, 10 months, 15 months. So he's saving a year and a bit here by saying, okay, I did it. Let's just get. Get this over with. So, yeah, it is crazy. This is a guy that played in the NBA. Damon Jones played for a decade. Right. Like, he made $20 million. Now, you can go through $20 million. I get that. Maybe he did. But then you see that he's getting 25. Exactly. He's getting $2,500 to do this. You're like, whoa, what happened to the 20 million, man? Probably on gambling. Probably. That's sort of how this happened. You get into this world, and then you lose all your money. You're like, oh, damn, I'm screwed now. Well, let me start getting involved in the nefarious activities to try and get my way out of it. Dark, dark place. But, yeah, he pleads guilty, and we'll see the. Like you said, the next dominoes to fall here.
- [59:17]
Trey Kirby
Yeah. Because in. In the Billups case or the Rosier case, do they come up and say, let's make a plea. Because instead of waiting a long, longer period of time where they could get hit with a bigger sentence. In their eyes, they could say, okay, this is what I got to do to get it as short as possible.
- [59:37]
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- [59:37]
Trey Kirby
So this is.
- [59:37]
J. Skeets
Yeah, but that also comes down to like, what, what, what evidence they do have. Like Trey said it sounds like Damon Jones, like he was cooked with these texts and stuff like that. Maybe the others don't have, as you know.
- [59:48]
Trey Kirby
Well, from when we read this was at the beginning of the season.
- [59:54]
J. Skeets
Is that the right word? Incriminating.
- [59:56]
Trey Kirby
Incriminating.
- [59:56]
Tas Melas
Yeah.
- [59:58]
Trey Kirby
Right, right. You know, it's also discriminating at this one, but at the beginning of this season, the what we read in those incriminating texts from Terry Rosier. Yeah, it was, it was clear that he was a part of it. As far as the sports gambling side goes, I don't think he was named at all. And if he was named at all in the poker side of things, it was redacted. His name was not right according to reports left in there, but he was definitely a part of those. The. In his old Charlotte days as far as the sports gambling goes. And, and Chauncey Billups bigger face card in the poker side, but also seems like he was named on the sports gambling side too. Again, his name wasn't named in there, but there was a Portland Trailblazers connection, so it sure felt all the way. So. Yeah. So two different. Yeah. As far as the that that's the biggest name and Billups involved in both. But does he come to a plea deal or does he wait this out? And Rosier, does he come to a deal here?
- [60:58]
J. Skeets
Yeah.
- [61:00]
Trey Kirby
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- [64:02]
J. Skeets
Final piece of news Celtics President of basketball operations Brad Stevens has been named the NBA Basketball Executive of the year, his second time winning the trophy. He is the 12th executive to win the award multiple times since it was first presented in 1972. 73. Don't worry, I'm not doing trivia on that one for you guys.
- [64:23]
Tas Melas
Multiple Execs of the Year. That'd be tough.
- [64:25]
J. Skeets
That'd be tough. That'd be tough. But he received Stevens did 11 first place votes from a panel of 30 basketball executives, one from each of the NBA's teams. This is not decided by this panel of media. Right. This is the actual executives themselves or at least the front offices. And Stevens appeared on 17 of the 30 ballots and 11 first place votes. So he gets it done. Think he's deserving?
- [64:48]
Tas Melas
He's deserving, but he shouldn't have won this year. Okay, I'm thumbs down on this. He won Executive of the year in 2024. The Celtics won the title after bringing in Drew Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Perfect. Yeah, that's how you should win Executive of the year. 2026 moves, mostly cost cutting. Like undeniably impressive. What the Celtics did this year to lose Jason Tatum, to ship out three more of their top seven in cash saving moves for the most part and maintain their status. Definitely there have been small hits for the Celtics like Garza, Keda, Baylor Baggins. All guys that were there except for Garza. You know, they developed for sure. No doubt about it. But it feels to me like he's getting credit for getting the team under the second apron. And that feels weird to me.
- [65:31]
Trey Kirby
Yes, absolutely. He's won this for trading away parts, that's clear. It's not for trading Kristaps for George Niang. I highly doubt it's that or trading away Drew Holiday for and Free Simons who ended up being Nicola Vucevich. I don't think it's that either.
- [65:46]
J. Skeets
Right.
- [65:47]
Trey Kirby
This is for money. Cost cutting. Going all the way back to the summer. Those deals that I sat there, Porzingis and Drew. It happened in July or June. Actually, June and July. Anyways, it's way before the season started, so it ain't about 25, 26 here, it's just about my pick. Was Sam Presti in this one? Because he always does, always does win. He must be a multiple winner.
- [66:11]
Tas Melas
I don't know. He probably won it last year, didn't he?
- [66:13]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, he won it last year. Yeah.
- [66:15]
Tas Melas
Preston would have been your choice.
- [66:16]
Trey Kirby
Yeah.
- [66:16]
Tas Melas
Didn't do anything.
- [66:17]
Trey Kirby
Oh, hey, that Jared McCain's. That one made one move.
- [66:21]
Tas Melas
It should have been Auntie Sally who
- [66:22]
J. Skeets
was second in this. Yeah. And did appear on a lot of ballots.
- [66:25]
Tas Melas
Just not 17 as well. Yes, yes, but he won both transaction periods.
- [66:29]
J. Skeets
Yeah, right.
- [66:30]
Tas Melas
In the summer it was. Wow, look what the Hawks did. They got the Pelicans pick. They got Nikhil Alexander Walker. They got Christ Porzingis.
- [66:36]
Trey Kirby
Great pick.
- [66:36]
Tas Melas
It didn't work. Okay, so he pivoted. They got Kaminga, they got Jonathan or CJ McCollum. They took off, won a ton of games. In the second half of the season and have a chance to win a playoff series. He should have won it for sure.
- [66:47]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, Yeah. I had him there. I had him there as well. It is weird how we put guys up on. On this pedestal from the June trades. I think this should be done later.
- [66:57]
J. Skeets
Okay.
- [66:58]
Trey Kirby
You know, this should be done later.
- [67:01]
Tas Melas
Season's over.
- [67:02]
J. Skeets
Yeah, yeah.
- [67:03]
Trey Kirby
No, the season's over. But you're saying he did great in June. That was last season, imo.
- [67:10]
J. Skeets
Not for the Hawks. It wasn't for last season.
- [67:12]
Tas Melas
Start of the new season.
- [67:14]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, yeah. Last season's draft. That was last season.
- [67:18]
Tas Melas
No, it wasn't. Those players never played in the NBA.
- [67:20]
J. Skeets
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't think so. I think it's for this season that we're talking about here when your season is done. It's that last game of the regular season. The Hawks weren't playing in June, last I checked.
- [67:29]
Trey Kirby
So you're rewarding for Anse sale in last June. That's not this season again.
- [67:33]
J. Skeets
But I am incorporating it as saying July.
- [67:35]
Tas Melas
Yeah, I'm saying after July 1, when all of these moves happened and free agency.
- [67:40]
Trey Kirby
No, that was the. That was draft day trade. The first one.
- [67:43]
Tas Melas
That's true. He did get the pick.
- [67:45]
J. Skeets
I include that. Yeah. To me, I'm incredible.
- [67:47]
Trey Kirby
And he got Porzingis.
- [67:48]
J. Skeets
You're building your team for this season
- [67:50]
Trey Kirby
that we're talking about on seek.
- [67:52]
J. Skeets
Yeah.
- [67:52]
Trey Kirby
A wonderful Canadian. Definitely deserve it.
- [67:55]
J. Skeets
Very deserving.
- [67:56]
Trey Kirby
Yeah.
- [67:56]
J. Skeets
But you do wonder if this type of voting now, again, I know this is done by the front offices of the executives and the coach of the year will be done by the media panel. But, like, is this tipping its hand, though, a little bit? Like, is. Is Missoula going to win coach of the Year? Because you guys just went through all the reasons. Like, really, this feels like more like Missoula getting the Celtics to the success they got to this year in this gap year without Tatum and all that. And maybe less what Brad Stevens did when he just, you know, he did a good job of cleaning up the books. He did a great job and the team remained good. So maybe it goes hand in hand. That's all I'm saying. Is Missoula going to win the award and then throw it in the trash?
- [68:32]
Tas Melas
I think it's quite reasonable. He actually throws it in the trash. I think he's definitely going to win it. Okay, but will he throw it in the trash?
- [68:38]
J. Skeets
50. 50. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.
- [68:42]
Trey Kirby
Yeah.
- [68:43]
J. Skeets
This was the seventh award to be announced by the NBA since the end of the Regular season. So we have MVP and coach of the year. The big ones left, but there's some smaller ones. I think we get teammate of the year tonight maybe. Yes, the, the Twyman Stokes, I think.
- [68:57]
Tas Melas
Who's the favorite?
- [68:58]
J. Skeets
I have no idea. Do we even get a short list for that? I'm not sure.
- [69:02]
Tas Melas
I don't.
- [69:03]
J. Skeets
I just feel like it's always either Drew Holiday or Mike Conley. Fine with that. But I, I right. I'm not sure. And then we get the Hustle award winner too, later this week.
- [69:15]
Tas Melas
Is it that one's. That one's pure stats.
- [69:18]
J. Skeets
I think it's no voting. No, I don't think so.
- [69:20]
Tas Melas
Who's deflecting the most?
- [69:21]
J. Skeets
So who is it this year? Who's deflection?
- [69:25]
Trey Kirby
I think we sat here 12 months ago and thought, oh, it's all stats. And then it converted to non.
- [69:30]
J. Skeets
Oh, really?
- [69:31]
Trey Kirby
Maybe I'm wrong.
- [69:32]
J. Skeets
Tell me who won it last year
- [69:33]
Tas Melas
and probably Marcus
- [69:36]
Trey Kirby
Dyson.
- [69:37]
J. Skeets
Daniels must.
- [69:38]
Trey Kirby
No, he was leading in in deflections, but he did not win Draymond Green.
- [69:42]
J. Skeets
Oh.
- [69:43]
Tas Melas
See the ward is decided using a metric known as hustle stats, which tracks defensive and offensive efforts such as diving for loose balls, taking charges, deflections, setting screens and contesting shots.
- [69:52]
J. Skeets
Okay, okay, cool.
- [69:54]
Trey Kirby
That sounds statistic based, but I don't know.
- [69:56]
J. Skeets
Yeah, all right, well, we'll find out later this week, guys. We'll do 10 minutes on it, don't worry. Little bite of the night. Sponsored by Ben Grubb in London. It's Ben's birthday today. Happy birthday, Ben.
- [70:09]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, good grub, man.
- [70:12]
J. Skeets
Yeah, that's right. Ben would like to thank his guy Damian for turning him Ben onto our podcast. The first one Ben heard was when we ranked all the NBA Finals series since 2000. That was a fun one. And he also says to Damian, he's the greatest GM North London has to offer. I guess Damian is holding down down the fort for the Muswell Hill ballers. Shout out to the best bunch of guys and girls this decrepit now 43 year old could ask for to hoop with every Monday night. Those are Ben's words, not mine.
- [70:48]
Tas Melas
This is a pretty nice though.
- [70:50]
J. Skeets
I'm also decrepit, but I'm a little older.
- [70:52]
Tas Melas
It's Ben's birthday but he's given a shout out to Damien.
- [70:54]
J. Skeets
I know, I know. I had to clarify with tasks. I was like, whose birthday is it? Who's getting this? Whoa, boy. Who's sponsoring who? I mean, it doesn't really matter, but yeah, yeah, yeah, it's great. Happy birthday, Ben. And shout out to Damien and the Muswell Hill Ballers.
- [71:08]
Trey Kirby
You want to talk statistics? Ben had to play a lot of minutes for the Muswell Hill Ballers. That's why he's calling himself decrepit, because he's 43. I said, man, I'm older than you. I'm not decrepit. You're not either. He said, well, I had to play a lot of minutes. We're short guys. Oh, so I feel decrepit right now. Maybe that's the legs talking. You got it, man. You got it.
- [71:27]
J. Skeets
Hopefully the Muswell Hill Ballers did better than Trey Kirby. Team last. How dare you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
- [71:33]
Tas Melas
Yeah, we got bounced early. We got bounced early down here for the Wesley Thomases.
- [71:37]
J. Skeets
Well, the Wesley Thomas. Yeah.
- [71:38]
Tas Melas
We don't have team names.
- [71:39]
J. Skeets
Interesting.
- [71:40]
Tas Melas
It's just done by the team captain.
- [71:44]
J. Skeets
Okay.
- [71:45]
Tas Melas
You know, that's strange.
- [71:46]
J. Skeets
Do team. Do team. Do you guys have. Yeah. Does everybody get jerseys?
- [71:50]
Tas Melas
Like some teams have jerseys?
- [71:51]
J. Skeets
Yeah.
- [71:51]
Tas Melas
Okay. We don't. Maybe that's our next step now. Maybe bring the team together.
- [71:56]
J. Skeets
You guys sound like a bunch of Tom Dundons over there. That's true.
- [72:02]
Tas Melas
Who plays a boxing one in men's league? That's ridiculous.
- [72:05]
J. Skeets
Oh, you got ridiculous boxing one?
- [72:07]
Tas Melas
Matt Pierce. Come on.
- [72:10]
J. Skeets
Hey, man, the scouting report was out. You take away Matt Pierce, you're beating the Wesley Thomases.
- [72:15]
Tas Melas
Exactly.
- [72:15]
Trey Kirby
Exactly.
- [72:16]
Tas Melas
Matt Pierce said maybe we should wear wigs next season so they can't scout us. Cool.
- [72:22]
Trey Kirby
All right.
- [72:22]
Tas Melas
Yeah.
- [72:23]
J. Skeets
Go, go, Batase style.
- [72:24]
Tas Melas
We're playing them wigs.
- [72:25]
J. Skeets
Okay.
- [72:25]
Trey Kirby
Okay.
- [72:26]
J. Skeets
Well, boy goes to Jalen Brunson. You can use Jalen Brunson on that team. Sounds like dropped a game high. 39 points. Shot 15, 23 from the field, 3 of 5 from deep, 6 of 8 at the line. Also had eight assists. Just one turnover, a couple boards, 35 minutes played. Jalen Brunson is a goddamn stud. He is. He is. He's just rock, man. I mean, I know this was his best game of the series, but how many 30 plus point performances does he have as a Nick?
- [72:56]
Tas Melas
A lot. A lot, a lot. Didn't you have like three 40 point games? I'm saying, last year in the bringing
- [73:01]
J. Skeets
this shit together, man. This guy's unbelievable.
- [73:03]
Tas Melas
He plays a lot like a young Matt Pierce, actually.
- [73:05]
J. Skeets
Wow. Wow. Geez. Lefty Matt Pierce.
- [73:08]
Tas Melas
Yes, lefty. Plays in the mid range all the time. They actually play very similar, though. He likes to compare himself to P and Pritchard.
- [73:17]
J. Skeets
Reggie Miller bestowed that upon him. All right, so Jalen Brunson. Well, boy, good stuff. We got three games on tonight. Magic Pistons, seven o', clock, Orlando. They're up three one in this series. We're going to find out if Wagner's playing. But can Detroit extend the series and do we get a good jail enduring game? Who helps out Cade? Or will this be another, you know, 92 to 90 type game? Maybe Raptors play the Cavs. That could be 92 to 90 as well. Pivotal game five. Pivotal.
- [73:48]
Trey Kirby
How do you like the start times being a mere half hour apart? Don't like it.
- [73:53]
J. Skeets
Yeah, don't love it. Don't love. But that's huge for us Raptors fans. And we'll see if the Cavs can play better back in Cleveland, which they look much better in games one and two. But Rabs the Raps dragged him down into the mud in Toronto, so we'll see what happens. And then Rockets, Lakers, Lakers, try and close out that one tonight. Game five. No kd. I guess Austin Reeves is questionable. I don't think he'll play again. They were doing that last game. I feel like too he's questionable. He's questionable, but we'll see. So how many of these series ends tonight? Will any of them end or do you guys like the Rockets and the Pistons to extend their series?
- [74:31]
Tas Melas
I like the Pistons to extend their series.
- [74:33]
J. Skeets
Okay, okay. Everybody's going to try. The question is the Lakers. Yeah.
- [74:39]
Tas Melas
I would side with the Los Angeles Lakers tonight.
- [74:41]
J. Skeets
Okay.
- [74:42]
Tas Melas
Home game.
- [74:42]
J. Skeets
Okay.
- [74:43]
Trey Kirby
Yeah, I've, I've. I was wrong before the series started and I feel like the Rockets could extend it here. So don't listen to me. Go Lakers.
- [74:51]
J. Skeets
Okay, okay. We will see. We'll talk about them on tomorrow's podcast. Well, we plan on talking about this new anti tanking draft Reform termed the 3, 2, 1 lottery. I gotta say, what happened to the Sam Emick report the other day? The front runner was the 18 team idea. And then like one day, hours later, it felt like, you know, after the Zoom meeting. I guess it's more this one which is a little more convoluted and we need to go through it. That's why we're saving it for tomorrow. We'll get there. And then we plan on doing the most disappointing players in the playoffs so far. Draft let us know who should be drafted, who's disappointed the most. Look, Derek White we talked about. He'll probably be there. Jelly Duran, of course. Course.
- [75:31]
Tas Melas
Mobley.
- [75:32]
J. Skeets
Evan Mobley. Interesting. Okay, yeah. Who else let us know in the Comments. And we'll do a couple rounds of drafting disappointing players so far.
- [75:40]
Tas Melas
Got a trivia for you.
- [75:42]
J. Skeets
Skates.
- [75:42]
Tas Melas
Jalen Brunson, 46 Career playoff games for the New York Knicks. How many has he gone? 30 or more in?
- [75:48]
J. Skeets
I think I'm gonna go. I think it's around 9 or 10. So I'll go 9. Okay, you go 14. Well, wow, that's a lot.
- [75:57]
Tas Melas
Add him up. He has 2330 point games in 46 for the new York Knicks. And he had that one delicious 47 point game or a 41 point game with the Dallas Mavericks as well when Luka was out. He can score.
- [76:13]
J. Skeets
I mean, he didn't. He had some good games even for the maps. Where is he on the all time, like points per game? Oh, scoring list.
- [76:19]
Tas Melas
Sorry, I counted this wrong.
- [76:21]
J. Skeets
He's got 21, won 30 point, 30 in the playoffs. Yeah.
- [76:25]
Tas Melas
Some additional. Dallas. So three for Dallas.
- [76:27]
J. Skeets
So. Yeah. Okay, so what, what's his career playoff?
- [76:32]
Tas Melas
He's averaging 25 a game in the playoffs. 29 and a half for the Knicks because, I mean, he was a bench guy for a lot of the Mavericks ones.
- [76:39]
J. Skeets
Okay. I mean, still on the sort of the list of all time because I think a couple of those guys like I was talking about Booker and them are around the 26 mark or something like that, so. Impressive stuff from Jalen Brunson. His dad's always there.
- [76:54]
Tas Melas
His dad's always there.
- [76:55]
J. Skeets
He always pops up every. It feels like once a game, Rick Brunson pops up and you see him beside Mike Brown yelling something, you know.
- [77:02]
Trey Kirby
Oh, yeah, I think it was game one series when he was really mad. Loose ball came by him during a timeout. He just hammered. He just banged it. Nobody gave it.
- [77:11]
J. Skeets
I like when Jalen and Rick start fighting with each other too over something that something they're seeing or how he's approaching. I love that it's hard coached his entire life. Okay, we'll see you tomorrow. Until then, Clipper Bros. You heard it here first. Have a great time. Turn up. Love you guys.
- [77:27]
Tas Melas
Awesome.
- [77:28]
Trey Kirby
Thanks for joining us. And remember the NBA player who loves Hamilton the theater the most? It's Scotty Barnes. He loves it. He really, really does love it. But you guys just got me thinking. Why can't they create some sort of scene with Jalen Brunson in it? That's Broadway. It's right there. Get him. Brunson involved. Get both. Brunson's involved. Sounds great.
- [77:50]
J. Skeets
Scotty Barnes and Jamal Shed were in the Nutcracker, if I remember. Correctly. When the holiday season.
- [77:58]
Tas Melas
They were in it.
- [77:59]
J. Skeets
Yeah, they had a cameo. They had a cameo. They were dressed as, like, jesters or something like that. No, it was definitely over the holiday break I saw. Yeah. Yeah. So he loves. Maybe he loves the theater. Gosh, he does love the theater.
- [78:11]
Tas Melas
Scotty Barnes, get. He's got Dwight Howard characteristics.
- [78:15]
J. Skeets
Yeah. Like a bit of a goofball.
- [78:17]
Tas Melas
Yeah, yeah, precisely. I. I could actually see Scotty Barton being one of those little guys that runs out from Mother Ginger's skirt.
- [78:26]
J. Skeets
Well, let's hope he just.
- [78:29]
Tas Melas
You're not familiar with the second act of a nutcracker.
- [78:32]
J. Skeets
Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's been a while. Scotty Brace the day people
- [78:43]
Trey Kirby
Vori makes soft, and I'm talking extremely soft clothing. I should know. I bought some before this ad came our way. I was wearing my Vuoris and my wife said, what are those? I haven't seen them. I told her, my silky soft Vori shorts. Of course. They look super comfortable and they are, but I can go out in these anywhere. They're designed to look great beyond the gym. Whether you're running errands, heading to the office or meeting up with friends, it works for everything. She felt them and she said, oh, they're like the PJs we buy for our kids. So Viori got my partner's approval just like that. I also told her that viori is a Finnish word meaning mountain. So I felt as big as a mountain. She didn't really like that, but you'll like this. For our listeners, vuori is offering 20% off your first purchase. Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet@vuori.com no dunks. That's V-U-O-R-I.com no dunks. The offer is for new customers only. Exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions.
- [79:57]
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Tas Melas
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- [80:48]
J. Skeets
support from this show comes from Quince I'm way overdue for a wardrobe refresh. I'm a podcast host that is very important. I drive a Chevy Trax. I'm a man. I'm 45. Clothes shopping in person is simply not a priority for me, so I usually wear the same stuff till my wife calls me out. For these these reasons, I'm pumped to say that Quince has been my new go to I asked Nora to help me pick out a couple of items and it turns out she already had a cart ready of things she was planning on getting me from Quints. So I picked up two of the 100% European linen shirts, one striped, one solid. The material feels light and breathable and the stitching looks really well done. They're the perfect type of pieces that feel easy and comfortable but still look put together. And the best part is I didn't break the bank. In fact, everything I purchased was priced 50 to 80% less than what you'd find at similar brands. Why? Because Quint works directly with the ethical factories and cuts out the middlemen. So you're getting premium materials without the markup. Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.com nodunks for free shipping on your order and and 365 day returns now available in Canada too. That's Q U I N c e com nodunks for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quint. Com nodunks this is an iHeart podcast.
- [82:20]
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