← The Athletic NBA Daily
The Athletic NBA Daily
Thunder Finals Appearance + Offseason Primer with Sam Amick | Slam N Jam
00:58:00
Loading summary
Transcript312 lines
- [00:00]
Sam Amick
This message is brought to you by Apple Card.
- [00:03]
Andrew
Whoa.
- [00:04]
Sam Amick
I just found out you can earn.
- [00:05]
Andrew
Up to 3% daily cash back on.
- [00:07]
Sam Amick
Everyday purchases made with Apple Card.
- [00:09]
Andrew
Yeah, you can earn unlimited daily cash back with Apple Card on every purchase. No matter where you check out with Apple Pay, you always get daily cash. The possibilities are endless. What's better is that daily cash can automatically grow when you open a high yield savings account through Apple Card. That's like endless plus one.
- [00:32]
Sam Amick
Visit Apple Co Card Calculator today and.
- [00:36]
Alex Spears
Discover just how much daily cash you can earn. Subject to credit approval Savings available to.
- [00:40]
Andrew
Apple Card owners subject to eligibility Savings.
- [00:42]
Alex Spears
And Apple Card by Goldman Sachs Bank USA member FDIC terms and more@applecard.com.
- [00:49]
Unknown
When it's the NWSL season, I'm locked in.
- [00:52]
Sam Amick
I'm streaming matches on Prime Video, breaking down plays in real time and queuing up hype tracks on Amazon Music. Amazon prime helps me stay ready whether it's fast delivery for last minute watch party snacks or digging into behind the scenes content between games. For me following the league isn't a hobby, it's a full time passion.
- [01:11]
Unknown
Whatever you're into, it's on Prime.
- [01:14]
Sam Amick
Visit Amazon.comprime to get more out of whatever you're into. The new McCrispy strip is here. Dip approved by Ketchup Tangy Barbecue Honey Mustard honey mustard Sprite, McFlurry Big Mac Sauce, Double dipped in Buffalo and Ranch More Ranch and creamy chili McCrispy strip dip now at McDonald's.
- [01:43]
Alex Spears
Welcome to the Saturday Slam and Jam here on the Athletic NBA Daily. On today's show we're talking to Sam Amick about the Thunder moving on to the finals, the Eastern Conference finals, some offseason topics and then we'll do some trivia. With me as always is my good friend Alex Spears and also with us is a good friend Sam Amick who I got to spend some time with here at OKC which was a delight. Sam, welcome to the show.
- [02:10]
Sam Amick
Andrew. Alex, thank you for having me. It was a delight to get to see you in person Andrew. It's been a long time since I was in okc, so these past couple of weeks getting not a little bit but a lot of bit of time out there has been fun. I will say this, you and I hanging you know two seats apart from each other at these games in and this is your all season long life.
- [02:36]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [02:37]
Sam Amick
Either there or at the scorers table. You know in the belly of the beast so to speak was a lot of fun because in today's NBA media seating is not typically that good. Loud City is living up to its name. I think my hearing is definitely, you know, been diminished in the past couple of weeks, but. But they were fun to watch, and it was just a cool environment to be a part of.
- [03:02]
Alex Spears
Yeah. It's no joke. It is. It is legitimately crazy loud. And, like, the seats that we sit in were in the corner kind of across from the visitor bench, and we have to stand up, you know, during portions of it. Like, it's not. I don't think it's very typical to have to stand up, you know, in a media seat, but, like, there are portions of the game where, like, Tim McMahon was sitting in front, and he had to, like, turn around so many times because, you know, he knows that I have a bum knee, and he's like, sorry about your wheel man. And, like, he's, like, standing up. Like, then I have to stand up.
- [03:34]
Sam Amick
I was gonna say don't. Don't try to portray McMahon as some kind of polite gentleman.
- [03:39]
Alex Spears
Right.
- [03:40]
Sam Amick
He doesn't care about your knee. What are you talking about? But, no, you're right. And there's, like, that inexact science of. You know, Joel Lorenzi from the Oklahoman was to my left, and I can tell Joel's there all the time, and his energy was a little bit, like, I'll stand up whenever I want to, and I'll sit down when I want to. I was. I was a little more like. Because I'm the outsider, like, standing up and then feeling guilty and turning around to see if the people behind me stood up, too, you know, but you're right, especially those. Whether it's a big moment when everybody gets up or the beginning of the game when they don't want to sit down until somebody scores.
- [04:15]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [04:16]
Sam Amick
You know, but it's. It's a good problem to have.
- [04:19]
Alex Spears
So let's talk about the Thunder a little bit. What are your big takeaways from that series for OKC against the Wolves?
- [04:28]
Sam Amick
That. That as young as they are, that it's. You know, I've certainly been convinced that it's. You know, unless they really mess this up, they. This organization should be, you know, raising a trophy this year. It's just. It should happen. And I just. I say should in terms of talent and coaching and program and all of the above. They have, you know, call it immature moments, just. And I'm just talking about play, not, you know, not spirit, but, like, where they lose focus or they just. They don't keep that intensity in the foot on the pedal Which I don't really blame them because nobody else in the league puts the foot on the pedal like they do. So that's the biggest thing, is that they are the best team left. But, you know, beyond that, and I wrote about this a little bit the other day, is it's one thing to see the viral clips all season long of Thunder players goofing around with Nick Gallo, or, you know, you having lighthearted interviews with different guys, or the TNT interviews where they demand that 3, 4, 5 players are part of it. Like, the whole fraternity feel that was, for me, mostly an online experience to this point, to get closer to it and try to understand it a little more and see that it's very real and then see it kind of actually have, you know, such a positive impact on the way they play. To where like after game five, Chet Holmgren was asked, essentially, you know, how are you guys able to compete at this level? Or something like that. And he's. He. I'm paraphrasing, but you remember he said, you know, we got 17 dogs.
- [06:16]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [06:16]
Sam Amick
And. And all of these guys are. Are competing all the time. Well, you can't keep that many people engaged unless you have a program where your leaders. You know, Shay being somebody who is. His normal nature, it appears, is. Is to lift guys up and to include people. But he's not the only one. They have that culture. It seems very real. You. You know, at times, I'm guilty of, admittedly rolling my eyes a little bit and thinking it was corny, but you can't really argue with it now. It's. They're having a great time and. And they look like they should win the whole thing.
- [06:52]
Andrew
So seeing how dominant they look during that conference finals. I'm interested in your thoughts of the series against Denver in retrospect. Like, do you think that series was more about a young team just kind of needing to learn how to win, or do you think Denver was just closer to OKC's level than a lot of people expected heading into that playoffs?
- [07:10]
Sam Amick
Probably not to be political, Alex, a little bit of both. But I do think, like, Denver should, you know, re. Evaluate its own off season after having seen okc, you know, blow through this series in the way that they did against Minnesota and feel confidence in the fact that they still have a championship core. That, to me, is. It's the inverse of what OKC was bringing to the table, where OKC certainly appears to have a championship core, but they have a championship, you know, bench all the way through again, 15, 16, 17. The nuggets, we all know the narrative with them, and it was the same all the way until the end, which is the depth is the issue. But when you talk about Jokic with Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, you know, mpj and his, his shoulder was an issue, obviously. So he's the guy that I think is a massive question mark right now. But, but Aaron, Gordon in particular, having a, just a wonderful playoffs and huge clutch moments like that trio of Joker, Jamal and Aaron are. They should still be excited in Denver and figure out how to add to it. Now you've got all these other uncertainties. You got the, you know, Russell Westbrook has a small player option. I'd be surprised if he was back. So they have to figure out, you know, the depth was, was exposed all the way through that series. But, you know, it was impressive. The thing too, my, my last thought on that Joker is so interesting because, man, it's like you could tell in that series that when he squinted hard enough and actually thought we might be able to get to the conference finals here, then you saw his superpowers rise, you know, then, you know, when Gordon has the injury, MPJ has the injury, you can feel it slipping away and it's human nature. But you can tell to me that Joker, like, he almost reads the room and if he sees, you know, a 10 chance, he goes for it. And if he doesn't, he, you know, then he kind of fades a bit. And I did feel like that happened a little bit at the end against okc.
- [09:18]
Alex Spears
You said you'd be surprised if Westbrook's back. What, what makes you think that man.
- [09:23]
Sam Amick
Select is going straight for the aggregators?
- [09:26]
Alex Spears
That just piqued my curiosity.
- [09:30]
Sam Amick
I mean, listen, when they fired Michael Malone and Calvin Booth, the insight and the information that came out regarding the Westbrook experience, and I know he hates the stuff. He's been getting upset with media for a minute now. And I get it because it's, it's such a tricky. And I'm going to answer the question, but a tricky dynamic to cover because it's, you know, I heard a rant the other day. Raja Bell at the ringer was screaming and yelling about how, like, how are you going to make it the minimum players fault? You know, like he was defending Russ saying like, like it was a pretty funny rant where he said, like, tell me what NFL team has media yelling at it going, it's the backup quarterback, you know, but like, that's, that's obviously a little disingenuous because, like, you know, Russ does Have the ability to kind of, you know, elevate or, you know, or kind of devastate his own team.
- [10:25]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [10:26]
Sam Amick
And that. That has been a basketball issue and was during the season when Malone started him for a bit. He kind of broke that, you know, little secret that everybody knows at this stage of Russ's career, which is like, you can't start him because you can't unstart him. After that, he's. He's going to want that treatment, you know? You know, and so I guess the internal dynamics at times were. Were tough. You know, ESPN reported that Aaron Gordon got into it with Russ in the Clipper series in the locker room.
- [10:59]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [11:00]
Sam Amick
So that's the thing. They have to be sensitive to dynamics and. And I just don't know if that. I mean, again, it's his option. So that part comes into play and I'm sure he's going to, you know, see what his market looks like and figure out what he wants to do. But. But it's really just a vibe like it. I would. I'd be surprised if he was back.
- [11:20]
Alex Spears
Yeah, they just. I mean, there was all of the talk about how they want to play younger guys, but when it pushed game to shove in the playoffs, they just play. They had to play him a lot. And some of that's just roster issues that Denver has and they'll have to address right. This off season. But that. That will be an interesting subplot here. I did want to talk about OKC a little bit more because a lot of. There was just word that teams were not afraid of Oklahoma City heading into the playoffs, but league wide, how do you see people. How do people view the Thunder and like their run that they've had?
- [11:55]
Sam Amick
Yeah, I mean, that word, afraid. Like, they. They're. I think they're afraid now. You know, like it's. It's changed. In game five, for example, remember Julius Randle hits that early three.
- [12:09]
Alex Spears
Yep.
- [12:10]
Sam Amick
And then on the defensive end, he gets up into Chet in a way that showed me like, game three intensity, and I don't know if I have that. The Wolves win game three.
- [12:24]
Alex Spears
Yeah, that's right.
- [12:24]
Sam Amick
Yeah. Yeah. And so I literally turned to Joel and this is pretty hilarious in hindsight. And I was like, oh, man. Said OKC is going to lose tonight. And he's like, why? I'm like, because that's what wasn't there the other day. Okay, fine. They had a moment. It looked like the desperation was going to be there, and Chet looked flustered and they weren't moving the Ball. And I swear, 30 seconds later, it's Nas Reed out on the break. And I honest to God cannot remember any game, any player ever, Alex Caruso just in a full sprint. And I, in our live blog, I said he was a heat seeking missile. Like just running after Nas, where you talk about that word, afraid. Like, Nas looked like he was in a horror movie. He was about to scream, you know, like dribbles off his foot out of bounds. That's when I was like, oh boy. Like that's what the league should be afraid of. I had somebody text me when the Western finals MVP vote came out. And I was one of the people who voted for Shea. And I still don't know if they were kidding. It was a scout for another team that literally said, because he hadn't seen the votes yet, he says, I sure hope you voted for Caruso. You know, and like, it spoke to like the depth of this team and the fact that they've got star power, they've got defensive rock stars up and down the roster. And the fear factor is in the defense. It's the intensity of Lou Dort. It's the fact that, you know, we had talked the other day about how Shea had actually seemed to dial back defensively during this series, that, you know, there was a lot of lazy getting around screens and playing off and stuff, the stuff you don't normally see from Shea. And it's like, well, he's carrying a really significant load and he can do that a little bit on this roster. I think that speaks to fear as well, is like, guess what? If they are so good that Shea can, you know, coast and kind of recharge a bit at times, then that's only going to, you know, impact things on the other end of the floor. So they're, I mean, they're showing in the playoffs now that they are worthy of living up to the, the historical framing of the regular season, you know, because 68 wins, 12.9 point differential, all these things like that that, you know, that speaks to dominance. And really, like on paper, this should be, you know, the beginning of a fairly long and dominant run.
- [15:06]
Andrew
So for the Wolves, you know, they lose in five, but they didn't make back to back conference finals. After having made the conference finals only once in the previous 34 years, they're heading into the summer with big decisions to be made about several key pieces, including Nas Reed. Nas won six man of the year last year and he has said that he sees himself as a starter, but now there's limited cap Space available this summer. The Wolves clearly want to keep him, but given his rare skill set, do you think he could potentially be a top priority for any other teams?
- [15:37]
Sam Amick
So I don't know his market elsewhere, but I think it's definitely fair to kind of revisit, you know, and question how that, you know, partnership looks right now. Because before this series, you know, I remember about a month ago or so trying to get some clarity from the Wolves as to their updated view on somebody like Kevin Durant, who they had, you know, made a run at, at the February trade deadline. And as of that point, the messaging was that, yes, we had very real interest back then, but now Nas is the priority and it's kind of like, you know, like, that's, that's the girl I'm going to dance with and I'm not going to worry about anything else. But then it's hard not to watch this series and see how little impact he had at times. I mean, the type of money you're talking, when it's, you know, somebody who, I know stylistically this was just a really tough series for him. But when you have six point outings and, and just total no shows, it does make me wonder, you know, how they see it, because they've, they've got, you know, with Julius and, and Rudy and Nas, that, that whole, a whole lot of money going to a whole bunch of bigs. I'm curious to see what happens. But in, in a vacuum where I guess independent of all that, you know, Nas's body of work is certainly gonna be reflected in the market somewhere. I mean, he's a fantastic player. That, that, that, that should get the type of offers that are going to make Minnesota's cap sheet look even messier.
- [17:19]
Alex Spears
Yeah. Have you heard anything about Nikhil Alexander Walker on that, on that front as well, with him being a free agent?
- [17:26]
Sam Amick
No. Other than, you know, just, you know, big time raise coming and a guy that, that's been on one of the best contracts in the league for a minute.
- [17:33]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [17:35]
Sam Amick
You know, when he's not trying to guard his cousin, he's pretty good. I was, I'm fascinated by that assignment. It had to be so, I mean, they're like brothers and it's like it had to be so tricky to, to try to, you know, to fight that off. No, I mean, other than, I mean that he is somebody who fits in very well with today's NBA. And, and I think that phone is going to be ringing. Admittedly, I'm a little early on the, the free agency Front. So I don't know, you know, what the suitors list might look like, but. But there's certainly going to be a healthy one.
- [18:09]
Alex Spears
Yeah. So in the last five years, only two teams have gone to the finals more than once, the Heat and the Celtics. And we are guaranteed to have our seventh consecutive unique champion this season. Do you think the parity that we're seeing in the league is changing the way that teams approach their team building process at all?
- [18:28]
Sam Amick
Yeah, I mean it has to because you know, we've. Obviously the irony is I'm going to say we're getting away from the super team approach. Except OKC is the outlier. Like they have a super team like they. This trio. And again you got guys on rookie contracts with J Dub and Chet and so it can only last so long but like getting away from the, the heliocentric approach, which is ironic because we still have the Lucas of the world that are global superstars and you know, who might be able to get back to, you know, the conference finals final stage. But the second apron realities are such that, you know, it is I think the age of, of semi affordable players with, you know, with the. A less elite transcendent skill set. Actually I agreed the other day with Austin Rivers had a whole bit on this where he was like, if you can. It's not about having a Kyrie Irving handle. If you can, you know, perfect. The straight line drive.
- [19:39]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [19:40]
Sam Amick
Play on both ends of the floor, you know, hit open shots. You can play in today's NBA. And those are the guys that are going to fill up 90% of the rosters and then, and then you've got that upper crust of 10%. But it's an interesting philosophical discussion about like, you know, I mean Shay obviously has the ball in his hands a lot and so he, I guess he pushes back on this a bit. But it's just, you know, we had the, that era of, of Harden and you know, not Steph because he. Everything with him so much is, is off the ball, but just guys, I mean Joker obviously has the ball a ton. Feels like we're, we're changing a bit there and, and that's going to be. That's a basketball thing, but it's also a business thing where, you know, more guys making 15 to 20 million as opposed to, you know, can we get three $60 million guys?
- [20:33]
Andrew
So three teams left in the playoffs. For the other 27 fan bases in the league, the conversation is already focused on the upcoming draft and off season which this week Sean Charani has said could be the, quote, craziest ever. Sam, in your conversations with people around the league, have you also gotten the impression that this could be a summer of major upheaval in the league?
- [20:54]
Sam Amick
For sure. For sure. I love the dramatic. I have shams in my head now going, major upheaval. I, I mean, the Giannis thing, you know, this will be interesting to see if this ages well or not, because, you know, we're, we're, we're tracking it fairly closely. Like, I'll be honest with you, like, yes, I could see craziness, but, you know, I keep saying this, like, we can't skip over the fact that he still hasn't raised his hand and said that he actually wants to leave Milwaukee. And, and, and since the end of their season, like I will say, and I, I personally, I have moved slightly closer to Milwaukee, having a puncher's chance of convincing him to stay here since the end of the year. Because when they lost, you looked at it and it was just, and, you know, and I know the situation really well. It's like, come on, three straight first round bow outs. The only, you know, the only avenue they had to try to pivot again was to trade Dame this summer. And I thought that, and that was going to be a conversation because, you know, that's already where things were heading. But then his injury means you lose that ability to pivot.
- [22:11]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [22:11]
Sam Amick
And there's all these factors where I just didn't understand, like, how in the world could the Bucks look Giannis dead in the face and act like he had any promising future there, but since that happened, the end of their season, you know, Boston sees Jason Tatum go down, so Boston gets significantly weaker. We know their cap situation and the fact that, you know, this summer, whether it's Derrick White, you know, somebody else, like, they're likely going to have to move somebody. So the Celtics are down. The Cavs, who look so dominant, get bounced. You know, the Pacers are obviously fantastic, but that's the funny one to me, because the Bucks have such an edge with the Pacers. Like, I think they have a delusional confidence against Indiana. I don't even think they, you know, I think Giannis doesn't care what Indiana, you know, how good they look, because he thinks they can beat him no matter what. So I could see the Bucks telling him, yeah, are you sure you want to either go to the west, which is even more loaded, or, you know, like, if we do a trade with somebody in the east or both conferences, it's one of those things, like the Carmelo Anthony situation back in the day with Denver, where, you know, you go to the Knicks and the roster is depleted and you're really not in a better situation than the one that you work so hard to get out of. You know, that's going to be the thing for Giannis is I think every conversation that the Bucs have with other teams about what a trade might look like is probably going to result in him, you know, looking at his potential new team and not being more excited or, you know, or at least any less concerned than he is about the Milwaukee situation. So that's my two cents on Giannis. You know, from there, of course, you know, Durant and others will see what happens, but we obviously have moved very, very far away from the days of, okay, July 1st free agency. I mean, you know, the extensions are up so much that. That everything is movement now and business is being done differently.
- [24:19]
Alex Spears
Yeah. Talked about Boston. Everyone assumes that we'll see them make a move to lower the tax bill as they head into a transition season with Jason Tatum out. So, as of now, do you think there's any chance Boston could trade one of their more highly valued players like Derrick White or Jaylen Brown? Or do you think it'll be a priority to keep those players and move off guys like Porzingis and Drew Holiday instead?
- [24:43]
Sam Amick
Well, I mean, Drew would be the. The natural. The natural pick. I mean, Derek would surprise me, but that, you know, then again, Derek is the one. You know, they have a. The Celtics have a bold front office, you know, with Brad Stevens and Mike Zarin's been there forever. They've made bold moves before. And I think if you test the market for Drew, you know, I mean, Porzingis, with his health stuff and the way he played, you know, I don't think it's going to be robust for him either. But if Derek is the one who, you know, can replenish your roster in the kind of way that can keep you close to the level you were at before then, I could see them doing that. You know, I saw speculation the other day about the warriors trying to pull something off, you know, for Derrick White. I mean, that would be incredible for them. But then, I don't know, maybe a Kamingus coming back. I mean, again, our Anthony Slater wrote the other day about how tricky and challenging any Kaminga signing trade is going to be. So I don't know which of those guys it'll be, but that it is. I don't know how you guys feel. I'm a little torn on this because, you know, the parody is fun, but the second apron realities and the runways of these really good teams getting shortened to the degree they are admittedly has me a little bit bummed out because I, you know, like, I like seeing Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown push through all those years of conference finals losses, finally get the championship, and now just because of the way the CBA is structured, you know, they're going to have to break it up. Cleveland again, we thought they were set up for the long term, but they have tough questions coming right away. So like, the parody is fun in the moment, but then you look up and it's like that. I wonder how we're going to feel about the churn when it's every three, four, five years. You know, these teams are just kind of disappearing.
- [26:42]
Alex Spears
Yeah, it's going to be tricky because I think there just has to be so much intentionality behind what teams are doing. You know, you can't just like make moves willy nilly anymore. I mean, look at like Phoenix. I feel like is. Is probably the poster child of that where it's, you can't just make these moves to get the talent in because eventually, like, it's just untenable. It just can't happen. So the intentionality and like the like the biggest advantage right now probably in the NBA is like good ownership, good gm, you know, like, you just have to have both those things at this point and they have to know the CBA very well. But yeah, it is, it is very tricky for sure.
- [27:21]
Andrew
I almost wonder if the Wolves team building process over these last couple years will look like more teams will look like that. I mean, that cat trade was such a huge trade, but I just. Now I'm anticipating that we're going to just see more trades like that where teams are trading a big money player to break it up into smaller contracts and figure it out as they go. And credit to Tim Connolly because that was such a huge, risky trade and for them to make back to back conference finals, I mean, I feel like it paid off. But that trade kind of felt like an outlier last summer. And now looking ahead to this summer, it feels like that we might see more trades like that.
- [27:56]
Sam Amick
No, I completely agree, Alex. I mean, you know, even right after the Wolves lost you walking through the hallway at Paycom center and admittedly it's, it's a little awkward because the, that group in particular, I really enjoy their front office and their coaching staff and, and from a media standpoint, they're very Inclusive in terms of, like, you know, you get to spend real time with them. And so the last couple weeks, I was around him a lot, enjoyed the heck out of, you know, Tim, you know, their whole group, you know, Matt Lloyd and Tim's brother Joe and all these guys. And then you see him after, and you're kind of trying to give it the old, hey, great season. But you could kind of tell right away to your point that, no, but none of them were going to say, we didn't think we would be here. But they were like, listen, if you, you know, if you would have asked us how we felt. Well, we made that trade and then told us that we were in the west finals, like, pretty damn good, you know, and you mentioned it earlier, you know, two conference finals after, you know, the run of. Of. Of struggle that they had in Minnesota all those years, like, this is a. A legendary time for the team in that market. And yeah, to do it on the heels of. Of a trade that was largely financially driven is. Is impressive. And I. And I'm with you. I think it. It is going to become more the norm.
- [29:16]
Andrew
So you mentioned Cleveland. How real do you think the possibility is that Cleveland could break up that core four and trade one of Darius Garland or Jared Allen this summer?
- [29:27]
Sam Amick
I mean, the Garland one is, you know, it's. Every time you fall short, then, you know, the questions that were there before. Sorry, guys. Every time you fall short, the questions that were there before are going to come back. So. Meaning last summer, you know, Donovan Mitchell goes into the summer and, you know, our group had reported right when their season ended that Darius Garland was going to likely ask for a trade, and that didn't end up happening, but it did require that Darius had to have some very real conversations with Kenny Atkinson, with Toby Altman about his role. So you had Darius wanting a bigger role. He didn't want to just be in the corner. And it was a. It was a storybook, you know, season. From there, they. They ironed that out. They were fantastic. But the other part of the question with that backcourt that was there then and is there again now is just the defensive size. And, you know, I think the idea of, you know, do they need to try something new? So all those different parts of the dynamic and the relationship are still there. And I wonder if they get revisited because it's, you know, it's a tough pill to swallow to be that good in the regular season and then flame out like they did. So, I mean, yeah, I could see them, you know, pivoting because you have to keep evolving. I mean, when they look up and. And they're, you know, for all intents and purposes, finishing seventh or eighth in the league, that's. That's not where they were trying to be. So, yeah, I could see something happening there.
- [31:09]
Alex Spears
So it's Tatum's injury and all the uncertainty around the Bucks. The east is suddenly looking like it could be extremely weak next season. Are there any east teams that you think are well positioned to make a big move this summer to, like, gain an advantage and take advantage of this opportunity?
- [31:28]
Sam Amick
Well, I mean, it's. It's wild if you would have told me, guys, that when I wrote a story about the. The Pacers right around the time when they were 10 and 15.
- [31:40]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [31:41]
Sam Amick
And it was crazy because they came through Sacramento. And I'm just going to be real, like, I was just trying to, like, I didn't have a lot to write that week, and I was like, all right, what can I do on the Pacers? Let me talk to Tyrese, talked to Rick Carlisle, and, you know, but it was like my. My energy towards this story was that this is the fluky conference finals participant coming back down to earth.
- [32:06]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [32:07]
Sam Amick
And. And what I learned that night that. That I keep repeating, because I think they deserve a lot of credit for this, is that even at 10 and 15, I had asked Carlisle when they were in Sacramento, you know, I said, essentially, the only downside of making a conference finals appearance is that expectations go up. You know, how do you feel like your group is handling, you know, the. The. The framing of their situation now? And he didn't run from it at all, and literally just said, we are trying to win a championship. That is what we are trying to build. And I actually walked away going, okay, there's a legitimacy to this program culturally that. That is more substantive than I had realized.
- [32:47]
Alex Spears
I.
- [32:47]
Sam Amick
So to see it go from 10 to 15 to what they are now. My first thought to your question, Andrew, is it's the Pacers, and it's not necessarily a move that, you know, can elevate them, although I'm sure depending on how this finish goes, you know, there's stuff that they'll look at, but they're in a pretty good spot. And, you know, they got to figure out the Miles Turner free agency stuff, but, you know, he's widely expected to stick around. But, you know, they're well positioned. You know, Detroit, with all the momentum of their program, you know, what can they do? I don't see a team that is one move Away. I mean, you go down the list, you know, Philly, of course, it's just a massive if Of. Of health.
- [33:31]
Alex Spears
What about Orlando?
- [33:33]
Sam Amick
Sure.
- [33:35]
Alex Spears
They need a. They need a guard pretty badly.
- [33:38]
Sam Amick
It's. To me, though, it's hard. I feel like they're a little bit on the knife's edge of their own identity. Meaning I feel like a lot of the moves that they might consider might actually take away from their superpower, which is that incredible defense.
- [33:54]
Alex Spears
Yeah, true.
- [33:55]
Sam Amick
You know, like, when you hear Trey Young attached to them, like, I, you know, I. I don't like that. Like, I. I'd see. But. And I get it, because they need shooting and they need offense, but, you know, they. If. I don't know, if I was them, I would. I would be tempted to be patient because I do think, especially nationally, because we don't ever talk about Orlando, we have completely glossed over how significant their injuries were.
- [34:24]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [34:25]
Sam Amick
Last season, I mean, they were massive. You know, like, I. I would be tempted to see what the development looks like because Paolo is special and, you know, can he be a little more special next year? And the rest of those guys getting better as well. Not to say they don't make any moves, but they have such a unique attack defensively that. Especially in this era where all of a sudden that's what we're doing, you know, OKC is showing. So. Yeah, I mean, but yeah, they. I do expect them to kind of get back into that top tier.
- [35:02]
Alex Spears
Yeah. Hopefully everybody takes care of their obliques this summer.
- [35:06]
Sam Amick
Yes. So many oblique issues.
- [35:08]
Alex Spears
That was the weirdest thing. Like, I don't even remember hearing about oblique injuries until those two with their two stars, which is so strange. Let's talk about kd. He's. He's one of the big names that's expected to be moved this summer. Mark Stein had reported a couple teams in Houston and Philly who are interested in kd that the interest may be overstated. The two teams that are reportedly do have interests are San Antonio and Miami. Do you think the spurs and Heat are, like, definite front runners for Katie? Are there any other teams that you see having interest in Katie?
- [35:46]
Sam Amick
I think about the Knicks. Again, let's just assume that they. They. They fall in this series, you know, and. But it's basically, to me, it's Giannis and then it's Kevin. So all the teams we're going to talk about, I think first have to figure out what's going on with Giannis, because Giannis and San Antonio could be a very real thing. The Rockets certainly would. That Giannis is somebody that they would think about cutting into their. Their core for. So from there, it's just a matter of, all right, is he available? If not, then the Durant market gets spiked, and a lot of these teams are going to be in play. You know, Miami is one where I don't know how good they would be with Kevin, but they're always going to be in the conversation. They obviously are reeling in the wake of the Jimmy Butler trade and how bad they were after he was gone. You know, Houston's candidacy for Durant has always been a tricky thing to discuss and report on because, you know, their front office has been very direct and, and clear about the fact that it's, you know, they. They think incredibly highly of Kevin, but his age is just simply not on their timeline. Yeah, but I think the reason that it still gets talked about is because, you know, people wonder if Ime Udoka has different ideas about the urgency of now. And, and also, you know, anytime you have Royal Ivey as an assistant coach on your staff who is, you know, a very close friend of Kevin's, and that's a connection that always gets made. But, you know, the Rockets, I don't think, are going to be chasing Kevin, so. But we'll see. I mean, he's still, you know, he had a good year, obviously trailed off in the second half, but he's still putting up elite numbers and could be a guy who could help somebody. But of all those teams, I, you know, whether it's Durant or somebody else, I'm really curious to see how the Knicks respond to coming this close, if they do, in fact, fall off here.
- [37:55]
Andrew
So our last question for you is about the draft, which is less than a month away. Are there any teams that you're expecting to be aggressive when it comes to the draft, so either moving up or down or looking to trade out of the draft altogether?
- [38:09]
Sam Amick
Alex, admittedly, in this now, I'm making editing work for you guys because of the greatness of San Vesini. I'm terrible on the draft. Like, I. I don't have much. I'm just being honest with you, so I don't have a good sense of that now other than, I guess, to. To close the loop on our first question. I just will be sitting back like I will be for the next seven years or so, just trying to enjoy, you know, the dozens of players that the Oklahoma City Thunder draft, I mean, that's. That's where my focus is. And because of the forthcoming NBA Finals. On my flight home the other day, I was. I actually. And Andrew, you'll be proud of me because this is. You're the expert on this, man. I did a deep dive on like, all right, I need to. I need to go back and make sure I, I specifically understand how many picks they have, where they got them, which ones turned into this guy, which ones turned into that guy, how many more they have coming. And, you know, it's just remarkable. So the fact that. What do they have? 15 and 28, I think.
- [39:17]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [39:17]
Sam Amick
In this draft, you know, nothing sexy. I mean, it's not, you know, it's not lottery.
- [39:23]
Alex Spears
15 to 24. Yeah.
- [39:25]
Sam Amick
24. Yeah. So that's kind of my focus. Other than that, it's, you know, it. It sounds like, you know, I mean, Dallas certainly is going to take Cooper and San Antonio appears to be preparing to hold on to number two. You know, from, you know, the Philly situation is interesting, so. But I know I don't have a great sense of. Of which teams are going to be the most aggressive.
- [39:49]
Alex Spears
Yeah. My guess is like Philly's just going to take. Take somebody here, but like, they're in such a weird situation, you know, Like, I, I don't know exactly where you go from here if you're Daryl Morey, because I, you could. You could say like a lot of different ways. I mean, I, I would recommend, hey, why don't you just take a young guy and then look to move off some of your older guys and just like start the rebuild now. Like, you've been gifted with the third pick. You have a young Tyrese Maxi. You have a way to kind of shift this.
- [40:22]
Sam Amick
Yeah.
- [40:22]
Alex Spears
And. Yeah, I, I don't. It doesn't seem like that's the direction they're heading, but they're going to have to make a decision sometime soon.
- [40:29]
Sam Amick
I say this respectfully because he's a hell of a player who, who just dealt with health stuff last year. But. And I'm being somewhat of a smart ass, if you will. But like it is the season of moving away from Paul George appears to work for a lot of different organizations. You know what I mean? Like Clippers decision. The Clippers decision to not, you know, re up him. They end up having a good year. Obviously they look like they might be a conference finals or finals participant, but there was that subplot. You have the backstory with OKC and the fact that Paul George trade is the foundation of this juggernaut team. You know, you've got the Indiana backstory. It's something I thought about the other day. Like there's all these wild six degrees of Paul George components to this postseason. So all of which is to say that, you know, I don't know, maybe the Sixers should go with the trend and see what happens. And like you said, go get a good young player and start going in that direction.
- [41:33]
Alex Spears
This message is brought to you by Apple Card. Apply for Apple Card today and start earning up to 3% daily cash back on everyday purchases. And that daily cash can even grow automatically when you open a hotel yield savings account through Apple Card. What are you waiting for? Visit Apple Co Card Calculator today to see how much daily cash you can earn. Subject to credit approval Savings available to Apple Card owners subject to eligibility savings and Apple Card by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Member FDIC terms and more@applecard.com.
- [42:13]
Andrew
I'm not saying I'm obsessed with basketball, but my neighbors definitely know when there's a new dock on prime video because I.
- [42:19]
Alex Spears
Yell at the TV like I'm coaching the team.
- [42:22]
Andrew
And with Amazon Prime, I can always count on fast free delivery when ordering a mini hoop, ankle socks and three different headbands because style matters even when you're missing layups. Amazon Music that's my pump up playlist for driveway dunks and imaginary crowd cheers. Prime is my coach, my hype man.
- [42:45]
Alex Spears
And my gear guy. All in one.
- [42:47]
Andrew
Whatever you're into, it's on Prime. Visit Amazon.com prime to get more out.
- [42:53]
Alex Spears
Of whatever you're into. Prime One membership endless assists.
- [42:58]
Unknown
You know that feeling when a girl who gets it gives you a genuine compliment? Suddenly you're strutting through the streets, sending motivational voice notes to the group chat, manifesting a new man. That's the Tresemme Lamel gloss effect, babe. It's an unstoppable kind of confidence reserved only for the real girls. Girls. And now we've bottled it. We're talking shampoo, conditioner, leave in cream, Shine spray and a finishing oil that's seriously too glossy to gatekeep 72 hours of salon level Shine. That's gloss that gives girl. And it's available everywhere. So go out there, get glossy and give gloss with Tresemme's new Lamellar gloss collection.
- [43:39]
Andrew
Well Sam, thank you for answering all of our questions. It is now time to play Andrew versus the Beat, our weekly trivia show where Andrew goes head to head against the NBA beat writer. This week. We got Sam Amick. Now, Sam, you've played this before. I've come up with eight questions all about the playoffs, mostly about conference finals. You're gonna give me a number between 1 and 8. It'll come correspond to a question. If you get it right, you'll get at least two points. Get it wrong, Andrew, have a chance to steal for one. And we'll go back and forth. So all the questions asked and answered. So, Sam, what number would you like to start with?
- [44:14]
Sam Amick
7.
- [44:15]
Andrew
Question number seven. This past week, Jalen Brunson became the Knicks franchise leader for most 30 point games in the playoffs. How many 30 point playoff games has Brunson had as a Knick? Now, before you answer, you can make Andrew answer first and then you can go higher or lower. Or you can answer first and then make Andrew go higher. Lower. If Andrew gets it exactly correct, though, or you. You would get a bonus point. So something to think about.
- [44:43]
Sam Amick
So third, we're simply talking 30 point games.
- [44:46]
Andrew
30 point games, Brunson.
- [44:49]
Sam Amick
Okay. All time. Not. Not these playoffs.
- [44:52]
Andrew
Correct.
- [44:58]
Sam Amick
30 point games. I'm gonna go with 27.
- [45:04]
Andrew
All right, Andrew, the bar has been set at 27. Would you like to go.
- [45:07]
Sam Amick
That's pretty high. That's probably too high.
- [45:09]
Andrew
Oh, Sam, would you like to change your. Change your choice?
- [45:13]
Sam Amick
Nope, I'm. We're good. We're good.
- [45:16]
Alex Spears
I'll say lower.
- [45:19]
Andrew
Well, that was great. A great hint from Sam letting you know you should go lower.
- [45:25]
Sam Amick
15, 14.
- [45:27]
Andrew
It was 21, though. I mean, you weren't 21. Yeah, 21. Yeah. Pretty good. Okay, Andrew, board is yours. And I actually accidentally just gave Sam a point. Sam just got a free.
- [45:38]
Sam Amick
Yes. Let's go, Alex.
- [45:41]
Andrew
I can't remove it too. It's permanent. I'm sorry.
- [45:47]
Alex Spears
I'll go number one.
- [45:48]
Andrew
All right, question number one. Among active players, it's not surprising that LeBron James has played the most active conference finals games. Which active player has played in the second most conference finals games?
- [46:03]
Alex Spears
Ooh, second most conference finals games.
- [46:08]
Andrew
So you got Braun number one. Who is number two?
- [46:12]
Alex Spears
Wow.
- [46:15]
Sam Amick
Let's see.
- [46:19]
Alex Spears
Is it. Is it Al Horford?
- [46:23]
Andrew
Andrew, that is incorrect. Sam, you have a chance to steal for one point that I've already given you.
- [46:30]
Sam Amick
I need to earn my point. I've already given you the pressure to at least get one so that your scorecard is not incorrect at the end is. Is immense. So I'm. I'm gonna go with a Warrior, but my question is, I'm trying to think about how many games in the conference finals Draymond missed versus Steph.
- [46:55]
Alex Spears
Oh, yeah.
- [46:56]
Sam Amick
So I'm just gonna go with the, you know, you hear LeBron's name, you think about Steph in that same sentence. So I will say Steph.
- [47:04]
Andrew
A good guess, but actually, Andrew was on the right track. Celtic. It is Jalen Brown.
- [47:11]
Alex Spears
Oh, it's Jalen Brown.
- [47:13]
Andrew
It is Jalen Brown.
- [47:15]
Alex Spears
Whoa.
- [47:16]
Andrew
Two more than Kevin Durant.
- [47:20]
Alex Spears
Seriously?
- [47:21]
Andrew
Serious.
- [47:22]
Alex Spears
Where's.
- [47:22]
Sam Amick
Do we have the list from there? Alex, I'm curious.
- [47:25]
Andrew
I can bring it up while we're talking. So, Sanders, Wild, you have the board next.
- [47:30]
Sam Amick
And I still don't have my point.
- [47:33]
Alex Spears
It's got a ghost point.
- [47:36]
Sam Amick
Number three, please.
- [47:38]
Andrew
All right, question number three. Only two players in NBA history have scored 50 plus points in a conference final finals game. One game was against the Knicks and the other was against the Suns. Can you name the two players who have scored 50 plus points in a conference finals game? You do get one point per correct answer. And this is all time.
- [48:06]
Sam Amick
I'm gonna make Andrew answer this one. Is that an option here?
- [48:09]
Andrew
No. No, it's not.
- [48:10]
Sam Amick
Damn it. I was trying to get.
- [48:14]
Andrew
It was an interesting strategy, though.
- [48:18]
Sam Amick
No, it's. It's a. Throw it back to you, Andrew. Oh, my memory's failing me, man. The Knicks against the Knicks and the Suns.
- [48:32]
Alex Spears
Wow.
- [48:35]
Sam Amick
Is the wow that I should be remembering this, Andrew?
- [48:37]
Alex Spears
No, no, no. It's just me trying to think.
- [48:41]
Sam Amick
Yeah.
- [48:41]
Andrew
Okay, here's the list for conference finals games. LeBron, Jalen Brown, Kevin Durant. Actually only behind by one. Al Horford, behind by three. And then Steph Curry, Clay Draymond.
- [48:54]
Alex Spears
Wow.
- [48:55]
Sam Amick
Ooh, they were way down.
- [48:56]
Andrew
Okay, George Hill. Why is he still considered active player on stat head? He is number 10.
- [49:01]
Sam Amick
Interesting point.
- [49:03]
Andrew
He was.
- [49:03]
Sam Amick
I just saw him chugging a beer at a Pacers game and hanging out with Pat McAfee. I don't know. I. I got LeBron. We got a 50 burger in the conference finals. MJ.
- [49:27]
Andrew
That is correct. Sam, for one point.
- [49:30]
Sam Amick
Yeah, baby.
- [49:31]
Andrew
Who would you. Who would you like for your second guess?
- [49:36]
Sam Amick
The MJ was correct. Correct. Yes, yes, yes.
- [49:45]
Andrew
So the other one would have against the Suns, if that helps you at all.
- [49:49]
Sam Amick
MJ against the Knicks, who dropped 50 on the Suns. You've been going all time. I'm. I'm just going to throw a Wilt in there. It had to have happened at some point.
- [50:03]
Andrew
Always a good guess with Wilt. And it may be true because I can't remember how they do what they used to call. They used to call them like the division finals or something, but for the purposes of this, it is incorrect. Andrew, you have any guesses?
- [50:19]
Alex Spears
I think this was Dirk that dropped 50 against Phoenix.
- [50:22]
Andrew
Wow. Very strong guess, Andrew. And that is correct. It was Dirk.
- [50:27]
Sam Amick
Nice job.
- [50:28]
Andrew
All right. Okay, Andrew, you have control the board.
- [50:33]
Alex Spears
I'll go number two.
- [50:34]
Andrew
Question number two. The Knicks won game five and will now head back to Indy for game six. In NBA history, only three franchises have come back from a 3:1 deficit in the conference finals. How many can you name? You don't have to give me the. The year. You just have to give me the name of the franchise. There's three of them. You get one point. Correct answer.
- [50:54]
Alex Spears
Golden State.
- [50:55]
Andrew
Yeah. When did that happen, Andrew?
- [50:58]
Alex Spears
2016.
- [50:59]
Andrew
That is correct. Can you get either of the other two?
- [51:04]
Alex Spears
So horrific. Horrific time. Let's see. Down three one.
- [51:15]
Sam Amick
Alex, can you repeat the question? Since I was.
- [51:19]
Andrew
So it's the three franchises that have come back from three one down in the conference finals. Specifically.
- [51:29]
Alex Spears
I honestly don't know the others. I'll say the Lakers. Just because they've been there so much.
- [51:37]
Andrew
That is incorrect, Andrew. Sam, you have a chance to steal. You get two points here. You can just guess some franchises and you might be right.
- [51:46]
Sam Amick
Well, I mean, the Clippers was not. That was second round at first and second right in the bubble. I mean, the Nuggets rather. Sorry, no, no, I just three one. I've got. I've got the Joker Bubble Nuggets in my head. But they. They fell short. Bubble Nuggets, Finals. That sounds inappropriate. It was not the bubble Nuggets. They lost to the Lakers in the conference. Yeah, I'm just going to go with franchises that have been there a lot, so. Celtics.
- [52:22]
Andrew
Guess what? Correct.
- [52:27]
Alex Spears
With the wrong coast.
- [52:28]
Andrew
1981 Boston Celtics.
- [52:31]
Alex Spears
He won.
- [52:32]
Andrew
There's a. There's one other that you could guess. Will you get it? We'll see.
- [52:38]
Sam Amick
The Sixers.
- [52:41]
Alex Spears
Did.
- [52:41]
Andrew
Did you say someone?
- [52:42]
Sam Amick
Sixers.
- [52:43]
Andrew
Sixers.
- [52:43]
Sam Amick
Sixers.
- [52:44]
Andrew
No, it was unfortunately, the Washington Bullets. 19.
- [52:49]
Alex Spears
Yeah. There's no way I would ever get that.
- [52:52]
Andrew
Okay, Sam, you have control of the board. You're only down by 14 questions.
- [52:57]
Sam Amick
Let's go number five.
- [52:59]
Andrew
Question number five. There have been eight five man lineups in this year's playoffs that have played at least 100 minutes together. Which team has had the best five man lineup in this year's playoffs with a net rating of +17 when they are on the court.
- [53:16]
Sam Amick
I mean, this is the OKC platform. Let's go for okc.
- [53:21]
Andrew
That is incorrect. Andrew, who would you like to guess?
- [53:27]
Alex Spears
I think this might be the Wolves.
- [53:30]
Andrew
Damn. Okay. I didn't think you'd get that. That is correct. It's the Wolves.
- [53:35]
Sam Amick
The wolves. Starting line 17. The lack of confidence.
- [53:40]
Andrew
I really think I'd trick you on that one.
- [53:42]
Sam Amick
No, I mean, Andrew, would you have picked OKC if I didn't pick okc?
- [53:48]
Alex Spears
No, I would not have. Because the Thunder's best. The Thunder's best lineups are like. They're like Caruso, Case and Wallace, like small ball lineups. And they don't. They just don't play them for like, long stretches. Like these, like, little, tiny, like, death by a thousand cuts type thing.
- [54:05]
Andrew
Yeah, yeah. Denver is.
- [54:07]
Sam Amick
I should have listened to. Okay.
- [54:09]
Andrew
Like, plus 14. Okay. Andrew, board is yours number four. Question number four. Four of Indy starters scored fewer than 10 points in their game five loss to the Knicks. Which player has had the most games with fewer than 10 points in this year's playoffs?
- [54:32]
Alex Spears
Wait, of anybody?
- [54:35]
Sam Amick
Which Pacers player?
- [54:36]
Andrew
No, just anybody. Any team. The player in this year's playoffs who's had the most played games while scoring fewer than 10 points. So it has to be someone who plays a lot, but also doesn't score a lot.
- [54:54]
Alex Spears
Yeah. This is. This is a goofy question.
- [54:58]
Andrew
Thank you.
- [55:04]
Alex Spears
Who does not score so. So single digits most games played. This is like Mitchell Robinson or Deuce McBride. I don't know.
- [55:23]
Andrew
Well, that was two names. You can only.
- [55:25]
Alex Spears
I know.
- [55:26]
Sam Amick
I was gonna say we have a cheater in our midst.
- [55:28]
Alex Spears
I know. Foreign. I'll say Mitchell Robinson.
- [55:33]
Andrew
Andrew. That is correct. It was.
- [55:35]
Sam Amick
Damn.
- [55:37]
Andrew
Very nice. Sam, two questions left. Would you like six or eight?
- [55:42]
Sam Amick
Well, I. I'm curious if you have a list. Was Rudy Gobert on the short list?
- [55:46]
Andrew
I. So Casen Wallace was number two. I know. I remember that.
- [55:49]
Sam Amick
Okay.
- [55:50]
Alex Spears
Oh, all right.
- [55:50]
Sam Amick
Fair enough.
- [55:51]
Alex Spears
Yeah, that makes sense.
- [55:52]
Andrew
Yeah, it does. I don't remember where we.
- [55:55]
Sam Amick
We can keep it moving.
- [55:57]
Andrew
Would you like question six or eight?
- [56:01]
Sam Amick
Eight, please.
- [56:02]
Andrew
The last time OKC made the finals was 2012, where they lost to the Heat in five games. We're going to name the other 14 teams that made the playoffs that season. So how this works is Sam will give me a name, then Andrew will give me a name, and we'll go back and forth until one of you stumbles. So you just got to give me the name of a team that made the playoffs in 2012 in. Cannot be the Thunder or the Heat. Pretty straightforward.
- [56:30]
Sam Amick
Dallas.
- [56:31]
Andrew
Dallas did make the playoffs. OKC beat them.
- [56:35]
Alex Spears
Wow.
- [56:37]
Andrew
Andrew.
- [56:40]
Alex Spears
San Antonio.
- [56:42]
Andrew
San Antonio. That is correct. OKC beat them.
- [56:47]
Sam Amick
Indiana.
- [56:49]
Andrew
Indiana. That is correct. Indiana was in the playoffs that year. Andrew.
- [56:57]
Alex Spears
Boston.
- [56:58]
Andrew
Boston was in the playoffs. That Year. Sam.
- [57:10]
Sam Amick
When did the lakers fall off?
- [57:12]
Andrew
2012. That was not an answer to your question.
- [57:15]
Sam Amick
Yeah.
- [57:16]
Alex Spears
In 2012.
- [57:21]
Sam Amick
Title in 2010. I'll say Lakers.
- [57:26]
Andrew
That is correct. The third team that OKC beat in that playoff run.
- [57:32]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [57:32]
Andrew
All right, Andrew.
- [57:37]
Alex Spears
What about. What about Chicago?
- [57:42]
Sam Amick
Chicago?
- [57:43]
Andrew
Yes. Chicago was in the playoffs. Was that the. Was that the. When Rose towards acl?
- [57:49]
Alex Spears
I think. I think Rose. Yeah, I think. I'm pretty sure Rose got hurt that year. Yeah.
- [57:54]
Andrew
Oh, that might have been a hint for Sam. Sam, back to you.
- [57:57]
Alex Spears
True.
- [58:00]
Sam Amick
My mind went to the other side. Houston.
- [58:03]
Andrew
Houston Rockets did not make the playoffs in 2012. Of course, that was. That was the. The year before. A few months before they got James Harden.
- [58:14]
Alex Spears
That's right.
- [58:15]
Andrew
That's right.
- [58:15]
Alex Spears
Kevin Martin. Kevin Martin. Luis Scola. Rockets.
- [58:19]
Sam Amick
The.
- [58:19]
Andrew
Jeremy Lamb.
- [58:20]
Alex Spears
The Jeremy Lamb Rockets. He barely plays as we all remember them.
- [58:25]
Andrew
Yes. Okay, final question. Andrew, you get first dibs. Which player has had the most turnovers in this year's playoffs so far?
- [58:35]
Alex Spears
The most turnovers?
- [58:37]
Andrew
Most turnovers.
- [58:38]
Alex Spears
Like total turnovers?
- [58:40]
Andrew
As opposed to what?
- [58:41]
Alex Spears
I'm just asking.
- [58:43]
Andrew
Total game turnovers? No, I would have said per game. I said most.
- [58:49]
Alex Spears
I'm just asking.
- [58:50]
Andrew
Total.
- [58:50]
Alex Spears
Just asking. I would guess, based on his turnover totals against okc, which were very, very high. This is Nicole Jokic.
- [59:03]
Andrew
Damn. Andrew. That is correct.
- [59:06]
Alex Spears
Wow.
- [59:07]
Andrew
Good job, Andrew. You won the week. Andrew versus the beat. I thought I'd get you with that one, too. I thought you guessed Randall or someone.
- [59:16]
Alex Spears
I was locked into those series. I was locked in.
- [59:19]
Andrew
I know you were. And, yeah, it was because he played 14 games, so it's not like he played that many fewer games than the Wolves players.
- [59:27]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [59:27]
Andrew
So congrats, Andrew.
- [59:30]
Alex Spears
Thank you.
- [59:30]
Sam Amick
Congrats, Andrew. That was great.
- [59:33]
Alex Spears
Alex feels so reluctant to congratulate me in that.
- [59:36]
Sam Amick
You thought he stumped you, right?
- [59:39]
Alex Spears
Please go read Sam Amick at the Athletic. Sam, anything in particular you'd like to plug today?
- [59:47]
Sam Amick
No, my friend. I'm plugging three or four days at home between these before these finals. Thank you to Sam Presti and their crew for making quick work of the Wolves.
- [60:00]
Alex Spears
Who is rooting harder for the Thunder that night? Thunder fans or your family?
- [60:06]
Sam Amick
Yeah. Yeah. As you know, you watched me go through it. I had some things happening back on the home front.
- [60:11]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [60:11]
Sam Amick
The. The first quarter of the game, and I don't mind sharing. So my oldest son, and thankfully everybody's okay, but he got in a car wreck. So first quarter, and I'm getting a phone call about a car accident. And the only saving Grace was I look up and the Thunder, you know, ahead by 90 points. It didn't matter. So I'm in the back on the phone. So yeah, you go back and read my column from that night and just know that I didn't actually watch any of the film.
- [60:36]
Alex Spears
First half you came and sat down. I was like, summary Thunder good, Timberwolves very bad. I think is what I told you.
- [60:44]
Sam Amick
But it is. Listen, first world problems. I'm excited to cover the finals. Every year I get reminded that as much as I enjoy this time of year, the, the travel is. It's heavy and so getting home for a few days is, is nice. But before you know it, it'll be back in Bricktown and see what they can do. But like always, we will have all kinds of coverage coming at you. But appreciate you guys doing this. This was fun.
- [61:11]
Alex Spears
Yeah. Thank you to Sam for coming on the show. If you will please leave us a five star view on Apple podcast, we'll read it on the show. Hope you guys enjoy your weekend and the basketball and we'll talk to you guys again next week.
- [61:45]
Unknown
You know that feeling when a girl who gets it gives you a genuine compliment? Suddenly you're strutting through the streets, sending motivational voice notes to the group chat, manifesting a new man. That's the Tresemme Lamellar gloss effect, babe. It's an unstoppable kind of confidence reserved only for the real girls. Girls. And now we've bottled it. We're talking shampoo, conditioner, leave in cream, shine spray and a finishing oil that's seriously too glossy to gatekeep 72 hours of salon level shine. That's gloss that gives, girl. And it's available everywhere. So go out there, get glossy and give gloss with Tresemme's new Lamellar gloss collection.
- [62:23]
Sam Amick
There's no manual for motherhood, and that's okay. At Little Belly's, we believe in simple, wholesome goodness. Our delicious organic snacks are created for every age and stage. Made with simple ingredients you can trust we do what's natural so you can too, as your little ones grow naturally and play through every major milestone. Check out our full range of organic snacks@littlebellys.com Little bellies, do what's natural. Summer's here and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber eats. What do we mean by almost?
- [62:59]
Andrew
Well, you can't get a well groomed.
- [63:00]
Sam Amick
Lawn delivered, but you can get a chicken parmesan delivered. A cabana, That's a no, but a banana.
- [63:05]
Andrew
That's a. Yes.
- [63:06]
Sam Amick
A nice tan?
- [63:07]
Andrew
Sorry, nope.
- [63:08]
Sam Amick
But a box fan?
- [63:09]
Andrew
Happily, yes.
- [63:10]
Sam Amick
A day of sunshine? No. A box of fine wines? Yes.
- [63:13]
Andrew
Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost.
- [63:16]
Sam Amick
Almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now.
- [63:18]
Andrew
Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by Regency app.
- [63:22]
Sam Amick
For detail.