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Dan Le Batard
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Stugotz
Now's a good time to remember where tequila's story truly began. In 1795, Cuervo invented tequila. Cuervo, what are you doing here?
Mike Ryan
Cuervo? Anytime someone says Cuervo, I show up.
Stugotz
Well, I do know that to be true. But even during ad reads like Cuervo, I think you could lay out especially.
Mike Ryan
For one of our great partners, sweet, delicious Cuervo.
Stugotz
Since then, Cuervo has stayed true to its roots. The same family, the same land, the same passion.
Mike Ryan
Cuervo.
Stugotz
So enjoy the tequila that started it all. Cuervo. Cuervo, the tequila that invented tequila. Proximo Cuervo.com, please drink responsibly.
Mike Ryan
Cuervo. Shadow Show.
Amin Elhassan
Shadow Show.
Mike Ryan
Shadow Show.
Amin Elhassan
Shadow Show.
Mike Ryan
Shadow Show. Shadow Show. Shadow Show. Shadowing it. Shadowing it. I have never had an experience like I did yesterday during the day when I came just got up in the morning projectile vomiting and couldn't move around. Couldn't do much of anything. The only thing I was able to do is successfully take my dog to the front of the grass and then immediately bring him right back because I couldn't stay out there. But late last night, as the nick started vomiting, I started feeling better. I believe that Naismith could have cured Covid knee Smith.
Stugotz
It's a fine.
Jeremy Taché
Smith is a good doctor by the way. They invented the game.
Stugotz
Give him some grace. He watches everything on mute.
Amin Elhassan
Dr. Niecemith, I'm right there with you, pal.
Mike Ryan
What happened last night? I don't like what I'm seeing in the me in the mirror. I don't. I. I'm just hating. I'm only watching to hate. I'm. It's not like I'm rude. Like what the Pacers did should be celebrated.
Stugotz
I'm so confused as to who I'm going for in this series. I was literally putting my hat like Memphis Bleak anytime the Knicks had the ball. But then I wanted to watch them choke. I was just such a fan of the theater last night and they provided one of the greatest spectacles in the history of basketball.
Dan Le Batard
It Became crystal clear last night what I was rooting for. Yeah, the pain once, the pains. I was like, oh, this is what.
Amin Elhassan
This is the good stuff.
Stugotz
I gotta tell you, though, it kind of flipped, though, because he hits the choke, he has the layup, but he pulls back like a badass. Gonna take the throw.
Amin Elhassan
Then you're rooting again, and then he.
Stugotz
Has the choke, and you're like, oh, my God, that's badass. But then you realize his foot was on the line. You're like, oh, I kind of want him to be embarrassed now, too.
Mike Ryan
I mean, did he have the layup? Because I thought Mitchell Robinson was going to prevent him from the layup, but it was still badass, what he did, that he decided to step back on that.
Chris Cote
Yeah, I think. I don't. I don't know whether it was because Mitchell Robinson was there or that was his plan all along. Either way, pretty badass to step back, hit that shot. By the way, the way the ball hit the rim, went up in the end and dropped down. Remind me of Don Nelson in the Celtics championship, like, years and years.
Amin Elhassan
Nelly.
Chris Cote
Yeah.
Stugotz
Reminded me of the sixth man, only instead of, like, Kadeem Hardison, it's Jim Irsay.
Chris Cote
Let's hold that for the real show. I got. I have accompanying.
Stugotz
And even if he didn't have the layup, though, like, he had an easy runner, like, in that pain. So if he was reading Mitchell Robinson and he decided to pull back. Mitchell Robinson was going to the cup, so I can understand the contention that it would have been contested. At the very least. I like Halliburton's chances as an all Star, but so badass to be like, nah, I'm going for the win.
Mike Ryan
He makes those shots a lot more than anybody does. Like, the stats are 12 for 14 late in games. 2 minutes left to tie or take the lead.
Dan Le Batard
The luckiest shot in the history of basketball. No, I mean, that thing. How many times did it bounce on the rim?
Jeremy Taché
Just once.
Amin Elhassan
Just once.
Dan Le Batard
Me and Tony. Tony, was. Were you making the argument that that wasn't luck?
Jeremy Taché
No, I wasn't making the argument it wasn't luck. It felt like the moment that it went up in the air, I was like, oh, that's going in. The way that this game is going. That ball's going in and sure as hell straight through.
Stugotz
As soon as it bounced that high, I was like, it's in. It's. It's going to wish that one in.
Mike Ryan
We've. We've seen a shot go in like that during games. I've never seen it at the buzzer. At the buzzer.
Chris Cote
That's not Nelson.
Mike Ryan
I've not seen that. I know you mentioned it, but I don't. I don't remember what you're talking about. I don't know. I've never. I've never seen a buzzer beater that.
Chris Cote
Does that quiet, Leonard.
Stugotz
Yeah, yeah, yeah. That one dance, it didn't.
Chris Cote
It didn't bounce as high, but it's a good one.
Stugotz
Yeah, you could. The half second that it was in the air was just the greatest thing when you realize, oh, shit, it's coming straight back down.
Mike Ryan
I mean. I mean, you can't tell on television. You're saying the Kawhi Leonard bounced on the rim a dozen times. The same thing with the Alan Houston shot. The thing that was great and perplexing about this is a ball that ricochets like that never goes back in the basket. And the angles on television make it so that's not going in. There's no way that went straight up. And it's just gonna. It's gonna swish from the rafters.
Jeremy Taché
I knew it. I knew it. The moment it went up, it went straight down. I knew it.
Stugotz
This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.
Mike Ryan
So I often say my father did this when he was younger. I've never seen something like that in my life. And it's covering a lot of ground. But what you saw from the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers last night is something that none of us have ever seen. And the way that it escalated. Stugatz, that made it so fun is how quiet and scared you can feel and hear New York being. Halliburton was quoted yelling as he ran to the locker room. Why is it so quiet in here? And the sheer balls Stugatz, just the unbelievable strength in him saying that he was going to go for the floater. Then Bridges hits the ball, then he backs up and tries to take a three. But in that moment, Stugatz, for him to immediately recognize, now's a good time to do the choke sign, for the history of it, to be standing in the center of Madison Square Garden and to immediately do that because you're not caught up in your own emotion as you've just won the game. You're as interested in breaking the other people, being the villain and mocking them as you are at winning Stugats. When you go that early to the. That quickly to that kind of celebration that mocks all of New York. And we haven't had A lot of players willing to do that, Reggie Miller did it once upon a time. But a lot of players who are willing to embrace that that doesn't happen a whole lot.
Chris Cote
Well, shout out to Tyrese for a couple of things. Number one, he said had I known it was a two, I wouldn't have done that celebration, right. I thought I won the game. And he said I probably can't do it anymore because then it'll seem a little disingenuous. He also said he didn't talk to Reggie but he did lock eyes with him when he did it. And finally he said he respects and knows the history and he knows Reggie Miller did that. Chokesign that was the series they lost in 94. And he said I'm not trying to do that, I'm trying to win.
Stugotz
So pretty aware. And also last night he became a superstar 100%. And this is why having the Knicks and that and that platform, that stage, the Mecca is so big for guys like Halliburton. It doesn't register the same. Maybe it does with the defending champion Boston Celtics, but it's.
Chris Cote
You needed this. That's the moment in the same way that Shay Gilgis Alexander would have if he had done it against the Warriors. Not that the warriors are great, but just because of the attention that Steph Curry brings that would have catapulted him or flip side, Anthony Edwards needed like the Lakers to be on this, on the stage or someone like that. Obviously that wasn't going to be an option for him because he played them already. But that's the part of these passing the torch is you need that high profile moment, right? And what the Knicks do is they provide a built in. Doesn't matter how good they are. It's going to be a high profile moment if you do it against the Knicks.
Stugotz
Dan, yesterday we were Talking about this NBA reset, the getting away from LeBron and Steph can't count on them anymore. And you have to put in the sweat, put in the time to develop these new superstars. Moment like last night. A moment like last night really fast tracks this for the NBA.
Jeremy Taché
Halliburton has done this in every series so far in the playoffs he's had a moment where it's like crossing Giannis game winner at the bucket. He did the same thing against Cleveland where he looped back, went back, shot at three. I don't think it was a game winner but it was to go ahead.
Chris Cote
It was ended up being a game winner.
Mike Ryan
Okay.
Stugotz
It's going to be remembered the way that Ray Allen was like, everyone remembers that shot, right? But they don't know exactly how Miami won that game. It's conflated like Miami won the game on that shot. No, no. History is always going to remember that Halliburton shot, even though it wasn't a game winner.
Amin Elhassan
It's interesting that we're starting here when you consider that we had one of the biggest collapses in hockey history last night. I mean, the oilers are up 31 headed into the third period. They haven't played a game in a week. They beat the Knights in five games. I mean, the Dallas Stars, they just came off a six, a seven game series with the Jets. That series ended, I think, on Saturday. They had no rest. They're down 3:1 at home. They come back, they get the job done. This is an Oiler team that has the best hockey player in the world. This is an Oiler team that went to the Stanley Cup a year ago. This is an Oiler team that's finally trying to win a Stanley cup for the country of Canada. They are up three one headed into the third period. And they blow that lead. Then five goals. They give up to the Stars in the third. What a joke.
Mike Ryan
How are you feeling?
Amin Elhassan
What a joke.
Mike Ryan
How are you feeling today, Stugat?
Amin Elhassan
I feel great. Feel fine. Why? The Stars last night and the Knicks in the first half. I mean, attaboy.
Chris Cote
How are you feeling, Dan?
Mike Ryan
Like it's unfair to Niecemith to make it all about Halliburton. Yeah, that's how I'm feeling. Guy made six threes in the fourth quarter. It's never happened before in a playoff game and hockey clubs the way that that happened ever so slowly, where Neesmith is making not just threes, but absurd threes. And you can just feel like he's up in the air. He's changing flight and air. And what was happening in Madison Square Garden, Amin is like, this is what. This is how it felt to me because it's been 25 years of suffering. And you also understand, right, they're overreacting to early playoff wins as a city because they're so starved. Nobody reacts this noisy to first and second round victories. And so they're feeling themselves yesterday. They're up 17 points. They're showing all of the celebrities. And Indiana is taking New York's best shot. This is Brunson going efficiently for 40. This is Karl Anthony Towns being efficient in getting his point totals. You're up early in the game, even though you're up in the first period, even though Indiana shoots 74% in the first quarter. And at the half, you're winning by seven. And it's a wonderful game to watch. But then in the fourth quarter, New York goes up 17, and what we've never seen statistically like this is the stat NBA teams were. Oh, and 970 went down by 14 or more points in the final two minutes.
Chris Cote
Is that bad?
Mike Ryan
50 seconds of regulation in the playoffs over the last 27 postseasons, they're now 1 and 970.
Billy Gil
Prior to last night, teams leading by nine plus points in the final one minute of the fourth quarter of an NBA playoff game were 14, 34, and oh, since 1997, they were due.
Mike Ryan
Indiana's done this four times.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, the coming down, I thought it's never happened.
Mike Ryan
No, from. From down 15. Excuse me, from down 15. They've come back four times during just this postseason. That's a product of the way the game is played today. Right? That's just all that is.
Amin Elhassan
Like, the Knicks came back from 20 down two games in Boston. So, yeah, I think it's a product of how the game is played today. Of course, the threes can get you back in the game very quick.
Mike Ryan
Well, I. I'm.
Chris Cote
Well, the Knicks, when they came back, the threes got him in the game, but it wasn't their threes that got him back in the game. It was the Celtics messing up a bunch of threes.
Amin Elhassan
They got them back in the game.
Mike Ryan
Why are you talking like that? I don't know. So Halliburton is now 12 for 14. 12 for 14 when he's shooting to tie or lead in the last two minutes of the game. And Mike's saying, well, that's what makes you a superstar. And I'd say, yeah, you need moments like that. But what's going to make him a superstar is that he's got personality.
Stugotz
Well, I mean, that was on display, his personality, with that platform, with that moment. For a guy that's had a lot of moments, and I would bet dollars to donuts, that dude shows up at SummerSlam in MetLife Stadium.
Mike Ryan
I don't know why you keep betting dollars to donuts. I don't know why.
Jeremy Taché
Very Dave Sampson thing to say, dollars to donuts.
Chris Cote
Let me put on my Dan hat and say, where does that saying come from? Someone do some research.
Stugotz
It always works. It always works.
Mike Ryan
It's just. It's sticky stuff.
Dan Le Batard
Put a polarizing saying, put it on the pole.
Stugotz
That makes me an ascending personality.
Mike Ryan
Do you believe in the saying betting dollars to donuts?
Amin Elhassan
Because how about Stuart Skinner last night, huh?
Stugotz
I don't trust him. The weight of a nation and Stu Skinner, they got to go back to Pickard, right?
Dan Le Batard
He either has a shutout or is the worst goalie in playoff history.
Stugotz
That's a crazy thing.
Billy Gil
In the mid-1800s, donuts could be bought for just a few nickels. So dollars to donuts.
Mike Ryan
Yeah, you'd bet dollars because they're worth more because you're that convinced of it. The thing about Halliburton, though, when it comes to personality. Jokic, what's the personality? No, I'm going to do. I could do it to all of them, though. Doncic, what's the personality?
Chris Cote
Hookah.
Mike Ryan
Yeah, like, but Ja Morant guns. I mean, okay, got some personality.
Stugotz
Too much personality.
Amin Elhassan
Dial it back.
Chris Cote
I don't know what to do today.
Mike Ryan
The guys in the league. Anthony Edwards is a bit unvarnished, right? So part of his personality traffics in what today passes for the modern day Allen Iverson. Where, oh, he's a little dangerous. Yes, he's going to get fined first off, he says what he wants.
Chris Cote
Modern day Cromartie also.
Mike Ryan
But when you look at doing that stug in Madison Square Garden and at the end the story becomes all about Halliburton when they were down 17 and Niecemith, who isn't the guy you fear there. He's just not. He's not. I'm not saying he's not good.
Amin Elhassan
He's just not capable of that game.
Mike Ryan
But he's just not the guy that you're fearing for.
Jeremy Taché
Six threes and not missing, Dan.
Mike Ryan
Not missing it. Miss. Not. Well, this is the thing, right? Like, I know it's going to be a historic choke. I know there were turnovers and missed free throws and I know in overtime the Knicks fell apart, but the Pacers did take it from him like the last five minutes of the game, they made all their threes. And the one that wasn't a three was Halliburton stepping on the line. That should have been a three. Like they, they, they didn't miss a shot. It wasn't it. So you can say that. Holy shit. I can't believe they scored 20 points that fast. But the Knicks also scored like it wasn't a 20 nothing run. It's just that the Knicks weren't making these threes that that N. Smith was making.
Chris Cote
I'm going to fight back on N. Smith making crazy threes. Yes, he hit them all. And you know, no one is expected to hit 100%. But he got great Looks because the Knicks, the Knicks defense gives up a lot of open looks. And we talked about this against the Celtics. The Celtics, yes, they took too many threes. Should have drove especially up 20. But I understand why they took them because they were open.
Jeremy Taché
I don't want to be the guy to blame people that do things, but. OG Anunoby, Buddy.
Amin Elhassan
Oh boy, Buddy.
Jeremy Taché
If you don't go above the screen one time, okay, you're playing drop coverage. Like neesmith hasn't hit 19 shots in a row.
Stugotz
OG, please.
Jeremy Taché
And hit a free throw, by the way, that would have been the game.
Amin Elhassan
They were up nine with under a minute to go.
Stugotz
Had the Knicks cat, too. Cat skating on that miss going over screens.
Chris Cote
And Brunson also was terrible, by the way.
Amin Elhassan
He was terrible in the final moments of that game.
Chris Cote
There were at least trouble, at least three or four almost turnovers that the Knicks didn't turn up, but there were almost turnovers. It was uncharacteristic how unclutched they were.
Stugotz
What is Halliburton ceiling in terms of like super in.
Mike Ryan
In.
Stugotz
In terms of super stardom? Because we were talking back here off Mike, he reminds me a lot of Damian Lillard. Made me wish because I loved. I was a big Dame guy. I know Dame had some moments in the playoffs, but he never really got. He went to the Western Conference finals one time.
Chris Cote
Got swept, though.
Stugotz
Yeah, got swept. Even though they led every game in that series.
Chris Cote
Yes, but rare. The rare, hey, they didn't really get.
Stugotz
A Brenda Moore sweep. He had the game to have those moments. The moments just never came to him. Halliburton's had a lot of these moments. But is his ceiling, Damian Lillard type superstar or we pushing into like, this guy can be face of the league, marketable, like Dame, near Steph territory.
Chris Cote
So Dame at his peak was marketable. Maybe not face of the league, but signature shoe. The signature shoe, like a brand ambassador for Adidas and all that stuff and a host of other national brands. I don't think Halliburton is as good as Damian Lillard's peak, but he definitely, I think, has a more engaging personality. Damon still kind of a gruff, reserved, kind of old school professional in his approach. Halliburton's willing to put on that black hat and mix it up a little bit and be a little bit of a dick, you know, And I think that that helps significantly in like, how big his brand could be. I'll tell you who's most upset today out of anybody in the world.
Amin Elhassan
Reggie Miller.
Chris Cote
Nope.
Amin Elhassan
No.
Chris Cote
Reggie's happy. Reggie loves it. Reggie loves it.
Stugotz
Because Reggie's back in the work.
Amin Elhassan
Skinner. I mean, Skinner.
Chris Cote
Superintendent Chalmers. No, it's Trae Young because he's like, that was my corner. That was my lane. I rolled dice at half court.
Mike Ryan
I know you're taking away from me. What are you doing?
Billy Gil
Well, and the irony is, is that Halliburton is basically a better version of Trae Young in every way, because Trae Young might lead the league in assists, but he also has a ton of turnovers. And what makes Halliburton so unbelievable and his future so bright is that he's basically a perfect point guard. On April 2.
Chris Cote
Last hope.
Billy Gil
On April 2, he recorded his 14th game with 20 points, 10 assists and zero turnovers. That was the most in NBA history since they started counting for turnovers. He passed Chris Paul, who had 13 such games. So he's already there and he's in his 20s.
Chris Cote
So among other things also, that helps Tyrese Halliburton, that he has that not too many people in the sport have. Some people do, some people do, but not too many people have. He's got a great personality, but, you know, else. His dad has a great personality. And so I don't know if you guys got to see how John Halliburton experienced that game and that game winner last night, but he did and he was glorious. Glorious in his. Put it on the screen. Look at him right there.
Mike Ryan
Choke signal.
Chris Cote
He's with choke signals. He's at a bar, a sports bar. Where is he? Probably in Indiana. That Artest jersey, art test jersey. I mean, look, this is. This right here, ladies and gentlemen, this is like peds, right? Because you got a guy who's got great personality, who's got a dad who's got a great personality. Come bring it together. Give him a TV show called Highly Questionable.
Dan Le Batard
Seems he's learned his lesson. Seems like he's watching, staying out of the spotlight.
Amin Elhassan
Good try, Mike.
Mike Ryan
What happened?
Amin Elhassan
Nothing happened. Nothing happened.
Mike Ryan
Who thought of that? I don't know.
Stugotz
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Billy Gil
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Dan Le Batard
Folks, listen up. The time has come to get some new golf clubs and that means one thing. Heading over to my local PXG store for a fitting. They make the best golf clubs period. Roy, I know you need new clubs, right? You're in that.
Stugotz
Yeah, I need new clubs, man. My clubs are way too short. I need to get longer clubs. I need new the grips.
Jeremy Taché
Grips.
Dan Le Batard
I'm telling you Roy, you go over to pxg, within an hour you will be out the door with their good staff. They're going to get you fitted, you're going to take multiple shots. They're going to get you set up with your woods with your irons. They're going to get you the right grips, the perfect length clubs. I'm telling you, nothing fixes your golf game like getting fitted.
Stugotz
Oh, absolutely.
Jeremy Taché
I need to work on my short game.
Stugotz
So these clubs are definitely.
Dan Le Batard
I think you got to work on the whole game, not just the short.
Stugotz
Yeah, well, you know, I. I got a long drive, so.
Dan Le Batard
PXG fitters are highly trained, incredibly experienced, and have a deep understanding of how to optimize your clubs to get the most out of your swing. PXG fittings are educational and fun. Schedule your fitting today and for a limited time you can save up to 20% on your entire order. Head over to pxg.com dan that's pxg.com dan to save up to 20% on your entire Order. Pxg.com dan restrictions apply. C site for details.
Mike Ryan
Don LeBatard, your history with him suggests three years of.
Amin Elhassan
Those are the heaters.
Mike Ryan
Three years of heaters. But this st. My partner enlivened by a sports.
Amin Elhassan
We're having sex, baby.
Mike Ryan
And Joe Ma. Yes, like, this is the best version of him.
Dan Le Batard
What sts now you are.
Amin Elhassan
Yeah.
Mike Ryan
The. The feels good.
Stugotz
This is the D Ler show with.
Mike Ryan
The St. Halliburton dominates the headlines today because it happened against New York and at least in part stugats. Because if you stuck with that game after the knicks took a 17 point.
Amin Elhassan
Lead, there's a lot of people who didn't, by the way.
Chris Cote
Right.
Amin Elhassan
They woke up today thinking the Knicks won anyway.
Mike Ryan
Sorry, I've got to assume. So I have to assume that that's what happened today, that a lot of people gave up on that. Because if you just rewind and it's hard to fathom, right. How quickly all of this stuff changes. I simply want to take you back to how good New York felt and how many people were yelling at Neesmith and others for continually fouling Knicks three point shooters. Stinky Knicks three point shooters. As Brunson left the game with foul trouble. And that seemed to be Indiana's best chance to win the basketball game. They were down two. Brunson leaves the game. He's leaving the game for eight minutes. At the end of it, the knicks are up 14. I remind you how good New York felt right then. Scrappy, underdog. We don't even have to do it with the smallest player on the court. Our guys are clutch. You remember how we loved Hartenstein and those Villanova grit and we didn't want Divincenzo the Foreigner to be traded because we loved all of that grit. But now at the end of that sequence, they're feeling great about their role players, they're feeling great about everything that just happened and then their heads get caved in. You have to imagine Knicks fans, all of them slept poorly last night, right? Every last.
Chris Cote
You have them sleeping.
Mike Ryan
Every last one.
Amin Elhassan
The ones that went to sleep when they were up 17, they slept like a baby. The ones who watched the entire game, they didn't get a wink. I mean, none of them seriously was embarrassing.
Mike Ryan
Put it on the poll at LeBatard show. Did a single Knicks fan sleep well last night?
Amin Elhassan
The Halliburton discussion is interesting because I would say his upside is I think he's better than Damian Lowic. This is a guy is the best guy on his team. He's taken his team to the conference finals two years in a row and now he's on the verge of going to the NBA Finals. I mean, Damian never did that.
Mike Ryan
Relax.
Amin Elhassan
Oh, come on.
Jeremy Taché
On the verge of.
Amin Elhassan
What are you doing?
Chris Cote
What are you doing?
Mike Ryan
I will say this.
Amin Elhassan
He's the best player on his team. He's taken them to the Eastern Conference finals twice. Damian went once.
Stugotz
In terms of surrounding talent, Stu, he does have an argument like, this isn't an uber talented team around Tyrese Halliburton. Lillard never really had a super talented team around him.
Chris Cote
Lillard never had a super talented team around him. Also, Lillard played with warriors and Thunder and Rockets and all these 65 win teams left and right.
Stugotz
Yeah, that's, that's probably also the supporting.
Billy Gil
Cast is like, I think that's the big reason none of us expected any of this from the Pacers the last couple of years is because no one around the NBA respects people like Neesmith and Nemhard enough. These guys are really, really, really good two way players.
Chris Cote
Dan, I'd like to shift gears to something a little bit more somber here. I'm sorry. I know we're all excited to talk about the game now. It's not about hockey. It's still about the game. But I'm, I'm really concerned. I'm very concerned. A dear friend of mine, his name is Elite, the producer, he's a Grammy winning producer for Dreamville. And he disappeared somewhere within that nine point blown lead for the Knicks and we haven't heard from him since.
Mike Ryan
Like a missing person.
Chris Cote
Like, we've, we've, we pinged him, we've added him, we've sent text, direct messages. He's not responding. So I know this is live. If you know, Elite and you've seen him. Please tell him his friends miss him and are worried about him and his good and his, his, his health. I'm hoping everything's okay. I know last night must have been tough, but buddy, we're really worried. Thank you. Sorry guys. As you were.
Stugotz
Minor penalty, two minutes high sticking.
Jeremy Taché
You thought it was that high?
Chris Cote
Guilty.
Mike Ryan
The pace is there blood?
Dan Le Batard
Nope, we're good.
Mike Ryan
The Pacers are 43 and 16 this calendar year. Okay. They started a bit slowly and I understand how it is that both. You can underestimate this before it starts and then you get a moment like that and get carried away and make him better than Damian Lillard. But I will say that when I was introduced to Halliburton and I don't know how or when this happened for you, but for me it was when he was playing here against the Heat and he started pulling up from 35 and 40ft and I'm like, oh, there's another one who could do what Steph and Damian Lillard do and Trey less efficiently. But he, it was the first time I'd seen another player extend the range. And when Jeremy says, and he is right about this when he says, you underestimate Neesmith as a two way player. You really do understand that when Anunobe doesn't look like an athlete against other athletes, you've got on the court a bunch of hybrids who can play a lot of different kinds of basketball against, against people. And, and what it is that you're watching with, with the sport changing, because it's not just that it moves From Steph and LeBron to a new kind of stardom and younger players. It's a style of play that's different stugats because I also remember, I remember coming in here all excited one day because I was watching early Golden State warriors basketball and they had a three on one break and two of their guys went to the corner three spots instead of going for the layout.
Amin Elhassan
It's the most excited I've ever seen.
Mike Ryan
But I'm like, what the hell? What, what the hell is happening out here with, with this. The idea that you have a player in the league, okay, who's miked up during the game and he's saying of Mitchell Robinson, that guy doesn't even have to like jump or anything because he's got like his fingers go down to his ankles. And so Mitchell Robinson, he's like, I love that guy. Because Mitchell Robinson is, is just, he's very long. And, and what Halliburton was articulating is that's what's defending him at the end of the game, that size mismatch. And he's going at it. It's what it is that he's attacking. He says afterward that he was thinking about the floater bridges sort of hits the ball. The idea to step back there, Stu, got to be like, I want to win this game. I don't want to tie it right now.
Stugotz
Right.
Amin Elhassan
If you're going to step back, though, step back all the way back.
Stugotz
That's. That's a great point. And he would have been totally crushed had he not stepped all the way back. And then he would have been a punch line forevermore. It teetered that much. They had to handle business in overtime, but they've shown the play a bunch of times since. Yeah, you had the take. You weren't so sure that he had lane to a layup. I'm kind of siding with you. I see it. It did seem like Mitchell Robinson had good positioning, and while he would have had an attempt at the rim, it would have been difficult. So I think he made the right basketball move outside of, you know, not maybe being an inch further.
Mike Ryan
You guys do understand, though, that this moment that we're talking about, this mo. This wonderful moment, pure luck.
Stugotz
The ball went above the shot clock.
Dan Le Batard
It went twice as high as I remember.
Stugotz
It was on a good trajectory, though. Like, it was. It looked. It looked kind of pure.
Dan Le Batard
It didn't barely boun bounce up. It went up to the shot clock.
Stugotz
Yeah, that's the highest save packs I've ever seen on a rebound is crazy.
Mike Ryan
And. And then swished like, didn't. Didn't.
Dan Le Batard
Oh, nothing like that.
Stugotz
Jim Mar just blew that one into the hoop.
Chris Cote
Don Nelson, 1969 Nelly.
Mike Ryan
Would you guys please, for a moment understand that I went 17 times. I projectile vomited yesterday. But about as good as I felt watching sports is the one second that that ball hung in the air. After watching the previous six minutes of. I'm watching New York deflate. These people are scared. These crowd shots are great. They're better than the basketball. These crowd shots of just sweeping fear, just waves of fear through the building. They know what's coming, and then just freeze it on that one second. Do you know how painful it is? Because they're like, we're going to lose. We're going to lose. I feel like, we're going to lose. We're going to lose now. Oh, the ball's in the air. We're going to lose. Then they go to replay and they nullify the whole thing. We're still going to lose. I know we're going to lose. You know why? Because for 25 years we've lost.
Stugotz
Then they get out to that four point lead in overtime is New York.
Mike Ryan
You choked.
Stugotz
You shouldn't have done that. You shouldn't have done that.
Chris Cote
Look, I'm going to tell you right now, the book on how the basketball gods work says because he celebrated too much despite stepping on the line, the way that overtime started, I was like, oh, this is going to turn into an even more obnoxious win for the Knicks. And then they fell apart. And why didn't they follow Obi Toppin? Why is Mikhail Bridges trying to block Obi Toppin at the rim?
Jeremy Taché
And they didn't call it, which they got lucky.
Stugotz
Crazy. What a footback, though. If anybody is interested in a top shot. Nft.
Chris Cote
Oh, it's never been high.
Stugotz
20 bucks. I'll take it. Venmo. Right now it's yours.
Mike Ryan
I think of you every time he does something.
Stugotz
My mentions still get flooded. Top shot was a moment in time. I guess I really registered.
Mike Ryan
I'd like to bring up something here for Amin because Amin was saying earlier in the. In the show, and I don't want to skip past this, okay? Empirically, Jalen Brunson is the most clutch player in the league by leaps and bounds. He scores more in the fourth quarter than anybody else. What I will tell you is the expectations on Jalen Brunson right now are different than they've ever been. The fear in that building is something that I could feel. The fear in that building is something that I could feel on my television. And Brunson totally fell apart at the end of that game. He did the inbounding by the Knicks and specifically Brunson just. He had a historic throwaway that Anunobi happened to get it mid court, but he was trying to hit somebody. He was trying to hit a Pacer in the leg and it would have been a disastrous turnover. And he had others during the game. And what I'm telling you is when you see the shift and it's only one game and we'll see this story play out on whether or not Brunson can take this from Halliburton as they're trying to fight over the league, who gets to take the league. But in clutch moments last night, Halliburton's your guy. Brunson fell apart. It's a one game and I'm just talking about the end. He had a good statistical Game. I mean, you can't tell me he was having trouble bringing the ball up.
Chris Cote
So he was great up until he got his fifth foul. And his fourth and fifth fouls were both really dumb fouls. It was Karl Anthony Townes level fouls. They were like, what are you doing? That's not what you do. You're the smart guy, Right. And so then after that fifth foul, it kind of, I think, you know, he came back in and I don't know if his confidence was messed up or something, but clearly the pressure got turned up on him and he looked uncharacteristic.
Mike Ryan
It was weird.
Chris Cote
We don't see him look like that ever.
Amin Elhassan
That's what made it seem he looked clumsy. I mean, he looked clumsy.
Chris Cote
That Patson in particular, the one that ended up in OG Anunoby's hands, like, that was a. Oh, my God, he just blew the game right there. And I was like, oh, OG caught it. Never mind. Game over. All he's got to do is hit these two free throws, which, of course, we know didn't happen the other play, by the way, Dan, was the inbound pass. I think it was on a side out of bounds where Josh Hart slips.
Amin Elhassan
Yes.
Chris Cote
And like. Like I was it. Nem Hart was Nemhardt. If he had not just tried to get the ball immediately, if he had taken one step, that was going to be a steal and a turnover the other way as well.
Mike Ryan
What I'm saying to you guys, though, is it's. It really is a cool thing to watch happen in real time.
Amin Elhassan
Watch.
Chris Cote
Watch.
Mike Ryan
The fear of that building is something that a team that hasn't been this deep can feel a little extra. I mean, Halliburton doesn't have a whole lot of reason to be scared of these moments, Dugant, because he's had many of them. It's just if he's that good in the clutch, my guess is if confidence is success is stacked atop each other. You don't go from a 2 to a 3 to immediately a choke sign unless you're super confident about what you do for a living.
Chris Cote
Well, Dan, his exploits are very well publicized at this point. From this postseason alone. Everyone knows this is what this guy does. So now it's like the mythology built for him. But I want to ask a question to the room. I submit to you there is no greater sound in the world of sports than hearing shocked Madison Square Garden, that sound. There's no other arena, there's no other team where it happens where, like, catastrophe is hit and it's Just like shock.
Dan Le Batard
Toronto Maple Leafs fans was nice.
Chris Cote
No, they left. The guard doesn't leave. They sit there and they sit in that shock. And that's what makes it different.
Mike Ryan
It's not just that they sit in the shock. They then immediately realize, oh, I hope. I shouldn't hope. I don't. I stayed because I hope. And I shouldn't hope because they always betray my hope because they're the Knicks. And I do ask you, I ask the audience, do you believe that the clutchiest of clutch players can feel that, that fan base which he has allowed to dare to hope? Stugatz. They believe in him. They believe in him late.
Amin Elhassan
Yes.
Mike Ryan
That is the. That's the great thing to have in sports. That's having Mahomes, that's having Tom Brady.
Amin Elhassan
You have the closer.
Mike Ryan
You. You have the guy that finishes people. But what happens when they've got the better finisher and he's not the better player?
Amin Elhassan
Halliburton not. He's a better finisher. He might be a better player, but for right now, he's a better. I guess Brunson.
Dan Le Batard
One clutches player in the league.
Chris Cote
Brunson. Brunson, he had 43. Like, we're killing them right now.
Mike Ryan
Well, at the end of the game.
Amin Elhassan
Though, look, he was. He had seven turnovers.
Mike Ryan
Wait a minute. I mean, hold on a second. Okay, look. Yes, of course, Brunson is great. Great story, all of that stuff. And. And you know that I prefer most times to celebrate instead of criticize. I'm. I'm telling you right now, I'm actively hating while watching sports. That's not something I do. I was rooting only for Boston's fan base to suffer. I thought that Boston had a better chance and. And did have a better chance to win the championship than this Knicks team does. And so I figured that I would root for Boston to lose first and then root for New York to lose.
Amin Elhassan
Next, like winning a title.
Mike Ryan
I'm going to put up banners. I'm going to put up banners of a parade. Yeah. Of just sad faces.
Jeremy Taché
Dan, if you want me to be honest, this is like Heat haters are down bad this postseason, Right. Boston. Boston fans gone. New York going through this. And then if Indiana goes next and they get beat by, you know, sweeper or gentleman sweep, all of a sudden, all these Heat fans are like, then we stop caring. We did it, baby.
Mike Ryan
This is not the way to watch sports. I don't think, but I enjoy too much.
Chris Cote
Great way to watch sports every night. Every night.
Mike Ryan
You're a winner.
Chris Cote
One way or another.
Mike Ryan
So. But when I say, though, that I don't like to. To. To blame. And you say we're killing Brunson today when he goes for an efficient 42, 43. But, but what I'm saying is simply, when faced with what will go down as one of the most historic chokes in the history of all of sports, and may not be the most historic choke in the rivalry simply between these.
Amin Elhassan
Two teams or last night, I mean, the Oilers.
Mike Ryan
I don't know if this is a bigger choke than Reggie Miller's choke. I mean, statistically, it's a bigger choke. It's a. It's a. It's. It's even more improbable than Reggie Miller's making.
Stugotz
There is no bigger choke in the history of the sport. What's a bigger choke? Especially like, maybe there's a bigger one in the regular season where a team got caught napping in a meaningless game. Maybe there's something like that. But look at the odds statistically. This is the first time this has happened in the playoffs.
Chris Cote
All right. Yes, yes. But I submit to you, eight points in nine seconds is kind of crazy. Yeah, that's crazy.
Amin Elhassan
Yes.
Jeremy Taché
17 points in a matter of two minutes.
Chris Cote
Yeah, but it was insane. They were the group effort.
Stugotz
They were down 9 with 51 seconds left.
Mike Ryan
What's the poll question then? Bigger choke. Okay, eight points in nine seconds. Or how do I phrase the next.
Amin Elhassan
One to make it either down 17 with 240something left, or it's down 9 with 44 seconds to go. What's the bigger choke? They choked twice in that game.
Dan Le Batard
I think it's nine with 40.
Stugotz
So do I. I mean, the Bulls had a pretty crazy comeback this year against the Lakers.
Mike Ryan
Yeah. Oh, yeah.
Stugotz
Where, like, the win probability. I'm curious to see what the win probability was for the Lakers there.
Chris Cote
What we're trying to balance here is like the size of the deficit and the time remaining.
Amin Elhassan
Right? Yes.
Chris Cote
And that's the real thing.
Dan Le Batard
That's how it works.
Mike Ryan
Yes.
Stugotz
I think the Bulls was probably a little bit more impressive.
Amin Elhassan
Let him finish, though. I like this. He's organizing it.
Stugotz
But by that formula, by that very obvious formula, that mutt is laid out for us. I think the Bulls over Lakers was more impressive.
Mike Ryan
So we're claiming this is the biggest choke ever.
Stugotz
We're coming in here also suggesting maybe Bulls, Lakers in a meaningless regular season game was probably bigger.
Chris Cote
Tracy McGrady, 13 points in 30 seconds. I watched that game live and I remember thinking, this game's over. And every time he kept. Every time he kept making a shout out, I was like, all right, come on, this is ridiculous. When that last turnover happened, I can't remember the little guard's name. Brown. I think Brown slips and turns it over and Tracy's bringing the ball up. And everyone was like, oh my God, is this about to happen? Is this about that? It was Devin Brown. And then Tracy pulls up from like 30ft and then the shot goes in and everyone loses their. Oh, man. I might have to put that one above. I might have to put that one above last night.
Mike Ryan
I want to do analysis of greatest chokes ever. I also want to point out to Stugatz that I just saw on the television that when the knicks were up 14 with 3 minutes and 44 seconds left, the win probability for them in that spot was 99.8%.
Jeremy Taché
Pretty good.
Mike Ryan
I don't know which is the bigger choke, though, in the rivalry between these two teams. Like, are you guys telling me, you guys are telling me that you think years from now in a game one in a. In an Eastern Conference finals, that we're going to do a 30 for 30 and associate somewhat Halliburton like we associate Reggie Miller for all time with those nine seconds?
Chris Cote
Well, hold on. I just want to point out something because I'm looking at that same stat you just mentioned. 99.8% win probability with 344 left, up 14. That doesn't sound right. That sounds like a typo. That, like 99.8% for a 14 point lead with. With almost four minutes to go. That can't be right.
Stugotz
How about the stat that they had under that? Yeah, There was a five minute span in which the Pacers scored 40 points in five minutes. They outscored them 40 to 24.
Amin Elhassan
What are we doing here?
Chris Cote
That can't be right either because overtime was.
Jeremy Taché
No, they added overtime.
Mike Ryan
They added overtime.
Stugotz
It said in five minutes. They outscored them 40 to 24.
Amin Elhassan
I'm with him.
Mike Ryan
I mean, you think 99.8% is a very large percentage. You think it should be 99.9%?
Chris Cote
You don't understand what I'm saying? I'm saying lower. 344 left four of 14. That number sounds completely erroneous.
Mike Ryan
It's too high, you're saying Way too high. My bad.
Chris Cote
Like Jim Ursay.
Amin Elhassan
Power too soon.
Chris Cote
We're that show now.
Dan Le Batard
Don't put that on us.
Chris Cote
Just lack of class. Those Levitard guy.
Stugotz
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Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: Local Hour: The Choke 2.0
Release Date: May 22, 2025
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Mike Ryan, Amin Elhassan, Jeremy Taché, Chris Cote, Billy Gil
The episode delves into what the hosts refer to as "Choke 2.0," a historic collapse in a high-stakes NBA playoff game between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers. The discussion centers around the unprecedented turnaround by the Pacers, overturning a substantial lead held by the Knicks in the final minutes of the game.
The hosts passionately dissect the game's pivotal moments, particularly focusing on the Pacers' miraculous comeback. They highlight the Knicks' initial dominance and the sudden shift that led to their downfall.
Mike Ryan emphasizes the rarity of such a collapse:
“We've seen a shot go in like that during games. I've never seen it at the buzzer.” [04:32]
Stugotz reflects on the dramatic changes in momentum:
“They were down 17 points, headed into the third period. What a joke.” [10:14]
A significant portion of the discussion centers on Tyrese Haliburton's exceptional performance, which the hosts argue cements his status as a rising superstar in the league.
Mike Ryan lauds Haliburton's clutch shooting:
“He makes those shots a lot more than anybody does. Like, the stats are 12 for 14 late in games.” [03:52]
Jeremy Taché adds, emphasizing Haliburton's consistency:
“Halliburton has done this in every series so far in the playoffs.” [09:00]
Chris Cote compares Haliburton to league greats:
“He's basically a perfect point guard.” [19:32]
Contrasting Haliburton's heroics, Jalen Brunson's uncharacteristic performance becomes a focal point of criticism.
Mike Ryan expresses disappointment:
“Brunson totally fell apart at the end of that game.” [35:36]
Chris Cote points out specific mistakes:
“He had seven turnovers.” [36:05]
The hosts draw parallels between the current game and historical NBA moments, debating whether this choke surpasses previous infamous collapses.
Stugotz asserts the magnitude of the Knicks' collapse:
“There is no bigger choke in the history of the sport.” [40:36]
Chris Cote remembers similar historic moments:
“Tracy McGrady, 13 points in 30 seconds. It might have to go above that.” [42:12]
The episode explores how this game influences broader NBA storylines, particularly the emerging rivalry between Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson.
Dan Le Batard discusses the mythos building around Haliburton:
“Everyone knows this is what this guy does. So now it's like the mythology built for him.” [37:14]
Amin Elhassan contrasts team dynamics:
“He's the best player on his team. He's taken them to the Eastern Conference finals twice.” [27:10]
The hosts share personal reactions to the game's events, highlighting the emotional rollercoaster experienced by fans.
Mike Ryan candidly shares his feelings:
“I was projectile vomiting yesterday. But about as good as I felt watching sports is the one second that that ball hung in the air.” [32:00]
Stugotz echoes the frustration:
“You shouldn't have done that.” [33:27]
While the primary focus is on basketball, the hosts briefly touch upon other sports events, notably a significant collapse in a hockey game involving the Edmonton Oilers.
The hosts engage with their audience by posing poll questions related to the discussion, such as evaluating which playoff choke is more significant.
Wrapping up, the hosts reflect on the implications of the game for the NBA's future, emphasizing the rise of new superstars and the shifting dynamics in team performances.
Dan Le Batard muses on the development of new talents:
“It's a product of the way the game is played today.” [08:44]
Chris Cote envisions Haliburton's potential legacy:
“This is the book on how the basketball gods work.” [37:14]
This detailed summary encapsulates the essence of "Local Hour: The Choke 2.0," providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the discussions and insights shared by Dan Le Batard and his co-hosts.