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The Pat McAfee Show
PMS 2.0 1364 - Juneteenth Thursday LIVE from Gainbridge Fieldhouse with Udonis Haslem, Shams Charania, Coach Calipari, Quentin Richardson
02:18:30
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- [00:02]
Pat McAfee
The 2024, 2025 NBA season was awesome. What a wild, heart pounding, jaw dropping ride this season has been. 79 years of this league and somehow it still finds ways to shock us all, to thrill us all, to break our hearts and lift our spirits all at once. Let me take you back. Paint a picture, a little bit of what a year has been and what will echo through barbershops and group chats for decades. Picture this. Oklahoma City, a team that's been building, simmering, explodes into something historic. Sga. Smooth as silk, cold as ice, carves up the league, snatches the MVP and leads the Thunder to a season that flirts with immortality. A plus 12.6 point differential. Folks, that's knocking on the door. Of the 72 Lakers, they went 291 against the East. 14 losses in total. A wrecking ball in sneakers. Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, they're not just a supporting cast. No, no, they're co stars. And now they're in the finals. Locked in a three two dog fight with the Indiana Pacers. Tyrese Halliburton. Kid's a maestro. Conducting an offense that's pure fire. But he's limping right now. Calves a little tight in game six. Is tonight here in Indiana. It's anyone's guess. This series, this moment, it's the pulse of the whole damn season. But let's rewind. This wasn't just OKC's story. This wasn't just the Indiana Pacers story. The league was a chessboard, pieces flying everywhere. The Lakers pull off the heist of the century. Snagging Lucha Donkic. Lucha Doncic. Luka, Luka, Luka Doncic. Easy for you to say, to pair with LeBron James. LeBron, by the way, makes history. First player ever to hoop as a teenager and in his 40s in the NBA. And he passed Jordan for the most 30 point games ever. He's now sitting at 57130 point games. Absolute legend and had the LeBron versation this year. But the Lakers, they were just sold for a record breaking $10 billion. And they also crashed out in the first round of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Proof that even superteams can't always gel. Meanwhile, the Knicks traded for Karl Anthony Towns, sent Julius Randle packing. Kevin Durant's name's been swirling around everywhere. Spurs, Heat, rockets circling like sharks. The trade deadline felt like a soap oper. Every tweet from Shams, mostly a plot twist. And the coaches, oh yeah, they took a beating. Sacramento fired Mike Brown. He was a coach of the year candidate. During the middle of the season, Memphis booted Taylor Jenkins. Denver. The Denver Nuggets, who just won the title a couple years back, cuts ties with Michael Malone after a decade. About eight days before the NBA playoffs, the Knicks sent Tibbs packing and their coaching search is still a miss. It was like the league decided to hit a full reset button on half of its sidelines stats for this season. Wild three pointers were up. Shots were made at a record breaking pace. Victor Wembinyana's blocking shots like he's swatting flies, setting a whole new standard of efficiency on the defensive end and off the court. Drama everywhere. Giannis, trade whispers, TNT's inside the NBA packing up and heading to ESPN. It's the dawn of a new era. And here we are, June 19, 2025. Juneteenth, 2025. Game six looming this evening. Oklahoma City, one win away from a title. Indy. One rally from Force in a game seven. This season's been a masterpiece. Trades, firings, milestones, miracles. It's reminded us why we love this league. Because it's so damn unpredictable. Because it's so damn human. Because it's ours. Whoever hoists the trophy tonight, one thing's certain. They will be the champion of a season that'll never be forgotten. Hey, let's go. This show stinks. And the fact that you listen, we are very, very thankful for it. McAfee on the line with a gorgeous assist, the all time leading tackler for the Green Bay Packers. You pick. Stop.
- [04:19]
Darius Butler
Stop.
- [04:20]
Ty Schmidt
Damn it.
- [04:21]
Pat McAfee
Your friend. Tell a friend something nice could change. Hello, beautiful people, and welcome to feel the painbridge Gainbridge field house, host of tonight's NBA Finals Game six on this Juneteenth. This program begins now. Finally, right here in this building. We can't thank you enough for allowing us to do this for a living. The fact that we are here is insane. The last time we were in the building of an NBA Finals, we felt like the world was upside down. We felt like there was no reason for us to be here. And then the Pacers would go on to lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Then it would go back to Oklahoma City and the Pacers would lose yet again. And tonight, we're staring down a title game. We're staring down a potential Larry O. Presence. We're staring down a potential Oklahoma City Thunder championship happening right here in Indianapolis. All the Pacers have to do is give it a go. Tyrese Haliburton's game time decision. All the other boys don't want their Season to end. We can force a game seven tonight here in Indiana. And the Pacers have already put out a tweet letting Pacers fans know that that we need to hear you from beginning to end. We need this place to be loud. We need this place to be daunting. We need this place to be tough. And whenever we win tonight, game seven in Oklahoma City, we shall see how the cards fall. But with that being said, this Oklahoma City team is phenomenal. Why'd you start with that cold open? Well, the Oklahoma City team was actually doing their shoot around here in this arena, and we were not allowed in the bowl until they were done at about 11:47. We said, well, we're going to need about four or five minutes to go ahead and regain this entire thing. Incredible work by Foxy in the back. Incredible work by Debone and Bruce and everybody in the truck for making that happen. And also incredible work by the NBA on having a hell of a season thus far. And tonight it shall roll on. We're incredibly thankful to be here. We're pumped to be here. There's a lot going on in sports. We'll talk about it all. Sham Sharania will join us in about 10 minutes or so. We'll chit chat with him about what's going on around the NBA and what's going on with Tyrese Haliburton. Coach Calipari of Arkansas, now formerly of Kentucky, will certainly be joining us to chit chat about what Arkansas baseball team was able to accomplish until last night. Also what SGA's doing. Obviously a big part of the conversation of this ent NBA season. Cal has a lot to say and we can't wait for his breakdown on what the NBA Finals game six should look like tonight. And then in the second hour, we'll have front of the show Q Rich joining us. And it's not just those guys, obviously. I got an incredible group of dudes here. The toxic table is here at Ty Schmidt and at Boston. Connor. Boys, how you doing? The shark, the jaws feel. Is that because the Pacers are banna banna banna ban coming banana or is that. Are you saying that's Oklahoma City coming in here to Indiana?
- [07:06]
Ty Schmidt
I mean, initially yesterday I said, hey, look, this, this thing's over. I'm not doing this whole song and dance about how I have faith in the Pacers winning a basketball game, especially when Tyrese Halburn's hurt. But then last night we have this massive storm and I, I believe you still don't have power still that Power.
- [07:20]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. I've been living an Amish lifestyle for the last like 17 hours or so. Me and Jebediah tilling the land. Now I did have my phone, which is certainly nice, but I found myself staring at the sky, staring at the lake, running around outside. Fixed my flag pole a little bit, had no power and everything in the house. OB obviously operates by power these days. We're still without power, so I mean, certainly a big storm came through last night that we didn't know was coming.
- [07:44]
Ty Schmidt
No, not at all. Kind of tornado.
- [07:46]
Pat McAfee
The storm is last night, not tonight.
- [07:47]
Ty Schmidt
No, it was last night, not tonight. And that's because that was kind of the calm before the storm. Before the storm, if you will. I viewed it as an. I saw a video of a Pacers flag flying in the wind with Free Bird playing behind it and now all of a sudden I'm all the way back.
- [08:01]
Pat McAfee
70 mile an hour winds, this Pacers flag. Go ahead. Flapping in the sky. It's incredible. We believe is the message. Todd Schmidt, I need you to get on board with that a little.
- [08:09]
Boston Connor
No, no, no, I am on board. I am on board fully. But you know, I was just trying not to go in with too much blind optimism. But hey, guess what? It's do or die. We'll see what these boys got. They've. They've kind of had their backs against the wall all season. Nobody's believed in them time and time again. What's one more, you know, what's one more when, when no one thinks you can win, When Larry, Larry O's in the building, you know, hey, we don't know what's going to happen with Tyrese, but if, if there's ever a night where every other player on the Pacers needs to have a career game, tonight's the night. I think, I think a lot of guys on the Pacers team are going to be thinking about having one tonight and rightfully so.
- [08:42]
Pat McAfee
And I think they definitely need to.
- [08:44]
Boston Connor
They need to have one if we.
- [08:45]
Pat McAfee
Want to continue and extend this to a seven game series. Talks to table. I'd like to wish you guys a happy Juneteenth also. Happy Juneteenth to one half of the hammer. Dang, Cowboy. Nailed it. Nailed it. Yeah, it was good.
- [08:56]
Udoka Azubuike
Nailed it.
- [08:56]
Pat McAfee
Got it, baby. Three time champion.
- [09:00]
Q Rich
I'm impressed.
- [09:00]
Pat McAfee
Happy Juneteenth. You guys have. And I would like to let you know I wish the talks to the table, which are two Caucasian down there. Happy Juneteenth as well. I wasn't just, wasn't just Wishing you a happy Juneteenth. I'd like to wish everybody a happy Juneteenth. A day that I think a lot of us learned about probably within the last five to 10 years, but certainly a historic day in our country's history. Certainly worthy of being something known by all. But one half of the Hammer dying. Cowboys nailed it. What are the odds saying for tonight? Because I believe the Pacers yet again are six and a half point dogs at home. And the last time they were six and a half point dogs at home, it was the biggest underdog in the history of finals for a home team.
- [09:36]
Udoka Azubuike
Yep, exact same thing that was last when you guys were thinking about having one and did have one.
- [09:41]
Pat McAfee
We did have one.
- [09:43]
Udoka Azubuike
The Pacers were having one for about three and a half quarters before the Thunder decided to lock it down in the fourth quarter. Believe the Pacers only scored 17 in that fourth quarter. A couple free throws late and the Thunder covered that one. That was the first game that the Thunder covered on the road this entire playoffs. So here we are sitting again back at six and a half. This actually opened at four and a half and then there was a two point move when the news about Tyrese came about and his injury, whatever it is. When that news came out it jumped to six and a half. So we're sitting right there again. It doesn't matter. Tonight though, you guys talked about the storm last night. I'm not sure if you noticed there was a lot of wind and a lot of rain and a lot of lightning, but it was a quiet storm. There wasn't a lot of thunder at all.
- [10:21]
Pat McAfee
No, no thunder.
- [10:23]
Udoka Azubuike
Super confusing to me. And then I saw, I saw what shirts they're putting out tonight. That is good news.
- [10:30]
Pat McAfee
It's not no sir.
- [10:32]
Udoka Azubuike
It's yes sir.
- [10:35]
Pat McAfee
Sham's actually sent me a text yesterday and was like, hey, are we running this back tomorrow? Are you guys gonna be live from the arena? And I responded with yes sir, sir. And I immediately sorry, sorry, I got no power. I'm kind of out of there a little. Yes sir. We would love to have you. Speaking of loving to have you, nine year NFL vet Darius J. Butler is here. Great to see you. You weren't in the building the last time we were here doing this show. Obviously the finals atmosphere has been electrifying here in Indianapolis, but it does feel like there are certain parts and contingen of Indianapolis that feel like what Oklahoma City has become in the series is what Oklahoma City has been all season long. I read it in the open There they were a plus 12.6 point differential team, 14 losses all season. Number one seed in the entire NBA for good reason. They've been pouring it on a little bit here to Indiana and obviously that could continue this evening to the chagrin of all of us.
- [11:24]
Darius Butler
Yeah, very. Thunder's been very dominant both ends of the courts. Much like our championship for the Panthers. You know, I had a few last night, so I'm glad I made it in here this morning, but I'm feeling like the boys, man, I'm on that yes sirs train, I think they figure it out. I think Tyrese comes out and gives his team a spark. I'm not sure how healthy he'll be, but he's going to give them everything they got. And the rest of the guys are going to show up. The guys, the others, as Shaq likes to call them, will show up at home and force this game seven. But I'm excited to be in the building right now and I know this shit is going to be rocking later on tonight.
- [11:56]
Pat McAfee
And 20 year vet, we already introduced him, but you know, why not another time, Three time champ, two time Stanley cup champion, I guess. Ladies and gentlemen, Ugandas has them.
- [12:07]
Darius Butler
Say 79 years NBA. Yeah, 79, 20 of things.
- [12:10]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Quarter of the.
- [12:11]
Darius Butler
That's crazy.
- [12:12]
Pat McAfee
Over a quarter of the NBA's existence. This man played in it. And the stat about LeBron being the only player to play as a teenager and in his 40s in the NBA is absurd. So obviously there's been some pillars of this league and certainly the boys at the Pacers young team, they're trying to become a pillar. Oklahoma City people are talking about them maybe starting a dynasty here in this entirety because how young they are and what they got cooking. Ud, how do you see tonight going and what have you seen from this Oklahoma City team the last two games that maybe should make us Pacers fans a little bit worried?
- [12:39]
Q Rich
For me, I'm starting to see Oklahoma City start to impose their will. I'm starting to see those turnovers starting to turn into points on the other end. I'm starting to see them make adjustments defensively. The first couple games they were a little uncharacteristic as far as their defense. A lot of mistakes, a lot of different things that you just don't see from a top defensive team. So I think they're starting to impose their will. But for me, I'm still on the yes sir train. I ain't going. Okay, I'm still on.
- [13:02]
Pat McAfee
You said seven.
- [13:03]
Q Rich
Yeah, I said seven. And I'm still saying seven. I'm still saying, yes, sir. Listen, this team has thrived in this role all year, being the underdogs, having the chips stacked against. So this is nothing new. It'd be different if you had a team who had been given everything and now you get into the role where you have to fight with your back against the wall. This is where they thrive. This is their norm. Like, this is when they're their best version. So I'm not worried about this team at all. Tyrese Hallenberg, we don't know what he was going to bring, but they had the power of the Brotherhood all season. So the best time now is for that to show.
- [13:30]
Pat McAfee
The Brotherhood's going to need to show, especially if Tyrese is going to continue to be embattled. We'll say, obviously, his calf, his ankle has been bothering him the last few games, and I think that goes back a little bit more. So tonight is a gametime, and let's say he plays. We expect Tyrese to play great. If he doesn't play, there's a lot of guys on that team who have the capability of going off. I know we've mentioned TJ McConnell. TJ McConnell could potentially take over this entire game. He's done that numerous times. Nemhardt, Niesmith, Pascal, Miles, Turner. We're waiting on Miles to have a big one here in the finals, which we think can happen. The depth of the Pacers gives me hope, even if Tyrese can't possibly play. But without Tyrese, it's a completely different team. Coach Carlisle said they're preparing for him, and without him, we will see if the Oklahoma City team is probably doing the exact same. Yeah.
- [14:16]
Ty Schmidt
And Benedict Matheran. Happy birthday. Yeah, I know. I've screwed up his name so many times. It's his birthday. We have a birthday game all of a sudden. Okay. In the arena, I think that's a huge deal. Ud, you can probably speak more to that. If it's someone's birthday, I assume everyone's saying, happy birthday, let's get this guy. Let's get this guy the ball. If you're on okc, though, and you hear Tyrese say something like, if this was a regular season game, I probably wouldn't be playing.
- [14:41]
Pat McAfee
But.
- [14:41]
Ty Schmidt
But it's the finals. It's different. Are you just attacking Tyrese the whole time? Like, is that the adjustment they make? Yeah.
- [14:47]
Q Rich
Hey. I mean, you're already attacking him on defense anyway. He's already a guy who you trying to put in as many actions as possible. I saw that early in game three. I thought they should have stayed with that because the first couple buckets, whether it was a pick and roll, whether it was a slip screen, he was in the action. So he is going to be in every single action tonight on the defensive end. My question is, okay, he starts the game. What happens when you come out and sit on the bench and then have to go back in when that calf cools down and you've been playing at that fast pace all the time, then you try to get back in the game? That's my question. So he's got to be prepared to be put in a lot of actions. But I tell you one thing, guys. I got hurt in the finals, too. Broke my finger. So what? Yeah, this is the finals. This is the finals. So Tyrese gonna go out there, he's gonna play, he's gonna give it his best version, but there's no way he misses this game. And if you're okc, you on the other side. Ain't no way in hell you think Tyrese Halibur is missing his game. So, coach, where you at? Do not prepare for him not to be in this game. Don't even waste your time with that preparation. He's going to be in this game.
- [15:41]
Pat McAfee
He said if he can walk, he'll play in the game. And I mentioned the Indiana Pacers sending out a message to the fan base beforehand. This is how it reads as we prepare for Sham Sharania's arrival. And I cannot wait to hear what he is talking about Today. The Pacers asked their fan base, hey, one more time, Indiana. This is it, the final home game of the season. One last chance to fight, to believe. Gainbridge field house has been electric all year, but this time will be louder, wilder, more relentless than ever. We bring the chaos from the opening tip to the final buzzer. Because tonight we leave it all out there. So get on your feet, wave those towels, be dominant, be deafening. And above all, belief. We're not done. Not yet. Not tonight. You've been with us every step of the way. Now be the difference one more time. Tonight we fight to see another day. Let them hear us, Indiana, all game long.
- [16:43]
Boston Connor
Yes, sir.
- [16:45]
Pat McAfee
As we are joined by Shams Charanya, baby. Shams. Shams. We were just chit chatting about Tyrese Halliburton and what he's going through. UD said he's got hurt in the finals. It was his finger. There's been a lot of people that have obviously battle through injuries. Taft ankle seems to be pretty serious. For Tyrese, he said if he can walk, he'll play. They labeled it a gametime decision. What are you hearing? Shams at this exact moment? And what is the expectation for Tyrese Haliburton tonight?
- [17:10]
Shams Charania
And the Pacers pat Tyrese Halliburton. From my understanding, he has every intention of playing tonight. And unless the medical team sees him. So the patients have a walkthrough this afternoon. So approximately around 5pm Eastern time. They're hopeful to know definitively whether Tyres Haliburton should be able to play or not. Unless there's some kind of a setback there. If he shows some signs where the medical team has to come in and step in and say, listen, we can't throw you out there. But he's fully intending to be out there tonight. He's going to gut it out. I would expect him to have some padding on that calf. But listen, it's a calf strain. UD knows a lot about calf strains and so he's definitely got to be careful. But as long as he can get out there, I would expect Tyrese Haliburton to try to play tonight.
- [17:50]
Pat McAfee
Okay, that's great news. I love hearing that. And obviously we have a deep team. We have a great team, Tyrese, for good reason. Olympic gold medalist, leader of the team, Pascal Yakum, also NBA all star and stud for our team. We got a lot of those. But Tyrese playing the straw that stirs the drink is good news. So I'm happy to hear that. Now, around the NBA, I hear we potentially have some breaking news.
- [18:09]
Shams Charania
We do have news. So I was standing on the side, I was making phone calls. You know, I'm getting ready to come on pms. We're working. I do have news. I do have news. This is in the Western Conference. Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has reached agreement on a long term contract extension with the franchise. It makes Udoka one of the highest paid coaches in the NBA right now.
- [18:34]
Pat McAfee
Congratulations.
- [18:35]
Shams Charania
Ema coach, eight figure deal annually, I'm told. And you think about Tillman and Patrick Fertitta. Rockets ownership, their general manager, Rafael Stone. They went out and hired Ime Udoka in 2023 when we know he got suspended from the Celtics. They ended up parting ways essentially and they scooped him up fast. They got him. He obviously is a championship caliber coach. Already showed it in Boston. And there's a stat I saw in his two seasons there, 93 wins. In Houston, the three years prior to that, they had just 59 wins. So they won 52 games. This year, the number two seed playoffs for the first time since 2020. And this is a team clearly on the rise with some good young players.
- [19:17]
Pat McAfee
Absolutely. And obviously their names being listed for some trade destinations for some potential superstar players.
- [19:22]
Shams Charania
Which one is that, Kevin? No, we don't have to say it.
- [19:25]
Pat McAfee
Okay, sounds like you're saying it, Sean.
- [19:28]
Ty Schmidt
You're the one yanking us around.
- [19:29]
Pat McAfee
I was going to finish about IME Udoka. He never, never been questioned about how good of a coach he is, right?
- [19:35]
Darius Butler
Never and ever.
- [19:37]
Ty Schmidt
Even in Boston, it was, oh, he's.
- [19:40]
Pat McAfee
Such a good coach, though. That's all everybody kept saying when everything went down the Finals. Yeah, absolutely. And when the Knicks call and ask if he's available, does that help for his leverage or is this already kind of in the works?
- [19:51]
Shams Charania
This has been in the works for a really long time. This is. This is. Ever since the Rockets season ended in that first round of the playoffs, they've been working on this extension, negotiating this extension out. And this type of coach, they wanted to make sure they view IME Udoka as a coach for the next decade, the next maybe a decade and a half. That's the type of run that they want IME Udoka and Rafael Stone there to have.
- [20:13]
Pat McAfee
Ud. How many great young. I don't know if IME is considered a young coach, but for me, he's like the next generation of coaches. How many of these guys stick and how many guys end up stinking? Does that make sense? Like, it feels like there's a good hit rate at the coaching position. Like, I think if you were to ask Utah, they'd be pumped about Hardy. I think they gave him a new deal. Obviously Carlisle's old dog, but it seems like these younger coaches that get in, I mean, Missoula is like 25 years old. They seemingly have a pretty high hit rate. Is that accurate or no?
- [20:40]
Q Rich
Yeah, I think so. And I think the way this works in his situation is him being a young coach, having a young team. So he speaks that language. He's relatable to those guys. They follow his leadership and he understands. I'll tell you, when we used to be in those series against Boston Austin, and I've mentioned this before, when I look down to the huddle, it was IME Adoka leading that charge. It wasn't Tatum, it wasn't Brown. It wasn't smart. It was him leading that charge. He was the leader of that group. He was the leader of that team. So you take a young team like this and 15 guys embody his personality. 15 guys embody what he's all about. Now you got something to work with.
- [21:13]
Pat McAfee
Okay, let's talk about something to work with. KD there now, I think there are some people that have some KD fatigue at this point. Not a plus. I'm a big Kevin Durant fan and it also gives us something to talk about. Gives us something to talk about. We are a talk show, sports talk show, and two and a half, three hours every single day. So if Kevin Durant trade rumors are going to happen, would love to continue to talk about Kevin Durant. With that being said, it feels like there's been a couple different narratives of this conversation. I think last week you said it could end soon. Then there were some people that say it could reach into this week. Now we're into this week. What are your thoughts on the KD trade stuff? And are the Rock Rockets, is that the next move after they handle ime?
- [21:49]
Shams Charania
Yeah. I mean, Pat, the longer this drags out, the more we're going to be talking about it. Kevin Durant's one of the best players in the league still. Today he's going to go down as what, top 15, top 20 player, top.
- [21:57]
Q Rich
40, 90 of all time, top 10.
- [21:59]
Shams Charania
Player of all time. So. And his stats, I mean, this is what he's doing even at this age is remarkable. So he deserves that. Yeah, I mean, there was definitely a feeling last week, but at the end of the day, the Suns know if they're going to trade Kevin Durant, they clearly have a price threshold they want met. And I had one team tell me today, it's kind of a game of chicken at this point. From the Rockets to the Heat to the Minnesota Timberwolves, it's literally one or two pieces away either which way that can get a deal done. But at the end of the day, one of these teams has to meet that threshold to get something done. The NBA draft is about a week away, so could this go into the NBA draft for sure. But I don't think the Suns wanted to. I don't think the other teams wanted to. You want to get those deals done. So my understanding is they're in active conversations with those three teams specifically on trying to get a deal done. For Kevin Durant having their price threshold met, I would also not be surprised. This has three four team deal scenarios to it. This is also something that could branch into much more than just being a one for one trade.
- [22:55]
Pat McAfee
Okay. The NBA, whenever there's like four teams involved so that everybody can get the price right, is wild It's. I don't know how the deal makers get it done. Good luck to all parties. There's obviously so many different parts to get a deal done, especially at this level. Now, I think I read a quote of yours on the first take, lower third yesterday that said Phoenix is going to take the best deal, even if it isn't one of Kevin Durant's desired destinations or something like that. Where'd you see and is that accurate? Are the Phoenix Suns looking for the best deal right now for Kevin Durant regardless?
- [23:24]
Shams Charania
No doubt in their mind they are, you know, but it's a two way street, right? So Kevin Durant's got one year, about 54 million plus left on his deal. That gives him an amount of leverage because a team that wants him potentially one, wants a guy like Kevin Durant to want to be there. Two have the understanding of, listen, we can potentially extend you once you arrive or in a period of moments. So. So those are all parts of the equation. So of course, if there's a team that steps up, doesn't want the commitment, the Suns would love to do a deal like that if that type of deal is out there where it supersedes a deal with his three preferred teams. So when I reported the three preferred destinations, San Antonio, Houston and Miami, I also said the Suns are going to make the best decision for themselves, even if it's outside of that list. But the Rockets are on that list and the Heat are on that list and they are, are involved in this on these final stages.
- [24:15]
Pat McAfee
You. Do you want to do any tampering?
- [24:16]
Q Rich
No, sir. I just want to be there if he makes it. I just want to be there when he makes it. If he makes it, I'll pick him.
- [24:24]
Shams Charania
Up if he makes it. I, I'll put it on you. From your perspective, without take your team hat off, what would you do if you're Kevin Durant right now?
- [24:31]
Q Rich
Well, I can't take my team hat off.
- [24:37]
Pat McAfee
I'm.
- [24:38]
Q Rich
I mean, go somewhere where I can possibly win a championship. Obviously this is the goal. I know there's a lot of talk about what ring culture really is and what's important, but I think you go somewhere where you could possibly win a championship. So that's my conversation. Miami, like I said, it can work, man, but you know, there's other opportunities can work. I just sat here and told you how great of a coach Eme Adoka is. I look at those young pieces, there's opportunity to go over there. They already have a culture that's being Built. Miami has a culture that's being built. So like I said, Kevin Durant is a guy who loves to hoop. 50, 40, 90, 50% from the field, 40 from 3, 90% from the free throw line. That's buckets.
- [25:14]
Pat McAfee
Okay, I'm happy you said that. Cause you said 50, 40, 90 earlier. And I was like, yeah, I was.
- [25:18]
Q Rich
Wondering, you guys know what that was?
- [25:20]
Pat McAfee
I was like, hell yeah, this dude's ball. I was like 50 points, 40 assists, 90 rebounds.
- [25:28]
Q Rich
He's efficient as hell is basically what I'm saying. He's efficient as hell.
- [25:31]
Darius Butler
He got a D. Bus, you kind of broke the Internet last night again with what's going on with the Lakers and the sale, the majority stake sale with Jenny Buss making that sale to Mark Walters and that group. I saw you put the valuation out at 10 billion.
- [25:43]
Shams Charania
10 billion.
- [25:44]
Darius Butler
That's one of the breakdown how this is going to look and how much, I guess, ownership does the Buss family retain.
- [25:50]
Shams Charania
So right now the Buss family will have about 17%, just over 15% of the minority share for a period of time. I'm not quite sure, but usually with deals like this, there's provisions in it where the majority owner, in this case Mark Walter, will eventually potentially buy that out. So we'll see when we get the fine print exactly what that looks like. DB Genie Buss will stay on as the governor for a period of time. Time after this sale. But listen, someone like Mark Walter, you buy this team for $10 billion.
- [26:21]
Darius Butler
10 billion.
- [26:21]
Q Rich
Every time you say that, that feels like. Every time you say 10 billion, I'm gonna say this.
- [26:28]
Pat McAfee
And I know it's like the highest value sale, whatever. That whole conversation. The Los Angeles Lakers, like in my eyes, brand name.
- [26:37]
Q Rich
Yes.
- [26:38]
Pat McAfee
Every Los Angeles is obviously going to be more expensive regardless of how the city is. Is viewed from everywhere else outside looking in, it's like 10 billion. That feels right. But for me, you know, you had Luka over there too. You have LeBron there. Obviously crypto, just signed a big time deal, even though they're not a company anymore. Like it's. It feels like the Lakers. Yeah. Young coach. It feels like the Lakers brand was going to be expensive regardless. At 10 billion, you get Luca.
- [27:05]
Shams Charania
Months later, you sell the team for 10 billion. I don't know what the correlation was there, but Genie Bus, my understanding.
- [27:11]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, we were all talking about that.
- [27:13]
Shams Charania
My understanding is Genie Bus really drove the sale in terms of, you know, getting this arrangement in place, bringing it to her siblings. She's got five other siblings. So her and five other siblings, they kind of vote and figure out, is this exactly where we want to go? And so they had the majority of the siblings voted to go through with this deal. It wasn't unanimous though, from my understanding. Okay, so there was at least one member of that sibling family, six siblings that voted no. But the majority vote was there they make the sale. And I've been, everyone's been asking me why, why? Like why 10 billion reasons why a lot of money, like at the end.
- [27:49]
Q Rich
Of the day, for sale for the right price.
- [27:51]
Shams Charania
If the Lakers are going to sell this team UD like they're going to do it when it's this much.
- [27:56]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, $10 billion. If you get a billion dollar valuation and you're a small business normally you're going to at least sell a part of it. You know, no doubt about it. That might be a little bit of a teaser for the off season here.
- [28:07]
Shams Charania
But up to something season.
- [28:09]
Pat McAfee
Well, if you get a billion dollar. Val, this is why the NFL, when the NFL allowed owners to sell a 10% to groups or investment or trying.
- [28:20]
Shams Charania
To break some news.
- [28:21]
Pat McAfee
Pat? No, I'm not personally. Maybe here in a little bit. There's certainly some snooping around going on by a lot of people with a lot of money and I'll certainly be open to those conversations. But whenever The NFL allowed 10% to be sold to these funds, these mega billion dollar funds, it was like, hey, cash, like you can get 10% worth of your team right now in cash. You should do that. So whenever all these teams, I assume the NBA teams, I assume the NFL teams, NHL team, I assume there's a lot of mega rich people. I think I saw a stat and it was from wealth's Instagram. So I don't know if it's true or not. It was like one in every 22 people in New York or something like that is a millionaire worth like making hundreds of thousands.
- [28:56]
Q Rich
That's probably right.
- [28:56]
Pat McAfee
I think it's something like one or 222 people or something. The amount of money some people have right now in sports franchises are becoming like the hey, not only is there.
- [29:06]
Shams Charania
Cash cow, that's the it thing.
- [29:07]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. It's like everybody is trying to get into it. So if you're a bus family and you're LA sitting on the Lakers, I couldn't even imagine the amount of funds and money that was trying to get in there for a long time. As soon as it cracks over 10 billion, at some point you just got to be like, we bought this thing for what 40 million or something like that? Dad. Yeah, dad bought this thing for 40 some million. We can sell this for $10 billion or 60.
- [29:27]
Shams Charania
Look at that, 67 and a half.
- [29:31]
Pat McAfee
Point one billion. Because I assume there's been offers at eight billion. I assume there's been eight and a half. Nine, nine and a half. That thing gets a 10, 10 one. It's like what, when do we got.
- [29:41]
Darius Butler
The Lakers and the Celtics in the last few years that have been sold.
- [29:44]
Shams Charania
Like I think 90 days apart.
- [29:45]
Darius Butler
Yeah, that's, that's, that's insane. Like two of the most iconic franchises in the NBA in sports. Two of them, you know, especially American sports. That's wild.
- [29:53]
Boston Connor
Well we hear all the time like these family run businesses like where it's been in the family for so long, they maybe don't want to sell. Cuz like you know, it means so much like this Walter, like he gets it. He owns the Dodgers. We've seen what he's been willing to do. The Dodgers have won, you know, 11 of the last 12, you know, divisions the NL West. Like he's won multiple World Series. He's going out and he just gave Sh Otani $700 million. Like this guy wants to win. He knows how to run one of these organizations. So if you're one of the buses, it's like, okay, well at least we're not going to sell the team and we're going to see everything that our dad and our family built up for all these years just go right into the. That's not going to happen. Like this guy knows what he's doing.
- [30:34]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, I, I appreciate the, the like Josh Harris had it right? Josh Harris had some other stuff. Then he move into it. It's like you get in with a smaller percentage, learn how the game is.
- [30:44]
Shams Charania
Operated, then you go, yeah, he's been there since 2021. And the biggest thing there is he got right of first refusal when it comes to the overall sale. So he had the inside track the whole time when he got the whatever 26% of the team in 2021. And that gave him every edge and, and quietly him Genie buss people around. Genie bus to be able to negotiate this deal to $10 billion again. That's an astronomical figure. I also would have to say one thing for the aggregators. Pat actually broke news with the newsbreaker here. He said I'm open. So let's.
- [31:16]
Pat McAfee
What's that?
- [31:17]
Shams Charania
I don't know. You said I'm open.
- [31:18]
Pat McAfee
I own 100% of my business.
- [31:21]
Shams Charania
I caught that aggregate Aggregate that everyone. And I was here for it.
- [31:24]
Pat McAfee
Now, the aggregators will say, pat, Matt, if he thinks he owns his business, bury me somehow in that whole thing. But I'm just telling you how it is as a man that owns 100% of my business, if somebody was to show up and say $10.1 billion valuation.
- [31:40]
Shams Charania
And I'm still the governor.
- [31:44]
Pat McAfee
And I'm still the governor.
- [31:45]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [31:45]
Pat McAfee
And you and the Bus. The Bus family can still negotiate. Yeah. Still have a percentage of team. Still have. Still have. You can still benefit from all the shit of being an owner while getting the cash out. No, I'm not saying the Lakers are ever going to go down. Not going to say that. But at 10.1 billion, the buy low, sell high thing, if you're viewing it as a business, that is a pretty high sale, that is not a bad decision. Now, with that being said, always open for business. I think people say I'm a good deal maker. If you're a good deal maker and would certainly love to have that valuation. Certainly love to have that. Go ahead.
- [32:18]
Darius Butler
How real is that, though? Still being a governor, still controlling it. Because we saw that Mark Cuban, once he sold and they said he would be doing that. And I think he came out phased out.
- [32:27]
Q Rich
Yeah.
- [32:27]
Darius Butler
I don't do shit. So how real is that in this situation?
- [32:30]
Shams Charania
Well, I think with this situation, it's a little bit different just because of the relationship that we see here between Genie Buss and Mark Walter. I mean, clearly the way that they negotiated this deal, this was set up, it was written. If it's not written in the contract, it's pretty blatant. And it seems like both sides are on the same page. And when I checked in with people around Mark Walter. Walter, it's the same thing. Like, this is positioned for Genie Bus right now. But again, how long does it go? Right. Like, at the end of the day, when you're buying a team for $10 billion, I don't know how long you're going to be sitting on the sidelines. 100% for this is the reality. That's something I'm hearing from.
- [33:08]
Pat McAfee
Especially if you're a business person. You probably assume, like, hey, I'm good at business. I might be able to be good at operating an NBA team, too. And I just paid 10 billion valuation for it. And we've tried to do the math. I think you probably maybe gave an answer here and I wasn't paying attention enough because I was talking to the back because my TV keeps going out. So I apologize for that. Yeah, but. But neither here nor there do we know the exact percentage he has. Is it like 70% of the company? Do we know the exact.
- [33:31]
Shams Charania
My understanding he's buying over either at or over 50% initially because he was.
- [33:36]
Pat McAfee
Already at like what, 20%?
- [33:38]
Shams Charania
He was at 26, so they're keeping 17. I think AEG has a. Has some percentage as well. And then he's coming in, he's. He's buying about 50%.
- [33:47]
Pat McAfee
So 5.1, if we want to say majority. So he had 5.1 billion bucks he has in his thing. If Jeannie's doing a great job, I assume as well.
- [33:54]
Shams Charania
Another note, like, whenever the Buss family eventually sells their 17%, you know, it's going to be probably to Mark Walter.
- [34:01]
Pat McAfee
Okay, so that is just. They still are owners, minority owners. He's now the majority owner. You're the governor. Unless I don't like you being the governor anymore. I owe 5.1 billion in this entire thing. Okay, we'll see you later. Congrats to the Bus family. Incredible business.
- [34:13]
Shams Charania
67.5 million to 10 billion.
- [34:15]
Pat McAfee
Incredible brand build, too. And watching that Showtime show that everybody said was bullshit with how the characters were. I think it still told a good story about building a brand and how Bus liked doing that and what he thought the show was supposed to be and what the NBA could be. Obviously it's a beautiful story of a family business and a family going all in on a brand. And I love to. I love that type of stuff. And if you're gonna. I mean, how long do you want to be a governor of a team, too, if you got $5.1 billion to your family over the last couple years? I don't know either, you know, how much are you signing up for payout?
- [34:47]
Shams Charania
Does anyone good at math? What's that? Payout for each sibling. So if there's six siblings.
- [34:51]
Pat McAfee
Well, how much is it equal, Equally distributed? She's the governor, so I'd assume she potentially has a little bit. I mean, there is so many conversations to all that.
- [34:58]
Shams Charania
Yeah, I think it's.
- [34:59]
Darius Butler
How much.
- [35:00]
Shams Charania
I think. I think it might be. It might be 300, 400, 500 million liquid, potentially.
- [35:05]
Pat McAfee
Wow. Terrible deal.
- [35:06]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah.
- [35:06]
Q Rich
That sucks.
- [35:08]
Pat McAfee
What a tie. Good for the buses. Good for the buses. We obviously all hope to do that for our kids someday. Go ahead, con man. Yeah.
- [35:14]
Ty Schmidt
Sean, let me just first say you're hair phenomenal. It is just. It's perfect.
- [35:18]
Pat McAfee
Hey, good fade.
- [35:19]
Shams Charania
I'll take it.
- [35:20]
Ty Schmidt
I'll take fade as well.
- [35:21]
Shams Charania
Yeah, I was I was. I've been dragging. You know, we've been. We've been on this finals grind. Yeah.
- [35:28]
Darius Butler
Yeah.
- [35:28]
Ty Schmidt
You look like.
- [35:30]
Pat McAfee
Getting beat up. Yeah. People have been beating your ass, but.
- [35:33]
Shams Charania
It looks good finally.
- [35:35]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, it's about time. It's the finals.
- [35:37]
Shams Charania
You know, I'm not gonna like you.
- [35:37]
Pat McAfee
You.
- [35:38]
Shams Charania
I said this last time. UD inspired me. So I got to give all my. All the credit. You know, I'm a good teammate. I'm willing to pass the credit. UD setting a high bar right now when it comes to fashion.
- [35:45]
Pat McAfee
I just 20 years in the Ain't.
- [35:47]
Shams Charania
Got to say that ring fashion as well.
- [35:51]
Q Rich
I'm like you. I'm trying to get in those conversations.
- [35:52]
Shams Charania
Show the ring. UD show the ring.
- [35:53]
Q Rich
I'm hoping to have those conversations. That's I got dress the part. I can't just say that. I got to look like I'm ready to. I'm ready to have them conversations. I got a ring right there.
- [36:04]
Pat McAfee
That's ring culture.
- [36:06]
Q Rich
Just in case you need somebody to governor or own. I can do a little bit of both. You know what I'm saying?
- [36:13]
Ty Schmidt
But last time you were on the show, you did say something that maybe you didn't mean to say or kind of slipped out. You said the spurs, you know, with kd, of course they're looking. But they might be looking at a different superstar.
- [36:25]
Pat McAfee
Timeline.
- [36:25]
Ty Schmidt
Timeline. Yeah, they might be on a different timeline. The Internet, especially the spurs fans kind of took that and ran with it. What the hell Sean's talking about here. Let's say KD goes to Houston. What is.
- [36:37]
Shams Charania
Or Miami.
- [36:38]
Ty Schmidt
Or Miami.
- [36:39]
Darius Butler
Thank you.
- [36:39]
Shams Charania
Probably was going to get up and just.
- [36:41]
Q Rich
Yeah, I got a question out. But. I got a question.
- [36:43]
Pat McAfee
But.
- [36:44]
Ty Schmidt
But what is their timeline, if you will? If Katie's off the table in the spurs mind, what is kind of.
- [36:50]
Pat McAfee
And when's the draft? Next week?
- [36:52]
Shams Charania
Next Wednesday, Thursday. Next Wednesday. Thursday.
- [36:54]
Ty Schmidt
Especially with that number two pick. Like, if they're going to make a move, they kind of need to do that before the draft.
- [36:58]
Shams Charania
Number two, I don't see going any. Anywhere. I think. I think the spurs feel really good about number two. I think Dylan Harper, he's already been, I'm told, to the spurs facilities. Met them in San Antonio.
- [37:09]
Pat McAfee
Congrats, Dylan. Number two overall pick in the NBA.
- [37:13]
Shams Charania
You know, you never know with the draft, but that's what. That's where it looks right now. But for the spurs, Victor Weminyama, De' Aaron Fox, both in their 20s, in the prime of their career. My feel right now is that the spurs, they have interest in Kevin Durant. They have talked to the Suns, to my understanding, about Kevin Durant. But there's a certain price threshold they'll go to for a guy like Kevin Durant. And if that price doesn't align with Phoenix's, then clearly there's just not going to be a deal. And if the spurs are going to fully go all in, what they've done such a good job there, their general manager, Brian Wright, RC Buford, their CEO, they've stockpiled all their picks. They got Darren Fox in a trade. They've got Stefan Castle, the reigning rookie of the Year. They've got Victor Wemanyama. They've got different players that have value like Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, Devin Vassell. Those are the types of guys where if you're going to go all in, you know, if there's a player that hits the market, we don't know yet which player could hit the market. These things could all be fluid. Luka Docic got traded knowing, you know, we didn't know about it till it happened. So they're waiting.
- [38:15]
Pat McAfee
We didn't know about it.
- [38:16]
Shams Charania
I didn't know about it till five minutes before. I'm not gonna lie to you.
- [38:18]
Pat McAfee
And then everybody else didn't know until six minutes before.
- [38:22]
Q Rich
Six minutes.
- [38:22]
Ty Schmidt
So it hang in the pocket there, by the way.
- [38:24]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, you just kept giving a great take with a lot of names, very important stats and facts about what the future is for some people.
- [38:30]
Shams Charania
And then.
- [38:31]
Pat McAfee
And then they wanted to test you a little bit. That's adversity. That's adversity.
- [38:35]
Shams Charania
We get through it.
- [38:35]
Pat McAfee
That's journalism.
- [38:36]
Shams Charania
We get through it. We get through it. We get through it. You know what? We've been. We've been through the heat.
- [38:40]
Pat McAfee
Yes, we certainly have been through the heat.
- [38:43]
Q Rich
Yeah.
- [38:44]
Boston Connor
Nice, Nice.
- [38:53]
Udoka Azubuike
There it is.
- [38:54]
Shams Charania
I'm just a corny guy. You son of a. I'm a corny guy. You know, of course, if a Jonathan into decumpo hits the market, right. And if there's an interest level there, you know, know. But what they're looking at is someone that hits their timeline, potentially that if you are going to go all in for. We feel really good about it. It's going to be a five, six, seven, eight year window. Listen, they're on Kevin Durant's preferred list. Kevin Durant would like to play in San Antonio potentially like he would in Houston, like he would in Miami. So, you know, could the spurs come back for sure. But as of right now, everything I understand they're not the most aggressive team in this. I think the focus over the last several days, the last week has been huge. Houston, Miami and Minnesota.
- [39:38]
Ty Schmidt
Giannis was the only other superstar you.
- [39:41]
Pat McAfee
Would say, well, he wants to know about the Celtics.
- [39:42]
Shams Charania
That's the only name you think about.
- [39:44]
Ty Schmidt
That's the name you think like there's a few teams. Yeah, we'll see.
- [39:49]
Shams Charania
I mean, I, I know what you're trying to get. You're trying to get a Jaylen Brown, Derrick White. Listen, no, I'm sure teams are throwing crazy offers for guys like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, but it'll take a pretty insurmountable package to. To get those guys.
- [40:02]
Pat McAfee
Ty has a lot. Go ahead, you do.
- [40:04]
Q Rich
I wouldn't do it. I want to see. This is the opportunity. With unfortunate incident to Tatum. This is the opportunity for us to see Boston, to see everybody, to see if Jaylen Brown can lead your team. We saw what he was able to do in the Eastern Conference finals last year. Well, two years ago we saw what he was able to do against Luka, setting the tone defensively, offensively as well. But now you. There's always this back and forth about 1A, 1B. Now we have the opportunity and I do believe Jason, Jaylen Brown can. Can do that. But give him the chance. Don't trade him now. This is his chance to show that he can lead the Boston Celtics.
- [40:34]
Pat McAfee
Boston, Connor actually thinks we're punting on this year. What are we doing? Let's go ahead and figure out what the future.
- [40:40]
Shams Charania
I will say this. How the Celtics are operating in the space right now is that they're looking at next year as a retooling year.
- [40:46]
Pat McAfee
What? That's what Connor thinks, too.
- [40:47]
Ty Schmidt
Me and Brad Stevens, man.
- [40:51]
Darius Butler
Great coach.
- [40:53]
Q Rich
Organization looks at it like that doesn't mean the players and the guys in.
- [40:56]
Shams Charania
That locker room, you don't want to stay competitive. That doesn't mean you don't want to compet. Continue. But listen, realistically, without Jason Tatum, it's going to be tough.
- [41:03]
Q Rich
I'm not saying they win a championship, but do you. You. You see that he has the leadership qualities and he can be the guy. There's no way they win without Jason Tatum, but he still has a chance to lead that team and be a good team.
- [41:13]
Pat McAfee
Last question here from Ty Schmidt for you, Shams.
- [41:15]
Boston Connor
Speaking of the NBA draft, there's been a lot of stuff coming out about Ace Bailey, who a lot of people think is going to, you know, be the number three overall pick, top five for sure. He he went to Rutgers, you know, with Harper. They didn't make the NCAA tournament. They actually kind of stunk, which is kind of crazy. A lot of people saying he might be a shitbird, but he, he's, he's basically refusing to go work out for certain teams. I'm not saying it. That's what a lot of people are saying. Exactly. What does that whole situation like and how uncommon is this for the NBA? Because we hear about this in the NFL a lot with players, you know, most recently with Caleb Williams, basically saying like, hey, I'm not going to Chicago. But more often than not, that's BS and guys do go where they're drafted. What is going on with Ace Bailey? Could this tank where he goes in the draft or is he still seen as. Nah, he's a bonus top three, top five guy.
- [42:01]
Shams Charania
It's hard for me to sit here and say that his stock is going to completely tank, that hey, he's going to fall dramatically because for all we know there might be a promise in place for him. Clearly it might not be Philadelphia at three. So yeah, he was supposed to go into Philadelphia today, visit with them all day today and tomorrow and Friday. He had a full on session for him. He was supposed to be in, I'm looking at the information. I have the 19th and the 20th. He was supposed to be in Philly. They had all of his flight arrangements set. They had dinner for him set. They had breakfast for him set. They had a workout session for him set. They had everything arranged for him and he essentially bailed two days prior to the visit. Yesterday he canceled from my understanding. And so the Sixers don't quite know what to make of it. I think people around the league don't really know what to make make of it. To my knowledge, he hasn't gone in and visited with the team. So yeah, it is, it is unheard of to an extent for a player. He's, he's the only US based player not to go visit a team and we're, what are we, six days away from the NBA draft? So yeah, it's, it is uncommon, but we don't, I don't want to throw shade quite yet. There might be a method to the madness for him, but this is a player that I think between three and eight I could see him going.
- [43:20]
Darius Butler
You said it may be a promise in place. How often does that happen in the NBA?
- [43:25]
Pat McAfee
And who's guiding all this? Who's his rep? Is it Rich Paul? We know Rich. We know Rich runs the league.
- [43:31]
Shams Charania
His representative He's. He's with someone. Omar Cooper is his agent of record. And. And Omar Cooper is the father of Sharif Cooper, who actually played in. In college, played a little bit in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks, played in the G League, and. And, you know, that's who's been dealing with. With NBA teams and guiding this process. And so promises are pretty typical now. A lot of the times, they're hidden. They're kept under, quiet. Sometimes you hear whispers about it, secret, pinky promise, but you don't know until draft night. All right. The promise was actually a promise because you also hear whispers. Hey, this guy's got a promise here. But then it doesn't happen, right? So. But it is common. I don't want to say it happens like a dozen times every draft year, but there's always, always at least two to four, you know, every driver. I'm sure UD knows about. About some promises.
- [44:22]
Q Rich
I don't know what you're talking about, Sean. The question was for you, not me.
- [44:29]
Shams Charania
I'm trying to test your loyalty right now.
- [44:31]
Pat McAfee
Cowboys, they were gonna draft me. They lied. I assume teams in the NBA have lied.
- [44:37]
Shams Charania
Oh, they lied to you.
- [44:38]
Q Rich
Yeah, I had that.
- [44:39]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. I had a team tell me they were gonna draft me.
- [44:40]
Shams Charania
I told you that.
- [44:41]
Q Rich
Seattle supersonics. I never forget.
- [44:43]
Pat McAfee
That's why they sent a team to Oklahoma City.
- [44:45]
Q Rich
Nate McMillan. And I love Nate. Nate the OG. Nate McMillan was coaching the Seattle SuperSonics. Like, if you're. If you're available for our pick in the second round, we taking you. And they. I was there.
- [44:57]
Shams Charania
Seattle.
- [44:57]
Q Rich
Oh, I never forgot it. Oh, listen. I never forget that kind of. Oh, no.
- [45:00]
Pat McAfee
He went to the complete opposite side of the country.
- [45:03]
Q Rich
Yeah. Yeah. I never. And they took. And they took Reggie Evans. Reggie Evans, my dog. Another Florida boy. So you know what I'm saying? But they told me to my face, looked me in my eyes.
- [45:12]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, that happens a lot, I think. Yeah. So hopefully Mr. Cooper and old buddy down there have a solid process.
- [45:20]
Shams Charania
Maybe there's a method to the madness. Only time will tell.
- [45:23]
Q Rich
I would hope so. I hope you're a young fellow with talent coming into this league. You don't want to start off with, you know, negative, you know, energy with other teams. You don't know if teams are.
- [45:32]
Shams Charania
Teams are perplexed. They don't know what's going on.
- [45:34]
Q Rich
Yeah, but. Yeah, because you don't know if five years from now, this is a team that might want to give you 2,300 million dollars. You don't know. So you know Just keep your face clean, young fella, that's all. Keep your face clean. Clean out here.
- [45:43]
Pat McAfee
Ogud with the. A little bit of advice and sham. Sharani with the info. We appreciate the hell out of you. You look incredibly clean today. Ladies and gentlemen, it's finals game six. And that's Sean Sharon. Appreciate you sh. As we pivot away from NBA Insider, let's head to. Yeah, that was better. Yep, got it. Oh, you wanted to try to do the Memphis hotel lady.
- [46:05]
Shams Charania
Yours is the one I saw. The one. The one from like 2020.
- [46:08]
Pat McAfee
Me and the hotel old lady. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was great. Yeah, it was great. She was really good. I think I took somebody else's sound. Oh, we have no sound. We need sound on that.
- [46:17]
Q Rich
Oh, Justin, I found you, baby.
- [46:19]
Darius Butler
Hey, I got you.
- [46:21]
Q Rich
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
- [46:24]
Darius Butler
I got you.
- [46:25]
Pat McAfee
That's. That's. That's. That's me in Memphis having a good time taking somebody else's room reservation. As you heard it there. I got you. Justin. She said, that's a white name. Let me give it to this guy. And that was not my room reservation, but I definitely took it. But that was one of the cleanest daps in history. A lot of chat about Memphis. We had great times down in Memphis.
- [46:43]
Boston Connor
Oh, yeah, great times.
- [46:43]
Pat McAfee
We had great times down in Memphis.
- [46:45]
Q Rich
I love Memphis now.
- [46:47]
Pat McAfee
Joining us now is a college basketball coaching legend. Great, great Memphis.
- [46:53]
Ty Schmidt
Great times in Memphis.
- [46:54]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, great times. Western Pennsylvania legend, Paisan supreme. Ladies and gentlemen, the Arkansas men's basketball coach, national champion hall of Famer, Coach Calipari. How you doing, Paison?
- [47:13]
John Calipari
And remind them that the Nets fired me. Yeah, please tell everybody that.
- [47:19]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, I was actually looking at the Wikipedia. I saw the Nets thing. I saw the Sixers assistant, and then I saw the overall record, Then I saw the college record. Feels like you were more suited for the college game, but you certainly know the NBA game. A lot of your guys obviously go on to take over the NBA. Let's talk about sga. When he was playing college ball, did you know he was about to become an mvp? Did you know he's about to put an entire state in the city on his back whenever you're watching him? And when you met him.
- [47:44]
John Calipari
Well, let me just say this. I've coached two MVPs. Derrick, Rose and Shay. Both had the same DNA. Unbelievable teammates. So Shea won't do an interview unless his teammates are around. Derek wouldn't take a pick picture unless his teammates were around. You'll never hear a player that played with them ever say a Bad word. Because they're great teammates. They were both wired and driven. One by trying to prove himself, I'm better than you think. The other trying to live up to what he was. Different players. Derek with speed would kill you and his quick bounce and floaters. And Shane more of a. A pace game that just goes and gets buckets but plays a good floor game too. But it's amazing. Shay did not start for me for eight games. Nine games. And when I called him in and said, you need to be starting and he said, I'm good, coach, I trust you. Just tells you about what he is.
- [48:51]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, he bought Rolexes for the whole team whenever he won the mvp. They've seen so many of those moments. And he's just a bucket getter. I mean an insane bullshit bucket getter. Now it feels like this Oklahoma City team has a college like vibe whenever you watch it. From the fan base to the way it's coached to the way they play. Do you agree with that sentiment and do you think there's more of that happening in the NBA now?
- [49:12]
John Calipari
Well, the NBA goes through cycles of what works and they change. But I was in Oklahoma City for game three or maybe it was game two. Whichever game it was, it's a college involved environment. And then the way they play, you talk about come at you so many ways. Caruso, look, the game, I was there. Williams had three points, three, never said a word and gets 40 in the last game. Because of how they play. And it's. They play off of one another. They seem to really enjoy competing. Not just. They're like, I'm blocking you down, down. And Indiana's doing the same. You got to give them credit to be where they are. That one game, man, took the wind out of their sails. But it'll be interesting tonight.
- [50:04]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. And I believe there's a. Is there a story between you and Tyrese Halliburton? I don't recall. Yeah. You say you said you thought he was a bum. You thought he was a bum. That, that's I believe the way.
- [50:14]
John Calipari
I did not. I did not. But he, he went to the right place. And I'll tell you you what the things he's doing. I hope he's healthy.
- [50:22]
Pat McAfee
Yes.
- [50:23]
John Calipari
For this game. Kayson Wallace was starting played for us. You still have J. Will and, and Isaiah Joe from Arkansas. Isaiah Jackson played for me. He's in. In with the Indiana Pacers. He's hurt right now. He's recovering from his injury, but no going to the games. And how about you watch signed 400 autographs after warming up and getting ready for a championship game.
- [50:53]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [50:53]
John Calipari
What? It just shows what he is.
- [50:55]
Q Rich
He's different.
- [50:56]
Pat McAfee
He's great. Great superstar. The future is in a great spot. Darius Butler has a question for you, Coach Cal.
- [51:02]
Darius Butler
Yeah, Coach. You've been coaching dynamic players for a long time. Going into the draft, we just had a conversation about Ace Bailey, you know, kind of going unconventional with his route. What, what are those conversations like when players reach out and lean on you for advice? And do you have any stories from the. The past with a specific player at the top of the draft?
- [51:19]
John Calipari
Well, first of all, I can tell you sitting at that table is the worst thing in the world because you don't know because everybody's lying.
- [51:26]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [51:26]
John Calipari
So you don't know where the kids getting drafted. But I've had multiple players say, I'm not being drafted by that team. I've already told them. And I'm like, are you nuts? That's three picks down. Why would you. Because I'm not going there. And you know what? They were right and I was wrong. When Carl Towns was getting drafted, the Lakes wanted him, the Lakers wanted him, and they were the 2 pick. And I said, you may want to be the 2 pick and be in LA and you know, Minnesota, he said, no, I'll wear a coat. I want to be the number one pick. And he enjoyed his time there and. But yeah, they. There are some stuff I remember with Calvin Johnson, we waited till the end of the draft. I'm sick. I'm on the phone, I'm calling people. And you know what? He ends up in San Antonio, the best place in the world. He can. Doesn't matter when you're drafted, it's where you go. And he now is going to have a long career. He's wearing a cowboy hat and big booty wears cowboy boots. I mean, what, what?
- [52:34]
Pat McAfee
Perfect home, perfect home for him. You know, the universe of God works in magical ways. Draft nights can be very long, especially. You say everybody's lying. They do that in the NFL as well. So whenever there's like a promise made in the NFL, it's like that's not real. In the NBA, it sounds like the exact same. UD has a question for you, Coach.
- [52:52]
Q Rich
Hey, Coach, man, just want to give you your flowers, man. Huge fan of everything you've been able to accomplish in the game of basketball. But my question is to you, if being a guy who's been around so long and had to go through the recruiting process as we transition into the nil and different things like that. You having your old school mentality and old school flavor. How has that transition been for you? Because, you know, it's a little bit more different. What guys are looking for now when they're looking for colleges. At my time, it was just looking for a great coach and somebody who could put me in a position to make it to the next level. There's other things that come into play now. These guys are a brand and a lot of different things. So how were you able to make that adjustment?
- [53:25]
John Calipari
Well, let me say this. There will be coaches that would pay more than I would be willing to pay. But I'm telling kids, you don't want to trip over next nickels trying to get to 200 million. And you pick the right school. Don't let it overwhelm you with the money. Can I throw a humble brag out there?
- [53:46]
Pat McAfee
Absolutely.
- [53:47]
Q Rich
Please. Yes.
- [53:47]
John Calipari
Okay. My guys have made $6 billion.
- [53:53]
Darius Butler
That's crazy.
- [53:53]
Q Rich
Yes.
- [53:55]
John Calipari
So, 6 billion. So when I say that if you're willing to take an extra 800,000 to go, go, and you're telling me you want to be a pro, have at it. I'm not. And I don't begrudge anybody. Demarcus Cousins told me back in the day, he said, what should I do? Should I put my name in the draft? I said, if you want to do what's right for you and your family, you put your name in that draft. Do you want to do what's right for me and my family? Why don't you stay for a couple more years? And so this thing. I. I just wish they could not transfer. They should be able to go once, maybe twice, without penalty because the coach lied. Told him, you're shooting every ball. I'm going to play you this way. And he didn't tell them the truth, then they should be able to leave. But four times, that means the first sign of trouble, I'm out.
- [54:49]
Q Rich
Yes.
- [54:50]
John Calipari
And you.
- [54:51]
Pat McAfee
Second sign of trouble, I'm out.
- [54:53]
John Calipari
Yeah.
- [54:54]
Pat McAfee
Third sign, trouble, I'm out. Fourth sign of trouble, I'm out. That's setting a bad precedent for life, I think.
- [55:02]
John Calipari
There you go. If you're a parent, wouldn't you tell your son? No.
- [55:06]
Q Rich
You're.
- [55:07]
John Calipari
You're fighting this. You're fighting this out. You're not.
- [55:09]
Pat McAfee
No.
- [55:10]
John Calipari
You're staying. You're going to do it now. I understand once or twice without penalty, but after that, don't tell me. Well, we'd get sued. You, a kid transferring four times. One, it's not good for him. Two, has no chance academic. Academically to do anything. And I think we're still academic institutions. Take it to court. You can win that.
- [55:32]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [55:33]
John Calipari
But if we get that in order, I think the nil stuff would be fine. Because right now you got, you know, the quarterback from Vanderbilt. Was it on this show?
- [55:43]
Pat McAfee
No, it was on busing with the boys. Four and a half million to just.
- [55:47]
John Calipari
Put his name in it. Well, that's Tampa tampering. That's tampering. Put your name in the portal. 4 and a half million. We got to get away from that more than the nil.
- [55:58]
Pat McAfee
Well, coach, we appreciate your time. We're coming up on it.
- [56:01]
John Calipari
Hold it, hold it. I do the arrow. If anybody misses that, it's going to be like they missed on you. Ready?
- [56:09]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [56:10]
John Calipari
Emmanuel Quickley.
- [56:11]
Q Rich
Okay.
- [56:12]
John Calipari
I've gone through when they missed.
- [56:14]
Pat McAfee
What do you say?
- [56:14]
John Calipari
A Duke. The arrow is a first round draft pick and I'm going to tell you you why the league. I love the physicalness of the league right now.
- [56:22]
Pat McAfee
Absolutely.
- [56:22]
John Calipari
I love it because you got to work to get a basket. It ain't horse anymore. Shoot, it is. You gotta get. And someone better scream because the guy's holding like that. All that stuff. A dude can play in a physical game and athletically be in the top 1%. He's somebody. If you pass on, they'll look back at and say how many people passed on him.
- [56:47]
Pat McAfee
Hey, coach.
- [56:48]
John Calipari
And a good kid from Pittsburgh.
- [56:50]
Pat McAfee
Love that. Draft them. You're always recruiting, always selling, always coaching, always sticking up for your guys. You're the man. We appreciate the hell out of you. Hour two on the other side of this break. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. Summer's here, and Nordstrom has everything you need for your best dress season ever. From beach days and weddings to weekend getaways. In your everyday wardrobe, discover stylish options under $100 from tons of your favorite brands like Mango Skims, Princess Polly and Madewell. It's easy too, with free shipping and free returns in store order, pickup and more. Shop today in stores online@nordstrom.com or download the Nordstrom app. If you want tools that stand the test of time without testing your work wallet, Harbor Freight is the place for you. Expert engineers design and rigorously test Harbor Freight tools to bring you top quality. Whether your next project is big or small, Harbor Freight carries a wide selection, from hand tools to power tools to automotive tools and welding equipment. And with prices lower than other top brands, but with the same top quality, you're getting more for your Money at Harbor Freight. There are over 1,500 Harbor Freight stores in the U.S. so come see for your. Whatever you do, do it for less at Harbor Freight. Welcome back to 20 year NBA vet, three time NBA champion, you Donis Haslam.
- [58:24]
Udoka Azubuike
Still got the quickness, baby.
- [58:26]
Pat McAfee
You do? I still got the quickness. I saw him scale eight stairs here and then hover above the stage to get to his seat in less than a second and a half as show was about to kick off hour two. We appreciate you UD nine year NFL vet Darius J. Butler.
- [58:41]
Darius Butler
Yes sir.
- [58:41]
Pat McAfee
The toxic table is here at Boston Connor and at Ty Schmid. One half of the hammer D. Nailed it.
- [58:50]
Ty Schmidt
You saying dang?
- [58:51]
Pat McAfee
What are you saying?
- [58:52]
Q Rich
I said damn. That time I done hit it with the dang. The damn.
- [58:58]
Pat McAfee
Which one's good? All of them. Hammer hate. Hammer dam is actually pretty good. Every once in a while it's a hammer dam. Every once in a while it's a hammer. Wow. Every once in a while it's a hammer that. Tonight, the Pacers plus six and a half at home for game six of the NBA Finals. The stage has gotten set. The T shirts have been handed out and delivered to all of the seats here in Gainbridge Field House. The Proverbial Ceremonial Game 6 feels like it is on the precipice of being iconic. Dare we all say epic. Sure. How do you feel tonight's game goes and what are the betting lines saying about how tonight's Game 6 should go? Because the sports books, surprisingly enough over the last few games have been dead on with how everything's going.
- [59:53]
Shams Charania
Going to go.
- [59:53]
Udoka Azubuike
Yeah, it's thunder or minus six and a half tonight. It's the same line as game four where the thunder covered by a point or so based on the free throw competition that happened at the end of that game. The total for this game is 221. It's been around that this whole series, as we know, we talked about it, you know, the last couple weeks or whatever. This six and a half as a home dog is the biggest. It's, you know, it's been in the, it's, it doesn't, it doesn't say a lot about the respect the sportsbooks have for the pace. But you know, they've been disrespected this entire playoff run. So it's nothing new for them. I would hammer the Pacers tonight. You know, I was, I was. We talked about all the, everything that we saw from the storm last night to flags flying. We believe signs coming in. They really spoke to me, a bunch coming in. Something that, you know, you got to take. You can't just take what is going to happen on the court in. You got to take everything else around.
- [60:39]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. We gotta let the universe talk to us.
- [60:41]
Udoka Azubuike
Bingo.
- [60:41]
Q Rich
Bingo.
- [60:42]
Udoka Azubuike
Especially in situations.
- [60:44]
Pat McAfee
What? You saw the Pacers flag.
- [60:46]
Ty Schmidt
I know, man.
- [60:47]
Pat McAfee
Right.
- [60:47]
Ty Schmidt
And as Tony's going through all the stuff, all I'm thinking is everybody, every time I. I place bets based on that. I see. Making me think that it affects the basketball on the court.
- [60:58]
Pat McAfee
I always think about the court.
- [60:59]
Udoka Azubuike
We saw this. This Pacers team down two, you know, last game, which out of nowhere they were, you know, they're getting their asses kicked the entire time. And then they're down two out of nowhere. And that didn't work out. I have a question for ud. It's Matherick's birthday because.
- [61:11]
Shams Charania
I know.
- [61:11]
Q Rich
Talk to me.
- [61:12]
Udoka Azubuike
I know Tricky Ricky threw his own at you guys in the final. You think there's a chance. Chance with Tyrese's injury potentially tonight so that he's not in so many actions? There's a chance we may see a little zone tonight out of the surge.
- [61:23]
Q Rich
That is a great question, by the way. This guy knows.
- [61:26]
Pat McAfee
This knows ball. He's going for a 131 yesterday.
- [61:29]
Udoka Azubuike
I believe we're trapping the quarters.
- [61:32]
Q Rich
There is definitely going to be some zone to protect Holly out there tonight. He's going to. Yeah. Just to throw him off pace a little bit. Preserve that calf a little bit. This is a team that likes to get up and down. He knows they're going to attack him in every action. So Tricky Ricky's definitely going to come with his own. What kind of zone? I don't know. Is it a 2 3? Is it a 13 1?
- [61:48]
Pat McAfee
Which one would you do if you're playing against SGA? Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams.
- [61:52]
Q Rich
I'm going with a 23 because I like two guys at the top of that key there. So if they do set a screen, you just pass them along to the.
- [61:57]
Udoka Azubuike
Maybe a boxing one.
- [61:58]
Q Rich
Oh, that takes a lot. You got to work on that. It's hard to throw a boxing one right in the finals if you haven't worked on it. But I think they can throw a 23 out there because if you set a screen for SGA, the other guy's just going to pass them to the other guy. The problem is, if you set a screen in the 2 3, if he splits and goes down the middle of the two guys. So you gotta have good communication. You gotta have great Communication. People think two, three, zone is lazy defense. You actually have to work harder in the zone because how much communication you.
- [62:23]
Darius Butler
Have to have against the zone, that's always a fallback in the men's league. Somebody's getting cool. All right, let's go two, three. Let's go two, three. But why doesn't zone work on real, like high level basketball? You don't see much on a high level D1 or in the NBA for extended periods of time. Why is that? Because everybody just shoots so damn good.
- [62:39]
Q Rich
Because they get it after a while. They get, they get the rhythm of it. So it's literally only used for a couple minutes just to throw the team off, you know, throw the offensive rhythm off, get them out of the rhythm. Then you go right back to a man. It's kind of like chess, you know what I'm saying? You just want to distract them a little bit, Throw them a little illusion, make them think we in a man, but we're really in the zone. Everybody's still standing their spots. And then when they finally figure out the zone, go back to the man.
- [63:00]
Pat McAfee
Is it because everybody can score now? Not that everybody couldn't score back then.
- [63:04]
Q Rich
It's because everybody can't go guard now. When I was came in the league, you had to guard your yard. If you couldn't guard, you couldn't play. Because there was no, you know, fast paced run to the three point line. No, it's find a weak link and we're going to go at him every single time until your coach takes you out. There was no guys that were just making threes and, oh, he can score and he gonna just let him score. No, if you couldn't guard the old man in that league, Derrick Coleman, them kind of guys gonna go at your ass every time. They gonna punish your ass and your coach go take you out.
- [63:31]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, milkshake. Yeah. We do that in the NFL as well. There is I. The first. One of my favorite moments in my rookie year was watching some shitty number, some shit number jog onto the field in the fourth quarter and go. I think they were playing corner outside or something like that.
- [63:50]
Darius Butler
39, corner, corner.
- [63:51]
Pat McAfee
Hayton's actual head. Hayton's gigantic, gigantic helmet. He always knew everything that was going on. Soon as this poor soul jogged onto the field, you literally watched his head the whole time. Just watch him jog all the way over and line up. And then it was like, okay, yeah, hey. And it was just bow, bow, bow, bow. You guys do that in the NBA as well?
- [64:14]
Q Rich
Hell, yes.
- [64:15]
Pat McAfee
Okay. Is that. You asked about this in the first hour. Tyrese Halliburton on defensive side, you know, he's not normally known to be a defensive lockdown. I had a lot of blocks, though. Starting to pick up some blocks. Starting to get some efforts there.
- [64:25]
Q Rich
I'll give you an interesting statistic about Tyrese Hallenberg.
- [64:28]
Pat McAfee
Okay.
- [64:28]
Q Rich
Up until the finals, he was 40. He was giving up 40% on individual defense, so he wasn't as bad as people thought.
- [64:34]
Pat McAfee
So hold on. Is that good or bad? I don't think I know what normal is.
- [64:36]
Q Rich
He's pretty decent. He was around 38, 39% in ISO situation. So at 30, 39%, they were scoring.
- [64:43]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, but what's normal?
- [64:45]
Q Rich
I mean, if you getting cooked and the guy's scoring on you, like 60, 70% of the time, you gotta take your ass out by that. But if you're around 38, 39%, I mean, you're pretty much holding your own.
- [64:55]
Pat McAfee
So that's maybe not a good narrative about Tyrese Halliburton.
- [64:58]
Q Rich
Yeah, it's not a good narrative. I mean. I mean, he's not the greatest defender, but he's a capable defender. But if you're looking at that lineup, then he's the guy you want to attack. You don't want to attack Nemhardt. You don't want to attack Nate Smith. You don't want to attack Siakam. You don't want to attack Miles Turner, because I think he's giving up crazy numbers in one on one. Like, he. Nobody's really scoring on him. His offense is struggling, but defensively, he's.
- [65:17]
Pat McAfee
Been on point block party.
- [65:17]
Q Rich
So there's none of those guys that you want to attack. So you look at that and you're like, him. That's the guy. That's the Duck. We like to call it the Duck. Not that Terry Halliburton is a Duck. Halliburton is a Duck. Duck at all. But when you're in the NBA locker room, you attack the.
- [65:29]
Pat McAfee
Yes, yes, yes, absolutely. And whenever you do, you know, the refs. So, like, for instance, Nemhard. There's a chance. Nemhard, like, I mean, he plays sign defense sticky. Yeah, I mean, he. He's on. But the refs can change. He gets two fouls early. All of a sudden, you got to change the entire game plan. Do you know going into a game how the refs are probably going to call it? One defensive end, I'm gonna give you.
- [65:51]
Q Rich
A quote from that first from. From a little heat ism little heatism. And LeBron James used to say this all the time, don't look at the refs. They can't help us, they can't hurt us. We don't even give a damn. We didn't even look at the. I don't care who's referent matter real. It does not matter what they gonna look at the refs to help us win. Can't do nothing for us. So it doesn't matter who is refereeing.
- [66:10]
Pat McAfee
So every ref could call a tight game. Every ref could call a loose game.
- [66:13]
Q Rich
Yes, every ref could call a tight game. Every ref could call a loose game. You adjust throughout the game, but I mean at the same time you come in with your mentality is the refs can't help us, can't hurt us. Doesn't matter who's ref in this damn game. Fellas, don't even let that creep into our mind because there's some refs where you look at it, you're like, oh, we got him tonight already. You already, you blew it already. Your mental has gone far away from where it needs to be.
- [66:34]
Ty Schmidt
How long does that take to figure out into a game like, okay, they're calling it. Is it first four minutes?
- [66:40]
Q Rich
Yeah, you can usually tell the first couple minutes. And I'll tell you one thing, and this helped because when I first got into the NBA, I couldn't get a call. I couldn't buy a damn call. I don't know if it was the braids or the tattoos. I definitely wasn't this domesticated. Coach Riley called me office and he gave me a three pages with every official, their face and their names. He said, learn every effing guy's name and address them as hey, such and such. Instead of saying ref official, official. He's like, they never gonna give you a damn call. You keep calling them refer official. He literally gave me a list and I literally had to learn every single referee's name. And when the game started, money, whatever it was.
- [67:18]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, money. Giving him money. Yeah, yeah.
- [67:22]
Q Rich
Monty, who I just saw in the airport, Monty. I mean, all these different refs, I address these guys on a first name basis.
- [67:28]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. I feel like in the NBA becomes a personal relationship with them. You know, you're around each other a lot, very close to the action and also a part of the show. You know, like you guys are. I mean the intimacy of the fans with the game is insane. I mean, you're literally in it. You're on the stage with everybody. The refs are a part of it. The refs are getting it. The refs are getting booed. The reference are maybe playing to it a little bit with the way they're doing it. They're a part of the show feels like they're, you know, a very huge part of the NBA as a whole. I, I, we maybe a casual would know the name Scott Foster, like, obviously would know. Yeah, Tony Brothers would know these names. It's like they become stars, like in the NFL, obviously hockey league stereotor. These guys have been able to get over because of who they're known. But it's not every ref feels like in the NBA, every ref is pretty well done.
- [68:15]
Q Rich
Yes. And I'm going to tell you something about these referees. A lot of these guys you talk about the Scott Foster, they work every game they're working.
- [68:20]
Pat McAfee
These guys are working.
- [68:21]
Q Rich
Like, when you get to this level and you're looking at the finals and different things, you're going to see Scott, you're going to see Tony Brothers. Those guys have earned that right to ref these finals. But these are also guys who have made mistakes in games and they'll come back and they'll see me like five or six games later and be like, you know what? You were right. I missed that one.
- [68:34]
Pat McAfee
Got it.
- [68:35]
Q Rich
And that right there is a whole different. I respect that. And then when I and I went back to Monte one time because I got on his ass, I, I went back to him the next game and I said, you know what? I was wrong.
- [68:46]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, I respect that.
- [68:47]
Q Rich
Before I said that, he was about to tell me I was wrong. He was already about to come with me in the same conversation. But these are the things that can help you slightly, just having a conversation and just a relationship.
- [68:56]
Boston Connor
How frustrating is it though, when, like early on and like we saw earlier in the series, like, it's super physical and they're kind of just letting them play. And then all of a sudden at some point it's like, yeah, you know what? This is getting a little too out of hand. And then it gets super ticky tack. And it's like, well, you know, like the style we were playing five minutes ago, and for the whole first half, like, now we can't do it. Like, is there anything you can do for that? Or is it kind of just, hey, we got to roll with the punches now.
- [69:20]
Q Rich
Distractions. It's too important of a moment. We can't, we can't allow you to be distracted for at least 30 seconds. You cannot lose focus for at least 30 seconds. There's going to be so many damn highs and lows. So many things that are out of your control. Control what you can control. The team that's going to win is the team that stays easy even right here. Stay all the way through. So when all of that happens, it doesn't matter, man. Literally. And it's crazy to say this because there's so many things that you think can impact the game, but if you really just say none of that shit matters, we're gonna play the game for 48 minutes and let the chips fall where they may. You'll get through so much.
- [69:50]
Pat McAfee
Play your mindset. I'll tell you what, as a fan watching, they do matter.
- [69:53]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah.
- [69:55]
Pat McAfee
Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, from an attic in Ohio is a man who I assume had a great relationship with the officials. There was a video of him flipping off the sideline. Everybody thought he was doing that to an official. Ye. Also other motions, obviously that have been done by this man on a football field. He's the all time leading tackler for the Green Bay packers. Ladies and gentlemen, A.J. hawk is here. Hawker, how you doing? You're glowing. How are you?
- [70:17]
A.J. Hawk
I'm doing great. You guys look good. Obviously, UD is dressed beautifully and looks amazing. So. Yeah, he's very, very classy, gentleman.
- [70:24]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, he's super professional. Are you making fun of the rest of us? Sounds like that was what that was.
- [70:27]
A.J. Hawk
I mean, look at me, I'm wearing. I'm wearing a sweatshirt. Ud, I. I have no room to speak. But yeah, I love, love guys that can. That can put it together and he sounds great.
- [70:34]
Pat McAfee
Holy hell.
- [70:38]
Q Rich
And I was actually. I appreciated it.
- [70:39]
Pat McAfee
Here you go. Yeah. When he complimented you.
- [70:42]
Q Rich
Yeah, I appreciated that.
- [70:43]
Pat McAfee
Look at A.J. hawk and talk A. Feel the pain bridge. A.J. good for you, man. Everybody's taking a photo of you just chilling out there. Big smiles, big smiles.
- [70:53]
Darius Butler
Give him a hype. A hype speech.
- [70:55]
Pat McAfee
AJ the people are wondering what you have to do say about the Indiana Pacers tonight in game six.
- [71:01]
Ty Schmidt
Oh, yeah.
- [71:01]
A.J. Hawk
You know, I love these. I love giving these, especially the one shot, the old one shot on the. The motivational speeches.
- [71:08]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [71:08]
A.J. Hawk
Guess what, boys? You don't need. Nothing needs to be said. Their backs are against the wall. We've heard T.J. mcConnell, he said, hey, we're going to give everything we have tonight and go bring home a victory and take this thing to game seven.
- [71:19]
Darius Butler
Yes.
- [71:20]
Q Rich
When TJ say it, you got to believe it.
- [71:23]
Pat McAfee
Anything else, A.J.
- [71:24]
Ty Schmidt
Keep going.
- [71:25]
Pat McAfee
Anything else?
- [71:26]
A.J. Hawk
It's One shot on the Jumbotron is a little bit overkill, but you know.
- [71:29]
Q Rich
Hey, here we go.
- [71:30]
Pat McAfee
We're all here, guys. I'm sorry, what'd you say, ud you made a good point.
- [71:34]
Q Rich
I said, if TJ Said, you got to believe it. I mean, this is a guy who's talking about, like, look where. Look, look where he's come from, and look what he's been able to do and how he's been able to impact this series. I mean, come on, man.
- [71:43]
A.J. Hawk
What's happening?
- [71:44]
Pat McAfee
A.J. always hovering. All right, A.J. let's talk about some NFL news that is happening on this NBA Finals Game 6. You're doing a great job. Thank you for joining us. AJ you are glowing on this tv. I don't know about all the others. You look magnificent. Big news. C.J. mosley retiring from the NFL after an incredible career. Obviously, linebacker, great career. A.J. your thoughts on C.J. mosley? And obviously, this is another legend retire. Every time a legend retires that I remember watching, you know, I'm like, man, I'm getting old.
- [72:16]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [72:16]
Pat McAfee
You know, that's what I especially because I feel like I've experienced his entire career as a fan of his Pro.
- [72:21]
Q Rich
Bowl with the man.
- [72:21]
Pat McAfee
Yes.
- [72:22]
Ty Schmidt
Right.
- [72:22]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Like, like, very, like, I feel like an old man here. A.J. your thoughts on C.J. mosley calling it?
- [72:29]
A.J. Hawk
I mean, this dude was a monster from the day he stepped into the league. I feel like he was a premier linebacker making plays all over the place. I loved watching film of him and what he was able to do. The guy can move and super physical. A guy that can play, you know, all four downs as well.
- [72:42]
Pat McAfee
And I.
- [72:42]
A.J. Hawk
Is it true that he was trying to get back to Baltimore, but his neck, because of his neck, he couldn't get cleared to play?
- [72:47]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, I guess there was some sort of contact communications, and then ultimately they wouldn't pass a fifth or something like that.
- [72:53]
A.J. Hawk
Yeah, man, I hate that for him. Yeah, I hate that for him. Obviously, he. I. I assume whatever he does next, he will be. He's one of those guys that. I feel like he was a pro from day one. Like, you looked at him like this guy was squared away. He was a great leader. And I know the guys in the. That play with him, like, wherever he was, they loved this dude. Obviously a scary dude, roam in the middle like an old school type dude. So I have tons of respect for him.
- [73:15]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Thumper, you know, C.J. mosley, a lot of years in the league that Baltimore, I mean, yeah, they're making moves. They really are.
- [73:24]
Darius Butler
They are making moves. Obviously you have a dynamic quarterback, one of the best quarterbacks in the league. I always say a team don't have a chance if they don't have a quarterback. They got a great culture from the top down in that building. And I love when we seen it, especially more recently, the best team just continue to take shots to get better, whether it's the Bills, whether it's the Chiefs making these type of moves. So adding Jair Alexander yesterday to that secondary, I forgot they even drafted Malachi Starks in the first round, which is a phenomenal talent coming, coming in to the league. And then you pair him up with Marlon Humphrey, who's one of the best slot defenders in the league. Nate Wiggins, dynamic young corner on the outside, and Kyle Hamilton, who can do everything in that secondary. So Chuck Pagano, I know he's happy about, I know defensive coordinator Zach Orr going into, I believe his third year as a DC over there. I know he's happy about it. I know Baltimore, I know Ravens flock are happy about it. And I know I would have. I would assume that their super bowl odds are pretty good right now.
- [74:16]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, Kyle Hamilton actually spoke to the media about Chuck Pagano and gave us a great quote about our team coach. Yeah, I think every time he says something in the meeting room with all the DBs, it's kind of like. It's like he's just dropping knowledge, like he's forgotten more football than a lot of people know. So to have somebody in the room like that, and Donald too, who's been doing a great job, honestly, he gets through those installs like a pro. It's. It's impressive, but no, they're both doing a great job so far. But back to Chuck. I think he's. He's a. Accomplished everything in this game besides winning the Super Bowl. So he's voiced that. And we want to get that not only for us, but for him too. Guys like him who haven't been able to reach that pinnacle. So just a great guy to have and really happy about the room right now. DBut obviously, we were incredibly lucky to be coached by Chuck, but he views himself as a secondary coach. Always has. Obviously high flying safety out of Wyoming himself as a college ball player. Him not having the Super, super bowl ring is what haunts him. He leaves Baltimore to become the Colts head coach. Baltimore wins the super bowl that next year. So he kind of feels like he misses out with the team that he was with whenever he was talking with us. Obviously he had so much respect for the game, but it felt like he was still committed fully to being a Coach in the NFL. Now he's coaching over there. And one of his best players, Kyle Hamilton, comes out and talks about him like that. I love that for Chuck.
- [75:37]
Darius Butler
Legitimately, you love a winner of your young studs is singing your praises like that. Because one of the knocks on older coaches is can they connect with the younger guys, you know, because the game changes so much. I think it was Cooper Cup. He was an interview with somebody talking about just how in the last few years he's been in the league, how much defenses have changed. You mentioned his commitment to it, even not having a headset on, you know, still being with the 33rd team and still been on calls, watching films, being up to date with injuries, guys coming out. Yeah, he. So he stays locked in with everything. Everything. And he's a DB guy through and through. Like he loves the secondary play. So I love the versatility. And when you have a former head coach that's coming back into a position coaching role like you, you already know that guy is super overqualified for that position. So everything he says, you're gonna take it and run with it.
- [76:22]
Pat McAfee
I, I appreciate that Chuck Pagano is getting some love and I also appreciate the fact that he's back into the grind. Oh yeah, yeah. He's been skipping around. They had him a mic'd up segment, I guess somebody tweeted me about it and told me about it where he was miked up and he's just like, you see like a 25 year old out there flying. His energy is infectious. AJ. His energy is infectious. And I'm happy as hell for him and that Ravens team. Yeah, it feels like they're very good.
- [76:45]
Ty Schmidt
Can be a problem.
- [76:46]
Pat McAfee
UD. It sounds like UD's big fan of the Ravens. I did not know that was the case.
- [76:50]
Q Rich
I mean, South Florida, Lamar Jackson, you know, I keep up with everything that come from the south and anything that come out of Florida, I'm a fan.
- [76:55]
Darius Butler
Boom.
- [76:56]
Q Rich
Yeah. Anything that come out of Florida, I'm a fan.
- [76:57]
Pat McAfee
Florida Panthers standing, coming cup champions.
- [76:59]
Q Rich
Oh, for sure.
- [77:00]
Pat McAfee
Congratulations.
- [77:01]
Darius Butler
Two of the greatest Ravens too. Every Ray Lewis.
- [77:04]
Q Rich
My gosh, you know what I mean.
- [77:05]
Darius Butler
Bullets McGahey, Kyle Bowen.
- [77:08]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, of course.
- [77:10]
Q Rich
Glory days. Man.
- [77:13]
Pat McAfee
Miami's gonna get back to that.
- [77:14]
Q Rich
The Hurricanes?
- [77:15]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [77:15]
Q Rich
Or the Dolphins.
- [77:20]
Udoka Azubuike
How come the, um, fans don't show up for the games?
- [77:22]
Q Rich
Ud, huh?
- [77:23]
Udoka Azubuike
How come the Miami fans don't show?
- [77:24]
Pat McAfee
I heard it's cuz it's off.
- [77:26]
Q Rich
Is that why I'm gonna tell you? I can't speak now. When I was growing up, we Used to go to the Orange bowl and it was a whole experience. It was a whole experience. The people cooking outside you get, the Spanish food you get. It was a whole experience. Now I just don't think the culture is the same as it used to be. You know what I'm saying? They moved it. And I think once you moved it from the Orange Bowl, I think things started to change when it came to the Hurricanes and the fan base. Now for the Dolphins, they've been in the same damn place the whole time. I don't have no answer for that. I'm trying to sit up here. Maybe D Buck can help me understand what the hell going on. I'm a fan to the core. I mean, I sit at home and it's weird. Don't judge me. I sit at home, I have no shirt on and I put my helmet, watch the game just like this.
- [78:05]
Pat McAfee
Love that, love that. Just drink whopping water.
- [78:09]
Ty Schmidt
That's unbelievable.
- [78:11]
Q Rich
Listen, I got a real Dolphins helmet with a visor. And I sit down with my helmet and my visor with no shirt on. I watch the damn game. This is how I watch on Sunday. I don't.
- [78:18]
Pat McAfee
Hell yeah. So you're doing like helmet up, bottle stuff.
- [78:21]
Q Rich
Yeah, I do. I take the helmet up, I get a drink and I put it back down. And I clipped up too. My shit ain't hanging to the side like. Like I ain't getting in that shit. Clipped on like I'm finna go in like, hell yeah. Call my number. Shit, I'm gonna hit somebody.
- [78:35]
Pat McAfee
Hopping wood. We lay wood around here.
- [78:38]
Darius Butler
Been waiting a long time. And if you look at the other organizations down there, the Miami Heat, been one, you know, long tradition. We talk about Heat culture. The Marlins, they have their running and broke up the team or whatever. The Panthers now, you know, they're like the dynasty in hockey. Across sports, you look at that team Inter Miami, so inter Miami, bring Messi over.
- [78:57]
Q Rich
Lightning.
- [78:57]
Darius Butler
But I mean, you bring it out. Lightning out there. That's Tampa Bay. I'm talking about like crib, crib. So for the Dolphins to be, what, 26 years now until without having a playoff win like that, that's tough. Especially being in South Florida where, you know, hockey is great, basketball, everything is great. But football is. Is king in South Florida. So we waiting to get it figured out. We'll see if they will. Been a long time coming.
- [79:19]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah. Not to mention, you know, what's going on in the division here now. You know, the Bills are the Bills. The Pats was Vrabel on the way back up. The Jets, I'm not going to say they're on the way back up, but Aaron Glenn in there kind of doing his whole entire thing. I mean, Miami might be all the way Back to like 2000, 2000, what.
- [79:37]
Boston Connor
12 Cleo lemon dolphins.
- [79:39]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah. I'm just saying, like, all of a.
- [79:44]
Pat McAfee
Sudden, McDaniel will be able.
- [79:47]
Ty Schmidt
People believe in him still, right?
- [79:49]
Q Rich
So we got pieces, man. You know what I'm saying? We bring back Walter, we got tour, see if he can stay healthy. Coach McDaniel, I love the creative that he has. Offensively, I think the defense was something.
- [80:00]
Pat McAfee
Tyre's fast, which leads into what's going on, though LS hey, what's the deal here?
- [80:05]
Q Rich
Oh, yeah, that was crazy what happened with that?
- [80:08]
Darius Butler
You know what happened?
- [80:10]
Pat McAfee
Shot of people said, we hope he's okay. Obviously, we saw him go through some stuff at the Olympics and got Covid and everything like that.
- [80:18]
Ty Schmidt
He still raced, though.
- [80:20]
Pat McAfee
Yes, that's what I'm saying. So he was going to race Tyreek hill, I believe. A.J. i don't know. This has been years in the making. Remember, Tyreek and Bolt were even in conversations with maybe racing as. You know, all the track guys talk to athlete guys as if they're not as fast as track guys. And then when track guys are actual football guys, they get very comfortable and confident in speaking in talking shit to the track people, which is Tyreek Hill, I believe, in this particular case, actual track guy who chose football, basically. And he ran a 10, 15 right the other day with a GoPro on his chest. And before he takes off, he actually says, let's have fun doing it. Hey, let's go viral, boys. Let's have fun doing it. And then he 1015 out the gate, and then all of a sudden, the race is called off. So a lot of people immediately say, hey, no Lyles backing off here. But maybe.
- [81:11]
Q Rich
I mean, I gotta say this. And my wife will kill me if I don't tell the truth. And I love Tyreek. Cause he's a Dolphin. No. ELIZA Blow a 1015 out the water in 100. In a hundred. Keep blowing that out the water. This is where Tyreek has a chance. They were supposed to run a 50.
- [81:31]
Darius Butler
Correct 50.
- [81:33]
Q Rich
Tyreek has a chance in a 50 or 60. Because Noah Lyles weakness is his start. As he starts to pick up in 100. This is where his strength is. Yes, but his weakness is his start. If you watch. No allows the thing that he works on a lot is his start. So in a 50 or a 60. Tyreek has a chance in 100.
- [81:49]
Pat McAfee
How much money?
- [81:51]
Darius Butler
They need it on grass, too.
- [81:52]
Pat McAfee
How much money is. Yeah. With spikes. How many? Oh, yeah, Cleats. Sorry, How. How much money you think has to be put up for them to actually race?
- [82:00]
Ty Schmidt
Five million.
- [82:02]
Pat McAfee
Five.
- [82:02]
Ty Schmidt
Five hundred thousand.
- [82:05]
Q Rich
I said a couple hundred thousand.
- [82:06]
Pat McAfee
What's that, A.J.
- [82:07]
A.J. Hawk
It'S a no win situation for no Lyles. Like, if he wins. Yeah. People are saying, of course you should win if he loses. Like, how do you lose to a football player?
- [82:14]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, Forever. And then football people to track people. Forever.
- [82:17]
Darius Butler
This will kind of shut that conversation up forever, though, because if you beat. Because I would say Tyreek is our. Is our fastest. We call him Cheetah.
- [82:23]
Pat McAfee
Best representative.
- [82:24]
Darius Butler
Yeah. He will be the best representative for a long time. So if he goes out there and smokes him, that will put the conversation to bed forever. Tyreek, if he chose to go the track route, I believe he, you know, could have been an Olympian with how he can run. But. Yeah, no, I'm with you. The longer the race, the. The less chance that Tyreek have. But I. I'll watch it. I'll tune in.
- [82:44]
Q Rich
Oh, hell, yeah. I'll be front row.
- [82:45]
Udoka Azubuike
Either way, it's good news for Dalton.
- [82:48]
Pat McAfee
Why is that?
- [82:48]
Udoka Azubuike
I mean, he's still fast. He looked great.
- [82:50]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, he's great shape.
- [82:51]
Ty Schmidt
Didn't look like he was running as fast as he could.
- [82:53]
Pat McAfee
He had a GoPro on his chest. That's like the casual. Just how casual it was.
- [82:57]
Ty Schmidt
Yes.
- [82:58]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Let me go ahead and focus on the content here in the middle of this actual race here. And then he wasn't even breathing heavy, obviously, and pulls away from these guys. Who's he racing against? If Noah's next to him, are they racing each other? Then that's a little bit different, which I think is a real thing, especially football speed. I think football speed there would actually help Tyreek, and also because I guess he has to line up next to people every single time. But nonetheless, I think there should be some sort of prize, obviously. Put some money up and then put some charitable donation up to it, then have it happen. They're gonna have to negotiate the distance. Maybe they'll meet in the middle somewhere like 70, you know, like, maybe it'll be like a 70 yarder where there's still distance, but it's not necessarily as short. I would love to see it. I would really enjoy that for the good of, like, sports, because as somebody that's had an opportunity. Opportunity never to race in one of these races. Of course. But watch these. After like workouts, whenever two people are talking shit to each other about who's faster. It's electrifying. Yes, it is absolutely electrifying. And I know the Olympics, whenever they're 8 wide or whatever is cool. And watching that when it's one on one with two people that have been shit talking each other. And then there's people gassing it up too from. But we just did it.
- [84:06]
Darius Butler
Y.
- [84:08]
Pat McAfee
We literally just gassed it up right there. It is an electrifying event. That's almost where track should go.
- [84:12]
Q Rich
You want to see the best race? You want to hear about the best race I ever seen?
- [84:14]
Darius Butler
One on one?
- [84:15]
Pat McAfee
Absolutely.
- [84:16]
Q Rich
Shaq and Zoe. Shaq and Zo.
- [84:19]
Pat McAfee
Okay. How long was your.
- [84:20]
Q Rich
The conversation was always from Shaq. I went one and you went two in the draft. So that's everything is a competition from that point on. And they actually had a race one day in practice.
- [84:31]
Darius Butler
Full court.
- [84:32]
Q Rich
It was about. Yeah, the full court. It was a full court race.
- [84:34]
Pat McAfee
Okay, so how long?
- [84:35]
Q Rich
We all lined up with our bets and our popcorn.
- [84:37]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Betting M and Ms. Obviously. Not actual money. Obviously. Same with us. We play a lot of cards and stuff like that. That. The. The buildup for that. Was there a long buildup for that? For that?
- [84:49]
Q Rich
Oh, yeah. Cuz it started in the draft night. The buildup started Draft night. Shaq went one and Zo went too.
- [84:56]
Darius Butler
Never forget.
- [84:57]
Q Rich
The buildup started there. And Shaq never missed the opportunity to let Zo. No.
- [85:01]
Pat McAfee
Who won? Who won the race?
- [85:02]
Q Rich
Shaq won the race.
- [85:03]
Pat McAfee
What?
- [85:04]
Q Rich
Shaq won the race that day.
- [85:06]
Udoka Azubuike
That was a lumber.
- [85:07]
Darius Butler
I. I honestly wasn't sure. Zo. Zo used to be that was shredded.
- [85:11]
Pat McAfee
He's big. Let's just talk about Shaq just real quick.
- [85:14]
Boston Connor
The big Aristotle.
- [85:16]
Pat McAfee
D.J.
- [85:16]
Darius Butler
Diesel.
- [85:17]
Q Rich
Something different about that big guy.
- [85:18]
Boston Connor
The big hack.
- [85:19]
Ty Schmidt
Shaq.
- [85:19]
Pat McAfee
This. That's what I'm saying.
- [85:20]
Q Rich
Something different about big fella.
- [85:21]
Pat McAfee
He's. He's bigger than every person you've met somehow. Still more athletic, I think. Like he's 50 something, obviously. He took a bump off a. A ring through a table like three years ago. Crazy bump just got up in this entire thing. He shredded everything he does. He seemingly has massive success with. It's like, yeah, Shaq won the race. That wasn't even in my eyes. I wasn't sure because in those races it's. That's. That's what it feels like. It comes down to. It's like. That's how it gets treated like, hey, who's the Guy here, like, that is a real convo in the speed thing. It'd be cool to be a part of this. That would have been cool to be a part of this.
- [85:55]
Q Rich
That was a great watch. That was a great watch for me.
- [85:57]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Never got. Never got called into any races.
- [85:59]
Udoka Azubuike
Is there a lot of racing in the NBA world, like after, like, like. And that's like football happens.
- [86:05]
Q Rich
There's a lot of one on one.
- [86:06]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [86:06]
Q Rich
That's how we settle things. Things one on one. We settle a lot of things with one on one. And then if it go too far, then we take it down to the locker room. That's when James Johnson come in.
- [86:16]
Ty Schmidt
You and Paul Pierce need to do that, huh? You and Paul Piercey, you play one on one.
- [86:21]
Q Rich
That ain't gonna work. Ain't enough officials in the world.
- [86:27]
Pat McAfee
Before we let you go, aj. I hope you guys didn't get hit with that. Did you guys get hit with that storm last night?
- [86:34]
A.J. Hawk
Not really. I think it. I think it's coming our way now, though, dude.
- [86:37]
Boston Connor
Batting down the hatches.
- [86:39]
Q Rich
Good luck.
- [86:39]
Pat McAfee
It was. It literally came in like a wrecking ball. Like, it just came in and then it just was done. But then you look outside and there's trees down everywhere. It was like, damn, that was real. We didn't know it was happening until very late. That's on us. We're not paying attention. I guess they had been predicting it throughout the entire day yesterday. I was literally talking shit on the weather. People saying, this is a big one. This is a big one. And then it's never a big one. And then big one, lo and behold, it was, I'm still without power. I'm still without power at my house because of it. So Godspeed to everybody that is on the receiving end of that coming up. And also Godspeed to anybody that's on the roadway with Shador Sanders.
- [87:13]
Boston Connor
Oh, my God.
- [87:14]
Pat McAfee
He's going 101 miles an hour in a 60 mile an hour zone. Shador Sanders pulled over. It feels like a lot of people get speeding tickets in Cleveland. Okay. Something that just comes to my mind feels like that happens out there very flat. It is a highway. You know, depending upon car that he's driving, driving obviously could naturally get up to a higher speed without even knowing it. Don't want to make too many excuses. Can't have it go wake up call. How are you viewing it, A.J. hawk.
- [87:39]
A.J. Hawk
Well, I mean, the fact it's. It's just a speeding ticket, though. That's why I'm okay with it. If it's just a speedy ticket. We're good to go.
- [87:45]
Pat McAfee
Right.
- [87:45]
A.J. Hawk
Like I understand it's pretty excessive speed, but who knows what car was he driving? Did they say what car? And the horsepower. Because that could have been a three second situation where he got up to 101.
- [87:54]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah. An 04 Corolla.
- [87:55]
Pat McAfee
I don't think it was. I don't think it was a cool.
- [87:58]
Darius Butler
Was on the highway. Right?
- [87:59]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, I believe it was a VW Beetle. No, I think it was a truck of some sort.
- [88:04]
Darius Butler
Lambo truck.
- [88:05]
Pat McAfee
It was Dodge Ram truck, I believe.
- [88:07]
Ty Schmidt
Oh, nice.
- [88:08]
Darius Butler
Those can get up things go.
- [88:10]
Q Rich
Yeah, souped up Dodge Rebel Ram.
- [88:12]
Pat McAfee
I mean if he has a 2500.
- [88:14]
Boston Connor
Rebel ram then I get it.
- [88:15]
Pat McAfee
That thing's riding on clouds.
- [88:17]
Udoka Azubuike
First gear's 101.
- [88:18]
Pat McAfee
And, and whenever you hit the, when you hit that gas pedal, you know what it sounds obviously should not be speeding in that excess. Should not dangerous. But with some of these cars these days, it is very hard to keep track of how fast you're going. These things are so smooth somehow even with how shitty the roadways have become seemingly across America. We had a moat around here. I don't know if you saw. Oh yeah, yeah, it was a good one. Got some pavement down up near our house. Quarter mile, quarter mile. Fresh black pavement is so smooth. I'm like, damn, get some rollerblades out here. That's what it was like. And then right on the other side of that thing, we're back on the moon there. But 101, obviously excessive, but 250 fine, speeding. And now he knows. Now he knows.
- [89:09]
Udoka Azubuike
Did I get caught yesterday? Because I looked and it wasn't central. Was Zach Edie going 101 yesterday?
- [89:14]
Q Rich
Zach Eaty had the same thing, same exact one.
- [89:16]
Ty Schmidt
They were side by side actually talking.
- [89:19]
Pat McAfee
I don't think they were talking. I think they were going over place.
- [89:21]
Boston Connor
I think Zach Eddies was a little different too because he basically said like, like hey, I'm fucking eight feet tall, okay? I haven't got a new car yet for my new deal. Like he. There's nothing he could do. He can't move his foot anywhere. He's like, what do you. I mean my foot weighs 70 pounds. What do you want me to do? I'm trying to.
- [89:36]
Q Rich
Can I be honest with you guys? Let me just be honest. And I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but when we all get a little drafted, we get a little money in our pocket, we get a nice little car, we turn our musical up and we Might drive a little fast. I ain't saying we going 101, but when we get our little money in our pockets, we get our little cars, we turn that shit up loud as hell and we just ride. I mean, it's immature, it's young, and he should never do it again, but he won't be the first young fella that has speed, you know what I'm saying? At least he had nothing in the car that got his ass pulled over and locked up, you know what I'm saying?
- [90:05]
Pat McAfee
Worse, to your point, could have been.
- [90:07]
Q Rich
Riding dirty, so at least he wasn't doing that, you know what I'm saying?
- [90:10]
Pat McAfee
And. And Shador. All reports out of the building. They love him over there. They love him over there. And he was in the community before he even got to rookie boot camp. Feels like, you know, obviously long road for a fifth round draft pick to become a starter in one offseason. But Dylan Gabriel there, Kenny Pickett there, Joe Flacco there. What's the future look like at the quarterback position? Are they going to go young early to give him an opportunity? Or is it going to be a veteran led Joey Flacco team at the beginning and then one of the young guys determines who takes over? That could be the case. Or Shador Sanders could get cut from the Cleveland Browns and end up on a different team. Dylan Gabriel could get cut from the Cleveland Browns, end up on a different team. Kenny Pickett could get traded. Again, Joe. Joe Flacco could get traded or cut from the Cleveland Browns. We have no clue what's going to happen with the Cleveland Browns, but we do know if you're going 101 on that particular highway, you're going to get your ass pulled over. That's right.
- [91:01]
Ty Schmidt
Yep.
- [91:01]
Pat McAfee
That is what we know.
- [91:03]
Udoka Azubuike
The Browns will most likely make the right decision.
- [91:05]
Pat McAfee
That was a condescending remark from a Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
- [91:08]
Q Rich
I was wondering if you were being funny. What the hell?
- [91:12]
Darius Butler
What the hell?
- [91:13]
Pat McAfee
Hey, that's good omen for tonight. That. That's naturally coming.
- [91:16]
Udoka Azubuike
Last week I said the Sixers had a good culture.
- [91:18]
Pat McAfee
All right. Hey, A.J. we appreciate the hell out of you, man. You're the best. We'll see you tomorrow, buddy.
- [91:22]
Darius Butler
Thank you.
- [91:24]
Pat McAfee
Make your prediction. Make your prediction for tonight's game.
- [91:26]
A.J. Hawk
Oh, yeah. Okay. Tonight I'm going 107, 101 Indianapolis Pacers.
- [91:33]
Pat McAfee
Because of your pep talk. Thank you so much.
- [91:35]
Q Rich
Way to go.
- [91:35]
Pat McAfee
That's Indiana Pacers.
- [91:36]
Darius Butler
But yeah, they're. They're in Indianapolis.
- [91:40]
Pat McAfee
He was on that big jumbo tr.
- [91:42]
Ty Schmidt
Great Photos.
- [91:43]
Pat McAfee
Hey, can you put a. Can you put on our.
- [91:45]
Q Rich
I got a question you man around here.
- [91:46]
Pat McAfee
Hold on one second. Let's get a photo. We're going to be up on the Jumbotron right there. Tony, you got to sneak in a little bit cuz you're getting clipped off. We should want to take a photo of this.
- [91:55]
Darius Butler
Are you taking a zito?
- [91:56]
Shams Charania
That's pretty cool.
- [91:59]
Pat McAfee
All right, Sweet. All right. Now we're done with that. We've been abusing the right of having that jumbo truck got to. We had coach pal. Coach Cal up there talking about $6 billion. What a moment. His head in the middle of this arena six that his guys have gone on to earn six billion bucks. AJ Hawk giving a pep talk. And now us up there. It's outrageous. Big shout out to the NBA and the Pacers for allowing us to do this. You were about to say something though, ud before I cut you off.
- [92:22]
Q Rich
Can we get some of them shirts up in here?
- [92:23]
Pat McAfee
Yes, definitely.
- [92:24]
Q Rich
We want to get some of them shirts.
- [92:26]
Pat McAfee
Yes, sir.
- [92:26]
Ty Schmidt
Yes, sir.
- [92:27]
Q Rich
We need some of them. Yes, sirs, man. We need some of them. Yes sirs.
- [92:29]
Pat McAfee
We will grab. Yeah. Yep. Faso said you got it.
- [92:32]
Ty Schmidt
What do you got there?
- [92:33]
Pat McAfee
These are also the smackers that come the Oklahoma City Thunder have at their games. Oh. So I was handed a couple of these from the game day crew that's been traveling around kicking ass for these NBA finals, setting up all the for the show. So we appreciate the hell out of them.
- [92:51]
Udoka Azubuike
I spit on these things.
- [92:52]
Pat McAfee
Well, they're good. They are a good thing.
- [92:54]
Udoka Azubuike
I'm confused that remember was it the Angels playoff runner who was using the Thunder sticks that the Thunder aren't using the Thunder sticks?
- [93:01]
Boston Connor
That's a good point. I believe it was the Angels too far back.
- [93:04]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, the. The boy. There you go.
- [93:07]
Darius Butler
I don't want it.
- [93:08]
Udoka Azubuike
Yes, I spit on that.
- [93:09]
Pat McAfee
So I think is. What do they do? What do they do? So how do these work?
- [93:12]
Ty Schmidt
I think it's like a fan.
- [93:14]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. So you makes no noise. You hit it with another one.
- [93:17]
Ty Schmidt
No, you do. You hit it on your hand.
- [93:19]
Udoka Azubuike
Ones we got are broken.
- [93:23]
Boston Connor
That's actually a bit of a punch.
- [93:24]
Q Rich
That feels illegal.
- [93:27]
Ty Schmidt
Bell, you can go this way too here.
- [93:29]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. If it gets too hot. Oklahoma City, lot of humidity.
- [93:31]
Ty Schmidt
It's going to get hot in the kitchen tonight here.
- [93:33]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, it is. Laughing and then back right into it. Oh my God.
- [93:37]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, it's loud.
- [93:38]
Darius Butler
How many? Thousand.
- [93:38]
Pat McAfee
That's a good gimmick. That is a good gimmick.
- [93:41]
Darius Butler
How big is that arena, six, 7,000.
- [93:44]
Ty Schmidt
I don't know, but it feels like 50.
- [93:46]
Pat McAfee
This is a good idea.
- [93:47]
Darius Butler
Yeah, yeah.
- [93:48]
Pat McAfee
This thing's loud as.
- [93:49]
Q Rich
Yeah, this is genius.
- [93:50]
Pat McAfee
It's like piercing to the ear, too. I assume everybody we're doing it in the microphones are pumped that we're doing that.
- [93:55]
Boston Connor
Probably.
- [93:56]
Pat McAfee
Thank you. And to the podcast listeners, which there are. Sorry, bud, but you got to let them know everything now.
- [94:01]
Udoka Azubuike
They felt like they're at OKC State.
- [94:02]
Q Rich
I ain't quite got it.
- [94:03]
Pat McAfee
What are you doing?
- [94:03]
Q Rich
I don't know. I can't. I ain't quite got it, guys.
- [94:05]
Ty Schmidt
No, you just. You. You just had it. You just fold it up.
- [94:07]
Pat McAfee
You gotta fold it opposite, opposite, opposite, opposite. Every other one is opposite.
- [94:10]
Q Rich
Okay.
- [94:11]
Pat McAfee
You know what I mean? You got to make it a. An accordion if you want.
- [94:14]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, exactly. Play some tunes.
- [94:16]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, it's a quarter.
- [94:16]
Q Rich
Okay, I see what we got here. Yeah. This is dumb. I'll just clap or yell or cheer. I'm not.
- [94:22]
Pat McAfee
I don't think. No, try this. Try this one. Try this.
- [94:24]
Q Rich
This is a bit much for me.
- [94:25]
Darius Butler
No, no, I think it's my hands too big.
- [94:27]
Q Rich
I'm getting overstimulated.
- [94:30]
Ty Schmidt
So loud.
- [94:31]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, okay.
- [94:32]
Q Rich
That's what we doing here. Yeah, yeah. But when you got mitts this big, you just.
- [94:37]
Udoka Azubuike
Frying pan.
- [94:37]
Boston Connor
Thunderous.
- [94:38]
Darius Butler
That'll work.
- [94:39]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, I could imagine. Two frying pants.
- [94:41]
Q Rich
You.
- [94:41]
Pat McAfee
Have you ever chopped anybody? Wrestling chop? Have you ever done that to anybody?
- [94:46]
Q Rich
Like a karate chop?
- [94:47]
Pat McAfee
Like open hand to the chest? How about smack to the face? We've smacked somebody. This is.
- [94:54]
Q Rich
I'm not gonna lie about that. I'd have smacked somebody.
- [94:56]
Boston Connor
Have you.
- [94:57]
Pat McAfee
You said.
- [94:57]
Ty Schmidt
You said last time you're on the show, if someone would screw up the locker room, you'd fight them. Have you ever had to fight somebody in the locker room?
- [95:05]
Udoka Azubuike
I've seen it on the court a.
- [95:06]
Q Rich
Lot of times, but it doesn't never get to that because they always break it up. But yeah, it's been times where it's been confrontational in the locker room. But to the credit of the guys in my guys, we all speak the same language. That big thing that you seen with me and Jimmy. The next day, me and Jimmy was playing dominoes, drinking coffee.
- [95:27]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah.
- [95:27]
Q Rich
Like, we all speak the same language. Like the James Johnson situation. He whooped somebody ass in the locker room. The next day, him and that same guy went to lunch like, listen, we gonna get this shit over with. And next. And it's over after this point. We hash it out and we move On.
- [95:41]
Pat McAfee
We have that in the NFL. I didn't expect that in the NBA. NFL, obviously there's a lot of physicality, physicality on a regular basis. So we've seen a couple of.
- [95:49]
Q Rich
Yeah, I mean, two guys fight with Towers on. That's scary.
- [95:53]
Darius Butler
No, that's crazy.
- [95:54]
Q Rich
That is scary. Cuz you don't know if you should break it up or let it just keep going. You don't know what to do.
- [95:59]
Pat McAfee
The towels left in the middle of that particular fight too. Two guys that I was friends with, both of them. That was quite a scene in there. That was quite a scene there, I'll tell you. You don't, you don't really know what to do.
- [96:10]
Q Rich
That was some bopping wood or what was going on in there.
- [96:15]
Boston Connor
Couple lumberjacks going out, thought he had him in an arm bar. He didn't.
- [96:18]
Pat McAfee
So did it get actual quote, actual quote from Combatant?
- [96:23]
Udoka Azubuike
Did it get broken up?
- [96:24]
Pat McAfee
Joining us now, there was one that carried it. I mean there. I've seen my fair share of fights in that locker room and I've always tried to. Hey, hey, hey.
- [96:31]
Q Rich
One of the ones was Shaq in our locker room. And I told him straight up, big fella, I'm not breaking up no fight with your big naked ass. I'm not breaking that fight up. Shaq, this is a fact.
- [96:40]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, those happen though, in locker rooms. I think like it's just like going to be natural. A lot of out alpha energy.
- [96:45]
Q Rich
Yeah.
- [96:46]
Pat McAfee
Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, is a man who might have either a story or a potential counter, if you will, to what we're talking about. Naked fighting in the NBA. Geez Louise. Ladies and gentlemen, 13 year NBA vet Q Rich.
- [97:00]
Shams Charania
Q.
- [97:01]
Boston Connor
Rich.
- [97:02]
Pat McAfee
Q Rich, obviously, yeah, getting after it in there. Every once in a while you gotta do what you gotta do. Co host of the Knuckleheads podcast. Q. Rich, thank you for joining us here. It's gone to game six. You have been on no horse in a race. Obviously not pulling for anybody, but you were for the Knicks. And this entire series you've been for Oklahoma City in every single game. Oklahoma City, the last two games has seemingly been who everybody thought they were going to be outside of Indianapolis, Indiana. What are your thoughts on tonight?
- [97:30]
Q Rich
Q Rich, before I say anything, let me just show you something to prove to you that I'm not. I told you, I don't have any horse in this race. Not actually. I'm a very huge fan of Tyrese Haliburton. He has, he has not only signed not just one he has signed two jerseys for my kids.
- [97:49]
Ty Schmidt
Okay.
- [97:49]
Pat McAfee
Okay. Great.
- [97:50]
Darius Butler
Great guy.
- [97:51]
Q Rich
So I rock with Tyrese Halliburton. Full support of him. I'm just telling when I'm at. When I'm answering these questions. I'm just up here being honest with you.
- [97:57]
Pat McAfee
Basketball. Basketball. You're talking basketball. That's it.
- [98:00]
Q Rich
That's it. I don't. I don't root against the paces. I don't root for the thunder and none of that. It's just. I want to see good basketball, and then I'm gonna get my opinion about what I see going on and who going to win.
- [98:10]
Pat McAfee
Okay, so do you think tonight there's going to be good basketball? Cuz, I mean, we don't have. This seems to be a little bit of a. Seems to be Che. I mean, there has to be. Why isn't everybody doing this?
- [98:22]
Darius Butler
About to say, why don't we just copy it?
- [98:23]
Pat McAfee
This is genius. We need 18,000. Where are these thick, thick card stock?
- [98:30]
Ty Schmidt
Thick card stock.
- [98:31]
Udoka Azubuike
Just have one of the employees here run down to CVS.
- [98:33]
Pat McAfee
Get FedEx store.
- [98:35]
Boston Connor
Yeah, exactly.
- [98:36]
Pat McAfee
Dynamic there. Just snag a bunch of school project papers.
- [98:40]
Boston Connor
Yeah, exactly.
- [98:40]
Pat McAfee
Just hand them out to everybody.
- [98:42]
Boston Connor
Thick construction paper.
- [98:43]
Q Rich
This been going on in inner cities around the world forever. We just need these fans. This ain't. You can't trick me.
- [98:48]
Udoka Azubuike
Not just inner cities.
- [98:49]
Darius Butler
We grew up in church.
- [98:50]
Q Rich
We've been going on forever. It's definitely the church. Inner city needs a church.
- [98:54]
Pat McAfee
So we need 18,000 fans to be delivered to Gainbridge Fieldhouse tonight. What do you think happens this evening? You know, Tyrese, obviously, game time decision. We've talked about potential ducks being labeled or if somebody's injured, let's attack that person now. Not that Tyrese Halliburton hasn't experienced that in the past, but what do you think how. Of how tonight's game is going to go?
- [99:18]
Q Rich
I know y' all hate to hear this, man. I think OKC closed it out. I've been listening to my man ud, like everybody said, you fresh to death, bro. You already said something earlier that, you know, kind of stuck with me. One when you talked about how it feels. More like OKC has started to impose their will these last couple games. And then when you couple that with Tyrese not being all the way 100%, not knowing what he's really gonna give and knowing how much he is the engine for this thing, I just think the OKC has hit a stretch where now they're playing so well. And you got Jalen Williams, who showed up to the party and he the door through. And I think the combination of SGA and Jalen Williams playing, the way he's playing with the support of the defense, the chat playing and the chipp everybody else, I think it's too much at this point.
- [100:05]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, there's a lot of what Oklahoma City has been doing that certainly scares the hell out of Indiana Pacers fans. You know, the Indiana Pacers, though, feel like. And ud, you said this as well. And I think everybody kind of understands the narrative. Underdogs counted out. This is like a Pacer type game, you know, and it feels like Pacers fans are very much understanding that this is the last home game of the season regardless. You know, this could either be the last game of the season, but it's definitely the last home game of the season. So I think tonight should be pretty electrifying in here. Go ahead, Con man.
- [100:38]
Ty Schmidt
Exactly. Is there any additional things like that? Like factors? You would say Q Rich with the crowd just because it has been so electric. Two of the best sports environments I've ever been in was game three in Game four. And the people really do stand up the entire time. Is there anything from. Okay, okc, similar to the Nuggets series, where it's, hey, this is game six, we can come and close it out. It's the finals. But also, like, if we're down, you know, 20 with 10 minutes left in the fourth, we don't have to push it as hard because we can go get it done in seven. Because I, I think they beat the Nuggets by, you know, 40 points in game seven in that series.
- [101:17]
Q Rich
I think if OKC has any approach like that, any thought in their mind like, hey, we don't have to push how they lose this game. I don't think like that and I do. I think that crowd will play a huge part and will impact the game and will give. If Indiana does anything to give that crowd juice, they'll get some juice back from it. But at the same time, with that being said, if I'm okc, we walking in the building knowing we just stared this crowd down and just beat them and then went back to our house and did what they hadn't had happen to them the whole season since March or whenever it was, they hadn't lost back to back. And we did that too. So we walking in with a certain amount of time, confidence in the turtle flag. And we also, everybody in the building, everybody on both sides, they know that their franchise guy isn't 100%. So they keeping that in their mind as well, too. And that's an advantage. And it's not like it's something that you take for granted. You think you've got this huge advantage, but you do know that Tyrese is their guy and he's not right right now. So you. You know that that can't play a part. Not saying that TJ McConnell can't come in and flip the table because we.
- [102:19]
Know what he does.
- [102:21]
Pat McAfee
Thank you.
- [102:21]
Q Rich
Believe in him and know that he's going to show up. He going to be a little pistol starter tonight. I'm excited for that. But just knowing that Tyrese is in 100, all of those things factoring and also factors into some of those Patriots mind, too.
- [102:35]
Pat McAfee
All right, what's your prediction score tonight? Game 6 of the NBA Finals? Q.
- [102:40]
Q Rich
Rich, I don't have a score prediction. I don't know the pluses and all that. I'm terrible at the betting. I don't want anybody. My point system. So don't do it. I don't bet. I just say that the OK will win.
- [102:51]
Pat McAfee
All right. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, co host of the Knuckleheads podcast. Thank you. He's picked against the Pacers every game.
- [103:03]
Ty Schmidt
Yes, exactly. So he. That means nothing.
- [103:06]
Pat McAfee
Every game.
- [103:07]
Q Rich
Q. Q Got the underdog mentality, too. I know he got the underdog. I'm going tell you something good, though. And the Pacers have been here before. You look at last year in the Eastern Conference finals.
- [103:18]
Pat McAfee
That's right.
- [103:18]
Q Rich
And you look at what Nemhart was able to do. When I think Halen Burton missed about two games and the ball handling was going on and Nemhart was distributing, getting about 28 points a game. They've been here before.
- [103:30]
Pat McAfee
This is a half.
- [103:31]
Q Rich
This is not like unfamiliar territory to them. Like, I think we more worried than the Pacers are.
- [103:36]
Pat McAfee
Amen.
- [103:37]
Q Rich
You know what I'm saying?
- [103:38]
Udoka Azubuike
But there's been a lot of talk. Would it be better if Tyrese was just out tonight or two? Tyrese is at 70%.
- [103:44]
Q Rich
Nah, it's better for him to be at 70%. I would hate for him to just miss this whole game because regardless, if he plays well enough, we saw it last year when Boston, when Porzingis came back. You get a guy that's hurt and he goes out in the game and he just lays it on the line. You talk about this fan base and these crowd getting behind something like that. That brings people together. But that locker room's already together right now, rallying around him. Now everybody's on the rally.
- [104:08]
Darius Butler
Yeah, but Porzing is kind of like a role player. Like, Tyrese is the guy that's leading the ship at one. At what point does either Tricky Ricky or even a vet come in and say, hey, like, you know, you hurt you, because he's not gonna pull himself out, you know, and everybody look at him sideways if he did. But at what point have you ever been in a situation where you had a conversation with a guy like, hey, you know, you kind of hurting us, maybe, especially with this being game six? Obviously, it's winner go home, but we possibly have a game seven. How does that go from that standpoint, from the coach's standpoints, and then maybe other vets on the team?
- [104:37]
Q Rich
That's a great point. That's a great point. And that has to be that. That has to be communication between the coach and the player, and that has to be. Has to be that trust. If you see that guy's out there and he's not able to operate in a way that he's able to help this team, because you not have to be 100% at this point. Nobody's 100% in the season. Everybody has a dink, a doink, a little something they dealing with. So if it comes to the point.
- [104:54]
Pat McAfee
Where everybody's got a dink in a doink, they do.
- [104:59]
Q Rich
That was a bopping wood comment right there. That was a little like, it got.
- [105:02]
Pat McAfee
No, no, no, not at all.
- [105:04]
Q Rich
Yeah, that's just basketball talk.
- [105:05]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. I agree, though.
- [105:06]
Q Rich
I think if it's hurting the team, that's a Rick Carlisle decision or a Tyrese Hallan Burton decision between both of those guys, they can make Rick Carlisle feels it first, then he has to have that conversation. If Hallam Burton feels it first, he has to have that conversation. But that is something to watch and keep an eye on because you do not want to hurt the team trying to put your best player out there and even hurt him even worse as well, trying to put him out.
- [105:28]
Pat McAfee
I think Carlisle and the team have that type of relationship, though. I think Carlisle probably had that conversation with Tyrese, especially after last game, with everything that was being said last game, with how it ended, with how he was injured. It's like, I. I'm very intrigued to see how Coach Carlisle handles tonight, like, very much so, because we all know he's a great coach. I think here in Indiana, we know that he's a great coach more than maybe anybody else.
- [105:49]
Q Rich
Yes.
- [105:50]
Pat McAfee
You're talking about this team from when he got here to now. What the Pacers have become and what the Pacers were potentially going to become. Now, obviously, Kevin Pritchard, president of basketball operations here, has put together a hell of a team. They don't. They're not even into luxury tax, which is obviously the first time in like 20 some years since the luxury taxes put in, which means they're paying the highest of the salary cap. This is the first time neither teams are in that luxury tax because they're not overspending or, you know, breaking any cap. Conversations. First, April and second conversation. It's like everything they've done here is right. And Coach Carlisle has been like the kind of the main driver of it all. The trade for Tyrese, brilliant. The trade for Pascal, brilliant. Signing TJ to long term, brilliant. It's like every move, nice. Smith coming here. Great play. I think Nemhard's on a great deal. I think everything they've done with this team has been great. And Carlisle has been leading the way. So, like, it's. I trust Carlisle almost, you know, not that I don't with Dags. Yes, Dag's great coach. In Oklahoma City, they kind of have the same thing. They're telling the same exact story over there. I'm just telling it from a perspective of living in this city and kind of watching it all unfold. So I'll be excited to see how Coach Carlisle actually decides to go to. You know, because it might be a. Hey, couple minutes. Let's see how it is, because then we got to make a decision or, you know, it might be, hey, Tyrese, we need you this whole time. And it's going to be a message to the entire team and to the entire city. I'm fascinated. Now, speaking of awesome things happening in sports, the College World Series has taken place and there's been some electrifying finishes. Don't look now. College baseball is having one over there in Omaha. Go ahead, Ty.
- [107:26]
Boston Connor
Yeah, without a doubt. Last night, Arkansas, lsu, arguably the game of the tournament. A lot of people would say the two best teams remaining in the tournament. And it was. It was full of theatrics and. And drama. If we go to the eighth inning here, that's kind of where it all starts. Arkansas is. They're. They're down one to LSU here. Ryder Helrick is going to chop one down to third base, and LSU is looking to turn two. Oh, no.
- [107:52]
Pat McAfee
Oh, no.
- [107:53]
Boston Connor
Squeaks by two runs are going to end up scoring on this play. So it's going to be. Yeah. So three, three, two. Arkansas going in to the bottom of the eighth and Jared Jones, a lot of people are saying, hey, this is like the one guy you kind of got to pitch around. They pitch to him, he hits a solo homer. We are knotted up. Casual, very casual, very casual. I don't know if he knew if he got all of it, but he did, you know, so we're knotted up at three going into the top of the ninth. He pimps that one a little bit here. And a lot of people are saying, you know, this LSU team, like one, once you kind of concede momentum back to them, it's over because they have a lot of pro prospects up and down the lineup. But we go back to the top of the ninth. Arkansas, you know, they're not done yet. I don't know if we have the clip. I think we do, but if we don't. Yeah. Okay, here we go. So Jared Jones Jr. Hits. That ties it up. And then Arkansas puts two guys on base in scoring position. Justin Thomas Jr. Two RBI singles. So they go back up by two in the top of the ninth. Five, three. A lot of people thinking, okay, LSU had their chance and they just, they, they kind of blew it. They conceded all of that momentum back to Arkansas. Well, I'll tell you what, baseball is a, a funny, funny thing. Luis Hernandez, the cleanup hitter, two outs, two outs, laces one out. And Charles Davalon just couldn't, couldn't get a read on the ball. Maybe. Crazy. He, he has not committed an error all season so that it bounces off his shoulder. LSU scores two runs. We're knotted up at five, Five still two outs here. So hey, we're okay. You know, we can still move on to extras and maybe, you know, win this thing in an extra frame. Unfortunately, the guy who hit a homer earlier, Jared Jones, you know, that lineup turns back over and he's going to come up is actually a great pitch, but you know, good hitting beats good, good pitching. Second baseman missed times his jump and then boom. That's a walk off single. LSU advances to the championship series and they eliminate Arkansas.
- [109:54]
Pat McAfee
Jared Jones, yes. He needs to get to the Pittsburgh Pirates now.
- [109:58]
Ty Schmidt
You already got one.
- [109:58]
Pat McAfee
That, that's what we need. We need another LSU guy.
- [110:01]
Ty Schmidt
Two Jared Joneses.
- [110:02]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, well, and two LSU studs. Yeah, that's what we need. I mean, this guy, this guy hits a single home solo shot in eighth and then he hits a, a walk off single next inning.
- [110:15]
Darius Butler
Please don't send him to Pittsburgh.
- [110:17]
Ty Schmidt
Go to Pittsburgh just to get traded somewhere else.
- [110:20]
Pat McAfee
And then in the other game, Coastal.
- [110:22]
Boston Connor
Carolina, Coastal Carolina just Beat the hell out of Louisville and they've been like very dominant the entire. Well, they've won 27 games in a row. Yeah, but they've been incredibly dominant in the College World Series.
- [110:35]
Pat McAfee
Have you been paying attention? You do. You've been watching this coast of Carolina team.
- [110:38]
Q Rich
First year coach, right? This is first year there. Yeah, first year coach. They. I watch every goddamn thing, Pat. I don' much to do. I'm retired. I watch every damn thing. Yeah, I retired.
- [110:47]
Pat McAfee
It's been good games, really good games.
- [110:50]
Q Rich
And I'm a fan of baseball. I tell people all the time, they say, how the hell do you watch the nine innings? And I tell them I just watch a bunch of one on ones. Every time it's a new batter comes up, I watch a one on one matchup between that picture. Before you know it, you just watch 1,101. I'm just a competitor. I just watch these guys play one on one all the time.
- [111:05]
Pat McAfee
That was best part of practice, watching people do one on ones. If I start viewing it that way, I mean that's how I need to watch this.
- [111:09]
Q Rich
Yeah, I just. One on one. I'm not, I'm g. See else it's these two guys who's going to win.
- [111:14]
Pat McAfee
That is the entire game. That's why the Pittsburgh Pirates are in such a hellhole, right?
- [111:18]
Ty Schmidt
Because it's.
- [111:18]
Boston Connor
It's not really one on one ever. They're kind of at a disadvantage every single time they.
- [111:24]
Q Rich
Marlins fan. Don't, don't you start.
- [111:26]
Boston Connor
Hey, hey, the Marlins, at least though they won a World Series not too long ago.
- [111:29]
Q Rich
This is true. And then we blow it up. Every time we blow it up, we win it and we blow it up right in front of your face. Every time you think you're getting back to back in Miami, they could think again.
- [111:37]
Boston Connor
We'll see. You know, it'll be the same thing this year. They're going to trade all their best players at the deadline and then you guys have to figure something out and you'll be shitty next year and trade all your best players again. And then.
- [111:45]
Pat McAfee
Is that the Pirates? How many of those teams exist? Because I always, I always go after Tone for being a Pirates fan, you know, which he has been lifelong. I certainly would enjoy the Pirates to win a game. Love going to the games.
- [112:01]
Ty Schmidt
Sure.
- [112:01]
Pat McAfee
Beautiful park, beautiful park. Cheap to get in. Good party beforehand in the parking lot. I mean it was just great to go to. And you had no expectations of them winning. So literally you're just going to have a festival Almost. Baseball's happening. And if they were to win, great. What a day.
- [112:16]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [112:16]
Pat McAfee
Zambelli fireworks. They just suck. They just have sucked for so long. So that's always been the thing. But I feel like there's a lot of fan bases in baseball that feel that way. I, I feel like it's not about.
- [112:26]
Boston Connor
Five to seven teams that are like that, really. I mean, the Rockies haven't won 20 games yet. We're in, we're almost to July.
- [112:32]
Udoka Azubuike
The 80s have been. I mean, the A's had to move cities.
- [112:34]
Boston Connor
Yeah, the moves. The White Sox had the worst record in the history of baseball last year, and the Rockies are going to break it this year. The Washington Nationals, they won a World Series. We went to a World Series game that the Nationals were in. They won that year. You fast forward a couple years, they've lost 11 straight games. Like, don't really have a superstar. Same deal. They're just every deadline, hey, which, which guys do we have that are good enough that teams that are actually trying to World Series win World Series are going to come get? So there's probably about five to seven teams that are in the pirate shoes.
- [113:05]
Pat McAfee
All right.
- [113:06]
Darius Butler
Well, chunk of the league.
- [113:07]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, it's a lot. As we wrap up here on ESPN, we'll continue continue on YouTube, ESPN Plus, Disney plus and TikTok Live.
- [113:20]
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- [113:34]
Pat McAfee
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- [114:21]
Udoka Azubuike
Sure.
- [114:21]
Pat McAfee
Which we are big fans of for Caitlin Clark. She was also a kicker in high school for the brand. Obviously the kicker is the biggest badass on the court. I love everything about it. Sophie, welcome to Indianapolis. Love that she was a kicker. That's a big ball, too. Hey, that's A good thought. That's a good kick right there. Obviously, she chose basketball, became a professional, but I love that she stepped foot on the field. The amount of courage it takes. She was a black belt in sixth grade or so.
- [114:47]
Boston Connor
Something like that.
- [114:48]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. An absolute dog. Now she's a member of the fever we're thankful for. And tonight, the Indiana Pacers will try to extend the NBA Finals in game six on abc. We'll be here. We'll probably be having one. You should, too. We'll continue digitally. See you tomorrow. Goodbye. Okay, that was a. That was pretty good. Little. Little wrap up there. Pretty good. Didn't think I was going to be able to hit the Sophie Cunningham thing. Wanted to. Yeah, She's. She's playing a role, a very key role for this Fever team. She's playing a very key role for this Caitlin Clark career. I think we talked about you. We talked about jj, you know, like, I got a chance to see it up close and personal with James Johnson whenever I was here for the Knicks games and the Pacers. Knicks and Pacers game. And it was like, that is a pivotal thing for stars. And Sophie can get buckets, too. So it's not like, hey, we're just here to fight. I appreciate that that is the case. And what are your thoughts? I don't think we've asked you this about the WNBA as a whole. The moment they're having right now and Caitlyn and kind of this new era, seemingly, of women's basketball.
- [115:47]
Q Rich
I love it. I think. I love competitiveness. I think it's great for the game. I think when people watch basketball and they think of basketball being physical, being competitive, being a little chippy, they think about us. But I think W is just as competitive and maybe even more chippy. You know what I mean? And for Caitlin Clark, I think it's great what she's done for the league. What she.
- [116:05]
Pat McAfee
Has it always been like that. What, chippy?
- [116:07]
Darius Butler
Yes.
- [116:07]
Q Rich
W. NBA?
- [116:09]
Pat McAfee
Wnba?
- [116:11]
Q Rich
I think so. I think so because I look at, you know, the history of, you know, Candace Parker and when she first got in the league and I saw a couple clips of how she got treated when she first got in the league and how veterans were treating her. So this is nothing new, you know what I'm saying? So. But it helps.
- [116:25]
Pat McAfee
So I think there's a lot of new W fans. I think that is very okay to admit. I think, you know, like the Caitlin Clark college basketball era with obviously Angel Reese and at LSU team and Don Down, Coach Don Saley down there and Sarah, South Carolina. Like that era, I think, followed into the wnba. Caitlin Clark definitely being the biggest driver, no questions asked. We're in Indianapolis. Like, what she does, she sells out more than, like, Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift. There's a couple people that sell out everywhere. Okay. Caitlin Clark sells out everywhere. I mean, she is a bonafide superstar. Obviously, a lot of eyes, a lot of new eyes, I think, on the W, which is good for the league as a whole. And I think everybody's thinking, like, wilder. True. And I think if you listen to the people that are in the W. Now, granted, obviously, it has been absurd to watch every single thing that they've done to Caitlyn. I mean, last year, in between free throws, girl goes over and they say this is not different than anything. But I think the chippiness of the league has always been there.
- [117:18]
Q Rich
Yes.
- [117:18]
Pat McAfee
And I think that's what people that have watched W are like, are trying. I don't know if they're explaining that enough to the new fans. Been like, hey, it's always been this style of basketball. I think not a lot of people know that. Deep butt. Yeah.
- [117:29]
Darius Butler
It's just more. Just more eyes on it. Like you mentioned Caitlin Clark being kind.
- [117:32]
Pat McAfee
Of, myself included by it.
- [117:34]
Darius Butler
Yeah. Being that golden goose. But I went to UConn. I didn't watch much women's basketball before going to UConn, and they were defending champs at that point, men and women. So I watched a lot of them, were friends with a lot of the girls on the team. So we were practicing as football players. We were practicing. I got fouled harder playing against them than I did against football players. And that's no bullshit. And then I obviously watched a lot of them go into the WNBA and followed their careers there. So, yeah, there's always been a case where there's been. And obviously, once again, Caitlin Clark is different because of all the different eyes. So all the different opinions and how good she is. Yeah, her play, number one. That's why she's, you know, she was the best college scorer, men's or women's, that you've seen career wise, from wire to wire. As far as the points that she puts up, the way she passed the ball, where she shoots from. You don't see many men doing this. Definitely the first woman we've seen play like this. So that's a huge part of it. But as far as the chippiness, the aggressiveness, all that is for has always been there. You see it with young players. You mentioned kids. Candace Parker. I watched Maya Moore, go to the W. I watched Brie Stewart, Tina Charles, all these phenomenal basketball players going to different level. You know, when you. We all competitors. So somebody gets up there the first time I'm going against Odell Beckham, like, you gotta let him know it's a different challenge, too. And then you say, okay, this Odell shit different. So I gotta step my game up. So it's the same thing going on in wnba, and I think she'll be better for it. And she is the ultimate competitor and shit talker as well. So I like it both ways.
- [118:58]
Q Rich
She let you hear about it when she cooking your ass. She let you know everything she putting in the pot. Here go a little salt. Here go a little pepper. Go take that with you. I'm going give you a little bit of this.
- [119:07]
Pat McAfee
Okay, let's talk about talking. In basketball, they talk about Larry Bird.
- [119:11]
Q Rich
Yes.
- [119:11]
Pat McAfee
I guess he would just tell you what he was about to do.
- [119:14]
Ty Schmidt
Legend.
- [119:14]
Pat McAfee
That's what.
- [119:14]
Q Rich
That's. So just so we know, the talking is something I have never been able to kind of figure out in the NBA. Because I don't talk to nobody.
- [119:22]
Pat McAfee
How about others, though?
- [119:22]
Q Rich
The way I grew up playing the game of basketball, the talking shit can go to another level.
- [119:27]
Darius Butler
Sure.
- [119:27]
Q Rich
Growing and playing at the park and having those conversations. Yeah, you don't know where that's gonna go. So I grew up playing hard as hell, but I never grew up with the shit talking. So when I got to the NBA, that was an adjustment to me. And when people used to talk shit, I used to tell them, all y' all motherfuckers gotta come to Miami to vacation.
- [119:43]
Darius Butler
Talk that shit.
- [119:44]
Q Rich
Now, you talk it now, I'll see your ass in the summer. And then what you gonna do? And I actually saw a couple guys in the summer. Motherfucker act like they ain't see me. And now you don't. I don't pull it up on guys like, hey, what's up? You good?
- [119:54]
Darius Butler
Hey, come on, get between the lines.
- [119:57]
Q Rich
Just making sure you all right out here, you straight. Cool. Yeah. Just to let him know I'm here. Motherfucker.
- [120:03]
Pat McAfee
He talks a lot. Did everybody talk? Was it kg? Yeah. How prevalent is the shit talking?
- [120:07]
Q Rich
Well, yeah, KG talk a lot of shit. And that's something that I didn't understand because I always had an ultimate respect for KG's game. But I couldn't get down with the shit talking. Me and kg, finally, I'm two, three years into retirement. He's having me years in retirement. Finally at a Point where we can hash that out and we cool now. Like the beef is cooked. We are.
- [120:24]
Pat McAfee
Okay, good. I'm happy to hear.
- [120:25]
Q Rich
It took a while. It took a while. And that was. It was personal. Because I don't. I don't come from a place or. Or era. And my daddy ain't raised no punk. Well, you could just say anything.
- [120:35]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [120:36]
Q Rich
And think it's okay. I just, I. I wasn't raised like that. I wasn't raised where you can just say anything on the basketball court. There's sports. Yeah. There's. I could your ass yet. But when you start calling people names and.
- [120:47]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, yeah.
- [120:47]
Q Rich
Now we are in a whole nother conversation.
- [120:49]
Pat McAfee
I understand. Yeah. There's levels and there's lines, you know, and this seems to happen in a lot of different cases. Maybe when there's fight build up or whatever. Like that guy crossed the line. That guy crossed the line. There's people that don't see a line though. Like. Oh, yeah.
- [121:01]
Darius Butler
It's different regionally too.
- [121:03]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [121:04]
Darius Butler
You say to somebody from Cali or from New York, you can't really say it's South Florida and vice versa. So that's always kind of a problem. Part of that dynamic too.
- [121:12]
Pat McAfee
And then there's like a talking culture from some places, you know, like Northeast is just a talking culture.
- [121:17]
Darius Butler
Yeah.
- [121:17]
Q Rich
This generation is a talking culture. I tell my son all the time, son, you have to learn how to fight. More shit than anybody ever seen in my life. I'll tell him, son, you have to learn. I don't know. We gonna take your ass to UFC karate. Cause you ain't growing up how I grew up. So we got to teach you how to fight. Cause you talk a lot of shit.
- [121:37]
Darius Butler
You too.
- [121:37]
Pat McAfee
It's going to happen. Yeah, it's going to happen inevitably.
- [121:40]
Ty Schmidt
There's the thing. In the NBA, it was either this year or last year where someone got called A. Maybe it was LeBron. Maybe it was Russell Westbrook.
- [121:47]
Darius Butler
I think it was LeBron and inmate in MAU.
- [121:50]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Yeah, it was.
- [121:51]
Ty Schmidt
He got called a. And it was a problem because he.
- [121:54]
Q Rich
Said I had to go to a guy's locker room after a game one time.
- [121:57]
Pat McAfee
Jesus.
- [121:57]
Q Rich
And waited for him because he said some. That was out of line. I ain't never took a faster shower. Armpits and nuts and I'm gone. I will be here when your ass come out.
- [122:07]
Pat McAfee
And how's that conversation go?
- [122:08]
Q Rich
My security came and got me.
- [122:10]
Pat McAfee
No, but say you were gonna fight him. Definitely.
- [122:12]
Q Rich
What?
- [122:13]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Okay. So what happened?
- [122:14]
Q Rich
This is young, you do too. Once again, not domesticated. Yeah, I understand some that I don't play.
- [122:19]
Pat McAfee
I understand. And also have to set a precedent for everybody else too about how what the level is and what the line is for you. So I understand has that being interesting situation for the NBA.
- [122:31]
Q Rich
My team security. I waited. The guy on one of the guys from the other team came out and he approached me and this was Z Bo. Zo. I love Z Bo. Me and Z Bo. Zack Randolph, one of the real ones in the league. And Z Bo came out and Z Bo was like, hey, man. I said. I told Z Bo what he said. Zo was like, oh, you right. You're absolutely right about how you feel.
- [122:48]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, it's, you know, it's a policing of self situation. And the competitive spirit is the great greatest thing on earth. And watching it and how different people go about it, you know, because in the NFL we talk about Barry Sanders scores a touchdown, then he just hands.
- [123:03]
Q Rich
The ball to the ref. Yeah.
- [123:04]
Pat McAfee
And everybody's like, that's how you should act. It's like, I've seen a lot of make a lot of money playing sports acting very differently and have great careers. And I enjoy how everybody goes about getting to the point where they can be their absolute best. There are some artists with that shit talking. Oh, yeah, there are some people. Gary Payton, unbelievable.
- [123:22]
Q Rich
I assume played with Gary Payton. Oh, my gosh. Gary Payton talked that. Oh, he was great at.
- [123:26]
Pat McAfee
So I think that's what like Twitter. I think that's what Twitter has opened up. The people that aren't like professional level athletes, but professional level talkers. Their can get seen, you know, like that. That is. That is Twitter in a nutshell. Basically, because some person you've never heard of puts together an insult that is so fantastic. Like, there's been a lot about me that I read. I'm like pulling that's well put together, you know, and it's like the Internet obviously spotlights that, but I think it also ultimately spotlights like, sports are the greatest. Everybody is welcome. And it unifies all different types of people. Like what we'll have here tonight. Tonight is gonna be extraordinary. Everybody in Indiana is gonna feel the effects of what happens tonight. If we extend this to a game sp and win our final home game of the year, the city's right back on top of the world. Just like we were feeling after game three.
- [124:20]
Q Rich
Yep.
- [124:21]
Pat McAfee
Just like whenever we were up two, one. If we extend this to an improbable game seven in everybody's eyes, especially with Tyrese Haliburton being a game time decision, obviously he's the leader. The straw that stirs the entire drink for the Indiana Pacers. With all those question marks and how the sportsbooks feel about us, if the Pacers were able to get a big time win in front of this packed out Gainbridge fieldhouse, this city would be electrifying. We would be pumped to be a part of it. And if the Oklahoma City Thunder win this thing tonight, we will have to applaud their greatness as they potentially start a dynasty and certainly have one of the greatest seasons in the history of the NBA. 14 losses all season, 12.6 point differential. And then what they do in the playoffs is beat everybody and they blow to team's out. Let's go Pacers.
- [125:12]
Ty Schmidt
Yes, sir.
- [125:12]
Boston Connor
Yes, sir.
- [125:13]
Pat McAfee
Yes, sir.
- [125:14]
Q Rich
Yes, sir.
- [125:15]
Pat McAfee
Let's go Miles Turner. I'm looking at the Turner's block over here. A section in the arena that Miles Turner, I believe purchases season tickets for. And they have to try out to make that particular section. They're the loudest group of people in the entire arena. I wonder what the Turner's block will look like tonight. I wonder what Miles Turner will look like tonight. Nem hard will look like tonight.
- [125:35]
Ty Schmidt
These are boys.
- [125:37]
Pat McAfee
Smith, is he shooting at a big rim tonight?
- [125:38]
Darius Butler
He better be, birthday boy.
- [125:40]
Q Rich
Need that clip.
- [125:41]
Pat McAfee
Catherine, how's he doing?
- [125:42]
Darius Butler
Need him.
- [125:43]
Ty Schmidt
He's doing great.
- [125:44]
Pat McAfee
T.J. mcConnell.
- [125:45]
Ty Schmidt
Great always.
- [125:46]
Pat McAfee
Pascal, great.
- [125:49]
Ty Schmidt
That's the one.
- [125:49]
Q Rich
Gotta have it, gotta have it.
- [125:51]
Pat McAfee
OB Toppin. How about that? How about the sky hook off the backboard touched by OB Top. I couldn't get on the court for the New York Knicks. Gets his name chanted in Indianapolis. We love them here.
- [126:04]
Q Rich
Tough.
- [126:04]
Pat McAfee
Let's go down the line here. Predictions.
- [126:08]
Udoka Azubuike
110, 102 Pacers at the beginning of the season. We talked about, you know, SJ is going to get his 35. Jalen Williams can't get 40.
- [126:16]
Pat McAfee
Okay.
- [126:17]
Udoka Azubuike
I think the Pacers are going to realize that. Let SGA get his. Take care everybody else. Pacers 110. Oklahoma 1 of 2.
- [126:25]
Pat McAfee
Big Bopping Wood night says turn Diggs.
- [126:28]
Boston Connor
Ty Schmidt, your thoughts like Pacers 108, 103. I think they're going to shoot like 45% from three tonight because they have to.
- [126:36]
Pat McAfee
Okay. A lot of, lot of whole reaction. A lot of that tonight.
- [126:41]
Boston Connor
Bingo.
- [126:42]
Pat McAfee
And what is Shay doing on the other side?
- [126:44]
Boston Connor
Yeah, I mean he's going to get his. That's, that's fine. You just. You can't have Caruso. Can't have a 20 point game. You know, you can't have somebody. You can't let these guys come in off the bench who everyone knows like, hey, he can't get open looks from three and then will and behold, he's been in the game for three minutes and he's already got nine points. Can't let that happen.
- [127:01]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, we know Caruso is good.
- [127:02]
Q Rich
Yes.
- [127:04]
Pat McAfee
Boston. Connor, your predictions for the season.
- [127:06]
Ty Schmidt
Oh, man.
- [127:07]
Pat McAfee
Oh, no, no.
- [127:09]
Ty Schmidt
I'm going to, I'm going to say I. I think OKC is going to kind of take it off. I think it's going to be more of like a 11293 game.
- [127:16]
Q Rich
Whoa.
- [127:17]
Ty Schmidt
Where they're. They're kind of like, hey, sure, you know, we, we could.
- [127:21]
Pat McAfee
They fight early.
- [127:23]
Ty Schmidt
Well, I think Indy's to going to empty the tank. I think this is it for India. I think it's all of course, but.
- [127:27]
Pat McAfee
You think Oklahoma City is going to fight early but inevitably Indiana is going to take over.
- [127:31]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, even that I could see a wire to wire Pacers victory. I could see it being kind of them controlling the game the whole way. Like even SGA. What was it? Game three. He had 25 points, 24 points. Like I could see that type of swarming defense around him. Hey, if Al burns out, you know, everyone else has to step up. We also all just have to defend our asses off for four quarters. So I could see it being more so like Pacers controlling the game. Victory. Matheran coming in. Obviously a quick 20 piece for him. McConnell, you know he has eight assists, five rebounds, three steals. So I think it's more so like Pacers controlled aggression. Controlled aggressive victory. Tricky.
- [128:16]
Pat McAfee
Oklahoma City. Look ahead too.
- [128:18]
Ty Schmidt
Oklahoma City. Hey, that's cool. Game six, whatever. Sunday, Game seven at Oklahoma City with this they have clapping.
- [128:28]
Pat McAfee
I don't think. I think it's a good. If you. If this is legal. Is that legal?
- [128:32]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [128:32]
Q Rich
Is that legal?
- [128:33]
Ty Schmidt
I don't think so.
- [128:33]
Boston Connor
A lot cheaper than the Thunder sticks too.
- [128:35]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah.
- [128:36]
Pat McAfee
I mean it's just a fan, I guess.
- [128:38]
Q Rich
Yeah.
- [128:39]
Pat McAfee
Certainly it can operate as fan because it does get hot and easily. Arenas.
- [128:42]
Boston Connor
Oh yeah, man.
- [128:43]
Pat McAfee
Think about how those fans got it. They got fans and then they. They don't even have to really beat their hands up too much and. Or look, that's just a wrist.
- [128:50]
Boston Connor
Yeah.
- [128:51]
Q Rich
Get loud.
- [128:52]
Ty Schmidt
It's kind of soft.
- [128:53]
Pat McAfee
What?
- [128:53]
Ty Schmidt
It's kind of soft.
- [128:55]
Pat McAfee
I think it's good idea if it's a lob smart.
- [128:57]
Ty Schmidt
But I, you know, I'd rather, I'd rather fans have to put in some effort, you know.
- [129:01]
Pat McAfee
You'd rather see palm on palm.
- [129:03]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, I'd rather see some palm.
- [129:04]
Q Rich
Palm.
- [129:05]
Ty Schmidt
You know what that this just means like hey I don't have to really scream because I have this. It's like well you need. Everyone needs to be screaming. Is the NBA final.
- [129:12]
Darius Butler
Maybe they're doing both.
- [129:13]
Q Rich
I'm more.
- [129:13]
Ty Schmidt
Maybe they're not.
- [129:14]
Q Rich
Yeah, I'm more of a hand in hand guy.
- [129:16]
Pat McAfee
Yep. Yeah. You're talking about Bob and Wood tonight for the Pacers. I like that. Let's go to nine year NFL vet men's league champion Darius J. Butler.
- [129:28]
Darius Butler
I also I think will be a kg affair. I think both teams under 100 points to tonight. I think SGA he's going to be under 30. I think it is a big mathering game and I think the Pacers win. 99, 93.
- [129:43]
Pat McAfee
Wow.
- [129:43]
Darius Butler
Course of game seven old school Cambridge. Yeah. Yeah. Trigger Ricky gonna pull something.
- [129:48]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, I think so too.
- [129:49]
Darius Butler
Okay.
- [129:50]
Pat McAfee
Dag's gonna have a battle too.
- [129:51]
Darius Butler
I don't see us winning a high score. A high score. I mean we're over, you know210. Like I don't see that being.
- [129:57]
Pat McAfee
What is he over? Under 221. 221 feels like a lot of people of thinking under that. Three time NBA champion. A man who has picked the Pacers in seven in this particular series in the past. Has he seen anything over the last 48 hours that has changed that? UD how do you see tonight going?
- [130:17]
Q Rich
I'm going Pacers obviously but I'm going to go a little bit higher. I'm going to go 115, 110.
- [130:24]
Pat McAfee
Like that.
- [130:25]
Darius Butler
Okay, I like that.
- [130:26]
Q Rich
115, 11010 Pacers and the curveball here is I believe Hallenberg's going to be fine. I believe he's going to play his usual minutes and I believe Hallenbergman will be fine tonight. I don't think we're going to have to worry about him. If you're on the other side you want the team that you're playing to believe he's more hurt than he probably is.
- [130:46]
Pat McAfee
Interesting.
- [130:46]
Q Rich
I think these couple days that he's had I think we know how we get medicated when we had a couple days to get ready for the game, get our treatment and do the things we need to do now after the game. I think he'll have to deal with what he'll have to deal with. But I think those 48 minutes tonight I am worried about when he comes out the game with the pace that they Play sure. That calf, but I think that he's going to be close to 100%. I think they'll have a good game. I think Nemhardt is going to step up tonight because he's the guy who's been able to step up when Hallen Burton has been out and been able to help with that offense defensively. Sga, get his. I agree with you. Stop every. Everybody else.
- [131:19]
Darius Butler
Okay.
- [131:19]
Udoka Azubuike
Does NBA have that vitamin T?
- [131:21]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [131:22]
Darius Butler
Oh, it's a good question.
- [131:23]
Pat McAfee
You guys get Turtle?
- [131:25]
Q Rich
Oh, yeah. I got the pills and we got the shots. We got it all.
- [131:30]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, we talked about that on this show a lot, about how there was a time where the NFL and the NFLPA were kind of trying to grandstand on player security. Each of them were trying to do it, and then they were like, well, we don't know all the research on this tour, doll. Actually, we would like to ban it because we don't know what the future holds for the players. We would like to do that. And I believe what happened was the NFLPA was like, we're gonna hold on to that one. We are gonna keep the tour all half the league. Here.
- [131:59]
Q Rich
That's the secret sauce right there. You can't get rid of that half the league. You get rid of that.
- [132:04]
Darius Butler
A lot of games. We did the labs before going into the season. Get your blood done, get all these stuff. Get a full thing before season, after the season so you can see if something's way off. Because obviously different people reacted differently.
- [132:17]
Pat McAfee
It is wild, though, how it works.
- [132:20]
Darius Butler
Yeah.
- [132:20]
Pat McAfee
So. Well, it is. It's interesting. Yeah. I mean, you saw his reaction. You've heard our reaction. Yeah.
- [132:25]
Q Rich
Big Ray, wake up in the morning. You like, oh, damn.
- [132:27]
Darius Butler
See, it's so many more games for y' all, though. Like, for us, we only. Well, when I was playing, it was only 16, plus the playoffs. But, like, so it was once a week. You play that game on Sunday, feel great. Monday, Tuesday is when you kind of get up. Like. Like, I feel like I just got hit by a bus. But for y' all, 82 games, like.
- [132:43]
Q Rich
Yeah, a lot of guys had lived by the motto, you want it now, you want it. 7:30. That's what a lot of guys. So you have a shoot around and we have practice in the famous motto of, like, the guys that Dwayne Wade's and the greats. Hey, coach, you want it now? You want me at 7:30? Yeah. You got to pick and choose. Like, I ain't ready right now. It's. Damn. 8, 9, 10.
- [133:03]
Darius Butler
In the morning.
- [133:04]
Q Rich
But I'll be ready 7:30. So leave me alone. Let me sit on over here, pop my pills. When the game, when that damn clock go off, I give you what you need.
- [133:12]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. And there's, you know, alternatives and proper guidance through all this. And these are what people go through so they can perform for their teams, for the teammates, for the cities they're representing. All right, we're going to get out of here. As you can feel the anticipation in the building, more employees of the building are filtering in. Obviously more things are starting to happen on the court. I believe there's shoot around imminent upon our ending of this particular program for tonight's game six. Could this be the last game of the NBA season? Or are we headed towards a game 7? Can't wait to watch. 8:30 on ABC. Pacers okc. We shall see.
- [133:52]
Q Rich
Let's go.
- [133:53]
Pat McAfee
How it be Tyres Haliburton. I'm pulling for you, buddy. Let's go.
- [133:58]
Boston Connor
Here we go.
- [133:58]
Q Rich
Let's go.
- [133:59]
Pat McAfee
Pascal Siakam. I'm pulling. Hello, sga. It's been an honor to watch you play basketball, though. I'm gonna. I'm gonna be 100% sure. And Chet Holmgren doing this and their fans and Jaylen going crazy and Hardenstein rocking the R. It's like. And then Dags patrolling the sideline. It's like. They've been a fun team to watch operate. They have been a fun team to watch operate. But the Pacers got. Pacers need a big one tonight.
- [134:21]
Darius Butler
They do need.
- [134:21]
Q Rich
They need it. They need it. I think they'll get it. I think they'll get it.
- [134:24]
Pat McAfee
I like that. I like everybody's prediction here.
- [134:27]
Darius Butler
I don't know how feel about that with the Pacers.
- [134:30]
Q Rich
No, we didn't do.
- [134:30]
Pat McAfee
That's right.
- [134:31]
Boston Connor
Cuz every. Every other show's picking thunder.
- [134:33]
Darius Butler
Yeah.
- [134:33]
Boston Connor
Straight across the counteracted.
- [134:36]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. We're kind of providing opportunity.
- [134:38]
Q Rich
Yeah. They. They won't watch us. They. They need to watch the ones that say no. Don't.
- [134:42]
Pat McAfee
Yes, exactly.
- [134:42]
Q Rich
Yeah, don't, don't. Look, don't pay attention to us. Pay attention to everybody else saying no. That's the. That got you here.
- [134:47]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, exactly.
- [134:48]
Q Rich
Yeah. Keep listening to that. Let all that sink in.
- [134:50]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. And I think that has happened for Tyrese, Osmosis and the others. Oh, listen, a lot of chips.
- [134:55]
Q Rich
Four or five points last game. That shit better sink in. You better take that shit personal. You better be ready tonight.
- [135:01]
Pat McAfee
You're right.
- [135:01]
Q Rich
You better borrow a calf or buy a calf or whatever. You gotta do to suit up tonight because they was on your ass by them. Four or five points.
- [135:08]
Pat McAfee
He said that. He literally said that in the press conference. If I could walk, I could play. It's game six.
- [135:12]
Q Rich
Yeah.
- [135:13]
Pat McAfee
Can't wait to watch. All right, from everybody in the truck. Great work back there, boys. To the setup crew. Doing it once again that ESPN pieces together. Barcode in company. We can't thank you guys enough. Great work here. I mean, this is phenomenal. How about the execution of the Jumbotron?
- [135:31]
Ty Schmidt
So cool.
- [135:32]
Pat McAfee
It's outrageous that we are up there. Great work by everybody that was a part of this. We can't thank you enough. And shout to the NBA and to the Pacers for allowing us to be in here for this tonight. Game six in Indianapolis, Indiana. We'll be there. Let's enjoy the hell out of this. We'll be back tomorrow. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change their life. We're in this thing together. Team on me. Team on three. One, two, three.
- [135:52]
Udoka Azubuike
Team.
- [135:53]
Pat McAfee
Goodbye. In 1979, the first words spoken on.
- [136:04]
Q Rich
ESPN weren't just an announcement.
- [136:06]
Pat McAfee
If you're a fan, they were a sports prophecy.
- [136:10]
Q Rich
What you'll see in the next minutes, hours and days to follow.
- [136:14]
Pat McAfee
Glad you're with us tonight. May we convince you you've gone to sports heaven. And right now you're standing on the edge of tomorrow.
- [136:24]
Q Rich
This fall, the next era of ESPN begins.
- [136:28]
Pat McAfee
Sports forever.