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- [00:00]
Logan Murdoch
What's poppin? Emergency edition of Real ones after Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals, I am Logan Murdoch and I will be joined by the great Tyler Parker. No Howard, no Raja. Today just me and Tyler talking about OKC's big loss. What can we expect from OKC in Game 7? What can we expect from Indiana in Game 7? Pascal Siakam is great. What's up with these J Dub Scotty Pippen comparisons? That's so weird. I don't know why people are doing this is such a lazy comparison. We'll get into that. We'll get into why did. Why hasn't the ringer released the Parker tiles? With me and Tyler Parker, we're going to get to the bottom of that as well. We're going to talk about all things Oklahoma, Fort Gibson shout out to you. And we're going to talk about why I'm so pissed that I miss Caitlin Clark tonight. Still mad about that. Had to watch that weak game anyways. Rules up next.
- [01:00]
State Farm Ad
This episode is brought to you by State Farm. On the basketball court, the best players know when to pass. And off the court you still need teammates who are there when it counts. That's where State Farm comes in. With agents and online tools to help you find the coverage you need, you could focus on what really matters, whether that's hitting game winners or just getting through the day. State Farm with the assist. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability and eligibility vary by state.
- [01:30]
Logan Murdoch
Today's episode is brought to you by Amazon Business. Every business starts with an idea. How can you go from daydreamer to industry leader? Amazon Business accelerates your journey with smart business buying. Get everything you need to grow in one familiar place.
- [01:44]
Amazon Business Ad
From office supplies to IT essentials to.
- [01:46]
Logan Murdoch
Maintenance tools, Amazon Business takes the buying experience you know and love from Amazon.
- [01:51]
Amazon Business Ad
Plus tools that help you save costs.
- [01:53]
Logan Murdoch
And make insight based decisions. Ready to bring your business to life. Learn how@amazonbusiness.com what's poppin real ones. Logan Murdoch here, no Roger Bell there, or Howard Beck in the cut. Happy Juneteenth ladies and gentlemen. But to that one happy guest that we have coming on right now, our guest host.
- [02:19]
Tyler Parker
You frame that. Why you gotta. Why you gotta put those back to back?
- [02:25]
Logan Murdoch
That was a nuts transition. We're gonna go with it. Hey, we're gonna go with it. That is Tyler Parker talking. Minutes after the Indiana Pacers eviscerate the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals, OKC went out to got up to a 10 to 2 run and just kept looking back the rest of the way and here we are. So when we first started, you know, DMing, when I. When we found out you were available to do this show, I was like, man, it's really good to have you on this show. You said that you were either going to be really, really happy or really, really sad. Where are you at right now, Tyler? After this game, where are your range of emotions?
- [03:10]
Tyler Parker
You know, one of the good things about Blowout, it gives you a lot of time to sit with the result before the game is even over. And so you get to work through some emotions.
- [03:23]
Logan Murdoch
Which emotions did you work through, sir? This is a therapy session is what this is.
- [03:27]
Tyler Parker
Bewilder is bewilderment. Emotion is rage. Confusion, I guess isn't really an emotion. Feeling like the ground was falling out from under me and also somehow the ceiling was pushing down on me. But the ceiling, like, it was like I was just getting shoved down as hard as possible through a never ending black pit. You know what I mean? And so wasn't a great time. I wouldn't say as a Thunder fan, it was not. It's not what I would call fun, but game seven, baby. You know, as I said, game seven and so you know, it. I. What a. What a terrible, disastrous performance by the Thunder. And I don't. I really am at this point, blown away when T.J. mcConnell misses a shot. Yeah.
- [04:40]
Logan Murdoch
Yeah. Okay. I thought there was more to that. I'm sorry. Okay. Okay. That was. I thought it was gonna be like a three minute answer of despair.
- [04:48]
Tyler Parker
No, I mean, I'm trying to not go there just yet because that way, that way lies madness. But.
- [04:58]
Logan Murdoch
Well, how about. How about I. How about I. How about I just read you some stats really quickly and let's just see where it goes. Right? Okay.
- [05:03]
Tyler Parker
Oh, that sounds so great. Yes, please.
- [05:06]
Logan Murdoch
So first player that just played like they play like Boo Boo was one Shay Gilgis Alexander. 21 points, four rebounds, two assists, eight turnovers.
- [05:16]
Tyler Parker
Yeah, the turnover.
- [05:17]
Logan Murdoch
What do you think about his game, sir?
- [05:21]
Tyler Parker
Not good enough. Like two. I mean, the entire Thunder offense, to a man pretty much just way too casual with the ball. So many silly turnovers. You let McConnell pick off the outlet. The moment he comes in, you know, you need to be aware of him and that he's going to be trying to do stuff like that from the moment he checks into the game. That did something like that happen so immediately was, you know, another in a long line of red flags for tonight.
- [05:57]
Logan Murdoch
Weird. The game was so weird because I mean the Thunder get in on this 10, 2 run and they, they're balling. I put in the real ones. Group chat. This is how you open a closeout game, right?
- [06:10]
Tyler Parker
That's what I thought too.
- [06:12]
Logan Murdoch
No one was. It was one of those things where. No, it was one of those things where no one responded. And then two minutes later it's a tie game and I just go, oh, right. So you get there, right? And then OKC plays terribly through the first quarter, but I'm like, okay, all right, it's fine. They're only down 3. Like it's, it's cool, right? It's whatever, right? There's a Hilberton has that calf injury that could. I, I don't know how it's not morphed into something else, but like, you know, three points, it's a three point. The, the avalanche happens.
- [06:44]
Tyler Parker
It's nothing.
- [06:45]
Logan Murdoch
And then the second quarter happens and then I'm talking as, as the lead gets larger and larger. I'm talking myself back into. Oh, I mean the Thunder get it. They still got a shot at this. Okay. It's only a 10 point game. Only 10 point game. Don't know how they're in this, right? Then it gets like, oh, it's just a 16 point game. That's not bad. That's. It's, it's fine. It's fine. And then, then it gets to 18. I'm like, I mean it's not insurmountable, right? And then Ben shepherd and then Ben Shepard hits the buzzer.
- [07:12]
Tyler Parker
No, I mean when, when, yeah, when, when Lionel hit the, hit the three there. I was shocked and amazed. I, I think that's the first three. He said, I'll series maybe I'm using purely my brain, which is mush at this point. And so I'm not, I have no stat me. I'm probably wrong. But yeah, when he hit that and turned around like he was Steph. Afterwards, I did start to think, you know, might not be the Thunders night. It was just, it was. Yeah, the avalanche started and there was nothing defensively. They were not. There wasn't enough at the point of attack from any of the defenders to keep the Pacers from getting into their little blend and getting downhill and you know, pulling people and everything like that. They shot the ball great and they were getting to every single 50, 50 ball. It feels like this entire series it's felt like if there's somehow a loose ball, whether it's like off a Thunder deflection or not, it is going to Wind up in the hands of a Pacer, and that Pacer is going to hit a three. That makes me sad. And I don't. I'm. You know that. That's. I don't. I don't love that. But I mean, this. This. No, I mean, the Spacers team is just like.
- [08:44]
Logan Murdoch
Can we just finally just say what they are right now? They're incredible, bro. Like, they're incredible. I just felt like this series. And by the way, Lionel has. He had three threes coming into this game, so. So put some respect.
- [08:58]
Tyler Parker
I mean, thanks for adding insult to injury there. I appreciate you looking that up so quick.
- [09:01]
Logan Murdoch
I got you, big dog. So this g. This. This series is so weird, by the way. One of the more entertaining series that we've had. Probably the most.
- [09:11]
Tyler Parker
If I didn't. If I didn't have a skin, any skin in the game, I would be on top of the world. This is incredible.
- [09:17]
Logan Murdoch
Especially like during. We can all agree that the parody finals have been absolutely terrible for the most part, right? The second apron finals since had it. We've had last year. Boston Mavericks were not great. And then we had. And then we had Nuggets Heat, which was just. I don't even. I don't think anybody watched the last two games of that series. I. You could just prove me wrong if you want to, but I. I don't think. I think a lot of people, even the ringer didn't watch the rest of that. But then you have this series, right, where, I mean, Indiana is that they're basically. You get the. The. This the same statement. Oh, they've been the best. Both teams have been the best team since January 1st. Right? That and they're both hot teams. And then we get into this series. Indiana wins game one, which is what I. You were in the building for that. I'm surprised you're still standing. And then you still have like, oh, it's fine. Like, okay, okay. See, you keep. You kept talking yourself back into OKC just being the better team all series. Now I'm not sure. Like, now I'm just like. I think. Because when I was at game. When I was at game five, it was very clear. Head and shoulders. When OKC turns it on, their head and shoulders better than this team. And then all of a sudden, like, we get a dud like this. And OKC seems. This seems to be OKC's postseason, right? Like, when they're on, they're on. But they're also. And I said this in the last real ones. They're susceptible to these types of games. Right. I think about the game. Game one against Denver with the buzzer beater and I. I'm thinking about this game as well.
- [10:56]
Tyler Parker
The game six against Denver was messy and then even in, even game, I mean you know they.
- [11:01]
Logan Murdoch
But they're susceptible to playing down it seems.
- [11:03]
Tyler Parker
No for sure. I mean the gentleman sweeps the Wolves. But even in game three the wolves torch them by like 40 some. Right. I mean I can't. So. No, they are. They are absolutely weirdly capable of laying these eggs. I think it's generally happens on the road whenever not a single role player can get anything going from beyond the ark. I mean the three point shooting has been a disaster this series. Save game two and game five for the Thunder it on the road. Things get really chilly on that end sometimes and if. If they're not getting enough stops on the other end to keep the Pacers from getting out and running, then yeah, things can get makes. The Pacers are the type of team where it makes total sense to me that a game like this could happen. The weird thing is is that I just thought that the Thunder were going to have more fight when they had an opportunity. Whether. Whether or not yes, they got the game seven, you have that to fall back on. But to have a chance to post somebody out at any point and to not take advantage of. Of that or not. It's not just not take advantage of it to just the bed right like that. That's. That's the weird thing. But this, this, this is what the Thunder are. They've never ever made anything easy. Not throughout the entire course of their existence. You know what I mean? Like these. It things tend to be a grind and it. I am, I'm nervous as hell but also very excited to see what, what a Game 7 is like in Oklahoma City with that fan base and then just. Yeah. How did these. How does the second youngest team in finals history respond to something like this? Can they close it out or will the Pacers continue to be the great undead? You know what I mean? Like I don't know.
- [13:15]
Logan Murdoch
I don't know. They've done such a good job. Like tonight they just completely erased homegrown Jesus. 2 of 9, 4 points. There was the, there was the. I texted Cliff on the side after that. Missed. Was it the mist Alley oop and.
- [13:27]
Tyler Parker
The Miss Alley oop was the Miss Alley oop was like the final nail in my hope coffin tonight. Like when I saw, when I saw that happen I was like, oh, there's no this is this game is over. Like it was that.
- [13:41]
Logan Murdoch
That.
- [13:41]
Tyler Parker
That's one of those plays where when you see that you're like, larger things are at work here. I, I don't understand how it's even possible to miss that because it wasn't even contested. You know what I mean? But.
- [13:53]
Logan Murdoch
But Chet's another guy that is susceptible to things like this, right? He can have a dominant rebounding game, but like, he also reminds you that he's the third best player on a championship team at his best right now. Right? Like, for sure. I'm so. The more I watch him during the postseason of, the more I've been frustrated with his play. And I'm guessing that I'm just an Oklahoma City fan for the last six months.
- [14:15]
Tyler Parker
Well, it's not, it's not like, I don't think I would describe Oklahoma City fans as being frustrated with this play because I do think he's had some great moments in the postseason and I think he's been a frustrating offensive player at times.
- [14:28]
Logan Murdoch
Sure.
- [14:29]
Tyler Parker
That's like. I think he does so much defensively in being able to be super switchy but also protect at the rim and get these kind of crazy closeouts that he should never, ever be able to get to the corner, but somehow he does. I think he's. I think he's shown a lot there during the playoffs. He has not shown that he can be a consistent shot maker. Obvious. Like it's been. It's been.
- [15:03]
Logan Murdoch
How nervous are you when he goes to the, when he goes to the free throw line with the game on the line? How nervous are you?
- [15:08]
Tyler Parker
I'm actually, I'm not. Which is. I, I probably should be, but I'm not that like, he, he. He had those misses at the end of Game 1 of the Nuggets series. You know, he. He's come back from there and had. I mean, he had. Had a great Game seven in that series. And you know, I think being able to play off of Hartenstein and help with the rim and stuff was a big part of them being able to neutralize Jokic enough to get out of that series. But I am completely with you that when the jumper looks like it. It did tonight, it could be a.
- [15:44]
Logan Murdoch
Weird looking jumper, right? Like, it's a weird looking jump shot. So when he's not on, you just blame the form some type of way. Shape or form, right? You just like, why are you doing that?
- [15:52]
Tyler Parker
Like, you know, I always feel great when it's like when it touches his hands and it's going up Immediately if there's any kind of pause of any kind. And sometimes it just takes him a little bit to load up. He doesn't, he hasn't, like, it's, you know, this is his second year playing in the NBA. Ultimately, like, I think he'll continue to speed that up as he gets older, but right now it is. Sometimes it can take him a little while to get that thing off, and it's not, it can't. Against this Pacers defense, whenever they're really flying around, a lot of times you don't have that amount of time to be able to get a 3 off and, you know, they see. So I, I, I'm with you on the with. There needs to be more from him.
- [16:33]
Logan Murdoch
I want to talk about Jada because I was at game five, the best game of his career. It garnered so many different comparisons and weird, some weird comparisons. Like, I think about the Scotty pivot comparison, and I'm like, guys, let's, let's, let's relax. Come on. Like, I, I think it's almost like, I feel like it's almost a diss for J Dub to get that comparison this early in his career. I don't know if that's, I don't.
- [16:59]
Tyler Parker
Know if you feel this, but wait, are you saying, like, he doesn't, he doesn't deserve the. You're saying, Are you saying he could be more than the upper.
- [17:07]
Logan Murdoch
I think that, I think that it's an oversimplification to call him a Scotty Pippen at this point.
- [17:12]
Tyler Parker
I think it's for sure. I think. Sure. Lazy. Lazy.
- [17:15]
Logan Murdoch
I think it's very, A very lazy comparison. No disrespect to Scottie Pippen, hall of Famer, but I think about in this point, like, I think that J Dub sees himself as a number one, and I'm not trying to make any controversy here say anything about, like, his dynamic within the offense, but I think that he sees himself in, like, he can be in that mold one day. Right. Like, I think that talk to people around him. He's one of those guys that's like, at halftime he's hitting people up like, yo, can you send me this clip of what I did? Was that a foul? Like, he's really, really obsessed with the game in a way.
- [17:52]
Tyler Parker
Yeah.
- [17:53]
Logan Murdoch
That I feel like he is a great teammate and he is, you know, he's, he served Shay as a number two on. In this particular role, but I think if there was another team, he would take on that mantle of a number one. And I think he has bigger. I think he has bigger goals than just being someone's sidekick, is what I would say. Right. Like, I think. I think that. And I'm not saying that he wants to leave okc. I don't. That's why I don't want it to be, like, controversial or anything, but I. To call him Scottie Pippen this early basically puts a ceiling on what I think he wants to be. And I think that's why it's an oversimplification, because I feel like we've bestowed Shea as this one person and we've already put him as, like, the sidekick role when I think his game AT is. Doesn't look like that.
- [18:41]
Tyler Parker
No, I mean, I think the dream is this one A, one B. Right? That. This. That it. That it. That they can.
- [18:46]
Logan Murdoch
And I think eventually it's going to be that.
- [18:48]
Tyler Parker
Yeah, I think that. That they can both take over the offense at different times. You can stagger them or you can play them together. I mean, you know, obviously a lot of the success the Thunder found in the back half of this series is whenever the two of them are in action together. You know what I mean? Like, and so. And so I'm. And this is really, you know, one of the first times they're exploring that a lot in big moments. I'm excited to see just where that partnership goes from here because they're getting. They're getting used to it now, and I think that that can be something that's brutal for people to deal with going forward. I. Yeah, I'm not. He's not somebody I worry about, like, asking out or anything like that, but I agree that his talent level, like, at its peak is. Is that of, like, a dude that could be a number one for sure.
- [19:51]
Logan Murdoch
For sure. Like, I think it's like. It'll be like the Jalen Brown, the two Js dynamic in Jason Tatum, Jalen Brown dynamic in Boston. That's what I think is. It's. It's trending towards. So to call, like, him Scottie Pippen is just it. It's just. I feel like it's lazy. That's. That's all it is. You know, if, to me, it just.
- [20:13]
Tyler Parker
Felt like sometimes I just get. All the comps are just sort of exhausting, you know what I mean? It's just like, we don't. Let's just talk about what he did. We don't have to be like, is he the next. Like. You know what I mean? Like, it.
- [20:26]
Logan Murdoch
But I think that also goes through the thing of like where we're at right now with superstars or like it, we're in a transitional phase of the NBA. So like, similar to how we were in the mid-90s where we're like, who's this next MJ? Who's this next person here? I think we're doing and we didn't learn from those mistakes we're doing. We're just not watching the game and just being, saying, oh, this is the first J Dub or this is the first Shade Gilgis Alexander. Like, we just won't do that. Right? We're, we, we, we're trying to find the next as a coping mechanism because of the people that are about to leave this league. That's what I think is happening right now.
- [21:05]
Tyler Parker
I, I mean, that's, that's interesting. I, I would generally agree with you on that. I think that the NBA is terrified of what's going to happen when these, when this older generation finally bows out and retires. But yeah, I, I, I have a hard time with needing a comp for something like that. Like to, to, to, yeah. To respond to a 40 ball with.
- [21:38]
Logan Murdoch
He's Scotty Pippen.
- [21:39]
Tyler Parker
Is this guy the net. You know what I mean? It's just sort of, it's just sort of because I, and I've, I've having listened to a bunch of podcasts, I know that Scotty never scored that. I don't, I don't know if Scotty ever scored 40, much less in the playoffs. I think that, I think the, the highest he had that I heard on a pod was like 37 when he was in Houston or something. Maybe 38. But never, obviously never enough.
- [22:02]
Logan Murdoch
Okay, okay. Hey, hey. Let's, let's, let's, let's put some respect on Scottie Pippen's name, sir.
- [22:07]
Tyler Parker
Am I wrong?
- [22:07]
Logan Murdoch
Scotty Pippen's career high is 47 points, which he scored on February 18, 1997.
- [22:13]
Tyler Parker
Maybe I'm, then maybe I'm thinking the playoffs. Maybe that's what I was hearing.
- [22:17]
Logan Murdoch
Let me look at this, Let me look up, look that up. Playoff career high is 37. That's what I was thinking in game three of the 1999 first round series against the Lakers while playing for the Houston Rockets. There you go. Okay. Yeah.
- [22:28]
Tyler Parker
Okay, that's what I was thinking of. Sorry. But yeah, I mean, I'm, I'm, I'm with you. That, it, it feels like not having to, it feels like you're trying to not think of something that is actually constructive to talk about whenever that sort of thing gets brought up.
- [22:49]
Logan Murdoch
Yeah, it. I feel like it's just, you know, we got a lot of people that are smart in the NBA that watch a lot of basketball. They're saying this, so that's what's disappointing. But, you know, it's fine. It is what it is. What do you want to go. Do you have. Do you have a thought to that or.
- [23:07]
Tyler Parker
Well, no, I was just going to say, like, I feel. I'm worried that we're not talking enough about the Pacers. I mean, they were so amazing tonight. I don't, like, I don't Wanna.
- [23:15]
Logan Murdoch
We're only 24 minutes in, buddy.
- [23:17]
Tyler Parker
Okay. You're right.
- [23:18]
Logan Murdoch
Okay. You know what I mean? All right. What impressed you about the Pacers was gonna be my next question.
- [23:23]
Tyler Parker
Oh, just. I mean, that. That they didn't let starting tight hurt them, you know, Like. Like I. Generally in these games, you're prepared for the haymaker right off the bat. You know what I mean? And the 102 start with the Thunder kind of lulled me to sleep a little bit. And that. Then the. After that, it just became lights out for them. It was just super impressive that, that, that it didn't matter if the starters were in there or the bench. You know what I mean? Like, it. It. There was. Defensively, they've been so impressive this series. I mean, they. To turn the Thunder over as much as they did because the Thunder are not a team that turns the ball over either. And for them to turn the Thunder over as much as they did, like, it's. That's just at. On this stage in such a big game is just super duper impressive.
- [24:27]
Logan Murdoch
I'm just. I can't believe that all these teams didn't take Pascal Siakam seriously to trade for him and that he landed on this team. There were a lot of teams that talked themselves out of trading for Pascal Siakam, including one in my backyard. He's so good. He's so. Just slithery in his game. He can get boards. He's not your traditional big, but he's also not like your traditional KG big. Here I go doing the comparison things. Make myself look like an idiot, but like he's. He's just. He's such a beautiful watch, right? And how he goes about through. Through his post game, how we. How he kind of just finds space for layups, right? Just. Yeah, there were at least three or four times down. Down the block on this game where he was just like, just slithered his way for a layup here. Got a Dunk, right? That dunk was fucking incredible, bro. Yeah, that was a back breaker. That was. That was nuts.
- [25:28]
Tyler Parker
No, the back was. The back was already broken. We were already on the ground. But it was incredible.
- [25:35]
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- [25:40]
Logan Murdoch
If I were picking a team, I.
- [25:42]
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- [26:31]
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- [27:23]
Logan Murdoch
Was that, was that your third or fourth tier when he dunked that?
- [27:28]
Tyler Parker
I mean, thugs don't cry, but I. So I'm not sure what you mean, but I did certainly, certainly I didn't like it. No, I was, I probably, I, I, I had to eat a banana halfway through the gram. I was so dehydrated from all the tears, to be honest.
- [27:47]
Logan Murdoch
You know.
- [27:48]
Tyler Parker
So it was, it was pretty rough.
- [27:50]
Logan Murdoch
What? No, but like the, the Pacers Though I've been very impressed just, I've been very impressed with how they keep up pace. And that's been the fun thing to see. Right. Because one of the things going into this series that I thought was Oklahoma City, they're just as athletic, they can run with people. They'll be fine right here. That was one of the real big reasons why a lot of us picked the Thunder. I picked him in five. The one of the reasons why is because I was like, oh, they can run with them. They can play at their own pace. They have the better player, I thought. And Shay Gilgis Alexander still believed that. But the Pacers have done such a good job of making the pace their own. They didn't do that in Game five, but every game that they have done that, they have been successful in. Right. Even. And even in Game four, which was like, they fumbled that. And I think that if they. If they lose this series, they're going to go back to game four and saying, we had this series.
- [28:44]
Tyler Parker
Yeah, but I. I hear you on that. But the Thunder can say the same thing about game one. Like, that series was probably supposed to be two. Two coming out of those games, and the Thunder was supposed to win game one and the PA were supposed to win Game four. So to me, it just kind of like, all things are equal after that. Like, both teams.
- [29:02]
Logan Murdoch
I get you, I get you, I get you. But game four was just one of those games. Yeah, I. The basketball gods had other ideas. It was because. It was because it's. Because it was later in the series.
- [29:14]
Tyler Parker
I don't. I'm not. I don't. I'm not sure that that's a compelling argument for me, but.
- [29:19]
Logan Murdoch
But which. Which game got you more the more depressed?
- [29:22]
Tyler Parker
Game one was far and away the most depressed. The game one loss was way harder than tonight's loss or the game three loss because that's the game three loss. Like, you know, the. The Thunder were obviously in that, but it didn't feel like necessarily, you know, that it was some game where they, you know, looked like clearly the better team or whatever. Like in Game one, the Thunder just looked like the better team for the vast majority of the game. And then stuff slips through your fingers and it's the first game, you lose home court advantage immediately. You know what I mean? Like, it was just that that was especially difficult because you thought too, that they would have learned their lesson in the Denver series to not let something like that happen again. And so it happens again tonight. A blowout. It sucked. But I Am. I have always felt that a blowout is easier to deal with than a game. Like a close game. I would much rather just like, the. The lead be so big. I'd stop even thinking about it as a number and.
- [30:35]
Logan Murdoch
Take us through your night. What were you doing throughout the game? Take your. Take us through your night. Through the game. What were you doing? Like how. Like, okay, the 10 2. Give me. From 102 on. Give me your range of emotions. What were you doing?
- [30:48]
Tyler Parker
10 2. I start trying not to write the piece that I'm gonna have to write whenever the series is over. Okay, 10 2. I'm like, just chill out. You don't need to jinx it. Calm down. Yes. Great start. What you want to see. Chill out after that. There's that point where they. They. It wasn't the first time they pulled Shea, but I think it was maybe the second time they pulled Shea. The. The Pacers going like, a 90 run like that. And that was a point where I was like, okay, we. We can't have. We can't just have things falling off the table completely when he's gone. One of the good things about this Thunder team has been that when Jalen's out there, they can sort of keep pace. You know what I mean? There's.
- [31:47]
Logan Murdoch
Well, a lot of that has to do with their defense, right? Like, you're talking about game five. They just. They. When they lock in on a defense or lock in an offense, they can shut that shit all the way down. They did that in game five. Whenever Shea was off the court, you didn't even notice. But obviously that was a better scoring game from J Dub. But the defensive effort was what was the catalyst for those offensive plays.
- [32:09]
Tyler Parker
No, for sure, for sure. I mean, it's the Pacers. When I saw at the end of the first quarter that the Pacers didn't have a single turnover at that point, you're like, okay, like, they're. They're here in a different way tonight. You know what I mean? Like, the Thunders defense is not doing the things that it usually does. To have no turnovers at the end of the first is just weird for this Thunder team, right?
- [32:31]
Logan Murdoch
Like, it.
- [32:31]
Tyler Parker
You know, and so, yeah, at that point, and then as McConnell continues, like, gets in there and just begins his onslaught, you're just like. You're not even. I wasn't even exasperated at this point, because I was. I would have been shocked if it didn't happen. If McConnell comes out of game seven and only scores, like, five points, I'm going to be. I will be so, so surprised. To me at this point, this guy is good. Like, if he doesn't score, you know.
- [33:03]
Logan Murdoch
What he reminds me of? He reminds me of, like, back in my fandom days, remember when JJ Beretta just fucking tore. JJ Beretta just fucking torched the Lakers, just totally, inexplicably just fucking torched him.
- [33:19]
Tyler Parker
Out of the sky. Right.
- [33:22]
Logan Murdoch
He was ready.
- [33:23]
Tyler Parker
He was Steve Nash, Andrew Bynum. What am I saying? Sorry. Yeah, Andrew.
- [33:27]
Logan Murdoch
Yeah. He was so good that Laker fans were like, yeah, you shouldn't have did that, Andrew. Like, you shouldn't have did it.
- [33:35]
Tyler Parker
No, Berea. I mean, bare. Yes. Just as maddening, but yeah. No, whenever. Whenever they might.
- [33:45]
Logan Murdoch
They might give. You know how J.J. berea, like, when went down in Puerto Rico, like Mark Cuban gave him a whole plane to help out his home country.
- [33:52]
Tyler Parker
Yeah.
- [33:53]
Logan Murdoch
I feel like if TJ McConnell does something like that, he is owed that. So whatever the equipment he is owed that they need.
- [34:02]
Tyler Parker
Herb Simon's got to send him to ball playing to Pittsburgh or something.
- [34:06]
Logan Murdoch
Absolutely. He needs that. That's what he earned. He owns the Pacers.
- [34:10]
Tyler Parker
I mean, if the Pacers win the Finals. If you wanted to tell me that TJ McConnell was the MVP, I would tell you, no, he's not. But I like where your head's at. You know what I mean?
- [34:21]
Logan Murdoch
Like, he's in the running. He's in the running.
- [34:23]
Tyler Parker
In the running. Certainly in the running. I think it's the Occam. If they. If they do win. But certainly McConnell's. And I think McConnell.
- [34:29]
Logan Murdoch
Is he in the conversation, though, to be the second number two. Would he be in the conversation with Jerry west as like the second guy ever to win a Finals MVP on a losing team?
- [34:40]
Tyler Parker
I mean, absolutely not.
- [34:44]
Logan Murdoch
I tried to bait Howard the other day. Was it going for it?
- [34:49]
Tyler Parker
I. He. I mean, if he goes for 70 in the. In game seven, then you. Then let's talk. I don't know. I think Shay or. Or double have done enough. If they. If it Thunder went. Can you imagine just the basketball. Basketball Internet would just explode. It would be unbelievable. If that.
- [35:18]
Logan Murdoch
I mean, hey, hey, even if the Thunder wanted. And TJ McConnell got the MVP, I think it would stop the celebration for like, at least 30 seconds. Like, yo, for sure, sure. Wait, wait, what?
- [35:28]
Tyler Parker
No, for sure. They'd lock the doors and not let the media out. They'd be like, which who? We're not. Y' all can go. And we know that it wasn't one of y' all eight or whatever. However many they picked, you know, Everybody.
- [35:40]
Logan Murdoch
Else, all 200 of you could leave, except for these eight right here. Oh, man. What do you want to see from your. Your team in game seven, bro? Like, other than a win, like, how do they do it? How do they do it?
- [35:56]
Tyler Parker
Just the. The point of attack defense needs to be a lot better. They need to. Like when the Pacers get the ball bopping around and get into their flow and get foot in the paint and start kicking it out and making the defense rotate and make decisions on the move, that's whenever they look great, right?
- [36:19]
Logan Murdoch
Yeah.
- [36:20]
Tyler Parker
And the way to deal with that is to push the defense up, have the offense start higher on the floor, have the ball handler who's initiating everything to. To have to take a lot longer to get up the floor in the first place and then just get into the action. Right. Like, when this Thunder defense has been at its best, it's pushing. It's pushing up, you know, sometimes 94ft.
- [36:49]
Logan Murdoch
Depending on the person kicking Halliburton's ass.
- [36:53]
Tyler Parker
Yeah, it's. And, and it's. And it's like high pickup points where you've got, you know, Artenstein's showing on screens that are at half court. Right. Like, it's just, It's. It's. It's an exhaustive ranginess that does not stop.
- [37:10]
Logan Murdoch
Well, that's how they beat. That's how they beat the Timberwolves. Right. When Ant was literally just glued to Lou Dort and whenever they would get off a stream, just Super Glue, Velcro, that's what they need. That's really what they need. And they can do that. They have.
- [37:26]
Tyler Parker
There's. Yeah, that's what. That's. I think the reason I'm not more concerned is that they don't need to do anything that they haven't done a ton this postseason already.
- [37:36]
Logan Murdoch
Yeah.
- [37:37]
Tyler Parker
If they, if, if the defense plays the way it can, I mean, it's going to be a Game seven in the Finals. I imagine it's going to be one of the most physical games of the last 25 years. Right. Like, that's just generally how these things go, especially when you consider the two teams that are playing now and how much ground these defenses are having to cover against both of these offenses. So it. I think it'll be. I think it'll be a wrestling match. And I think that, yeah, the Thunder's best chance is to do what they've done when they've kind of slowed the offense down before it can even start. And you've got the second pass in the possession happening at like the six second mark. And then whoever's hands it hits, they got to make a tough choice, you know what I mean? Like, that's kind of when. And then whenever the Thunder have had the role players actually hit from the outside, if they have those two things going for them, then I always like their chances, you know, I mean, but. But it. If they play defense like they did tonight, Indy's leaving happy. You know what I mean? If they shoot like they did tonight and he's leaving happy, this is the.
- [38:56]
Logan Murdoch
First game seven since 2016 and only the fourth game seven in the NBA Finals in the last 30 years. The last three, I believe, were the 2010 Lakers, Celtics.
- [39:10]
Tyler Parker
Right.
- [39:11]
Logan Murdoch
2013 Spurs, Heat, 2016 Cav Warriors.
- [39:17]
Tyler Parker
Yeah.
- [39:20]
Logan Murdoch
All they have in common. All these teams that I just named were down 3, 2 in the series and came back and won. Lakers. They did it at home, Pete. Yeah, they did it at home. Cavs did it on the road in, in Oakland. And you got the Pacers going into.
- [39:39]
Tyler Parker
Yeah, I don't know. I don't, I wouldn't. I don't. I don't think that that just because other teams have done that. It doesn't, it doesn't.
- [39:46]
Logan Murdoch
I'm just throwing you stuff. I'm just trying to see what. I'm just trying to see. I'm just trying to see if you're gonna, gonna stay strong or not.
- [39:51]
Tyler Parker
I hear you. I love it. I'm just trying to be honest with you. That one doesn't necessarily make my hair stand up. What makes my hair stand up is like the niece Smith couldn't miss tonight. And that Obi Toppin is, you know, Boris Diao now. And you know TJ McConnell is the greatest player in the history of the game. Those are the things that are scaring me right now.
- [40:12]
Logan Murdoch
Okay. It's funny because I wrote this in the piece, but like the OKC has a chance to. If they win this series, they have a chance to be a dynasty. And I'm sorry to use that word, I'm just really. I'm thinking I'm trying to see if I can break you. I'm really just trying to see.
- [40:31]
Tyler Parker
This.
- [40:31]
Logan Murdoch
Whole time they have a chance to do that. Right.
- [40:35]
Tyler Parker
Sure.
- [40:35]
Logan Murdoch
And it's league that is actively trying to not have dynasties.
- [40:39]
Tyler Parker
Yeah.
- [40:39]
Logan Murdoch
If they lose this, it seems like a missed opportunity, but they still have the guys that are, that are their core guys are going to be on the roster next year and can compete. Probably going to. Could win another 60 something games. Sure. That being said, how does that make you feel going into a Game seven?
- [40:56]
Tyler Parker
I'm trying to actively not think about, okay, that it could be that the big.
- [41:02]
Logan Murdoch
It could be the biggest Dub or the biggest disappointment in the state of Ohio State.
- [41:06]
Tyler Parker
Oh, yeah. I mean, if they lose. If they lose, massive disappointment, right? For sure.
- [41:12]
Logan Murdoch
Like, what is. Tell me the emotion of, like that you guys are trying. That you guys are summoning right now. I feel like the ghost of Harden, the ghost of Durant, ghost of Westbrook all in one.
- [41:21]
Tyler Parker
The way that I feel the weight of that era is. That's why I don't. I don't want to have any dynasty discussion until.
- [41:32]
Logan Murdoch
Until 1.
- [41:33]
Tyler Parker
Let's get. Let's. Let's have one. Right? And so it's because I know how fragile this stuff is and how quickly it can fall apart. I'm not going into the Game seven thinking, like, first a mini baby, like, whatever. Like, you know, it's these, you, you, they may never get back here. I'm not thinking about it like that necessarily. That said, no matter what happens in Game seven, Chet and Dub have opportunities to sign their first rookie extensions in this off season. I am. It seems like everybody imagines that they will and then the Thunder will have at least that core together for a long time. A long time. In current NBA years, at least. Right. And so. And none of them are redundant with each other. I don't think, like, they all serve their purpose and bring different things to the table. And it's clear they all like winning. And this is a situation where as long as people stay healthy, you're going to win a lot of basketball games. You know what I mean? So that's kind of where I am, but I mean, definitely, like, I'll be terrified the whole. The entire game. Right. Like, it'll be, It'll be. You've been. You've been through a Game seven, as you just said. You know what I mean? I'm sure it's just, It'll. It'll. I think it'll age me, but I'm looking forward to it.
- [43:08]
Logan Murdoch
Where are you going to watch? You're going to watch alone? You think? Are you going to just where we. How are we. How are we planning on doing this?
- [43:14]
Tyler Parker
I don't know. I don't know if, If I'm. I don't know if I'm gonna go there for it or if I'll just be out here. If I'm out here, I'll just watch it by myself. Because I can't be trusted around other people during these sorts of things. Like, I just, I, I. Even if someone tried to, I wouldn't. It's just all white noise up here. You know what I mean?
- [43:36]
Logan Murdoch
I just gotta say, man, like, I was there game five, and it probably was the loudest environment I've ever heard in my life. I mean, where during halftime I went, like, downstairs and I, I needed a moment. Like, I needed to just sit down and kind of just gain my composure.
- [43:54]
Tyler Parker
It's a different beast, that place. And it is. It's not just loud, but it's loud all the time. Even when it's, Even when it's not, you know, up over like 106 decibels, right? Like, it, even when it's not way up. I mean, it got to 111. I saw during game five, Royce Young, who's. Who has been to damn near every Thunder home game since the team's existence, said it was the biggest pop he ever heard in the stadium. Whenever Jalen hit that, that sort of like floating right hander that like, went way, way high off the glass, he said that was like the biggest pop that that place had ever produced. And so it. And even on the T on the tv, you could tell. But yeah, I mean, game one and game two, it was both games. You're. It just. The noise swallows you, man. It just surrounds. It surrounds your head like a helmet. And you just can't really get away from it. It's just.
- [45:01]
Logan Murdoch
Yeah, I. So I had a hilarious story, and I'll end it on here because I don't know how much we can talk. Maybe we can talk more. We'll see after.
- [45:09]
Tyler Parker
But whatever. Yeah, I'm good. Whatever you want.
- [45:11]
Logan Murdoch
All right. Yo, I saw my home. My guy, Marcus Peters, he used to play for the, the, the Ravens and the Chiefs, and he was at the game, and I had no idea that he was a Thunder fan, mind you. He is from West. He is from West Oakland, California. Known him all of my life, right? So I squint and I look and I'm like, is that Marcus?
- [45:36]
Tyler Parker
Yeah.
- [45:36]
Logan Murdoch
And he's like. He says, man, I've been waiting years for this. I've been waiting years for this, right? He has a Chet Holmgren jersey on that he bought on site. Has the, the, the thunder hat, 2025 finals hat, and a rally towel underneath it, right?
- [45:53]
Tyler Parker
Marcus Peters.
- [45:54]
Logan Murdoch
And he said, I've been waiting a long time for this, right? And I was like, I was like, are you sure that this is your Team. He was like, yeah, man. People like the People. People like the warriors will be from people like this. No, I like Oklahoma City.
- [46:11]
Tyler Parker
Incredible.
- [46:12]
Logan Murdoch
And he flew in from Oakland to Oklahoma City same day, and then flew back out the next morning, had the time of his life. And I'm like, yo, what are you doing?
- [46:24]
Tyler Parker
That makes.
- [46:25]
Logan Murdoch
He made all the friends, too. He came by himself. Dolo. It was. It was behind the Pacers bench. It was. Slapping hands with everybody was awesome.
- [46:37]
Tyler Parker
I can't tell you how happy that makes me. That is one of my favorite things I've heard all postseason.
- [46:43]
Logan Murdoch
I said I had to be here. I've been waiting years for this moment.
- [46:46]
Tyler Parker
That's incredible. I can't look. That's gonna make Thunder fans so happy.
- [46:51]
Logan Murdoch
That's gonna be somebody from the bay.
- [46:54]
Tyler Parker
Somebody be there for game seven. If you're listening, please go back.
- [46:58]
Logan Murdoch
Someone buy him a ticket. Someone buy up his airfare. Get him a ticket. Pull him up. Pull up. You know, put it behind the Pacers bench.
- [47:05]
Tyler Parker
That's fantastic.
- [47:07]
Logan Murdoch
The.
- [47:08]
Tyler Parker
I mean, yeah. I mean, everyone. I feel like everybody was making the same jokes, you know, before the series started, about like, oh, you can't wait to see the celebrities that show up for these two teams. Blah, blah, blah.
- [47:18]
Logan Murdoch
Little Yachty pulled up.
- [47:19]
Tyler Parker
I was so surprised. I was pretty. I was pretty pumped up that we got Yachty in the building, to be fair.
- [47:24]
Logan Murdoch
It's really hard to get to Oklahoma City.
- [47:26]
Tyler Parker
You know, you're. Look, it's. It's gonna be hard.
- [47:28]
Logan Murdoch
Not from la, because you guys have direct flights, but from the Bay Area. It's really hard. It's really hard.
- [47:33]
Tyler Parker
No, there's some. There's. It's. There's some spots in America where it's difficult to get. To get back to the middle, for sure.
- [47:41]
Logan Murdoch
Yeah. Yeah. How long does it take for you to get to Fort Gibson from Oklahoma City? No, no, from your. From where you're at right now.
- [47:49]
Tyler Parker
From here. Oh, I mean, like, I'm flying into Tulsa.
- [47:54]
Logan Murdoch
You're taking six planes to get into Tulsa?
- [47:57]
Tyler Parker
I'm checking. You can. There isn't. There is an American flight that will take you direct to Tulsa from lax and then. Yeah. You're looking at, like, three hour drive to Fort Gibson after that.
- [48:11]
Logan Murdoch
Okay.
- [48:12]
Tyler Parker
It's like rural northeast Oklahoma.
- [48:15]
Logan Murdoch
Okay. Yeah. I had a. I had a good time in Oklahoma. I'm not. I don't want to diss. I had a really good time in Oklahoma.
- [48:20]
Tyler Parker
I know you. I was. I was happy to hear that. You've been very complimentary. Of your, of your time there. I'm glad the city I brought up.
- [48:28]
Logan Murdoch
I dropped a Brahms reference pre pod, you know, shout out Brahms. I get to get my Brahms. I didn't get to get my ice cream.
- [48:37]
Tyler Parker
If people take nothing else from this.
- [48:40]
Logan Murdoch
We talked a lot of. We. There's going to be stuff that's edited in and out of this, but.
- [48:44]
Tyler Parker
No, I know. Victoria, you got to do what you got to do if you want to keep the Braum stuff in. I love you forever. But you know, it's what it's. You got to do what you got to do.
- [48:52]
Logan Murdoch
Yeah. Hey, Victoria. Victoria. Keep the, Keep the, Keep the Brahms reference sins like it's Zaxby's or something. Okay. It's that level of importance.
- [49:01]
Tyler Parker
The next time you go there, get the bag of burgers.
- [49:04]
Logan Murdoch
I've already ate at Brahms. I already know what the hell to do.
- [49:06]
Tyler Parker
You know what the bag of burgers is though? What's one of the. What's one of the greatest fast food deals in America, bro?
- [49:12]
Logan Murdoch
It's, it's not quite cookout, but it's there, you know?
- [49:16]
Tyler Parker
See, I don't know. I'm not. I, I, I, I can't speak to that. But I can just, you know. It. I'm glad that you had a good time.
- [49:25]
Logan Murdoch
We got to do this more often.
- [49:27]
Tyler Parker
Yeah, man. We should.
- [49:29]
Logan Murdoch
Let's, let's do it more often.
- [49:31]
Tyler Parker
Please. I. It's always great talking to you. Always great seeing you.
- [49:34]
Logan Murdoch
Oh, question. No. Before we get out of here, I want to do this actually. Because I want to actually do this. I need to ask you a question that's really important. Has nothing to do with this series between me and you. And this is going to go on the pod. For the record, what the fuck happened in my. My episode of Parker Tiles that we worked really hard on?
- [49:49]
Tyler Parker
Still. It's still out there. It's in existence. It's going to come out at some point. Corey McCall is it actually, it is in existence. I've. I, I. We have the full thing and it's good, but we. It was.
- [50:04]
Logan Murdoch
That's what I thought.
- [50:05]
Tyler Parker
Remember? As you remember, it was chaos and we, and we need.
- [50:10]
Logan Murdoch
Victoria was there too. It was so bad. It was wild.
- [50:14]
Tyler Parker
We need time to whittle this down a little bit and the video team is swamped. But it will. H I, I swear to you on our friendship, it will, it will come out at some point, at least in.
- [50:30]
Logan Murdoch
A group chat or something like dog, the streets need to see this.
- [50:34]
Tyler Parker
We'll make it we'll make it happen. It'll go. I'll. I'll get in Corey's ear after the season and we'll get.
- [50:39]
Logan Murdoch
Do you wanna. Do you wanna. Do you wanna tell them the plot real quick, though? Just so, like. Just so we could just, like, promote it real quick?
- [50:45]
Tyler Parker
The only thing that I remember is that I helped you get onto the Heatles with me and that you were immediately extremely confrontational with SPO And. And I was. I think. I don't remember after that. I just remember you went at it with SPO immediately, and then I was.
- [51:10]
Logan Murdoch
Giving you life advice, and we went on for an hour.
- [51:14]
Tyler Parker
We went. We. There's a guy. We got a lot of stuff. We got a lot.
- [51:18]
Logan Murdoch
I think one of us cried or something. It was great. Somebody has to go, if.
- [51:22]
Tyler Parker
Well, there. There. At a certain point, like, we started. We started fighting for. We, like, We. We probably were, like, arguing with each other for a good, like, 20 minutes.
- [51:35]
Logan Murdoch
I. No, I think that the video team thought we were actually fighting. I think that's what happened.
- [51:40]
Tyler Parker
No, I. I definitely think that they were like, whenever. Because you come over and take my hat off at one point and you throw it.
- [51:48]
Logan Murdoch
Yeah, and I did that.
- [51:50]
Tyler Parker
And I remember. I remember thinking, like, oh, this is good. Like, we're playing this. We're playing this nice and real here. But I do remember thinking, I hope that they're not worried.
- [52:02]
Logan Murdoch
Yeah, okay, well, that needs to come out. But in the meantime, it'll come out, I promise. All right. Parker tiles. Tyler Parker, pride of Ford Gibson, Oklahoma. Thanks so much for coming on the program, buddy.
- [52:15]
Tyler Parker
The big fan, as you know. Love the pod and, yeah, always a pleasure.
- [52:22]
Logan Murdoch
I'm getting ready to do a. A POD special. Okay. That has been another edition of Real Ones. That is Tyler Parker. You can catch him all over the Ringer site, including Real Ones in the very near future. Me, Raja, Howard Beck are back on Tuesday. In the meantime, also, you can tap in on Real ones mailbag@gmail.com. real onesmailback gmail.com. real onesmailbag. Gmail.com. we'll be answering your Mailbag questions on Tuesday. Tap in. Ah, all this shits. Bye.