FULL NBA SHOWTIME | All-Rookie Team Revealed, But Spurs vs Thunder Steals The Spotlight

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[00:00:00]win. What can a win like that do for you guys? Your mentality, your confidence heading into game two.

[00:00:05]>> Yeah, I think it it makes us believe that, you know, we have a shot. Um even though we already believe that, it's just putting the effort in and actually showing some results. So, going into game two, obviously we're confident. Um we'll stick to the game plan, you know, uh manage their adjustments and, you know, try to win another game. Speaking of their adjustments, I'm sure you're anticipating quite the response from them tonight, but for you, someone who is IS iso with Shay defensively a lot.

[00:00:28]What are you expecting just the defensive assignment that you have to bring tonight against a guy like that?

[00:00:31]>> Yeah, I mean it'll be a lot more physicality, a lot more attention to detail. Obviously, he's a great player, so he'll make his own adjustments and get some more buckets. Um, we're just ready to counter that.

[00:00:40]>> And anything specific from the film that you saw that personally you want to work on tonight?

[00:00:44]>> Uh, just being more physical, being a little more, you know, being better better stances, better position. Um, and they're rebounding.

[00:00:51]>> Thank you, Julian. We appreciate your time.

[00:00:52]>> Thank you.

[00:00:55]>> Talked about it being a long 48 hours.

[00:00:57]You guys had some stuff to figure out, but coach says like one of the things he loves about this group is its ability to problem solve. What was the topic that came up the most uh since game one?

[00:01:07]>> Yeah, I think it's just the details of stuff that that we know we can do better. um you know whether it was just an execution standpoint, defensively being in positions um offensively getting into better actions for ourselves, you know, stuff that I think we've done all year that um you know, whether is being off for a week or just playing a good opponent, you know, forces you into mistakes. Um just cleaning those up, being sharper.

[00:01:28]>> Defensively, you spent a lot of time on Wem. You're 6'5.

[00:01:32]>> He's 7'4. You've talked previously about doing your work early. What advantages do you actually have in that matchup?

[00:01:39]Yeah, I mean the further you get to the perimeter, um, you know, I think it works in my favor just to be able to, uh, you know, anticipate stuff, be able to manipulate the way that they're trying to run screens and different things like that. Um, and then obviously you need help from your teammates. You know, you got to have guys behind you that, you know, you can trust and have your back in case there's a slip up.

[00:01:58]>> Maybe not the same stat line, but how do you replicate the impact that you had in game one?

[00:02:02]>> Yeah, just playing hard. Um, playing hard and competing. That's what this time of the year is about, you know? And I think that's why I relish these games so much is because, you know, it's the pinnacle of competition and and it's something that I really enjoy.

[00:02:13]>> Appreciate the time.

[00:02:14]>> Yeah, thanks.

[00:02:14]>> And the pinnacle of play, that's what we saw in game one. Listen, we're going to be breaking down this matchup as we continue to go along, the adjustments we're going to see from OKC. But first, we get to announce the Kia NBA all rookie teams. Look, another envelope is here with us. You guys ready to go ahead and do this?

[00:02:30]>> Let's do it.

[00:02:31]>> Okay.

[00:02:33]First up, Cooper Flag.

[00:02:35]>> Of course, obvious obviously.

[00:02:38]>> Yes. Led his team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals.

[00:02:45]>> Cooper, I mean, obviously, he was going to make this NBA rookie of the year to, you know, this this year, uh, NBA Rookie of the Year. He deserved it. He was going to be on that list. Well, he did breaking records in Dallas this year.

[00:02:55]And now they going to see who's the next, you know, who's the next coach over there to lead him.

[00:02:59]>> Yeah, we will be finding that out soon.

[00:03:00]But how about his roommate making the list as well whom we expected to be a part of this? Coniple from the Charlotte Hornets.

[00:03:06]>> Of course, Con setting records. This young man came in and set the rookie record for threes made. He led the entire NBA in threes made. So, yeah, he deserved to be on there averaging 19 points in his rookie season. Was sensational this year.

[00:03:23]>> Yeah. Meanwhile, a guy who led all rookies in minutes played. You guys know this young man. We spent a lot of time with them, especially in the postseason.

[00:03:31]DJ Edge, >> my guy, man, I can tell you can see his confidence grow throughout the season.

[00:03:37]He was very confident at the beginning of the season, obviously, but he got comfortable as the season went on. I thought he was fantastic in the playoffs, giving them another score. You know, Joel Embiid, well, guess who steps up? BJ, I look forward to seeing what type of player he becomes next season because he's going to be a monster.

[00:03:53]>> 100%. a guy that we've noticed has been a monster even in game one right here on this court. Dylan Harper, uh, who got his first playoff start, now welcome to the all rookie first team.

[00:04:03]>> Well, you talk about somebody again, they questioned this pick that we went San Antonio's chosen him, uh, picked him second, but what he's been doing, you know, he got better as the season went along. He went through some some rookie, you know, ups and downs throughout the season, but right now, you know, game one in the Western Conference Finals, a rookie putting this team on their back, he deserved that first team honor. Yeah, we'll see if he gets another start today. Whether or not Dear Fox can go, still a game time decision, but the last name on the list for the first team is Cedric Coward of the Memphis Grizzlies.

[00:04:32]>> Another team VC guy, you know, I mean, early in the year, it's it was like, what does he bring to the table? Well, his defensive edge and passion. He plays extremely hard. He's fearless. And he said he wants to be at Kawhi Leonard like I look forward to seeing that. He just went about his business. Yes, Memphis was not talked about much, but he had a great season. Congratulations to you, Seth.

[00:04:54]>> Congratulations.

[00:04:54]>> All right, so that is your first team, all rookie team. Let's get into the second team. Uh, first up, we have Maxim Reo from the Sacramento Kings. Then it's going to be Derek Queen from the New Orleans Pelicans.

[00:05:05]>> All around, >> Jeremiah Fierce, his teammate from the >> My two guys. My two guys, you know, Ace Bailey from the Utah Jazz. And then Colin Murray Boils from >> Now that's the one he's should have been on on the first team.

[00:05:16]>> Tell me more. Tell me why >> should have been the first thing. This is a kid who nobody was expecting anything from. He go out there to Toronto, help those help those guys get to the playoffs, compete in the playoffs, and he played a very very big role on the Toronto Rapids team this year for him to be to come into this league as a defensive guy and then and that serious against Cleveland, he he showcased his offensive skills. Man, I this is a great pick uh for Toronto Raptors and they have a good good future uh in Murray B. And I also think early he was just trying to figure out his role in that team with all of those light-sized guys and he felt like I had to have a motor and I needed to just play hard and create extra possessions and be a defender. He did that and that's the role he had in the playoffs.

[00:05:59]>> All right, those are your two rookie teams. But if you heard the booze starting to come into the pay confing me.

[00:06:04]>> Nope. It's because Victor Winbinyama has made his way to the court for his warm-up and again he's coming off of a 4020 night in which he led his team to a win in game one stealing one in OKC. And we just wanted to show everyone how he gets ready for a game. And it always starts out right here.

[00:06:21]>> Those hips that getting that low center of gravity, >> ready for all the >> the contact and the physicality that presents itself in in a game like this.

[00:06:31]>> And you said something about lower center of gravity. I would love to see him take some of that in his post up. I think sometimes he gives defenders that are smaller than him at an advantage to guard him because he plays so straight up. I'd love to see the the core balance. I think he's just working on his center of gravity. And I think when he does that in in the post, he's going to be impossible to stop in the post.

[00:06:51]>> All of these exercises are are balancing exercises, balancing on one foot, understanding how and learning how to accept the contact when he was out there. He know they going to beat him up. He knows they're going to slap at him. He did a move uh in game one. He had ch on his arm. He twist and turn, dunked it backwards. Right. To me, that's the type of movement that these these actions are allowing him to go out there and do. He's dribbling basketballs up the side of the mountain in in in China. I'm learning learning kung fu.

[00:07:18]You get what I'm saying? So these right here are the basics that you need to have in life. Balance. This is all about balance right here.

[00:07:25]>> I love that you brought up the training um with the Shaolin monks in China. He did that this off season. It was the two week long retreat which is actually exactly how long a sevename series would be. But he was doing things like 90 minutes of meditation, a sitting cross leg. He was learning how to do kung fu, working on that balance and the gravity.

[00:07:42]You mentioned him climbing over 2500 ft while dribbling a basketball. These were some of the things that he worked on that are certainly paying off right now as he's in the western >> I think like you know guys that really understand the history of the game and want to be great and really you know want to perfect their craft. These guys do everything they possibly can to get the advantage and and that's doing, you know, jumping out of the ordinary and doing stuff that has never been done or just trying different things to see what works for him or what really gets him, you know, focused and locked in to him seeing the vision clearer, right? And these some of the things that I I've seen players in the past do some stuff on working on that balance, doing unorthodox, you know, type exercises to get themselves ready and locked in.

[00:08:30]We've seen it before, but we haven't seen a 74 guy doing it. So, I played a year, I don't know if you guys knew that, I played a year in Phoenix. And one of the things that we did was something like similar uh movement that at first you don't accept it, you don't like it because it's different, out of the ordinary, like you said, unorthodox.

[00:08:49]But what we learned is it it trains the mind and the body. Being one with the body, understand what your body does and how to, you know, strengthen it. And I I think when you understand your body as a young guy, you prevent injuries. And I think that was important. And that's one of the things I learned in Phoenix with those core movements. We did a lot of band work. Didn't do I mean we did I mean heavy lifting but a lot of band work, a lot of body work because you need to get your center of gravity particularly for him being that tall. It was important. I think he's understanding that.

[00:09:19]>> Yeah. Some of the other things that he's done the off season. He trained a little bit with Hakee. I'm curious if you seen a little bit of that game. But I wanted to give you the quote of what he said.

[00:09:26]We weren't training him for a big man.

[00:09:28]We were training for big guards. He wanted him to have the freedom to create because he has the advantage every single night on everyone and he didn't want him to have any wasted movement and I think we saw proof of that in game one. Well, when you talk about all the exercises that he's been doing in order for the journey that he's on to become great and when you become when you want to become great at a young age, you got to add the the the mindset toward it.

[00:09:50]He's his mindset is becoming bulletproof. And if he continue on this route and and and becoming having a bulletproof mind, he's trying to bulletproof his body. He's doing everything he got to do. That type of exercise and balance work that's been implemented into the NBA. I remember a time where I I had a trainer and I think me and Wimby have a similar guy that we work with. He's a French guy and we used to do exercises like that and NBA team's like, "Man, what are they doing over there?" And now this is the the right and exact way that you should be getting ready for a game. You should be balancing, getting your ankles, that's full body workout right there and balance. So for WY to take on that journey, go out there and and and be a monk and and and >> everything like >> go talk to KG, go talk to >> you don't see you don't see the mindset of young guys like this. This is especially what we're witnessing.

[00:10:40]>> You talked about wasted movement. He he with not with the body but also in his game there's a lot you don't see a lot of wasted movement. He's he's very efficient and precise about what he's trying to do. Yes. I feel like sometime horror stream sometime is there he gets knocked off but when he's locked in he doesn't have a lot of wasted movement it's get to my point get to my shot you saw this shot here he got to his shot no wasted movement knocked it down so uh that that I mean as he develops it's scary because he's still getting better and he's going to get stronger when he gets stronger it's like watch >> the thing talk about that waisted movement you played that way Vince you played that way I played that way to be able to get in a spot where you don't have to dribble the air out the ball, right? It is just really utilizing your skill set, your footwork, and he's so long. He has a high release point. Once he gets to the point where he can just create the space without having to take a dribble, right, he's going to be very dangerous. And then when the strength comes in that one dribble, right, he have you have the defense off balance and being able to finish at the rim, it it's really endless of how good this man could be on the offensive end. He has a lot to learn and put together.

[00:11:49]Defensively, he's amazing. He's He's like nothing we've ever seen before. But still, that offensive game still needs some fine, too.

[00:11:55]>> It's funny, he said, uh, after game one, "I still have a lot of things to learn, but I want to win that MVP trophy for many years to come." Played in 49 minutes in game one, puts up a 4020 game, and gets the win on the road in OKC. Remember, this is his first time ever playing in the playoffs, just 22 years old, showing the poise that you would see from very steely veterans. Um, all right, we're getting you set for game two, round two of what's going to be an iconic series. is there. Shay Gildas Alexander. He's going to have to come up with some answers here in game two. Check it in with his former college coach there, the twotime MVP. Coach Cal is here. Listen guys, De'arren Fox officially out for game two. He'll miss his second straight game of this series.

[00:12:34]Uh, Coach Cal told me though, guys, he saw game one, said he was not going to miss game two and hopped on a plane.

[00:12:40]That's why he's here right now.

[00:12:42]>> Caruso, a two-time NBA champ, certainly played like one in game one. off the bench with 31 points, made a career-high eight threes, which is also tied to the OKC playoff record in a game. Shay Gilis Alexander saying, "I hate that we wasted such a great game from AC." We'll see what he has for us in round two, ladies and gentlemen. But last night, we saw another overtime game. The Cleveland Cavaliers, the Knicks. It's game one.

[00:13:08]Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs. Honestly, early guys, they were on one. got up by as many as 22 points in this game.

[00:13:15]>> Yeah, I mean I I thought they came out had a great game plan, executed well >> for three and a half quarters and then >> and then the final 1240 of this game happened and then what happened and everything just fell apart >> or Jaylen Brunson happened aka Jeezy.

[00:13:35]>> It was a target. It was a target on one of the Cleveland Cavaliers backs.

[00:13:40]Listen, JB scored 11 straight for the Knicks. It was a part of an 18-1 run.

[00:13:44]Okay, they're going crazy. Melo, you know a little something about that.

[00:13:46]>> They're going crazy. This was This was a big shot by by James. He needed that.

[00:13:49]>> He had that. He had that a lot.

[00:13:51]>> I don't think he wanted it. I think he was trying to figure it out and but this man right here, JB, wanted all this smoke. He put New York on his back.

[00:14:01]>> That's a big shot right here. That was a big shot. That was a big shot.

[00:14:04]>> Yes. Well, Sam Merrell couldn't get it to go. So, that means that we're going to overtime.

[00:14:09]101 step. You got to stay off the court, buddy.

[00:14:12]>> I like that he was in a full suit though.

[00:14:13]>> Help.

[00:14:14]>> And this right here, JB just smart. I think this was a great adjustment by by coach Mike Brown to see that >> JB get in there, kick it to Shamid.

[00:14:22]Shammy hit off >> big.

[00:14:24]>> But here's the one thing about >> great left, left, left. And they never took it away. When they did, it was already too late. He was in his bag.

[00:14:30]They was overthinking.

[00:14:32]>> Yeah. Let's get to just first I want to talk about the 18-1 run because that's when Kenny Atinson called a timeout. the game was starting to get away or the momentum was shifting. Let's just talk coaching decisions in general, T-Mac, and what you thought about the way the game was managed down the stretch specifically for the Cavs.

[00:14:47]>> So, I thought it was mismanaged because I felt like when you see your guard, one of your players is getting targeted every single possession and they're scoring every single possession. You got to make a change, right? And I felt like James in that game, he played okay in the first half. defensively was bad in the fourth quarter. That's when you got to bring Shruder in. What do you have him for him there for? To be a defender to come in for those type of moments. I know this is James Harden, but this is 17-year James Harden. This is older James Harden. You have a Shruder where you can put out that fire at least compete, right? Compete on the defensive end and make things different. And then that other thing before I pass it, >> Donovan Mitchell, >> where were you in the fourth quarter? I was disappointed in Donovan because it seemed like he divert deferred too much in the fourth quarter on the offensive end.

[00:15:41]>> His last field goal came with 819 left in the fourth quarter. You see Donovan Mitchell, that's a long walk back to the locker room when you had this game seemingly sealed up with 1240 left to play, but not walking away uh with the win DC.

[00:15:54]>> Well, if if you're not going to, you know, take if you're not going to take Harden out, at least call a timeout to slow things down. All right. I thought if you Hey, Wimby.

[00:16:05]>> I didn't know what is going on. What's going on? But no, I mean I I think I agree with you. Yeah. You know, you see they're targeting James Harden. Yes, you may still want him on the floor. Would it go offensive offense defense or something like that just to change it up after a timeout or something to slow the momentum down? It was none of that. You you mentioned um >> Donovich.

[00:16:25]>> Donovan Mitchell. Well, they stuck him in the corner because they wanted to >> No, they didn't stick him in the corner.

[00:16:31]He put himself in the That's Donovan >> Mitch. We'll say we He allowed James Harden to have the ball win. I think he was having a game.

[00:16:38]>> You would do it. I would do it. You You for sure would do it as well. Give me the ball cuz it's crunch time. This is what you pay him for to be the closer.

[00:16:46]And when you see things going left, your star player should get the ball. Yeah, they're double teaming me. Let me make the play right now.

[00:16:52]>> I I also thought uh Coach Kenny Aerson He trusted James >> too much yesterday. And there's nothing wrong with trusting James. This is why you bought James over here to handle situations to get through situations like this. But in that time, I'm not saying take James out.

[00:17:08]>> No, take him out. But I'm saying add Dennis Schroeder in there. They James could match up with those other those other wings at the New York. He was starting to count at one point, >> right? So now you bring Stroer in and let Stroer, you know, be a pest. Let Schroeder uh guard JB. Now James can figure out how to be effective on the defensive end as opposed to being on ball and them headhunting him. And now you come back on the offensive end and now you feel confident of making plays and doing something for your team.

[00:17:35]Yesterday his confidence looked like it was shot because of the spotlight was so bright on James yesterday in a one-on-one situation. That's hard to deal with a situation like that when you thinking what should you do, what should I what I shouldn't do. I'm dealing with one of the best guards and the best closers in this game who dwells on one-on-one situations. So, I have to take that challenge.

[00:17:57]>> Another component to that.

[00:17:59]>> Now, I can say this. Y'all y'all were great scorers. I played some defense. I didn't play no defense.

[00:18:06]>> You took the challenge. I'm taking the challenge.

[00:18:08]>> But on all seriousness, >> whoever the primary defender is, I think that was Dean Dway, right?

[00:18:15]>> You got to get over the screen. You see what I'm saying? You got you got to fight conceded. You're right. They conceded to the >> fight over the screen. Especially when going back all that, you know, letting James switch on uh on on Jaylen Bronson in the crunch. No, you fight over the screen, right? Fight over screen. You play that defense and get back. Let James get back. Don't just easily switch and have James get on Bronson and you see what the results was. Like if you were the primary defender, it's crunch time. You fight over that screen and you play defense. Well, what Mike Brown all he did was say two go play that game because this is James formula right here. This is James. He headunt guys on defense and he tried to attack him, get him in foul trouble, get to his back.

[00:18:55]The rose is reversed right now. So now an adjustment from Cleveland. We going to see what type of adjustments they make because the Knicks they one up right now and they got an opportunity to see some loopholes in Cleveland's defense right now and we going to see what happens.

[00:19:08]>> But if I am Cleveland, I am I am confident on in game on how we approach game two. confident in that 20 22. He was up 22.

[00:19:17]>> 22. Yeah, you came out really really strong. Um, but you guys kept mentioning it with the Harden and the JB matchup.

[00:19:22]JB, he shot 67% with Harden as his primary defender. And ultimately JB outscored the Cavs 17 to1 the final 1240 of the game if you include the fourth quarter and that overtime. So he just took it in his hands and they got the victory. So game one goes to the Knicks.

[00:19:38]They've now won eight straight. That's a playoff franchise record by the way. Uh Dylan Harper, not sure yet if he's going to be the starter in this game, but we know for facts that De'Arren Fox will not be playing. Well, two nights ago, we witnessed a historic performance from a transcendent player. Victor Winyama became the youngest player ever to have a 40oint 20 rebound performance in a playoff game and led his young Spurs to a double overtime win against the defending champs. And tonight we will see what they have in the sequel as we get you set for round two of the Western Conference Finals with the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder from the Paycom Center. And welcome back courtside Maria Taylor alongside the Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Trace McGrady. Vince, thank you for joining us here.

[00:20:21]>> I'm back.

[00:20:22]>> Yes. Were you jealous watching us?

[00:20:24]>> Little bit.

[00:20:24]>> A little bit.

[00:20:25]>> Little bit. That's why I had to come back. And I was jealous of the game that you guys get got to witness. I wasn't missing this one.

[00:20:31]>> Yes. It was certainly a historic performance. something that we have never seen before and it was highlighted by Victor Winyama. It was the will, it was the poise, it was everything he was able to do T-Mac to make sure that they got a victory in game one.

[00:20:43]>> Yeah. I mean, what do you do? Like what is the game plan for this guy and for me it's just for you have to put bodies on him and tonight it has to be check because this is not going to cut it. I know Czech being off of him, right?

[00:20:58]trying to come and be a protector once he get to the basket, but he has to be that primary defender because he's too big, too long, and he's finishing at the basket. When you talk about 26 of his 41 points are in the paint. Are you serious? We need check to to really alleviate a lot of that. Right here is just throwing a ball over the top because they played these guys so many times. They know how to hit, you know, those counters and they did a great job of that in the first game. I suspect that Mark does a great job in tonight's game to have a game plan to where they have bodies playing behind him and not in front of him because you try to put bodies in front of him. It's just going to lob it up and he's finishing at the rim. So, I look to see a heavy dose of check on him in this game. Yes, >> we only saw about three minutes of C being the primary defender in game one.

[00:21:50]You like that idea though?

[00:21:52]>> I love the idea. I mean, he should be taking on that challenge. This is the elephant in the room. This been the headlines all season long. Chad Wimby, he's one of the few guys, few players in this league who is 7 foot, who can put the ball on the floor, who can shoot the tray, who can play defense. You have to challenge Wimby. You have to just show some type of physical presence against Wimi. You may not win the matchup, but you got to compete. And if you compete, you give yourself a chance to go out there and get the 15 to 18 points that your team really needs to be OKC. And if you get 15 to 18 points, you have a chance to win this game. And that's the player that OKC is banking on. Caruso did what he was supposed to do off the bench. Shay is Shay. Jay, you know, welcome back, you know, to to JDub. Now Chad is on you right now. Game two. I'm putting this game on CE to take the challenge. Keep Wimi off the backboard.

[00:22:42]Put him on the floor a little bit. Make him taste the pain a little bit. We got to rough this up a little bit out here.

[00:22:48]>> But this is what we talked about last game, right? We talked about how the others was going to really cancel each other out. Yes. But the glaring matchup was check versus Wendy, right? And we saying you don't have to live up to 41 and 20. You don't have to live up to that. But you do have to compete at the highest level to be the best version of yourself and take on that challenge, right? That's what we want to see.

[00:23:10]>> Yeah. And remember Chad, only eight points in that game one at halftime.

[00:23:13]Remember, he only had one field goal. So we'll see. Only averaged about 10 points per game during the regular season against the San Antonio Spurs. You brought up Alex Caruso. Let's get into it. off the bench, 31 points, a playoff career high. They needed every single one of them and also knocked down eight threes in that one.

[00:23:28]>> Yeah, but let's understand 29% in the regular season, 38 in the playoffs. Four corner threes made in this game, eight total, like you said, but he takes the challenge defensively. Wimby, like we talked about earlier, tends to stand up straight. Well, Caruso takes advantage of it. Not just gets the steal, but the easy layup. Let's talk about defensive minded again in the pick and roll. He's also he has a tough matchup, but his willingness to still go help and block shots. And that's just the defensive side. Now, let's talk about the offensive side. His awareness knowing we want to put Wimby in the situation cuz he's a big. He wants to help. Well, I have to knock down threes. Like I said, 38% for the playoffs. Four corner threes made. There's one there. And here's another opportunity to now take advantage of. I can hit threes, but now I have Wimby. I'm going to take him off the dribble and I'm going to body him and get him to the paint. Say, "Ref, call the foul because I'm driving on the big stuff."

[00:24:23]>> I love it. And I love that you showed Alex Caruso really the primary defender against Wimby. So so much of what he was taking on was defensive and offensively.

[00:24:32]So if Alex Caruso did what he has done so well so far in this playoffs, who is the next person to step up? We saw a little bit less of AJ Mitchell because Jub was back into the game. Like what do we need to see more of for OK? Well, we need a heavy dose, heavy diet of Jay Will, right? That's that's what it's going to have to be. Me and Mel was talking about that before this.

[00:24:50]>> Jay Will is going to have to do that to relieve that pressure off of SGA. Why?

[00:24:54]Because he has the ability to get in the paint and make things happen, not only for himself, but to to make plays as well, right? And he also can get to his mid-range. He has the body. He has the strength to shoot over the defender and to finish at the basket. So, I look for this to to be a heavy diet of JDub tonight and take some of that pressure off of SGA.

[00:25:15]>> Yeah, 26 points for JDub in game one.

[00:25:18]And remember, he had missed the previous 26 days dealing with a hamstring injury.

[00:25:22]They needed him maybe a little bit more than they really wanted to rely on him uh in that game one. Meanwhile, for SGA, let's talk about him. He said it wasn't his best performance, but he's got to stay true to who he is. Who is he? Who does he need to be tonight?

[00:25:34]>> He just need to be Shay. He need to be the backtoback MVP. This is where we know Shay to be. He talk about passing a test and taking on the test all season long. This was a test that he haven't seen. Game one was was a test he haven't seen. Game two, I want to see how Shay react and respond to to game one to that performance, not by him, but by his team. I also want to see OKC play through Jdub as a first option today. I know that sounds crazy, but you got to take Shay off the ball. You got to move Shay around. You can't keep giving him the same look. Let Jay Dub create. Let him get in the paint. Let him make the plays that he need to make and let him feel like this is what I'm going to do to bring my value to this team in game two.

[00:26:13]>> Yeah. Interesting. We saw Shay turn the ball over four times. We're not used to seeing that. He had the worst plus minus on the team. Minus 15 in game one. We know we're not going to see that repeatedly from a guy who's a two time MVP. So, just got it out of his system in game one. All right. Last night, another unforgettable game one. This time in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavs led by 22 points in the fourth quarter. Then came Jaylen Brunson. Led the Knicks rally. He scored 15 points in the fourth quarter. New York closed regulation on a 30-8 run. I'm not making that up. They forced overtime, then dominated the extra period to take a 10 series lead. Now, including OT, the Knicks finished the game on a 44 to11. I know, right? Brunson outscored the Cavs on his own down the stretch with 17 points. The Knicks won their eighth straight playoff game. That extends a franchise record. and uh Jordan Cornet, he's covering the Eastern Conference Finals for NBA Showtime. After a tough loss for the Cavs, he did get a chance to speak with Cleveland's Max Strus.

[00:27:12]>> Max, it's a new day coming off that tough loss tonight ago. What's been the mood around this team?

[00:27:17]>> On to the next day. Um you live and you learn. Um obviously we got a bad feeling in our stomach, but um no better way to than to take it out in the next game and and try to win the next game on Thursday.

[00:27:27]>> Jaylen Brunson was a force game one defensively. How do you guys adjust there?

[00:27:31]>> Yeah. Um obviously he's a one of the best players in the league. Um he he got in a rhythm. He he pulled them back in the game by himself and uh we got to figure out a way to stop it. So I made some adjustments today and um you know we'll go into game game two looking to use those and and try to make it tough for them.

[00:27:46]>> Last night was your 15th playoff game for this group this postseason. Was there any chance that fatigue played a role late stages last night?

[00:27:53]>> No. No, I don't think so. Uh I just think we didn't execute well at the end.

[00:27:58]We didn't get stops when we needed to and uh that's what the game comes down to. You got to get stops in the most important times and um I think we stopped executing offensively and stopped getting good shots on goal and um game just got away from us.

[00:28:09]>> Game one in any playoff series is a feelout game. What was the biggest discovery after that first game?

[00:28:14]>> I think we played three and a half good quarters. Um we played solid basketball. We had we were up by 20. Um obviously you never want to lose a game like that, but um you could find you know positives out of that of what worked and things that we did that worked. So, um, trying to build off of those and and find momentum and, um, encouraging things that we did in that game to build off of for the next one >> in order to even this thing out. What's it going to take?

[00:28:40]>> Find a way to keep executing. Uh, it's the playoffs. Um, it's a grind. Every game's going to bring a new challenge.

[00:28:45]Um, got to be ready for it night in night out. And, um, got to get stops.

[00:28:48]Uh, I mean, that's the name of the game.

[00:28:50]Defense wins championships. Sounds corny, but um got to figure out a way to get stops and defend at a high level and um keep executing.

[00:28:59]>> All right. Well, for the first time in NBA history, game one of both the East and Western Conference Finals went to overtime. The Eastern Conference Finals will continue tomorrow with game two from MSG at 8 Eastern on ESPN. The Knicks look to stay hot and get one step closer to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. Meanwhile, the Cavs trying to pick up the pieces after letting that game one slip away as you heard. Stay in the game delivered with Door Dash. Door Dash in your bag all playoffs long.

[00:29:25]>> All right, let's talk about what's at stake tonight. No team has ever won a conference finals after losing the first two games at home. And so that's company that the Thunder are not are looking to avoid joining. OKC, they were 7-0 after a loss in last year's playoff on their way to that title. Remember that includes two wins in game twos after game one losses. That was in game one of the Western Conference semis against Denver and game one of the NBA finals to the Indiana Pacers. So, another opportunity here at the Paycom Center with their home crowd behind them and their twotime reigning MVP Shay Gilis Alexander who throughout game one was maybe kind of figuring out exactly how he wanted to play the game and assert himself.

[00:30:04]>> Yeah, I mean he's the MVP, right? and you know there's going to be a lot of emphasis put on him to slow him down rightfully so. It's up to him to read how the game is being played. Whether that's uh uh him to be aggressive or to get his teammates involved. I wouldn't force anything, right? I wouldn't force anything in the beginning. Just read how the game is being played. Get Jayd Dub involved. See how Wimby if you can extend him out to get some uh rim pressure. But it's it's all about reading how they're going to play defense and and how you going to adapt to that.

[00:30:39]>> The playoffs are about adjustments and taking away t tendencies and finding little something to take away your best players. And that's what you know the Spurs saw in the in the LA the Lakers against the Lakers like yes we're going to double team him. We're going to stay in corral. We're going to keep two bodies in the way to take his to take away his rhythm. We understand he's a rhythm player. He's very good at, but one thing Sheay is very good at is he's very unselfish at getting guys going.

[00:31:05]So, if he's patient and like you said, I agree, letting Jay Dove kind of take the helm first and you know, but still not not shy away from being good things could happen.

[00:31:14]>> This ain't about shade, bro.

[00:31:15]>> Let me get into Dylan Harper here, guys, cuz he's getting his second ever playoff career start. De'arren Fox out again with that right ankle soreness. And honestly, the rookie played great in game one with 24 points.

[00:31:25]>> He played great. He had 24 points. I mean, I know he shot nine for 20, but we talking about a rookie coming in and and and and being thrown to the range and saying, "Hey, go out there and lead this team as a as a rookie point guard. It it was the confidence that they gave him to come out there and have that game and play in that game in the Western Conference game one. For him to pass that first test, now you come back. Now, you got to double down on that as a young player. How do you adjust and how do you come back from having a great game in in in game one? And what are you going to do to add something different to the game? Because OKC already know the formula. They went back, they adjusted, and now what adjustments he's going to make.

[00:32:02]>> You know what, Mel and Vince, Maria, one of the biggest factors that no one is really talking about with San Antonio, they're fearless, man, >> right? They're they fearless team. I mean, you you look at Castle. Castle had 11 turnovers, but you couldn't tell because he stayed aggressive. Typically when you have young guys, you know, be careless with the ball, have that many turnovers, you kind of back away, your aggressiveness, kind of, you know, shy away a little bit. These guys do not care about that. And that opens up the freedom of playing basketball. And I think that's the advantage that they have and the factor that no one is really factoring in.

[00:32:37]>> And we we talk about Wimby though. I mean, I'm going to let you get it. When you talk about Wimby and and how he backs up everything for that team, but Stefan Castle to have 11 turnovers.

[00:32:47]>> If they lose that game, that's probably the only thing that we talk about Stfan Castle 11 turnover. But Wimby covers so much real estate out there on the court that he allows guys to make mistakes, young guys to make mistakes and he covered for them.

[00:32:59]>> We've heard Wimby talk about their togetherness. So, I I think it's easy for guys that come in, the young guys, being that they're young, to come out there and play fearless, like you said, play together and and the next man up mentality is easy because, you know, you got guys that have your back and I I think that's what we saw we we got to see from Dylan Harper. So, for Dylan, just go out there and play, but understand they're going to try to take away something. So, what adjustment will you you make? But the one advantage he has is his ability to get in the paint against those little guards and score.

[00:33:28]>> He's relentless.

[00:33:29]>> I'm looking for the adjustments. I'm looking it's really this game game two is a referendum of on OKC their maturity right which we know they have I want to see that also marks Mark Dagnos I want to see his adjustment if they're going to put uh check guard the primary defender on on Wimby and then can they absorb the superstardom of Wimby in this game if he has one of those games will that affect them mentally and will that take their aggressive aggression away in this first half cuz you know he's coming.

[00:34:04]>> OKC only lost >> backto back game five times this year.

[00:34:09]Okay, so these are the champs and they going to come out here and do what they do tonight. I think so.

[00:34:13]>> Yeah. And listen, the Spurs are now 5 and one against the reigning champs. No one else has beat them more than two times this season. We are getting you set for game two of the Western Conference Finals and what's already been an absolutely