Season 3, Episode 31- Setting the Stage

In this week's episode of "Diehlman at Halftime," Larry and Chris discuss:

Pelicans hire Jamahl Mosley as new head coach
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins back-to-back MVPs
Conference Semifinals series discussions
Game of the Week: San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder, Monday, May 18, 2026 (Western Conference Finals, Game 1)

All music written by Larry Diehlman

Release date: Monday, May 18, 2026

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:15

Hey

Introduction

SPEAKER_01 0:16

guys, and welcome to episode number one hundred and two of Dielman at Halftime, the NBA podcast that tops all others. I'm your host, Larry Dielman, joined by my co-host Christy Pietro. If you're joining us for the first time, it's great to have you. And if you've been a regular listener, welcome back. We have a lot to cover today and not a lot of time to do it. We'll look at a general overview of the NBA this week and then discuss some important topics across the association.

Overview of the NBA this Week

SPEAKER_01 0:54

Let's get to our content for the week. One of the biggest stories came out today, Monday, and the New Orleans Pelicans have a new man in town. Jamal Mosley was hired by the Pelicans as their new head coach exactly two weeks after his dismissal from the Orlando Magic. The Pelicans gave Jamal Mosley a five-year contract, and this is this is after Jamal and this is after Jamal spent five years in Orlando with three straight first-round exits to end his tenure there. The interesting thing about them this offseason is uh New Orleans does not have a first-round pick. Thanks a lot because of the Derrick Queen trade they made last year. They moved up to acquire him in the draft, and a first-round pick was sacrificed. Despite Derrick Queen being a foundation for them, it still is not a good thing with a team that struggled this much that they do not have a first-round selection. Chris, I know from what you were saying earlier, maybe not the most impressive hire they could make. Jamal Mosley doesn't have to move too far to get to his new job, but um definitely a quick turnaround after getting fired from the Magic and the uh Pelicans now have a new man in charge.

SPEAKER_00 2:14

Just let it go, bruh. It's over. This is such an uninspiring hire to me. Um, I I really just don't like this. I don't agree with the philosophy behind this. Um, I think after five years in Orlando, we know who Jamal Mosley is, which is a fine NBA head coach. Um, he should bring a bit more stability to this organization. He should raise their floor from a 15 seed to maybe fighting for a play-in spot. And that's exactly why I don't like this. It's hard to get excited about the future of this team when you have a coach that's going to satiate and not elevate. He's too limited as an as an offensive mind for this team to go anywhere significant, in my opinion. Um, I think ownership will be happy, they'll win some more games year to year, but I doubt we'll ever see a serious contender form under the leadership of a guy like Jamal Mosley. Um, and you know, I see this higher in and how quickly the Pelicans were to jump on this, and it still shocks me why more people are not picking from the Joe Missoula tree. We we've seen two coaches um go from there uh Will Hardy. Will Hardy in Utah and Charles Lee in Charlotte. I'd say both hires are going pretty well. Um, Charles Lee is really kind of changing the direction that the Hornets are going in. Um, they're really a fast-rising Eastern Conference team that we could see maybe jump up into the top half of the standings like real soon. And Will Hardy, you know, it's not like the Jazz have really done anything significant, but for them to offer him an extension, Danny Ainge leading that organization, you know, he knows what a good coach looks like. And and and, you know, despite the Jazz's, despite Utah's lack of success lately, even under Hardy, he's clearly seen enough to offer Will Hardy an extension. I don't think he's really been bad by any means. He's he hasn't had much work, he hasn't had much to work with. And you know, they just got blessed with the second overall pick in the draft, which I mean that could be a Darren Peterson that that could really, you know, flip the organization on its head, and then they could really start putting together some winning seasons. Um, you know, so those were two good hires to me. And still, you know, it's it's 2026, and with all the Thunder success and with how amazing Mark Dagnult has been as the head coach, we still have yet to see a team to pick from the Mark Dagnault tree, which is just crazy to me. My philosophy, I'm a bit prejudiced against retread head coaches. Um, to me, I think you should gun for the fast rising assistant under the already kind of transformative head coaches we see in the league, like a Joe Mazzo, like a Mark Dagnault. And I'm just not really interested in former head coaches that lean on their experience of doing little to nothing in the league, like Jamal Mosley has. Or like Jamal Mosley hasn't done. I mean, he's he's you know, he he he provided some culture, some he raised the floor of the Orlando Magic, but again, they haven't really done anything significant, and in a lot of ways, he was holding the team back. Um, so I I just really don't like this hire. I don't like the the thought process behind it. I I don't like the idea of just oh, we'll hire this guy and we'll be a play-in team compared to a 15-seed caliber team. Like, I don't like that. Like, I I I I'm trying to look for the next Mark Dagnall. I'm trying to look for the next Joe Mazzula. And we know that's not who Jamal Mosley is.

SPEAKER_01 5:58

Yeah, it's interesting that they don't, you know, a lot of teams don't go for those younger picks. They they probably want to just do the safer pick of, well, you know, he has the experience and you know, like, like you said, like raising the floor a little bit. But, you know, if you take a risk on on somebody, you could find the next, you know, diamond in the rough, like you said, like Mark Dagnult or Charles Lee or Will Hardy in Utah. And these coaching trees, you know, they they happen because you take risks and you hire these unknown assistants. Look at Jordan Ott over in Phoenix.

SPEAKER_00 6:35

That's another great example.

SPEAKER_01 6:36

Nobody, nobody expected the Suns to do anything. The Cavs, the Cavs kind of took a step back earlier in the year, and it's like, oh, well, maybe Jordan Ott actually mattered to the Cavs more than we thought. Um, you know, the Cavs are in the conference finals at the moment, but that's a different story.

SPEAKER_00 6:52

So and uh but we know Ott's a great coach, you know.

SPEAKER_01 6:56

Yeah, but you know, we'll see how this works out in New Orleans. Jamal Mosley, five years, yikes, but you know, at least they have somebody to rely upon. We'll see if Zion Williamson can uh get the most out of this hire. The other breaking news in the NBA this week, speaking of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Shea Gilgit Alexander has claimed his back. Shea Gildit Alexander has claimed back-to-back MVPs. He is the 14th player in NBA history to do this feat. Most recently, Nicola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets in the 2020 through 21 and 2021-22 seasons. This is now eight straight MVPs in the NBA that have been born outside of the United States. James Harden in 2017-18 was the last one who was American born. Shea had another great year, and it's still going, obviously. 31.1 points per game, and then career highs in field goal percentage of 55.3% and 6.6 assists per game. The Thunder, 64 and 18 in the regular season. They are obviously still going here in the playoffs. And yeah, this Shea Gildage Alexander Paul George swap back in 20 uh 2019, it just looks worse and worse every day. I know we can't really, you really can't like compare the situations. You know, hindsight's 2020. You know, Shea Gildit's Alexander was a rookie on the Clippers, pretty good. Nobody expected him to be like this good, this fast. Paul George was obviously a top player at the time, but you just look back on it and you just say, how did the Thunder end up getting this? Because Jalen Williams was also part of this trade because he was one of those draft picks. But it's just it's just crazy how how history has set this course. Shea, 14th player to win back-to-back MVPs, and I don't think he's done adding to that arsenal.

SPEAKER_00 9:05

No, not at all. I mean, he's 27 years old, and if he retired right now, I mean, I think we would have to talk about him as a legend of the game. I mean, look at his resume. Like you said, back-to-back MVPs. He's got a championship, he's got a finals MVP. Um, he's one of the most prolific scorers of the 2000s. Um, and and and in my opinion, like in in just pure scoring talent, he's up there with guys like Kobe Bryant. Like, there's no doubt in my mind. And you know, you hear a lot of chatter about the way he plays and and and his mannerisms at moments, trying to bait fouls, and you know, you hear people complain about that stuff, but ultimately he's you know finding a loophole in the game, and he doesn't care how he's doing it, he just wants to win and put points on the board. So, is it frustrating to watch as a fan sometimes? Like, yeah, I'm not gonna deny that. I'm not saying foul baiting is fun to watch because you know it's it's it's not really what we want to see going on here, but he still does it effectively. And man, I mean, it it doesn't even have to be said, he does not need that at all for to be doing what he's doing right now. Like, again, he I think he's one of the most skilled scorers of this generation, maybe all time. I mean, his efficiency numbers are just like nothing we've ever seen before. Like the clip of how he scores in isolation or off of screens or how he gets all or how he scores off ball. It's it's it's every isolated metric you look at. You see Shea Gilgis Alexander somewhere at the top. He's one of the most efficient scores we've ever seen. He's one of the most skilled scores we've ever seen. And um obviously they're on the the the brink of a um a a tough Western Conference title battle here with the San Antonio Spurs, but I mean they've been the best team in the NBA this season, and and it's it's all on his back. And um, yeah, I mean I'm not too surprised he won it. I don't think anyone

Eastern Conference Semifinals: Pistons vs. Cavaliers

SPEAKER_00 11:15

should be. I I think there are guys that kind of had these you know moments where they looked like they could give Shay a bit of tension there, but um I don't think any of them put up enough of a case for them to take this away from Shay. Um he's the best scorer in the league, he's the best player in the league right now, in my opinion. And um yeah, no surprise to me. He won a second MVP, and I would not be surprised to see him uh leave the game with a couple more of these trophies.

SPEAKER_01 11:48

I'm I'm really, you know, I'm really excited to see if he can somehow go for the 3P. Even Nicola Jokic couldn't do that, Giannis couldn't do it. You also have to consider voter fatigue, but obviously, you know, you know, but now the uh the case is on to see if he can get any more. I think finals MVPs are a little more important in his book, and I think any player is more important in their book, and uh, you know, Shay very deserving it has got a lot of those first place votes, and Nicole Jokic and Victor Weminyama were the other two finalists, and you know, the fact that they're all in the West just makes this league, you know, as tough as it's ever been. And I don't think we are done seeing Shea Gilders Alexander winning awards. This episode is entitled Setting the Stage. So, who's raising eyebrows at the moment? All right. We are halfway there, people. The conference semifinals are over. We will be switching to the conference finals, but let's look back at the second round matchups, shall we? Let's start over in the Eastern Conference at that top slot. We had the Pistons and the Cavaliers, and the Cleveland Cavaliers come out on top in a seven-game series, a four-three win overall. The Pistons blew a 2-0 series lead. They had home court in this series. They got those first two wins, and wouldn't you know it, the Cleveland Cavaliers finally won some road games. Ain't that something? And it was in two of the most important games in the series in games five and seven. The Cavs, honestly, that yeah, that game five was a turning point. The Cavs won on the road and in overtime in Detroit. Game seven was a blowout. It was a martyr, led by Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Sam Merrill. Yeah. Jalen Durin and Tobias Harris for the Pistons. Nowhere to be found. Tobias Harris shocker. And my question is can Cleveland avoid another seven-game series? This is their second seven-game series in as many series. I know in a hypothetical playoff run, the most games you could play, obviously. The most games you could play is 28 with, you know, four rounds. But this isn't good. You know, 14 games. Meanwhile, the Knicks, who we'll talk about in a second, they swept the Sixers. They've had more rest. And you have to think if fatigue is going to start to play a factor here for the Cavs. A great series that game seven, Donovan Mitchell, Jared Allen had it going on. Sam Mara was knocking the lights out. The Pistons, though, Jalen Duran was definitely a concern for them. Cade Cunningham had a couple moments, but overall did not get it done in game seven. Tobias Harris, you know, with a with a classic uh choke job. Chris, I mean, the Pistons, I think they overachieved, and they'll be back next year for sure, but just a horrible way to go out at home. We've seen a lot of these in this in this playoff run on both sides, just getting blown out on your home court in the the series finale. But this Pistons team has uh a couple questions to answer this offseason.

SPEAKER_00 15:15

I think that the series and this game seven was another example of how the playoffs are almost a completely different league than the NBA in the regular season. Um again, we saw the Pistons go to two game sevens in this playoffs against teams we would expect them to run through. And they won the first one against the Orlando Magic, which that should have been a sweep. And um they again push it to seven McCleveland and lose. And um like you said, I th I think you know, looking back, uh they clearly overachieved in the regular season. Um their issues in the regular season and and the issues that were identifiable coming into the playoffs were maybe a much bigger deal than any of us anticipated. Um Cade Cunningham was brutal in this game seven. Um turnovers continue to be a big issue with him. I mean, there were some really head scratching ones um in the game seven and throughout the playoffs. Um, and he was ice cold from three in this game. Uh he was 0 for 7, he just couldn't buy one. Um so you know, that was an issue, you know, coming into the playoffs that we saw kind of magnified um within this playoff ecosystem. Um another massive issue for the Pistons, maybe bigger than anything that Decade Cunningham is responsible for, was just the fact that the Pistons completely lacked a reliable second shot creator. Um they need one going into next season, like like no question. If if they go and if they run this back, and you know, this has been a team that, you know, has been a bit stagnant to you know make large efforts to to to gather talent in recent years. And you know, I don't think it's really like I don't think you can really blame them. I mean, they've been on the up and up and up, and you know, I I don't think they wanted to really touch what was working um around the trade deadline because you know they they've they they were they were a top three seed and we didn't quite expect them to be here, so they likely just didn't want to tinker with what was working. Um but but we kind of always knew this about the Pistons, and again, in this playoff atmosphere, like those weaknesses were were really, really um magnified, and they put way too much on guys like Tobias Harris and Danis Jenkins and even Marcus Sasser, you know, later in this series, who they really started turning to to create to be this second scoring spark, and it just did not work. Like you said, Tobias Harris was awful in this game. Um, and as Sixers fans, that's kind of what we come to expect from Tobias Harris in these big games. So so we kind of expected this one, but um a a huge glaring need for the Pistons. Um it's gonna stare them in the face coming into the offseason and they have to address it, or you know, I think we're gonna continue to to see this be an issue for them. I mean, we we you cannot expect a guy like Asar Thompson or Ron Holland to make this big scoring leap. It's just not really, you know, you you you can't expect that, even if they're young, even if they're developing, even if they haven't even hit their extensions yet. I mean, these are athletic players, they have everything in their body capable to be these guys, but they're just not these guys. They're not creators. They they can't go get their own buckets. They need to add a second creator going into next season. Um, but from the Cavs perspective, going to their first Eastern Conference final uh since the LeBron days, which which is which is uh a I'm sure maybe a sigh of relief for Cavs fans. That's pretty significant, I think.

SPEAKER_01 19:04

And alarmingly a long time ago.

SPEAKER_00 19:07

Yeah, yeah. I mean um so yeah, we're yeah, they're right back in it here, which is um which is a uh a pleasant sight to see for them. And I don't think one that they were expecting. I I know I wasn't expecting this. I thought, you know, Toronto did push them to seven like I expected, and I and I I had them coming out of that series, but I had Detroit um handling them pretty easily in this one, and that was just not the case. I thought it was pretty funny how both uh game seven Jarrett Allen and game seven James Harden showed up in this game for us. Uh Jarrett Allen just absolutely dominant in this one. Um 23 points, just um you know, we we saw the ceiling offensively, we saw from him in in his last game seven against Orlando, just just just a beast in the paint, just really tough to stop. And um, you know, you know, Jalen Dern and Isaiah Stewart just couldn't hold these guys, which I was not expecting whatsoever.

SPEAKER_01 20:07

Jarrett Allen, Jarrett Allen was looking like prime Shaq. Like some of the dungs he was throwing down, or he's like he's jumping a couple feet away from where you would normally jump, but just like one-handed. I'm like, bro, what the hell?

SPEAKER_00 20:19

Yeah, and especially against Jalen Dern and Isaiah Stewart. Like, like, I mean, I totally expected the Pistons front court to get the best of the Cavs, because you know, we we just haven't seen Mobley and Allen, I don't think, play consistently at the level that Durin and Stewart were in the regular season, but again, uh we're seeing that these playoffs are almost like an entirely different game, and and Allen got the best of those two. Um, not only did Allen get the best of those two, so did Evan Mobley. Evan Mobley was terrific in this game, and he's gonna be huge for them in this next series against the New York Knicks. He has to continue to realize the aggressor that he's capable of being for the Cavs to have a shot at going to the finals. Um it was a terrific game from him. He's one of the league's best defenders. Um, he was awesome. I thought Donovan Mitchell was the best version of himself in that game seven. Um, you know, where you know, it was no surprise to see Donovan Mitchell being the aggressor that we expect from him, but he was also moving the ball around, which has been an issue in these playoffs. He's he's gotten a bit too reliant upon his own abilities. Uh I don't I don't know about

Eastern Conference Semifinals: Knicks vs. 76ers

SPEAKER_00 21:31

um I don't know if he's lost trust in his teammates, but but he was really committed to getting the best shot, it felt like in this game seven. And uh I thought that was huge for them because um we've seen plenty of moments in these playoffs, and um we've seen plenty of moments in these playoffs where Mitchell has kind of you know may maybe put a bit too much on himself, um, especially at the end of games where he has been really bad um in the clutch of these playoffs, but Um, you know, it seemed like he was really trusting his guys in this one. He was moving the ball around well. Um Allen was amazing. Mobley was amazing. It was just a a really well-played game by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Um, Sam Merrill, like you said, just went absolutely berserk. Um, maybe want to see more from James Harden. Um, but again, I think the the main issue with the Cavaliers coming to this playoff was the consistency because you know we see these guys play like themselves and they're amazing, and what we kind of expect from from Mitchell and Harden and Mobley, and but we don't see that all the time. And for them, for the most part, to play to the level we know they're capable of playing in this game seven was huge, and they are going to need to play at that level to have a chance at the New York Knicks. I I'm not counting them out in this next series. They granted through two really tough matchups, um, but they need to play as the best version of themselves consistently, um, which I still don't think they're really doing. Um, they're in the Easter Conference Finals, they're playing well, but um uh again, there's still a lot of nights where where Mitchell is is just kind of throwing up shots, and there's a lot of nights where James Harden goes ice cold, and there's a lot of nights where Evan Mobley is just being really passive and and not showing consistent levels of um effort. And but you know, it showed in the game seven, they pulled it out, it was it was over by the end of the first quarter. I I mean it kind of looked like the the Cavs were really gonna storm away with this one, which they ended up doing. Um so uh so yeah, the the the Cavs played a really good game. The Pistons, I think their massive issues all throughout the season were were represented in this game, and um it's clear to me what they need to do in the offseason. But uh yeah, Cavs going to their first Eastern Conference finals.

SPEAKER_01 23:58

Donovan Mitchell he was chucking up shots already, hit a half court uh buzzer beater from the local.

SPEAKER_00 24:04

Yeah, what a what a what a call by uh Iron Eagle, by the way. Spider Bite at the end of the first quarter.

SPEAKER_01 24:09

Elsefire.

SPEAKER_00 24:10

Shout out to Iron Eagle.

SPEAKER_01 24:12

Bro, that was that was a buzzer beater logo bank shot. I'm like, I'm like, bro, like you, you know, you know it's a different type of game when you're hitting that type of when you're hitting that crap. So uh Cavs are on to the conference finals to meet uh the New York Knicks as we uh we kind of briefly talked about this last week with Knicks Sixers, but since it's conference semifinals wrap-up, might as well just recap kind of what we said previously. As uh we mentioned the Knicks swept the 76ers. It was a quick one, wasn't really even close. The Knicks fans unfortunately took over Xfinity Mobile Arena, but there was a breaking development during the week that we did not mention last week. The Sixers fired Daryl Morey, president of basketball operations. Thank you. Thank uh thank you, Lord, because it was time. Uh so Daryl Mori is gone. Nick Nurse for the moment is going to stay. And Bob Myers, who is the president of Harris Splitzer Sports and Entertainment, also known as Josh Harris's company, Josh Harris being the owner of the Sixers. Wait, no, no, neglectful owner of the Sixers. There we go.

SPEAKER_00 25:24

There you go.

SPEAKER_01 25:25

Bob Myers is the interim president of basketball operations for the 76ers, and he is leading the search for Daryl Morey's replacement. Bob Myers, most notably, was the um, he was in the front office with the Golden State Warriors and helped build them into a dynasty. He might have not had his fingerprints on every move, but the fact that he was there really says something. He helped build uh Stephen Curry and all them in the last in the like the 2010s. The uh Knicks, it's looking likely OG Ananobi will be will make his return for the Eastern Conference Finals. He's had a hamstring issue. He was out for those two games in the series finale with the Sixers, and the Knicks had absolutely no hiccups whatsoever. And but OG is such an important role for them. They will need him back if they're going to make this a great series with the Cleveland Cavaliers. And Chris, the Sixers, we've already talked about you know what's going on with them. Daryl Mori, I think it was time to get rid of him. I know the uh social media realm was jumping for joy when that news broke. I know I did. I posted the uh I posted the post on my Instagram story, and the music selection that I chose was celebration by cool and the gang, which I felt was very appropriate. Uh, but the Knicks, it's gonna be a good series with the Cavs. The Knicks trying to get healthy, and they have had some rest, which will definitely benefit them against a potentially fatigued Cavs team who just played the other day.

SPEAKER_00 27:05

Yeah, I'll start with the Knicks here. Um, I think you just mentioned a super important aspect of this. Um, the amount of time that the Knicks have gotten between these series is is a really big deal. Um because they handled Atlanta in six, um, which doesn't provide a tremendous amount of rest going into the the the preceding round. Um but the Sixers were coming off of a intensely hard-fought 3-1 comeback versus the Boston Celtics. And especially given how the Sixers are constructed with um Joel Embiid at the forefront, um I don't think I need to speak on how how um that absence of rest played a massive role in in his performance in the next series. Um so yeah, I mean that the the rest was a huge factor in in the in the Knicks and Sixers series because the Sixers just ran out of gas. And you know, the Knicks had sufficient rest, at least, you know, coming out of a six-game series, which they made the the end of it look easy, and you know, the a lot of their starters weren't playing towards the end of those games um in game five and six. Like like they handled Atlanta uh uh in a you know, may maybe it was a little turbulent at first, but but it became pretty stress-free. Um after a little bit, they kind of had Atlanta figured out, whereas the Sixers, you know, fought tooth and nail to get to the next round. Um and you know, it's uh like I said, it's not just another team fighting tooth and nail. It's a team led by Joel Embiid, who is already um, you know, always hindered by something and really needs that rest and didn't get it, and it showed in the second round. Um the Knicks are playing the best basketball of the season. I believe they broke the record for um point differential through 10 playoff games. Um I I think they're plus 170 in their 10 playoff games so far um this year, which is just unreal. So like even in the games they lost, like even factoring those in, the two they lost to Atlanta, they are still averaging 17 point wins um across these playoffs, which is just insane. Um they're playing tremendous right now, and they are gonna get a ton of rest coming into this matchup with Cleveland. And um, again, I I think the rest is gonna be a huge factor because Cleveland is coming off of two game sevens themselves. Like they're like the Knicks kind of keep running into these teams that are that are kind of running out of gas here or have been really worked um to get to the point to face the Knicks. And you know, I'm not discrediting the Knicks at all. I mean that they this is the best basketball they played all season, they look borderline unstoppable right now. Um, but it's just the rest has been critical um for both them and the teams that they played in these playoffs so far. Um so I I I kind of expect the Knicks to to pull this one out against Cleveland. Um I I mean the Knicks are kind of just running through the East right now, you know, e even though the the Sixers were hindered in that series, I mean that they had a fighting chance and the Knicks just blew them out of the water still. And I think Cleveland has a fighting chance in this one, despite being a bit labored and you know, having played 14 games in these playoffs so far compared to the Knicks 10. Um you know, I think Cleveland has a fighting chance in this one if they play to their potential, but um the Knicks are just on a different level than every other team in the East right now. There's no question about it. And you know, I expect them to make their way into the finals. Um, as for the Sixers and the firing of Daryl Morey, uh, this was a a very happy day in in Sixers land, um, otherwise known as Philadelphia. Um Daryl Maury was not an atrocious general manager. Um I I kind of even hesitate to say that, just because like he was solid at drafting. He he made the right picks drafting. Um he made kind of the obvious picks, which you know it sounds like I'm kind of knocking him, but a lot of GMs don't make the obvious picks, and it and it kind of works out less than um if you just made the obvious pick according to the consensus board a lot of the times. A lot of GMs kind of take these chances on guys they really like, and um I feel like just sticking to the world's consensus board might work out just a little better. Um, and that that was kind of Daryl Mori's approach. Uh he he kind of you know, I I highly doubt he was just staring at, you know, what the world was saying about these prospects and and picking based off of the consensus, but um he he made the right obvious picks at the time and and a lot of them worked out. You know, it's it's not like we always see these consensus picks work out, but um he made he made the right picks, you know. He he picked Jared McCain, he he found a gem in Adam Bona late in the draft. Um he just made the right picks, but everything outside of the draft was really rough for Daryl Morey. Like he there were a lot of bad um acquisitions he made outside of the draft. Um, I don't really blame him for the Paul George contract. You know, they had the money to go get a max contract guy, and that was really the only guy they could have gotten. And Paul George has been, you know, he's had a fine tenure in Philadelphia so far. Um, but him on a max contract you don't like uh still, you know, even though he's played better lately, you definitely don't that's that's still not the type of player you want on a max contract. Um the Jared McCain trade was the nail in the coffin for him. Um who knows his intentions uh of whether

Western Conference Semifinals: Thunder vs. Lakers

SPEAKER_00 33:05

it was to duck the the um the uh duck the tax or you know what whatever it may be. But it that that trade is still panning out really bad for the Sixers right now. Jared McCain is playing in fourth quarters for the best team in the league and hitting significant threes. Um and it and is still such a bright young talent who they exchanged for the 22nd overall pick in this draft class, along with some second round picks. Like that is really bad.

SPEAKER_01 33:36

Um that that Jared McCain picture with the the ring should the Thunder win is gonna make this whole city sick.

SPEAKER_00 33:43

Yeah, no, it's gonna be tough. It's it's gonna be tough, and it's it's already tough to see him making like a pretty big impact on the Thunder. It's it's it's hard to watch. Um because you know, a lot of uh we we know how much talent McCain has, and you know, get getting a mid to late first round pick, um albeit in a good draft class, like the Sixers could still definitely get a good player at 22. Um, I mean this is a pretty good and deep draft class, no doubt about it. But still a mid to late first and some second round picks for the player that we know McCain is and the player we know McCain can be. It's it's really tough. Um a lot of times Mori sat on his hands. Um, I think of the 2021 trade deadline where I think his one notable addition was George Hill, who really did absolutely nothing for the Sixers that year. Um when they had an opportunity to go really deep, I thought. And um yeah, from just a player acquisition standpoint, Daryl Morey was bad. There's no other way to spin it. Sure, he made some good draft picks. Um, he made the obvious draft picks, which you know is is is easier said than done for a lot of GMs. But um hopefully the Sixers can bring in a guy who can um maybe not take the most chances in the draft and and you know continue to take those um those good players according to the consensus, but also um be a lot more intentional about how he wants to build a team and and um maybe not trade uh such young brain talent for for little to nothing in return. Um and I was really starting to get worried. I mean, if if we had kept Daryl Mori around for another season, I mean we we might we might be seeing VJ Edgecomb packing his bags by next year's trade deadline. I mean, that's that's what it was starting to look like. I mean, Maury kind of traumatized us with the McCain trade. It was it got my mind racing. I'm like, well, I mean, I hope I hope VJ's not next. I hope Maxie's not next, you know. So um, yeah, I I I'll I'll spit out a name um here at the conclusion of my my Daryl Mori ramble. Vince Rosman. He was he he grew up with the Sixers, you know, he rose from an intern to a a really highly regarded front office member. The Oklahoma City Thunder, funny enough, poached him um about five years ago. And he everyone has spoken extremely highly of the guy. Um and you know I'd be happy to take any member from that Oklahoma City front office given what they've been able to accomplish and the team they've been able to build. Um so so yeah, uh keep the name Vince Rosman in mind. I think that's my pick for general manager. That's the guy I like. But uh yeah, good for the Sixers, getting Daryl Morey out of town. Um, just overall, just not a good general manager. Um, it'll be interesting to see the direction they take on. And yeah, the Knicks just continue to play their their best basketball this season and and and should kind of stroll into the NBA finals here.

SPEAKER_01 36:55

Seeing Vijay Edgecombe possibly in a San Antonio Spurs jersey, which is killing me.

SPEAKER_00 37:01

Yeah, I don't want to think about it.

SPEAKER_01 37:03

We'll see too with the Sixers. Bob Myers, could he just hire himself because he's he's had success with the Warriors, as we've said. There are rumors like why doesn't why doesn't Josh Harris just make him but then again, he's the president of Josh Harris's company. Might be a conflict of interest, or you'd have to go hire another president. A lot of things going on with that. So we'll see what Bob Myers has up his has up his sleeve with the Sixers getting a new president of basketball operations. And in the Eastern Conference semifinals, we say goodbye to the 76ers and the Pistons, and the Knicks and Cavs will battle it out to see who is going to the NBA finals from the East.

SPEAKER_00 37:52

All right, we transition to the West here in our wrap-up of the NBA playoff conference semifinals. We'll start here with the Oklahoma City Thunder versus the Los Angeles Lakers. Uh, not a surprise here, I don't think, after what we saw uh from the last time we recorded, the Thunder beat the Lakers in four games. Uh no surprise there, I don't think. Uh the Lakers really stood no shot against the the Oklahoma City Thunder. Uh that they had their moment taking down um the five-seed Houston Rockets, I think. Um we saw you know a um an aging LeBron uh you know have his little marquee moment there. Still got it, still able to take down a team in the NBA playoffs. But yeah, they stood absolutely no chance against the juggernaut. That is the Oklahoma City Thunder. Um, led by two-time MVP winner, as we discussed, Shea Gilders Alexander. Um just yeah, what we expected from the Thunder, what we expect from the best team in the in basketball right now. Um I guess what we didn't quite expect was AJ Mitchell playing such a massive role in this series. Um, he was terrific. Uh Shea Gilders Alexander said it himself, he may have been the second best player um for the Thunder in this series. He he was absolutely crucial for them. Um and this series maybe featured a bit more close games than we anticipated, but but not none of which really felt too far out of the Thunder's control. Um they take game four just by five points, but um again, there there was never really a moment where we questioned Oklahoma City's grasp on this series. I don't I don't think there was a moment where where we thought that um the Lakers and LeBron James had a chance in this one. Maybe if they had Luka Doncic, we'd see a different series. Um, but yeah, thunder have Thunder did what the Thunder do and sweep the LA Lakers here. They head into the Western Conference Finals 8-0 in the playoffs. Uh we talked about rest with the New York Knicks uh just playing 10 games in these playoffs. Try eight. I mean, the Thunder have a chance to, you know, they they've been able to go to Cabo and back in between these series for for a nice week-long stay at a resort if they wanted it. Um I'm I mean, we rarely do we see teams go into their respective conference finals only playing eight games in a couple weeks. I mean, I mean that that's that's that's really important. Um, especially, you know, as they'll be facing a team in San Antonio which has faced a bit more adversity in these playoffs. But um, yeah, Thunder ate known these playoffs, doing what they do. I'm sure they'll face a bit more adversity next round against San Antonio, but uh yeah, the Lakers took no chance in this one.

SPEAKER_01 40:58

They did

Western Conference Semifinals: Spurs vs. Timberwolves

SPEAKER_01 40:59

not, indeed. This the Thunder pretty much wiped the floor with the Lakers. Game four was a little closer, as you would expect from a team about to face elimination, but the Thunder had this in the bag the whole time. And especially without Luca, um the Lakers, it it was eventually going to come at come back and you know bite them in the ass. So that's pretty much the main gist of this series. And what Chris, you know what makes this even scarier for the Thunder now? Do you do you know what makes it scarier?

SPEAKER_00 41:30

Scarier as in their next round matchup.

SPEAKER_01 41:33

Uh no, Jalen Williams is expected to make his return for the Thunder after he missed two games in their series with the Phoenix Suns, and he missed the entire series against the Lakers. They didn't need him, and they still are getting their second best player back. So uh if you're a San Antonio Spurs fan or a player, that's very concerning and it's going to make this series much more intense. The Lakers, you know, they really yeah, they just missed Luka Doncic's production. He had that injury. The minute you they announced that that he was gonna miss some time, you knew the Lakers season was going to end prematurely. I don't know how far the Lakers would have gone had Luca been healthy, but if they were going to face these same opponents, they probably could have pushed the lake the the Thunder maybe do a game five, game six, but I don't think it would have mattered too much overall. And like you said, the Thunder, they're still undefeated. They've just been playing such great basketball. The Lakers have a uh interesting situation this offseason. Austin Reeves has a player option, and there are reports that he will probably decline it to be an unrestricted free agent. And well, he's a player, he's a player option now. Should he keep it next offseason going into 27-28, then he'd be unrestricted, but he could become unrestricted this offseason, and if he declines it, he is going to want a hefty penny for his services. Now, I think the Lakers, you have a great you have a great shot at retaining him, you know, with LeBron slowly getting to that point where he's gonna retire any year now, and you're next to Luka Doncic, you're going to be their second option regardless. JJ Reddick is a great head coach. And uh, who doesn't like sunny Los Angeles? I mean, come on now. But are the Lakers willing to pay that? Is Rob Polinka gonna try something new? You never know, or is Austin Reeves just gonna go get whatever bag he gets? He doesn't care if he plays in Los Angeles or Utah. It doesn't matter. And that's the biggest question they have right now. But yeah, the Lakers they they stood no chance in this series. Um and the Thunder get a uh Thunder moving on to that next series.

SPEAKER_00 44:01

I think if there's anyone who might not care so much for sunny Los Angeles, it's probably Austin Reeves, a farm boy from Arkansas, I believe. Um, but I don't think he really wants to leave LA. Um, I I I I haven't really felt that notion. Um that there, I don't, to my knowledge, there have been no reports saying he's really super threatening uh to leave the Lakers.

SPEAKER_01 44:28

So you're so you're saying there's a chance that he could sign with the Arkansas Lakers?

SPEAKER_00 44:33

Um I'm saying there's a chance he wouldn't mind Utah too much. You know, like like he he's the type of guy that you know that might be a better fit for uh a guy like Austin Reeves. But uh I think he just wants a higher payday, uh as he should. Um yeah, you know, I'm I'm all for professional athletes standing on business and and and getting their their paydays. Um but you know, I I'm I'm not really expecting Austin Reeves to leave, so that'll be interesting. The Lakers are in a funny spot because uh we talked all season about their really weirdly constructed roster that kind of looked like it was working a bit, these playoffs, to definitely my surprise. Um, but you know, the center situation is still a mess. You're you're still getting maybe a total of 20 good minutes from DeAndre Aiton in a season. Um yeah, I'm not talking about a game, I'm talking about like the season. But like you you will see these very isolated flashes of good DeAndre Aiton.

SPEAKER_01 45:35

Thank you for that clarification.

SPEAKER_00 45:36

Yeah, which you can't rely on. And you know, Jackson Hayes uh is Jackson Hayes, so they gotta figure that out. Um yeah, they they're just in an odd spot, really. Rob Palenka is is a social media GM and and is just I I don't think he's well equipped to be a general manager in this sport still. I don't really I I I think um Nico Harrison saved his job a bit. Uh I I really just don't like him as general manager. I don't like the way this team was constructed. So yeah, that they're in an odd spot. Um we'll we'll we'll see how this offseason shakes out for them. It'll be really interesting. Uh who knows, maybe they'll be without LeBron going into next season. He's kind of threatened retirement a bit. I think the Lakers are I think they should be more concerned about losing LeBron than Austin Reeves, to be honest. Unless they're like really unwilling to pay Austin Reeves what he wants, which I don't think they should be. He's a he's a very good player. Um so yeah, it'll be uh it'll be fascinating to see what they do this offseason, and even more fascinating considering that Rob Palenka is at the helm making these decisions. So um, you know, there's always there's always some suspense in that. Um there's always there's always some uh some pessimism with that, you know, as a as a huge Rob Palenka hater. Um like I could be a better general manager than Rob Palenka, I have no doubt in my mind. That's that's that's enough. That's enough for Rob Palenka and the Lakers. Uh rest in peace to their season. And uh yeah, the Thunder will make their way into the Western Conference Finals. Two phase the San Antonio Spurs, who take down the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games. Um the Wolves, you know, they made this as as scrappy as they could. Um Anthony Edwards made a a near superhuman uh level recovery to come back and play in this series, and and he wasn't bad. Um, he wasn't bad by any means. I don't I don't I'm not sure if he was quite himself, but um after suffering that, you know, what looked to be a pretty significant hyperextension of his right knee, I want to say. Um we uh a lot of people weren't even expecting that Edwards would be ready for any game in this series. Um, but he, you know, he really um you know worked hard to get back for game one and and he was fine in the series. Um, you know, the Wolves they put up two games on this Spurs team, which is uh I think is a pretty significant accomplishment. You know, they they made it, they made it as gritty as you can against this San Antonio team, um which which make who makes it really hard on you. Uh that this is an elite team. This is the second best team in the league, if not the best team in the league. Um, because the only other team in their stratosphere are the Oklahoma City Thunder. They beat three times in the regular season. So can you really call the Spurs the second best team in the league when they beat who we think number one is three times during the season? Who knows? Who knows? Um, but yeah, uh another result we expected here. Um, or another result I expected. Larry actually had the Denver Nuggets taking down the San Antonio Spurs here to make the Western Conference final, which um didn't it's not Larry's best age take. Um, certainly not, as the Wolves have been in Cancun for about two weeks now. Um Larry thought they would be preparing for for another seven-game series at this point.

SPEAKER_01 49:11

You mean the Nuggets have been in Cancun for about two weeks.

SPEAKER_00 49:15

Did I not say that?

SPEAKER_01 49:16

You said the wolves have been in Cancun. They've been in Cancun for about two days, maybe.

SPEAKER_00 49:19

Yeah, so okay, okay. My apologies, everyone. You know the the Wolves, the Wolves just arrived in in Cancun. Um, Anthony Edwards uh linked up with Nicola Jokic to grab some drinks. Um, but yeah, the the Nugget the Nuggets have been home for a while now. Uh just just had to throw a little dig at Larry there. Um just just a really you know, really questionable take from him. You know, as I am the best predictor on the Deal Money Halftime podcast, clearly, um, as I had the Thunder and Spurs matching up in this Western Conference final, man, this is gonna be an awesome series. Um but you know, I th I think it's gonna be interesting because you know, as we talked at length about earlier, the Thunder have faced zero, zero adversity in this playoff run. They're eight and oh. While the wolves have lost three games in these playoffs, they're eight and three. And you know, even some of those wins against Portland.

SPEAKER_01 50:18

Bro, you said the Wolves again. The Spurs are eight and three.

SPEAKER_00 50:21

While the Spurs, they're eight and three. They've dropped three games in this playoff run. Uh one to Portland and and obviously two to Minnesota. And even in some of those wins against Portland and against Minnesota, um these games were you know not super comfortable for the for the Spurs who who we believe to be a top two team in the NBA. Um so it's gonna be interesting to see how uh you know these two teams who we believe are the two best teams in the NBA, um, but they've had different kind of levels of comfort to get to this point. And it's gonna be interesting to see how that shakes out when they um duke it out tonight and and for the following week or so against each other. Um, you know, it how are the Thunder gonna react to facing a team that is in a different stratosphere from the Phoenix Suns and the LA Lakers? Um is this adversity the Spurs have faced so far? Is that is that gonna, you

Game of the Week

SPEAKER_00 51:24

know, well equip them for a series here against the Oklahoma City Thunder? Or it does it tell us that the Spurs just aren't on the Thunder's level, like I said, you know, and I'll continue to say this the the the playoffs are almost like a different sport. And you know, the Spurs may be three and one over the Thunder in the regular season. Um, but you know, the Pistons were the one seed and got pushed to seven by the Orlando Magic and are um also um probably on the flight to Cancun right now. So I mean it it's it's it's a really you know different basketball ecosystem. This is it's a totally different game. I you cannot operate um heavily off of regular season logic here, um which many people are using to pick the San Antonio Spurs in this series. Um but we'll see. Like is the Spurs um adversity they faced? Is that telling us that the Spurs maybe aren't that good? Or is it telling us that you know they're gonna be ready for you know a team like the Thunder? The Thunder being 8-0. Is that telling us that the Thunder are just on a different stratosphere than any other team in the NBA? Or is it gonna or are they gonna show up tonight against the San Antonio Spurs, you know, against a real team, uh like a real contender, and and you know, maybe not be able to handle that adversity. So, you know, it it's it's it's conflicting. It's gonna be interesting to see um how these very different paths uh clash in this matchup. Um it's gonna be maybe the best series we've seen in in a very long time, maybe on paper. I I cannot remember the last time a series has been so anticipated. Uh yeah, can't wait for it. But uh the Spurs take down the Wolves um in this conference semifinal. And it's gonna be interesting to see the direction Minnesota takes as a team, too. Um I'm not sure how many people still believe in that core with Julius Randle as the number two option. So yeah, we'll see.

SPEAKER_01 53:20

Yeah, this was a good series overall, despite the fact that the Wolves kind of flamed out in the end. And like we said earlier, with why are all these game sevens or series closeouts blowouts. This was another one I was referring to, despite the other the when we started off with the Pistons and Cavs. And Spurs Timberwolves was a super flame out to end this one. So the Spurs, yeah, in six games, it was it was a beatdown in game six in Minnesota. There was there was no shot the Timberwolves are winning this one. Three of the six games overall in the series surprisingly were blowouts. You don't really think about that, but they were, despite the fact that Minnesota stole game one in San Antonio, and you're thinking, whoa, maybe this will be a different series. Maybe the Timberwolves will put up a fight, and the Spurs pretty much just said, watch this, and they left nothing to chance there. Um Iodasunmu and TJ Shannon for the Timberwolves kind of cooled off after that Nuggets series and their heroics. They're still great players. Io DeSumu, I think, is a free agent coming up, and he will definitely command the bag. TJ Shannon came out of nowhere, and there'll be pieces for their future should they retain them. Julius Randle, good golly, Miss Molly. Three points in game six, and Rudy Gobert was running cardio. He put up Tony Snell numbers. I think get a couple rebounds, though. Give him some credit, but he put up some TJ he put up some Tony Snell numbers where he's just running cardio and he has like no stats whatsoever in a X amount of minutes. Anthony Edwards, to show you how much of a blowout this was, Anthony Edwards dapped up the Spurs bench with about eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. Yeah. He was he was basically saying, good game. And you know, as we as we say these days, dapping up or giving high fives and hugs and whatnot to the Spurs bench, being a good sport almost with the rest of the fourth quarter. That's I I think that kind of caused some controversy on controversy online, like well, why are you doing that? It's just him being a good sport.

SPEAKER_00 55:41

I don't I don't know how how to feel about that.

SPEAKER_01 55:44

It's I mean it's showing him he's a good sport, but with eight minutes left. Yeah, if there's eight minutes left, like you're you're fighting for your season.

SPEAKER_00 55:52

Like go be a good sport like when the game is like a hundred percent over. Yeah, like yeah, I don't know. Like I wouldn't expect a guy like Anthony Edwards to do that. Like, you know, you know, and I don't think many people would either. Like, like he's the type of player we expect to, you know, be giving it his all for 48 minutes and command that out of his teammates. And he's walking over to the bench, you know, you know, like they're getting blown out, but like we've seen crazier things in the NBA, like than a 20-something point comeback with nine minutes left, like especially with the season on the line. Like that, uh I listen, I don't really like that that I don't really care. Like, I still love Anthony Edwards. Like, I don't think this is some like damning thing about him. Um, but it it it it surprised me a bit. I I wouldn't expect that from a player like him, and it and it was pretty interesting, you know, to see that some of the the uh the discourse about that.

SPEAKER_01 56:45

Anthony Edwards trade question mark to San Antonio. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 56:49

How about the Philly, huh? Huh? Get Vince Rossman in there, maybe he'll pull up some magic.

SPEAKER_01 56:54

And the thing that the Timberwolves now have to address, they might need another piece to compliment Anthony Edwards. We're talking about the Pistons with Dana Jenkins being their secondary ball handler and how that's a major red flag. The Timberwolves might need some help. Julius Randle, I think Knicks fans are looking at this and saying, see, see, this is this is what we were talking about. The you know, Julius Randle kind of flaming out at the worst possible time. Rudy Gobert, despite his defensive uh might, you know, his his defensive foundations and and you know, one of the best of all time in that section, his offensive game is non-existent. It's a big question mark. He does not create his own shots, and he is getting older as well. So Chris Finch and the Timberwolves front office might have to do some rearranging, and you know, definitely we'll have to see how that works out. But Chris, I think I think now that we have Spurs and Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, there's only one thing to say. The Lord works in mysterious ways. The Lord has blessed us with this series. Oh, yeah. We were we were saying this early on that we need this series, and this series could be a foundation for years to come. But, you know, a good series, and as you said, we'll see if this is the result of maybe the Thunder have faced no adversity, or the these the Spurs maybe have faced some adversity, or if they're just really good, or really, you know, we'll see how that works out. But we got Thunder Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. We say goodbye to the Lakers and the Timberwolves for another year, and now we are down to our last four teams. And finally, for this week's game of the week, I don't think there's any other choice than this one. We are doing the San Antonio Spurs at the Oklahoma City Thunder for game one of the Western Conference Finals. And this game is tonight, Monday, May 18th at 8.30, down in Oklahoma. And Chris, you said earlier that you don't know when the last time this was you had this game of this magnitude or you know, this much hype. I'll tell you, I'll tell you, damn it. This is the first playoff series between teams of 62 or more wins since the 1998 finals between Michael Jordan's Bulls and John Stockton and Carl Malone's Utah Jazz. And this was this was the infamous game six, or I'm sorry, this was the uh 98 finals. This was Michael Jordan's last dance, the infamous push that Michael Jordan hit that clutch shot in Utah. So yeah. There were three, I believe, three 60-win teams this year in the NBA, and two of them were in the West, and we are seeing this now in the conference. Uh the conference finals. We will not be seeing this in the NBA finals. Thanks a lot, Detroit, but you know, we'll take it in the conference finals as well. The Thunder, we've already said they've had a lot of rest. They've been off since last Monday, May 11th. The Spurs last played this past Friday, so they've had a couple extra days. And you think about it too, what better way to get film study than watching these games? You're just kicking back with your feet up with

Conclusion

SPEAKER_01 1:00:23

a bowl of popcorn saying, here guys, let's watch some film session. Oh, that's all right. It's it's our next opponent. Um, Shay and Wemby, this is possibly a Western Conference Finals for years to come. Like you have these two MVP candidates, Shea, who just won. Wemby was one of the runner runners up with Nikola Jokic, and they might be bouncing MVPs off each other for the next couple years. And, you know, Shay takes MVP. Victor Weminyama was defensive player of the year. This probably will be a matchup for a while, or at least one of them will be in the Western Conference Finals for a while. And you have to think whoever wins this series might end up winning the finals. No offense to the Cavs or the Knicks, but I don't think anybody, either one of them might have the firepower to take on the Spurs or the Thunder. And, you know, especially was another point in this matchup. AJ Mitchell and Stephon Castle have been balling. Stefan Castle is, you know, doing wonders for them. AJ Mitchell is doing wonders for the Thunder and Castle for the Spurs, respectively. And I think this is going to be a really good series. I think everybody's thinking this is going to be a great series. Hopefully, this is not one of these series where you think it's going to be really, really good and just ends up being awful. And then the series you think is going to be awful turns into like the legendary series. Hopefully it's not like one of those, but hopefully we will see how this works out. Chris, I don't know about you. Game one, I'm going with the champs. Oklahoma City, 127, 124.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:56

I don't think you'll regret that call because I have some breaking news on my hands. Dearren Fox has been ruled out for game one. I saw two. An ankle sprain. That's right. An ankle sprain. Dearren Fox out for game one. Worst possible timing. Yeah, that is pretty rough. Um I don't know. Did did he I don't did he leave game six in the Minnesota series with something? I mean, uh, I don't remember. Yeah, this must have happened in like a practice or walking out of the shower or something. Yeah, poor D'Aaron Fox. I mean, really rough timing. Um, so that is that's pretty substantial. Um even though, you know, San Antonio is probably uh the team most equipped to deal with a star point guard getting hurt because they have two other star point guards uh who I will talk about in a moment. But yes, everything you said is spot on. Um this is probably the most anticipated playoff series, and I don't even know when. And no offense to the uh New York Knicks playing like one of the best teams in the league and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who, you know, play really well right now and made the conference final. No offense to those two, but but this is the NBA finals right here. The NBA finals start tonight Monday, May 18th. Spurs Thunder. Like no doubt. These these are the best two teams in the league. I really you know, I don't think you can pick the Knicks or the Cavs in good faith against either of these teams. Um I just can't wait for this one. I I I am so stoked for this. Um I think the league's two best players um are going at it in this one. I think Shea Gilgus Alexander and Victor Rubinyama are the two best players in the NBA. Um so it's not only the two best teams in the NBA, I think we're seeing the two best players go at it. And also two of the most competitive, high-energy guys in the league. Um you know, two of the superstars that, you know, it seem like they care the most about about winning, and that that's awesome to see. Just super competitive guys. Um, and their teams are a lead around them. So um and we've already seen them get chippy with each other in the regular season, and and there's kind of been a longstanding uh a bit of rivalry, I think, between Chet Holmegren and Victor Rabanyama, even dating back to their um their 18 and under days playing uh internationally. Um so yeah, I mean, you could not have asked for a better conference final or series in these playoffs. Um you know, I I I predicted it to happen, but and and I think many people did, but regardless of whether you did or you didn't, regardless of whether you picked the Denver Nuggets to make the conference final. Um uh sorry. Uh I just just had to get that.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:48

Hey, is betting against Nicola Jokic always the best option, though?

SPEAKER_00 1:04:51

Um I mean I mean, no, no, sure. I mean, I'll give it to you.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:55

Says the guy who also picked the Detroit Pistons in the finals.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:59

Alright, alright. Listen, I just had to get it out of my system, that's all. But um, regardless of who you picked in this conference final, I think it was this was the conference final that everyone wanted, and we're getting it. I cannot wait for this. And given the news, the unfortunate news of the De'Aaron Fox ankle sprain, um this game one's gonna be that much tougher for the San Antonio Spurs. So um, you know, in wake of that that injury, I am going to have to pick the San Antonio Spurs to take game one of this series on the road in Oklahoma City. De'Aaron Fox, no De'Aaron Fox. I don't care. We got Dylan Harper, we got Steph Castle, who is playing like a s like a star right now. Um, you know, shot the lights out last series. I'm taking a San Antonio in this one. I think this is gonna be an an uber competitive series. I think we could easily see this one go to seven games. Um and you know, I I talk. In the previous segment, about how it's going to be interesting to see how um the Thunder's lack of adversity and the Spurs embracement of adversity is going to shake out in this series. Like, are the Thunder better than we thought, or are they gonna be challenged facing adversity? Are the Spurs worse than we thought? Or are they gonna be able to handle this series better than the Thunder? It's gonna be interesting. And I don't think there's a perfect, you know, you know, 100% answer on that. I think we could see a mix of both. But I think in a game one, um when you know these two teams are facing the best teams they have played in these playoffs so far, I think the adversity thing and being able to handle adversity is gonna prove more important earlier in this series when these teams are not so used to each other. Um so I'm gonna take San Antonio in this one. Uh I'll go I'll go, I'll go San Antonio 119 to 116. I think they pull out a a thriller in Oklahoma City. And hopefully they get De'Aaron Fox back pretty soon here for game two. Uh, but I will say, you know, despite me picking Oklahoma um despite me picking San Antonio in this game one, I'm standing on the prediction I made in our initial playoff predictions video. I'm taking the Thunder at seven in this series. But for tonight, I can't wait. I'm gonna go with San Antonio in this game one.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:41

In my original bracket, I had the Thunder in six. Now, of course, as Chris has relentlessly mocked me, it was because it was over the nuggets, but I will stand on business Thunder in six. And I I mean if we if we get if we get seven, if we get seven, I'll take it. But my bracket has been just dying right now. So I'm the the only reason I'm saying thunder and six, just give me something right. Just give me anything, I'll take it.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:10

Our brackets are rough. You know, I'm I'm lucky for the for the nuggets pick, but but we're we we've both we we both haven't been perfect in the game.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:17

The only thing that's been right is Knicks and six over the Hawks. That's the only thing I got absolutely correct.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:23

Yeah, I I nailed that one. I nailed uh I nailed Cavs in seven over the Raptors, and beyond that, I don't got anything.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:32

So this will be a uh this will be a great series overall. Game one is tonight in the Western Conference Finals. Chris and I both have those three-point spreads, and we will see uh how this series shakes out the Well, that's all the time we have for today. If you haven't already, make sure to follow the podcast accounts, Chris and me on social media. The three podcast accounts on Instagram, TikTok, and X or Twitter are under at Dialman at half. My personal ex and Instagram are at Larry Dialman, Chris's personal ex and Instagram or at Chris Dippy. All seven handles are in the description on Buzzsprout, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Remember, although you can find Dialman at Halftime on major podcasting platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and YouTube, the main podcast website is on Buzzsprout. The website URL is Dialman at Halftime.buzzsprout.com. Feel free to send a comment by using the send us a text button located in each episode's bio. With the exception of Apple Podcasts, the text option is available on Buzz Sprout and all the major platforms. Your comment could end up in the fan mail section of the Buzz Sprout website. And don't forget to spread the word about Dealman at halftime. See you next time, fellow hoops fans.