Season 3, Episode 32- Juggernauts

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

All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams revealed
Conference Finals series discussions
Game of the Week: San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder, Tuesday, May 26, 2026 (Western Conference Finals, Game 5)

All music written by Larry Diehlman

Release date: Monday, May 25, 2026

Transcript

Introduction

SPEAKER_00 0:15

Hey guys, and welcome to episode number one hundred and three 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_00 0:53

Let's get to our content for the week. The biggest story in the NBA this week is that we have some awards to announce. The all NBA teams were released on Sunday, and on Friday, the all defensive teams were announced. So let's start off with the all-NBA teams. On the first team, we have Shea Gilgis Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembinyama, Luka Doncic, and Cade Cunningham. Second team, Jalen Brown, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Jalen Brunson, and Donovan Mitchell. And then rounding out the third team, Tyrese Maxie, Jamal Murray, Jalen Johnson, Jalen Durin, and Chet Holmgren. Then going over to the defensive teams, there's only two teams for defense. So on the all-defensive first team, Victor Wembinama, Chet Holmgren, Asar Thompson, Rudy Gobert, and Derek White. And on the second team, Bam Atabayo, Scotty Barnes, Kayson Wallace, Dyson Daniels, and OG and Anobi. A lot of great names on that list. And of course, with any list, you always have to think of who got snubbed. I would say on the all NBA teams, possible snubs were Anthony Edwards and Denny Avdia for the defensive side. I would say Scotty Barnes and OG, more so that they should have been first teams and Alex Caruso nowhere to be found on the defensive side. But one thing you have to note with these potential snubs from now on, the NBA's 65-game minimum rule applies to awards such as all NBA and all defensive teams. So that could kind of shake things up here. And Chris, I think one thing is clear Victor Wembenyama should be penciled in for all NBA first team and all defensive first team, probably every year of his prime.

SPEAKER_01 2:35

Yeah, no doubt. He's probably gonna be on both for as long as he's a capable NBA basketball player, which you would think would be a long time because of his um pretty insane physical maintenance routines. I mean, you see the videos of uh of him stretching, and it's like he's made of rubber. So despite being so tall, um, he he doesn't seem to be so injury prone, and and you see him probably a couple times a season like bend his ankle 90 degrees sideways, and he just comes back in the game completely fine. Uh so yeah, I'm with you there. But yeah, I I I did take some issue with with some of these placements. Um the first team, I think they nailed the first team all NBA. I I wouldn't change anything about the first team, although I did read that um it was Shea and Nikola Jokic um got 100 first place votes for the first team, which is valid. But Victor Wembenyama only got 99. I don't know who in the world you would put over Victor Wembinyama in the top five player in the league conversation, which is which is essentially what the first team is. But, you know, 99 other voters agreed there that Wemby should be on the first team. And yeah, I think they nailed that. Um second team, uh, you know, this this is where it starts to get a little dicey. I I think Brunson deserved it, despite having the least amount of voting points on the second team. I I thought he should have been on the second team for sure. Jalen Brown made it, no surprise there. He was upset he did not make the first team. I kind of disagree with him. Um, but you know, I I think he was maybe, you know, just one or two spots out of the first team, but I still don't think he should have made it. Kawhi on the second team, very deserving, definitely should have been there. It's really just Donovan Mitchell and Kevin Durant. You could probably make arguments for third team there. I'm I'm a little surprised. Um Chet Holmgren what wasn't higher on these lists. Um we'll get to him in a second, but you know, not that they didn't deserve second team, but I think those are two guys you could probably peg them down a little bit. Uh third team.

SPEAKER_00 4:40

Tyrese Maxi, you could probably get around the case. Yeah, Tyree.

SPEAKER_01 4:42

Tyrese Maxie as well. Yeah, yeah. Um, I I definitely think you could make an argument for him over Mitchell. Um, I'm I'm not really I I see a lot of Sixers fans like pissed at that. I I I'm not like outraged about it, but um I I think they're they're very comparable players. So, you know, it is what it is. And then we get to the third team, and and this is where I I I was really kind of scratching my head. Even immediately when I saw the notification, I said just like this does not look great. Uh Tyrese Maxie definitely deserved to be there. Chet Holmgren, who had by far the least amount of voting points out of anyone on this list, and um obviously was at the bottom of the third team here. Uh that that really surprised me. I I thought he was he he was you know an all-NBA lock. And you know, obviously he made it, but but I I wouldn't have expected him to receive less votes than Jalen Dern, Jalen Johnson, and Jamal Murray. Um I I I I don't take too much issue with Jamal Murray. Um he he had a really great season, honestly. Uh regular season at least. He they they all kind of ran out of gas there towards the end. He he is he's a great player, uh truly underrated. So I don't take too much issue with that. But the Jalen Johnson and Jalen Dern is is where I really, really, really started to you know question things about about these these all NBA teams because um really because of one man who who glaringly did not make it, in my opinion, and you mentioned him, Scotty Barnes. Amitting Scotty Barnes from an all-mba team this year is is is like blasphemy. That is absolutely ridiculous to me.

SPEAKER_00 6:15

No, I said Scotty for defensive, but yeah, all NBA, that does make sense too.

SPEAKER_01 6:19

Well, yeah, I mean, I mean, yeah, we we're gonna get to that too, because I I I think I think there's you know an equally frustrating Scotty Barnes uh predicament over there on the the defense teams. But it it is I it's ridiculous to be how Scotty Barnes does not make an all-mba team. Um, especially over Jalen Duran. Like, listen, we might be a little brainwashed from his extremely disappointing playoff run. I mean, he looked like a different player in the playoffs in a in a bad way. He looked nothing like himself from the regular season. He had he had a really, really great regular season. So, you know, I I don't want to take that away from him. He he was, you know, he he kind of broke out this year. He was a stud for for Detroit, probably their second best player. But I mean, Scotty Barnes is the number one on a team that made a significant jump in wins, um, one that we weren't really expecting out of them. I think he's arguably like a top three defender in the league, and you know, that that applies to the the the um the all-defense team discussion as well. Uh so it's kind of ridiculous to me how he did not make an all-NBA team. Jalen Johnson, too, I I could I could you know make an argument for not being an all-NBA player, but he also had a great season. You know, these guys had great seasons, but I mean, when when you see Scotty Barnes omitted from the list entirely, uh Bam at a Bayo, I think might have a stronger case than these guys. Maybe Carl Anthony Towns as well. Kat had a pretty inconsistent regular season. But yeah, I mean, like I don't I don't really think Jalen Durin is is like the worst placement we've ever seen, nor is Jalen Johnson. But I mean when you're leaving guys off like Scotty Barnes, that's a bit ridiculous to me. Denny Obvia is another name where you know you could definitely make a case. Um he was he was terrific this season. So yeah, I I was really kind of scratching my head at that third team because I I really just thought there were guys that were better this season. But um, I think they nailed the first team and the second team for the most part. And then for the for the all defense teams, um like I thought they got a lot of these names right, but again, no Scotty Barnes on the first team is unreal to me. Like, that is insane. And to be fair, he was 16 voting points off, however, that's calculated. Um, I think it's just calculated by the voters' um first, second, third place votes, um, however you want to call it. However, that's calculated. He was only 16 points short of Derek White, who I thought a hundred percent he should have been over Derek White. That is, I mean, I mean, again, when you're talking like all defense and all NBA convos, like like we're like you can't really like take away from any of these guys because I mean like you you'll never see like Corey Kispert make like like an all NBA team. Like there will never be a stub that ridiculous. But like and Derek White's a great defender, as is uh Jalen Dern's a great basketball player, and but Scottie Barnes over Derek White's uh a bit ridiculous to me. And I think if you go throw in Scotty Barnes over Derek White, I think that's a perfect all defense first team. Wembenyama, Holmgren, uh Asar Thompson, I was happy to see, made it convincingly. And Rudy Gobert, who you know a lot of people hate, but but he's absolutely still got it. He's he's one of the most impactful defenders in the league, arguably the most impactful defending big man other than Wemby, because he's just in a tier of his own. But Scotty Scotty Barnes below Derek White is is ridiculous to me. But like you go throw Derek White in the second team with with Quezon Wallace and Bam Adibayo and OG and Dyson Daniels. Um, I think that's a solid, safe second team right there. So yeah, I mean, throughout both of these teams, there's a common denominator in my frustrations, and it it's just the disrespect to Scotty Barnes, who like I think is nearing like you could probably argue he's maybe a top 15 player in the league at this point, in my opinion. Like and and he's you know, he's still young and and he's still kind of finding himself. You can you can tell when you watch him. Um, but but what he's able to do is ridiculous. I mean, he he just completely shuts down whoever he's guarding, and he's near impossible to shoot over. Um, he's just long and he's extremely physical and and and extremely strong. And no all defense first team is ridiculous. And then you talk all NBA. He is um, you know, you'd expect a player of his stature and strength and physicality and frame to maybe be like a subpar offensive player, and that's far from the case. He's extremely skilled offensively too. He has a real knack for um getting the ball around, and you know, he's starting to find his shot a little bit, and that physicality makes an equally massive difference on the offensive end. He is just a force to be reckoned with, and I think it's ridiculous how he didn't make an all-NBA team, and I think it's ridiculous how he wasn't on the uh all defense first team. So, so yeah, a lot of my frustrations here lie with Scotty Barnes, but I mean, overall, you know, they they got a lot of these names right. Maybe you could argue like all defense. I don't think I would like throw anyone out of the second team necessarily for the all-NBA teams. I might toss out Jalen Dern. Um, maybe Jalen Johnson, but yeah, I mean I mean they got a lot of these names right. I just take take a large issue with the the Scotty Barnes disrespect.

SPEAKER_00 11:25

Yeah, a lot of good names in these sections overall. And what you have to worry about with Jalen Dern, I believe he's eligible now for like a super max contract, which after watching those playoffs might be a little concerning for Pistons fans. But yeah, if you just go by regular season, it's a it'll probably be a good deal. And with Scotty Barnes, on the other hand, it might be a good thing that he didn't get it, because A, it gives you more motivation to be even better, and B, it might save the Raptors a few bucks to build around Scotty Barnes for the short-term future and see what they can do under Darker Rayakovic. And the 65 game minimum, I think everybody hates it. Everybody's like, oh, well, so-and-so missed this many games, and we're just we're just kicking people off the list. And it's a good idea in theory, but in execution, it's it's a little suspicious. And no LeBron on an all-NBA team in the first time in like almost ever. Probably took people by surprise, but LeBron is no longer just a penciled-in all NBA player. So these teams were released the other day, and hopefully, maybe we can see some better results next year, and these players can step up in the future. This episode is entitled Juggernauts. So, who's raising eyebrows at the moment?

Eastern Conference Finals: Knicks vs. Cavaliers

SPEAKER_01 12:50

All right, so Larry gave me the honor of introducing, obviously, um, the more intense of our two conference finals series, Knicks Cavs. You know, just a really grit and grind series, just back and forth blows from both teams uh here as the Knicks lead three to nothing um with game four here tonight at 8 p.m. on this cloudy Monday afternoon. Um but yeah, I mean, there's really not a whole lot to say here. The Knicks have just really controlled this series throughout um after that first half in game one where the the Cavaliers led by 22 points and just completely fumbled the game away and just stopped hitting shots and just stopped playing defense. And like this was my concern about Cleveland all along. I feel like I've echoed uh similar concerns throughout the entire, not only the entire playoffs, but the entire season. Like you just never know what version of the Cavaliers you're gonna get going into a game, and it's usually not their best version, is is what you're gonna get. Um James Harden has been abysmal in this series. Donovan Mitchell's had his boneheaded moments. I I think maybe the most important thing to note about Cleveland in this series um has been the Evan Mobley, Jared Allen duo just getting exposed like pretty routinely um offensively. I think like the lack of spacing is is really a massive issue for them. Um and it just completely jams up whatever they're trying to do offensively. And we are, you know, they're in the conference finals, they haven't been there with this core yet, you know. Like on paper, I think it's success it's a it's a successful season, but that's on paper. Like we are watching this team's fundamental issues, their DNA just get exposed right before our very eyes. And you know, when you when you see that from a team, like when you see what's happening in Cleveland right now, I don't care if we're in the first round, I don't care if we're in the conference finals. Like it's concerning and something has to change fast. And we're really getting to the point here where you know Mitchell and Harden are aging, and uh you you have a James Harden extension decision coming up, and I think that's gonna be really telling about um the the direction of this franchise. I'm kind of in the camp that that they should, you know, get get a lot for these guys while they can, because again, like you you watch this series and and these are issues that have you know plagued them for years and that didn't change with just a James Harden, Darius Garland swap. I mean, this is just an inconsistent team um with fundamental issues, you know. The the the Alan Mobley duo like has their moments of brilliance, but but ultimately I think it's too much of a plague offensively. Um Donovan Mitchell has his inconsistencies, James Harden has maybe more inconsistencies. I really just don't like this core, even though they were able to gut out series against two good opponents in these playoffs. Maybe I'm being a bit too overreactive here, but yeah, I'm just kind of concerned about about how Cleveland's gonna approach the um James Harden decision this offseason. And probably the the second most notable thing just about the series in general, besides the um the massive historic comeback in game one from the Knicks in the garden, which was um electric as much as I hate to say it as a Sixers fan, was Kenny Atkinson's comments regarding how they are analytically up two to one in this series, and they've won two games analytically based off the expected points metrics. Like, listen, I I I'm I'm a part of spreadsheet fan club. Like, like I'm I I love I love my I love my advanced stats. Like, I I really think they can be very useful and very telling. But you are the head coach of this basketball team. Like, you are the voice in the locker room. You are this this is this is the most important series of your life, I think. I don't think Kenny Atkinson's been this deep in the playoffs as a head coach. And you know, your team is on the ropes and everything is on the line, like you're down 3-0, but you're the head coach. It's not like you can punt the season away. And these guys do not need to hear that they've analytically won two games. Like, like, like I get it to a degree, like you want to emphasize that the process has been good, and you know, you're getting good looks, and they're just not falling, and and the Knicks looks are falling. Like, like I I understand, like, I uh but I think it's a take that and and a and a message that kind of comes out of frustration. And these guys just need to hear, like, hey, like we just gotta win the next game, we just gotta focus on Monday night. Like that, and and that that's gotta be the message. Like, I think that should be the message whenever you're down in a series, just like because it's it's so easy to get ahead of yourself and to start thinking in hypotheticals when you're um when you're dealing with the pressure of being down in the in an NBA playoff series. Like, like these guys need to hear and need to believe that the only game that matters is Monday night, and just focus on winning Monday night and we'll deal with game five when it comes. That's what they need to hear. They do not need to hear that they've analytically won two two out of three games in this series. Like, like shut up. Like that is so annoying to me. And and and it really um and it's really frustrating to me because because man, I don't I don't think if I don't think the spreadsheet bros, I don't think the spreadsheet fan club is gonna recover from this one. Uh I mean because because the the the I test uh fan club is is having a field day with this one because of just how ridiculous it was. So we may never see advanced stats recover from this um this devastating blow here by Kenny Atkinson. Um maybe using analytics in the absolute worst possible scenario. But uh yeah, I'm I mean that that's really anything substantive that's happened in this series. The Knicks are up 3-0. They uh the Cavs look completely drained, and and they did after game one, and then that come back. And we should see the Knicks route them here in Cleveland um to end this one in four games. And yeah, I mean the Knicks in the finals is is gonna be awesome to be honest. The the the NBA finals back in MSG, it's gonna be electric. Um, the Knicks have been playing their best basketball of the season, and honestly, that we've seen from them in a long, long, long time in these playoffs. So uh this one should wrap up tonight.

SPEAKER_00 19:37

This series, as Chris said, yeah, probably the most riveting series of the playoffs so far. Yeah, definitely. Kenny Atkinson with that two of three analytical comment, bro. That's how you analytically get fired for saying something bone-headed like that.

SPEAKER_01 19:51

Like something that that that made so many rounds and and frustrated so many people and probably frustrated the locker room and the front office equally as much. Like, you're not wrong. But like that, that could that could play a role in it in if something were to happen to his job this offseason.

SPEAKER_00 20:05

The fact that Kenny Atkinson was the coach of the year last year, and now all you see on like Twitter is people are saying, like, can Kenny Atkinson like legitimately be fired? It just shows you the business the NBA and other sports leagues are and how things can change so quickly.

SPEAKER_01 20:22

Well, well, what have me and you've been saying all season that he was carried by who last year? Uh a boy over in Phoenix.

SPEAKER_00 20:30

Uh Mr. Ott, Jordan Ott. The boy. And Chris, you said you said that Kenny Atkinson has not been in this position as a head coach, but he was an assistant on the Warriors 2022 championship run, just saying. So he's been in this position before, just not as the head guy. Yeah, and Chris pretty much hit on all the main points. The Cavs had a 93-71 lead with 752 remaining in game one, 22-point lead, and the Knicks finished the game on a 44-11 run. It was the the thing in game one was that Jalen Brunson was frying James Harden alive. Every possession they switched on Harden, and Jalen Brunson went to work like there was no tomorrow. Kenny Atkinson did not use like a single timeout, and then they were asking him about it, and he was like, Well, I like to hold my timeouts. Like, bro, you're you're one of your best players is getting absolutely cooked in man coverage, and the momentum is with the home team, and you don't want to use a timeout. Like that game right there. I I think the series, if this series ends tonight, the series ended in that single moment. I don't know how like you were able to blow that big of a lead that quickly, but here we are. Game two, Josh Hart was on a different level that night. And then game three, Jalen Brunson had one of his usuals, and later. Andrew Shaman, of all people, slammed the door shut. He hit a couple big threes, and of course, a former Sixer playing in the big moments because, you know, half this rest of these playoffs are former Sixers doing things, but we won't go there. Game three, the last couple possessions, the Cavs just seemed to give up. Like Jalen Brunson was just getting in the paint. There was nobody home. And, you know, you could just see the Cleveland fan base heading for the exits. They had no life whatsoever. The Knicks have won 10 in a row. Their last loss was in the first round, game three versus the Hawks. Both of those losses that they had, by the way, the Knicks were by one point each. I don't know how the Hawks of all teams took the Knicks to six games, and yet the Knicks might be going on back-to-back sweeps. Is is just insane.

SPEAKER_01 22:50

We rapidly went from CJ McCollum is about to single-handedly knock the Knicks out of the playoffs to like, wait, maybe the Knicks have a chance against the Spurs or Thunder.

SPEAKER_00 23:00

Yeah, no, it was it's it's been crazy. The Knicks have been on this big heater this entire postseason. They they took care of the Sixers. And I I've been seeing a lot of people say, oh, this is going to be the first series in history for the 3-0 comeback. And I'm like, uh, no, not even close. So this one should wrap up tonight in the Eastern Conference Finals. We might have seen Madison Square Garden be a NBA Finals host in the coming week.

Western Conference Finals: Thunder vs. Spurs

SPEAKER_00 23:37

All right, let's go to the other side of things. In the Western Conference Finals, we have the Thunder and Spurs, and this series is now tied at two games apiece. And there are only two words to describe this series. Oh. It has been truly spectacular. And game one did not disappoint. We knew this was going to be a matchup, most likely for years to come. Game one was a movie in double overtime in Oklahoma City. Victor Wembinama had 41 points, 24 rebounds, and three blocks. Shea Gilgit Alexander, 24 points, 12 dimes, five steals. It was one for the ages. Victor Weminyama pulled up like Steph Curry did in 2016. He pulled up from like 30 feet in transition, hitting threes, and was just a man on a mission in that game. And some other things to note in the series, Stefan Castle, yikes first two games of the series, he had 11 turnovers in game one and then nine turnovers in game two. So he had 20 turnovers and almost the same amount of assists, but in the last two games of San Antonio, just one each. He has really cleaned up his playmaking ability, even though he might not be a A tier ball handler at this point in his career. The thing that's hampering both teams right now are the injuries for the Thunder. Jalen Williams and A.J. Mitchell are both dealing with injuries. AJ Mitchell more recently, Jalen Williams, that hamstring issue has really been bugging him, and he's been almost a non-factor in these playoffs because of it. De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper for the Spurs. De'Aaron Fox made his comeback a few games ago. Dylan Harper, kind of a lingering thing, but he's been doing his thing. Then game three, Jared McCain was the spark plug off the bench. Game four, the Spurs are just playing suffocating defense, every possession. It was so bad that Shea Gildas Alexander was a DNP, or he did not play in the fourth quarter of game four. This has been a you know truly great series. We've seen the young Spurs really just take over against the reigning champions. That Spurs home cooking crowd definitely played a factor in games three and four. And Victor Weminyama is is growing in front of our eyes. The the paint is a no-fly zone. Like you see, I think we've said it before, teams are just scared to even go in the paint. He's he's blocking everything, and and it's just been truly great to see him blossom at this point in time. Another point to note from game four, you saw, despite how young he is, Mitch Johnson is becoming one of the best coaches in the NBA because he pulled Carter Bryant aside. He's a rookie, pulled him aside in game four, and the cameras picked it up. Not the actual conversation, but the visual. And you could see Mitch Johnson absolutely going in on Carter Bryant. Like he was like screaming at him, and you could see like, you know, his he's like, you know, like shaking and frustrated and stuff. And you know, I could kind of read his lips. He's like, listen to me, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And then he like pats him on the back and he's like, you know, get out there. And, you know, the tough coaching, and people were clowning Carter Bryant online, like, oh, he's crying. But tough coaching, you're in this spot, and it really shows how much this team cares. But this series has been one that we will probably not forget for a while. Chris, I don't know how else you describe this series, but Victor Wemanyama has been lights out. Shea, you know, he's had his moments, but game four was a dud, and what a treat overall.

SPEAKER_01 27:37

Yeah, an incredible series. I want to piggyback off the um conversation you started about the Carter Bryant stuff because a lot of the discourse I've seen around that has just like been like infuriating to look at. Obviously, he's receiving that hard coaching, like and and and when he's getting emotional uh about that stuff, like that means you really care. Like, like that means that you you're really taking it to heart and and you're really gonna put your best foot forward and trying to to do better in whatever Mitch Johnson was telling him to do. And not only that, like Victor Wambanyama being by his side and and and um you know, you know, giving him some words after that exchange. I I think Wemby could tell he was he was kind of emotional and a bit beside himself. And and and that that was just an incredible moment from Wemby. Uh, I mean he's such a young player and and he just moves like somebody who's been here for 10 years. It's insane. Uh and Carter Bryant is is is our is a great player. Like he he's gonna be huge for them moving forward. But uh yeah, I mean this the series has been awesome. Uh I mean game one, the second overtime thriller. I mean, I don't think you could have asked for a better game one of this series. Uh I mean that was incredible. Just trading blows back and forth and uh the the Wembinama three from Curry range to to tie the game was just like I I mean that that's gonna go down as an all-time Victor Wembinyama moment, an all-time moment of a player who is probably gonna be discussed as one of the greatest players of all time. Uh so watching that live was just unreal. But I think the story from the first three games and how that changed in game four was San Antonio's approach to defending Shea Gildish Alexander. In the first three games, they were sending the house at Shea, and and they weren't like directly doubling him a lot, but they were helping like crazy on him. And like if he even sniffed like five feet of another defender, like like they were sending the double, and they were applying so much pressure to Shea Gildis Alexander, um, they were not allowing him to get in any sort of consistent rhythm, uh, getting to his spots. And while that was working on Shea, uh, it was leaving a lot of open three-pointers up for uh the Thunder's arsenal of elite role players. And um, you know, you saw players like in game one, it was Alex Caruso, and then you see uh Jalen Williams, the center, and Jared McCain he took over in that game three. Um, you know, you you see these guys just just taking over and and not missing their open threes, and and San Antonio was allowing a lot of them, and he was allowing the OKC supporting cast to really take off and take over games. And credit to Mitch Johnson, uh, I think he's one of the best coaches in the league. He recognized that. And he recognized that as soon as it became a serious issue for San Antonio, and that really changed in game four. They started letting Shay kind of do his thing a bit more, which which which would like sound counterproductive because he's you know one of the best players in the league, um, especially just with one defender on him. But but I but I think it it threw Shea for a bit of a loop, and um even without as much defensive help, he was still kind of having a bit of trouble getting to his spots um and getting into a rhythm. Uh, but the difference was they were not allowing these open threes like they were in the first three games of the series. Uh Jared McCain was awful the other night. Um Jalen Williams, uh a bit labored in that game, was really bad. And um Aaron Wiggins couldn't really do much. I mean, these these players that Caruso uh uh wasn't wasn't himself, and especially not the one we saw in game one, and and they they they diverted a lot of the pressure they were putting on Shea to not allowing these open threes from uh OKC's uh supporting cast, and and it worked. It was suffocating, like you said. And it's gonna be really interesting to see how OKC responds to this because um I think it's rare, it's it's it's almost you know, we almost never see this where the two highest level teams in the league are going blow for blow, and there are pretty like glaring advantages taken by one team, and then you see the other team fire back and adjust, and this is just the highest level of basketball. Uh I'm treating this as a fan, like the NBA finals. This is so much fun to watch, and it's gonna be super interesting, uh, I think to see how how Mark Dagnall kind of um accounts for this new attention of the Spurs defense. Shea has just while while I think in the beginning of the series he was making really good decisions with the ball in his hands, um, despite um not really being able to establish an offensive rhythm. You know, I don't think he was bad in those first two games. But like again, we we in in that game four, we saw them take a lot of pressure off of Shay, and he still was unable to get into a rhythm, and that's a bit concerning to me. He he's looked a little shell-shocked um from an offensive creation standpoint in this series. So this so that's a bit concerning to me about the Thunder. Um, I think my biggest concern about San Antonio moving forward is really honestly just the involvement of Victor Wembenyama. Like there there's been some large stretches in this series where Wemby hasn't really not been very assertive offensively, and also moments where he's probably been outside the paint a bit more than he should be. So yeah, I would like to see Wemby kind of in the paint more, being a bit more assertive. And um for the Thunder, I really think they have to find a way to adjust to um the the new strategy defensively that San Antonio is deploying, and Shea needs to get into a rhythm here. Uh, this game five is pivotal. Real ones know game five is the real game seven. Um this is absolutely huge. You know, both both teams are gonna give it their best. Probably the best game of the season so far coming up tomorrow on NBC. Can't wait for that one. Uh we'll we'll we'll get more into it in a second, but yeah, that this has just been a stellar series so far. Just it's just such a treat for NBA fans. And uh yeah, cannot wait for this game five.

SPEAKER_00 33:54

Yeah, I agree with your points on all that. Just been a great series. Game five is like the real game seven, that turning point in the series, no matter if you're up 3-1 or tied 2-2. And I think another thing the Thunder need to be a little cautious about or they need to kind of fix, is Chet Holmgren. With Jalen Williams out of the lineup with his injuries at the moment, Chet Holmgren needs to kind of be that second option. And right now he's he's more of like uh getting that A on the group project. You know, he gets his occasional blocks, he gets his points, but he needs to kind of take over instead of having Shea just be a DNP in the fourth quarter. Maybe if Chet kind of gets going a little bit, draw a couple plays for him, maybe they could, you know, get somewhere. But when you're going up against a guy like Victor Weminyama, it's hard to do that when you're being guarded by him. So newly minted third team Chet Holmgren, I think, is a big piece for them in these next couple games as well. You know, this this series, I think, is just a great one so far. The depth by both teams has been awesome to see. A lot of young talent, too. The Spurs, I mean, I don't think most of their lineup is over the age of 25, if any, well, besides De'Aaron Fox. But yeah, this has been a really young lineup. You're going against the defending champions, and I mean it's it's been one that I think we'll be looking on for a long time. So that's a great point.

SPEAKER_01 35:27

I I just want to touch on what you just said right there, because you know, San Antonio and and Oklahoma City right now, like like these are clearly not, you know, like flash in the bottle contender ships they're in right now. Like, like that they they almost have like a system, like a like a farm of like young players, fearless players when when it when it comes to these big moments. And I I think it it says a lot about the type of guys they prioritize like in the draft. And you know, they're they're clearly draft-oriented teams right now. They were built through the draft, and almost like the Eagles in football, it's it's like they just have a type of guy that they look for. And and these guys, when they get thrown into the game, or you know, whether they're eased into a starting job or whether they're thrown into the fire, they're ready for the moment. And you know, the the Eagles have their way of processing it and finding those guys throughout the draft process, and it seems the same way for Oklahoma City and San Antonio. I mean, there is not one young player that that enters the game for for these teams, a rookie, whatever, that that looks out of place, that looks like they're not playing hard, that looks like they're phased by the moment, like none of that. And and it's it's a it's incredible, and it's a testament to their front offices and what they're building. And like I said, uh similarly to the Eagles in football, like they should be the model for um for all NBA franchises in terms of talent evaluation. And it's you know, and it's it's almost frustrating to be a fan of a team that that isn't like that. And and um, you know, and that's a side note, that's also why I want the the Sixers to hire a front office executive extraordinaire over in Oklahoma City, Vince Rosman, as the team's new general manager. But uh yeah, I think that's a great point you just brought up.

SPEAKER_00 37:12

We'll see how this shapes out, and we might not be done talking about this conversation as we segue into our next point.

Game of the Week

SPEAKER_01 37:26

You're right, Larry. Game five, tomorrow, NBC, Peacock, 8 30 p.m. Spurs Thunder, as we said earlier. Game five is the real game seven of the NBA playoffs. I believe uh the team that wins game five in NBA playoff series um goes on to win the series about 275% of the time. Listen, I did not make the data. That's just the numbers are the numbers. Um, you know, you just can't ignore the data there. I am stoked for this one. I think the entire world is stoked for this one. We're back in Oklahoma City after two games in San Antonio. Uh a 2-2 series, which is just so perfect and beautiful, and what I think the entire world wanted here. Both teams also taking a game on the road, which is awesome. I mean, this is just shaping up to be like everything we could have wanted and more out of this series. We've had legendary moments from the best player in this series right now, which has been Victor Reminyama. We've seen really interesting kind of adjustments in in strategy, uh, which I mentioned earlier, which is which is always really fun to watch. It's not really too fun to watch just one team exploiting what another team is doing wrong. It's it's it's interesting and it shows high-level coaching when you see these adjustments go back and forth, and it's it's almost like a boxing fight. They're slugging back and forth. Um, man, the and and and the the crowds, the environments, the atmospheres have been so high energy. It's just been it's been such a treat to watch all these games. And with that being said, um, you know, we talked a lot about what the series has been up to this point, so uh we'll go on to say what we think is gonna go down in this game five, and um we will not see the Dominic Halftime viewers until the end of this series. So I think we should go on to predict the rest of the series as well. I think that'd be fun. So um, but we'll start here with game five. As we mentioned earlier, San Antonio made a huge defensive adjustment in that game four, taking a lot of the pressure off of Shake Ildis Alexander and putting it on to the open shooters um who were open for three games in this series and weren't so open in that game four, and it made a huge difference. Um, Oklahoma City like really had no answers, and you know, they ended up pulling their starters by the fourth quarter, um, which was smart of them because we'll say it over and over again, game five throughout game seven. So uh this game is gonna come down to how Oklahoma City adjusts offensively. And going into a pivotal game five, you want to be the team coming off a win. You want to be the team that the other team has to make a substantial adjustment for, which is San Antonio right now, that they they are riding high. So yeah, this is gonna be an incredible game. And I think I'm gonna trust Oklahoma City here to make the the requisite adjustments offensively. Um, you know, that this is a team that's impossible to doubt, as is San Antonio, and that's why this series is so amazing. But San Antonio clapped back down to one, made a big adjustment, and from a team that is in the the same tier as San Antonio, I expect the same. I expect Mark Dagnalt, um, arguably the best coach in the league, to make the necessary adjustment here. Um, so I'm gonna take Oklahoma City at home in this one. Let's go let's go 109-103 here. I I think that they escape um, you know, not super comfortably, but I I believe they're gonna do what's necessary to to escape in this game five, and we'll be headed back to San Antonio uh for a massive, massive game six. So yeah, I think we're gonna take Oklahoma City in this one. And for the series, I think I'll I think I'll take San Antonio in that game six, you know, even it up go to seven. I think that's what the whole world wants. And I said it before these playoffs, I said it before this series. I'll say it again. I got OKC in seven. So uh yeah, it'll be fun to see if I come out correct there.

SPEAKER_00 41:25

Alrighty, so some great points. And with it being 2-2, it is now a best of three series. It's basically 0-0, and OKC with home court advantage is so huge. This is why you're always fighting for those top seeds. You want home court for as many rounds as possible should you continue to advance in the playoffs. And as you mentioned, teams that win game five tied two-two usually have an overwhelming advantage to win the entire series. Someone that we did not mention in the previous section, and he's not he's not one of the main stars per se, but he has just been so consistent for the Spurs. Every time I'm watching these games, and I'm like, damn, this guy don't miss. Devin Vassell is a you know, he's been consistent for them. He's not he's not on Wemby or Castle's level, but he's been hitting shots. Gotta give Devin a shout out there.

SPEAKER_01 42:20

He's been incredible.

SPEAKER_00 42:21

I think what really helped the Spurs, you know, besides the fact that they didn't want to go down 3-1. Chris, did the San Antonio Nuns bless the Spurs yesterday? Maybe, maybe that helped things.

SPEAKER_01 42:33

Yeah, I mean, that could be that that might be the um the deciding factor in this series. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 42:39

If they could fly them out to OKC, this series might be a rap.

SPEAKER_01 42:42

They might need them, yeah, yeah. I I might be second guessing my my prediction here. If if we see some nuns in OKC.

SPEAKER_00 42:49

For those of you who didn't see, there's some nuns from the area that attended game four, and they were blessing or praying with Luke Cornett, who's the Spurs backup center, and it just so happened the Spurs blew out the thunder yesterday. So I don't know. There might be there might be some divine intervention on the Spurs sideline. For my prediction for game five, Chris, oh, so close. You said thunder 109-103, I believe.

SPEAKER_01 43:17

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 43:18

We did not compare notes. My prediction, thunder 109-104.

SPEAKER_01 43:23

Wow, that's crazy.

SPEAKER_00 43:25

So we're I was kind of afraid to take the thunder again, given my game one defeat where Chris took the Spurs and you know I I backfired completely. Who thought that we were going to double OT and and Victor Weminyama was going to just absolutely show off on the Oklahoma City court, but I digress. Game six. Oh, I I don't know. I think game five is a kind of a lock for the Thunder, or at least it should be, just because I don't think we're gonna see the Thunder shoot that bad. Two games in a row coming from a champion. Game six. I don't know. I mean, in my original prediction, I had Thunder in six. Yes, against the Nuggets. I know. So I'm gonna say Thunder take it in six. I won't be surprised if the Spurs force a game seven. I don't know how they would do in a game seven. I mean, if we get seven games, that would be incredible for the NBA fan base. I know Adam Silver will be loving it from a financial standpoint. And I gotta I gotta just say, so I'll say Thunder in six. Chris, the NBC Peacock broadcast, I'm sorry, they were having so many audio issues. I think it was game one where it was it was getting ridiculous. I don't know about you. Maybe this is like a boomer complaint for me. I cannot stand the drone point of views. Like whenever they do, especially like the first couple possessions, and I'm like, can I just get the traditional you know, panning left and right? Like the drone, I I I can't. I can't. Sorry.

SPEAKER_01 45:03

I can't lie, like I kind of like it. I I think it's kind of interesting.

SPEAKER_00 45:08

Yeah, but not for not for like 20 possessions in a row.

SPEAKER_01 45:11

Well, yeah, I mean, like, I th I think at the beginning of the game where like probably nothing substantial is happening yet, and the stakes are the lowest they'll be all game. Like, I I think it's pretty cool because I think what you're really feeling in the first moments of the game is the atmosphere, like the arena, especially in a series like OKC and San Antonio, with like maybe two the two best atmospheres in the league right now, um, maybe besides MSG. And so I I think when you I think when you're just starting the game, like right off tip off, you go to the drone shot and you're you're kind of you know meandering around with the drone and and um compared to the standard um broadcast angle, like it's a lot more crowd than you would see um with the drone. And I I think that's what you're really feeling in the first moments of the game. So I I I kind of appreciate it like at the very beginning of the game, but yeah, I it's it's it's not like I'm like fully on board with it. Like I want to see it any more than that. Like I th I think I think though it is really cool at at the at the start of um at the start of the game. But yeah, I mean that that's that's not that's not totally unreasonable, I I don't think, to, to, to not like it. And uh yeah, I just um you know you know it was hard to me hard for me to respond to that because I really just don't uh accept any NBC slander that they've changed the the broadcasting game for the NBA this season. It was actually uh, if you remember, one of my top five storylines entering the season. If the NBC broadcast some kind could kind of inject some life into the the the NBA broadcasts by ESPN and TNT that to me were getting a bit dry and needed some life and at least some competition, and they definitely achieved that goal. So shout out NBC. Uh you guys uh are the goats, uh Saturday night football is goaded. And um, you know, take all the time you need getting your audio fixed. Um, it's totally fine with me. Uh, you guys are the best in the business. Shout out NBC. But um, did did we hear a game seven prediction from you, Larry? If it goes there.

SPEAKER_00 47:21

Well, to to counter that last point, I will say, yeah, NBC has been doing great. Nothing beats the quality coverage from Prime when we missed a whole like two possessions in the Heat Hornets playing game. Right. But game seven, potential game seven, first of all. I don't know. I mean, I could I could see either team taking it. The home team in game seven usually has pretty damn good odds. I might have decided the Thunder, but if Victor Weminyama steals the hearts from Oklahoma City, I think I think that would cement him maybe as the best player in the league.

SPEAKER_01 48:03

Yeah, if there's any player that has the ore to do it, it's him, no doubt.

SPEAKER_00 48:06

And Victor Weminyama just casually hitting a half-court shot in game four at the buzzer. I mean, I mean, come on. I don't know. I think I think outside of the thunder in game seven, but I could see it going either way. And this one will be wrapping up, as Chris said before our next episode. And both of them actually will be. Next week will be a NBA finals preview.

SPEAKER_01 48:28

Nick's Cavs might wrap up before the episode's out tonight.

SPEAKER_00 48:31

Hey, hey, calves and seven, baby. Cavs and seven. Okay. No, I'm I'm I'm playing. So we'll see how this goes as we head to game five in the Western Conference Finals and game four of the Eastern Conference Finals. Well,

Conclusion

SPEAKER_00 48:54

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 are 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 Buzz Sprout. The website URL is dealman 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 Dialman at halftime. See you next time, fellow hoops fans.