0:01

Good morning! It is time to

0:03

get up with the moment of

0:05

truth. If not now, when? We'll

0:07

tell you what happens if Boston

0:09

blows it again. Meanwhile, once, forever

0:11

and always, how the minutes both

0:14

maximized and marginalized this contender. And

0:16

the one easy way to solve

0:18

the problem. Plus, Denver, done. Dynasty's

0:20

dead? We'll tell you why that

0:22

is the dumbest narrative in the

0:24

NBA today. All that and a

0:26

whole lot more. Let's do this

0:28

thing, people! It's a Tuesday at Landry!

0:31

Whoo! Austin

0:34

Rivers is here just to make football players

0:36

mad. Andrea

0:39

and Monica and Alan is ready to go.

0:42

And we, ladies and gentlemen, are 12 hours

0:44

away from the start of the

0:46

conference finals. Game one tonight in

0:49

Boston. Pacers and Celtics in the

0:51

East. Pressure at an all-time high

0:53

for the home team. Boston, the

0:55

seventh team to make six conference

0:57

finals in an eight-year span. With

0:59

the first six winning at least

1:01

one championship during that run. And

1:03

the path for the Celtics has

1:05

opened up. Every active MVP has

1:07

been eliminated. Making this the

1:10

first postseason with no active MVPs among

1:12

the Final Four teams since the award

1:14

was created nearly 60 years

1:17

ago. The Celtics, meanwhile, open as the second

1:19

largest favorite in a conference final in the

1:21

last 35 years. The

1:23

lines have moved. Right now they're the

1:25

fifth largest favorite. Shannon Sharp yesterday on

1:28

first take had this to say about

1:30

Boston. They're

1:32

window shopping greatness. When are you going

1:34

to go in and purchase it? When are you going to go in

1:37

and be about it? So I don't want to hear anything, oh, Jason

1:39

Tatum can be the face of the league. I don't want to hear

1:41

nothing. He's so young,

1:43

he's 25 and he's already going to this

1:45

many conference finals. He's been to the NBA

1:47

finals at some point in time. You've

1:50

got to kick the door in and go

1:52

inside. And that there are no excuses.

1:55

I don't want to hear nothing. If they

1:57

do not win the championship this year. a

2:00

failure of epic proportions.

2:05

Two things, window shopping greatness is my

2:07

new favorite statement of all time. Second,

2:09

Alan, is he right? No, he's not

2:11

right. Window shopping greatness is

2:13

a great line, but it's been on layaway for the

2:15

Celtics and for Jason Tatum. That's just the way it

2:17

is right now. He's 25 years

2:19

old. I mean, he is already

2:21

getting started and I just feel like what

2:24

pressures on any man that win or lose $315

2:26

million is waiting for you this summer. Regardless

2:31

of what happened. No, no, no, no, but

2:33

all these guys are rich. All

2:36

these guys are rich. If not now, when? Shannon

2:39

happens to be 100% right. This

2:45

is an epic failure if the Celtics

2:47

don't win the championship this year. You

2:49

cannot pass. That's a different conversation. No,

2:52

it's not. Celtics versus Tatum

2:54

is a two different conversation. He's talking about

2:56

Tatum kicking the door down. The Celtics as

2:58

an organization. Yes, that's also Joe Missoula. That's

3:01

Brad Stevens. That's other guys on that team

3:03

as well. That is the pressure.

3:05

But on individually on Jason Tatum, we can't put

3:07

him in the category of LeBron James. I don't

3:09

even think he has the factor that Luca Dontich

3:12

has. He has had 50.7 game sevens. He's

3:15

had 40 point game sixes to save the

3:17

season. He's also had game threes where he

3:19

fumbles away the series down to when you're

3:21

like, dude, you're the best player on the

3:23

team. You've got to carry the team. Maybe he's

3:26

just not that guy. He's a great player, but

3:28

not a super like that level kind of hold

3:30

on a second. He's first team all NBA. He's

3:32

an MVP candidate. People want to make it. Listen,

3:34

if he's not all those things, it's not for

3:37

people not wanting to make him all of

3:39

those things. Does Jason Tatum need to put this

3:41

team on his back and carry them to a

3:43

championship? For sure. It starts with

3:45

him. If we're looking at this from a team aspect,

3:47

then it would be an epic failure. This is the

3:49

easiest road that you could possibly have to go into

3:51

a championship and winning and competing. With that

3:54

being said, we can't hold Jason only to

3:56

this level and not put the same on

3:58

Luca or put the same on i guess

4:00

an emerging at debon booker some of the other guys

4:02

that we said are the new faces of the league

4:04

i think even sometimes a part of the whole greatest

4:07

we've got to use of the team being so good

4:09

going to the conference finals competing that now if they

4:11

don't want to take a bit of the failure we

4:13

also got a chance uh... stand up uh... said a

4:15

little bit of a later failure a

4:18

little bit of something there that was very much there that was

4:20

very much new genics that

4:22

that i don't know he was all part of

4:24

the doors down around me but that's great you

4:27

know what you know what what who does that

4:29

champions do that the cell phone

4:31

just play around you use that expression all

4:33

the time play with their food giving the

4:35

the teams that wind up winning championships behave

4:38

that way or do they go out there when the

4:40

road has been cleared for them it is like they've

4:42

rolled out the red carpet for the cell tray want

4:44

to kick the door down right now i'd i'd

4:47

just think everyone here on monica has a major

4:49

point so i don't know exactly how about it

4:51

however we have put the cell phone this cell

4:53

phone from this season head and shoulders above every

4:55

other team why because of their regular season performance

4:57

who they have during the regular season that they

5:00

do not have right now for the top for

5:02

the biggest if christopher's

5:04

ingot does not return to the lineup and

5:06

play especially in the final it is not

5:08

an epic failure without who they could face

5:10

in the final weather it's down or

5:13

whether it's minnesota with both of those things big

5:18

christopher's ingot if you get in the lineup and he's healthy

5:20

he's good to go i would consider

5:22

it possibly a fair uh...

5:28

that this is where we don't do this

5:30

on sports television but there's nuance for this

5:32

in this to me personally i don't i'm

5:34

with you i don't think jason tatum is

5:36

under a ton of pressure i think the

5:38

southern as the organization sixty when the the

5:40

lead the team by eleven point uh... per

5:42

game during the regular season the largest margin

5:44

of victory all of the things are lying

5:46

in the nuggets are out of the way

5:48

the salton organization is under pressure singularly i'm

5:50

not sure that they don't know if they can't

5:53

why but they need for the end of the day they

5:55

need also he's healthy if he's good to go like

5:57

i'm sure it's mostly game three dave we don't

5:59

know he's gonna look like so i hear you

6:01

i hear i hear you but let's see what he

6:03

looks like first and then judge from there are a

6:05

lot of one second monica we demand things from superstars

6:08

in the nba you want to be a person who

6:10

was considered in that category of player if you're not

6:12

going to be that that that's fine but if you're

6:14

going to be for gonna fulfill the destiny it seems

6:16

he has had from the second he stepped on campus

6:19

at duke is a freshman and carried that team into

6:21

the nc double a tournament everything else i hate it

6:23

that that this is the next step it's the only

6:25

thing he hasn't done and frankly some of the times

6:28

they haven't done it it has felt like it was

6:30

because of him so what these two just said without

6:32

for zigas where do you fall like this is what

6:34

this is my effect like they're playing indiana and

6:36

i'm i agree with you but i don't know

6:38

that it is personally going to be on jason

6:41

tatum if jason tatum has a monster series and

6:43

for zingas is not right then what's the conversation

6:45

going to be the to me the pressure is

6:47

on the celtics as an as an organization i'll

6:49

take it a step further though if jason tatum

6:51

has a monster series they're not going to lose

6:53

there's no way in the world anyone beats this

6:55

team if jason tatum has a monster series he

6:58

did that against the box that's what he did

7:00

against the box and game six on the road

7:02

season on the line and he went in there

7:04

and killed the thing with him that's the tease

7:06

about jason tatum that we've been dealing with is

7:08

what is the is he at the level of

7:10

the best in the game when you look at

7:12

what he can do in those moments but i

7:15

also look at last season's playoffs and i saw

7:17

a guy that would and i actually this year

7:19

this year's playoffs a guy that would prefer to

7:21

take a step back three instead of put his

7:23

head down beat his man off the dribble and

7:25

attack bigs he won't do that a lot of

7:27

the times and that's why you wonder is he

7:29

missing just that one little it factor in those

7:32

big moments that if he's not knocking down those

7:34

step back threes that that's he can't do

7:36

anything more than that that's what i wonder we

7:38

are we are elevating him maybe to a standard that

7:40

i don't know if he should be at that's the

7:42

question well i mean that that may be that is

7:45

the point but if he's not going to be at

7:47

that level then i think a lot of us have

7:49

to rewrite the narrative that we've had on him for

7:51

a long time i mean jason tatum is supposed to

7:53

be one of the truly elite players in this week

7:56

and i believe he is he is i mean i

7:58

agree that he is so it's time for him

8:00

to do this, right? I mean, I think Shannon

8:03

actually said it reasonably well. They've been too close, too

8:05

many times not to finally get over that one. Didn't

8:07

we get about LeBron James? Winner's been set up this

8:09

way. Way back now. 2009 Cavs,

8:12

66 wins, lost in the conference finals to a

8:14

magic team they had no business losing to. We

8:17

had that question about LeBron James, but

8:19

the only question about LeBron James at that point was,

8:21

is he ever gonna win a championship? 27 years old,

8:23

the first time he won a championship. So he had

8:25

to wait. Well, while he also had to go to

8:27

another team, we don't have to worry about that or

8:30

have that conversation about Tatum because we're in a different

8:32

world now. Tatum's not wondering, can I win in Boston?

8:34

I might want to go somewhere else like LeBron was.

8:36

That's what 09 opened the door for.

8:39

That's what started 2010. They

8:41

didn't win in 09 and he was wondering, can

8:43

I win here in Cleveland? Tatum will never wonder

8:45

that in Boston. If there's pressure on anyone, it's

8:47

Jamezor. Yeah. Yeah.

8:49

If there's pressure on anyone, that's because everyone is, no

8:51

players are going to, no, they're gonna lose the players

8:53

that they have on this team. They're not gonna lose

8:55

any of those players. Joe's not going nowhere, though.

8:59

This year, I don't think he's going anywhere.

9:01

If he's regarded as one of the most

9:04

talented young basketball minds in the NBA, absolutely.

9:06

Okay. I mean, look, I

9:08

defer to your expertise. I remember a lot

9:10

of people were very critical of him last

9:12

year and felt like the reason, when

9:15

they walked to Miami, I heard a lot of people say,

9:17

if Emeyudoka had still been the coach of that team, they

9:19

would have been in the fun. Yes, it's hell of a

9:21

position to be in. To be good,

9:23

to go behind the bench and then be at

9:27

the helm of the Celtics. No one's already getting that type

9:29

of pressure. It's also an opportunity, right? I mean, it

9:31

is both a tough situation, but

9:33

it is also- He's done well, though. He's done well, but

9:35

with the nature of the NBA and the way coaches- Of course,

9:38

yeah, yeah, no. I think if anybody feels,

9:40

I don't think the players feel as

9:42

much pressure as the head coach. Just with

9:44

the landscape of the team. Yeah, absolutely. I mean,

9:46

yeah, they're getting 300- They're in a specific situation.

9:48

And never mind the media coverage in Boston, too.

9:50

That's gonna get real hot. It is brutal. Real

9:52

hot. I think it's brutal. But

9:55

to her point, if Prozingis is not playing, it's

9:57

a huge factor. I mean, they better hope they-

10:00

play Dallas then if they beat Indianapolis

10:02

they better hope because they played Minnesota without

10:04

presenting if they're not winning it yes I

10:06

yes basketball

10:08

we've all watched for Zingus be the difference

10:11

maker but like so the something

10:13

to get to the finals again and lose again like

10:15

it was again like how many times I'm gonna find

10:17

out to keep losing well that I mean now if

10:19

you're finally coming around on my side of this conversation

10:22

that's something for me though it's

10:24

a Celtics pressure I just don't know if I feel like

10:26

it's solely on Jason saying like Jalen Brown is his right

10:28

hand man and he needs to be here to show up

10:30

as well yeah 300 million it doesn't happen it

10:32

doesn't have to all be about James Stadium the

10:34

point that we don't talk about thank you are

10:37

the Celtics better than the Pacers yeah

10:39

are they better than the Timberwolves I don't know

10:42

I think they are yeah we don't know that

10:44

without I wouldn't say definitely yeah they play defense

10:47

well the way the Minnesota plays deep in the

10:49

way they can defend man I mean

10:51

I don't know I mean I'm just looking at the numbers on my

10:53

screen the Celtics Las Vegas considers the

10:56

Celtics a prohibitive favorite to win the

10:58

championship because they ran rampage through the

11:00

entire NBA all season you're

11:08

not wrong but like y'all can

11:10

keep window shopping greatness without your seven centers I

11:13

hear you I hear you the Knicks they have half they rock today

11:18

out so we talk about I'm just saying

11:20

I hear you on the injuries things but

11:22

like this is the stuff that have been

11:24

there a gazillion times we all starts tonight

11:27

we'll see what happens there we have much

11:29

more to get to on that plus as

11:31

we continue next did you hear what Draymond

11:33

Green had to say about the Knicks and

11:35

all of their injuries you're gonna hear it

11:37

and we'll explain exactly what we think

11:39

of it plus Denver

11:42

9th dead we'll tell you why that might

11:44

be the dumbest narrative in the entire NBA

11:46

today all that and a whole lot more

11:49

it's a spirited morning it's get up on

11:51

ESPN Now

12:01

your ideas don't have to wait.

12:03

Now they have everything they need

12:05

to come to life. Dell Technologies

12:07

and Intel are creating technology that

12:09

loves ideas, loves expanding your business,

12:11

evolving your passions. They push what

12:13

technology can do so great ideas

12:15

can happen right now. Find out

12:17

how to bring your ideas to

12:19

life at dell.com/welcome to now. Two

12:25

guys drove to work. Neither guy

12:27

wore a seatbelt. One

12:29

guy got a ticket. One

12:32

guy didn't. The same

12:34

two guys drove home. One

12:37

guy wore a seatbelt. One guy

12:39

didn't. One

12:43

guy made it home. The

12:45

guy not wearing a seatbelt didn't.

12:48

Paid for by NHTSA. Passion,

12:55

drive and patience. The formula for

12:57

winning championships is also what keeps

12:59

your ride or die alive. eBay

13:01

Motors has everything you need to

13:03

maintain your vehicle and level it

13:05

up to peak performance. Superchargers, roof

13:08

racks, exhaust kits, LED headlights and

13:10

more. Whether you're into speed, power

13:12

or style, eBay Motors has

13:14

you covered. With over 122 million

13:16

parts for your number one ride or die,

13:18

you'll always find exactly what you're looking for.

13:21

And with eBay guaranteed fit, your part is

13:23

guaranteed to fit your ride every time

13:25

or your money back. Because with eBay

13:27

Motors, you're burning rubber, not cash. With

13:29

all the parts you need at the

13:31

prices you want, it's easy to make

13:34

your car the MVP and bring home

13:36

huge wins. Keep your ride or die

13:38

alive at ebaymotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions

13:40

apply. Back

13:46

on Get Up, we are brought to

13:48

you by Taco Bell and

13:50

the biggest star in basketball back on the floor

13:53

last night. Caitlin Clark and the fever hosting the

13:55

sun as they just continue to play them in

13:57

the Liberty the entire time. Dre

14:00

had no question about it, she looked the

14:02

most comfortable that she has in her foregame.

14:04

And this is exactly what we saw from

14:06

Caitlin Stark. Comfort on the floor she handled,

14:08

the pressure of the Connecticut Suns, specifically Dejan

14:10

A. Carrington, so much better than she did

14:12

in game one. She had eight points in the first

14:15

quarter, but then this happened. Down she

14:17

goes, we'll show it to you again Monica, it's

14:19

the left ankle that rolls awkwardly and she's in

14:21

a lot of pain. Yeah, and ankle rolls are

14:23

tough, but she was able to power through this

14:25

one, I'm sure she's getting a ton of treatment

14:28

on that from last night as they prepare for

14:30

more games this weekend. Yeah, first thought is this

14:32

is just what nobody needs as she's smashing the

14:34

bench there as you see, fever up by three

14:36

at the half, she would come back in the

14:39

second half. And again Dre, she looks very good.

14:41

Yeah, great time for Caitlin again, reading the defense

14:43

well here with the hesitation and then exploding to the

14:45

rim. I thought she did a much better job getting

14:47

in the paint this game also. And then look at

14:49

them on the fast break off the defense, how about this? Great

14:54

sign for Caitlin, one and the Indiana fever

14:56

two because they are starting to play and

14:58

know where she is on the floor. That

15:00

drop off pass from Ayla, Erica Wheeler was

15:02

beautiful. And then she takes it strong there, she had 17 points.

15:05

In the end this comes down to this

15:07

play, fever down by two, inbounding with one

15:09

last chance, 11 seconds to go, oh and

15:11

Aliyah Bostin just can't quite get it to

15:13

drop. And that's how it ends. So the

15:15

sun gets the wind and the fever is

15:17

still looking for their first win of the

15:20

season. And Dre you were there doing studio

15:22

and everything for us last night. Take us

15:24

through that last play where they had the

15:26

chance to tie it. First of all, let

15:28

me start by saying this one, that is not

15:30

an easy layup to make. Alya Bostin is a

15:32

center. She's coming from outside of the three point

15:34

line. She has to evade Alyssa Thomas in doing

15:36

so. She's at the front of the rim and

15:39

now has to try and put English on the

15:41

layup to finish. It's not an easy layup to

15:43

finish. So let's just get that out of the

15:45

way. As far as the play goes, it's beautiful

15:47

because Caitlin's impact on the floor opens up the

15:49

driving lane for Aliyah Bostin. Not only Caitlin coming

15:51

off the handoff, but you have Kelsey Mitchell in

15:53

the corner. So it's hard for the defense to

15:55

help, right? The combination of Caitlin and Kelsey Mitchell

15:58

on the floor will open opportunities. for

16:00

their teammates. Two defenders on the handoff go

16:02

with Caitlin Clark. That's why Lee and Boss

16:05

can make that spin move and attack the

16:07

basket. So the impact of Caitlin and Kelsey

16:09

Mitchell on the floor opens things up.

16:11

I'm just doing women's sports with you. We don't even do it

16:13

as often as we used to. So here's the

16:15

thing, Caitlin Clark is going to be fine. Okay,

16:18

there's two things that stand out to me.

16:20

She just played this team, right? And so

16:22

she understands the athleticism, the footwork, the speed

16:24

of Dejanay Carrington, and she's just in her

16:26

fourth WNBA game as a professional athlete.

16:28

Even as a rookie, she's been guarded

16:30

by the best players so far. She's still drawing

16:33

double teams. And I thought Indiana did a better

16:35

job of playing fast. I thought in her first

16:37

few games, too much pound on the rock. This

16:39

is not Iowa part B varsity version. This is

16:42

WNBA basketball. She's moving faster. Her teammates are doing

16:44

a better job of finding her. She's getting looks

16:46

off the move where she doesn't have to work

16:48

as hard. And so it's only up from here. This

16:50

was a great sign. Her most efficient night turnovers were

16:53

down. Let me just say this too, because we're talking

16:55

about the Indiana fever and we have the Pacers that

16:57

are playing in the Eastern Conference. Both

16:59

teams, question marks about their defense, a ton

17:01

of pace and speed offensively. So Indiana fans

17:03

that are watching the pace will just go

17:05

ahead and translate to the fever because it's

17:07

a very similar thing with these two organizations.

17:10

Yeah, and unfortunately the fever are 0-4. The

17:12

Pacers certainly hoping they're not that in their next round

17:15

as they take on Boston beginning of night. Let me

17:17

segue that back into the NBA then. And let's make

17:19

note of something that is going on right now in

17:21

the league that we haven't seen in a very long

17:23

time. Going back to the 2020 finals,

17:25

meaning in the bubble. We

17:27

have not had repeat conference winners in

17:30

either the East or the West, meaning

17:32

no team has even made it to

17:35

the NBA finals in consecutive seasons since

17:37

the Warriors made it five straight years

17:40

from 2015 through 2019. So

17:42

we take that into account, particularly with Denver,

17:44

a team that we all thought might have

17:46

been at the beginning of some great run,

17:49

getting knocked out as they did. People are

17:51

saying dynasties in the NBA are dead. Alan,

17:53

are those people right? Yes,

17:55

they are, because the league has continued

17:57

to create rules in the collective bargain.

18:00

the agreement, that is making it more and

18:02

more difficult to build those super teams that

18:04

we saw built over the previous

18:06

two decades. And that is something that the

18:08

owners don't want. They want parity. Is it

18:10

good for the league? That's another conversation to

18:12

have. But they have pretty much killed the

18:15

dynasty era. Can I throw that and say

18:17

I thoroughly disagree? And let me tell

18:19

you why. I think we have

18:21

the end of the super team era, meaning

18:23

the manufactured, a whole bunch of guys get

18:25

together and decide we want to play together

18:28

era. But basketball has always been about dynasties

18:30

long before this stuff was going on. Those

18:32

dynasties always, however, were built around one person.

18:34

So that person was Bill Russell. That

18:36

person was Larry Bird. That person was Magic

18:39

Johnson. That person was Michael Jordan. That person

18:41

was Tim Duncan. So the question is, who

18:43

will be the next one? I believe that

18:46

someone will become that person and will make

18:48

themselves evident soon. Quick pushback. There

18:50

was no cap situation like we have today

18:52

that even when you draft well, like the

18:55

Warriors did, now it's harder to keep your

18:57

own players because you can draft three straight

18:59

years and get three guys that you want

19:01

to like the Thunder did, like all these

19:04

other teams did. And you can

19:06

get yourself guys that are all super max players.

19:08

Here's the problem. Can't keep them because of the

19:10

new apron that's coming in and all that stuff.

19:12

It is keeping you from even keeping your own

19:15

players because of this. These rules are in place

19:17

now that are going to make it difficult to

19:19

even draft well and keep your own players. And

19:21

that's the problem I have with it. You are

19:23

going to need one superstar to build around, but

19:26

it's almost impossible to keep teams like this together

19:28

when you're that good. He's

19:30

making fair points. But

19:32

to your point, Greeny, it's hard

19:34

to say a dynasty can't be done again. I

19:36

mean, you can never tell what talent

19:39

is going to lead. We don't

19:41

know. First off, when we talk about Tim Duncan,

19:43

they didn't win every year. So just because

19:45

Denver didn't win this year doesn't mean that they can't come

19:47

back and make some changes this summer and win next year.

19:49

And then now we're suddenly back talking, is it a dynasty

19:51

again? Are the Warriors a

19:53

dynasty? Will we count that as a dynasty? Absolutely. You've

19:55

won three, right? Okay. Four. Four,

19:58

yeah. Correct. was headed. They

20:01

have a lot of those guys locked in for the next four or five

20:03

years. You know, I

20:05

think dynasties are dead just until they're alive

20:07

again. Somebody's going to come along just throughout

20:09

history. We've always had a team or a

20:12

player emerge. We're looking for that right now.

20:14

Victor, that team's obviously very far away. It's

20:17

good for the league. It is. Yeah,

20:19

it's fair. These last six years are an

20:21

anomaly. All right. You have to go back to the seventies for

20:23

the last time that we saw a stretch like this where we

20:26

didn't have even a repeat champion. That is

20:28

not that you don't make a lot of

20:30

money betting on things that never or almost

20:32

never happen. Someone will emerge. Is that someone

20:34

going to be Victor Wambayama? Is that someone going

20:36

to be aunt Edwards? Who will be the next

20:39

great one? Who will be the one who becomes

20:41

the next, the air to the legitimate air to

20:43

what those guys have been in the past? Someone

20:46

will because in basketball, someone always does. Yeah. You know, I

20:48

mean, I know you talked about it's hard to keep the

20:50

players. But when we talk about the Spurs, you just

20:52

mentioned Victor Wambayama, he's 20. The Spurs

20:54

have the fourth pick in the eighth pick

20:56

this season. Not only in the future and

20:58

they have the most thick, second most thick

21:00

right behind OKC in the two. I

21:02

get it. I get it with this draft.

21:05

I'm going to be there at the desk. I'm

21:07

doing interviews. Yes. Yeah. Perfect. We'll both be at

21:09

the draft. But think about it. The Warriors, you

21:11

just mentioned that dynasty. They have three losing

21:13

seasons when they dropped a Steph Curry. I know he got injured. I

21:15

know he dealt with a lot, but the Spurs could be a few

21:18

seasons away because of the impact

21:20

Victor Wambayama has to having

21:22

success and success that's sustainable. If as

21:24

long as we are not solely defining

21:26

dynasty by going back to back, the

21:29

90s are coming back. They're not

21:33

cooked. They ran into and looked in the

21:35

mirror with a Tim Connelly built team. Right.

21:37

Like, but I firmly believe that this team

21:39

will have more intensity, more, more fervor, more

21:41

fire because of this run. But I don't

21:43

think the nuggets are going anywhere. He can

21:46

play basketball as long as he wants. His

21:48

game is not predicated on athleticism. And yes,

21:50

we're waiting for Wimpy. I think that's fine.

21:52

But like Yoke is still a problem in

21:54

the league. Look basketball, because of its nature,

21:57

one player can have a greater impact on

21:59

a team success. than can happen in any

22:01

sport including football, including Patrick Mahomes or any

22:03

other. So that player always emerges. We're just

22:05

waiting to see who it is. To your

22:07

point, maybe it will be Okich. He's won

22:09

three MVPs. It has to be Nicole at

22:12

this point. But he's only got one. We

22:14

don't define these things by MVP. I know,

22:16

but he's the best player on the NBA

22:18

right now. Player dynasties exist because LeBron just

22:20

did one. I mean, eight finals in ten

22:22

years? Yeah. That's a player

22:24

dynasty, so you could look at it in that way

22:26

as well. Let me take a quick break on that

22:28

thought as we continue. Is Jalen Brunson's

22:31

co-star already on his roster? Or

22:33

do the Knicks need to make

22:35

a big trade to be a

22:37

championship contender? Steven A and KG

22:39

got into this debate. Get

22:41

your popcorn ready. It was very much

22:43

worth watching. Plus, if you don't win

22:45

a championship, can your season still be

22:47

considered a success? The overwhelming answer to

22:49

that question is yes. And I will

22:52

show you exactly how on the screen

22:54

was next. It's get up on ESPN.

23:02

Delicious meat nutritious in the snack that

23:04

packs a real protein punch. Wonderful pistachios,

23:06

one of the highest protein nuts out

23:08

there. Each one-out serving has six grams

23:10

of protein, giving you over 10 percent

23:12

of your daily value. Wonderful pistachios also

23:14

come in a variety of flavors and

23:17

sizes, perfect for enjoying with family and

23:19

friends or taking them with you on

23:21

the go. And you're on the go

23:23

a lot, taking the kids to school,

23:25

hopping from meeting to meeting, shopping for

23:27

groceries. Well, the good news is, not

23:29

only are wonderful pistachios a complete protein,

23:31

providing all nine essential amino acids,

23:33

they're also great for all your

23:35

adventures. So whether you're a pistachio

23:38

purist who loves cracking open every

23:40

nut, or you prefer the convenience

23:42

of no-shells pistachios, Wonderful Pistachios has

23:44

got you covered. Grab Wonderful Pistachios

23:47

and elevate your snacking game today.

23:49

Visit wonderful pistachios.com to learn more.

24:00

As exclusive offers and markets from Scott Van

24:02

Pelt, Stephen A. Smith and me, plus many

24:04

more. From the playoff intensity to finally getting

24:06

out to the ballpark, there's no better time

24:08

for sports fans. Sign up today. New users

24:10

get a bet reset up to $1,000 in

24:14

bonus bets if your first bet doesn't

24:16

win. Download ESPN Bet today. What a

24:18

play! We

24:32

are back, bottom of the hour here on Get

24:34

Up and the next game is called Fact or

24:36

Fidget. The next season has come

24:38

to an end. I've got a bunch of statements

24:41

to make. Drea, if I said Jaylen Brunson needs

24:43

another star for that team to become a title

24:45

contender, is that Fact or Fidget? I

24:47

would say it is a fact. Now this star does not

24:49

have to be the 1A. Jaylen Brunson

24:51

can lead this team and be the best player

24:53

on the team, but to get to the finals

24:56

and compete against the talent that is coming out

24:58

of the West for years to come, another star

25:00

is what the Knicks need. I'm going to come

25:02

back to that one as we go, but Alan,

25:05

you're next. If I said, the Knicks coach, Tom

25:07

Cebedo, play as his starters too many minutes. Is

25:09

that Fact or Fidget? Well, it's fiction because most

25:11

of his starters weren't even playing. They were hurt.

25:13

I mean, that's part of the problem. Good point,

25:15

hon. Who are you going to play? After a

25:17

while, they were looking at Wally Zurbiak and me

25:20

saying, can you suit up? There was nobody available.

25:22

Monica's the better shooter, though. They probably should have

25:24

put her in uniform. Yeah. I mean, that's a

25:26

good point. Their starters weren't their starters by the

25:28

time it all came to an end. Meanwhile, Monica,

25:30

if I were to say, is healthy, this

25:33

Knicks team, and I mean fully healthy, would

25:35

have beaten Boston and gone to the finals.

25:37

Is that Fact or Fidget? Baby, it's Fact,

25:39

Greenian. Let me just remind you why. Julius

25:41

Rattle is an all-star, a 25-9 guy. You

25:45

would have had Mitchell Robertson, who was the best offensive rebroader in

25:47

the league and was a terrific shot blocker prior to those first

25:49

couple of injuries. You're talking about

25:51

four guys back in the rotation, and this

25:53

Celtics squad had not met the version of

25:55

the Knicks that included OG Ananobi. By the way,

25:57

26-5 with OG Vitelli. Yes,

26:00

let's get it. That's right. Only operational death star.

26:02

They match in the something. If all of them

26:04

are healthy. The rest is just very, very, very

26:06

healthy. I already got a little, yes. Very, very

26:08

healthy. Dead Screen, by the way, that is Dead

26:10

Screen. Dead Screen. The story of the season for

26:12

the Knicks, or the finish of the season anyway,

26:14

is all about the injuries, obviously. But

26:16

do not look to Draymond Green for any

26:19

sympathy. This is what he had

26:21

to say about it on his podcast. I

26:23

actually did this four times. I kind of know what it takes

26:26

and I know what it looks like. And

26:28

I know everybody's going to be like, oh man, they got

26:30

hurt and this guy got hurt. And that's a part of

26:32

it, right? When

26:34

KD got hurt and Clay got hurt, nobody's

26:37

like, oh man, them guys got hurt. So

26:39

we feel bad for the Warriors. When we

26:41

won in 2015, nobody be like, oh man,

26:43

Kyrie was hurt and got hurt

26:45

during the series. And Kevin, you got to play

26:48

who on the court. So let's

26:50

not even go there. Actually

26:54

I think we should go there. Yeah, we're going to need to

26:56

go there. Because he's right

26:58

when he says no one was talking

27:01

about that, he's right assuming that by

27:03

no one, he means literally everyone. Every,

27:06

I mean, I was sitting in this chair

27:08

when those guys got hurt and every one

27:10

of us said, and we were not alone,

27:12

oh, if Kevin Durant hadn't gotten hurt, if

27:14

Clay got hurt at the very, very end

27:16

of it, if Ken Durant hadn't gotten hurt,

27:18

not only would they have won that series,

27:20

but they would have won every championship until

27:22

they decided to stop doing it. Yeah,

27:25

the dynasty era wouldn't be dead. I mean, literally everyone

27:27

was saying it. You were in the league when this

27:29

was happening. People notice the injuries, right? And they say,

27:31

well, if it hadn't been for that now, you want

27:33

to say 50 years from now, history

27:35

will just say the Raptors won the 2018 or

27:38

whatever it was, 19 championship, or this

27:40

year the Knicks didn't make it to the

27:43

third round. Sure, that's fair. But in the

27:45

moment, everyone was saying it. Draymont's confusing the

27:48

fact that we were all impressed by the run that Kawhi had

27:50

with that team. And I think we

27:52

always talk about that. And instead of understanding,

27:54

you know, yeah, of course, those guys went down.

27:56

That's why they won in the finals. But, you

27:58

know, he's... I don't know why y'all

28:01

take this off the most great one. First

28:03

of all, Draymond might be Canadian and maybe

28:05

that's why all he heard was that what

28:07

they were saying in Canada, but most of

28:10

the media was chasing down Klay Thompson's injury,

28:12

was trying to find out where's Kevin, what's

28:14

Kevin going to do now? Is he going

28:16

to leave the Warriors? That was the biggest

28:19

story. But don't let facts get in the

28:21

way of a good story for Draymond and his podcast. I

28:23

unfollowed it right at that point. I don't know. Subscribe.

28:26

Can't do that. I'm going to speak on TNT talking

28:28

about the conference finals and I didn't even know if I

28:31

can trust what he's saying because he's completely rewriting

28:33

history. There's no way anybody wasn't talking about those

28:35

injuries, just like there was a lot of people

28:37

defending LeBron James when he lost, when all he

28:40

had was him and Matthew Delavadova trying to win

28:42

a championship against the Warriors. I continue to say

28:44

that LeBron should have been the MVP of that

28:46

final, just back the fact that they lost. There

28:48

you go. They lost that

28:50

series. LeBron James led all teams in

28:52

every category because he had to. He

28:55

had Delavadova and they actually won two

28:57

games in that series when they had

28:59

no business winning. Love got

29:01

hurt. Kyrie Irving got hurt. Yes.

29:03

I mean, context does matter. It did matter

29:05

then and it does matter now. I'm just

29:07

sitting here like look at the names at the

29:09

bottom of the screen. Like the amount, even if

29:11

what Draymond is saying is true, which we've already

29:13

decided it isn't, those situations that

29:15

he named still aren't close to the

29:18

number of injuries that the Knicks had

29:20

to deal with. I will say four of your eight man rotations.

29:23

It's more of an impact. It

29:25

might have more names on this list, but I would rather have Clay

29:28

Thompson and Kevin Rand. That

29:31

time compared all those

29:33

guys. No, that's fair. But actually, the team of

29:35

guys that we just put up there would have

29:37

beaten the Knicks. Like, right. If you

29:39

took the Knicks who didn't play and played against

29:41

the Knicks who didn't play, that would be a

29:43

sweep. That would be that easily. I don't know.

29:47

So I think this is a microcosm of

29:50

like what it is to be truly in it. Right? And

29:53

that's why, excuse me, Kawhi Leonard gets credit as the

29:55

one guy, at least every time I tell the story

29:57

that has been able to add water year one when

30:00

it's championship right and so for the warriors

30:02

for that camp you're right it's like everybody

30:04

talked about kawaii and overlooked the injury piece

30:06

I personally am always pointing out that the

30:08

one time that the super team thing at

30:10

water when championship worked and the injuries were

30:12

a huge part of how that story goes

30:14

down but I was also like no bro

30:16

yeah that's what you're saying exactly

30:23

yeah you know it was getting caught up in

30:25

he's getting caught up in us just giving them

30:27

that respect that we did the Kawhi and the

30:29

rappers for making that run listen every team needs

30:31

luck if people get injured but we all know

30:34

that if clay Thompson and Kevin Durant were

30:36

healthy that series would have five games look

30:39

look our job is to apply the context

30:41

their job is to play and and our

30:43

job is to point out the

30:46

things like that the reality is the

30:48

Warriors would have won another championship if

30:50

Draymond didn't get suspended in the middle of

30:52

that series against the Cavs they would have

30:54

there's no question they were up three that

30:56

they would have won that series they absolutely

30:59

would have won the series when they lose

31:01

KD against the Raptors and again they would

31:03

just have continued winning until they themselves decided

31:05

to stop that is I mean

31:07

if any part of that even debatable I don't

31:09

know more titles for them if you think about

31:11

it but I'm just going back again to exactly

31:14

what he's saying which is everybody was talking

31:16

about that nobody was talking about our injuries

31:18

which is completely false and a ridiculous statement

31:20

to make and that's what I'm saying like

31:22

a Draymond as a player he has been

31:25

part of great success but when you're moving

31:27

into this part of the business you can't

31:29

just make up things or at least change

31:31

a narrative just to fit a point that

31:33

you're trying to make about a Knicks team

31:35

that didn't get out of the second round

31:37

like he's looking just to get attention on

31:39

a thing we call it Knicks for Clicks

31:41

because you know people are going to be

31:44

mad about it and they're going to come

31:46

after you on social media because of it

31:48

but that gets you followers look it the

31:50

reality is the Knicks injuries are a huge

31:52

part of the reason they are not playing

31:54

anymore I don't think that's debatable right I

31:56

don't even think it's a topic in the

31:58

meantime I want to play this Kevin

32:00

Garnett stuff. So Stephen A's got

32:03

KG on his show on Stephen A

32:05

show and they were talking

32:07

or Stephen A sets the question up

32:09

to KG by saying do the Knicks need

32:11

another star another A level

32:13

player a 1A with Jalen Brunson to

32:16

go on and win a championship and

32:18

Kevin Garnett as you will hear here

32:20

says no they don't they already have

32:23

one. Can

32:25

do this. Randall is a 25 and 10 guy.

32:27

I love Randall but he is the number one

32:29

option though. You tripping. Because you know what happens

32:31

when you bring in a superstar you bring somebody

32:33

else you got

32:36

that superstar you gotta you gotta

32:38

intertwine him in with the

32:40

fabric of what the Knicks are. The Knicks are

32:42

gritty they gruddy they play for 48 to hear

32:44

your you know they they can't

32:46

if you can't fit that the Knicks are

32:49

perfect. The Knicks should not be touched. Listen.

32:55

Gruddy. We got this question preparing for

32:57

the show. My first answer was depends

32:59

on the health of Julius Randall in

33:02

terms of needing to add and I

33:04

get where Stephen A is coming from but

33:06

I agree that the balance

33:08

the identity Wendy sat up here

33:10

all last week talked about how

33:12

this team rides for tips the

33:14

balance in that locker room and in that organization

33:16

in terms of how we win is

33:19

something that needs to be protected. You

33:21

cannot just add insert double double guy and

33:23

let's roll out. It has to be protected.

33:26

Yeah listen first of Julius Randall is a guy that

33:28

we constantly sweep under the rug. I think the success

33:30

they had with OG and the record people are like

33:32

oh they can win without him. People forget that in

33:35

the playoffs when the game slows down you need another

33:37

guy that you can throw the ball to and just

33:39

simply say go get a basket. All right. Jay Lebruncent

33:41

simply like ran out of gas. Obviously he got hurt

33:43

but eventually he probably would have. They had to he

33:45

had to have 30 just for them to be competitive

33:47

every night. This team

33:49

fully healthy is really really good man. And

33:52

an NBA that's wide open we just talked about

33:54

a dynasty is dead. There's no team right now

33:56

that's just dominating the NBA. The team

33:58

what we thought just was vulnerable they

34:00

just lost in minnesota uh... in denver so we

34:02

look at right now if the next are fully

34:04

out there can absolutely compete with boston in in

34:06

possibly win uh... do they need to

34:08

make a move this off and you could always get better

34:11

boston did that a couple years ago they got rid of market

34:13

for no one really thought i was gonna happen to be without

34:15

using to be a life for the off with a double down

34:17

they got rid of them that what came in a lot of

34:19

you holiday they got better so that you can always make move

34:21

in a prove a katie's actually right you can't just go out

34:24

there and grab a guy that doesn't fit the mold of this

34:26

team they they have a good team right now and they need

34:28

to hold it down and look for a certain

34:30

piece goals not to be good the gold

34:32

yeah goals to eventually when a chance to

34:34

spend over fifty years and this is now

34:36

the the hardest part for any front office

34:39

and we all know stars when in this league

34:41

that's we all know that in the end you

34:43

need stars as many as you can possibly get

34:45

phoenix shows you that it isn't just thrown together

34:47

it's going to work right we know that if

34:49

you'll blow up your roster to get a star

34:52

you get phoenix you have to

34:54

still make the right move in the right piece

34:56

which is exactly what kevin garnett is saying but

34:58

i still believe though that if you're trying to

35:01

win a championship you've got to get the best

35:03

possible talent you can find so if you look

35:05

at what you have in your happy with running

35:07

it back that's a good

35:09

team you're trying to be great greatness

35:11

you gotta find a star that fits and

35:13

that's the hardest part for this team that was

35:16

my thing often user like if they add a star

35:18

they can compete with boston and possibly win it you

35:20

mean win the series against boston or win the final

35:23

uh... i think if you could be boston anybody

35:25

absolutely yeah i think the next again going back

35:27

to what we said earlier if they were fully

35:29

healthy if they look at everyone isn't fully healthy

35:32

or many teams aren't fully healthy by

35:34

the time we get to this point that part

35:36

of the game again good it's part of the

35:38

court if they had all those guys that you

35:40

saw on their screen right there they would absolutely

35:42

have had a chance to win the championship this

35:44

year so i'm about this that the next one

35:47

plus two hundred eight in the forty four games

35:49

when they had julius randal and jaylen brenton available

35:51

right which is huge but i really think people

35:53

are negating that if the team is healthy the way

35:55

that they had grown not just from the trade deadline

35:57

the way that michael robertson as a hard time able

36:00

to defend, yes, and I get it, Joellen

36:02

Bead is dealing with a knee, but you

36:04

saw them at times and theories really continue

36:06

to evolve. So if that team had stayed

36:09

healthy and continued to grow, like the Knicks

36:11

play harder than everybody. Like that's simple, but

36:13

it's profound and is a difference maker in

36:15

terms of their culture. All right, the playoffs

36:17

continue tonight and we've got game one of

36:20

the conference finals live here. You'll see Tyree's

36:22

Halliburton in the paces. You'll see Jason Tatum

36:24

in the Celtics. Game one on ESPN. Countdown

36:26

crew tips it off at seven o'clock Eastern

36:28

tonight, leading up to an eight o'clock

36:30

tip. Coming up, was the

36:33

season in New York a success or

36:35

a failure? This is a bigger picture

36:37

topic about what actually means success and

36:40

failure in the NBA. We will clear

36:42

it all up now. We

36:56

are back on get up. And so Jaylen

36:58

Brunson and the Knicks, their epic playoff run

37:00

ended in the second half of game

37:02

seven. His run ended with that fractured left

37:05

hand. And after the loss, Jaylen Brunson had

37:07

a blunt assessment when asked if the next

37:09

season was a success or not. Right.

37:13

Did we win

37:15

the championship? Did we

37:17

get close? So

37:27

no, that's just my

37:29

mindset. This is how it is. Okay,

37:33

so that brings us to today's green list.

37:35

Let me start by saying I

37:37

love what Jaylen Brunson said. If that guy's

37:39

on my team, that's exactly the tone I

37:41

want him to set for the entire organization.

37:44

We are not complacent. We are not satisfied.

37:46

However, it doesn't mean he's right. The next

37:48

season was absolutely a success. Not every team

37:50

that does it win the title season is

37:52

a failure. In fact, I can prove it.

37:54

Here are the top five teams that as

37:56

of right now, no matter what else happens,

37:59

their season ends. as an enormous success.

38:01

Number five, the Orlando Magic. This was a

38:03

team that had a magnificent year. They went

38:05

to seven tough games in the first round

38:08

of the playoffs with the Cleveland team. They

38:10

developed a young star in Paolo Vankara. Their

38:12

future looks extraordinarily bright. I would say their

38:14

season was a big success even though they

38:17

didn't win the championship. I'm going to put

38:19

the Minnesota Timberwolves at four with the potential

38:21

to move massively up. Obviously, all this is

38:23

pending what winds up happening. But if the

38:25

Timberwolves were to lose in these Western Conference

38:28

finals to Dallas, their season is still a

38:30

massive success considering all they overcame, all the

38:32

growth that they did, and the fact that

38:35

they knocked Denver out in a game seven

38:37

on the road. At number three, I'll put

38:39

the Knicks. The Knicks had a terrific season.

38:41

They overcame a ton of injuries. They were

38:43

the two seed when that was not what

38:45

the expectation was before the season began. There's

38:47

no question they were better than the sum

38:49

of their parts. No one in their right

38:51

minds would call their season a failure even

38:54

if it ended in some disappointment. And number

38:56

two, I put the Oklahoma City Thunder. They

38:58

were the youngest one seed since

39:00

seeding began in the history of the NBA.

39:02

And they went seven tough games with a

39:04

team that is playoff-tested with Kyrie Irving, who

39:07

was a champion, and Luca, who has led

39:09

his team to a conference final in the

39:11

past. Their season was a terrific success and

39:13

so has been Indiana. And I said this

39:15

on MacAfee's show yesterday. If Indiana gets swept

39:18

by Boston, which I do not expect them

39:20

to do, by the way. But

39:22

even if they do, their season

39:25

is an enormous success. This is

39:27

a young, growing team. They've developed

39:29

Tyrese Halliburton into a star. They played

39:31

in a lot of big moments. They went

39:33

into Madison Square Garden and won a tough

39:35

game seven on the road. That's exactly the

39:38

way that young teams grow and develop. So

39:40

again, this is as of this moment and

39:42

it is subject to change. Whatever team wins

39:44

the championship is obviously going to wind up

39:46

being the biggest success story of the season.

39:49

But right now, these to me are the

39:51

teams whose season is a success if they

39:53

don't win another game the rest of the

39:55

way. Drea, go. Interesting

39:58

list screening. Deep

40:00

thought. My question is, why

40:02

are the Mavericks not on your list? If

40:04

the Mavericks lose this series, is their season

40:07

a huge success as the team that brought

40:09

in Kyrie Irving? They've got Luca. They made

40:11

huge trades around the deadline and came in

40:13

with these kind of expectations. Plus, Denver got

40:15

knocked out of their path. If they lose

40:17

to Minnesota, are you gonna go out and

40:19

say, oh yeah, this was a huge success?

40:21

Nah, bro. Not over anybody on

40:23

this list. Yeah. Not over anybody on this

40:26

list. Yeah, I mean, again, all these things

40:28

can change. If the Mavericks win the championship,

40:30

then of course their season's a huge success.

40:32

Minnesota vaults to number one easily. Any

40:34

team vaults to number one on this list,

40:36

if you win the championship, that's everyone's ultimate

40:38

goal. What I'm talking about is, if the

40:40

Pacers do not win a single game in

40:43

these conference finals, I still think

40:45

their season is an enormous success. You have

40:47

the number one? I'd probably put OKC or

40:49

Orlando up there, but I'd probably put OKC

40:51

number one. Well, I'm more Minnesota. I'm not

40:53

moving to Minnesota. Minnesota probably would be number

40:56

one. Minnesota over here, I'm in a white

40:58

dress Minnesota, right here. Can you explain why?

41:01

Last year, they literally were punching

41:03

each other in a huddle and they didn't

41:05

make trades. Kyle Anderson's still there.

41:07

Rudy Gobert's still there. They were fighting in

41:10

the huddle. Like you think, oh my God,

41:12

this team's gonna be a mess. No, instead,

41:14

what you saw as a team actually galvanizing

41:16

get together this year, they have become such

41:18

a great team and their youngest player has

41:21

become one of their biggest leaders. And the

41:23

question about Cole Anthony-Townes can he handle giving

41:25

up the reins of the franchise face to

41:27

Anthony Edwards? Anthony Edwards said, come sit with

41:29

me at the podium. Let's have some fun.

41:31

Let's make some viral videos. They have

41:34

become a real, the definition of teams, best defense

41:36

in the league off last year where you thought

41:38

that thing was blowing up. And let's also mention

41:40

that A-Rod doesn't own the team, but he sure

41:43

acts like an owner on the side. Let

41:46

me make clear why Minnesota belongs exactly where

41:48

they are. This is in the event they

41:50

do not win another game. The bottom line

41:52

of it is having dispatched of Denver, having

41:55

home court advantage against Dallas, they should win now. I

41:58

believe if they lose now. this will

42:00

be a bit of a disappointment. It will not

42:02

fall to the category of disappointment. They would be

42:04

about fourth. If they lose from this point forward,

42:07

I still think they slot in behind the Knicks,

42:09

behind the Thunder, and behind the Pacers. If they

42:11

keep winning, then obviously it vaults up. It's a

42:13

success. Just being on the list makes them a

42:15

success. But I don't think they have guaranteed themselves

42:17

a finish higher than those teams if they don't

42:19

keep on winning. Not to mention their head coach

42:21

is not, I can't even stand up. He's in

42:24

the back row. I know. Poor

42:26

Mizzy. There's so much going on there, and yet they've

42:28

had great success. They've overcome a lot of obstacles. Monica.

42:32

I hear you a lot, but I disagree. I will put Minnesota

42:34

1 on my list, and I think I

42:36

leave the list as is, and just shuffle

42:38

from there. I mean, guess the bottom line of it

42:40

is this, because I said this on McAfee yesterday, and

42:43

he posted it, and I saw

42:45

a lot of the response was, it's a

42:47

loser's attitude. Only the champions can

42:49

be successful. If anything else is a failure,

42:51

that's why you've never done anything, Greeny. That's

42:53

why you've never won anything, Greeny. That's why

42:55

you've never played anything, Greeny. And the bottom

42:58

line of it is, maybe there is some

43:00

truth to that. I like the fact that

43:02

Jalen Brunson feels that way. That's how I

43:04

want my players to think. Anything short of

43:06

a championship is a failure, but to me,

43:09

that's an unfair way for others to categorize

43:11

it. Yeah, every team's different. It

43:14

can't just be defined if you win a championship or

43:16

not. Now for the team like a Celtics or a

43:18

Denver, then yeah,

43:20

that's a standard. When you're building those levels of success, okay,

43:22

this was good. This was a success. You're the Orlando Magic.

43:24

Like, this was a huge year, man. Just

43:27

from someone who lives down there, going to

43:29

the games, it's changed. Today, this

43:31

year is a successful, every team on the board.

43:35

I would have Minnesota higher personally, just

43:37

due to the fact that I think we all knew they were

43:39

gonna be good. I don't think anybody knew that they were gonna

43:41

be this good to the point where now we're talking to them

43:43

realistically having a chance to win the championship. No

43:45

one thought they were gonna go into Denver and win that game,

43:47

especially when they were down 20 and they did that. They have

43:49

all the pieces there. They're all young. Their core pieces are all

43:52

young. They got a young coach that they all love. I

43:55

mean, in terms of success in a

43:57

market where this team is going up.

44:00

Minnesota for me would be one, OKC two. I'd

44:02

probably put Pacer's three, and

44:05

then after that do whatever you need. The Knicks in, and

44:07

the Knicks would be four, and Orlando would be five. But

44:09

you guys hate the Mets. Look, I like your list a

44:11

lot. It's not as good a line, but I like it.

44:13

By the way, from Pat McAfee. Just a message to Pat

44:16

McAfee. If you think that Mike Greenberg is not one in

44:18

life, you're out of your mind. So

44:20

he didn't say it. I'm not saying

44:22

Mac if he said it. I'd be careful

44:24

with Pat. No, that was the responses. The

44:26

responses? Those were the responses. Everybody that think

44:28

this man hasn't won. Well, you

44:30

know, it's game. No, it's really. Just

44:35

to be clear, McAfee didn't say I was

44:37

the loser. OK,

44:40

Stanley Cup playoff Rangers and Panthers came

44:42

one of the East Final tomorrow, eight

44:44

Eastern on ESPN and ESPN. Plus coverage

44:46

begins with a point at seven on

44:48

ESPN two. Coming up, is it now

44:51

or never for Jason Tatum in the

44:53

Celtics? Is there anyone under more pressure

44:55

to win a title right now? We'll

44:57

answer that question right after this. Get

44:59

up. On ESPN.