Stephen A., Kendrick Perkins & Mad Dog’s VERDICTS of the Conference Finals 🍿 | First Take

Stephen A., Kendrick Perkins & Mad Dog’s VERDICTS of the Conference Finals 🍿 | First Take

Let’s go. All right. So, as they’ve done throughout these playoffs, Oklahoma’s city’s depth proved to be too much. The Thunder rode a two- run to open up an 11-point third quarter advantage and route to a runaway 11488 win. Wow. Shay Gilis Alexander struggled early, but finished with 31 points and nine assist. Okay, Essay, here’s what I want to know from you. Was this OKC blow out of Minnesota something or nothing? I think it was something, Molly. I really, really do. I walked into this series thinking that, you know, it’s seven games and I departed, you know, praying that it goes at least five. I mean, to be outsc scored 70 to 40 in the second half is very, very alarming. It’s just one game. But when you see the fact that OKC played 10 dudes in significant minutes that all had an impact, when you see how their piranha style defense was just just took over when it really really mattered. When you saw the ease with which Shay Gilas Alexander, the imminent league MVP, finished with his 31 points but had 11 free throws. When you consider how he struggled from the field and how Jaylen Williams struggled from the field and still they ran away with this in the second half and Minnesota’s bench when it really really counted only made about seven or 36 shots. You’re just saying to yourself, good Lord have mercy. How are you going to beat this team? You’re looking at Ant-Man and what he can do. but he couldn’t do much last night. Nas Reed shooting 0 for seven from three-point range like 0 for 111 or one for 111 for the game. I’m just looking at the personnel or the absence thereof compared to OKC’s depth and their defensive tenacity and I’m asking myself, how is Minnesota going to make a series out of this? I’m not there yet definitively, but it was very alarming for me to see such a lopsided contest in that second half. Well, when you go 15 of 51 from three, that’s a major problem. And they couldn’t make a three-point shot if their life depended on it. Obviously, Defenzo and Reed did not shoot the ball. Well, I’m with Steve 100%, though. This would be a little alarming for me, too. Now, I thought Oklahoma City six. Uh, if you were nice enough to have me on on Monday, I would have given you that prediction or Tuesday. Uh, but I thought six. So, I I’ll stick to that. But I thought OKC was primed to be picked off last night. The tough turnaround from that Denver game seven played two days later. Minnesota should have had a bigger lead at the half than they did. It was only 48-44. They were up by seven or eight points in the first half and OKC had not played well. SGA had not played well and Minnesota kind of let them hang around and got too close at the half and as Steve said whatever it was what 70 to 40 Steve in the second half they got blown out. So I’m with Steve 100%. I think this is something here. Now remember OKC lost our first game to Denver and bounced back. But here’s what I would say quickly before Perk chimes in. OKC to me, I think they’ve grown a lot in the last couple series. Forget Memphis, but they were in big trouble against Denver three or four times for a young team. Lost game one, lost game three in overtime, down nine in game four in the fourth quarter, could have easily lost game five and had to play a seventh game and down 21-10 in that first quarter in game seven. and they got out of all those games. Maybe that is the step that we’ll look at at the end of this next couple weeks and think there is their chance. They made that step to that next championship level. But overall, I’m with Steve. I’d be very concerned about the Two Wolves right now. Big Perk, what did I tell you yesterday on Countdown? You said a lot. I said a lot. But you the one thing I told you to start off the show, they needed this game. I said I said it was a mustwin game for the Minnesota Timberwolves because you got OKC emotional coming off of a tough sevengame series against the Denver Nuggets emotionally and physically and you’ve been resting for five days preparing for this moment. And I also told you SA on Countdown that Anthony Edwards don’t we don’t need Anthony Edwards to be Anthony Edwards. you need him to be Ant-Man in this series. And I get it. You It’s hard to to to get to the paint. It’s hard to get your shots off when you dealing with a team that have a bunch of dogs and everybody on that team could play defense at a high level, especially in isolation. But you know, the one thing that Anthony Elvis don’t do at a high level is get to the free throw line. People could complain all they want about SGA and Big Body Bronson getting to the free throw line, but I remember at one point of time we used to applaud Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, Tim Duncan for getting to the free throw line, right? Putting pressure not only on the opponent, but the officials. So, I’m looking at Anthony Elvis in this series. He has to be special. like the 27 points he’s been averaging, that’s not gonna cut the mustard. He got to average 35 to 40 for them to even stand a chance against the Oklahoma City Thunder. To be honest, I’m I don’t even I look, the Minnesota Timberwolves are going to get a game, but this is not going past six games. I got to tell you this. You know what I found myself thinking about uh last night? Doggy big perk Molly. Yeah. I had to do an event uh uh months ago. I was hosting an event with Ma Irvin Magic Johnson and it was around that time if you remember when Ant-Man had said that you know other than Michael Jordan he didn’t really really think I think was other than Michael Jordan or Kobe he was like he really didn’t think that there was any players from the past talented that you know could compared to today’s play or whatever and it was a blast from the statement of course and I remember I asked Magic Johnson and Magic Johnson knowing the obvious greatness of Ant-Man’s talent looked at the audience and said, “I don’t really pay attention to anybody who hasn’t won anything. They simply don’t know.” And I’m saying to myself, last year, Western Conference Finals, Ant-Man. This year, Western Conference Finals, Ant-Man. You have an opportunity to let the world know that you got a you have a clue about what it takes to win. And part of it is getting to the free throw line, Big Perk. And the fact of the matter is is that that showing last night by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half, by him in the second half says a lot if you don’t find a way to resurrect yourself in this series. Molly, this series could end up being a romp. I mean, based on what you saw in the second half, we’re not all there yet. We’re looking at Minnesota getting a game or two games. My theory of seven game series has gone out the window. the level of dominance in that second half defensively. If they were just making shots, that would be one thing. They weren’t making shots, Molly, and they still didn’t care. They forced about three or four turnovers in the last three minutes of the first half, which really, really set the stage for the blowout in the second half. This is what they’re doing. They came at them defensively and got all up in them, and Minnesota had no answer whatsoever. This could be bad. Hold hold that thought. Uh Chris, I want to let you respond and then I want to hit a couple other angles on this. Well, I I I think both these guys No, I think Perk a little a little rough. You got to give Minnesota a game. I mean, geez. I mean, maybe I’ll give them more. You got to give I know you miss me, Mad Dog. I do miss you. I do. All right. Well, what game you going to give? Game three or game four? Game game three or game four? If they get game three, they’re sort of in the mix. But you guys are right. I’m not going to argue with you too much. I mean, I like to sit there and think we can look at a seven game series. OKC lost six games at home all year. And I’m gonna go back to what I said a little while ago, and I know you guys, for whatever the reason, you ignored it, which was ridiculous because it’s a great point. The idea is that OKC really sort of navigated and showed maturity getting through that Denver series, a season team, team that won a championship, best player in the world, down 10, down 2-1, in troubling game five, had to win a game seven. I think that could be looked at as a big breakthrough for them and that’s why I’m a little worried about Oak Minnesota here sticking around and making this very entertaining. We shall see. All right, Stephen A, let me ask you this. I want to start with SGA and then get into Ant. Does SGA get too many calls? Um, Molly, I’m going to say no. And here’s why I’m going to say no. Because the calls he gets, he earns. Playing the game of basketball, the brother knows how to create contact. You know, he’s a legit 67 68 with marvelous ball handling skills. Gets into the lane at his discretion. He knows how to utilize his body. He throws out pump fakes, spin moves. He can handle the rock and dance on you. He can do whatever. And so when you have that kind of skill set and then you have the ability to finish with a mid-range that pulls up, I mean, this guy hits about 48% of his mid-range shots in the postseason. You know what Ant-Man is in a postseason for mid-range? 7%. One of 14 mid-range. So, you either hitting threes or you finishing at the basket. That’s Ant-Man’s game. SGA, there is no limit to his games. He’s not the strongest three-point shooter in the world. Ant-Man was at 38% throughout these playoffs. He was like at 29%. But yet, he still goes out there and gives you 30 plus. Why? Because he knows how to get to the free throw line. He knows how to get in the lane and finish at the basket. He has the ball handling skills to create his own shot and his own space. And all of those things that he brings to the table is what forces you to foul him in an effort to try to neutralize him. I can’t turn around and then say, “Oh, he’s getting too many calls.” When he’s the one that’s creating it, they perk. It’s cool when they do. It’s cool when they do it. It’s a problem when he do it. Right. Who’s they? Who’s they? I’m talking about his peers. So, it’s it’s okay when Jokic sell calls and get to the free throw line because he he sell calls as well, right? It it’s cool it’s cool when Luca does it. It’s cool when when big body Brunson sell calls. Like that’s part of the game, getting to the free throw line, creating contact. That’s part of being crafty, smart, right? Using using it. So, I just don’t understand like where all the hate comes from all of a sudden when it comes down to SGA. Donovan Mitchell, he’s another one. Does an excellent job of getting to the free throw line. It’s not a problem. We should applaud it. When your game is not working, when your shot is not falling, find a way to put pressure on the opponent and the officials. Make them blow the whistle. Paul Pierce was the best at it. I played with him. if his shot wasn’t falling, he was gonna find a way to get to the free throw line. They won the last two games by 40 points. It wasn’t because he shot some free throws for crying out loud. They scored a bunch of points. I don’t make a I don’t make a big deal about that. And and and and you guys both know there’d be a game in Minnesota where Edward Anthony Edwards would be at the line 9 million times to make up for it. I don’t think the foul thing is that big a deal. I like what both of them said and they’re in the building so they would know better than I would. They can sense it. That was a very damaging loss for Minnesota. They had a chance in that first half to set a tone. Randall had 20 points. They ain’t didn’t do anything. Didn’t get the ball much in the second half. They had a chance to do that and let that opportunity escape them. I think that could come back. Before we get to the Knicks, Stephen A, because we got to move on and get to your Knicks tonight. One quick one quick thing. How concerned are you with Aunt Edwards injury? Uh, I’m not that concerned with his injury. I’m concerned with him being neutralized because he’s going up against a clearly superior team right now. Three stats to throw at you at these guys before we end the segment. OKC outscored Minnesota 31-10 on points off turnovers. They outscored them 54-20 by points in the paint. And oh, by the way, they outscored them 12 to zero on fast break points. And last but not least, they played Rudy Goar off the court. The way that they were playing, Finch could not keep Rudy Gobear. That was stupid of him to get two fouls in the first one minute and 38 seconds of the game. That was just dumb knowing how valuable he is with Chad Homegrren and Isaiah Hartinstein. You can’t get into foul trouble. And he got into foul trouble a minute and 38 seconds into the game. That’s where he picked up his second foul. But ultimately he was played off the court. Finch had to pull him because they couldn’t keep up with Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City played this brother out of the game. This was a very very dominating performance from the last three minutes of the first half to the end of the game in a a romp, a beatdown. And I’m very concerned about whether or not this is going to end up being a series. and Tyrese Hallebertton and the Indiana Pacers face Jaylen Brunson in the Knicks game one of the Eastern Conference Finals at 8 Eastern. A year ago, the Pacers knocked New York out in seven games. That was in the Eastern semis. The Knicks looking to get even. So during the regular season, the Knicks won two of their three games against the Pacers. Both came by double digits, including a 25point win at MSG. That was back in October. So Mad Dog, I want to start with you on this one. Which team can least afford a game one loss? Well, the Pacers beat the Knicks three straight times last year at home in that Eastern Conference semifinal. The Pacers are a very good home team. They did lose a game at Cleveland up 20, but they w they finished off Milwaukee. They won that huge game for against the Cavs at that 80 to 38 first half. I think, you know, they’re gonna have to win a game on the road. So, uh, uh, I eventually, but I think the fact that the Knicks rested properly, a lot of momentum, you don’t want to be forced right out of the gate to be playing from behind. I think the home team in game one, it’s much more significant than the road team. So, I think the Knicks can least afford to lose the first game tonight. Big perk. The Knicks winning this series in five. And listen, let me say this. It’s no disrespect, no disrespect whatsoever to the Pacers. I think Rick Carlile is a hell of a coach. Tyrese Hallebertton has been balling. Pascal Seiakum, Miles Turner is one of the most underrated players in the league that we don’t talk about enough, but the Knicks did take the paces to seven games last year. Jaylen Brunson was injured. Josh Hart abdominal strain. Oiana Noi hamstring. And then now all of those guys are healthy. You add Carl Anthony Towns and Muel Bridges. And guess what? You got homecourt advantage. Homecourt advantage matters in this postseason. Madison Square Garden is going to be rocking. The Knicks have made that a tough place to play in, especially after that game six performance that they put on. I look, kudos, shout out to the Indiana Pacers. They did outstanding job. Obviously, they knocked off the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the difference between the Cavs and the Knicks, the Cavs are soft. The Knicks are some dogs. And when you talk about Big Body Bronson, you talk about OG Ana Noi, Mikuel Bridges, those guys out there, those rough riders and the way Tibs is coaching, the Knicks are winning this series in five. So, I know that probably didn’t answer the question that was put on that’s across the topic, boy. But I had to get that off my chest. That’s a long ass answer just to say you didn’t answer the question. Let’s get that out the way right now. I mean, you didn’t have to you didn’t have to you didn’t have to add that last part where you said I know I didn’t answer the question. At least you could have answered the question. You don’t take that long. You said I’m allowed to give Go ahead. But you should have answered the question though. How you going to say you didn’t answer the question after that long ass answer? That’s all I’m trying to say. The bottom line is this, y’all. Bottom line is this. You’re being very disrespectful to the Indiana bases. Very disrespectful. I mean, Rick Carile is a champion. As much as we love Tibs, Tibs hasn’t even coached in the finals as a head coach. Okay, Rick Carau is a champion. So that’s very disrespectful. That’s number one. Number two, Miles Turner, Tyrese Hallebert and N Smith, Nem Hard, and these brothers, they can ball now. Mattin, all right, Seakum, I even bring him up. They can ball now. Now, I know that Carl Anony’s averaging over 30 on 57% shooting against these brothers in the three games that they played. I know that the New York Knicks have scored over 120 points or 120 points in each of those games. But what we’re leaving out is that they had to Indiana can score on anybody. I got the Knicks winning this series, too. But I am not going to disrespect the Indiana Pacers by saying, “Oh, Knicks in five.” Okay, I know my man OG Juan and the rest of the crew out there all tripping and talking about Knicks and five. Knicks and five. I’m not getting beside myself like that. I got the Knicks winning this series, but I think this series right here has seven games written all over it. I it might be in six. New York Knicks. I could see the New York Knicks going to Indiana and winning a game six, but I certainly am going to give the Indiana bases more than one game in this series. I would not disrespect them like that. I cannot. You didn’t answer the question either, Hot Shot. The question was, who uh I mean, my god, you get Look, look. Pay attention. I know it’s 6:30 in the morning and you’ve had your exam, but be on top of it. What? Where’s your tea with milk? board can lose game one. Pacers or Knicks? Give me an answer. Thank you, Mad Dog. The Knicks. The Knicks. Okay. All right. We agree. Hey. And I’m with Big Body Perk. Nix and seven. What’s your answer? Perk. Hello. What’s going to game? You going to read the damn question. You gonna read the damn question. He did that on purpose, Molly. He did that on purpose, man. Come on, man. I mean, I would I would say the Pacers. I would say the Pacers because Oh, the games on there the first two games at Master Square guarded. I think that they can afford to lose game one. They just want to go back to Indiana 1-1. You understand? I think they can afford to lose it. But I will give you cuz you did say that last night. I think we need to go to commercial break. Everyone needs to just regroup, get a little caffeine, and we’ll revisit in about 4 minutes. No perk, you need caffeine. You need it. You need it coming up.

On First Take, Molly Qerim is joined by Stephen A. Smith, Chris ”Mad Dog” Russo and Kendrick Perkins to talk through the NBA Conference Finals.
0:00 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
0:40 Something or nothing?
3:20 Big Perk chimes in
10:00 Does Shai Gilgeous-Alexander get too many calls?
13:30 New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers preview

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