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00:00Presented by Patron, with Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin, Steve Nash, and Udonis Haslam.
00:08Here's your host, Taylor Rooks.
00:12A huge night for Stephon Castle.
00:15A game high, 32 points with 11 rebounds and 6 assists.
00:19And the Spurs are headed to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2017.
00:26And Victor Wimbenyala, he is going to join us very shortly.
00:29Welcome into the lounge at Stage 11.
00:31I'm Taylor Rooks with BG, Dirk, Steve, and UD.
00:35The Spurs, they're headed to the Western Conference Finals in a great game.
00:39You heard Stephon Castle say there that their energy and attention to detail was the best that it has been
00:44all series.
00:45And that really showed, UD.
00:47Yeah, and once again, it showed in this series, but this has been a season-long building process for these
00:53guys.
00:53I mean, it started in training camp, and you also heard him talk about them being ahead of schedule.
00:57This is months of working on habits, not settling, not just going through games and say,
01:02OK, we won, we'll get to the next one.
01:03No, we're going to get in film, we're going to hold ourselves accountable, we're going to correct our mistakes.
01:06So when we get to this part of the season, we're at our best version.
01:09I love to see a team wear on a team, impose their will, and break them.
01:14Trust me, this is a very gratifying win if you're on the other end and you're the San Antonio Spurs,
01:18to go against a good team that have been in the Western Conference Finals the last couple of years,
01:22to wear them out and to finish them at the end.
01:25I'm just impressed.
01:26Average in the age of 25 in that starting lineup, and a, what, 35, 36-year-old coach?
01:31This is extremely impressive for me.
01:33Yeah, I mean, just the poise.
01:35UD, you touched on it, but to be that young and to come out and just go about their business,
01:40losing game one and then to rattle off four straight, says a lot about who they are collectively,
01:47but also individually.
01:48They all just seem like they're about business.
01:50They look like they enjoy playing basketball with each other,
01:53but this was just an impressive win from the beginning.
01:55I mean, it's not easy for a young team to go back on the road and have to get one
01:59to close it out
02:00and come out and play with the poise they did and not give up a lead like that.
02:05I mean, we obviously know all about the poise, the lack of experience.
02:09We have talked about that.
02:10We know how great Wimby is, but in this game and really throughout this series,
02:15the guards have been a difference maker, Steve.
02:18It's incredible.
02:19You know, they have three guards that can really get to the basket almost any time they want.
02:22I think it's a decision defenses have to make, and you've also got Victor Roman.
02:26You've got shooters around them, so it's an embarrassment of wealth in some respects for this team
02:30that they can play both sides of the ball.
02:32They can come at you in different ways.
02:33You know, I still think they're a developing team in a lot of ways.
02:37Having said that, at this curve in their development, they might be good enough to win a championship,
02:40but, like, they're nowhere near where they're going to be, and that's how good they are already.
02:44I mean, we're going to dive into this a little bit more, but talking about being good enough
02:48to win a championship means going through the OKC Thunder.
02:52What do you see about that potential matchup?
02:55Derek is like, yeah, it's a giant, but Steve's right.
02:59Yeah, I mean, this has been developing all year long, and I think this is the matchup we all want
03:03to see
03:03and look forward to.
03:04This is going to be an incredible series.
03:07We all know the Spurs had a little bit of a heads-up this year in the series.
03:12I think they're 4-1 against OKC this year, so it's going to be incredible.
03:17I think the difference is that, you know, OKC can push, pressure you, turn you over,
03:22but the Spurs are a tough matchup with those three guards.
03:25Like we talked about, how poised they play, they don't turn the ball over, they're smart.
03:30Wembe is a game-changer on both ends, so this is a tough matchup for OKC also,
03:35so this will be a heck of a series, and we're all going to be tuned in.
03:38Yeah, and if you're the San Antonio Spurs, do not be immature and think whatever happened
03:42in the regular season matters right now in the playoffs.
03:44Whatever you did against those guys in that regular season does not matter right now
03:49in the playoffs.
03:49It is 0-0.
03:50Both teams are healthy.
03:51You win against a Portland Trailblazer team that you were just better than.
03:55Then you win against a Minnesota Timberwolves team who was hurt.
03:57Anthony Edwards was not 100%.
03:59They lost DiVincenzo.
04:00They're going against a full team now.
04:01Don't worry about what happened in the regular season.
04:03This is 0-0, and we're starting from scratch right now.
04:06Good point.
04:07Yeah, great point for sure.
04:08You know, it was balanced scoring in this one.
04:11Six different Spurs scored in double digits tonight.
04:13Those guards combined for 68 points.
04:15We keep saying that they are ahead of schedule, but what is it?
04:19Why?
04:22They're poised.
04:23They're maturity.
04:24I mean, I think they're so locked in.
04:25I do want to give a shout-out to the Spurs coaching staff.
04:28Completely.
04:29They truly.
04:30I mean, you can't speak to young players progressing without pointing to the
04:34coaching staff and the job they've done with them.
04:37Mitch Johnson has been fantastic.
04:39Offensively, they've grown.
04:40They're trusting each other, but defensively as well.
04:42Sean Sweeney, who a lot of us know, I mean, has done such a good job of
04:48building blocks, right?
04:49You start off the season, you're working on this.
04:51Okay, we got that.
04:51We're going to add to it, add to it.
04:53And there are wrinkles to their defense that we haven't seen yet.
04:57I mean, there's different lineups.
04:58There's different things that they can throw out there.
05:01So, that's what I'm excited about for this next series is, you know,
05:05Oklahoma City, I think San Antonio has more levels to go to with different
05:10wrinkles to throw in.
05:11You saw the Lakers trying to throw different wrinkles out there,
05:16a little junk defense to get some stops.
05:18And I think San Antonio has that as well.
05:21But they have the bodies.
05:23They have the players to be able to match up with Oklahoma City.
05:26So, I'm excited for that little chess match between the two coaching staffs.
05:31What is the thing from this series, you know,
05:33that they will have to take with them moving forward?
05:35And the thing, you know, they are going to have to fix.
05:39What are they going to have to fix?
05:41I think the turnovers were a little bit of an issue, I think.
05:45For this team, how good they are offensively is because they don't let you
05:49off the hook.
05:49They do not get empty possessions.
05:51If they turn it over, they might turn it over.
05:53But they do not get empty possessions.
05:54They drive the basketball, they spray to the open guy.
05:57If he has a shot, he takes it.
05:59If he doesn't, you have Wimby at the rim.
06:00So, they don't have empty possessions.
06:02I think just not turning over the ball.
06:03And obviously, defensively, this poses a whole different threat right now.
06:06You're not going against a big that's going to be standing in the paint right now.
06:08You're going against a big who can shoot the ball from the perimeter.
06:10So, Wimby has to be a little more careful when he goes to block those shots
06:13because you have a guy that can spread the floor.
06:15It's not going to be as easy as it was when you're guarding Gobert
06:17or even when you're guarding J.D. McDaniels.
06:19As good as McDaniels was in the first series,
06:22he is not a standstill, spot-up, three-point shooter.
06:24That is not what he wants to do for a 48-minute game.
06:27Chet can stand out there, and he can shoot the ball well enough to beat you.
06:29And Jalen Williams can as well.
06:31So, those five men can knock down shots.
06:33So, it'll be a little bit more of a different challenge for Wimby,
06:37but I'm sure those guys will figure it out.
06:38They'll get in our friend room, and they'll understand what they need to do.
06:40And I think as good as San Antonio's been
06:43and how terrific we've seen their guards play,
06:45I do think they're going to be challenged to score in the half court.
06:48I mean, if they get in a half-court game with OKC,
06:50they will have to execute,
06:52and I think it's going to be a real growth opportunity for them.
06:54But they're going to be challenged.
06:55There's going to be times if they don't make shots, they don't make plays.
06:57How are they going to create advantages?
06:59They're very good at creating in transition.
07:01Yeah, some of their shot selection at times in this series,
07:05you know, when they weren't getting to the basket,
07:07it was a little shaky.
07:09And they were able to make shots tonight.
07:11But what are they going to do
07:12when they're not getting everything at the basket?
07:14And what are they going to do
07:14when some of those three-point shots aren't going in?
07:16And that's when you saw their offense rattle a little bit,
07:20especially in the two losses.
07:22I think their defense travels, and that's the biggest point.
07:25Everybody says they're so immature, they're not experienced.
07:28But their defense makes up for their lack of experience on the offensive end.
07:33They're so good.
07:34If they hold teams to under 40% shooting,
07:36that gives them a chance every night to play
07:39and be in the game and win on the road.
07:41They don't really get into trading baskets.
07:44It's when he plays every defensive position like it's his last
07:47and goes for everything and competes.
07:49And that sets a tone for everybody.
07:52And I love the emotional just steadiness of those three guards.
07:59They're young, but they don't get too rattled.
08:01They don't get too high.
08:02They don't get too low.
08:03They keep attacking.
08:04They keep playing their game.
08:06Keep putting pressure defensively full court.
08:09And I was really impressed by the Spurs again in the series.
08:13Yeah, they're inexperienced, but they are very mature.
08:16Yeah.
08:17They're very mature.
08:19It's impressive.
08:20You watch all of them talk to the media, talk to us,
08:23and they have the right answers.
08:24And it's one of those things where they actually believe it.
08:27This is not just good media training.
08:31I think they're far beyond their years that way.
08:34And what I love about them, the maturity comes out on when you make a mistake,
08:38when you get punched in the mouth, when you lose.
08:41They're not too cool.
08:42They don't get emotional.
08:44They are able to bounce back.
08:45They learn their lessons.
08:46That's a maturity.
08:48They get better every game, every series.
08:50They learn.
08:51They grow.
08:51They take something with them.
08:52That is what's scary about this team is that they could come out,
08:56they could get blown out in game one,
08:57and they're going to be a totally different team in game two.
08:59And that's a sign of maturity as well.
09:01And so much of that maturity does begin with Wimby.
09:04We are going to speak with him shortly.
09:06But when you look back on this regular season and this playoffs,
09:10what did we see from Victor Wimbanyama this year that most impressed you, UT?
09:15Just the growth.
09:15Just the growth offensively, defensively, understanding the game,
09:18the leadership, how he's continued to lead this team,
09:21not only with his play but with his voice.
09:23I think oftentimes when you get a young player,
09:24they don't know how to use their voice.
09:25They know how to go out there and play hard,
09:26but they don't know how to use their voice.
09:28You start to see Victor start to use his voice.
09:30You start to see him cut his hair off
09:32and just do all these things to just bring these guys together.
09:34So, you know, for me, it's just his leadership.
09:37The leadership that he has displayed from the beginning of the season
09:39to now has been great.
09:41Well, we'll get to chat with him about that.
09:43It is time now for premium player presented by Patron.
09:47There he is.
09:47Wimby.
09:47He's back again.
09:49He's back.
09:49Back again.
09:50He's doing this every week.
09:54Wimby, the Spurs ended a six-year playoff drought this season,
09:58and you now make the Western Conference Finals
10:00for the first time since 2017.
10:04I know you are soaking it all in,
10:05but what does this moment represent for you?
10:09Man, the Warriors Conference Finals just seem surreal right now.
10:13It's like something I heard my whole life,
10:15and now we're in it, and it's kind of unreal.
10:17But at the end of the day, it's just basketball.
10:19We know what we've got to do.
10:21Victor, ça va?
10:22Félicitations.
10:23Ça va et toi?
10:24Merci.
10:24How's my accent?
10:26Brutal.
10:26Pretty good.
10:27Thank you.
10:28Dirk's trying to hate, but thank you.
10:29Thank you.
10:31Hey, listen, you guys are a young team.
10:33We talked about it.
10:34You said, you know, we don't care.
10:36But how have you seen your team grow and form habits,
10:40even during the playoffs?
10:41Because it feels like you just keep getting better.
10:44Feels like everybody's taking pleasure
10:46in executing the game plan.
10:49And personally, this series was probably the most fun I had
10:52on defense, the most fun.
10:54And, like, everybody was on a string.
10:57Everybody was, like, connected.
10:58And I was about to go help somebody because I know my teammate has my back.
11:03And, like, everybody just went together, you know.
11:07And that's the most fun I had on defense.
11:10Vic, great game tonight, man.
11:12After you got ejected in game four,
11:14I saw you come back with a different focus, a different poise.
11:17I saw them try to get under your skin,
11:18but you wasn't letting them trick you off your spot.
11:20You stayed focused.
11:21You stayed in the moment.
11:22What did you learn from that moment?
11:23And I think that also infused your team a little bit.
11:25What did your team get from that moment as well?
11:27Because I'm a guy that don't mind you drawing a line in the sand.
11:29I know you ain't trying to hurt nobody,
11:31but I don't mind you drawing a line in the sand.
11:32For sure.
11:33No, for sure.
11:35You know, I had to make a statement coming back.
11:38I knew, obviously, what they were going to do.
11:40I knew, of course, there was going to be a certain narrative.
11:44But I felt like if I gave in to the physicality and the dirtiness,
11:50that would have helped them.
11:51And I knew I couldn't go over the edge again.
11:55So, you know, I had to beat them by playing basketball.
11:58By the way, Wimby,
12:00I know you said that you were looking for both mature Vic
12:03and angry Vic to show up at the same time.
12:06What does that look like when they both show up?
12:10It's hard to make him show up.
12:13I mean, it comes out of big games, naturally.
12:15But, like, because it's hard to, like,
12:17not fall to the dark side, you know,
12:19or to the light side or whatever.
12:21And I would say when it shows up,
12:23it's kind of like the end of,
12:25I think it was game three here,
12:27where it felt like everything was coming together for me.
12:29and I felt really smooth in both the physicality and the play.
12:34Congrats to a great game.
12:35What did you see from your three guards,
12:38especially for this game, but for the whole series here?
12:42I saw them overcome some heavy difficulties,
12:46you know, heavy pressure all the time.
12:48It was a hard series.
12:50It was a tough series.
12:51And lots of responsibilities were on them
12:55because, you know,
12:56the way they were guarding the pick and roll,
12:58they had to make a lot of decisions.
13:00And I had to execute the screens,
13:02but then the decision was on them.
13:03And you can see, I mean,
13:04Steph today, he had an amazing pass,
13:07an amazing late pass.
13:08But these guys,
13:09these three, all three guards play way different,
13:11and they all bring something to the table when it's Southern.
13:15Big, you know,
13:16now that this series is over,
13:17looking ahead to Oklahoma City.
13:20I know you guys had success against them
13:21in the regular season and the NBA Cup,
13:24but, you know,
13:24the playoffs is a whole different animal.
13:26So, you know,
13:27what's your focus or the team's focus
13:29going into that series?
13:31Right now,
13:32we're focusing on our body recovering
13:35and putting the Wolf Series to bed.
13:38And tomorrow,
13:39or in a couple of days,
13:40we're going to start worrying about the Thunder.
13:43And we know it's going to be a whole different series
13:45and totally other challenges.
13:48This is a team that knows how to play basketball.
13:50They, you know,
13:51they know their stuff.
13:52And we're going to see.
13:55We're going to re-watch all their games
13:56and do the scouting
13:57and try to execute over there
13:59on Game 1.
14:01Wimby, I mean,
14:02I know that you heard it
14:03throughout the season.
14:04Everybody talked about,
14:06you know,
14:06lack of experience.
14:07Like Steve said,
14:08everybody said,
14:08okay,
14:08this team is ahead of schedule.
14:10Yet here you are
14:11at the Western Conference Finals.
14:12And I'm curious
14:13what you have learned
14:15can sometimes matter more
14:17than having experience.
14:19Heart matters more than anything,
14:21for sure.
14:22More than physical ability,
14:23more than size,
14:24more than experience.
14:26And I feel like lack of experience,
14:29if we don't know
14:30that it's impossible,
14:30we will do it.
14:31As simple as that.
14:33Wimby,
14:33last thing, man,
14:34I saw Sean Sweeney
14:35going crazy
14:36when you closed out
14:36and gave up a dunk
14:37to Terrence Shannon.
14:39So tell him to relax over there.
14:41You're pretty good at defense.
14:44Hey,
14:45we want to
14:46shoot for perfection.
14:47Absolutely.
14:49I like that.
14:49I want him to keep me accountable.
14:51I love it.
14:52Yeah,
14:52you all are awfully,
14:53awfully close.
14:54Thank you so much
14:54for your time,
14:55Wimby.
14:55Congrats and great luck
14:57the rest of the way.
14:58Good luck.
14:58Good luck, man.
14:59Thank you, guys.
14:59Good luck.
15:00Have fun.
15:02All right,
15:02great stuff,
15:03as always,
15:04there from Wimby.
15:05What a guy.
15:06Always a great quote.
15:07You talk about how good
15:08they are with the media.
15:08Incredible.
15:09Now,
15:10earlier tonight,
15:11Cade Cunningham
15:11and the Pistons
15:12were facing elimination
15:13on the road
15:14in game six
15:14in Cleveland.
15:16They walked away
15:16with a 115-94 victory
15:18to send this series
15:19to a game seven,
15:22which means
15:23we will see you
15:24on Sunday
15:25for a win-or-go-home showdown.
15:27That means we're working.
15:28That's my show, baby.
15:30Yes, I don't want to church
15:32no more.
15:32I'm going to sit church up.
15:33Game seven
15:34of the Eastern Conference
15:35semifinals,
15:36Cavs against the Pistons.
15:38You'd be here
15:39with the basketball gods.
15:40Our pre-game coverage
15:41starts at 7.30 Eastern.
15:43We're going to need
15:44some church watching that game.
15:47Coming up next,
15:49Anthony Edwards scored 24
15:50in the season-ending loss
15:51against the Spurs tonight.
15:53we will hear from Ant
15:54at the podium
15:54as NBA Nightcap continues.
15:59NBA Nightcap
16:01is presented by Patron.
16:03Simply perfect.
16:06New York Liberty.
16:07Then it's the L.A. Sparks
16:09and the Phoenix Mercury.
16:10Don't miss the WNBA
16:11on Prime Thursday
16:13at 7.30 p.m. Eastern.
16:16All right,
16:17we saw a dominant performance
16:18from the Spurs
16:19in game six
16:20of the Western Conference semis.
16:22A 139-109 win
16:24to knock out the Timberwolves
16:26and reach the Western Conference finals.
16:28Now, here's Anthony Edwards
16:30after the loss
16:31at the podium.
16:33Just what's kind of
16:34the emotions coming out
16:35of a game where
16:36it got away from you
16:37the way that it did here?
16:39I mean,
16:41I just tip my hat to them.
16:42It was just a better team.
16:44I think you went down
16:45to the Spurs bench
16:47with eight minutes
16:47to go in the game.
16:48Like,
16:49what was kind of
16:50the thought process
16:50to do it
16:51in the middle of the game
16:52there rather than
16:52kind of waiting for the end?
16:54I mean,
16:55at that point,
16:56you know you ain't
16:57going back in,
16:58so you're just trying
16:58to get them the respect
16:59they deserve.
17:00So, yeah.
17:03With how they handled you guys,
17:05like,
17:05how much work
17:06do you guys have to do
17:07going forward here
17:08to catch up
17:09in the Western Conference
17:10and to contend again?
17:14I don't know, man.
17:15I think that,
17:17I don't think
17:17that's a question for me.
17:20And last year
17:21in the West Finals,
17:23you said OKC
17:24was kind of like
17:24on a string defensively.
17:26San Antonio looked like
17:27they had a lot of that look
17:28in this series as well.
17:29What do you guys have to do
17:31as leader or whatever
17:32in the regular season
17:32to make it where you guys
17:33can be like that
17:34on the defensive end
17:35against some of this
17:36top competition?
17:37We just got to listen
17:38to the coaches.
17:39Yeah.
17:40We got a hard time
17:41of, like,
17:42processing stuff
17:42and going out there
17:43and doing it.
17:45We try to do stuff
17:45on our own.
17:47I think that's our problem.
17:48Do you feel like
17:49the regular season
17:49is the time to start
17:50building that stuff?
17:51Yeah, I feel like
17:52you're supposed to build
17:53championship habits
17:54or playoff habits
17:55in the regular season.
17:56Yeah, great question.
17:56I think so, yeah.
17:59All right.
18:00So we're going to unpack
18:01some of the things
18:02that Ant said there.
18:03But here is the moment
18:04where he said
18:05he was just giving them
18:06the respect they deserve.
18:07Eight minutes were left
18:08in the game.
18:09Your reactions
18:10to this moment?
18:11I've watched the NBA
18:12and been a part of it
18:13for a long, long time.
18:14I've never seen this.
18:16A guy walking into the huddle
18:17with eight minutes
18:18to go in the fourth quarter
18:19and dapping up
18:20the entire team.
18:22Too much for me.
18:23Obviously, you can do that
18:25after the game
18:26and show plenty of respect.
18:27That was a little strange
18:29for me.
18:30Yeah, I agree with you
18:32on that.
18:32I've never seen that before.
18:34I mean, I do like
18:35what he said
18:36that he wants to give him
18:36respect, but I think
18:38you wait and you have
18:40to take your licks
18:41at the end of the game
18:42like everybody else.
18:43I do want to say,
18:44I mean, he was definitely
18:45hobbled.
18:46Minnesota definitely hobbled.
18:48With DiVincenzo out,
18:50Io didn't look like
18:51he was full strength either.
18:52And they played hard.
18:53It was a valiant effort,
18:54but I mean, he was right.
18:57San Antonio
18:57was just a better team.
18:58Yeah.
18:59Now, UD, you had a reaction
19:00there to what he said
19:01at the end about
19:02needing to build a team
19:03that has championship habits,
19:04playoff habits.
19:05I didn't get to hear
19:06the question he was asked,
19:07but what were you thinking
19:08when you heard that?
19:09Well, you would think
19:10that they would have that
19:11by now.
19:11You would think
19:12that they would have that.
19:13They've been to the
19:13Western Conference Finals.
19:14You would think over the years
19:15that they've built that.
19:16I understand.
19:17I think this is
19:17Julius Randall's second year,
19:18but you would think
19:19that a team that has been there,
19:21they would have those habits.
19:22So the fact that they don't
19:24have those habits
19:24are very disappointing to me.
19:26Because once you get here,
19:27and I say this all the time,
19:28the playoffs has a way
19:29of revealing what's inside you.
19:31And I didn't like what I saw
19:32from some of the
19:33Minnesota Timberwolves.
19:34Ant was definitely hobbled.
19:36Devin Chinjo was out.
19:37But some of the things
19:38I saw I didn't like.
19:40And what I will say is
19:41as great as Ant is
19:42as a basketball player,
19:43there's still some growth
19:44for him as well.
19:45Because as a leader,
19:46I would not have walked
19:47down there and shook their hand.
19:48I would not have walked
19:49down there and shook their hand
19:50with eight minutes left in the game.
19:51As a leader of my troops
19:52and my guys,
19:53I would not show that weakness.
19:55The game is not over.
19:56I got eight minutes left.
19:57I still got smoke
19:58coming out of my ear
19:58because I'm so damn mad
19:59that we losing.
20:00Let me calm down
20:01for those eight minutes
20:02since I'm not in.
20:03And then after those eight minutes,
20:04I'll go down there
20:05and I'll congratulate them
20:06and their coaching staff.
20:06But in the middle of the game,
20:08when I got guys
20:09that have sat the bench
20:10and cheered me on,
20:11no, I'm going to sit there
20:11and cheer those guys on.
20:12I'm going to put that energy
20:13back into those guys.
20:14And then when the game's over,
20:15I'll go over there
20:16and shake their hands.
20:17So that's just the way
20:18I handle things.
20:19I'm a little bit different.
20:20I'm a little bit old school.
20:20I understand there's
20:21a different generation,
20:22but I don't think
20:23if they were beating San Antonio,
20:24Wimby would have went down there
20:25and shook his hand
20:25with eight minutes left.
20:26I don't think so.
20:28I damn sure know Wimby
20:30wouldn't have went down there
20:30and shook his hand.
20:31I don't even know
20:31if that's old school.
20:32Yeah, yeah.
20:33It's just school.
20:34It's not just school.
20:35Yeah, so for me,
20:37I love Ant-Man
20:38as a basketball player.
20:39I love where he's going to be
20:41as a basketball player,
20:42but as a leader,
20:43the next few steps
20:44he needs to make
20:45are little small details
20:46and things like that
20:47because other people
20:48on your team
20:48and those guys
20:49are always watching you
20:49and they're following you
20:50whether you know it or not.
20:52Yeah, I mean,
20:52I watched that press conference
20:54and obviously I am not
20:54in Ant's head.
20:55I don't know what he was thinking,
20:56but you feel like
20:57you could sense
20:58a little bit of frustration
20:59a bit, just...
21:01Anytime you hear a player
21:02say that's not my decision,
21:03he's saying somebody
21:04got to make some moves.
21:05Do your job.
21:06Anytime you hear a player
21:07say that's not my decision,
21:08he's basically saying
21:08y'all do y'all job up there.
21:09Yeah, I mean, Steve,
21:11what do you want
21:12the Timberwolves to take
21:13from how this postseason went?
21:16Well, I think it's important
21:17to not overreact
21:19because I actually think
21:19they did phenomenally well.
21:21They handled Denver, okay?
21:22They lost DiVincenzo.
21:24The Sumu has been hurt
21:25most of this second round
21:28and Ant's been hobbled.
21:29So for them to get to six games
21:30against a phenomenal team,
21:32like let's not throw
21:32everything out here.
21:33Let's not overreact.
21:34Now, habits?
21:36Were we 100% happy with those?
21:38Okay, we can improve there.
21:40Can we improve the roster?
21:41Absolutely.
21:41But you also have to look at it.
21:43This is a Western conference
21:45that's getting to becoming
21:46a two-horse race, right?
21:48Like two extremely talented
21:49deep teams with futures
21:51and assets and all sorts of,
21:53you know, growth capital
21:54and potential.
21:54So you can't get too carried away
21:57and you can't throw out
21:58the baby with the bathwater.
21:59I think they have to look
22:00at this thing this summer,
22:01see how can they meaningfully
22:03improve their roster
22:04and then start to build
22:05those habits back up.
22:06But this is a team
22:06that's done well
22:07the last three years
22:08and they did very well this year
22:09considering the injuries.
22:10They're well coached.
22:10And they have Ant.
22:11Ant is a cornerstone.
22:13He's a guy like he,
22:14Wemby doesn't really bother Ant
22:15the way he bothers
22:17almost everybody else.
22:18So I think there's a lot of things
22:19they can build on here.
22:21They just got to make sure
22:22they're very strategic
22:23and I don't know how much
22:23flexibility they have
22:24off the top of my head,
22:25but these are big, big decisions
22:27because it has gotten so tight
22:29at the top of the Western Conference.
22:30I also think if you look back
22:33at the regular season,
22:34the regular season means something.
22:35I thought they did great
22:36in the playoffs.
22:37They competed.
22:38They had a great first round,
22:39but they should have never fallen to
22:40whatever they felt to,
22:41like a 6C,
22:42to see a tough Denver
22:44and go to a long series
22:46and fight through all that
22:48with Ann Hobbled.
22:50They were just, for me,
22:51a little bit too inconsistent
22:53all regular season.
22:54You know, they lose some games.
22:56They had big leads
22:57with like a minute left.
22:59And I mean,
22:59that Phoenix game comes to mind
23:01when they were up seven or eight
23:02and they lose a lead like that
23:05in a minute.
23:05And they had numerous
23:07of those games.
23:08And I just think
23:09that's where it starts.
23:10They had some turnover issues
23:12all year long,
23:12some inconsistency.
23:14Maybe they add a point guard
23:17to get some relief
23:18for Ant.
23:19He had a lot on his plate
23:20at times.
23:22So we'll see.
23:23But I agree with Steve.
23:25They have a lot of good pieces there.
23:27And, you know,
23:29unfortunately,
23:30Julius couldn't show here
23:31in the second round.
23:33They really needed him
23:33to step up here
23:34in the second round
23:35and just didn't get enough.
23:37But they got good pieces
23:38and we'll see what they add
23:40this summer
23:41to keep improving their roster.
23:43Yeah, we'll see
23:44what unfolds
23:45in the offseason.
23:46Did you have something
23:46to say, B.G.?
23:50I see what your point
23:51about this sort of becoming
23:53a two-horse race
23:54is very true.
23:55But what we're seeing right now
23:56in the NBA is
23:57you can't really have
23:59weak links on the floor.
24:00Like, Oklahoma City,
24:02sure, you can say,
24:03okay, you know what,
24:04they're shooting,
24:04but defensively,
24:05one through five,
24:06they all guard.
24:07San Antonio,
24:08one through five,
24:08they all guard.
24:09So when you think about
24:11putting a roster together
24:12if you're Minnesota,
24:13it's like trying to figure out
24:15where exactly do you attack it
24:16because the rest of the rosters
24:18really in the West,
24:20you know,
24:20they are not quite there yet.
24:22So I don't know
24:23the answers to it,
24:24but it is a really interesting thought
24:26of how you go from,
24:27okay, we got this team,
24:29Rudy,
24:29and obviously the cornerstone,
24:31Rudy,
24:32a defensive-minded player,
24:33and like,
24:33what little tweaks
24:34do you make?
24:35As you were saying that,
24:36I was trying to think about
24:37what the answer is,
24:39and the problem is
24:40these two teams are so good,
24:41there's not just
24:42a clear-cut answer.
24:44And just to add some context,
24:45as you all are thinking
24:46about the offseason,
24:47and to Gobert,
24:48Randall,
24:49McDaniels,
24:49Reid,
24:50all under contract next season,
24:52Io,
24:53Bones,
24:53Conley,
24:54all free agents,
24:54and of course,
24:55Dante's likely out
24:56for a lot of next season,
24:58so we'll just have to see
24:59how that unfolds there.
25:00But the Timberwolves season,
25:02it's over after a loss
25:03of the Spurs tonight,
25:04and you know the tradition here
25:06on Nightcap.
25:07We have our favorite tradition.
25:09It's time to say
25:10our official goodbye,
25:13Dirk Nowitzki.
25:14Take him to church, Dirk.
25:15The floor is yours.
25:16Is it really?
25:17Ladies and gentlemen,
25:18Mr. Dirk Nowitzki.
25:43I belong to you.
25:51Das ist all I got for.
25:56Ladies and gentlemen,
25:57that was the Smooth Sounds of Dirk Nowitz.
25:59Sexual chocolate.
26:01Sexual chocolate.
26:03We'll be right back for more Smooth R&B and Jazz Hits.
26:07Good stuff, Dirk.
26:08Good stuff.
26:09It never gets old, by the way.
26:10Never gets old.
26:11And that was incredible.
26:13I used to dream of being a radio DJ.
26:16And look, you made it to TV.
26:18Yeah.
26:18Look at me.
26:19Just end up being in the Hall of Fame and making millions.
26:21It's okay, though.
26:22Exactly.
26:23What a life, this guy.
26:25All right.
26:26The boys are back for one last go.
26:30And it all comes down to this.
26:32Who will be left standing after the final showdown?
26:35Do not miss the series finale of The Boys,
26:37May 20th, only on Prime Video.
26:42My fellow Americans,
26:45today I bring you good news.
26:49I am your savior.
26:52I am your savior.
26:57So how about it, you know?
26:58One last go.
27:07Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte,
27:10then Nashville, Michigan,
27:12Pocono,
27:12and a new street course on a naval base in San Diego.
27:16NASCAR,
27:17it's on Prime.
27:19You know what else was on Prime?
27:21Pistons, Cavs.
27:22James Harden looking to close out Cade Cunningham and the Pistons in Cleveland.
27:27Let's see how that goes.
27:28Second quarter,
27:29off the offensive rebound.
27:31Cade Cunningham.
27:32What?
27:34Knocks down the catch-and-shoot three.
27:36That would be good.
27:36Later in the second,
27:38Jalen Duren.
27:40He's back.
27:40He's already here.
27:41Hey.
27:42Let's go back.
27:43Nice move.
27:44Split the double.
27:45Almost lose it,
27:46get it back.
27:46Oh, hey.
27:48Letting this tongue hang out.
27:50Had it the whole way.
27:53Cavs made a push here.
27:54This careless pass by Cade.
27:56Donovan Mitchell gets it.
27:57Goes coast to coast for the flush.
27:58Finish the second quarter strong.
28:0130 seconds later, though,
28:03Max Struess.
28:05Struess.
28:05Struess.
28:06Knocks down the three.
28:08Cavs pull within three and head to halftime.
28:11Final moments of the third off a Miss Mobley dunk.
28:14Sasser had a little breakout here.
28:17Sasser rolling.
28:18Where would he get it from?
28:19A plus 27 off the bench?
28:22Come on.
28:23Come on.
28:24Dean Wade here slips on the inbound play.
28:26Tobias Harris scoops it.
28:28Blue attire.
28:29It was that kind of night for Cleveland.
28:31Later in the fourth,
28:32Paul Reed.
28:33Pauling.
28:35Pauling?
28:36We want Paul.
28:37We want Paul.
28:40Pauling.
28:41Pauling.
28:42That was nice, VG.
28:43I thought that's what Jerk said.
28:45The Pistons win.
28:46I'm not that funny.
28:47They enforce in game seven.
28:49In Detroit on Sunday.
28:51And here's JV Fickerstaff after the victory.
28:54We did what needed to be done.
28:57And, you know, again, when we're at our best, you know, it's the defense that's going to carry us.
29:02It's the physicality.
29:04You know, I was pleased that we were allowed to play our style of basketball tonight, you know, where we
29:09can be handsy, be physical, legally physical, legally handsy, and just make it difficult on people.
29:15We had opportunities, a little small spurts, but it was never, like, a consistent flow on both ends of the
29:20ball, which is a little frustrating, but, you know, you can't do nothing about it.
29:26You got to start focusing, gearing our mind for, you know, one game on the road.
29:30Are you overconfident, nerves, illnesses?
29:33No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
29:34We got a humble group.
29:36I see the group right now.
29:38No heads down.
29:39No, hey, we blew that.
29:40None of that, you know.
29:43They played great.
29:44We didn't play so well.
29:45Now we're going to flip the narrative, you know, game seven.
29:49We can sit here and dwell on this and carry that into Sunday.
29:52What's that going to do for us, right?
29:54So, I understand we have an opportunity.
29:56We missed it.
29:57Now we have another opportunity on Sunday, and that's the mindset.
30:02Two of the best words in sports.
30:05Game seven.
30:07Baby, that's three.
30:08That was it.
30:11All right.
30:12Let's talk about that game seven.
30:14Give me the keys to a win for the Cavs as UD shakes his head.
30:19First, I just have to – listen.
30:21I can't stand when players say, like, what is harping on this tonight going to do for game seven.
30:25It's going to help if you hold each other accountable.
30:28It's going to help if you hold each other accountable.
30:29Listen.
30:30Listen.
30:31Coach Atkinson need to put some hot sauce in these boys' water bottles.
30:33Yes.
30:35I've never seen a team –
30:36No doubt.
30:36I've never seen a team come in with a chance to close out with less intent to finish them.
30:41I've never seen a team come in with a close-out opportunity with less focus, with less intensity.
30:47Like, I've never seen that –
30:48Hell, Coach Atkinson need to put some hot sauce in his water bottle, too.
30:50Because he ain't holding nobody accountable sitting up on that damn stand.
30:53Hot sauce going around.
30:53Like, he ain't holding –
30:54Crystal's at that.
30:55That's what we're doing.
30:56We're coming with the crystals.
30:57Just in case I get it.
30:58Just in case you know it.
30:59But I'm just saying, listen.
31:01Crystal.
31:01Call at them.
31:02Yeah, but listen.
31:03I've never seen a team have a chance to close out and come in with –
31:06You didn't even crack 100 points tonight.
31:09Like, come on.
31:09And didn't sit there and be like, oh, we had an opportunity in small pockets.
31:13No, no, no.
31:14You had an opportunity to win the game from the jump.
31:16And your focus, the way you approached it, your intent, everything was off.
31:21And that's why you lost.
31:22Now you're going back to Detroit with Game 7.
31:25What's going to happen now?
31:26What's inside you is going to reveal itself in Game 7.
31:28We're going to see because you will be judged.
31:30Sitting up there talking about, oh, yeah, what are we going to do about it now?
31:33Lose on Saturday.
31:33Lose the next game and watch what happens.
31:35You will be judged because everybody's sitting here waiting for Donovan to do what he's going to do.
31:39We're waiting for James to do what he's going to do.
31:41You guys have had the opportunity.
31:42Now you sit here in a Game 7 situation.
31:44If you don't close this out, you don't have nobody to blame but yourselves.
31:47Man, they might need to just play this video in the locker room.
31:50Yeah.
31:50I can't stand when guys sit up there on that panel and be like, oh, yeah, what can we do
31:53about it now?
31:54What the hell you mean, what can you do about it now?
31:55Hold each other accountable because James had crazy turnovers.
31:58You had bad turnovers.
31:59This guy didn't box out.
32:01This didn't happen right.
32:02All that was an opportunity for you guys to do those things, and you didn't do it.
32:05So I don't agree with that.
32:06What are we going to do about it now?
32:07We're going to watch this damn film.
32:08That's what we're going to do about it now.
32:09And we're going to fix these problems so when we go to Game 7, we're going to make these same
32:13mistakes.
32:14That's what we're going to do about it.
32:15Lord, we come before you today.
32:17I'm sorry, guys.
32:19Dirk, you're –
32:19Just to add to this, they're very nonchalant to a closeout game at home.
32:2520 turnovers, way too many.
32:27They got beat in fast-break points, points of the paint, second-chance points, bench points, all of it across
32:34the board.
32:34In a huge home game, we have a chance.
32:37You just stole one.
32:38You stole home kind of advantage.
32:40You could close it out on game six.
32:41Just too nonchalant for me.
32:42So, to say all that, I agree with you.
32:45What are we going to do about it now?
32:47Get your ass whooped on Sunday.
32:48You know what?
32:49I think we got it there.
32:51So, key for the Cavs, hot sauce in the water bottle.
32:54All right.
32:54We're going to see you on Sunday for a winter go-home showdown on Prime Game 7 of the Cavs
32:59and Pistons.
33:00Our pre-game coverage starts at 7.30 p.m. Eastern.
33:04And we can't wait to be back Sunday.
33:06Better bring a lot of hot sauce.
33:08Crystals.
33:08I'll let you de-crystals.
33:09And as part of that pre-game coverage, we will announce the winner of the Kia NBA MVP Award live
33:17here on Prime.
33:19The reigning MVP, Shea Gildas-Alexander, three-time MVP, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wimbanyama are the finalists.
33:26The winner will join us on our pre-game show.
33:29Big stuff.
33:30All right.
33:31Speaking of MVPs, how about one more look at that three that Dirk hit pre-game?
33:36Bingo.
33:37Bingo.
33:39Bingo.
33:39Bingo.
33:39Baggy pants, Dirk.
33:41Still got it.
33:41No warm-up either.
33:43I wasted.
33:44One of the painful chest bumps I've ever seen.
33:49The internet was loving it.
33:51Bang.
33:52Bang.
33:54Still got it.
33:55The internet or one guy?
33:57Just checking.
33:58And it's his burner?
33:59It's been viral.
34:02From the crates.
34:03Now, Monday, we showed Dirk hitting a game-winner against Steve Suns.
34:08So, Steve, on this day in 05.
34:10Oh, for no man UDF should have come over.
34:11Too little.
34:12Oh.
34:12Oh.
34:13Was that damp?
34:15Yeah.
34:16Yeah.
34:17Career high, 48 against Dirk.
34:19He had nine turnovers.
34:22He had nine turnovers that game.
34:25No, I didn't.
34:25You guys had great flow back in the day, man.
34:28Luscious locks.
34:29Great hair.
34:30Now we got the power, Ali.
34:32So, it's just sad.
34:34Still flowing.
34:35Steve, don't let him loop you into that.
34:37I don't know.
34:38Joke by himself.
34:40All right.
34:41We want to wish a very happy birthday to someone who coached Dirk and Steve.
34:46Hey, Nellie.
34:47The Hall of Famer Don Nelson.
34:49Happy birthday, Nellie.
34:49Happy birthday, Nellie.
34:51Three-time NBA Coach of the Year celebrating his 86th birthday on Friday.
34:55Happy birthday to you.
34:56Great photo there.
34:58But I actually want to take a second to read you all my favorite Nellie quote.
35:05Oh, he's got a few.
35:06It was great.
35:07He said about both you two that he just struck up a friendship because I think their personalities
35:14kind of clicked and they both like to drink beers.
35:18Feel true to this day.
35:20Hello.
35:21For one of us.
35:23Accurate?
35:23The other one, follow the thumb.
35:28Dirk.
35:28Okay, got it.
35:29Got it.
35:30Nellie.
35:31Nellie is a legend, man.
35:32He was so far ahead of his time.
35:34How he thought the game, the mismatching, the go small, the shooting always, the go small
35:40lineups.
35:41So, yeah, he was a mismatch master and thought the game ahead of his time.
35:45So, happy birthday, Nellie.
35:47Happy birthday.
35:48And judging by that quote, also a truth teller.
35:51Coming up next, we are going to hear from Mitch Johnson in the Spurs locker room.
35:56NBA Nightcap presented by Patron continues after this.
36:06One to catch up on tonight's highlights and tap into more unbelievable playoff action, get
36:13the NBA app and tap to watch playoff games live.
36:17What a series.
36:19Talked about that team.
36:22It's been to the Western Conference Finals two years in a row.
36:26They're tough.
36:27They're competitive.
36:29All the things that we expected.
36:32That's what goes into how delicate every single opportunity and moment is.
36:40And that's what we need from every single one of you, whatever that means.
36:45But that's a fine win tonight and in the series that took every one of you guys.
36:51It's a hell of an accomplishment.
36:54We have a huge Game 7 on Sunday.
36:57And during our pregame show, we will announce the MVP winner live here on Prime.
37:03Shea Gilgis-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wimbaniama are the finalists.
37:07The winner will join us on our pregame show.
37:11On Sunday, it's the Cavs and Pistons with a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals on the line.
37:18Our pregame coverage gets underway at 7.30 p.m. Eastern on Prime.
37:24Dirk, you doing okay?
37:25Doing great.
37:26I think you might need a little bit of that.
37:28I need that action.
37:30By the way, you got to start your own brand.
37:32This is great.
37:33I mean, hot sauce.
37:35Bring the heat.
37:37Great branding there, UD.
37:38Yeah, for sure.
37:40Put it in your water bottle and watch how hard you play.
37:43That's got to go on the label.
37:44How hard you run to the toilet, huh?
37:48That's it for us.
37:49Judging by that yawn, you're running to the bed.
37:52All right.
37:52For BG, Dirk, Steve, and UD, I'm Taylor Rooks.
37:56We're going to see you Sunday.
37:57Good night.
37:58Good night, everybody.
38:00Good night.
38:01Good night.
38:01Good night.
38:05Good night.
38:06Good night.
38:06Good night.
38:06Good night.
38:06Good night.
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