Are we still in for a sweep, Jay??

Is a sweep still on the table or is that off the table now? So I feel like Adam would have happened that morning with somebody that came through and poured a little Kahlua, you know, that I wasn't paying attention to in my coffee. Had me a little sideways.

So not on the table, nor is a gentleman's sweep. I just feel like we're in for a series. I thought Denver, which was shocking and alarming to me, frankly, I thought this team was matured enough to be bought in to match the energy there of the Miami heat. And the lack of defensive discipline was like alarming to me.

It was concerning. And now I know this is something that Michael Malone has been talking about for the whole year, especially the second half of the season. And I wonder if that's a switch that you can just turn on and off, but I want certain guys who aren't getting their touches offensively. And I'm questioning your commitment to the defensive end. And that starts with Michael Porter, Jr., the third max player on this team who, frankly, watching Jokic and watching Jamal Murray rewatching the tape, I was disgusted with the lack of sense of urgency that I saw exhibited on the court.

Multiple possessions. It's like, are we in the NBA finals? Are we playing some kind of offseason tournament? Because it felt like the offseason tournament to me, like the basketball tournament. We needed an Elam ending. J Will is joining us, J Will, Keyshawn and Max.

Here's the thing. The interview that Michael Malone did at the end of the third quarter, he said, now we need our best defensive quarter of the game. And they got the opposite, Duncan Robinson, then Gabe Vincent, then Bam Adebayu. They came back with Jimmy Butler still sitting on the bench. And then Butler, I almost forgot, like, oh, that's right. They had Jimmy Butler. And then Butler came in and basically closed the deal.

There were some hairy moments late. Miami had some bad possessions offensively that kind of led to some stuff. But I think this Miami team, they're an example for everybody, aren't they?

I mean, wait, let me go back to your point, Dweegee. So much in the game too. And you're talking about the beginning of the fourth quarter. And I always love when coaches are forced, like, to do these interviews because, you know, they hate it.

They despise it. Right. And as he's talking about, yeah, we need to give a great defensive effort. You see Duncan Robinson give Jamal Murray a head fake and he flies by him. And then he makes a three. And then literally the next possession, it's a blow by move on the baseline against Jamal Murray by Duncan Robinson.

Yeah. Then you got, you know, Jeff and Gundy, who's like, I'm really shocked that Duncan Robinson, they would have put the ball on the ground. And then the next possession, he makes a dagger of a three and it goes on an 8 0 run. And you're just like, oh, my goodness, this is exactly.

So yeah, I do think Miami is a spitting example. I just made that up. I don't know. I like it. I like it. Can you spit and be an example of something? Well, spitting image is a word. Spitting image.

That's what I was searching for. See, you're a true teammate. I feel like those are you need you need to have your two best players. Think about this.

And nobody's talked about this yet, A.G. There are two best players from Miami are guys who are willing to do all the dirty work for them on a defensive end. You tell me another team in the NBA, maybe with the exception of the Clippers, where that's the case. It's true. And they can't stay healthy, right?

Yeah, I don't think there is one. So, I mean, it sets the tone for if you say, well, you know, they never go away. I'm like, no, it's not about going away. They're always in the game mentally. And you can't be mentally tough is not an attribute that we associate next to the greatest players in the game of basketball that much anymore.

Right. Like in this star driven society we live in is being mentally tough and staying in the game. And that's what Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo always do. You know, I think there is another team that when the Lakers were at their best, it was when LeBron and Anthony Davis didn't have to be offensive catalyst where they could concentrate more of their energies on the defensive end and let the Reeves and the D'Angelo Russell's to an extent, Rui Hachimora and others, especially when Lonnie Walker was playing well offensively, when they can let those guys be really good offensive players and all they had to do was get contributions from LeBron. They're going to get their numbers because they have the ball, but they didn't have to dominate at that end of the floor. They could really focus their energies on defense. And when that went away, the Lakers went away too. It's also possible that Denver might have left a lot of that energy in the conference finals. Really?

That's what we're going to do. No, I'm not saying that's an excuse. I'm just saying it's, you know, they haven't played well defensively, but I think both teams were poor in game one on both ends of the floor. They shot poorly. I didn't think the defense was amazing. I just thought it was game one and maybe both teams were off for, actually Miami wasn't off for that long, but I guess there was a, let me give you a couple of possessions where I just it's about readiness, right?

And it's actually a very undervalued word for young people today, always staying ready. So max juices, first three, literally it's under the basket imbalance play where the whole right side of the floor where he's inbounding the ball, Adam is set up where Kevin love is outside the three-point line. What do you think is about to happen? Here comes a pass over the top, a down screen.

It's so obvious, right? So when the pass goes over to the top of Jimmy Butler, KCP is standing up. He's not ready. My extra is a lower to the ground about to go into a sprint. By the time KCP reacts, the play is already done.

Max truce three, I'll give you the next suggestion where max is able to hit another three. Literally they're trapping. It's a guard on guard screen with Gabe Benson and Max truce. Why are they double teaming the screen?

It's an easy switch, lack of readiness and communication. I'll give you the next max history. Literally, um, Jimmy Butler is being guarded by Aaron Gordon. Jamal Murray is guarding Max truce. Max is coming over to set a screen. Absolutely doesn't even set the screen sets a Phantom screen. Flares fades to the corner.

Jamal Murray. Who's this lazy in that moment when there's not a screen, literally just points doesn't even communicate to Aaron Gordon as a switch. It's those lack of readiness moments where you're looking at a team and you're saying they're still immature. They're not seasoned enough because these are, it doesn't mean they can't win, but it's those miscues that you're looking at a team that's still trying to find out who they are in NBA finals and give a Miami Heat team who knows exactly who they are. And that's a major difference in the series.

Jay Williams, Jaywill, Keyshawn, Max, ESPN radio every morning here, especially if you're listening on the fan in Raleigh. So here's the, um, not to go back to Boston from the previous series for Miami, but I, I did a, I don't know, a half hour on why I just didn't think the Celtics were mentally tough enough to win a, win a championship. They had it, they could have won it last year and granted the Warriors are a legendary team, but the Celtics had game four and game six on their own court and lost them. Um, and they lost that series in six and they had game seven. I know they spent a lot of energy to get back, but game seven, you shouldn't have to have a lot of energy, uh, in the, in the tank in game seven. It's, it's all the, all the adrenaline should carry you through.

And Boston just kind of went away. Miami has mental toughness and I'm like, is that something that maybe Denver lacks? The new Chevy Silverado HD puts you in command own strength with its enhanced available Duramax 6.6 liter turbo diesel V8 on the lake with its available advanced towing technology and own technology with an available 13.4 inch diagonal touch screen. The new Chevy Silverado HD own work own play own life. Learn more at chevy.com.

Find new roads, Chevrolet. I think Miami has players collectively that have won championships and that experience comes out in moments of desperation and moments of being uncomfortable. Uh, Kyle Lowry has been through the gauntlet, won a championship in 2019. KCP has, you know, I'm sorry. Uh, you know, Jimmy has gotten very, very close.

Like Kevin love has won a championship in Cleveland calves. Right. So I think there is a sense of when moments become unsure for a lot of people, you start seeing people falter or people becoming uncomfortable. And I think when moments become uncomfortable for the Miami heat, that's when they're at their best. That's when there's a sense of easiness because everybody knows what to expect from one another because there's experience in the trenches.

And I think that lack of experience comes out when times get the most difficult. Hey, we'll keep Sean and mags. So do you give the advantage to Miami going back home? I said from the beginning, remember last week, I said, I liked Miami in seven and Miami was a, was a pretty big number. If you were people were talking about the betting market, a pretty big number as an underdog, but Miami in seven, which is how I think they would win this.

It was like plus 1200, which was just too good to pass up. Uh, of course, no real money changes hands, uh, because there's nothing worse in this world for me than losing money. Um, cause that's what would happen if I actually put money on it. Uh, but do you give Miami a slight advantage now the rest of the way? I do.

I do. Cause I think style of play matters. I, um, I, I, it is even though Denver has home court advantage, the style of play and energy that Denver needs to exert, they're gonna have to earn every ounce of, you know, if you're pulling a rope to get, you know, the rope over to your side here in that tug of war scenario. Uh, I know what Denver is capable of offensively. I just wonder what Denver is capable of defensively. And I know what the ceiling is for Miami.

I've seen it on both ends of the floor. And I think right now in real time, a lot of people are questioning the ceiling and the floor for the Denver nuggets defensively. And that's a true testament of a champion.

All right, let me ask you a couple of quick questions outside of this series before, uh, before I let you go. Um, is Frank Vogel the answer in Denver or are their problems still pretty structural in terms of it's just a two man team right now, because their depth is gone. I think he's part of this solution. I think that's a team that, you know, needs to really buy into a defensive mentality.

Obviously, Monty Williams voice, um, sincerely resonating amongst the ears of Aiden. I think there were some chemistry personnel issues, uh, that they had on that team. I'm not saying that Frank Vogel can cure that, but I think Matt, and James Jones have some work to do around. It relates to like, what are the right cast of individuals to be centered around Kevin Durant and Devin Booker to play a faster style of pace of basketball.

I know one thing for sure. Um, there's room for improvement defensively. And also the pace of basketball is going to be faster because I want the ball in the hands of Devin Booker. I've seen what that looks like now.

And I liked that moving forward. So at this stage of his career for CP three, can you get some pivotal pieces, um, you know, guys that can play certain roles around Katie for the likes of CP three. And also what is that trademark for Deandre, but I think Frank Vogel is a step in the right direction. A certainly what a title with the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, finally is the warriors run. And I mean, they might not win another championship, but maybe they can be a factor, but is there run over in terms of being a legit contender in the West? Draymond's got one more year left in his deal, but he's looking for a bigger deal or do they basically have to kind of blow it up, leave Steph where he is? Who's also in his mid thirties by now, but still great.

Are they done? Oh, I think considering that clay has one more year left in the deal and breaking up for 27 million, I do not believe that Dre will make more than that on the open market. I'm hearing that his numbers in the, you know, the, the mid threes, I don't see anybody paying him, you know, that number per year annually. So I think you'll see him opt in. I think this will be the last to rock frankly, for this team. And I think even if clay plays well, they're going to try to get him for a discount, but I still believe that that dynasty is a chance to continue. As long as you have Steve Kerr and Steph Curry playing. I mean, it, it may be done as relationship and Draymond green there and what that looks like, but Steph Curry is the dynasty guy. He is. And to me, as long as you have that as a centerpiece to build around, I'm okay with Golden State being where they're going to be. He's amazing. Curry, we talked about it a couple of weeks ago.

I mean, for the people who are still reluctant to put him in the top 10 all time, he's changed the game, completely changed the game. All right, my friend, I will talk to you very soon. Best to you and yours. And I know when you get to town, I don't know. Maybe, maybe we'll play golf. Oh, I would like that. Maybe we'll do a show together and then we'll play golf.

That sounds even better. All right, my friend. I'll talk to you later. Peace. All right.

Bye. The new Chevy Silverado HD puts you in command own strength with its enhanced available Duramax 6.6 liter turbo diesel V8 on the lake with its available advanced towing technology and own technology with an available 13.4 inch diagonal touch screen. The new Chevy Silverado HD. Own work, own play, own life. Learn more at chevy.com. Find new roads. Chevrolet.