Alex Speers

So I don't want to get too excited because I did the same thing with the Cavs when they beat the Heat. Oh my gosh, the Cavs look unstoppable. Of course, they dealt with some injuries. Man. All right. I'm going to go with OKC. Yeah. So that leaves Mike. You could have either of the Eastern Conference representatives, assuming Boston gets knocked out at some point, or you could take the Wolves.

Yeah. You know, part of it is, and maybe Andrew feels this way too, like if Denver, Boston or OKC wins the championship, it makes sense in the historical context of the NBA. If any of these other teams win, it's going to be an outlier compared to what we've thought like a title contender, a title winning team needs to look like in the regular season. Yeah. They're going to stand out.

Yeah. You know, part of it is, and maybe Andrew feels this way too, like if Denver, Boston or OKC wins the championship, it makes sense in the historical context of the NBA. If any of these other teams win, it's going to be an outlier compared to what we've thought like a title contender, a title winning team needs to look like in the regular season. Yeah. They're going to stand out.

Yeah. You know, part of it is, and maybe Andrew feels this way too, like if Denver, Boston or OKC wins the championship, it makes sense in the historical context of the NBA. If any of these other teams win, it's going to be an outlier compared to what we've thought like a title contender, a title winning team needs to look like in the regular season. Yeah. They're going to stand out.

And so maybe that's why we're attracted to these teams, even though it is so precarious. Because like you said, they could be knocked out by the end of the weekend.

And so maybe that's why we're attracted to these teams, even though it is so precarious. Because like you said, they could be knocked out by the end of the weekend.

And so maybe that's why we're attracted to these teams, even though it is so precarious. Because like you said, they could be knocked out by the end of the weekend.

You don't want to watch game seven? I'm sorry. Just give me a couple more days. I do appreciate, I do appreciate that. I got two days. You get two days. Yeah.

You don't want to watch game seven? I'm sorry. Just give me a couple more days. I do appreciate, I do appreciate that. I got two days. You get two days. Yeah.

You don't want to watch game seven? I'm sorry. Just give me a couple more days. I do appreciate, I do appreciate that. I got two days. You get two days. Yeah.

So I want to ask you about defensively because a lot of the analysis about the Pacers defensively focuses on targeting Tyrese Halliburton as like the weak link in their defense. And we saw the Cavs go after him in the series. And yet, as you pointed out in your podcast after game five, the Cavs were not as successful as you might have expected in those situations.

So I want to ask you about defensively because a lot of the analysis about the Pacers defensively focuses on targeting Tyrese Halliburton as like the weak link in their defense. And we saw the Cavs go after him in the series. And yet, as you pointed out in your podcast after game five, the Cavs were not as successful as you might have expected in those situations.

So I want to ask you about defensively because a lot of the analysis about the Pacers defensively focuses on targeting Tyrese Halliburton as like the weak link in their defense. And we saw the Cavs go after him in the series. And yet, as you pointed out in your podcast after game five, the Cavs were not as successful as you might have expected in those situations.

So what have the Pacers done to limit the damage of this expected weak link in their defense?

So what have the Pacers done to limit the damage of this expected weak link in their defense?

So what have the Pacers done to limit the damage of this expected weak link in their defense?

You mentioned Neesmith and Nembhard. They've been huge playoff risers so far. Both are posting numbers well above their regular season averages. They've been shooting the lights out. They're both finishing their third seasons in Indiana.

You mentioned Neesmith and Nembhard. They've been huge playoff risers so far. Both are posting numbers well above their regular season averages. They've been shooting the lights out. They're both finishing their third seasons in Indiana.

You mentioned Neesmith and Nembhard. They've been huge playoff risers so far. Both are posting numbers well above their regular season averages. They've been shooting the lights out. They're both finishing their third seasons in Indiana.

I was wondering for each player, what do you think has been the biggest area of development in their games over these last three seasons for Nembhard and Neesmith?