30% chance?! Stephen A. ISN’T LETTING THIS SLIDE from JWill about Knicks vs. Pacers 🍿 | First Take

30% chance?! Stephen A. ISN’T LETTING THIS SLIDE from JWill about Knicks vs. Pacers 🍿 | First Take

[Music] I think that we just did a great job of uh being the first ones to throw a punch. He has been a first quarter machine tonight. Paul Anthony Towns showing no ill effect to that knee. And the New York Knicks have looked elimination in the eye and they are alive and kicking. You know, after a game like that, we understand what the stakes are. You know, now it’s on us to respond. We’re going to have to even be better next game if we expect to have our season continue. Jay, was that Steve Urkel? Cuz that definitely wasn’t Stefan. Oh yeah, that that definitely No, that was not Stefan. That was not Ste Smith right there. I don’t know who that was. What’s going on, y’all? How y’all doing? Today you seem like you upbeat today. The movie I couldn’t make I could I couldn’t make the old code open, but I heard somebody else filled in for me. Did an admirable job, but I’m here. Stephen A’s in the house. I’m ready to roll. What’s going on, Wendy? How you doing, man? Jay, what’s up? What’s up? You got a lot of talents, but impressionist is not one of them. Oh my goodness. All right, let’s get into it. Stephen A, I know you are in a celebratory mood because how about those New York Knicks? The Indiana Pacers carried a 3-1 lead into MSG for Thursday’s game five. But with the Knicks facing elimination, they finally got the start they wanted, led by Jaylen Brunson, who scored the game’s first three baskets and had 14 first quarter points. New York held down the rival Pacers for a wire-to-wire victory 111 to 94 to force game six in Indie on Saturday night. I mean, I bashed against the wall and so I I wasn’t thinking I need to play better than him. I was just thinking I need to help my team win. And um that’s my mindset every time on the court just helping my team win. Every game is do or die, you know. So we don’t bring that energy, we don’t bring that execution, we’ll be uh our season will be over. Okay, Stephen A. Did game five say more about the Knicks or the Pacers? Well, I thought it said more about the New York Knicks from the standpoint of their grit. We all know that from top to bottom, the Indiana Pacers appear to be a better team. Uh, but the New York Knicks had to come out there. They had to get on their grind. They had to be ready to fight to understand that you’re on a brink of elimination. You win or you go home. It’s over for you. And they responded like that. They came out, they scored on their first five possessions. Jaylen Brunson was obviously hot. Their defensive tenacity was there from day one. You saw Mikuel Bridges and others picking up Hallebertton 94 feet. Uh you saw a lot of that going on and certainly uh Hallebertton and Pascal Seyaka uh didn’t have their greatest nights and we all know why because the New York Knicks amped it up. The question is whether or not they can do it continuously. But if you’re at the Garden for game five, knowing you had blown game one, you had lost game two, you ultimately lost game four, that was a game that was winnable, but you didn’t get it done. It was one of those situations. It’s one of those situations where you certainly can’t find yourself losing at home. Had they lost this game last night at Madison Square Garden, the season would have been a disappointment in a lot of people’s eyes simply because it would have been seen as an opportunity that got away. I mean, last night, fellas, uh, New York Knicks are up 14, 15 points with over three minutes left, and I still wasn’t comfortable. And that’s all residue from game one. And so, knowing that’s my reality, seeing them close the deal the way that they did last night. I was happy for them. I wanted to give them props for that. It still doesn’t mean that game six is a given. A matter of fact, game six is going to be even harder. And we’ll see what they do. Stephen, I’m going to up your one on this. I thought it was their best performance from beginning to end that I’ve seen of the Knicks in the playoffs thus far. I mean, just the the the tone that they set and you know, not only do I think it’s enough that makes you think about, okay, if we get that version of Cat in game six, everybody kind of believes that this is who Jaylen Brunson is when he’s aggressive off the top, if we get that type of defensive performance from Muel Bridges, if we get shot making from OG, you know, we have a legit chance to win this series. Even though I would have OKC favored, that team last night is a team that I feel like would at least give you a puncher chance against OKC. Like, it’s just the way they played. And Jaylen Brunson, I I he is just phenomenal. I not only was his defense better, but just shotmaking from the beginning, you know, this point guard duel that we have going. Tyresese Hallebertton having a phenomenal game in game four and then Jaylen Brunson coming right back at the beginning of the game. The first and the third quarter is when the Knicks have had these lows, right, where they’ve had to have comebacks. And the way he’s really set the tone in the first and third quarter, I think 14 points in the in the first quarter, 17 points in the third quarter, just set the tone for how he’s going to play. I thought it was one of his best performances, too. shooting 64% from the field. Series is defined when the Pacers have the ball. What happens when the Pacers have the ball? How fast are they moving? How often do they get it? And what happens with Jaylen Brunson? I know that Jaylen Brunson is a brilliant offensive player. He will score on any court in the country under any conditions. He’s awesome. He’s brilliant. I expect him to have 30 points in a game now because he has standardized offensive greatness. This series is about what happens when he doesn’t have the ball. And last night he was a champion at the defensive end of the court. The Pacers number one game plan every moment in this series has been to attack Jaylen Brunson and it has been working. Coming into last night, the Pacers shot 68% against him when he was the primary defender. And that that tracking is a little bit flawed because there were pro there were times when you couldn’t even tell he was a primary defender because they could set a screen and he was gone. Last night, three of 14, 21%. And the key to me is the 14, the Pacers still went after him as much as they possibly could. He didn’t allow it. He fought over screens. He got up into people. He refused to allow himself to just go away. Look, he’s never going to be an elite defender. He is a superstar because of what he does when he’s got the ball. But his fight last night when he was on the defensive end was defining. There were other things that happened in this game, other credit we’re going to discuss, but Jaylen Brunson competing at the defensive end was the defining moment of this one. Well, listen, you’re absolutely right. No disagreement there, but let’s also understand that it’s a lot easier for the Knicks to do that, Wendy, when they come out and they and they explode on you offensively. You know, when they scoring their first five possessions, when Jaylen Brunson has 14 points in the first quarter, when a guy like Carl Anthony Towns has 12 points in the first quarter, you know, when you look at them, they were a plus 23 on the court together. Coming into this game, they were a minus during the series when they weren’t playing together. That wasn’t the case last night. So, we got to give credit where credit is. That’s right. They were minus 24. So, we got to give credit where credit is due. But we’re on first take and it’s in the morning time and there’s no way in hell that I’m going to let this slide with Jay Williams. I I I really appreciate the saliloquy uh that that that he articulated just a couple of minutes ago, Wendy. I mean, did you see the brilliance of Jay Williams and what he was highlighting that transpired in the game? But conveniently, not only did he bring not bring up the fact that no one but Seakum had doubledigit shot attempts, he was the only pacer with doubledigit shot attempts. That’s how much in him the New York Knicks defense was last night. Okay. That nobody had doubledigit shot attempts. But that included some dude named Tyrese Hallebertton. Oh yeah. Was that him? Did I miss it? Did I see two for seven shooting? Did I see eight points? Now, that has nothing to do with what he may do in game six because the brother can play and we know this. Yes. But the noise that Jay Williams was making over the last few days and then last night at the Garden, seven shot attempts, eight points, and not a mention. I mean, you would have thought, Wendy, that he would have at least said, “Yo, yo.” I mean, I don’t know what was up with the Hallebertton last night. The guard in the biggest stage. I mean, I expect him to show up in game six, but I don’t know what happened to him last night. We’re seven minutes into the show. I was allowing you to lead the show. No, no, you spoke. I’m talking about when you spoke. I know, but I got ask a different question. Don’t Don’t worry. You can You can You know, I love to battle you. You can know that last night, even though I found his his play to be unacceptable, you can know that from 12 a.m. in the morning until now, I’ve been waiting for this moment. And that’s okay. It’s all good. Ain’t nobody running away from it with you. Well, why would you wait for it? Why would you wait for it? I mean, if you wait for you, Mr. Why would you say something about you, Mr. Steve? I’m like, first tank front. Yeah. Hey, look. I I’m going to tell you this, big bro. It was unacceptable last night. I’m the first to tell you. I I I sent a tweet out last night saying, “How do we not look at the basket?” And yes, seven shot attempts and I give a lot of credit to the New York Knicks because their defense really helped hinder his style of play. But also, there is a huge level of accountability on Tyrese Howberg. I mean, when you think about when he scores 20 or points, they’re like 30 and three, some random stat like that. Their style, it’s out of control. And when he is aggressive off the bat, when he scores and is looking to attack, they are a better team. Now, I know the Knicks play great defense. I mean, damn near MueL Bridges is hugging him. He’s giving his kisses. I mean, might they might as well get a private room with the way Muel Bridges all up on him. I mean, just go ahead and do what you got to do. But that’s no excuse. I still think Tyrese Hallebertton is a superstar. This was the worst performance that he’s had in the playoffs. In the playoffs. It is also a fact that he has dropped single digits. I think it’s happened like 13 times this season. Unacceptable again. But still, you cannot diminish the level of importance that he is to this team. When you take off the head, but when you take off the head of the snake and when he’s not aggressive, the this team is a team that can lose, it puts more accountability on him because they can’t win without him being elite. Superstar status. Bad performance does not mean not superstars. Stephen A. We had some superstars have bad performances in the playoffs that you’ve called out as well. We ain’t had no superstars score single digits in 13 separate games. But is it more that the Knicks found the key to stopping him? Um Molly Molly Molly, let me help you out here. Superstars. Oh, that’s you don’t you don’t find the keys to stopping them very often. It doesn’t happen. That’s what makes superstars. And Exactly. Which is why we have to reflect on that and have a conversation about that. Have a conversation about that, brother. Because of what transpired, what what I saw transpired in OKC. We got to have that conversation. No problem. But but all I’m saying to you is this. When you look at Hallebertton, yes, the New York Knicks, to answer your question, Molly, they found some keys at least for this one game. It we’ll really know whether they found something if they could do it in a game six and force a game seven back at Madison Square Garden. Fair enough. But still in all, I look at the shot attempts. Wendy, you know this. Jay, you know this. When we talk about Harden, when we talk about Harden, there’s a four is a three, four time scoring champion. We know how prolific he is. We know how unstoppable he can be one-on-one. It’s one thing to have a bad game, but you show up in the game six and game seven, numerous closeout games throughout your career where the shot attempts ain’t there. That’s when it’s an alarm. Now, if you’re missing, you’re missing. Anybody can miss. Anybody can have a bad game, but the absence of attempts, the absence of aggression, of assertiveness, of activity, the fact that that happens, that is not something you see. And as you saw in the four playoff losses, 11 and a half points a game on what is it like 38 39% shooting. This is all I’m talking about. You got to ask those questions. Got to ask I I will say this. I am not coming on national TV and absolving Tyrese Halleburn of his poor performance at all. I’m not making excuses for it. They were up 3-1. It was a closeout scenario. He was not as aggressive. If I come on TV on Monday and their six shot attempts, I’m going to lose my mind. I’ll I’ll eat Crow. I’ll apologize to you on national TV. I’ll do that. But I don’t think we’re going to see that Tyresese Hallebertton. I don’t think we’re going to see the one that’s going to be passed in a in in one of the biggest moments he’s going to have in his career. He’s a hell of a player. I I I’ve let you guys go because I’m happy you’re keeping the same energy that you had earlier this week when you were counting Aunt Edwards shot attempts and you said 13 was unacceptable. So, I’m glad that you guys are being consistent with that. But I’m going to again point out that there’s nuance when it comes to stars. It’s not about the amount of shots. Hallelbertton is not an elite scorer. I I don’t have the number in front of me. I doubt he’s in the top 30 in the league in scoring. He averaged 18 points a game this season. He’s averaged about 18 points a game in the postseason. And 18 points a game is very good. That the man is a ma a super max player, but he’s not an elite score. Even when they’re at their best and they’re winning games, he’s averaging 21. I mean, Brunson falls out of bed and scores 30. Okay, they are Hallebertton’s skill, elite skill is as a playmaker. And again, what they did in this game wasn’t just holding the seven shots. They kept him from making plays. They scored 130 points. The Pacers did in game four. They scored 94 in game five. 36 point difference. How does that happen? You kept them off the glass. You slowed him up. You pressured him full court. You didn’t turn the ball over. Hallebertton definitely did not show energy in this game. Stephen A, you are right. When you have 13 games in a season where you score less than 10 points, that is an indication of a weakness. He has, you know, he lays duds. Okay, it happens. Pacers fans will tell you this happens about every two or three weeks. Maybe it was due to happen, but the where the Knicks got him here wasn’t in the seven shot attempts. It was they kept him out of running up the floor, cut down his assists by nine. That’s what they got to do if they’re going to make a comeback. Let me get on Wendy for a quick second here, Jay Molly. Because you see the brilliance of Wendy is the the brother knows basketball, but if you let him talk enough, he’ll make you think he the only one that knows. You ain’t telling us something we don’t know, bro. We know that there’s more. We know that Hallebertton star status comes from the fact that he is a playmaker, that he is not some prolific scorer. And we also know that superstars in this game don’t have to be prolific scorers to be superstars. We looked at CP3 for years and we called them, what did we call him, Jay? A point guard. Because this brother because this brother is one of the elite point guards to have ever played the game. He wasn’t out there averaging 25 a night. By the way, Gary Payton didn’t average 25 a night. By the way, Jason Kidd or John Stockton didn’t have average 25 a night. Hell, not even Magic Johnson did. Okay, point guards, facilitators, quits, essential playmakers. We know the difference. The issue with Hallebertton is that Hallebertton when he doesn’t score is when the other stuff plummets as well. It is rare in the day that you will see Hallebertton with single digits in shot attempts, single digits in points scored, but he’s blown up in terms of assist, in terms of his playmaking prowess. Sometimes when you’re off, when your playmaking ability is predicated on the threat that you bring to the table, but you didn’t bring that threat to the table. That’s the difference. CP3, we could see CP3 go out there and have 13 points. We are not questioning at all his greatness as a playmaker because his playmaking greatness isn’t predicated on his ability to score. It’s his basketball IQ. It’s his ball handling and passing ability. It’s his floor general ship. The way he’s able to direct traffic, etc. Hallebertton seems to be able to do that better when he’s scoring. Hey, so here’s what I want to know. Now that they the Knicks have contained Hie, what is our confidence level that New York can come back and win this series? Jay, I mean, I don’t know what to expect in this series. I’m going to be honest with everybody. I mean, it’s I I I think the only thing to say is to expect the unexpected. What I do know is that there’s been a counter for every counter. And I I would say this, I think this was by far the Knicks best performance I think they had in the playoffs. Jaylen Brunson, this team was phenomenal. They shot lights out, right? They came out ready to go. I think you will see a series of adjustments in game six. Stephen A, I think you will see a lot more screens by Miles Turner in the back court. I think whoever Carl Anthony Towns is guarding, there’s no way Rick Carile is going to allow them just to retreat all the way back to the rim to protect it. He’s going to have whoever Carl Anthony Towns is guarding set fullcourt screens for Harley to create more room for Harley to play north to south instead of east to west. I think you’re going to see a different type of blitzing scheme on Jaylen Brunson to take the ball out of his hands. And I also tell you this, when you get to the second quarter when it’s Carl Anthony Towns and four defensive minded people, there were so many times I can point to possession after possession where Cat was great. Put his head down, burrowed his way to the bucket, but it was like Olay. There were multiple times Indiana Pacer players decided just to let him go instead of stepping in and taking a charge. Can he stay out of foul trouble? I So I I give them a 40% chance to win because I just don’t know which team is going to show up. And I think I do know to a degree what kind of schemes Carlile is going to implement in order for Indiana to play faster, especially when they’re at home because they better get it at home. They better get game six. That thing goes back to New York. That’s that ain’t going to be good for them. Yeah, I I definitely think the Knicks have learned a lot about how to play against the Pacers and they are much better equipped now to play against them than they were at the start of this series. Tibs has has made some adjustments. They’ve learned some things. They’re are much better positioned. I will also say that the Pacers are 11 and4 in this playoffs. If you go back to January 1st, which is the date I’ve been talking about where this team really started getting serious, they’re they’ve played 700 basketball for five now, five full months, 700 basketball. They do not go on losing streaks, this team now. So, what I will say if you’re the Knicks, you know that your top end talent, you’ve got two allNBA players right there, Brunson and Towns. And last night, Brunson and Towns were all NBA players. Your top end talent is better in this series. The Pacers depth is better. The the the Knicks top end talent is better. So, this is a situation, a game six on the road elimination. This is defining. This is where you make your money. This is where you establish your legacy. This is where you make your name. The Knicks botched one at in game one at home. Okay, they probably very well could be up 3-2 in this series, but they’re not. To get it back, to get back home court advantage, you need something super special. Start with their top talent right there if you’re going to do something tomorrow night. Well, a couple of things. Number one, I give them a 30% chance to win. I’m rooting for them, but I give them a 30% chance to win because I’m very, very worried about Carl Anthony Towns. We see him hobble. We see it. That’s why I get mad when I’m listening to folks talk on the air and they’re like, “He’s not getting back on defense.” Yo, y’all, the brother is limping. He’s been gimpy for three or four games. Okay, it’s a we didn’t expect to see him out there last night, let alone for him to be out there and to play all 12 minutes in the first quarter, but that’s what transpired. So, we have to understand what they’re going against. I’m very worried about Rick Carlile because Rick Carile is this brother is a hell of a coach. He’s a Hall of Fame caliber coach. And when I think about the Indiana Pacers coming into game six, all right, as Pascal Seakum and the kind of series that he’s been having, Hallebertton and the way that he’s been balling periodically, you really really think they’re not going to show up on their home turf for game six that they’re going to that only seek is going to have double digit shot attempts? I don’t think so. They’re going to be far more aggressive offensively and that’s going to be a challenge for the New York Knicks. And then I’m looking at some stats right here. Points off turnovers favor the Pacers 106 to 48. Fast break points. It favors the Pacers 81 to 38. The bench for the Indiana Pacers 172- 97. Those are three components that you can utilize particularly when you’re on your home turf in Indiana. And oh, by the way, throughout these playoff series, Indiana is for is is undefeated when scoring 114 points or more. They have lost all four games. They have failed to score that many points. And so I’m looking at that and I’m I’m I’m very worried. Yes, I’m a New York Knick fan and I’m rooting for them, but I’ll be damned if I’m gonna look at game six and tell you New York has a better than 25 to 37. Don’t even try it, Jay. Hey, fashion police, this is just for you, Stephen A. Wait, no, don’t don’t even try it. I thought we were talking about the game. Stephen A. Jay just took out his pocket square. Smooth pocket square. Pocket hanger. Stephen A, you are going to lose. Take your take your pocket square out right now. Nope. It’s smooth. It’s tight, isn’t it? Stephen A. It is a piece of paper folded up. Why are you telling people lies, Molly? Why you telling people lies? Is always Stephen Wendy, why is she trying to tell people lies on national TV? He’s got literally a Wow, Molly. Boy, I got quick hands now. Come over here and get touched up real quick. Really get up real quick over here. Doing that. You got on a fake pocket square. A fake pocket square national television. I do. I’m doing what I do. I am devastated. Devastated. Stephen, I have a question before we go to break. There goes the Duke credentials. Wait, I got one question. I’m cost efficient. Wendy, hold up. You You love to ask questions. Did you get it from the printer on set or did you get it from the printer? 10,000% the printer right there on set. Oh, does anyone else have to say anything before we go to print? Oh, by the way, by the way, Molly Molly, can I can I take a moment to can I make take a moment to wish somebody happy birthday? Of course, the brother turned the brother turned 60 today. He is one of the greatest directors and the and producers in Hollywood history. My brother Antoine Fukqua has turned 60 today. You know, training day, Olympus is falling, all of that stuff. Reservoir Dog stuff. Don’t let him go. You You don’t come at May. If we’re going to do that, I’d like to wish my sister a happy birthday today. That’s right. What’s wrong with that? By the way, everybody, it’s May 30th. Everybody whose birthday it is today. Happy birthday, guys. Hold on. I also want to uh wish a happy birthday to my nephew Khan. He turned it was his birthday on Wednesday. Anyone else sister Stephen A. Wait wait wait Brandy keep me on camera. Stephen A. I should write a note. I should write a note to y’all on it.

On First Take, Stephen A. Smith, Brian Windhorst and Jay Williams join Molly Qerim to discuss:
0:00 Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Game 5
3:00 Knicks or Pacers?
4:50 Windy chimes in
6:30 JWill vs. Stephen A.
11:00 The key to stopping Tyrese Haliburton
16:30 Molly’s got a question

✔️ Subscribe to ESPN+ http://espnplus.com/youtube
✔️ Get the ESPN App: http://www.espn.com/espn/apps/espn
✔️ Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE
✔️ Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on YouTube: http://bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoNBAonESPN
✔️ Watch ESPN on YouTube TV: http://es.pn/YouTubeTV

#ESPN