Knicks Karl-Anthony Towns dilemma, Thunder vs. Pacers preview and Inside the NBA on TNT's impact
On this episode of Good Word with Goodwill, Vince and David Aldridge discuss what the New York Knicks should do about Karl-Anthony Towns and preview the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers.
Next, Vince and David do a deep dive on how Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle will try and formulate a winning plan against the Thunder's stellar defense.
Advertisement
Later Vince asks David how he will remember Inside the NBA on TNT and why the show was so impactful for so many years.
(1:47) How should the city of Seattle feel about the Thunder's success?
(6:12) What should the Knicks do with Karl-Anthony Towns?
(16:16) Will the Eastern Conference see a seismic shift this offseason?
(23:09) NBA Finals Preview
(30:40) How will Rick Carlisle look to utilize Tyrese Haliburton against Thunder?
(36:16) How will Pacers attack Thunder's defense?
(39:37) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could be a problem for Pacers
(45:21) David Aldridge reflects on Inside the NBA on TNT
Tyrese Haliburton leads the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube
Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
USWNT honors former captain Becky Sauerbrunn with bobbleheads, fireworks and a dominant win
ST. LOUIS, Mo.—Former U.S. women's national team defender Becky Sauerbrunn got a hometown hero's welcome on Tuesday at Energizer Park ahead of, during and after the U.S. defeated Jamaica 4-0 to close out a successful international window. Having retired from professional soccer last December after a 16-year career, the former captain returned not only as part of TNT's broadcast crew covering the USWNT's friendly, but also to receive a proper sendoff. Advertisement 'I'm not used to having a lot of spotlight on me for something like this, but it's really about celebrating the people who got you here,' Sauerbrunn told reporters Monday. For someone who's never been entirely comfortable in the spotlight, Tuesday night must've been overwhelming — in a good way. Sauerbrunn was born in St. Louis, Mo., and developed her game there as a budding talent until she left for the University of Virginia in 2003. Her hometown sent her off in style with a celebration that included fireworks, a very realistic bobblehead, a standing ovation and a birthday cake (she turns 40 years old on June 6) fit for a legend. 'You know you've made it when you've got a bobblehead,' U.S. head coach Emma Hayes told reporters in her pre-match press conference. A commanding presence at center back, Sauerbrunn earned 219 appearances with the U.S., anchoring the team's backline to two FIFA Women's World Cup titles and a 2012 Olympic gold medal. It's quite a legacy for someone who never sought the spotlight. And it's one the current USWNT squad deeply respects and hopes to carry forward. Advertisement As the team bid farewell to Sauerbrunn off the field, the next generation made sure she had no reason to worry about the future on it. Hayes's squad delivered a dominant 4-0 win over Jamaica, applying relentless pressure for 90 minutes with 82 percent possession and allowing only two shots from the opposition. Though the accomplished defender never got her goal for the U.S., Sauerbrunn came very close two years ago at the same stadium that bid her goodbye. On Tuesday, it was rookie Ally Sentnor who scored twice in the first half and Sauerbrunn's close friend Lynn Biyendolo who added two more as soon as she came on after the break. Meanwhile, the backline, Saurebrunn's old territory, was anchored by captain Naomi Girma, a fitting torchbearer for the legacy left behind. 'I know I just said nobody can (fill Becky's shoes), but I think the next obvious person would be Naomi,' Biyendolo said. 'The two things that they have in common are that they didn't want the role, but it just found them. And I think that makes the best leaders, is somebody who just doesn't want it, but it's so natural at it.' Girma, the most expensive transfer in women's soccer history, had a rocky start at Chelsea after joining in January, sidelined by a string of injuries. However, she is back and delivering. With both a Women's Super League title and an FA Cup under her belt, she is proving to be worth every penny. As Hayes put it, bringing her back 'is like getting the Rolls-Royce out of the garage.' Advertisement Girma told that she thinks 'Becky was one of the best leaders this team has ever had.' That kind of legacy doesn't happen overnight. Listening to her former teammates after the match, it was clear: the trust and respect Sauerbrunn commands were built over years of grit, consistency, and quiet leadership, beginning with her debut in 2008, when she earned her first cap against Canada at the Four Nations Tournament in China, playing through the match with a broken nose. 'Becky is a legend, an icon,' Kerry Abello, who made her debut for the U.S. on Tuesday, said after the match. 'The game of women's soccer will never be the same without her.' Advertisement Abello was only nine years old when Sauerbrunn debuted in 2008. Like many new generation of USWNT players, she grew up looking up to her. On the pitch, Sauerbrunn was a tireless, dependable center back; off it, she was a steady leader who played a key role in collective bargaining negotiations with the U.S. Soccer, representing her teammates at the table year after year, and helping the team achieve equal pay. She was always calm and composed, even when one of her teammates messed up. 'Becky doesn't get mad often, but if you mess up, like pass to the wrong player… she'll give you this look,' Biyendolo said after the match. 'That 'I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed' look. That's the Becky look.' Ask anyone who played alongside Sauerbrunn about the 'Becky stare,' and they'll know exactly what you're talking about. Advertisement Hayes didn't get the chance to coach Sauerbrunn—she took over the U.S. team in May 2024— but her admiration also runs deep, especially for how the defender has shaped the next generation. 'It's always nice when the people you leave behind talk about someone in such a way,' Hayes said. 'I can say this without hesitation, I've got a locker room not just the senior players, but less experienced players that talk about her in the highest esteem, both as a leader and as a human being, and I don't think you could want anything more than that in life.' This article originally appeared in The Athletic. US Women's national team, Portland Thorns, NWSL 2025 The Athletic Media Company
San Francisco Chronicle
24 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Preview capsule for the NBA Finals matchup between Indiana and Oklahoma City
No. 4 Indiana Pacers (50-32, 12-4) vs. No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14, 12-4) Season series: Thunder, 2-0. Schedule: Game 1 at Oklahoma City on Thursday, Game 2 at Oklahoma City on Sunday, Game 3 at Indiana on June 11, Game 4 at Indiana on June 13, Game 5 at Oklahoma City on June 16 (if necessary), Game 6 at Indiana on June 19 (if necessary), Game 7 at Oklahoma City on June 22 (if necessary). How they got here: Oklahoma City overwhelmed Memphis in a first-round sweep, survived seven games against 2023 NBA champion Denver, then eliminated Minnesota in five games in the Western Conference finals. The Thunder finished off the series in a romp, leading by 39 points in a 124-94 victory, and are winning by about 11 points per game in the postseason. The Pacers aren't as dominant but find a way at the finish, taking out Milwaukee and top-seeded Cleveland in five games before knocking off New York in six in the East finals. Their four victories after trailing by 17 or more points are the most by a team in a single postseason. Storyline: The small markets get the big stage. For Oklahoma City, it's a second trip to the NBA Finals since moving from Seattle in 2008. The Thunder lost in their first try against Miami in 2012 but are heavy favorites in this one after compiling the NBA's best record behind MVP and scoring champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Pacers are making just their second NBA Finals appearance, having lost to the Lakers in 2000. Key matchup: Tyrese Haliburton vs. Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace and Gilgeous-Alexander. Nobody can throw as many good defensive guards at a team as the Thunder, as Anthony Edwards found out when Oklahoma City limited him to 12-for-31 shooting in the final two games of the West finals. Haliburton is having a memorable postseason, hitting three game-winning or game-tying shots and topping all players with 9.8 assists. But the Thunder limited him well in the two regular-season matchups, holding the All-NBA point guard to 11 points and 5.5 assists per game. X-factor: Indiana's defense. The Pacers are potent, with their 117.4 points per game in the postseason the second-highest ever by a team entering the NBA Finals. But even they can't count on offense alone against a top defensive squad like Oklahoma City. The Pacers are going to have to slow down the Thunder and showed no signs of being able to in the regular season, as Oklahoma City reached 30 points in six of the eight quarters they played and averaged 126 per game. Prediction: The Thunder are top-to-bottom the best team in the NBA. The Pacers' road success and high-scoring offense allow them to compete in this series but not win it. Oklahoma City in 6. ___ AP NBA:
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The moment Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton thought he was winning ECF MVP
The post The moment Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton thought he was winning ECF MVP appeared first on ClutchPoints. Against all odds, the Indiana Pacers are going to the NBA Finals. Tyrese Haliburton and company clinched their spot in the championship round with a convincing 125-108 win in Game 6 over the New York Knicks on Sunday night. Advertisement As the team celebrated on the floor, the assumption by many was that Haliburton would be named the MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals after a stellar series. However, seemingly everyone was stunned when the award was given to Pascal Siakam instead. Haliburton himself even seemed surprised, as he seemed to already be making his way to the front of the stage to accept the trophy. Even the media was split on the vote, which ended up being very close. In the end, Siakam received five of the nine votes, while Haliburton received four. Pacers legend Reggie Miller, who called the game on TNT, declared on the broadcast that the star point guard was getting his vote. Advertisement In addition to Haliburton himself being caught off guard, many NBA fans were also surprised at the snub and expressed that on social media. While it would be easy to argue that Haliburton was more deserving, Pascal Siakam had a series that was worthy of the honor. For the series, he averaged nearly 25 points per game to go along with five rebounds a night on incredible shooting efficiency. He shot over 50% from the floor over the six games and made half of his 3-pointers. Still, Haliburton seemed like the right choice to win the award. He had the most iconic shot of the series with his buzzer-beater to force overtime in Game 1 and also had the biggest individual performance of the series with his flawless triple-double in Game 4: 32 points, 12 rebounds, 15 assists and zero turnovers. Advertisement The star guard also showed out in Game 6 with 21 points and 13 assists while finishing the game, and effectively the series, with a deep 3-pointer to officially stamp Indiana's place in the NBA Finals. Still, Haliburton will have a chance to take some even bigger hardware in the coming weeks. The Pacers will get their final battle underway against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night on the road.
