ESPN First Take S1 Playoff Edition

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We ask that everyone wait until we're finished before commenting. 

Kerry Champion: Good morning everbody and let me welcome you to ESPN's new show called First Take. On our show we will takle current events, mainly the NBA and give you gut reactions, over reactions, predictions and of course two of the best host I've ever had the honor of working with: Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith. Good morning guys. 

Skip Bayless: Good morning to you Kerry and to my friend and counterpart, Stephen A. Smith, or as he likes to call himself, Stephen Nasmith. 


Stephen A. Smith: Feels good to be here, it's been a long time coming. 

Skip Bayless: Before we get started with our show i wanted to say what an honor it is to be here talking about the sport and league i adore, and that's the NBA. I've been covering the league for over 20 years and look forward to debating all the topics that come up and i'm happy to teach Stephen A. Smith how to drive a bus as i'm taking him to school each and every show. 

Kerry Champion: Before we get to our playoff edition of First Take, Stephen A., do you have anything to the bus driver? You looked a little perplexed on that self-made title Skip gave himself.



Skip Bayless: I'm a self-made man Kerry, what can I say? The only thing I don't self-make is my bed and breakfast; I leave that to Stephen A.'s mother, she's a wonderful lady, to do every morning.  

[IamQuailman]

Stephen A Smith: I'm glad Skip has decided to start this professional relationship out on the right foot. Mistah Bus Driver, you need to pump your brakes. Because, if anything, Stephen A. Smith is a school zone, and you better slow down. And leave my mother out of this. Mrs. Smith is a wonderful and dignified lady.

Skip Bayless: Oh, I know.

Stephen A Smith: You sonnuva... I don't know who's crazier: Me for taking on a gig with you, or the Nuggets owner passing on Karl Malone in the draft.

Kerry Champion: A-hem, gentlemen. Let's um.. How about me move along with the program? Today we are going to breakdown playoff matchups! We'll start with the top seed match-up in each conference and work down from there. Stephen A., would you like to lead off?

Stephen A Smith: I certainly would be honored to. And we'll start off in the West, with the matchup of the Utah Jazz vs. the Phoenix Suns. Coming into this season and the redraft, it was almost a given that the team with Michael Jordan would be a shoe-in for a playoff spot. MJ puts the team on his back regardless the situation, but as we've seen with plenty of teams in the yesteryears, you need some talent surrounding your superstar. The Jazz GM did just that. Between Sherman Douglas, mid-season acquisition from the Lakers Tony Campbell, and James Worthy, Jordan and the Jazz were able to excel this season, efficiently and effectively. The only perceived weakness in this team is the front court. While Charles Oakley and Bill Laimbeer are serviceable, they don't give you anything great. Even Charles Oakley, whose strength is rebounding, only averaged 8.1 rebounds a game.

Stephen A Smith: Now their opponent, the Suns, have the opposite problem. Hakeem is one of, if not THE greatest bigs to play the game. Hakeem and Armen Gilliam alone can keep the Suns alive if they can control the glass and limit easy putbacks and second chance points, as they have all season allowing the least amount of offensive boards.

Skip Bayless: You really like the sound of your own voice.

Stephen A Smith: I'm almost done; now like I was saying, that would be the Suns only chance at winning. But those chances are slim to none, as back court for the Jazz lead by Jordan will lead the Jazz to a series victory in 5 games.

[Deleted]

Skip Bayless: Is that all? 

Stephen A. Smith: I said I was done, did I stutter? 

Skip Bayless: You may as well have, you didn't sound convinced at all with that pick. Now i'm looking at this matchup and I say the Suns really have no chance at this. Maybe in the future, but not now. The Jazz are one of the few teams that bolstered their line-up with a mid-season trade in adding tony Campbell from the Lakers, who's GM frankly should get a Jazz championship ring if they win it after that trade. Now I look at the Suns who have tied this series up 1-1 already and like their fighting spirit in this one, and if I had to formulate tailor made plan to stopping Jordan, it'd have to be a big dominant 5 who can get you easy buckets and protect the rim. But as I see it absolutely no one else to write home about. 



Skip Bayless: Ainge is a scrappy guy and plays the game well, but I just don't think they can get enough from that backcourt to slow down Jordan and the Jazz. I start to look at the numbers and this is when it becomes clear to me that the Suns don't have a chance. The Suns play a fundamental brand of basketball. They don't give their opponents easy buckets ranking #1 overall in opponents steals per game. They don't foul on the defensive end ranking #1 in least fouls per game. And lastly they don't let the opponent get offensive boards.   Then I look at this Jazz team and their rankings and i see all the major categories in the single digits in rankings with their two "weaknesses" being in 3 point shooting, which they're dismal at and blocks. In the end I think Hakeem has a field day but he can't do it alone. The suns can't just play fundamental basketball to beat this team. The only way anyone knocks off the Jazz is if they're first and foremost a great team, and if second if they're a great rim protecting team. 

Kerry Champion: Alright,a and with that, we'll get to the other 1-8 match-up, the Hawks versus the Nets. This is a classic Davis versus Goliath story here. Skip, your take? 

Skip Bayless: Listen before i get into this, I want to congratulate the Nets GM on the fantastic season. We all know he was at a bit of a disadvantage when drafting last in the redraft. Now I know the numbers don't prove it and the playoff teams are littered through draft position, but I think it'd be hard to find a GM in the top 5 that would switch places with him and that's proof enough to me that his draft position was unfortunate. 

Skip Bayless: I look at this Nets team and I see one of the more talented teams in the league 1-9. They're a elite rebounding team and that's a very strong point for them in the playoffs, but they're missing elite talent. I'm talking about a star, not even a superstar on the Level of Jordan, Hakeem and Robinson. You can really see that through their struggle to score every night. This wouldn't be so much of a problem if they didn't have a high turnover rate, ranked 24 in the league, or was an elite defensive team. Now, they're a good defensive team, so I don't want the world to misquote me here and i'll give them credit for that. but with that scoring offensive, you'd have to be top 2 defensively to be able to make a deep run in the playoffs. 

Skip Bayless: This is all before you factor in the fact that they're playing the juggernauts that are the Hawks. The best team in the league hands down. You talk about a team that does it all? Check out the Hawks. Their achilles' heel is their turnovers and 3 point percentage which didn't slow them down at all during the regular season, only losing 17 games. This was maybe the worst draw for the Nets because this is a good rebounding team, meaning they won't be able to dominate the boards and they score at an impressive 1.34 PPS. Oh and did i mention they're the best defensive team in the league? You add this up for me Stephen A.. Best Defensive team in the league, Top 3 Offensive team in the league and top 4 rebounding team? I'll give you a spoiler alert on what that equals, a championship. 

Stephen A. Smith: Are you guaranteeing a Hawks chip? 

Skip Bayless: You heard it here first, Stephen A. 

[IamQuailman]

Stephen A Smith: That's a pretty bold prediction, Skip. Especially when you have other teams in the East playing really good basketball. But let's not look past this matchup, yet.  Don't count the Nets out yet. Before I continue, I would like to echo your congrats to the Nets in their efforts this season. They were dealt a tough hand in the draft order, but they took it and ran with it and here they are in the playoffs. If not for some injuries mid-season they could have been a higher seed.

Stephen A Smith: Yes, they are playing the Hawks who have the best home record in the NBA, but the Nets have the 4th best home record in the East.  Anything can happen. Don't take that as me saying that the Nets only chance at winning this series depends on their home crowd. No, what they need to do is what you said: the Nets need to dominate the glass. I'm not sure what their gameplan has been to this point, but through 2 games, they have been out-rebounded by 20ish and 10ish, respectively. They need Olden Polynice to step up and do what he does best. They need him to grab those offensive boards, especially if some of the shooters and scorers on the team aren't overtly efficient. The big fella excels at that, as he averaged 3.5 oRebs all season long. But in this series, he's so far averaged only 1.5. Those second chance points (and less possessions for the Hawks) are valuable.

Stephen A Smith: Going into this series, I thought the Nets had a good chance at taking this series to at least a game 6 with Detlef Schrempf out for the foreseeable future.  However, Pervis Ellison and Moses Malone are dominating down low, and if the Nets can't slow down their rebounding and gain some ground in the paint, they won't make it past Game 4. Upset specials are always fun, but I don't think we'll see one here.

Kerry Champion: Thanks, Stephen. Want to take us to our next match-up?

Stephen A Smith: Sure.

Skip Bayless: Oh please, Stephen. Be my guest. Our viewers love the sweet serenade of your heavenly voice.

Kerry Champion: L-Let's stay in the East and discuss the #2 Boston Celtics vs. the #7 New York Knicks.

Stephen A Smith: Well let's start with this. The Celtics started the season off strong. Very strong, exuding their dominance on the offensive and defensive glass (especially when it came to limiting their opponents' rebounding). But after the All-Star Break, this team looked very perplexing and, dare I say, average.  Granted their end of season schedule was brutal, but at quick glance they appeared to be a .500 team after All Star Weekend. And while being average or below average record-wise my cut the mustard in the West, in the East you need to keep strong if you want to compete. On top of that, coming into this series, the Celtics lost all of their regular season games to the Knicks by 8 points or more (most being a 31 point blowout in their first matchup).

  Stephen A Smith: That was the regular season. And here we are in the playoffs where the series is tied 1-1 and it's still anyone's game. They lost a close one in game 1, and came back to win game 2 by 12.  And, take it to the bank, the Celtics have the players at each position to be competitive with most teams in this league. The Knicks, on the other hand, have David Robinson. Yes, Tarpley plays well for them, averaging 14 and 8. But everyone else? Meh. The Admiral is the only thing keeping this New York-bound ship afloat; but I don't think it will be for long. Not too much longer, as I see the Celtics taking this in 6.

[Deleted]

Skip Bayless: Stephen A., I hear what you're saying and i'm not saying you're wrong; but...... you're wrong. Take that to the bank? Well, call the great depression because your bank is about to be BROKE and not broke like a dead clock because you're not even right twice a day! Stephen A. the Celtics aren't a true 2 seed, they're only there because of winning their Division; now i'm not trying to lessen that accomplishment but i have the Milwaukee Bucks as my true number 2 seed in this conference. I look through the Celtics team and i see a lack fro a true superstar like the Nets and only do two things above average: Rebounding and 3 pointers. If the Knicks can limit them on the perimeter and have ANYONE outside of Robinson contribute on offense they'll take this game in 6.

Skip Bayless: The Knicks are absolute terrors on defense. They lead the league in opponents turnovers. They play Helter Skelter Defense and take a lot of gambles and I think that's just enough to win this series along with David Robinson's outstanding play. 

Kerry Champion: Well there you have it, Skip picks the first big upset of the playoffs. Skip ready to make another one with the Kings Nuggets?

Skip Bayless: Maybe my counterpart Stephen A. will take that bait but i'm going to go ahead and take the Kings in this series. Karl Malone has been an absolute monster this season in every phase of the game. We knew this wouldn't be a series for the fans, but there's a lot to like about both of these teams. Unlike the Knicks, the Kings play solid 'punch you in the mouth' defense. They gave up the least PPS in the league and they're going against a Nuggets team that only scores 95 a game good for 26th in the league. The Kings also the leagues best defensive rebounding teams. So not only do you have to play against the league's fiercest defense, but you also don't get many second opportunities. The Kings are a mid-tier type of offensive squad and that's really that's all that's needed. With Karl Malone to go to at the end of games to get them tough buckets, this team is going to make a deep deep run in the playoffs. 
 

[IamQuailman]

Stephen A Smith: Am I going to take the bait? What bait? The bait that the Nuggets are top ranked defense in regards to opponents' points per game? The bait that the Nuggets are top ranked defense in regards to opponents' allowed field goal percentage? The bait that the Nuggets are a Top 3 defense in points allowed per shot? The Nuggets have every shot at this series as any team. You say the Kings are the best defensive rebounding team? BOOM, the Nuggets have the 2nd best defensive rebounding team. For every punch the Kings throw, the Nuggets swing right back and connecting with a blow of their own. And if this was a boxing match, this would go 10 rounds of blood, sweat and black eyes. This series will go to a game 7, with quite possibly the home court being a deciding factor.

Skip Bayless: Let me get this straight, are you piggy backing my answer? Are you ever an independent thinker?

Stephen A Smith: Skip, yes and no. You are writing this Nuggets team off, but they have just as much a chance to win as any other team in this league. They may be down two games, but if they can figure out a way to take Karl Malone out of the game (or just make him shoot a little more inefficiently), they could be right back in the thick of things. This will be an ugly, grind-em-out-beat-em-up 7 game series, with the Kings inevitably emerging worn down but victorious. Run and tell that, Skippy.

Skip Bayless: I already did. About 3 minutes ago.

Kerry Champion: Alrighty, let's move on to our 3v6 matchups, leading off with the #3 Dallas Mavericks versus the #6 Minnesota Timberwolves. Stephen A, would you like the honors?

Stephen A Smith: Anything for you, my dear. The Mavericks will win this series. This is nothing to take away from the Timberwolves at all. The Timberwolves have a team that is a top 3rd scoring offense in the league and can run with many of the other top scoring teams thanks to Larry Nance and Clyde Drexler. However, if the Mavericks can play some semblance of defense, the Timberwolves scoring won't matter, as they are a bottom five defense with regards to points allowed per game. If they are going to have any chance at this, they will need to score efficiently and limit second chances for the Mavs. But, I don't think that will be the case.

Stephen A Smith: But more than anything, you know what I like about this Mavericks team, Skip? Their character. They have the character of a champion. All season long they have battled through injury after injury, rising to the 3rd ranked team in the West. Now, yes, the Western Conference is about as weak as Skip Bayless' wrists, but to do what the Mavs did despite injuries is impressive. And the loss of Eddie Johnson won't be a detriment. The Mavs have scoring everywhere else. Hell, per league sources this team wasn't even supposed to have Eddie Johnson until the Heat decided to head-scratchingly throw him in a trade primarily for Scott Williams. This Mavs team is deep; they'll win this series in a sweep.

[Deleted]

Skip Bayless: first off "I wanted to comment on the Kings Nuggets series one last time

Stephen A.: Always have to get the last word.

Skip Bayless: You're right on a lot of my points that you decided to reuse but the nuggets arent near the offensive team the Kings are and they're just a worse version of the Kings in every other category. Now that I've gotten that out of the way.. I agree with you on the Mavericks series. The Mavericks are going to run away with this series, but I see the the Mavs as a Dead team walking because of the team i just mentioned; the Sacremento Kings. These Mavs have enough to get past the first round without their sensational scorer that is Eddie Johnson. again, if the Mavs had Johnson I think they could hang with anyone in this league, but that loss will prove to be too much. 

Stephen A.: Are you even going to discuss this series at all?

Skip Bayless: Why? It's going to be over in 5, may as well look ahead!

Kerry Champion: Well, if we were to look ahead on the next series, who do you have in the Bucks Pelicans match-up? 

Skip Bayless: Color me unimpressed with the Pelicans team in the playoffs. We say throughout the season that the team decided to make a change with their GM and hired a new brash young GM by the name of Nick Malone. Nick came out gun blazing and all to be everything but run out of the stadium by the Bucks. The Bucks are one of these teams without a superstar, but they just play well together. They're one of the few teams in this league that I believe can go against the grain and win without a true star. Wilkens is great but he's primarily a scorer, albeit a great one. The Bucks have a blistering offense, one that would make anyone blush. Not only do they have the highest offensive efficiency, but they have the fastest pace. That is an outlandish figure. They outscore the second best scoring team by 5 points per game. Let me put that in perspective that's the same margin between the 3rd and the 14th scoring team in the league. I'll tell you what Stephen A., but the bucks can beat anyone in this league on any given night, even the Hawks. 

[IamQuailman]

Stephen A Smith: Well, it's hard to go against the Bucks in this series. That team has held the team scoring title since the season began and never looked back. The team as a whole has someone who can step up and score if another is having a down night. That said, the Pelicans aren't completely out of this either. They, too, are a team that, with the right adjustments, could give the Bucks a run for their money. The Bucks are scarily efficient almost every game, but if the Pelicans can find a way to throw off their shots and convert those misses into Pelican possessions, the Bucks could be in for a world of hurt since they aren't exactly known for their defense (if they even know what "defense" is).

Stephen A Smith: But looking at the 1st two games of this series, the Pelicans need to find a way to minimize their free throws. The Bucks 18 more free throws than the Pelicans in the first game and a blazing 32 more in Game 2. If this keeps up, the Bucks will win this series sooner rather than later.

Kerry Champion: How many games?

Stephen A Smith: I'm going to go with 5. I think the Pelicans get 1 game at home.

Kerry Champion: Last 2 matchups! Let's stay in the East with quite possible one of the most exciting series in the playoffs thus far: the #4 Indianapolis Pacers versus the #5 Cleveland Cavaliers. Stephen?

Stephen A Smith:Skip, you've been awfully quiet.

Skip Bayless: Oh, I can talk now?

Stephen A Smith: No, not yet. This series has been thrilling and everything we expected it to be. The Cavs have been great all season, but hit a couple injury snags mid-season falling back. Once healthy, they got the ball rolling again. Meanwhile, in Indy, after an 8-game skid leading up to Christmas, the Pacers put rubber to the road and didn't look back. They became one of the hotter teams in the NBA, going 14-4 in the next 20 and setting the tone of their season from toilet to triumph. It's only natural that the NBA Basketball gods would pit these two against each other, both winning over 55% of their games since March... dead heat in the playoff race with one another.

Skip Bayless: Thanks for the history lesson; meanwhile, back in the present...

Stephen A Smith: I'm getting there! Sheesh, Skip. Needless to say, I had high hopes for this series, and both games thus far being action-packed and fun to watch with two of the biggest bad bigs in the NBA battling it out. HOW BOUT THAT ALITERATION SKIP? Barkley and Ewing duking it out. Both teams with great records at home (and equally bad records away) leaves Indianapolis hope that they can bounce back from 2 close losses. I see them doing that and have the series going to 7 games... with the Cavaliers coming out on top.

Kerry Champion: Skip?

[Deleted]

Skip Bayless: I hear everything you just said and I think they're all valid points. I'm not going to fight you on that. My heart says Pacers in 7 but my mind says Cavs in 6. When i look at these teams what I see is two very evenly matched teams. Two teams that know how to win at home. When i start breaking this down though the last variable is coaching. I see the Pacers coach as a bit aloof at times being too stubborn in making changes and as we often see in these 7 games series, the team that adjust the fastest is the one who comes out victorious. I think the Cavs coach makes the right adjustments to win one in Indiana and winning this in 6. 

Kerry Champion: Well with that, we're on to our last matchup of the show and this pits the Blazers versusn the Warriors. Skip, we'll give you the First Take on the last topic. 

Skip Bayless: Thanks Kerry. This is going to be short and sweet. I look at this series and see Shawn Kemp in a class of his own. After winning game 1 by 13 and and game 2 by 15; it's apparent that the Blazers are just fighting for their pride, which is something they've shown none of and I doubt it resurfaces. I've got the Warriors in 4. 

Kerry Champion: Stephen A. ?

[IamQuailman]

Stephen A Smith: I'll tell you my pick... After this commercial break.

[IamQuailman]

[IamQuailman]

Skip Bayless: And we're back.

Stephen A. Smith: Yes indeed. And I'm going to close out today's show with my last prediction for the first round of the playoffs. It's pretty much a no-brainer for me as well. The Warriors will take this series easily. The Warriors GM is one of the more active GM's in the league, and he's a very competitive GM at that. I'm sure he's somewhat disappointed that his team couldn't have a chance to compete against a more actively run team. The Trailblazers is like a babysitter that tells the child stop being bad, and then proceeds to invite her boyfriend over for a little "fun". She occasionally checks in on the kids, but she's otherwise dickstracted.

Skip Bayless: spits coffee

Kerry Champion: Excuse me?

Stephen A. Smith: What? I said distracted. Anyway, the Warrior-led Shawn Kemp will dominate the paint against the Blazers. I don't expect a comeback here.

Stephen A. Smith: With that said, I would like to thank you at home in our audience for putting up with Skip's big head and my humble opinions.

Skip Bayless: Big head? Wow, is that 2 innuendos in one segment.

Kerry Champion: Thanks for watching! We'll be back next time in the future to discuss all things NBA. Looking forward to next time (assuming we aren't cancelled)... until then, Stephen, Skip, and Kerry signing off!

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That's the end of First Take; please feel free to comment or critique on Skip and Stephen A's assessments!

[bowtothebill23]

BallSoHard
Administrator

less than a minute ago Quote

Damn no first take comments, fuck you bitches i don't even care about the playoffs
______________________________________________

IamQuailman
Administrator

17 minutes ago Quote

GO READ FIRST TAKE EVERYONE PREASE
______________________________________________

This is for you 2. You're welcome

[IamQuailman]

You're a dick, Bow. Stop abusing Sources

[NOLa.]

Oct 29, 2013 19:57:01 GMT -6 IamQuailman said:

You're a dick, Bow. Stop abusing Sources

TOOK LESS THAN 24 HOURS TO DO SO

[bowtothebill23]

Oct 29, 2013 19:57:42 GMT -6 NOLa. said:

Oct 29, 2013 19:57:01 GMT -6 IamQuailman said:

You're a dick, Bow. Stop abusing Sources

TOOK LESS THAN 24 HOURS TO DO SO

Lol. Wasn't even me. But if it's true, warriors are interested per source.

[DarthVegito]

Well...I won't comment on any of the predictions but thank you guys for this. I will be giving points out for big articles that help contribute to the league. I know that shit takes a lot of time. The first takes, the podcasts, the power rankings of any sort. It all helps the development of the league. It is much appreciated and well be rewarded.

[IamQuailman]

YOU DIDN'T LIKE STEPHEN A ALL UP ON YOUR KNOB?!

[NOLa.]

I know he appreciated the 1st round victory call but not so much the not-so-distant-future.

[Deleted]

That was Skipper

[DarthVegito]

Oct 29, 2013 20:10:50 GMT -6 NOLa. said:

I know he appreciated the 1st round victory call but not so much the not-so-distant-future.

Fuck. Karl. Malone.

And also I would never disrespect my good friend JNR. This series is not over yet.

[IamQuailman]

Please, if you disagree with the assessment, blast us!

[NOLa.]

It's safe to assume that there are 28 guys that are gay for Malone in this league.

[Deleted]

Oct 29, 2013 20:12:53 GMT -6 DarthVegito said:

Oct 29, 2013 20:10:50 GMT -6 NOLa. said:

I know he appreciated the 1st round victory call but not so much the not-so-distant-future.

Fuck. Karl. Malone.

And also I would never disrespect my good friend JNR. This series is not over yet.

Prrrruuuureeweeezuuu  Didn't you say you dragged your nuts on Clyde Drexler last night to JNR?

[DarthVegito]

Oct 29, 2013 20:14:28 GMT -6 ballsohard said:

Oct 29, 2013 20:12:53 GMT -6 DarthVegito said:

Fuck. Karl. Malone.

And also I would never disrespect my good friend JNR. This series is not over yet.

Prrrruuuureeweeezuuu  Didn't you say you dragged your nuts on Clyde Drexler last night to JNR?

I mean, that really happened. I shouldn't lie. But there are still games left in this series.