Who has THE EDGE in Wolves vs. Spurs? 🍿 Michael Wilbon leans on Wemby HATING LOSING 🔥 | First Take

0:00 Let's dive into the West semis now where the Spurs rebounded from a game-w

0:04 loss with a statement 13395 blowout win

0:08 over the Timberwolves to tie up the series.

0:11 Webby finished with 19 points,

0:12 15 boards as San Antonio handed the Wolves

0:15 their worst postseason loss in franchise history.

0:18 After the game, both sides had plenty to say.

0:21 Two very different moves.

0:24 As Pop says, it's never you.

0:26 When you win, you're never as good as you thought you were.

0:28 And when you lose, you're never as bad or rarely.

0:32 So obviously stay humble and keep working.

0:37 I told the guys after after the first game,

0:39 like the natural tendency for teams that steal the first game,

0:42 the away team, they get blown out game two.

0:44 So we can't come out cool and we came out cool and what happened?

0:47 We got blew out.

0:48 So I mean my mom used to tell me a hard head

0:51 make a soft ass and that's what happened tonight.

0:54 What do you say to your team after a tough loss like this?

0:56 Or do you let the stat sheet speak for itself?

0:58 No, I just told him we just got punked.

1:03 No words minced there by Chris Finch,

1:05 the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves,

1:07 Michael Wilbond, the series now heads

1:09 to Minnesota with the series tied one apiece.

1:12 Who do you think has the edge?

1:13 Well, normally coming off a situation where uh

1:16 the underdog steals game one on the road,

1:20 I'm going to say that team,

1:21 but I would say Minnesota, but I'm still looking at that team

1:25 without Devincenzo for the rest of the season.

1:28 And IO while he has now come back, he's not back yet.

1:31 And if you have those two guys and you work them in and you can put them

1:35 on Castle and you can put them on deer

1:37 and Fox and and you can have them available,

1:40 I'd say Minnesota, given they also have

1:42 gone to the last two Western Conference Finals.

1:44 I'd say Minnesota with that series swinging in Minneapolis has the edge,

1:49 but they don't have at least IO seems to be back.

1:52 We don't know how how effective he's going to be.

1:54 It's his first playoffs, real playoffs, and and Denzo's out.

1:57 So, I'm going to still say San Antonio given the way they responded,

2:00 given the way they responded in game

2:02 two and also Winyama's complete hatred of losing.

2:07 That's what I love that trait about him.

2:09 We talked about all the physical attributes,

2:11 his emotional and psychological makeup and it just reminds

2:14 me of the great players of all time and Perk,

2:16 you played with some guys like these and Stephen

2:19 A, you and I have covered these guys forever.

2:21 the guys who hate to lose and are going

2:24 to drive their teams to respond after a loss.

2:27 I'm always gonna lean to favor that and that swings

2:30 it back for me all things considered to San Antonio.

2:33 I think it's funny because I thought about you seeing IO

2:36 in that game against Minnesota against the Denver Nuggets, us as Bulls fans.

2:40 If only if only that could have happened for our team.

2:43 But Perk, how do you see this series

2:46 with Minnesota now it tied up 1-1 with the Spurs.

2:49 goes up to Minneapolis.

2:51 Who has the edge?

2:53 The Timberwolves have the edge.

2:54 Last time I checked, they got homec court advantage.

2:57 And I agree, Will Bourne, that you know, Wimby has a hatred for losing,

3:03 but someone else on the other side also has a hatred for losing.

3:07 And Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves are fantastic at home.

3:13 They have developed an atmosphere over the past two to three

3:17 seasons in that arena where it's a tough place to play in.

3:21 They're undefeated at the crib this year, by the way.

3:24 And we all know because Wilborne, I've been watching you since this morning.

3:28 I watched Greenie and W uh Wendy and and and Monica and Allen.

3:32 No one brought up homec court advantage.

3:35 No one brought up what it feels like in role players playing better at home.

3:40 I said this a few days ago.

3:43 San Antonio was in a must-win situation.

3:46 They was going to come out with a certain

3:48 level of desperation and tenacity and come

3:51 out on with an edge and and come out with and like Fish said, they pumped them.

3:56 The series is tied 1-1.

3:58 This is a dangerous place to play in.

4:00 This is not the Portland Trailblazers and no disrespect to them.

4:04 This is Anthony Edwards in the Minnesota Timberwolves.

4:07 Jay McDaniels proving he plays better at home offensively.

4:12 We saw him in the closeout game, 30 plus points.

4:15 Rudy is going to play better.

4:16 He wasn't all the way up.

4:18 Julius Randall, he actually he's emotional guy.

4:21 He feeds off the energy of the crowd.

4:24 I'm not saying this may not go six or seven games.

4:27 I'm not saying that.

4:28 But if I'm Minnesota, I got on that plane last night real comfortable and cool.

4:34 Well, I'm not going to go that far.

4:35 I am.

4:36 When you get your ass kicked the way that they did,

4:38 you don't you don't get on the plane comfortable.

4:40 You get on the plane with an attitude.

4:42 You know what?

4:43 We got something.

4:44 I mean, they they came back and smacked us and I our coach

4:47 and our star said we got punked and we got to do something about that.

4:51 You're not feeling comfortable after an ass whipping.

4:54 You're feeling urgency because what you don't want

4:57 to happen is for San Antonio to get game three.

5:01 You see what I'm saying?

5:02 Even if you split, you're almost better off

5:04 losing game four than you are losing game three.

5:07 You lose game three, San Antonio has the momentum and they push

5:11 you on the verge of being on the brink.

5:14 That's problematic.

5:15 You don't want to be in that situation when soda after you just won

5:19 game one and then all of a sudden you get smacked around two consecutive games.

5:23 That's not the back and forth was one thing,

5:25 but to get smacked around in back-toback games,

5:28 I don't think that would bode well for Minnesota.

5:30 So, my answer to this question for the moment is going

5:32 to be it's going to be uh you know uh a San Antonio.

5:36 I'm looking at them as having an edge right now because they've got

5:39 Minnesota on its heels even though it's 1-1 and it's going to Minnesota.

5:43 You've got Minnesota feeling an urgency to win in game three

5:47 because of the manner in which you want you lost game two.

5:50 That's how I view it.

5:52 Well, it's it's going to be a physical series and and and now

5:56 the Spurs are really going to be tested because what did we witness last night,

6:01 right?

6:01 We saw we saw people ready to get their feet hot on the floor.

6:04 We saw some technical fouls.

6:05 We saw some noise talking.

6:07 We saw a whole lot of that type of energy.

6:09 So now you have to travel and go on the road.

6:13 And I'm a little disappointed in you and Will.

6:15 I'm I'm We was getting ready to say Will Bond.

6:18 Put Willbond up on the camera, please.

6:19 Cuz I want to see this man when I say this.

6:21 Yo, Will Bond, we need to be disappointed in this brother.

6:25 He all over the place.

6:26 Let me tell you this.

6:26 You think Hold on.

6:27 Let me Will Bond, you think you all over the place?

6:30 Basically with my schedule days old.

6:32 I see Will Bond all these shows he did yesterday and everything.

6:34 I like, damn, that's how my life used to be.

6:36 Okay, but now now it's you.

6:37 Go ahead, brother.

6:38 Take it away.

6:39 The point is this big perk.

6:42 San Antonio Spurs are going to win the chip.

6:44 Oh, good.

6:45 Then he goes from that to if they lose game two, they going to get swept.

6:51 Then he goes from that to saying, look, right now, Minnesota has got the edge.

6:57 Perk is all over the damn place,

6:59 but he talking about us and you disappointed in us.

7:02 We disappointed in you, young big bro.

7:05 Let me defend disappointed in you.

7:06 Let me let me let me defend Perk to this extent,

7:08 Stephen A, because I heard I heard what he said.

7:11 And Perk, you did say if San Antonio loses game two.

7:16 You did say that.

7:18 I'm trying to be accurate.

7:20 Um, and so listen, if they lost game two last night,

7:22 they would be in every bit as big a trouble as Perk suggested.

7:26 I you know I just think that the injuries per I'm I'm only

7:31 going with San Antonio has the edge

7:32 because of those injuries because again if you

7:34 put Devenzo healthy out there and you put IO out there and you and you got

7:39 Ant and he could turn into a free safety defensively if he wants to and you

7:44 got those two guys and the fouls and the coverage but you don't have them.

7:48 And I know I know that that Finch is is so terrific at using

7:53 his bench and and and and deploying those players in various ways strategically.

7:59 I just think they get handicapped even going home

8:02 unless IO can come back and be the person

8:04 that Courtney referred to earlier be the person he

8:07 was in that first series where he drops 40.

8:09 He don't even need to drop 40.

8:11 But if Aio Dumbo can be the player he was all year when he

8:14 should have been considered by more folks for a six-man of the year level play,

8:20 then Minnesota can have that edge, but not if he's not.

8:24 Well, no, but let me say this.

8:26 It's it's two things.

8:27 Number one, we expect Terren Shannon to play better at home.

8:31 A young guy feeding off the energy, right?

8:33 No.

8:33 No.

8:33 I'm I'm saying you expect him to play better.

8:36 You expect a guy like Bones Holland to Huh?

8:39 I like Terry.

8:39 Yeah.

8:39 You expect a guy like Bones Holland to come

8:41 in and have a a better impact at the crib.

8:45 Role players play better at home.

8:46 Now, let's take it behind the scenes.

8:49 When you talk about injuries and you talk about getting treatment,

8:53 it's a lot different when you getting treatment on the road.

8:56 It's a big difference when you getting treat treatment

8:58 on the road and you getting treatment at home.

9:01 See, on the road, you don't have

9:03 the the the the accessibility to certain things.

9:06 Meaning you have to share, you have to go and wait in a time slot,

9:10 hotel rooms, you don't have your technology like you do at the crib.

9:14 I know that experience.

9:17 No, no, but I'm I'm being serious.

9:19 It's a reason.

9:20 But when you go back home, it's different.

9:22 Now you in your practice facility.

9:24 Now you got access to certain things.

9:26 Now it's more medical staff that's there.

9:28 You got access to more, right?

9:30 that helps you benefit and prepare a little bit different

9:34 from when you when now when you approach the game.

9:36 All I'm saying is I'm not giving I'm

9:38 not taking anything away from the San Antonio Spurs.

9:42 Wimby showed us yesterday that he got a switch that when

9:45 I want to be a big man, I could dominate.

9:47 I'm not saying that.

9:48 But what I'm saying is they was in a must-win

9:52 situation and they got it done at home.

9:54 If you're Minnesota, you got to feel good tying this having

9:59 this series homec court advantage heading back to the crib.

10:02 Jaylen Brown voiced his frustrations after

10:04 the Celtics historic collapse of the 76ers

10:07 in round one in a live stream where he criticized everything.

10:10 Officials Sixers center Joel Embiid and he created

10:13 some speculation about his feelings towards his franchise.

10:16 That was Sunday.

10:17 The former MVP hopped back online yesterday to clear the air

10:21 about his feelings towards Boston

10:23 and his long-term goals within the organization.

10:27 I hate that our, you know, I hate that Brad even had to respond to this.

10:30 Like I said, me and B and Brad had a great

10:33 relationship and I can play in Boston for the next 10 years.

10:36 I love Boston.

10:38 So, with that being said, moving on.

10:40 I say this and I stand on this again and y'all can clip this up.

10:45 This was my favorite season of my career.

10:51 So, he doubles down on the part that has some people wondering,

10:55 you won a championship before, but this is your favorite season.

10:58 Perk, I want to go to you first on this.

11:00 You heard Tracy McGrady in the sound that we played there

11:02 in the comments that he said about some of the tension.

11:05 Is the drama surrounding Jaylen Brown and the Celtics

11:08 something or is it a big nothing?

11:11 Oh, it's everything.

11:12 It's everything.

11:12 First of all, my advice to Jaylen Brown is to go on vacation, bro.

11:16 Go on vacation.

11:17 Like, quit doubling down because you're making matters worse.

11:19 That's that's the first thing.

11:21 Second thing is, let me tell you why it's everything.

11:24 Because one, T-Mac and Jaylen Brown have a personal relationship.

11:32 So, a few people has dropped the ball in this situation.

11:35 One was T-Mac on this podcast and I love T-Mac because

11:39 for him to say that, where are you getting that information from?

11:43 Right.

11:43 Right.

11:43 And I'm not gonna and I'm not going

11:45 to question T-Mac credibility because he's he No, never.

11:49 That's my guy.

11:51 But he dropped the ball by dropping that information.

11:54 And now you listening to Jaylen Brown.

11:56 One, if you're gonna say this was your favorite season of your career,

12:00 can you give can you provide context to tell us why?

12:04 Can you tell us why this is a guy that has won the NBA championship finals

12:08 MVP conference finals MVP and all of and you

12:12 know it's been questions out there Stephen A.

12:15 Will Courtney about the relationship off the floor with him and Jason Tatum.

12:21 Now the one thing I do a lot is I'mma watch Will Bourne every day.

12:25 I'mma watch Stephen A every day.

12:27 I'mma watch out what y'all do say on social media.

12:30 I'm fans.

12:31 I also watched Jaylen Brown and I didn't seen

12:34 him throughout the whole course of this season be

12:37 on his live stream and I tuned in and I

12:40 listened and the the fan base has been asking him,

12:43 "Hey man, when is Jason Tatum coming on?

12:46 When is Tatum coming on?" And all he kept saying is, "Oh, he's going to come.

12:50 He's going to come.

12:51 JT was just busy X, Y, and Z." Well, he still haven't came on.

12:55 And so when you think about what Jason Tatum he him coming back,

12:59 you know, him taking a backseat.

13:02 He took a backseat JB and let you be the Batman of this car that you was driving

13:07 and you excited and you're talking about this is

13:10 the best season after you home in the first round.

13:14 Can somebody help me out?

13:15 All I'm saying is stop, dog, at this point.

13:18 Stop.

13:19 And you're probably going to get another fine.

13:21 The NBA finds you 50,000 for your first comments and then you somewhat

13:25 double down again yesterday on your live

13:29 stream about a question officiating again.

13:33 Stop.

13:34 Stop.

13:35 Every time you speak, you're only making matters worse.

13:38 Period.

13:40 Amen to everything Burke just said.

13:44 Stephen A.

13:44 There's nobody.

13:45 Look, I Jaylen Brown is a smart guy.

13:50 He's a very sensitive guy, which I think is how he gets into these some

13:53 of these situations or at least our perception of the situation.

13:57 Um he he's proud.

14:00 He's outspoken.

14:01 Um all of those things can add up to not just smoke, but fire.

14:08 They can.

14:09 And by the way, he doesn't have to be questioning

14:12 Brad Stevens in any way to wind up being dealt.

14:16 This is a league of people of stars who are dealt.

14:20 If you can deal wilt, you can deal anybody.

14:24 Kevin Durant's been on what, five, six teams.

14:26 How many teams Harden been on?

14:28 I mean, we we we it's a rare star that is on one team of Steph Curry.

14:34 LeBron's been on whatever number of teams.

14:37 Stars move in this league.

14:40 Am I going to be surprised no matter what is

14:42 said on the record if Jaylen Brown is to move?

14:45 No.

14:45 If I was another team and I love Jaylen Brown, okay,

14:49 I know I voted for him third on my MVP

14:52 ballot this year and could have been higher.

14:54 Only had him behind Joker and SGA.

14:56 SGA and then Joker in that order and then Jaylen Brown ahead of Wimi

14:59 because of what he did all year to keep the Celtics in serious contention.

15:03 Most of it without Tatum.

15:05 If I'm another team looking to get better right now,

15:08 I am calling the Celtics and I'm ready to make an offer.

15:12 And yes, the Milwaukee Bucks ought to be one of them.

15:14 It's not saying the Celtics have to say yes.

15:18 Okay, but I'm listening.

15:19 I'm listening.

15:20 Am I going to pay Tatum and Brown $600

15:23 million between the two of them over these coming years?

15:27 Am I definitely going to do that or am I going to look to shake

15:30 things up in a different way and have a roster which might not have this?

15:33 If I'm another team that's a contender, I'm calling the Celtics.

15:37 I'm gonna make them tell me no.

15:39 Let's stick with the subject at hand

15:40 though because as Jaylen Brown as it pertains

15:43 to this relationship with with Jason Tatum based off

15:47 of what he said this is his favorite year.

15:50 You got knocked out in the first round.

15:53 The Boston Celtics, one of the top two most storied franchises,

15:59 if not the most storied franchise in the history of basketball anals,

16:04 lost a 3-1 lead for the first time in its history, in its postseason history.

16:10 and its star this season and one of its

16:14 top two preeminent stars over the last seven years goes

16:18 on camera 24 hours after losing not 6 months

16:25 not not not not eight months not the next season

16:28 24 hours after losing a 3-1 lead and says

16:34 this is his favorite this is was his favorite year three games at home

16:38 three games at home Now you you can't do that.

16:41 And oh, by the way, you want me to make it worse, Mike Wilbond?

16:45 Kendrick Perkins just pointed out that Jason

16:48 Tatum hasn't appeared on Jaylen Brown's program.

16:53 You know where J Jason Tatum was?

16:55 Right here on First Take.

16:58 Jason Tatum.

16:58 So, in other words, Jaylen Brown Jason Tatum showed up

17:02 on First Take before he showed up on your damn show.

17:05 How?

17:06 How?

17:07 And then you this is stuff that just flying over your head.

17:11 You think nobody notices that that hasn't happened.

17:14 You're saying it's the f the year that Jason Tatum

17:17 was down with an Achilles tear is your favorite year.

17:21 The year that Jason Tatum had to sit out the you know this pivotal

17:26 this close out game seven because of the injury he incurred in game six.

17:30 That's your favorite year.

17:31 The year that you lose 3-1.

17:33 Of all the stars in the history of the Boston Celtics,

17:36 you're the only one because you were driving a bus.

17:38 Bas ain't nobody pointing to Jason Tatum.

17:40 He was sitting, right?

17:40 He was sitting.

17:41 He was in street clothes.

17:42 You the only one, the only star in the history

17:45 of the Boston Celtics that ever lost a 3-1 lead and surrender it.

17:49 And that's your favorite year.

17:50 Why?

17:50 Because you and your teammates develop better chemistry and camaraderie.

17:54 You understand what I'm saying?

17:55 Because you overcame adversity.

17:56 What happens?

17:57 What's the remedy?

17:58 Given all these things you're pointing out, I'm with you.

18:00 But that's why I brought up the whole trade thing again.

18:02 What are you gonna do about it?

18:04 I I I I don't mind.

18:05 But what I'm saying is the first order of business is that he

18:09 needs to be quiet and like Big Perk said, go on vacation.

18:12 Unless you trying to get traded.