Chris Mannix says don’t count out Thunder
Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix joined the show to break down the NBA Finals and more.
Mannix doesn’t think the Thunder-Heat series is over, because the Thunder have a chance to come back. “One thing [the Thunder are] realizing is that they’ve yet to give Miami their best shot,” Mannix said. “They have not really had a game yet where [James] Harden, [Kevin] Durant and [Russell] Westbrook have played well. If they win this game, they seize back homecourt advantage.”
Mannix discussed a perceived motivational edge the Heat have. “[The Thunder] don’t have the same sense of urgency that Miami has,” Mannix said. “You can’t just adopt that. You [gain it] through failure.”
Mannix also weighed in on Phil Jackson’s comments about the Lakers. Mannix said everyone knows that the Lakers are open for business, so Jackson saying changes may come was not a surprise. Mannix said that they would move Gasol for good players. But Gasol probably does want to be part of the team still, because he’s been on teams that don’t win and it’s tough. Now the Lakers need Gasol to accept being a third option.