Knicks Pacers, Indiana Fever, Mission Impossible, and Ted Lasso Season Three, Episode 11

We talk Knicks-Pacers series, give report on the Indiana Fever, Mission Impossible Final Reckoning, and talk second chances from Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 11 on this edition of the Torg Stories Podcast.

You can click on the audio player above to listen to the episode, or you can watch it on YouTube at the link below:

The Pacers have a 2-0 lead at the time of the recording. Anne, what has been the keys?

  1. Balanced attack, more scorers than the Knicks that can lead to Nesmith going 8-9 from 3 and Siakam scoring 39 in game 2.
  2. Haliburton has some Harden in him in that he’s a hub that can spray the ball around everywhere and put pressure on the defense with his pace and vision.
  3. Timely shooting: Brunson and Kat were great but big misses late while Haliburton and Nesmith hit huge shots.

Report on the Fever:

  1. Off to a 2-2 start. Hammered the Sky and Clark and Reese got into it. Lost by 1 and had a chance to win it on the final play vs. Atlanta. Came back and beat the Dream in Atlanta. Lost by 2 after blowing a 12 point lead in the second half to the Liberty. Clark had the ball with a chance to tie or win at the buzzer.
  2. Noticeably harder for Clark to get a good three point look. She’s Curry from a standpoint of how defenses are playing her. No three vs. Atlanta in win. She missed 12 threes in a row before hitting one and getting fouled in the 3rd quarter vs. Liberty. Then hit one at the buzzer to end the third.
  3. Clark draws so much attention. People are open. Elite vision and ability to deliver, especially in setting pace. Kelsey Mitchell really benefitting. Still getting a lot done finishing and in mid range.
  4. Fever are more active on defense. Vision and hands on balls.
  5. Outscored Liberty 30-13 in third quarter.
  6. Looks like a group that roots for each other.
  7. The rotation of Howard, Boston, and Bonner among the post looks really good. Cunningham coming through the two and three spots good as well.
  8. The offense ends of games. Need actions, 1v1 can be tough vs players like Jones.

Three of the new Fever players and what they bring:

  1. Sophie Cunningham: mix it up defensive mentality, shooting, enthusiasm talking leader
  2. Natasha Howard – upgraded inside scoring punch, wanting her own shot for a Fever player more than I’m used to. I’m hopeful.
  3. Dewanna Bonner – length on defensive, championship experience, I’m assuming a good relationship with the coach

We both went to see Mission Impossible Final Reckoning:

  1. Let’s talk about what the theaters were like. I went to the AMC in Johnson City, TN.
  2. $20 for a ticket. Tom Cruise hangs off two planes. Really can I ask for more than that?
  3. We hear from Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise before the movie starts.
  4. Too much talking. Too much tech talking.
  5. Best part from Cruise escaping the underwater sub to the end.
  6. Dislikes: exposition for us as viewers. The action along with more natural dialogue should show us. 25 minutes of previews plus 2hrs and 50 mins of movie is a long time to be in the theater.
  7. Likes: music, Tom in shape, familiar characters, guy in charge of Navy sub, listening station couple and their dogs, the underwater scene, the lady who sticks the pen in Benji’s chest, Cruise and the planes

Ted Lasso: There’s only 1 more episode! Season 3, Episode 11 Discussion Questions:

  1. Why does Nate’s girlfriend Jade act like she does, for example disappearing. Let’s assess what Nate did. Let’s talk about if we bring him back.
  2. What’s Ted’s deal with Ted and his mom? Ted doesn’t seem to want his mom around. Then let’s walk through our mom showing up. She tells him his son misses him. Ted is scared to get close to him because he knows he’s going to leave.
  3. What’s wrong with Jamie? Where are my wings, Roy? Return game. Roy and Keeley follow Jamie to his childhood home. Now that he doesn’t hate his dad, he is lacking for motivation.
  4. What’s with the Wizard of Oz? We get Ted playing a Wizard of Oz pinball machine. We get “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in a Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks movie. Is it, You’ve Got Mail?
  5. There is a town called Tooting. Some weird town names you can think of? French Lick, Chili which is right by Denver, Mexico, and Peru. Santa Claus. You like Seven Devils, North Carolina. We went to Duck. There’s a Bat Cave. Meat Camp is in the same Watauga County I live in.

Memorable Quotes from this Episode of Ted Lasso. We’ll see if Anne can tell us who said it about what:

  1. Shouting is Roy’s love language. -Trent Crimm when Roy calls Jaimie into the boot room
  2. Your mom and dad F you up. They don’t mean to, but they do. They fill you up with the faults they had and they add some extra just for you. -Mae to Ted in the pub about his mom coming for a visit.
  3. I’ve literally never thought about work after work. It’s weird how good of a waiter you are. -Jade to Nate about how he is always trying to be good at what he is doing.
  4. Hurt people hurt people. -Ted to Jamie talking about his dad and Freddy Krueger
  5. I hope that either all of us or none of us are judged by our weakest moments, but rather by the strength we show whether and if we are given a second chance.-Ted to Beard about judging Nate for ripping up the sign.
  6. Your son misses you. -Ted’s mom to him
  7. All we can do is keep playing. -Ted’s mom again, about being a parent
  8. No truth bomb this year. – Rebecca to Ted

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast!

Podcast: Clark and Reese in the WNBA Olympic All Star Game and Our First Team Selections for the Season so Far

We talk WNBA All Stars vs USA Olympic Team, look back and ahead on the WNBA season, and then look ahead to the upcoming Paris Olympics on this week’s Torg Stories Podcast episode.

What were some of the top reasons the game was entertaining?

  1. Very Competitive: The players tried hard and cared about winning. I think there’s nothing like competitive people having a chip on their shoulder entering a competition.
  2. Well played: The high level of play starting with Arike Ogunbowale scoring 34 points in the second half. What are the greatest shotmaking performances I’ve ever seen. This one has got to be up there.
  3. Expensive Production Values: For starting line ups, how many times has someone like Lebron or Kevin Durant been on a stage that rises up out of the floor? You could see that someone like Caitlin was a little tickled at the fuss. What else?
  4. Length of game: still really enjoying 8 mins less of basketball than we get with the NBA and at least for a little longer, far fewer television reviews.

Torg’s choice for First Team:

  • G Sabrina Ionescu. NY Liberty. 6th in scoring. 42% fg, 34% from 3. 6.2 to 2.6 assist to turnover. Team best record in the league.
  • G Kelsey Plum. LV Aces. Leads the league in 3 pointers made. 9th in scoring.
  • F Alyssa Thomas CONN. 2nd in assists. 5th in rebounding.
  • F Breanna Stewart. NY Liberty. 6th in blocks. 8th in scoring.
  • F. A’ja Wilson. Aces. (MVP) first in scoring and blocks.

Second Team:

  • G Caitlin Clark. IND. 12th in scoring. 1st in assists. Best connector in the league? (32% from 3).
  • G Arike Ogunbowale. Team worst record in the league at 6-19. 35% FG percentage. Leads the league in steals. 3rd in scoring. Went to Notre Dame. 5th pick in 2019. Leads the league with 20 shots a game.
  • F Jonquel Jones. NY Liberty. (maybe should be ahead of Thomas and Stewart)
  • F Nneka Ogwumike. SEA. 4th place. 17-8.
  • F DeWanna Bonner. CONN.

Notable Left Off:

  • G. Kahleah Copper PHX. 2nd in scoring. 45% from field and 33 from 3. More turnovers than assists.
  • G Jewell Loyd SEA. Leads league in FTs made. 5th in scoring.
  • F Napheesa Collier. MIN. 4th in scoring.
  • F Angel Reese. CHI. Leads the league in rebounding.

Anne, you get excited for the olympics? Here are my notes:

  1. Starts this week, July 26th. Been 9 years since bid was announced. 19 days of competition.
  2. What sports will be played? Click here for list. Anne, anything you are especially looking forward to?

Thanks for listening to the Torg Stories Podcast!