Sit back and relax, grab some wine, and order a nice meal because this conversation will surely put you in the mood to do all three. For this episode of the Old Man and the Three, JJ and Tommy welcome in close friend and all around great guy (and Pacers guard, of course) TJ McConnell for an incredibly fun and down to earth EAT PRAY DUNK discussion. They touch on a number of topics, like TJ’s wine obsession and how it came to be, whether or not JJ is a wine snob, and TJ’s favorite food picks. But for diehard hoopers, they also delve into the NBA playoff picture, give breakdowns of Trae Young and Ben Simmons (among others), and discuss what makes a great defensive player (and how TJ was robbed of an All NBA Defensive team pick). 

RUNDOWN 

TJ starts by explaining why he’s recording on his phone and not his laptop
Breakdown of the injuries to top players in the playoffs
Ben Simmons discussion and how the casual NBA fan only looks at his lack of shooting
The guys revisit the DPOY topic and how it’s often voted on in the wrong light
How people are complaining about the playoff parity after complaining for years it was too star driven
What makes Trae Young so impressive
On the career year TJ has had in 2021
Explains his knack for stealing inbounds passes
How TJ was snubbed for an all defensive team pick
JJ reveals that TJ is on his top 5 shit-talker list
How TJ goes from Mr. Nice Guy to fierce competitor as soon as he steps on the court
How was he able to block out all the noise this year and deliver his best performance to date
Which was tougher… this year or the years of going through “The Process” in Philly
What is the secret ingredient for an NBA coach for success
Has social media and its reach affected the coaching position
TJ tells the hilarious story of how he got into wine
When did his interest in wine turn into an obsession
The guys discuss JJ’s wine freak-outs and whether or not he’s a wine snob
What wines/regions does he want to explore more
The discussion turns to food as TJ picks his top restaurant, as well as the out of the way gem that he can’t miss
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