President Obama's Heartfelt Statement on Pacers, Warriors Resurfaces Before NBA Finals

"I like how the Pacers are playing," Obama said on the 'Young Man & the Three' alongside Tyrese Haliburton. "You guys play with pace."

Haliburton accused Obama of sweet talking because of his presence, which the former president partially agreed to, but he went on.

"You move the ball around, he said, "and if you ask me, the teams I've enjoyed watching most over the last decade, it's the Warriors. Before that, it was the Spurs. I just like that style of basketball."

During Golden State's championship runs, ball movement and off-ball movement were pivotal to its success, especially with Curry dragging defenders across the court and through screens. Steve Kerr spent his share of time with Gregg Popovich, but beyond that link, there wasn't much else eerily similar between the squads.

The same goes for the Pacers. As they approach an NBA Finals matchup with the No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, there is one aspect of their game that needs improvement.

Obama wasn't shy about calling them out. "You've got to pick up the defense a little bit," he said.