1 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Favorites the Podcast. I am Chad Millman 2 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: from the Action Network. We've had another exciting weekend of 3 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:22,599 Speaker 1: NBA playoffs. Um, So, my guest today is gonna be 4 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 1: n b a senior writer extraordinary for the Action Network, 5 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: Mr Matt Moore, covering the league as no one else 6 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 1: can inside everybody's head. How's it going, Buddy? Going on 7 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 1: man the first time a long time. I'm super excited 8 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 1: to be on this show. That intro music kid. I 9 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: just got very excited. Oh I love that. Thanks for that. 10 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:49,519 Speaker 1: We appreciate it. Um, Listen, I've been all over these 11 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: NBA Playoffs. I'm having a blast with them. Uh this 12 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: series themselves that they don't they don't come across as competitive, 13 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: but every game feels like they are intense, even the 14 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: Celtics Pacers. Like yesterday, the end of that Celtics Pacers game, 15 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: you know the the um with about twenty five seconds left, 16 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: the Pacers hit two straight three pointers and nobody really 17 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: thought that they were going to come back. But there 18 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: after they hit the second three pointer, the Celtics through 19 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:29,479 Speaker 1: the ball and bounds and the Pacers were a fingertip 20 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: away from getting that ball back. And having a chance 21 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 1: to cut that lead to three. Like to me, that 22 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 1: was indicative of how sort of competitive and um exciting 23 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: these series have been. Yeah, it's been I've I've loved it. 24 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: Like the series are all probably gonna wrap up early, 25 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 1: which is actually fine because it's like then we get 26 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: onto the better matchups. But you look at like Sixers Nets, 27 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: the Nets have had a chance and two of their 28 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: three lasses to get another win. They took a really 29 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: rough one the end of the night. The other day 30 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: versus Philly and the game four Laws where it was 31 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: so bad Sean Marks got himself suspended for going into 32 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: the locker room after the game to argue about a 33 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 1: call um. You know, all these games that have really 34 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:12,239 Speaker 1: been closed, like Houston Utah's a situation where Utah was 35 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: up against it and at the end of the game, 36 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 1: Donovan Mitchell had a wide open three pointer, uh to 37 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 1: have a chance to win. And part of it is, 38 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: you know, as much as these these series have kind 39 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: of gotten out of control, especially like I've noticed what 40 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 1: we do if you're betting on them, there's been a 41 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: lot of sweats, like this whole weekend either eight games 42 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 1: and I was sweating about six of them. Um, and 43 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: it makes it I think a lot more fun to watch. 44 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: But even every game other than I would say other 45 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 1: than the than the Bucks and the Pistons, which just 46 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 1: hasn't been competitive. Every series has had either a narrative 47 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: inside the series itself, between two players or between the 48 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 1: teams more broadly, that has made it much more competitive. 49 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 1: Like I'm looking right now, Boston for enough then Warriors 50 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: up three one, Blazers up three one, Rockets up three nothing, uh, 51 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: Raptors up three one. Obviously, Bucks up Um three nothing. 52 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: I'm not looking at uh and like I'm sorry, and 53 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: and like you look at the Blazers in the thunder 54 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 1: obviously Lillard and Westbrook. The intensity there is so much fun, 55 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 1: Like there's you have to take a side in this 56 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: series based on one of those two players. It is fascinating. 57 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 1: And I feel like Lillard actually takes this much more 58 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: personally then Westbrook does. What do you think, Yeah, I 59 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: think so because Dame has always been since early on 60 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 1: his career he fell underappreciated UM and Russ because of 61 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 1: the way that he approaches everything, Like like Russ respects 62 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: Dame a lot, but if he respects you, that just 63 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: means he goes harder at you. That's how he's like, 64 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: he's going to trash talk you more, he's gonna run 65 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: you down more. That's just how he's wired. And so 66 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: for Daniel liked, these playoffs are really about him kind 67 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 1: of validating how good he is. And Dame's also like 68 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: he's put in a whole lot for him for himself 69 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: to get better, Like he's made more improvements I think 70 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: than almost anybody amongst the star players this season in 71 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 1: raising his game to a new level because he's better 72 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 1: on defense, he's better at passing pretty much everyone in 73 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 1: the league. Like talking to lead executives, I asked a 74 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: question the day to a bunch of folks of is 75 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: there a better leader in the league than Damian Lillard 76 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: and and there was only like a handful of responses 77 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: for other guys. H and everybody else was like, I 78 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 1: think you're right, Like I think it's Dame. Like Dame 79 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:35,679 Speaker 1: is just like the way that he's leading this team 80 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 1: because he's the guy. There's nobody else on that team 81 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 1: that has at his level, and he's guiding them and 82 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:43,839 Speaker 1: they are on a track where a Western Conference Finals 83 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: appearance is realistic for a team without its starting center, 84 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: and that's really amazing. So I have three questions off 85 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 1: of that one. Uh, how do you improve leadership? What 86 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: did he do to improve his leadership? I think, you know, 87 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: he's always been really good at it. I think one 88 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: of the things that he's done more this year is 89 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 1: he's even less Like he's always been kind of cold 90 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 1: blooded in terms of those big moments like Dame time, 91 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: but this year he's been He's managed to find that 92 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 1: there's a frequency you have to maintain during the regular 93 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 1: season that exists between we gotta stay focused and we don't. 94 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: We can't push too hard. You push too hard and 95 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 1: guys elementally and emotionally burn out. Uh, you don't go 96 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: hard enough, you don't take it seriously, and you're gonna 97 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 1: lose games that you shouldn't. And he has to find 98 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 1: that frequency of keeping guys engaged. Like the work that 99 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 1: he did with Nurks before Nurkus went down wasn't incredible, 100 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: Like I I covered use of for two years in Denver, 101 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:44,599 Speaker 1: and that kid has a lot of problems with his 102 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 1: attitude and his mentality. You know, he does the wrong 103 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 1: things and he gets frustrated and whenever you would watch 104 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,359 Speaker 1: Blazers game. If there was a bad stretch of Nurks 105 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:54,479 Speaker 1: play you, there would be a shot on the bench 106 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: and there's Dame in his ear talking to him if 107 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: he would get involved in some nonsense with another player. 108 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 1: Dame was in the European Life. We put like, we're 109 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: up right now, don't mess with this, just stay focused. 110 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,720 Speaker 1: And he knows his guys and what they need and 111 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 1: all of that stuff. I think really like, you can 112 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:12,600 Speaker 1: be the player that hits the big shots and that's 113 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 1: you know, that's leadership, and be the guy that's in 114 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: the gym earliest, and that's leadership by example, and that's 115 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 1: the most guys lean on. But Dame's a vocal guy 116 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: where he actually just he invested himself and his teammates. 117 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 1: That's something I think that separates him from everybody else. 118 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 1: All right, So that's number one. Number two, you mentioned 119 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: improvements he made. While he doesn't always make the All 120 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:38,599 Speaker 1: Star team, there's no doubt he is a virtual All Star. 121 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: How does a guy who's that good make improvements to 122 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 1: his game. I think the biggest thing is defense, Like 123 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 1: he was a real liability for a long time defensively, 124 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: and it really held him back and this year he's 125 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 1: just given himself more. And it's funny just that's so 126 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 1: often and stuff it's just physical, Like it's just physical 127 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: where um Like, this year he's healthier and that's fundamentally 128 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: changed what he's able to give on that end. And 129 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: a lot of times we ask like defense is just 130 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: all about effort and all offense. Look, you just can't 131 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: physically do it because you can't take the hits. But 132 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 1: he's jumping in front of screens. He's been smarter on 133 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: that end. He found ways to be impactful. Um, I 134 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: think all that stuff has really helped. I think his 135 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 1: passing has gotten like a little bit better. It's always 136 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: been good, but he's really figured out how there's this 137 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: kind of zone that guys gonna do when they hit 138 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 1: their their absolute prime, where they're in control of the game, 139 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: and no matter what tactical adjustments you make, they make 140 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 1: you pay for it. And that's where Damon is. So 141 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: if they if they bring if that weak side corner 142 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: guy is coming over just two steps, just two little 143 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 1: steps too far, he knows how to manipulate the defense 144 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 1: to get that guy to engage even more and then 145 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 1: find the passing angle to hit the guy in the corner. 146 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: And he's got guys knocking down shots, which obviously helps, 147 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 1: but being able to do that is huge. I mean, 148 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 1: you know at this roster and there's a bunch of it. 149 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: That's one of the reasons, like I'm just on with 150 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: this series. There's a bunch of guys on this roster 151 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: that I'm just like, he can't be serious with this, 152 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: Like this can't this team can't go to the Western 153 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: Conference finals. Like Dame's great, CJ is great, but Eni's 154 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 1: canner is starting. Jake Lehman is a huge contributor. Like 155 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: up and down this roster, there's a bunch of guys 156 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: that you just are like, this can't be for real, 157 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: and you ask what's the big differential? And they do 158 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: play well together and stops as an amazing coach. But 159 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 1: Dame is a guy that's making it all work and 160 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: and like so far in these playoffs, I think Damian 161 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 1: Lillard has been the m v P of the playoffs. Well, look, 162 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 1: coming out of the Western Conference, you know you're gonna 163 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:37,839 Speaker 1: get the Warriors and Rockets. And I loved yesterday. Uh 164 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 1: at the end of the game, Lisa Salters just talking 165 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:44,199 Speaker 1: to Clay Thompson and he's like, we know our opponents 166 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,839 Speaker 1: are up three nothing, um, and that they might get 167 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: an extra day arrest, So we got to close out 168 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 1: the Clippers next this week. Like he's already clearly looking 169 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: ahead to UM to the Rockets, right, he didn't even 170 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 1: try to shy away from the fact that, uh, they 171 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: looking past the Clippers in this series. Um, but that 172 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 1: means you're getting the Blazers, the Thunder, the Spurs or Denver. 173 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 1: Are there the potential opponents? Hey, forget about the fact 174 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 1: none of those teams are going to drive sort of 175 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 1: ratings and viewership. Who do you think ends up being 176 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: the hardest matchup for the Rockets or the Warriors? And 177 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: I'm projecting a little bit here to see if there's 178 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:30,679 Speaker 1: any value futures value on any of these teams. I 179 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: don't think there's much value. And the reason is U 180 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: Santonio doesn't have nearly the firepower UM there in the 181 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: series with Denver because of Denver is inexperience. UM. I 182 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: think you know, okay, see, obviously, being down three one, 183 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,559 Speaker 1: you can't put any value on them. Okay, See's the 184 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 1: one team that if they were if they get this 185 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:50,960 Speaker 1: thing back to okay see for game six. Now, all 186 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 1: of a sudden, it's like, all right, that's when I 187 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 1: would start jumping on it because, okay see, legitimately matches 188 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: up with both Golden State and Houston better than they 189 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 1: match up with Portland. I know that sounds crazy, but 190 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 1: it's true because of how they defend and how their 191 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 1: offensive structured, Like there's just a better chance for them 192 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 1: against like they give Houston. Houston wants no part of them. 193 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: They want no And I'll tell you, okay see, was 194 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: was actually hoping to get into a bracket with Houston, 195 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 1: Like they were fine if Houston had won the third 196 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: seed and they were the three six, okay see, was 197 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 1: fine with that match. They would they took Portland anyway, 198 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: They're like great, we were four oh against them in 199 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: the regular season and nurks out. But they match up 200 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 1: better than that, um Denver. The problem is Golden State 201 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 1: in Houston, like Golden States better than them, just is 202 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: flat out better than them, and Houston has a just 203 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 1: a huge matchup advances. Utah matched up with with Houston 204 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: the worst. The team that matches up second worse with 205 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 1: Houston is Denver. In the Western Conference. So if you're 206 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:49,199 Speaker 1: looking at this like the best team if you want 207 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 1: to try and get value, if you do want to 208 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 1: take a long shot and headge it with somebody from 209 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 1: from that Golden State, Houston bracket the best long shots Portland's. 210 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:59,959 Speaker 1: I think Portland's versus Houston would legitimately be a battle. 211 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 1: Portland has a few ways to counter what Houston does, 212 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 1: and even though Canner would make it really difficult, Portland's 213 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: got the ability to go a little bit smaller and 214 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 1: with Myers Leonard playing like a little bit like a 215 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:14,719 Speaker 1: human being, it would be okay. It would have to 216 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 1: be an offensive series, but with where Portland's offenses humming at, 217 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: I do think they would have a legit chance versus Houston. 218 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 1: All Right, So Portland, like if you're gonna put money anywhere, 219 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 1: like you take a little bit of a flyer on 220 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: Portland or whatever their price is, uh on the hope 221 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 1: that maybe the Rockets get past the Warriors and then 222 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:42,440 Speaker 1: Portland can game a little bit with Houston. That's interesting. Yeah, 223 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: I think it's the best place that I would probably 224 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 1: probably go full Like if you're looking for if you're 225 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: looking for a long shot, and you're like well one 226 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 1: about the Warriors, because I just think that there was 227 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 1: most dominant. Um. Then but if you're like, but I 228 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 1: want to have to do like a little bit more 229 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:58,559 Speaker 1: interesting to up by my percentages, take Portland's if you 230 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 1: because you're concept is right, Well, if Warriors get past Houston, 231 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: then the Warriors are gonna win. But if Houston gets 232 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 1: past Golden State, Portland can beat Houston. So like that 233 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 1: would be the combos that I was looking at to 234 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 1: kind of had the value on a long shot. All right, 235 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 1: you mentioned yesterday that you were sweating a crap load 236 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: of games. You're betting like a madman, and things are 237 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: going pretty well for you. Man. I had such a 238 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: rough start to this season to the point like I 239 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 1: was getting legitimately freaked out by how bad this season started, 240 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: because Utah and Boston were terrible. Um. The home teams 241 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 1: were winning at an un a frankly just unreliable rate. UM. 242 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 1: Like on December I was eighty three and one fifteen 243 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: and I was freaking out. And I've climbed all the 244 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 1: way out of the cellar, and in the playoffs, I've 245 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 1: been really good. The best thing I found in the playoffs, um, 246 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 1: and it's been great, like working at Action, having access 247 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 1: all our tools and mean able to think about things 248 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: for the perspective and bouncing stuff off with justin fans 249 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 1: and stuff like that. It is I've really been hitting 250 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: these team totals is instead of looking for the combined 251 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 1: total because in the n b A a lot of 252 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 1: that gets really out of whack on the fourth quarter 253 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,839 Speaker 1: with both free drows um and how one team will 254 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 1: just basically like surrender and then they go through these 255 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: huge droughts and it can mess with your your combined best. 256 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:25,000 Speaker 1: But if you're targeting a team performance, specifically in a 257 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:29,640 Speaker 1: playoff matchup where the variables are controlled, I'm having a 258 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:32,680 Speaker 1: lot of success there. UM, like being able to to 259 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 1: know like, okay, I know that, UM, this series has 260 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 1: been a bog and these teams can't score one another 261 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 1: because of the matchups, and these numbers are consistently higher 262 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 1: than what they should be at UM, there's real value 263 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 1: I think in looking at it from those perspectives. The 264 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 1: team totals are an area where UM, I feel like 265 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 1: I my analysis based off of how these teams interact 266 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 1: has more value even than the combined total. And so 267 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: when you're looking at a team total. Are there certain 268 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: teams who have just been consistently reliable for you. So 269 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: one of the ones that's been really solid has been 270 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:13,439 Speaker 1: Houston taking the over on their point total versus Utah 271 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: because essentially, like there's been this kind of feeling that 272 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:20,800 Speaker 1: because you saw his defense is so valuable. Utah has 273 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 1: been a team to really hammer against in the playoffs, 274 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 1: and we're not gonna see them for much longer, but 275 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: they're a team that the analytics, if you look at 276 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 1: their analytics profile, it's so strong, like they have all 277 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: these really their offensive numbers look way better than they 278 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 1: do when you watch them live. Their defensive metrics are 279 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: so good, and so the lines on them have always 280 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 1: been a little bit exaggerated because of that, and playing 281 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 1: against that knowing like, look, Utah is really going to 282 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: struggle to score here, and the perception that Houston's got 283 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 1: this bad defense when Houston's second in defensive rating UM 284 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 1: since the All Star breaks, Like that's been a big key, 285 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: is playing the Houston under or the Houston over in 286 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 1: the Utah under um. The other one's been you target 287 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 1: these teams that just seem like they simply cannot get 288 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 1: the job done um and in certain situations also understanding 289 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: the dynamics. So like yesterday Golden States over under was 290 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: was one twenty two and a half, Like that's a 291 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: crazy high number when it was a game four on 292 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 1: a Sunday at twelve thirty, after the Warriors had two 293 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 1: days off in l A, Like that was an easy 294 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 1: one to go ahead and be like the Warriors aren't 295 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: putting up one two on a fight to the better 296 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:31,000 Speaker 1: end Clippers team on a Sunday twelve thirty, Like these 297 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 1: little targeted situational positions are really where you want to 298 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: be at Like I'm on Milwaukee on on over one 299 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:40,400 Speaker 1: fifteen versus Detroit in a closeout game on the road, 300 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:43,280 Speaker 1: which one fifteen seems like a high number when you 301 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: look at it. Milwaukee hasn't scored less than one nineteen 302 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: at all in this series. And that's what Joanna thought 303 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: and Combo having a down series. If Jana has a 304 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: big night, they're gonna put up one thirty easy on 305 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 1: this Detroit team. Targeting these little matchups because I noticed 306 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: that those numbers are always a little bit more controllable, 307 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 1: uh than the the combined totals seem to be. So 308 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: what do you think of Houston? What is the team 309 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 1: total for the Rockets right now? What are you gonna 310 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 1: do about it? It's over one oh five and a half. 311 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 1: And I'm definitely on the over um. You know, if 312 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 1: we look at last game, they had an absolutely apocalyptic 313 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 1: night or just an absolutely horrific night from James Harden, 314 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: one of the worst playoff games I've ever seen him 315 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: play like he was oh of fifteen, Um that totals 316 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: all the way up to one of us one o nine. 317 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: Now it's moved up and I'm still I'm gonna be 318 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: on the over um. Houston. I think they're gonna get 319 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 1: a better night from Harden. And this is also like 320 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 1: in a Game four situation where Utah is clearly if 321 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 1: you've read the postgame quotes from last game, they're so deflated. 322 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 1: I don't know how much fight they've got left in them, 323 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: Like they swear like, oh, we're gonna come out, We're 324 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: gonna give it hard, and you could try really hard. 325 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: But if Houston is going to have a bounceback performance 326 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: from Harden at all, then they're gonna be able to 327 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:00,120 Speaker 1: put up a big number regardless. And one ten for 328 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: the Rockets is just such a low bar given their efficiency. 329 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 1: Barmont at this team plays the low pace anyway, and 330 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: they still consistently put up these numbers. So if Utah 331 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: has any slips defensively, they're gonna have big problems. The 332 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: other one I really like tonight is the Jazz under 333 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 1: it one oh six. They can't score on Houston. Houston 334 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:20,479 Speaker 1: switches everything and they drop versus Ricky Rubio, and their 335 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: entire scheme is we're gonna stay home on the two 336 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: shooters that Utah presents in Kyle Corby and Joe Ingalls. 337 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 1: When they're on the floor, We're gonna drop versus Rudy 338 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:32,240 Speaker 1: Gobert with Clunt Capella, who can contest the lab uh 339 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:34,680 Speaker 1: And we're gonna make Ricky Rubio beat us off the dribble. 340 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:36,800 Speaker 1: It's gonna be Rickie Rubio and Donovan Mitchell have to 341 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: beat us. And Mitchell had a great start to that 342 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: last game and then faded, and that's kind of how 343 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:44,440 Speaker 1: he's been this year, hot and cold, and Rubyo can't 344 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:48,200 Speaker 1: do anything offensively. So I don't with how slow Utah 345 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:50,640 Speaker 1: or Houston plays the game. When all those dribble dribble 346 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:54,159 Speaker 1: drible isolation possessions. I can't see the Jazz putting up 347 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:56,120 Speaker 1: over one oh five, so I don't. I'm I'm way 348 00:17:56,119 --> 00:18:00,080 Speaker 1: harder on the under for Utah tonight. All right, So 349 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 1: you like Milwaukee over one, the Rockets over one oh nine, 350 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 1: Utah under one oh five. Um, let's move to the 351 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:13,880 Speaker 1: East for a second, because the Celtics, after having a 352 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:19,199 Speaker 1: horribly sort of under delivered kind of regular season, Uh, 353 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 1: come out and swoop the Pacers, who I think a 354 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:25,120 Speaker 1: lot of people thought might be a really hard matchup 355 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 1: for them. And now they go in and as soon 356 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 1: as the Bucks finished off the Pistons, they're going to 357 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 1: go in against the Bucks. Give me your take on 358 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:37,440 Speaker 1: that series. This was really fascinating in that this is 359 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:43,840 Speaker 1: gonna be a great test of how much the resumes matter. Um, 360 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 1: Milwaukee has done everything for us to believe in this team. 361 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: Like I I've I got in the on them way early. 362 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,679 Speaker 1: I got them in preseason. After I went out and 363 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:54,800 Speaker 1: talked to them in preseason to the feature on them, 364 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:56,639 Speaker 1: I was like, there's something going on with this team. 365 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: This team can make a run. So I took a 366 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 1: long shot bets on them to the East and the 367 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:02,640 Speaker 1: Pacers to win the East, and I'm looking really good 368 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 1: with Milwaukee. Boston struggled all year long, and like Kyrie 369 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:08,679 Speaker 1: has been saying, we're gonna hit our shrines in the 370 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 1: playoffs get here. They have Indiana, like you mentioned earlier, 371 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:16,120 Speaker 1: had chances in almost all of those games. There wasn't 372 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: a game in which Indiana just trailed the whole way 373 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 1: and did not have a chance in it. It It was 374 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 1: that they were right within range and could not get 375 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 1: enough offensive firepower. That series is gonna be fascinating with 376 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:30,680 Speaker 1: Milwaukee because the Celtics are going to dare On and 377 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 1: Combo to try and get past them with multiple guys defending, 378 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:36,919 Speaker 1: and they're really gonna probably dare those shooters. But the 379 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 1: shooters from Milwaukee have been excellent, like they have been 380 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 1: led out, and not just Chris Middleton, but Eric Blitzo, 381 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:46,200 Speaker 1: Tony Snell and especially Brook Lopez. They're gonna really challenge them. 382 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,080 Speaker 1: And I think on defense, Milwaukee has been great this year. 383 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 1: They had a lot of problems with Boston their first 384 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 1: matchup with with where the Celtics with pick and pop 385 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,679 Speaker 1: with Horford, but the Bucks added Nicola Merritag and can 386 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: now play a lot smaller with both Merritage d J. Wilson. 387 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 1: So they've got this ability to switch these things and 388 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 1: counter the Celtics small ball lineup. This is a fascinating 389 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: one and like I've been on Milwaukee, I think there's 390 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:12,199 Speaker 1: very value. I've wondered, like we're just overthinking this and 391 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 1: is in Milwaukee just the best team in the Eastern 392 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: Conference and maybe the NBA. But man, the Celtics are 393 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 1: still in the Eastern Conference. That you're getting plus three 394 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 1: hundred on Boston still this morning, the let's fresh out 395 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:26,200 Speaker 1: of the presses, You're still getting Boston at plus three hundred. 396 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:28,640 Speaker 1: That's really good return for a team that we thought 397 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:30,880 Speaker 1: was the absolute best team in the Eastern Conference coming 398 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: into the season, that just beat a really tough Indiana team. Milwaukee, 399 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 1: I think is gonna have a lot of trouble adjusting 400 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:41,359 Speaker 1: to the heightened competition level where Boston has had to 401 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:44,400 Speaker 1: fight in all these games versus Indiana. Milwaukee's just rolled 402 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 1: over Detroit. I'm really gonna be curious in that game 403 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:49,960 Speaker 1: one line about what the spread is gonna be, and 404 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 1: I'm leaning Boston Game one. I gotta take some more 405 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:54,880 Speaker 1: time to think on where I'm gonna be coming down 406 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: on the series price. Westgate just came out with those numbers, 407 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:00,480 Speaker 1: um for the advanced series prices. But it's gonna be, 408 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: I think, really interesting to see what that number comes 409 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 1: out down to. It. I'm gonna have to really think 410 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:06,679 Speaker 1: about that one, because this is gonna be a great matchup. 411 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 1: So what do you think is the better matchup in 412 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:14,680 Speaker 1: the finals. Let's say, let's say we're gonna get Celtics 413 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 1: and Bucks and Sixers and Raptors. Of those four teams, 414 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:23,159 Speaker 1: who do you put your future money on from the East, 415 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 1: Especially for you, if you've already if you've already had 416 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:29,399 Speaker 1: if you already got a Bucks ticket, Yeah, I've already 417 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:31,640 Speaker 1: got the Buck ticket, then it's definitely Celtics. Um. I'm 418 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:33,400 Speaker 1: not sold on either of the teams in that two 419 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 1: three matchup. Like Toronto came out and COUI played awesome 420 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 1: in these finals two of the final three games versus Orlando. 421 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 1: But that series went exactly how I thought it would, 422 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: which is Toronto always losenes game one. It's like an 423 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 1: immutable law of the universe that Toronto has to lose 424 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:50,960 Speaker 1: game one of every series. Uh. And then they've corrected, 425 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 1: they figured out Orlando. They made adjustments and their talent 426 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:58,200 Speaker 1: is one out the Sixers. They've gotten two games where 427 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:01,199 Speaker 1: things went a little haywire and they came out ahead. 428 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:03,959 Speaker 1: And the game we're in bed missed, Reddick and Harris 429 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: hit ten three pointers. That's not who the Sixers are 430 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: and so like that was the big reason I was 431 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: so in on the nets was, Oh, the Sixers don't 432 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 1: take many three pointers. The Nets take a time that 433 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 1: gives some value on the nets. But when them bib 434 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 1: was out, they just started bombing from three um and 435 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:23,200 Speaker 1: in a series versus Toronto, I don't think that that's 436 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:25,680 Speaker 1: gonna hold up. But Toronto, I think does have compleatnesses. 437 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 1: I think that they haven't found a team that Orlando 438 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 1: is not the team that's gonna challenge them inside, especially 439 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: with marcasoul in terms of making him move in space 440 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:36,679 Speaker 1: the way that the Celtics and the Bucks would. So 441 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 1: to me, like getting plus three hundred on the Celtics, 442 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 1: it was there were lower numbers than that earlier in 443 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 1: the season, and I grabbed aheads then. But if you're 444 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:46,960 Speaker 1: on the Bucks now, I would definitely be hedging with 445 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:49,920 Speaker 1: the Celtics. But they're the best value remaining based off 446 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:52,600 Speaker 1: of having Kyrie that can close games and elite defense. 447 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 1: They're gonna get Smart back at some point, and they 448 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:57,479 Speaker 1: figured out a rotation. Things are going I think so 449 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:00,040 Speaker 1: well for Boston that if you're gonna hedge, now of 450 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 1: time to get it on the Celtics. Alright, here's another 451 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:06,760 Speaker 1: one for you. If you're looking ahead to next year. 452 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:09,879 Speaker 1: These are the teams that have Like I have watched 453 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 1: these teams, I've watched most of the playoff their playoff games. Um, 454 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:16,200 Speaker 1: these are the teams that make me most excited about 455 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 1: next year. Clippers, Pacers, Nets. Do any of those teams 456 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:28,160 Speaker 1: have a chance to rise? Are they worth a futures 457 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: ticket for next year the way the Bucks have risen 458 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:40,880 Speaker 1: this year? Slam Yeah, So the going sense in Brooklyn 459 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: from around the league, not from Brooklyn, but this is 460 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 1: around the league. There's been a lot of commons. I've 461 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 1: heard so many of the marquee free agents get mentioned. 462 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:51,160 Speaker 1: What you know, how you should watch out for there 463 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 1: is Brooklyn like there is an expectation that the Nets 464 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:55,280 Speaker 1: are going to be able to at least be in 465 00:23:55,320 --> 00:24:00,440 Speaker 1: the room with all of the marquee guys. Kevin Durant Kyrie, Irving, 466 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, that they're gonna get in the 467 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 1: room with all those dudes and they're gonna offer a 468 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 1: great coaching staff. They've revamped the culture. They have a 469 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:12,920 Speaker 1: roster that's got good guys that you want to play with. 470 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 1: The vibe is good, the building is awesome. You get 471 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 1: to play in New York and you don't have to 472 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: play for Dolan. That's a huge advantage for Brooklyn. So, 473 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 1: like there's real noise about them landing a marquee free agent, 474 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:28,159 Speaker 1: and they're odds are gonna be absolutely preposterous because like 475 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 1: there's not enough sense there for it to actually be 476 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:32,920 Speaker 1: like a likelihood the way that it is, like, oh, 477 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:35,680 Speaker 1: the next are definitely getting Kyrie or Katie. I've heard 478 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:37,520 Speaker 1: more stuff about the Nets and I have the Knicks 479 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:40,160 Speaker 1: over the last couple of months. So if if after 480 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 1: the season is over and you're looking to Ham or 481 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:44,760 Speaker 1: something high, the Nets would have a softer Eastern Conference 482 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:46,560 Speaker 1: because as good as the Bucks are on the Celtics 483 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 1: and the Raptors will still be good, there's gonna be 484 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:50,960 Speaker 1: an opportunity I think there for a team to really 485 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:53,119 Speaker 1: rise and make a shot at it. Brooklyn is the 486 00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:56,800 Speaker 1: one team that I would target. What about the Pacers, though, 487 00:24:56,840 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: like I love their lineup if they have Oladipo, they 488 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 1: feel a lot like the Nets. To me, it feels 489 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 1: like they have a team of really good passers of 490 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:09,359 Speaker 1: really good parts. You get Oladipo back, and all of 491 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:11,439 Speaker 1: a sudden, you're adding It's almost like you're adding that 492 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:16,480 Speaker 1: high profile, high high score who can elevate a team 493 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:19,479 Speaker 1: into the next level. You know, what I look at 494 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 1: for them is wait until the division on its come 495 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 1: out over the summer, and then and then grab them 496 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:25,679 Speaker 1: on the division to win the Central like bank on 497 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 1: a little bit of Milwaukee regression and Indiana, nabbing one 498 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 1: or two key free agents and then making a real push. 499 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:35,120 Speaker 1: And he has really good Like they're they're really good, 500 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:37,679 Speaker 1: but there's a couple of issues. They're one, we just 501 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:39,439 Speaker 1: don't know what Oladipo is gonna look like when he 502 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:41,680 Speaker 1: comes back or win, Like there's just no way of knowing, 503 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:44,679 Speaker 1: because he was not supposed to play on that knee, 504 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: and the doctors had kind of been like, this is 505 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 1: really risky, and he wanted to do it, and then 506 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 1: he suffered that injury, and that's a major one that 507 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,480 Speaker 1: takes a long time to come back from, Like it 508 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:57,679 Speaker 1: takes a long recovery time to get back on your 509 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:01,520 Speaker 1: feet after that injury. Um too like their ability to sign. 510 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:03,159 Speaker 1: They've got a lot of cap space so they can 511 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 1: make a big addition, Like Kimba Walker is a guy 512 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:07,199 Speaker 1: that I would really be interested in to see if 513 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:09,920 Speaker 1: like Kimba Walker wants to leave Charlotte and he doesn't 514 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:11,879 Speaker 1: want to go to New York or l A or 515 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 1: Grampular and the star profiles if he's like, no, I 516 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:16,000 Speaker 1: want to go somewhere with a good culture where I 517 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 1: can win. Indiana the place where he could go. But 518 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:19,920 Speaker 1: even though they add a guy like that, like they're 519 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:21,720 Speaker 1: not gonna get Kevin Durant, They're not gonna get a 520 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving. You're gonna get one of those like B 521 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:27,359 Speaker 1: level A A minus B plus stars that they do 522 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 1: sign there. Indiana hasn't had great success there because it's 523 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:32,880 Speaker 1: Indiana and that's just always gonna be difficult. Um. They 524 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: do have a couple of a bunch of guys that 525 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:36,600 Speaker 1: are gonna have to figure out contracts with and keeping 526 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:38,920 Speaker 1: that manageable as difficult and the final thing is their 527 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:41,520 Speaker 1: shank profile. Like I love McMillan as a coach. I 528 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:44,119 Speaker 1: think he's done excellent work. Their defense is awesome, but 529 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:45,960 Speaker 1: they're one of the least efficient teams in terms of 530 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 1: three point rate in the league. And then uh, and 531 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:50,359 Speaker 1: then you look at this Boston series, like, what's it been? 532 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: You need you guys that can knock down shops and 533 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:54,119 Speaker 1: can do it from the outside, especially off the drible 534 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 1: like Tatum and Kyrie have killed them in this series. 535 00:26:57,240 --> 00:26:59,720 Speaker 1: That's how they swept him was with that dynamic and 536 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:01,640 Speaker 1: so with out that kind of level, I think it's 537 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 1: really risky. I do like them on the division off, 538 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:05,400 Speaker 1: but to get to the Eastern Conference that can't get 539 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 1: in on it. So a team like the Pacers, what's 540 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:14,200 Speaker 1: the point for them, Like you really realistic look look 541 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:19,119 Speaker 1: at it. Unless they draft perfectly and they win in 542 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 1: sort of a three to five year window where maybe 543 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:26,960 Speaker 1: they resign a kid who they hit the lottery on, 544 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:30,359 Speaker 1: who they draft in the right spot. So they have 545 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 1: a very small window. They're never going to get that 546 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:35,480 Speaker 1: marquee free agent. How do they ever get over the hump? 547 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:38,359 Speaker 1: You have to find one of those years where you 548 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 1: split the gap. So look at that bracket we talked 549 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:43,879 Speaker 1: about in the West right where the three best teams 550 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:46,080 Speaker 1: according to most I won't put Utah out here, but 551 00:27:46,119 --> 00:27:48,480 Speaker 1: most people do. The three best teams in the West 552 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:52,240 Speaker 1: according to most people, if you asking, are Golden State, Houston, 553 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:55,199 Speaker 1: and Utah, and all three of those teams wound up 554 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:57,200 Speaker 1: in one side of the brackets. So now you've got 555 00:27:57,200 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 1: this situation where it looked if Denver wins game five 556 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:02,119 Speaker 1: tonight and they go ahead and they take care of 557 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:05,280 Speaker 1: business versus the Spurs, which they should, they're a better team, 558 00:28:05,359 --> 00:28:08,040 Speaker 1: They've got a lot of matchup advantages versus Portland's. Denver 559 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 1: can very easily be in a Western Conference finals and 560 00:28:10,840 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 1: they don't match up with Golden Stagers Houston for sure, 561 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:17,280 Speaker 1: but we just don't know. If injuries do occur, that 562 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:20,080 Speaker 1: opens the door for Denver to sneak into the finals, 563 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:22,399 Speaker 1: and that would be wild. But that's like what you're 564 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:25,120 Speaker 1: looking for with Indiana. And even if that doesn't happen, 565 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:26,520 Speaker 1: even if you can't think in of the finals, the 566 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:29,359 Speaker 1: Nuggets making the Western Conference finals would be a huge, 567 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:33,679 Speaker 1: huge season for them With a young core that's still developing. 568 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 1: It builds confidence. It's gonna add to your free egent profile. 569 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:38,600 Speaker 1: That's the kind of thing that Indiana can pull off 570 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 1: is if they get next year, if Kawalilea Toronto and 571 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 1: Toronto falls off and then the two best teams in 572 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:47,240 Speaker 1: the East are Milwaukee and Boston, well if those teams 573 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 1: wind up in one four and one side of the bracket, 574 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:51,680 Speaker 1: that opens up the door for Indiana make your run. 575 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:53,880 Speaker 1: You get to the Eastern Conference finals and that's one 576 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 1: a really good season to anything can happen and three 577 00:28:56,880 --> 00:28:59,240 Speaker 1: of builds, don't it That helps your ability to maybe 578 00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:01,440 Speaker 1: sign a key free agent. The other thing with them 579 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:03,720 Speaker 1: is they've got a lot of internal improvement. Like Oladipo 580 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:05,160 Speaker 1: is gonna get better when he gets back. I have 581 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:08,200 Speaker 1: confidence because of his work, ethic and attitude. Miles Turner 582 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 1: with a serious defensive Player of the Year candidate this year. 583 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:14,040 Speaker 1: He's a building block. So Bonus was a serious six 584 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:17,680 Speaker 1: man candidate. They've got all this young talent on manageable contracts. 585 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:20,080 Speaker 1: I really like the rookie point guard aeron Holiday too, 586 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:23,320 Speaker 1: Like they're gonna have opportunities for them to hit the 587 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:26,160 Speaker 1: right gap. Teams like Indiana, it's always gonna be about 588 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 1: can you have that one special year. It's never about 589 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:30,960 Speaker 1: can you build a sustainable dynasty. It's can you have 590 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:33,560 Speaker 1: one special year where you're able to split the gap. 591 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 1: That's how it always is with them. I also love 592 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:40,840 Speaker 1: the Clippers. I love watching that team. I love all 593 00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 1: the guys on that team. Yeah. There, their attitude is infectious. 594 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:49,920 Speaker 1: The fact that they've they've managed to keep that attitude 595 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:52,280 Speaker 1: with as many changes as they've made over the last 596 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:55,520 Speaker 1: two seasons is an incredible UM Doc's got a really 597 00:29:55,560 --> 00:29:57,400 Speaker 1: good chance to Coach of the Year. It's either gonna 598 00:29:57,400 --> 00:29:59,800 Speaker 1: be Food and Holes or Rivers. I'm pretty confident based 599 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 1: off of the voters I've talked to. UM and Rivers 600 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:06,960 Speaker 1: is I think really responsible for their attitude. But it's 601 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:08,280 Speaker 1: also like you have to give credit to a lot 602 00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:10,760 Speaker 1: of those guys that are overlooked, Like Patrick Beverley was 603 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:12,640 Speaker 1: to throw in with the Houston trade and he's always 604 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:15,000 Speaker 1: gonna be mad about that. He he has been playing 605 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 1: on spite his entire career, just trying to prove everyone 606 00:30:18,920 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 1: wrong about him. Um Lou Williams has been better than 607 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 1: I ever thought he could be this year. Like he 608 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 1: was always a guy who got buckets and those guys, 609 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 1: I'm kind of like, great, you can get a bucket. 610 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:29,720 Speaker 1: I can find a lot of guys get buckets. But 611 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:32,240 Speaker 1: he he managed the second unit so well. He led 612 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 1: the league in bench just this this year, had a 613 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:37,520 Speaker 1: great net rating. Uh. Daniel Gallinari finally stayed healthy for 614 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 1: a season. He had a really good run. Um. The 615 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 1: only question with them is like what their roster gonna 616 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:43,840 Speaker 1: look like, because they'll clear out a lot of guys 617 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:47,320 Speaker 1: and reconfigure things if they land a marquee free agent. Um. 618 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:50,320 Speaker 1: The strongest buzz around Kauai remains the Clippers, and if 619 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 1: that's what happens, you have to kind of start looking 620 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:55,480 Speaker 1: at how do you best build around Kawhi Leonard. But 621 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:57,520 Speaker 1: I really like the course they've got there. I love 622 00:30:57,640 --> 00:30:59,960 Speaker 1: Montrose her I've been high on him since Louis They'll 623 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:02,200 Speaker 1: I was high on him with the Rockets. I'm high 624 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:04,000 Speaker 1: on him with the Clippers. Like that's the guy that 625 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:06,280 Speaker 1: I want on my side, because he and Beverly are 626 00:31:06,280 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 1: two goods. They're gonna go for your throat every single 627 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 1: possession of every single game. Um, I'll tell you what 628 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:19,920 Speaker 1: lou Williams he is Uh. Making himself into a potential 629 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:25,800 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer. There's been That's an interesting question. It's like, 630 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:28,200 Speaker 1: if he wins all these six man awards, if they're 631 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:31,400 Speaker 1: spread out across teams and he doesn't have any serious 632 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:34,440 Speaker 1: playoffs success, can he can he make a run for 633 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 1: the Hall. I think we're kind of skewed, but it's like, um, 634 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:39,360 Speaker 1: look at his longevity. Two. That's part of it is 635 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:41,360 Speaker 1: they do that, then the league forever to get a 636 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:44,720 Speaker 1: lot of respect uh from players, and that winds up 637 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:48,360 Speaker 1: been flouncing the Hall motors a lot. Um, Like Carmel 638 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:51,400 Speaker 1: Anthony is going to make the Hall based solely off 639 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:54,840 Speaker 1: of his team USA UM, longevity in the NBA and 640 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:57,400 Speaker 1: his college championship because about how great of a player 641 00:31:57,440 --> 00:32:01,920 Speaker 1: he wasn't the the NBA because he never playoff success um, 642 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:03,920 Speaker 1: but he was able to put together enough of a resume. 643 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:05,560 Speaker 1: And like, I think lou Is probably gonna be one 644 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:07,760 Speaker 1: of those guys. He's not gonna be first, second, or 645 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:09,720 Speaker 1: third ballot, but I think he'll hang around and have 646 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:12,440 Speaker 1: a lot of conversations and players will stump for him 647 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:15,240 Speaker 1: because players will always go over those dudes that he'd 648 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:18,960 Speaker 1: give you a bucket That's what I was thinking yesterday, 649 00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:23,160 Speaker 1: Like hearing the way the announcers talk about Lou Williams 650 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:25,920 Speaker 1: and the way that they talk about players talking about 651 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:29,080 Speaker 1: Lou Williams, and the fact that he sort of has 652 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:33,720 Speaker 1: bloomed during these playoffs. From a broader media perspective, it 653 00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:38,240 Speaker 1: feels like he's a guy who scores a lot of points, 654 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:42,280 Speaker 1: does it in unselfish ways, comes off the bench, leads 655 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:44,520 Speaker 1: his team in scoring, win sixth Man of the Year 656 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:48,160 Speaker 1: multiple times, ends up his career as the leading sixth 657 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 1: man scoring uh score in NBA history. Like all of 658 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:55,480 Speaker 1: a sudden, you've got a drumbeat for a wait a second, 659 00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:59,040 Speaker 1: this guy was kind of amazing and belongs to be 660 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:04,240 Speaker 1: in deserves to be inshrined. Yeah, and the only question 661 00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:07,040 Speaker 1: is gonna be you know one the playoffs, says I 662 00:33:07,080 --> 00:33:09,520 Speaker 1: think is going to hurt him. Um, he never really 663 00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:12,360 Speaker 1: had that signature run right, Like he never had a 664 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:15,680 Speaker 1: year he was the sixth man Toronto on his best shop. 665 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:19,600 Speaker 1: They ran into the calves as raptors always did. Um, 666 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:21,360 Speaker 1: you have to have that one kind of season where 667 00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:23,200 Speaker 1: things go right. Maybe that's next year. You know, I 668 00:33:23,280 --> 00:33:24,720 Speaker 1: will say this, like if they go on if they 669 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:26,920 Speaker 1: get quite Huonard and they make a deep playoff run, 670 00:33:27,280 --> 00:33:29,520 Speaker 1: I think that's going to dramatically change his chances. And 671 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:31,480 Speaker 1: a lot of people would freak out at this and 672 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:33,320 Speaker 1: be like, you can't be serious about lou Williams being 673 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:35,680 Speaker 1: a Hall of Famer, and like, look about like what 674 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:37,959 Speaker 1: I think or whatever your standards are for getting into 675 00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:40,360 Speaker 1: the Hall, it's about It's about what the standard has 676 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:42,720 Speaker 1: been for the Hall and continues to be. And the 677 00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:46,360 Speaker 1: threshold I think is often in some places lower for 678 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:50,240 Speaker 1: guys than people expect, and then some places higher. I 679 00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:55,560 Speaker 1: think that's a great way to put it. Um My, 680 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:57,760 Speaker 1: I'm just I got distracted for a second, so I 681 00:33:57,800 --> 00:33:59,280 Speaker 1: was trying to think of how to phrase this question. 682 00:33:59,520 --> 00:34:02,040 Speaker 1: My twelve year old is a massive NBA to two 683 00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:07,280 Speaker 1: K player. Oftentimes he will play the legends against like 684 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:11,120 Speaker 1: the modern day superstars. So his team this past week 685 00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:21,120 Speaker 1: was Steph Lebron Janice Harden and I think uh Russ 686 00:34:21,520 --> 00:34:26,440 Speaker 1: might have been on that team against Oscar Robertson, Michael 687 00:34:26,520 --> 00:34:33,879 Speaker 1: Jordan's Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, and I think he threw 688 00:34:33,920 --> 00:34:38,960 Speaker 1: in Dominique wilkins Um set a line for that for 689 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:47,759 Speaker 1: that game, I'll put the modern team minus two and 690 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:50,880 Speaker 1: a half. Um. I think he got factor in the 691 00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:52,640 Speaker 1: three point edge there. So many of those guys in 692 00:34:52,680 --> 00:34:54,960 Speaker 1: the old team are just to be uncomfortable shooting theories 693 00:34:55,200 --> 00:34:56,680 Speaker 1: like Jordan's going to try and keep them in it, 694 00:34:56,800 --> 00:34:59,399 Speaker 1: and we'll keep them in it. But I think if 695 00:34:59,440 --> 00:35:01,920 Speaker 1: you're gonna because how that goes, and plus if we're 696 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:06,920 Speaker 1: assuming that we're using like a standardized officiating somewhere in 697 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:10,920 Speaker 1: between where those guys played and the modern game, Harden 698 00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:13,600 Speaker 1: and Lebron are still gonna draw enough free drows to 699 00:35:13,640 --> 00:35:15,439 Speaker 1: be able to create the separation at the end, because 700 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:17,719 Speaker 1: I think the Robertson is probably gonna struggle a lot defensively, 701 00:35:17,719 --> 00:35:19,759 Speaker 1: like Meek would have a lot of issues. I think 702 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:21,960 Speaker 1: that's in that game trying to make the correct kind 703 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:24,720 Speaker 1: of like rotations on the baseline, Like Jordan's gonna attack 704 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:27,000 Speaker 1: the ball handler, um, And the problem is like he's 705 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:29,800 Speaker 1: probably don't go after Hardened, But then STEP's gonna be 706 00:35:29,880 --> 00:35:31,920 Speaker 1: back out at thirty five ft with nobody guarding him, 707 00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:33,480 Speaker 1: and he's just gonna be raining it down because those 708 00:35:33,480 --> 00:35:36,279 Speaker 1: guys gonna be like, you can't shoot from there? Yeah, Yeah, 709 00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:38,600 Speaker 1: I can that's that's how the game is played now, 710 00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:40,400 Speaker 1: and they would just be baffled. So I'll put the 711 00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:43,760 Speaker 1: line at two and a half because of the mental edges. 712 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:47,239 Speaker 1: But if we're talking about you know how good, I 713 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:49,640 Speaker 1: think that that's maybe the best way for me put it. 714 00:35:49,760 --> 00:35:52,160 Speaker 1: I did that Legends team is better. I think the 715 00:35:52,200 --> 00:35:57,320 Speaker 1: modern team wins. Matt More, that is such a phenomenal 716 00:35:57,400 --> 00:36:03,640 Speaker 1: breakdown within spkins of me giving you the two teams, 717 00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:10,839 Speaker 1: I'm astonished and I am admiring what you just did. 718 00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:14,400 Speaker 1: I spent a lot of time thinking about a lot 719 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:16,520 Speaker 1: of random stuff about the nbah AD, so I'm well 720 00:36:16,560 --> 00:36:19,520 Speaker 1: prepared to pretty much any question at this point. My 721 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:26,000 Speaker 1: favorite part was the Dominique Wilkins breakdown. Analyzing wilkins deficiencies 722 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:30,279 Speaker 1: on defense and his inability to handle coverage was phenomenal. 723 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:34,239 Speaker 1: Gotta be able to maintain space on the floor, man, 724 00:36:34,280 --> 00:36:36,439 Speaker 1: that's how the modern game is played. To be really weird. 725 00:36:36,680 --> 00:36:39,719 Speaker 1: Talking about individually checking guys, that's one thing, but the 726 00:36:39,719 --> 00:36:41,200 Speaker 1: way of the game of all with pick and roll 727 00:36:41,640 --> 00:36:43,640 Speaker 1: it changed. You have to be able. It's part of 728 00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:46,080 Speaker 1: the thing with guys now in the league. You have 729 00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:49,919 Speaker 1: to be so It's not just about speeding athleticism. Your 730 00:36:49,960 --> 00:36:52,640 Speaker 1: timing has to be perfect on every rotation or you're 731 00:36:52,680 --> 00:36:55,920 Speaker 1: giving up open threes. And more than anything, the analytics 732 00:36:55,920 --> 00:36:58,480 Speaker 1: has changed that in terms of you can get a 733 00:36:58,520 --> 00:37:01,000 Speaker 1: guy that's a much better shooter or and score. But 734 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:03,839 Speaker 1: if you're generating open looks consistently for three point shots, 735 00:37:03,880 --> 00:37:05,719 Speaker 1: you're gonna win the math game, and that's all that 736 00:37:05,760 --> 00:37:11,360 Speaker 1: really matters. Matt Moore, great job breaking down the NBA playoffs. 737 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:14,560 Speaker 1: Great job breaking down what we should be thinking about 738 00:37:14,680 --> 00:37:17,680 Speaker 1: for next year when we're talking about teams who want 739 00:37:17,680 --> 00:37:22,040 Speaker 1: to take for divisions or conference or championship futures. Great 740 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:24,600 Speaker 1: job breaking down my twelve year old son's NBA two 741 00:37:24,640 --> 00:37:27,400 Speaker 1: K matchups. I appreciate it. Thank you for coming on 742 00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:33,080 Speaker 1: the Favorites. Thanks for having me man. This has been 743 00:37:33,480 --> 00:37:37,760 Speaker 1: the Favorites. Get it at Apple podcast, download at radio 744 00:37:37,880 --> 00:37:42,239 Speaker 1: dot com, Slash, the Action Network, or wherever you get 745 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:46,239 Speaker 1: your podcasts. Until next time. Thank you,